Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department expects to (a) conclude the review of the levels of private parking charges and additional charges and (b) re-introduce the Private Parking Code of Practice.
Answered by Lia Nici
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17171 on 21 June 2022.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how eligible individuals who do not hold a British passport can validate their application to become sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Further to the oral statement by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up on 14 March, guidance for local authorities has been published on Gov.uk at www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils . There are also published FAQs available online at www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions as well as information for sponsors at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guidance . Information is available on safeguarding checks at these links, as well as on eligibility for the scheme. Phase One of the Homes for Ukraine scheme opened for applications on 18 March and is accessible via links from homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk . Those who had recorded their interest in the scheme were also contacted on that date. Details on future phases of the scheme will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions has he had with representatives of insurance providers to ensure continued insurance coverage for customers participating in the Homes for Ukraine programme.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Department has engaged with key partners in the insurance sector and full guidance for sponsors will be available shortly.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department plans to publish details of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund application process.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
UK-wide funding for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will ramp up to at least match receipts from EU structural funds, which on average reached around £1.5 billion per year. Spending Review 2021 fulfils this commitment, with the announcement of over £2.6 billion for the UKSPF over the next three years, with funding reaching £1.5 billion in 2024-25.
The UKSPF will focus on restoring a sense of community, local pride and belonging across the country. The UKSPF will act as a primary lever in levelling up people and places in all parts of the UK to empower places to identify, and build on, their own strengths and needs at a local level.
The Government will publish further details on the fund in due course.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department plans to publish the updated prospectus, assessment guidance and application form for the second round of the Community Ownership Fund.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
We are currently reviewing the first bidding round of the Community Ownership Fund and in order to implement the lessons learned, the second round will open in the spring.
We will be launching an updated prospectus, assessment guidance and application form ahead of the second round opening and will also be offering additional support to interested groups to help as many projects as possible to benefit from the fund.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the Elections Bill on the (a) conduct and (b) administration of devolved elections in Wales.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The measures in the Elections Bill will considerably strengthen the delivery of UK Parliament General Elections and other reserved polls. Devolution means that there are already different arrangements for devolved and reserved elections.
We have been and will continue working closely with the Devolved Administrations, the Electoral Commission and the wider electoral sector across the UK on our plans for implementing the measures in the Bill to provide clarity for voters, administrators and those regulated by electoral law.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on developing (a) a single independent appeals service for motorists in receipt of a private parking charge and (b) an Appeals Charter to protect motorists from charges that are unfair or issued in error.
Answered by Luke Hall
In its response to the parking Code Enforcement Framework consultation in March 2021, the Government announced its intention to implement a series of fairer parking measures which will benefit motorists. These include the creation of a single independent appeals service for motorists to turn to if they receive a private parking charge and an Appeals Charter which will protect motorists from charges that are unfair or issued in error.
On 26 May, the Government announced that it will conduct a further technical consultation on its proposed changes to parking charges, seeking views from motorists, parking operators and landowners on the level of private parking charges, including the Appeals Charter. This will help deliver a fair, proportionate and consistent system across the country. Further details of the consultation, including delivery timescales for the single appeals service, will be announced shortly.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Community Ownership Fund will be opened to applications.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The bidding prospectus, guidance notes and application form for the community ownership fund were published on 15 July and the first bidding round is now open. Applicants will be able to complete the online application form from 30 July and the first bidding round will close on 13 August. There will be future bidding rounds in December 2021 and May 2022.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2021 to Question 167292 on Levelling Up Fund: Wales, how the Government plans to measure the visible impact of the Levelling Up Fund.
Answered by Luke Hall
The Levelling Up Fund will reflect this Government’s greater emphasis on high-quality evaluation, which is critical to understanding what types of interventions work well in addressing levelling up challenges, through individual projects and across varying spatial scales. The development of a local growth and transport evaluation culture, which promotes sharing learning across the UK, will be an important strand of this work.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2021 to Question 167292 on Levelling Up Fund: Wales, when his Department last had discussions with representatives of (a) Ceredigion County Council and( b) other local authorities in Wales as part of the Government's ongoing work to support local economic growth in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Luke Hall
The Levelling Up Fund is a competitive fund, with funding distributed to places across the UK on the basis of successful project selection.
The Levelling Up Fund will invest in local infrastructure that will have a visible impact on people and their communities. The Government regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders as part of ongoing work to support local economic growth as we recover from Covid-19.