Asked by: Graham Brady (Conservative - Altrincham and Sale West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to update the ventilation standards for buildings in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
SAGE (the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) have considered evidence on aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2. SAGE provides scientific and technical advice to support government decision makers during emergencies. During the coronavirus pandemic, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and the Environmental and Modelling Group (EMG) provided advice to SAGE on this matter.
A paper on ventilation and Covid-19 has been prepared by SAGE EMG:
SAGE EMG and NERVTAG have also published a paper on aerosol transmission which includes comments on ventilation:
We are planning to consult on changes to the Building Regulations ventilation standards, including a number of measures to enhance the ventilation provision for non-domestic buildings to mitigate the risk of transmission of infectious agents. This work has been informed by discussions with public health and ventilation experts. The Building Regulations apply when a new building is constructed, or when significant work takes place on an existing building.
Asked by: Graham Brady (Conservative - Altrincham and Sale West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what protection each of clauses 204(a) and 205(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework provide against (a) housing, (b) commercial and (c) public infrastructure development on peat moss.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) paragraphs 204(a) and 205(d) relate to the extraction of peat. The Framework makes clear that new sites or extensions to existing sites for peat extraction should not be planned for or permitted by Mineral Planning Authorities. The Framework includes strong policies to conserve and enhance the natural environment. The NPPF expects planning authorities to protect and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity in their plans and, when determining planning applications, not to grant planning permission for development that would result in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as peat land) unless there were wholly exceptional circumstances (Paragraphs 174 & 175(c)).
Asked by: Graham Brady (Conservative - Altrincham and Sale West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the likely amount of council tax revenue that was foregone in the most recent year for which figures are available as a result of inaccurate banding of properties for council tax purposes.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the likely amount of council tax revenue foregone as a result of inaccurate banding of properties. Council tax payers have the right to formally challenge whether their property is in the correct band within six months of moving into their home.