Asked by: John Nicolson (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make (a) the Music Venue Trust and (b) other charities statutory planning consultees.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The list of statutory consultees is under constant review. Whilst particular organisations or bodies might not be statutory consultees on planning applications, they can work proactively with local councils to identify developments where they might have an interest and can comment on proposals within the statutory public consultation period. The decision to grant or refuse a planning application ultimately rests with the local planning authority, who will take into account all relevant planning considerations and not just the advice from one consultee.
Asked by: John Nicolson (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any officials in his Department have (a) been offered and (b) accepted membership to Soho House from January 2021 to date.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Department has policies in place for the declaration of conflicts of interests and gifts in line with the Civil Service Management Code. It is the responsibility of officials to declare potential conflicts of interest, offers of gifts and hospitality, and do so using the Department’s systems. No offers or acceptance of Soho House membership have been recorded in these systems during the period in question.
Asked by: John Nicolson (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
What recent discussions he has had with (a) devolved Administrations and (b) Cabinet colleagues on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Luke Hall
The Government has been clear we intend to continue to work in partnership with the devolved administrations and local communities. We have demonstrated this commitment by confirming that devolved administrations will have a place within the governance structures for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Ministers regularly speak to Cabinet colleagues on the UKSPF and my officials routinely engage with their devolved administration counterparts on their priorities. To date, we have conducted 25 engagement events across the UK, many of which were attended by the devolved administrations. We will continue this engagement as we develop the UKSPF investment framework and in advance of its publication.