Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to support community-led regeneration projects in (a) areas facing economic deprivation and (b) other areas in Bury South constituency.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
So far, the £150 million Community Ownership Fund has awarded £71.4 million of funding to 257 projects across the UK. This includes £260k to rebuild the Whitefield Bowling Club in Bury South so it can continue to host the club, serve as a hub and meeting space for community groups and provide much needed community services.
Bury Community Football Club Supporters Society was awarded £1 million in 2021 through the Community Ownership Fund, allowing the stadium to be purchased and brought back into use as a home for Bury FC and as a focal point for community life and events.
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
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 trends in the levels of anti-Semitism in the last 12 months.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The most recent official Hate Crime statistics, for the year ending March 2021, show that 22% of religious hate crime was targeted at Jewish people, or those perceived to be Jewish. This represents an increase to 1288 reported incidents from 1205 the previous year.
Research published by the Community Security Trust also indicates a significant rise in incidents reported to them in 2021. Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society, which is why we condemn it and are taking a strong lead in tackling it in all its forms.
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
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 is taking to ensure the greenbelt in (a) Bury South constituency and (b) Greater Manchester is protected from development.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Planning for the future proposes significant changes to the focus and processes of planning – to secure better outcomes in terms of land for homes, beauty and environmental quality. One key proposal is that local plans place all land into one of three categories: areas for Growth, Renewal or Protection. The Government has made clear that we expect local authorities to categorise Green Belt as an area for Protection. The protections for the Green Belt set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, and the strong encouragement to prioritise re-use of suitable brownfield land, will remain in place, in line with our manifesto commitments.
We also propose to transform how communities engage with plan-making, using new digital tools to make it easier for many more people to understand, engage with and influence development policies and proposals.
After carefully considering all the responses to Planning for the future, the Government will publish its conclusions.
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
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 is taking to ensure that local authorities provide up to date local housing figures in Greater Manchester.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government produce statistics in accordance with the statutory and other arrangements described in the guide to national and official statistics:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/how-national-and-official-statistics-are-assured.
Each year local authorities are supplied with comprehensive guidance to ensure that there is a common understanding of what information is to be supplied.
In recognition of the pressures and resource challenges faced by local authorities during the coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19), and in order to focus our joint efforts on priority analysis and statistics, we have published a statement detailing the steps we are taking to produce our local housing statistics, which is available at the following link:
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
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 is taking to ensure that Traveller populations in the UK are relocated to (a) safe and (b) appropriate areas during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government is working hard to ensure all communities receive the support they need during this pandemic. It is for local authorities to determine how best to support vulnerable groups, in line with their public health responsibilities.
To enable compliance with COVID-19 public health guidance, access to basic amenities, including water, sanitation and waste disposal facilities is essential.
My Noble Friend, the Minister for Communities, wrote to local authorities to highlight the potential vulnerabilities of Gypsy & Traveller communities, noting that local authorities may conclude that some families may require alternative places to stop where access to essential facilities is provided or can be made temporarily available. A copy of the letter is available at the following link:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882564/COVID-19_-_mitigating_impacts_on_gypsy___traveller_communities.pdf
Local authorities are best-placed to determine when it is appropriate to use their powers to evict unauthorised encampments under Sections 77 and 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994) during the pandemic. Unauthorised encampments can cause harm to the local environment, and the rights of settled residents must be respected.
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
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 provide additional funding for housing assistance to help ensure that victims of domestic abuse and their children continue to be protected while covid-19 restrictions remain in place.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
My Department’s priority remains for refuges to stay open, up and running, so victims of domestic abuse and their children can access support and safe accommodation when they need it.
On 7 May, my Department launched a £10 million fund to support safe accommodation charities providing vital accommodation and support for victims of domestic abuse and their children. On 5 June, we announced the outcome of the first wave of this Emergency Domestic Abuse Fund, with 103 successful applications receiving £8.15 million and covering 147 organisations. This funding will help to reopen 291 bedspaces and create an additional 1210 bed spaces during the pandemic.
The Fund has now reopened for further bids to allocate the remaining £1.85 million, giving charities the flexibility to apply to support more victims.
