Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been allocated to football clubs in Northern Ireland through the Community Ownership Fund.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In total, the Community Ownership Fund has awarded over £11 million to 38 projects in Northern Ireland. Almost £2 million was awarded to eight sporting and leisure facilities, this includes projects supporting grassroots football such as Ballymacash Sports Academy and the Craigavon Leisure Centre Regeneration Project.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding his Department allocated to football clubs through the levelling up funds in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Crusaders Football Club, in Belfast was awarded £2.2 million from the Levelling Up Fund for its Shore Road Skills Centre project.
This is the only direct allocation of Levelling Up Funds to a football club in Northern Ireland.
Other football clubs in Northern Ireland may have benefited from funding delivered and administered by local authorities.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on the Local Growth Fund for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Since the announcement at Spending Review of a new Local Growth Fund for Northern Ireland, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has initiated work with the Northern Ireland Office to design a new fund that will drive growth in Northern Ireland’s unique economy and improve the lives of local people. I am clear that this new funding should have a bespoke design for Northern Ireland, working in partnership with the NI Executive.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much financial support the Government has provided for local government in Northern Ireland to support with the impact of changes to employer National Insurance Contributions.
Answered by Jim McMahon
At the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, the government announced an additional £515 million of support for local government in England to manage the impact of changes to employer NICs.
The devolved governments will receive funding through the Barnett Formula in the usual way in 2025-26.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that the provisions of the Renter's Rights Bill do not negatively impact students from (a) Northern Ireland and (b) other devolved nations renting accommodation in England.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
All tenants renting privately in England, including students, will benefit from the protections in the Renters’ Rights Bill, wherever they are from.
The abolition of section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will end chronic insecurity in the private rented sector, and the abolition of fixed term tenancies will enable tenants to leave tenancies by giving two months’ notice, ending the injustice of being trapped paying rent for substandard properties or unable to respond to their changing circumstances.
We recognise the cyclical nature of the student lettings market, which is why the Bill introduces a new mandatory ground for possession which will allow landlords renting Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) to full time students in England to seek possession ahead of each new academic year, facilitating the ongoing yearly cycle of short-term student tenancies and ensuring there is a supply of properties for incoming groups of students.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to support (a) local authorities in England and (b) Councils in Northern Ireland with the increase to employers' National Insurance contributions.
Answered by Jim McMahon
The government has announced an additional £515 million of support for local government in England specifically to manage the impact of changes to employer NICs announced at the Autumn Budget.
Final allocations to local authorities will be published alongside final positions on methodology as part of the final Local Government Finance Settlement in early February 2025.
The devolved governments will receive funding through the Barnett Formula in the usual way in 2025-26.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to review the rules on donations to political parties in the UK.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question UIN HL3289 on 20 December 2024.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when monies will be released to successful bidders for the Community Ownership Fund.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
I can confirm that monies are being released to those successful Community Ownership Fund projects that have been announced. Officials will be in touch with projects to ensure that they receive the funding as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to review the effectiveness of the administration of postal votes during the General Election on 4 July 2024.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Electoral Commission will publish a report on the administration of the General Election held on 4 July later this year, and the Government will give careful consideration to any findings or recommendations made in the report in relation to the current arrangements for postal voting.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to maintain funding from the UK Share Prosperity Fund for projects in Northern Ireland after the funding period ends in March 2025.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
My officials are in regular communication with our key stakeholders in Northern Ireland on this issue, as well as with the officials from the Northern Ireland Executive and our UKSPF Partnership Group. We will continue to work closely with our key stakeholders and will use their feedback as we determine our approach going forward.
Decisions regarding funding beyond March 2025 are a matter for the next Spending Review.