Asked by: Lord Bird (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to press the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to install sprinklers in the neighbouring blocks to Grenfell Tower as quickly as possible; and what steps they will take if no such sprinklers are installed.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Government advice on sprinkler systems is clear. For new blocks of flats over 30m in height, the statutory guidance states that sprinklers should be fitted. For existing buildings, it is a decision for the building owner whether to retro-fit sprinklers as part of a broader fire safety strategy for the building, informed by expert advice and taking into account the particular risk facing residents and the other fire safety measures used in the building.
Asked by: Lord Bird (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in providing local authorities with the means to alleviate rises in business rates as announced in the Budget, particularly in relation to independent bookshops.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government confirmed local authority allocations for the £300 million discretionary relief in April 2017 enabling councils to design and press on with implementing their own schemes. Many authorities have already issued reduced bills, and we continue to urge other councils to follow suit as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Lord Bird (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the consultation <i>Funding for Future Supported Housing</i>, what steps they are taking to ensure that local top-up funding for supported housing proves sustainable beyond 2020.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government is committed to protecting and boosting the supply of supported housing. We are currently consulting on how to ensure the new funding model for the sector is workable and sustainable and to ensure that it provides value for money for those who use it as well as those who pay for it. The amount of ring-fenced top-up funding will be set on the basis of current projections of future need. Budgets for future years will be determined in the usual way at future Spending Reviews. We are also consulting on appropriate safeguards to ensure that this funding continues to support vulnerable people and promotes the supply of supported housing. The consultation closes on 13 February 2017 – there will then be a Green paper in the spring on our detailed proposals on the top-up funding model, with a final package to be announced in autumn 2017.