Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce more elected mayors for local authorities in England; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
As the Prime Minister has made clear, the Government wants to see more mayors with more powers, and has successfully concluded negotiations with West Yorkshire for a devolution deal involving electing a new mayor in May 2021. The Government intends to set out its future plans for devolution, including future governance arrangements, in a White Paper later this year and intends to work with areas at pace to deliver these plans.
It is for local areas to decide what governance arrangements would be of most benefit and value to their local communities. As set out in answer to a question (HL17399, answered on 23 July 2019) from the Noble Lord, Lord Grocott, as the effectiveness of local government is dependent on many factors, not simply the governance arrangements, the only assessment undertaken by Government of governance models has been to focus on what different models can deliver; it has concluded that only the mayoral model provides that single point of accountability necessary if significant powers and budgets are to be devolved to an area.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the right of Turkish citizens resident in the UK to freedom of religious worship.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, democracy, the rule of law, and equal rights define us as a society.?The Government is determined to promote these values, working in partnership alongside all our faith communities.
Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right, and one which underpins many of the others.?Where freedom of religion or belief is under attack, often other freedoms are under attack too.? It is important that everyone has the right to speak freely, and our strong legal framework provides the appropriate space to do so.
Britain has a proud tradition of religious tolerance, within the law. The Government is committed to creating a society in which all people are free to express their religious identity and live without fear of harassment and crime because of it.
The Government is committed to ensuring that people are protected against discrimination because of religion or belief, and that they?are able to?exercise the right to hold and manifest their beliefs in a reasonable manner.
The Government will always protect people’s legitimate rights – for example, to free speech and to practise their religion within the law. The right to freedom of expression is a fundamental value of our democracy. It is protected by Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporated into British law the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - 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 Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 27 January (HL411), whether local authorities, when considering building developments of all kinds, are required to conduct a full appraisal, including of the environmental impact, before any lighting project is commissioned.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist - Opposition Whip (Lords)
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that local planning policies and decisions should limit the impact of light pollution from artificial light. The Framework is supported by our planning guidance, revised in November last year, which sets out how environmental and other impacts of light pollution should be considered in the planning system. Local planning authorities must take the Framework into account when preparing their plans and its policies - including those on light pollution - also need to be considered in making individual planning decisions.
Light must also be considered for the relatively small number of developments that fall under the category of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development. Under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, developments which, due to their nature, size or location are likely to have significant effects on the environment must be subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process before planning permission can be granted. Screening is used to determine whether a proposed project is likely to have significant effects on the environment.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for local authorities to be given the power to refuse planning permission for new building on greenfield sites until all brownfield sites have been developed.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
In our revised National Planning Policy Framework we make clear that local authorities should prioritise brownfield land for development, especially for housing to meet local need. This is especially the case where they may be considering the release of Green Belt land, which should only occur once all other options, including the use of brownfield sites, have been fully explored. The brownfield registers of local authorities identify an estimated 26,000 hectares of brownfield with potential for around a million new homes. The question of whether to refuse an application affecting greenfield land must continue to depend, rightly, on the local authority’s planning policies and all other considerations relevant to that particular case, including the protections set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 7 January (HL67), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what assessment they have made of the case for ensuring that flood proofing is included in the designs for new domestic and commercial buildings.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
No assessment has been made as development proposals can already be required to include flood proofing measures where the site is at potential risk of flooding. National planning policy is clear that inappropriate development in areas at current or future risk of flooding should be avoided, directing development away from areas at highest risk. Where development is necessary in such areas, and where there are no suitable sites available in areas with a lower risk of flooding, it should be made safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere and be appropriately flood resilient and resistant.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 7 January (HL65), how many Tree Preservation Orders there are in England; and whether they expect that number to increase between 2020 and 2025.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
Information on the number of Tree Preservation Orders is not collected or held centrally, and it would be an unreliable indicator of the state of the nation’s trees. This Government is, however, encouraging new tree planting on a massive scale, and expects every local authority to be mindful of the benefits of tree cover to the environment, to place-making, and to physical and mental health, whether or not a particular tree or group of trees requires special protection on amenity grounds.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all local authority planning departments are required to employ or use landscape architects when assessing new housing or commercial developments that are proposed; and if not, whether they intend to require such architects to be used.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
There is no requirement, or intention to require local planning authorities to employ or use landscape architects when assessing new development. It is for local planning authorities to decide whether this resource is required.
However, the National Planning Policy Framework does require local planning authorities to ensure they have appropriate tools and processes for assessing and improving the design of development, including access to the right skills.
We will be publishing a Planning White Paper in due course which will include measures to support resourcing and skills deficits.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for ensuring that flood proofing is included in the designs for new domestic and commercial buildings.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The Government’s National Design Guide makes clear that well-designed places should identify measures for flood alleviation and climate change adaption from the outset of the process. National planning policy is also clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided. Where development is necessary, it should be made safe and resilient – and without increasing flood risk elsewhere.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they take, and intend to take, to encourage private housebuilders to preserve existing trees and plants in English cities during construction.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
National planning policy makes clear that development should minimise its impacts on, and seek net gains for, biodiversity, including trees. Local authorities should impose Tree Preservation Orders on trees of special value, and use planning conditions to ensure that valued trees are not harmed by construction. The Environment Bill will give communities a greater say in the retention of local trees; empower local authorities to make net gain for biodiversity mandatory in certain circumstances; and give new impetus to the provision of trees, green space and other green infrastructure in our cities.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter sent by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to Sir Roger Scruton on 13 July, whether they will offer to restore Sir Roger to his position at the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Following a conversation on Thursday 18 July between the then Secretary of State, the Rt. Hon. James Brokenshire MP, and Sir Roger Scruton, the then Secretary of State wrote to Sir Roger asking him to act as co-chair, alongside Nicholas Boys Smith, for the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission. Sir Roger has responded in writing as accepting this position.