Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans his Department has to provide additional resource to local authorities on request in order to deliver levelling up funding bids.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
As for round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund, we will publish an explanatory note on GOV.UK which will provide details on the approach to assessment and decision making. This will sit alongside information on the balance of successful and unsuccessful bids by theme and geography.
It is important that councils have the capacity to deliver projects through levelling up funding. To this end, my department has already provided £125,000 in capacity funding to all English local authorities in category 1 places, those identified as being most in need of this type of funding, as well as all local authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support Levelling Up Fund bids.
We continue to work closely with successful places and are considering what further support may be helpful to support delivery.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to publish minutes of all deliberative meetings on the selection of successful bids in the second round of the Levelling Up Fund.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
As for round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund, we will publish an explanatory note on GOV.UK which will provide details on the approach to assessment and decision making. This will sit alongside information on the balance of successful and unsuccessful bids by theme and geography.
It is important that councils have the capacity to deliver projects through levelling up funding. To this end, my department has already provided £125,000 in capacity funding to all English local authorities in category 1 places, those identified as being most in need of this type of funding, as well as all local authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support Levelling Up Fund bids.
We continue to work closely with successful places and are considering what further support may be helpful to support delivery.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of a fair funding review of fire services.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Local Government Finance Settlement makes available funding for local authorities in England, including fire and rescue authorities. The Government will always want to work with local partners to understand the challenges and opportunities they face, including fire authorities.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the Government's plans are for Investment Zones; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Policy announcements will be made in the usual way.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will review the decision not to award Freeport status to Gateway East in Doncaster in order to support the continued operation of Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The Department launched the Freeports competition on 16 November 2020. Bids were assessed by expert officials in line with the requirements set out in the prospectus. In the Spring budget 2021 the Chancellor announced eight successful bidders in England. A copy of the decision making note can be found online .
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending the council tax banding for council houses where the tenant is renting.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
All properties are banded for council tax on a consistent basis, reflecting their open market capital value as at 1 April 1991. The Government has no plans to amend banding based on occupancy arrangements. The council tax system has a range of discounts and exemptions to reflect personal circumstances, including local council tax support schemes for households in financial need.