Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the Government's policy is on the recommendation of the Fawcett Society in its report Does local government work for women, published in July 2017, that data on the make-up of local council candidates and councillors must be collected in a uniform format and must include protected characteristics like age, ethnicity, and disability.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
My Department welcomes the work of the Fawcett Society in shining a light on the barriers facing women in local government leadership roles. I am keen to explore the issues raised by the report in more detail so I will be holding a round table discussion with the Fawcett Society and with key stakeholders in local government.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has consulted those people in receipt of EU structural funds on a replacement for that scheme once the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Jake Berry
We have committed to creating the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund as the successor to European Structural Funds following the UK’s departure from the EU. We intend to consult widely on the design of the fund as part of the process of its establishment.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the amount spent on children's social care by local authorities in each year from 2010.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
Information on Adult Social Care and children’s social care by all local authorities in England are published each year on the Department’s website at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much was spent on adult social care by each local authority in each year since 2010.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
Information on Adult Social Care and children’s social care by all local authorities in England are published each year on the Department’s website at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which areas the Government is holding active discussions with on further devolution in England.
Answered by Jake Berry
We are in active discussion with city region mayors to understand the areas where they would like to undertake further work with Government. We are also engaging with other areas to understand where there is a strong case for devolution.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether additional resources will be made available to local authorities to help ensure the safety of tenants living in high-rise residential buildings.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Where work is necessary to ensure the fire safety of social housing, we will ensure that lack of financial resources will not prevent it going ahead.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 June 2017 to Question 594, on regional planning and development, if he will set out how his Department is measuring tangible progress.
Answered by Jake Berry
Government tracks progress on a range of measures that are included in the Northern Powerhouse Strategy, published 23 November 2016. For example, we have 3 newly elected Northern Powerhouse regional mayors in Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, and Liverpool City Region each with ambitious new powers and bespoke investment funds. Through Growth Deals we have allocated £3.4 billion of investment to improve transport links, unlock housing and enhance digital connectivity. We continue to build on this progress by working closely with local partners and businesses across the North to ensure the success of the Northern Powerhouse.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will review the suitability of commercial to residential conversions through permitted development.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
We continue to keep permitted development rights, and the contribution they make to national housing delivery, under review.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to issue consultation exercise on changes to business rates.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
At Budget 2016 the government announced cuts in business rates benefiting all ratepayers which are worth almost £9bn over the next 5 years. In addition, the government set out a £435 million package of measures to support those businesses most impacted by the recent revaluation. The government routinely meets stakeholders to discuss the business rates system and it will continue to do so.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the Government's policy is on the future of the Northern Powerhouse.
Answered by Jake Berry
As the Northern Powerhouse Minister I am dedicated to ensuring the government continues to prioritise its plans for building a stronger northern economy.
In January we allocated over half a billion pounds of investment directly into the Northern Powerhouse for projects to boost local growth. And in February we launched the £400 million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund to provide small-and-medium-sized businesses with the investment they need to start-up and grow.
The Government remains absolutely committed to the Northern Powerhouse—we are already seeing real, tangible progress and will continue to work with local partners and business across the North to get the job done.