Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the May 2019 Building a Safer Future: Independent Review of Fire Safety: Final Report. Cm9607, whether he plans to consult on the proposal to reduce building safety risk so far as is reasonably practical.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government has been considering the feedback received from its ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation carefully, working with other government departments, its delivery partners and stakeholders in the building safety sector to ensure that the reforms brought forward are comprehensive and deliver real change.
We will be shortly publishing our response to this consultation, setting out details of the new regulatory regime, to be legislated for in the Building Safety Bill, that will ensure residents are, and feel, safe in their homes.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the May 2019 Building a Safer Future: Independent Review of Fire Safety: Final Report, Cm9607, what his timescale is for the full implementation of the proposals in that report.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government has been considering the feedback received from its ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation carefully, working with other government departments, its delivery partners and stakeholders in the building safety sector to ensure that the reforms brought forward are comprehensive and deliver real change.
We will be shortly publishing our response to this consultation, setting out details of the new regulatory regime, to be legislated for in the Building Safety Bill, that will ensure residents are, and feel, safe in their homes.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance is issued to local authorities on the inclusion in local plans of accessibility for disabled residents of and visitors to Traveller sites.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
No specific guidance is produced in relation to the accessibility of traveller sites, however the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local planning policy and decisions should ensure that developments create places that are safe, inclusive and accessible and which promote health and well-being, with a high standard of amenity for existing and future users.
Any permanent structures would also be subject to Part M of the Building Regulations, which require buildings to meet minimum accessibility standards.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on developing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The 2019 Conservative Manifesto committed to creating a UK Shared Prosperity Fund which binds together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations.
The Government recognises the importance of reassuring local areas on the future of local growth funding and of providing clarity on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Government officials have been working closely with interested parties and will continue to do so as we develop the fund.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to undertake a public consultation on a Code of Practice under the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 will get the fairest deal for motorists, landowners and parking operators. The Act requires that the Code of Practice be developed in consultation with stakeholders, and we are also committed to carrying out a public consultation on the draft Code of Practice in due course.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the consultation on the New Homes Ombudsman.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We will be publishing our consultation on the New Homes Ombudsman in due course. The consultation will also seek views on whether a Code of Practice for developers should be underpinned in statute.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve the quality of new build homes.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We have taken steps to address design quality through the revised National Planning Policy Framework and are in the process of reviewing associated guidance. We have also hosted two National Design Conferences, each attended by around 400 representatives of the sector, and we have launched the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission; to advise the Government on how to promote and increase the use of high-quality design for new build homes and neighbourhoods. The Commission will report back in December 2019.
In relation to build quality, we have announced our intention for a New Homes Ombudsman to be established and are considering options for a shadow ombudsman. Furthermore, our building regulations set requirements on a range of issues including health and safety, sustainability and access. The regulations are supported by statutory guidance in Approved Documents. As part of its response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety, the Government is developing a programme of reviews of the Approved Documents.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 19 July 2018 on Grenfell Update, HCWS890, what progress he has made on (a) establishing a more effective regulatory regime for fire and building safety and (b) producing an implementation plan for that regime.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government will set out how it intends to take forward the recommendations of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety in due course. This will include an outline of the progress it has made to establish a more effective regulatory regime for fire and building safety.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers are not discriminated against in licensed premises.
Answered by Nigel Adams
This Government is clear that all forms of unlawful discrimination are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The UK has a strong legal framework, and effective remedies, for the protection of human rights and for combating discrimination, complemented by the UK ratification and implementation of international human rights instruments. Romany Gypsies, Irish Travellers and Scottish Gypsy/Travellers have been recognised by the courts as specific racial groups for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 and it is clear that licensed premises must not discriminate against members of any of these groups. Within licensed premises, local authorities and operators of those premises have a responsibility to promote four licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003 on the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Housing Minister on the findings of the Race Disparity Audit in relation to accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers and the Government review, Powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government is considering the responses received to the recently closed consultation on the effectiveness of the powers to deal with unauthorised developments and encampments. The consultation touched on a broad range of issues, which included the provision of uthorised sites, and the impact on settled and travelling communities. The Government wants to understand the issues in more depth before deciding what action to take in response to stakeholders' views. The Secretary of State and I have had discussions with interested parties, including Members of Parliament, and continue to listen closely to stakeholders' views to ensure a robust and proportionate Government response.