Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
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 the impact of rising (a) interest rates and (b) inflation on trends in the level of regional inequality.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
It is because we are concerned about the impact of inflation and increases in interest rates that the Autumn Statement protected the most vulnerable by uprating benefits and pensions with inflation, strengthening the energy price guarantee, and providing cost of living payments.
We will report on progress towards delivering the missions through an annual report laid before parliament.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
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 increase the number of social homes being built each year.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Since 2010, we have delivered over 632,600 new affordable homes, including over 441,612 affordable homes for rent, of which over 162,800 homes for social rent.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
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 the potential effect of making housing targets advisory on the Government's housing target commitments.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Secretary of State’s Statement of 6 December.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
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 first time buyers onto the housing ladder.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Government is committed to helping first time buyers to get on the housing ladder. Over 819,000 households have been helped to purchase a home since Spring 2010 through Government backed schemes including First Homes, Shared Ownership and the Lifetime ISA.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the number and proportion of homes that have an Energy Performance Certificate below level E in Kingston upon Hull North constituency as of 24 November 2022.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 105314 on 12 December 2022.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the number and proportion of homes that have an Energy Performance Certificate below level C in Kingston upon Hull North constituency as of 24 November 2022.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 105314 on 12 December 2022.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in the context of the increasing cost of living, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing support payments to sponsors of Ukrainian refugees on a per person, rather than a per household basis.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the growing pressure on family finances, and the challenges that households are facing with the rising costs of living. We are working with local councils and sponsors to support them to continue hosting.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what comparative assessment he has made of the amount of funding allocated to communities under the Shared Prosperity Fund and the preceding EU structural funds.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a successor to some EU Structural Funds. Our allocations ensure a real-terms match of EU structural funds in every nation and region of the UK.
The allocation methodology for the UKSPF was developed in accordance with the following core principles, in line with commitments made at the last Spending Review.
We have set out a methodology note which provides more detail on this: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-allocations-methodology.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
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 levels of regional disparity in economic recovery following the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
Since March 2020, the Government has provided up to £400 billion of direct support for the economy through the pandemic which has helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in every region and nation of the UK. The Government has paid out an estimated £98 billion through the furlough scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to an estimated 14.7 million employed and self-employed people, helping to protect jobs, businesses and livelihoods. Through our loan and grant schemes, the Government has made an estimated £104 billion available to support businesses of all sizes across the UK.