Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to publish the full details and results of the BS 8414 tests on the fire performance of external cladding systems commissioned by the Building Research Establishment as part of its non-ACM testing programme.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer of 18 February to question UIN 220245.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government will take steps to ensure that the BS8414 tests carried out by the Building Research Establishment on non-ACM materials include (a) windows, (b) ventilation openings and (c) reasonably spaced fire barriers.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Tests carried out using the BS 8414 methodology are designed using the established and recognised BS 8414 methodology. Rigs to be used in tests are constructed in line with standard industry practice to ensure compliance with Approved Document B guidance on the construction of external wall systems.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 183892 on High Rise Flats: Insulation, how many student accommodation blocks over 18 metres with non-ACM combustible cladding have been identified.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government’s Building Safety Programme is tracking the identification and remediation of residential buildings over 18 metres with Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems. We are currently not collecting data on student accommodation with non-ACM cladding systems. We keep under continuous review safety matters on high rise residential buildings with our expert panel offering advice and guidance.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's new s story entitled Government announces new housing measures, published on 1 October 2018, whether he plans to extend the ban on combustible materials to all schools irrespective of height.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government consulted on applying the ban to residential buildings with a top storey more than 18 metres above ground level, in line with current Building Regulations guidance. The majority of respondents to the consultation showed support for this height threshold and it will be used as the basis for the ban, to be consistent with current guidance.
To protect children and young people, the ban will extend to all student accommodation and residential accommodation in schools, for buildings over 18 metres. Schools can be evacuated within a matter of minutes in the event of a fire. Every school must have a Fire Risk Assessment and new schools undergo an additional check while being designed. The Government will review the 18 metres height threshold as part of the wider technical review of the Building Regulations for fire safety set to start in the autumn.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer given of 25 July 2018 to Question 164527 on Buildings: Insulation, how many high-rise student accommodation blocks above 18 meters there are in England and Wales with rainscreen cladding.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government’s Building Safety Programme is tracking the remediation of residential buildings over 18 metres with unsafe Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems. We do not hold the relevant information for any buildings with other rainscreen cladding systems. We can confirm that as of 12 October 2018 there are 62 high-rise (over 18 metres) private sector student accommodation buildings in England with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet current Building Regulations guidance. The relevant figure for Wales is a matter for the devolved administration.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer given on 25 July 2018 to Question 164527 on Buildings: Insulation, how many non-high-rise, below 18 meters, student accommodation blocks there are in England and Wales with rainscreen cladding.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government’s Building Safety Programme is tracking the remediation of residential buildings over 18 metres with unsafe Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems. We do not therefore hold the relevant information for any buildings below 18 metres with either unsafe ACM cladding systems or other rainscreen cladding. The relevant figure for Wales is a matter for the appropriate devolved administration.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report, Pressing for Progress, published by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in July 2018, what steps his Department is taking to (a) tackle the shortage of refuge space for women fleeing domestic violence in the UK, and (b) ensure that women are not refused refuge as a result of the number of children they have.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to Question UIN 173543 on 19 September 2018.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report, Pressing for Progress, published by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in July 2018, when he plans to respond to the recommendations to (a) replace the current planning definition of Gypsies and Travellers with the more inclusive definition in the Housing Act 2004, and (b) reintroduce the duty on local authorities to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers under the Caravan Sites Act 1968.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Government response to the recent consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework confirmed that we are considering whether any changes may be required to the planning policy for traveller sites, as a result of the changes in the revised Framework. In addition, the Government is also reviewing responses to the consultation on Powers for dealing with Unauthorised Development and Encampments, which closed on 15 June. This consultation asked whether there are any specific barriers to the provision of more authorised permanent and transit sites and, if so, whether there is any action that the Government could take to help overcome those barriers. We will provide a formal response to this consultation, as well as confirming whether any changes are required to the planning policy for traveller sites, in due course.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the July 2018 report of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission entitled Pressing for Progress, if he will take steps to (a) address the national shortage of refuge space for women who are fleeing domestic violence and (b) ensure that women are not refused refuge because there is not sufficient room for their children.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Government is absolutely committed to protecting all victims of domestic abuse. I note the recommendations regarding tackling Domestic Violence, Abuse and Femicide in the July 2018 Equalities and Human Rights Commission report, Pressing for Progress.
Since 2014, my Department has invested £33.5 million in services to support victims of domestic abuse, including refuges. In addition on 2 July we launched an £18.8 million fund for domestic abuse services, including refuges. This fund, which closed to applications on 28 August, was open to all local authorities across England to bid for a share. We will announce successful projects in due course.
My Department is also carrying out a review of how domestic abuse services are commissioned and funded locally across England. The review is being informed by an independent audit, run by Ipsos MORI, of provision of domestic abuse services across England, which is enabling us to understand what impact services are having and identify any gaps. We are working closely with other Departments, organisations within sector and local authorities, to develop future, sustainable delivery options for domestic abuse services, including refuges.
We are considering the needs of children in the review, and we have been clear that we expect local authorities to conduct robust needs assessments to meet the needs of all victims when commissioning domestic abuse services, including those presenting with children.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the recommendations of the July 2018 report of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission entitled Pressing for Progress, if he will take steps to (a) replace the current definition of Gypsies and Travellers in the Government's policy paper Planning policy for traveller sites with the definition in the Housing Act 2004 and (b) reintroduce the duty on local authorities to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a consultation earlier this year alongside the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, in order to seek views on the effectiveness of powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments. Views were sought on a range of related issues, including planning for travellers and site provision. The consultation closed on 15 June, with over 2,000 responses received. We are currently considering the responses to this consultation, alongside those submitted in response to the recent consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework, before deciding on next steps. We will announce a way forward in due course.