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
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 is taking to ensure that clear statutory guidance is issued to help local authorities and charities carry out their duty to (a) support and (b) meet the needs of victims of domestic abuse (i) during and (ii) after the covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
My Department’s priority remains for refuges to stay open, up and running, so victims can access support and safe accommodation.
The Government has made available clear quality standards for domestic abuse services through the Violence Against Women and Girls National Statement of Expectations, as well as my Department’s Priorities for Domestic Abuse Services which were updated in 2018. The Priorities are clear that local areas should respond to the needs of all domestic abuse victims, including those from isolated and/or marginalised communities, those with complex needs, BAME, LGBT+, disabled and male victims and older people.
My Department has also issued PHE-approved guidance for domestic abuse safe accommodation providers in support of their service delivery in these unprecedented times. The guidance will help protect victims and their children residing in safe accommodation and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-provision.
There is currently no statutory duty on local authorities or charities in regard to the delivery of support for victims of domestic abuse, or any requirement in legislation to provide guidance in regard to support for victims.
However, we are continuing the progression of the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill through Parliament including the introduction of a statutory duty on local authorities aimed at ensuring that all victims, including children, have access to safety and support within safe accommodation, when they need it. The duty will be underpinned by robust statutory guidance, clearly setting out expectations on local authorities in meeting their duty which is planned to come into force from April 2021.
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
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 is taking to help local authorities make accommodation and social housing available for victims of domestic abuse.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
On 17 February we announced £16.6 million for support to victims of domestic abuse, and their children, within safe accommodation (2020/21). The fund will go to 75 local authority led projects to maintain essential existing services, as well as deliver new services.
We have also put in place a system for local authorities to meet additional demand due to COVID-19 enabling them to book rooms for domestic abuse victims through Crown Commercial Services.
In relation to social housing, we have already ensured that victims of domestic abuse get the priority they deserve. Statutory guidance issued in 2012 encourages authorities to give additional preference (high priority) to people who require urgent rehousing as a result of domestic abuse.
In 2018 we issued further statutory guidance to improve access to social housing for those who have escaped abuse and are being accommodated in a refuge or other form of safe temporary accommodation. It sets out how local authorities can ensure that victims and their families are given appropriate priority as well as setting a strong expectation that local authorities should not apply residency tests for those who have been force to flee to another district.
On 2 May the Government announced its intent, through the Domestic Abuse Bill, to give those who are homeless as a result of being a victim of domestic abuse priority need for accommodation secured by the local authority. This will help to ensure victims do not remain with their abuser for fear of not having a roof over their head.
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has for regenerating high streets when lockdown restrictions are lifted after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Simon Clarke
Government appreciates that all high streets, big or small, are a crucial part of our communities and local economies, creating jobs, nurturing small businesses and injecting billions of pounds into our economy. We want to see fruitful hubs where people live, shop, use services, and spend their leisure time, and that includes a welcoming and safe night-time economy.
Government recognises that this is a challenging time for everyone in the country and Covid-19 is having a significant impact on our high streets and town centres. That is why we have provided a £330 billion package of support for businesses in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This support builds on an ongoing programme of initiatives put in place to support our high streets and town centres in the long term, including:
On 25 May, Government announced a new £50 million fund, Reopening High Streets Safely Fund. Councils across England will share the additional funding to support the safe reopening of high streets and other commercial areas. The money will allow local authorities to put in place additional measures to establish a safe trading environment for businesses and customers, particularly in high streets. Expenditure for reimbursement under this grant will be eligible from 1 June 2020 and the project will run to the end of March 2021. This funding comes on top of the Government’s comprehensive package of support for business and workers during the economic emergency.
Asked by: Christian Wakeford (Labour - Bury South)
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 is taking to protect the green belt and countryside from social and environmental damage cause by over-development.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The National Planning Policy Framework provides strong protections for the Green Belt. If a local authority proposes to release Green Belt land for development, the ‘exceptional circumstances’ test requires evidenced justification that it has examined all other reasonable options for meeting its development needs. The Framework also expects that, where the Green Belt has to be de-designated, there should be improvements to the quality of the environment in the remaining Green Belt. Additionally, the Framework encourages local authorities to prioritise brownfield land wherever practicable.