Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to respond to the Law Commission's consultation and report on leasehold enfranchisement reform; and what assessment they have made of the case for removing exemptions under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 in respect of the Duchy of Cornwall.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government has asked the Law Commission to review the enfranchisement process to make it simpler, easier, quicker and more cost effective, to help existing and future leaseholders.
Their consultation, Leasehold home ownership: buying your freehold or extending your lease closed on 7 January 2019, and they are now analysing the many and detailed responses received.
We will consider their recommendations when they report, and look to assess their proposals and respond in due course.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 10 April (HL14931), why the Duchy of Cornwall was not approached as a property developer to sign the Public Pledge for Leaseholders.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The initial stage of the Government backed industry pledge was targeted at the main volume builders and freeholders operating in England, in particular those that have developed and marketed leasehold houses.
The Duchy of Cornwall does not fall into that category, and consequently was not approached in the initial stage. Officials from my Department will be meeting with representatives from the Duchy shortly, and will raise the matter.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Duchy of Cornwall as a property developer in connection with their Public Pledge for Leaseholders, published on 28 March; whether the Duchy of Cornwall is a signatory to that pledge; and if not, what assessment they have made of the reasons why not.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government wants to make sure that all leaseholders whose leases contain onerous terms, such as doubling ground rents, get the support they need.
The new government-backed industry pledge announced on 28 March has been signed by more than forty leading property developers and freeholders.
This is a positive start and the Government encourages developers and freeholders to sign the pledge and any organisation not currently signed up can do so by contacting the Ministry. The Duchy of Cornwall has not specifically been approached.
In addition, the Law Commission has recently consulted on proposals to help leaseholders to extend their leases or buy their freehold, seeking to understand the experience for leaseholders on Crown land, including the Duchy of Cornwall. The Law Commission will report later in the year.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether operational government land can be disposed of on a freehold basis.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what sources of government funding are available to authorities which have mayors but not available to other authorities in England; and what are the reasons for any difference.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Mayoral Combined Authorities have been created following ‘Devolution Deal’ negotiations. These new local authorities have been awarded a new investment fund grant. The value of investment fund grants differs in each Mayoral Combined Authority, owing to the process of negotiation. Whilst most investment funds have been awarded in a deal with a mayor, they have also been agreed in other ‘deals’, including ‘City Deals’ and ‘Growth Deals’.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which applications under section 100 of the Planning Act 2008 an Examining Authority has appointed a person to act as assessor.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
There has been only one application for development consent where an assessor has been appointed by under section 100 of the Planning Act 2008. This was for the Preesall Saltfield Underground Gas Storage project.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why their devolution agreement with Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership is called the West of England devolution agreement, in the light of the fact that it does not include Cornwall Council or Devon County Council.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The West of England is the recognised name used to describe the area covered by the four local authorities: Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset. The West of England is used to describe organisations and functions that work across this geography, which include the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership and the West of England Nature Partnership. Cornwall is already covered by a devolution deal – it is called the Cornwall Devolution Deal.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Planning Inspectorate invited comments from the applicant and interested parties regarding the Swansea Bay Lagoon Application (EN010049), including the consideration of alternatives to the proposed lagoon project, but did not do so in respect of the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Each application is examined in the context of relevant designated National Policy Statements.
For the Thames Tideway Tunnel application the relevant national policy is contained in the Waste Water National Policy Statement (paragraph 2.6.34), which states:
"The examining authority and the decision maker should undertake any assessment of an application for the development of the Thames Tunnel on the basis that the national need for this infrastructure has been demonstrated".
"It would be for Thames Water to justify in its application the specific design and route of the project that it is proposing, including any other options it has considered and ruled out."
The Examining Authority (Panel) appointed to examine the Thames Tideway Tunnel did ask written questions and hold hearings about alternatives to the applicant’s above ground site selection process and tunnel drive / construction strategy, but as directed by the National Policy Statements, the Panel did not consider alternatives to a tunnel.
In the case of the Swansea Tidal Lagoon application the Secretary of State is due to issue his decision on 10 June 2015. It would not be appropriate to comment in any detail on the examination of this application in advance of the Secretary of State’s decision. However, suffice to say that there are no designated National Policy Statements for tidal range power generating schemes.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to follow up the letter from the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Industry of Germany received on 4 November 2014 offering £15 million to support a collaborative United Kingdom–German geothermal research and development project at the Eden Project; and whether they intend to support that project and an application for European Regional Development Fund funding in the second and third quarters of this year.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government replied to the German Minister last year, expressing support for the principle of testing the technology in this area of crystalline rock, and welcoming the potential for joint working with the Eden Project and Cornwall County Council.
Deep geothermal research and development will be a priority investment in the European Regional Development Fund programme for 2014-20, and is a component within Cornwall and Isle of Scilly’s European Structural and Investment Funds strategy.