Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
What progress he has made on the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK.
The November 2020 Spending Review set out the main strategic elements of the UKSPF in the Heads of Terms.
The Government will publish a UK-wide investment framework in 2021 and confirm multiyear funding profiles at the next Spending Review.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in communities not on the gas distribution grid; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government’s approach to reducing risks from carbon monoxide poisoning covers all tenures and locations including communities not on the gas distribution grid.
A Cross-Government Group exists to ensure a joined–up approach across departments, the devolved administrations and non-departmental bodies. MHCLG is a member of this group. Each year, the group publishes a report with a summary of activities. The latest report can be seen at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/cross-government-group.htm
In June 2018, MHCLG published a set of ‘how to’ guides for tenants, landlords and leaseholders to help ensure that a rented property is safe to live in. This includes guidance about carbon monoxide alarms.
MHCLG is also carrying out a review to establish whether carbon monoxide alarm requirements, currently limited to solid fuel burning appliances in the private rented sector, should be extended to social housing and to other fuel-burning appliances, including mains gas and liquefied petroleum gas and oil where mains gas is not available. The findings of this review are being considered alongside responses to the Social Housing Green Paper.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) guidance and (b) public awareness campaigns his Department has issued on the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government’s approach to reducing risks from carbon monoxide poisoning covers all tenures and locations including communities not on the gas distribution grid.
A Cross-Government Group exists to ensure a joined–up approach across departments, the devolved administrations and non-departmental bodies. MHCLG is a member of this group. Each year, the group publishes a report with a summary of activities. The latest report can be seen at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/cross-government-group.htm
In June 2018, MHCLG published a set of ‘how to’ guides for tenants, landlords and leaseholders to help ensure that a rented property is safe to live in. This includes guidance about carbon monoxide alarms.
MHCLG is also carrying out a review to establish whether carbon monoxide alarm requirements, currently limited to solid fuel burning appliances in the private rented sector, should be extended to social housing and to other fuel-burning appliances, including mains gas and liquefied petroleum gas and oil where mains gas is not available. The findings of this review are being considered alongside responses to the Social Housing Green Paper.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the CO2 regulations in Scotland in relation to private landlords.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government has not made a specific assessment of the potential merits of the Scottish Carbon Monoxide regulations in relation to private landlords.
In England, a consultation was held to assess the effectiveness of the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015. The responses to this consultation showed that the regulations were working as intended. The results of this consultation will feed into the wider review of requirements for Carbon Monoxide alarms that was announced in April 2018. This review will consider if the regulations should be extended to include all fuel types as well as all tenures
In England the regulations require that private landlords install a carbon monoxide alarm in any room having a solid fuel heating appliance. Private landlords are also required to ensure that the alarms are in working order on the first day of the tenancy. Failure to comply with the regulations can result in a penalty of up to £5,000
The Scottish Carbon Monoxide alarm regulations are a devolved power and it would be for the devolved administration in Scotland to provide details of any assessments they have made of their regulations.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make the use of professional equipment mandatory for the testing of carbon dioxide alarms.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
There are no requirements for carbon dioxide alarms in England and so there are no plans to make the use of professional equipment mandatory for the testing of them.
On carbon monoxide alarms, building regulations in England require that an alarm be provided when a solid fuel appliance is installed, and sets standards for the quality of that alarm. The Building Regulations set requirements when building work is carried out and do not set on-going requirements for testing.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of business rate revaluations on the hair and beauty industry; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
The effect of the revaluation of business rates on businesses in the hair and beauty industry will depend on the specific circumstances and location of the relevant property. A £3.6 billion transitional relief scheme will provide support to properties which face an increase in rates. My Department is working closely with the Treasury to determine how best to provide further support to businesses facing the steepest increases. We expect to be in a position to make an announcement on this at the Budget.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if the Government will apply for funding from the EU Solidarity Fund for relief payments for issues arising from recent flooding.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
The Government will consider an application once the full costs are known. The European Union Solidarity Fund does not provide additional funding to local areas. It reimburses emergency costs that the Government would have incurred anyway. For this reason, the Government's immediate priority remains dealing with the urgent needs of those affected, which is why we have provided just under £200 million to help those affected by the floods to support recovery and repair.