Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish the timescale for (a) Round 2 and (b) Round 3 bidding process of the Levelling Up Fund.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.
Further information on how future rounds of the Fund will operate from 2022-23 onwards will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he received Durham County Council’s application seeking approval for a selective licensing scheme; and when he plans to make a determination on that application.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
We received Durham County Council's application for a selective licensing scheme on 23 December 2020. Each application is assessed case by case on its merits against the statutory criteria. We will update on the outcome of the application.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of replacing Council Tax with a proportional property tax.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Government does not have any plans to replace council tax with a proportional property tax, but keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to replace Council Tax with a Proportional Property Tax.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The Government does not have any plans to replace council tax with a proportional property tax, but keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate has made of the number of positive covid-19 tests that have been recorded for staff in his Department who (a) would usually be based in 2 Marsham Street and (b) had been in 2 Marsham Street while carrying the virus since (i) the beginning of the pandemic and (ii) 15 May 2021.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We do not routinely disclose the Covid-19 test results of colleagues usually based in 2 Marsham Street.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether an independent assessor has assessed his Department’s offices at (a) Birkenhead, (b) 2 Marsham Street, (c) Manchester, (d) Bristol, (e) Cambridge, (f) Exeter, (g) Hastings, (h) Hemel Hempstead, (i) Leeds, (j) Newcastle, (k) Nottingham, (l) Plymouth, (m) Sheffield, (n) Truro and (o) Warrington to be safe for use during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
All MHCLG offices were Covid-19 risk-assessed by independent accredited health and safety risk-assessors. The offices were assessed as safe for use during the Covid-19 outbreak subject to appropriate mitigations being put in place. The Department has put into place the mitigations. The Department keeps the assessments under review and, where necessary, updates them.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department’s staff working in 2 Marsham Street are advised to wear face coverings when (a) entering and (b) leaving the building by (i) the doors and (ii) capsules that close around an individual.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
All MHCLG offices were Covid-19 risk-assessed by independent accredited health and safety risk-assessors. The offices were assessed as safe for use during the Covid-19 outbreak subject to appropriate mitigations being put in place. The Department has put into place the mitigations. The Department keeps the assessments under review and, where necessary, updates them.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department’s offices will have appropriate first aid cover each day of the week from 19 July 2021 onwards.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Department’s risk assessment defines what is considered to be appropriate cover for each of the offices it occupies, taking into account guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive. The Department will continue to ensure that there is appropriate cover in place.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
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 undertake a first aid needs assessment for each of its workplaces before 19 July 2021.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Department’s risk assessment defines what is considered to be appropriate cover for each of the offices it occupies, taking into account guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive. The Department will continue to ensure that there is appropriate cover in place.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department undertook a first aid at work needs assessment for any of its workplaces from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Department’s risk assessment defines what is considered to be appropriate cover for each of the offices it occupies, taking into account guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive. The Department will continue to ensure that there is appropriate cover in place.