Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when all local authorities will retain 100 per cent of business rates.
Answered by Rishi Sunak
The business rates retention scheme is yielding strong results. Local authorities estimate that in 2019-20 they will keep around £2.5 billion in business rates growth. The Government is committed to increasing business rates retention and is aiming to move to 75 per cent retention of business rates from 2020/21. The Government will continue to work with the sector to identify other opportunities to further increase business rates retention when it is right to do so.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the need for investment in housing in the Thames Estuary.
Answered by Jake Berry
The Government is committed to driving up housing supply where homes are most needed and in March 2016 established the independent Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission to develop an ambitious vision and delivery plan for north Kent, south Essex and east London up to 2050.
The Commission has now produced its report. Government will respond in full to the Commission’s report by the end of the calendar year.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Government plans to respond to the report of the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission; what plans he has to implement the recommendations of that Commission; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jake Berry
The Government will respond in full to the report of the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission by the end of the calendar year.
At Budget 2018 we announced that, drawing on the Thames Estuary Commission report, the government will be supporting a study to develop options and consult the local area on a Great Thames Park.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
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 the London Borough of Bexley from the Affordable Homes Programme; and how much money from that programme has been allocated to Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Mayor has overall responsibility for affordable housing policy and delivery in London. In recognition of the acute affordability pressures in London, the Government has agreed a £4.8 billion deal with the GLA, including £1.67 billion announced at Spring Statement, to deliver at least 116,000 affordable housing starts by March 2022.
London Affordable Homes Programme allocations are published on the GLA website which can be found here: https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/record-17bn-deal-for-new-homes
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to create more affordable housing in London.
Answered by James Brokenshire
The Mayor has lead responsibility for the delivery of affordable housing in London.
At Spring Statement 2018, the Chancellor announced that we will be providing London with an additional £1.67 billion from the Affordable Homes Programme to support the Mayor to build a further 26,000 affordable homes – two-third would be homes for rent, including at social rent. This has increased our investment in London to over £4.8 billion for at least 116,000 affordable homes by March 2022.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of housing costs and supply in London on the ability of employers to recruit staff.
Answered by James Brokenshire
We have not conducted analysis in the form requested but we know that the levels of housing affordability in London are significant. That is why we announced at Spring Statement this year - a £1.67 billion funding boost to support the Mayor to build a further 26,000 affordable homes, two-thirds of which will be homes for rent including at social rent. This has increased our investment in London to over £4.8 billion for at least 116,000 homes by March 2022. With this additional investment to London, we expect the Mayor to now play his role, by delivering a substantial step change in housing delivery in London.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the affordable housing budget was in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that budget in each year was allocated to London.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Government funds affordable housing through the Affordable Homes Programme. It does not announce funding on a yearly basis. The allocations of funding are as follows:
Programme | Amount of funding |
Affordable Homes Programme 2011 - 2015 | £4.5 billion |
Affordable Homes Programme 2015 – 2018* | £2.9 billion |
Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme 2016 - 2021 |
|
* In addition to the 2015 - 2018 programme we also announced the Rent to Buy loan scheme of £200 million funding to deliver Rent to Buy homes.
In recognition of the acute needs and affordability pressure, London will be receiving £4.8 billion of the Affordable Homes Programme budget from 2015 – 2022, to deliver at least 116,000 homes by March 2022. This was extended beyond the 2016-2021 programme to allow for additional delivery in London.