Asked by: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they recognise the concept of regions only in England; or whether they recognise them also within Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Prime Minister has been clear that rebuilding the country requires UK wide delivery, working effectively with all levels of government, in every nation and indeed in every region.
The UK Government is directly responsible for working with Mayors and regional partners such as local government to drive delivery across England’s regions. We also work closely with regional local partners and in collaboration with the Devolved Governments to deliver the UK Government's responsibilities across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to implement via secondary legislation the provisions in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 on street votes for new development and street referendums on renaming streets; and, if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is monitoring the arrangements for locally supported street name changes put in place by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act and does not currently consider there is a need for regulations or guidance to support local authorities. Other policies inherited from the last government in the Act that have not been implemented, including street votes, continue to be kept under review.
Asked by: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people who are severely mentally impaired received an exemption or a discount on council tax in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local authorities are responsible for administering council tax, including exemptions such as those available to someone assessed as being severely mentally impaired. Authorities should satisfy themselves that an individual has both a certificate from a medical practitioner and is entitled to one of a range of listed benefits, including Attendance Allowance. Attendance Allowance is available to people of State Pension Age who have had care or supervision needs for at least six months. Councils should ensure that any applications for a council tax exemption are dealt with as quickly as possible.
Data are collected for England by local authorities and the latest data, for 2022-23, can be (attached) found here.
Data are not collected on the number of people who are severely mentally impaired and receive an exemption.
Asked by: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that severely mentally impaired persons who are entitled to attendance allowance qualify for an exception or a discount on council tax within six months of being diagnosed as severely medically impaired by a medical practitioner.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local authorities are responsible for administering council tax, including exemptions such as those available to someone assessed as being severely mentally impaired. Authorities should satisfy themselves that an individual has both a certificate from a medical practitioner and is entitled to one of a range of listed benefits, including Attendance Allowance. Attendance Allowance is available to people of State Pension Age who have had care or supervision needs for at least six months. Councils should ensure that any applications for a council tax exemption are dealt with as quickly as possible.
Data are collected for England by local authorities and the latest data, for 2022-23, can be (attached) found here.
Data are not collected on the number of people who are severely mentally impaired and receive an exemption.
Asked by: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the recommendations of their review, which promised to make council tax collection fairer and more efficient, launched on 10 April 2019, will be published.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Department has been working closely with a range of billing authorities, debt advice charities and civil enforcement agencies to better understand the approaches taken in local government in collecting council tax. On the basis of this work, the Department is now preparing guidance setting out the best practice that already exists in the collection and enforcement of council tax. This will be published as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the new guidance to local authorities on the collection of unpaid Council Tax to end aggressive enforcement tactics, announced on 10 April 2019, will be issued.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Department has been working closely with a range of billing authorities, debt advice charities and civil enforcement agencies to better understand the approaches taken in local government in collecting council tax. On the basis of this work, the Department is now preparing guidance setting out the best practice that already exists in the collection and enforcement of council tax. This will be published as soon as possible.