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 recent progress his Department has made on publishing national supported housing standards under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Government is determined to improve standards in supported housing, which is why – thanks to my Hon Friend the Member for Harrow East - the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 provides for National Supported Housing Standards, which will be enforced through a licensing regime across all local authorities in England. In developing these standards, my department is engaging extensively including with residents of supported housing and people with lived experience. The Government will be consulting formally on the proposed National Supported Housing Standards in due course.
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, with reference to section 1 of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, what progress his Department has made on establishing the Supported Housing Advisory Panel.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Secretary of State is establishing The Supported Housing Advisory Panel in accordance with the duty set out in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. The primary focus of the Panel will be delivering better outcomes for people, and a fairer, more just approach to supported housing for the most vulnerable, as the measures in the Act are developed and implemented.
We will be recruiting the members through open competition and the advert will be open shortly.
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 adequacy of national planning policy framework for active travel.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The National Planning Policy Framework already states that planning policies should “provide for attractive and well-designed walking and cycling networks with supporting facilities which are designed to promote active travel”.
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, with reference to the Net Zero Strategy, last updated on 5 October 2022, what recent progress he has made on his assessment of a maximum level for embodied carbon in new buildings; and when he plans to consult on proposals to reduce those levels.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The 2021 Net Zero Strategy set out Government’s ambition to help the construction sector improve reporting on embodied carbon in buildings and confirmed we are exploring maximum embodied carbon levels in new buildings in the future.
Government intends to seek views on possible approaches to the measurement and reduction of embodied carbon in due course.
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 is taking steps to incorporate health inequalities into national development management policies.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government has confirmed that it will consult on the proposed suite of National Development Management Policies in 2024 and more information on their content will be shared in due course.
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 his Department's expected timescale is to publish its response to the Council tax valuation of Houses in Multiple Occupation consultation.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government has set out its intention that Houses in Multiple Occupation should generally be treated as one dwelling for the purposes of council tax and provided with a single council tax banding. We are considering responses to the consultation and will publish the Government's response shortly.
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 to support local planning authorities to help tackle regional health inequalities through (a) active travel facilities, (b) access to healthcare and (c) other infrastructure.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Tackling health disparities is at the heart of the Government's ambitions for Levelling Up. Through the Levelling Up White Paper, we have set out our mission to narrow the gap in healthy life expectancy between areas.
The National Planning Policy Framework expects local planning authorities to set out a strategy for the provision of sufficient infrastructure which includes community facilities such as hospitals and doctor's surgeries. Planning policies and decisions should plan positively for these, taking into account and supporting the delivery of local strategies to improve health and well-being for all of the community.
With regards to transport the Framework is clear that this is matter that should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals, thereby enabling opportunities to promote walking and cycling to be identified and pursued, including supporting facilities.
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 bring forward legislative proposals to outlaw blanket bans on private renters (a) with children and (b) in receipt of benefits.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
I refer the Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 187385 on 7 June 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 recent discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on when the Renters (Reform) Bill will receive its second reading.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
I refer the Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 187383 on 7 June 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, whether he has had recent discussions with Homes England on the compatibility of its housebuilding programme with its (a) commitment to co-operate with (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies on safeguarding the natural environment and (b) other principles in the Home England Safety, Health and Environmental policy.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.