Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what comparative assessment he has made of the level of (a) demand for and (b) supply of secure accommodation for young people (a) in the UK, (b) by nation and (c) by region.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We agree that it is important that people, especially young people, have a settled and suitable home. To support this work, we have put in place bespoke support for local authorities through our Homelessness Advice and Support Team, which includes a dedicated youth homelessness advisor team that works with local authorities to proactively promote positive joint working across housing authorities and children's services, offering training, advice and support to all local authorities.
Furthermore, since 2018/19, as part of the Government's rough sleeping strategy, the Department for Education has provided funding to local authorities with the highest number of care leavers at risk of homelessness/rough sleeping. This funding allows them to employ specialist Personal Advisers to provide intensive support to small caseloads of care leavers most at risk. In 2021-22, we are providing £2.7 million to 56 local authorities.
Overall, the Government has committed over £800 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping this year, further demonstrating the Government's commitment to end rough sleeping this Parliament and fully enforce the Homelessness Reduction Act.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of local authority provided secure accommodation for young people as compared with other forms of secure accommodation.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We agree that it is important that people, especially young people, have a settled and suitable home. To support this work, we have put in place bespoke support for local authorities through our Homelessness Advice and Support Team, which includes a dedicated youth homelessness advisor team that works with local authorities to proactively promote positive joint working across housing authorities and children's services, offering training, advice and support to all local authorities.
Furthermore, since 2018/19, as part of the Government's rough sleeping strategy, the Department for Education has provided funding to local authorities with the highest number of care leavers at risk of homelessness/rough sleeping. This funding allows them to employ specialist Personal Advisers to provide intensive support to small caseloads of care leavers most at risk. In 2021-22, we are providing £2.7 million to 56 local authorities.
Overall, the Government has committed over £800 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping this year, further demonstrating the Government's commitment to end rough sleeping this Parliament and fully enforce the Homelessness Reduction Act.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department has taken to help enable local authorities directly provide secure accommodation for young people who require that accommodation.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We agree that it is important that people, especially young people, have a settled and suitable home. To support this work, we have put in place bespoke support for local authorities through our Homelessness Advice and Support Team, which includes a dedicated youth homelessness advisor team that works with local authorities to proactively promote positive joint working across housing authorities and children's services, offering training, advice and support to all local authorities.
Furthermore, since 2018/19, as part of the Government's rough sleeping strategy, the Department for Education has provided funding to local authorities with the highest number of care leavers at risk of homelessness/rough sleeping. This funding allows them to employ specialist Personal Advisers to provide intensive support to small caseloads of care leavers most at risk. In 2021-22, we are providing £2.7 million to 56 local authorities.
Overall, the Government has committed over £800 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping this year, further demonstrating the Government's commitment to end rough sleeping this Parliament and fully enforce the Homelessness Reduction Act.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the team working on the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework has undertaken analysis of the different approaches to environmentally-friendly planning by local authorities along the Arc; and if they will publish this analysis.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Environmental sustainability is at the heart of our approach to the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, with a core focus for the Spatial Framework development being sustainable green growth.
The natural environment does not fit within administrative boundaries, so a cross-boundary approach is intended to make it easier to deliver against environmental priorities across the whole area. This includes working closely with local partners across the Arc including local planning authorities.
To ensure sustainability is embedded in the Spatial Framework we are producing a Sustainability Appraisal to address environmental issues alongside social and economic issues as the framework and its policies develop. This will inform decision-making and help achieve improved sustainability outcomes. A Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report has been prepared as part of our public consultation this summer. This provides more information on our approach and on the Arc's environmental assets.
Two further stages of public consultation on the Spatial Framework will follow, including a second consultation on policy options, and a third consultation on the draft framework. Each stage will be supported by the Sustainability Appraisal and evidence to explain our approach to policy development.
We also appreciate the significant work that has already been undertaken by local partners to develop an evidence base to support planning. We will review the existing evidence and use the most relevant, up-to-date and reliable analysis, to help inform the Spatial Framework's development.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether officials in his Department working on the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework have undertaken analysis of the engagement of representatives of cities and other urban areas along the Arc in the Arc governance bodies; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
When we formally launched the process to develop the Spatial Framework, we announced our intention to work closely with local partners throughout its development. Local authorities will therefore be encouraged to engage in all three public consultations and will have the opportunity to further engage through on-going discussions with government.
We also frequently engage with a wide range of local representatives and partners from across the breadth of the Arc’s communities to ensure all local views shape how we unlock the unique potential of the region.
An analysis of stakeholder engagement on the Spatial Framework will be released following the first public consultation this Summer, which was launched today, when we will publish a summary of comments received and our response to the consultation.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether officials in his Department working on the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework have undertaken analysis of varying approaches to the delivery of affordable and social housing by local authorities along the Arc.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The development of the Spatial Framework is at a very early stage. In preparing the Spatial Framework we are committed to going through a robust process of building our evidence base to understand the most sustainable approach to housing growth for the Arc, and will go beyond the typical local planning horizon by planning to 2050. The Spatial Framework therefore presents the opportunity to set future expectations for affordable housing that can be delivered in a way that meets the needs of local residents.
In February, when we formally launched the process to develop the Spatial Framework, we committed to conducting wide and meaningful engagement to give as many people as possible the opportunity to help shape the Spatial Framework.
Today we launched the first of three public consultations on the Spatial Framework, which will include consulting on the issue of affordable housing and meeting the future housing needs of the area: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/creating-a-vision-for-the-oxford-cambridge-arc.
We intend to carry out three phases of planned public consultation for the Spatial Framework over a two-year period, so there will be two further opportunities for people to have their say. The next stage of the Spatial Framework consultation, which we hope will take place in Spring 2022, will focus on policy options to deliver sustainable growth in the Arc to 2050, including policy options relating to housing.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the sectoral distribution of local authority covid-19 support funding; and if he will place a copy of that assessment in the Library.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it remains the Government's policy to hold a public consultation on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Government has committed to create the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as the successor to EU structural funds, including the European Social Fund. The fund will bind together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations.
The Government recognises the importance of reassuring local areas on the future of local growth funding now we have left the European Union, and of providing clarity on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Government officials have been working closely with key partners on the design and priorities of the fund, including through a series of engagement events attended by over 500 stakeholders from across a variety of sectors. Government looks forward to continuing to work closely with partners as we develop the fund and has been clear that final decisions on the design must take place after a cross-government Spending Review.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timeframe will be for the allocation of funding for disadvantaged people under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Government has committed to create the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as the successor to EU structural funds, including the European Social Fund. The fund will bind together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations.
The Government recognises the importance of reassuring local areas on the future of local growth funding now we have left the European Union, and of providing clarity on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Government officials have been working closely with key partners on the design and priorities of the fund, including through a series of engagement events attended by over 500 stakeholders from across a variety of sectors. Government looks forward to continuing to work closely with partners as we develop the fund and has been clear that final decisions on the design must take place after a cross-government Spending Review.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government plans to take to improve the energy performance of owner-occupied dwellings.
Answered by Esther McVey - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
On 1 October the government launched a consultation on stronger building regulations that will pave the way for the Future Homes Standard. These 2020 changes aim to improve the environment by cutting carbon emissions in new homes by almost a third, while keeping household bills low.