Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in what month in 2025 her Department plans to publish its consultation on a new Disabled Facilities Grant allocations formula; and if she will make it her policy to publish the outcome of that consultation before 31 March 2026.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
The Government is reviewing the formula for allocating Government Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding to local authorities in England to ensure the funding is better aligned with local needs. It is important that we take the time to consider the issues properly and have committed to consult on a new approach this year. Following the consultation, we will carefully consider responses from local authorities and MPs before finalising the new approach, with a view to implementation as soon as possible thereafter.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for (a) completing the review of the Disabled Facilities Grant allocations formula, (b) publishing the findings of that review and (c) implementing any revised formula.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
The Government is reviewing the formula for allocating Government Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding to local authorities in England to ensure the funding is better aligned with local needs. It is important that we take the time to consider the issues properly and have committed to consult on a new approach this year. Following the consultation, we will carefully consider responses from local authorities and MPs before finalising the new approach, with a view to implementation as soon as possible thereafter.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether hon. Members will be able to give evidence to her Department's review of the Disabled Facilities Grant allocations formula.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
The Government is reviewing the formula for allocating Government Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding to local authorities in England to ensure the funding is better aligned with local needs. It is important that we take the time to consider the issues properly and have committed to consult on a new approach this year. Following the consultation, we will carefully consider responses from local authorities and MPs before finalising the new approach, with a view to implementation as soon as possible thereafter.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to consult with local authorities on the development of a revised Disabled Facilities Grant allocations formula.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
The Government is reviewing the formula for allocating Government Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding to local authorities in England to ensure the funding is better aligned with local needs. It is important that we take the time to consider the issues properly and have committed to consult on a new approach this year. Following the consultation, we will carefully consider responses from local authorities and MPs before finalising the new approach, with a view to implementation as soon as possible thereafter.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an estimate with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential impact of granting the application for a Chinese Embassy at Royal Mint Court on costs for policing protests.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
An independent Inspector held a public inquiry into the proposals in question, at which interested parties were able to put forward evidence and representations. All material planning considerations will be taken into account in reaching a decision on this case.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to consider the potential costs for policing protests when making her decision on the planning application for the Chinese embassy at Royal Mint Court.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
An independent Inspector held a public inquiry into the proposals in question, at which interested parties were able to put forward evidence and representations. All material planning considerations will be taken into account in reaching a decision on this case.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential impact of the proposed Chinese embassy at Royal Mint Court on (a) policing and (b) public order.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As has been the case under successive administrations, government does not normally disclose details of internal discussions.
An independent Inspector held a public inquiry into the proposals, at which interested parties were able to put forward evidence and representations.
All material planning considerations will be taken into account in reaching a decision on this case.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with members of the (a) Hong Kong, (b) Uyghur and (c) Tibetan diasporas in the UK on the (i) security, (ii) human rights, (iii) peaceful protest and (iv) transnational repression implications of the proposed Chinese Embassy.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
An appointed Inspector held a public inquiry which heard a range of evidence for and against the proposals in question.
This case is now with the department, and so it would not be appropriate to comment further.
Decisions on planning applications are based on material planning considerations.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will instruct the DVLA to conduct an audit of car park records in instances where a pattern of disputes has been identified.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice that promotes good practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.
We are progressing with plans to protect and support all motorists. We will be launching a consultation in due course to help us further understand the potential impacts of the Code and its accompanying enforcement framework, including our approach to scrutiny and oversight.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of e-visas on voters reliant on physical immigration documentation as voter ID.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
An e-Visa is accepted as a form of identification at the polling station, as a digital version of ‘a biometric immigration document issued in accordance with regulations under section 5 of the UK Borders Act 2007’.
All electors may also choose to apply to their local authority for a Voter Authority Certificate – an accepted form of identification available free of charge.