Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether potential home owners who have had their Help to Buy application approved under the previous scheme are allowed to use that loan until their property purchase is completed.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government recognises that there have been delays caused by COVID-19. Following the initial effects of COVID-19 with the hiatus to construction during the first national lockdown, on 31 July we announced changes to the scheme’s contractual deadlines which provided developers using Help to Buy an extra two months build time. Since then Homes England announced on 15 January that it will not enforce the practical completion deadline of 28 February 2021 for the current scheme, so maximising the remaining time available time for developers to build out.
Further to this, reservations agreed before 30 June 2020, have been granted additional flexibility allowing such reservations to practically complete by 30 April and legally complete by 31 May 2021.
Moreover, working in line with sector guidance, the construction industry has been allowed to continue during the subsequent covid-19 restrictions. Reservations for the current scheme were closed on 15 December providing builders sufficient time to complete their orders.
These measures provide relief for developers to build out homes delayed by COVID-19. We nevertheless continue to monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Help to Buy scheme by a further six months.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government recognises that there have been delays caused by COVID-19. Following the initial effects of COVID-19 with the hiatus to construction during the first national lockdown, on 31 July we announced changes to the scheme’s contractual deadlines which provided developers using Help to Buy an extra two months build time. Since then Homes England announced on 15 January that it will not enforce the practical completion deadline of 28 February 2021 for the current scheme, so maximising the remaining time available time for developers to build out.
Further to this, reservations agreed before 30 June 2020, have been granted additional flexibility allowing such reservations to practically complete by 30 April and legally complete by 31 May 2021.
Moreover, working in line with sector guidance, the construction industry has been allowed to continue during the subsequent covid-19 restrictions. Reservations for the current scheme were closed on 15 December providing builders sufficient time to complete their orders.
These measures provide relief for developers to build out homes delayed by COVID-19. We nevertheless continue to monitor the situation closely.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to the children's activity sector on the reopening of facilities for children under the age of five from 4 July 2010.
Answered by Simon Clarke
Providers of activities for under 5 year olds operating from multi-purpose community facilities should refer to the COVID-19: Guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities). Section 3a confirms Community facilities can open for the provision of services for children and young people, however they should ensure that people from different households can socially distance from anyone they do not live with or who is not in their support bubble, and should not facilitate indoor sports or fitness activity.
Ofsted registered early years childcare providers have been open to all children since 1 June and should refer to the following guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures.
Providers of activities for children aged over 5 years olds should refer to guidance on protective measures for out of school settings:(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak).
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect of the delay to local elections in Buckinghamshire on regional democratic representation.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The Government has announced the postponement of the 2020 local elections across the country, including in Buckinghamshire. The elections will be held next year and in the meantime the council will continue to serve the interests of its electors.