Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Government Planning Inspectorate's decision to approve Homes England's plan to build 260 new homes on Brislington Meadows.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Planning Inspectorate deals with planning appeals and a variety of other casework in England. This decision was made by the Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State. The reasons for it were set out in the formal appeal decision, published on the Inspectorate's website, and the decision remains final unless successfully challenged in the courts.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to reintroduce the Private Parking Code of Practice.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 155257 on 8 March 2023.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to protect tenants of housing associations from unfair treatment by management companies.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Through the Social Housing Regulation Bill, we are introducing a range of measures to drive up standards in social housing. This includes facilitating the introduction of proactive regulation, meaning the Regulator of Social Housing will proactively seek assurances that providers are meeting the regulatory standards.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that any future planning frameworks minimise light pollution and protect the integrity of skies.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The National Planning Policy Framework is already clear that policies and decisions should limit the impact of light pollution on local amenity, dark landscapes and nature conservation. As set out in the December NPPF consultation, this Government will consult on a wider review of the Framework later this year.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to abolish section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave in Oral Parliamentary Questions on 27 March 2023 (Official Report, HC, Volume 730, Column 642).
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what advice he received from his officials before making the decision on the recently approved coal mine in Whitehaven, Cumbria.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The reasons for the Secretary of State's decision are set out in full in his published Decision Letter , it would be improper to offer further comment at this time.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking help local authorities respond to the effects of increases in inflation.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced a substantial package of taxpayer support for local government, including new funding for adult social care. This follows a significant increase in funding for recent years, including an additional £3.7 billion in taxpayer subsidy via the 2022-23 local government finance settlement.
We are aware of the challenges of inflation within the local government sector and, along with the continued welcome transformation and efficient work that Councils are undertaking, we will continue to work closely with them on this issue.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what additional support he will offer to local authorities on reducing (a) levels of homelessness and (b) the number of people in temporary accomodation.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Government is committed to reducing the need for temporary accommodation by preventing homelessness before it occurs. Local authorities have received funding through the Homelessness Prevention Grant in 2022-23, giving them the support to prevent homelessness and help more people sooner and deliver their statutory duties to prevent homelessness and provide temporary accommodation where required. Local authorities can use this flexibly to meet their homelessness and rough sleeping strategies - for example, to offer financial support for people to find a new home and to work with landlords to prevent evictions, among other preventative measures.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many new homes with an energy efficiency rating of D to G have been built in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021 and (d) 2022.
Answered by Paul Scully
The data on new build Energy Performance Certificates for (a) 2019, (b) 2021 and (d) 2022 (Quarters 1 and Q2 only), are published in DLUHCs EPC statistics live tables . However, the way the data are collected means that new build property EPC ratings cannot be distinguished from new properties stemming from change of use or conversions, where the EPC rating maybe lower, particularly if the structure of the previous building was less energy efficient.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, by what date his Department plans to make a decision on whether to grant planning permission to the proposed coking coal mine in Whitehaven.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
The case remains under consideration. The target has been varied to 17 August, and a decision will be issued on or before that date.