Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the national plan for delivering food assistance is; what steps he will take to support local community food initiatives; and what role local authorities will have in ensuring the supply of food assistance.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
My Department continues to work with local authorities to develop appropriate measures that ensure those most vulnerable have access to food and drink throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
This Government is implementing a system to support those whose underlying health conditions mean they are at higher clinical risk for COVID-19, and are therefore being asked to self-isolate
The system will enable the delivery of groceries and medicine to this group, if they do not have alternative means of accessing these in place. Deliveries of food and essential household items will be delivered to the doorstep.
Local authorities will be a key delivery agency, working closely with at-risk individuals, central Government, food industry partners and the voluntary and community sector to ensure the system operates effectively.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many people received a Disabled Facilities Grant in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Luke Hall
The Government does not currently produce data on the Disabled Facilities Grant. However, the Department provides local authority returns to Foundations, the Government-funded national body for home improvement agencies. Foundations analyse the data to understand Disabled Facilities Grant delivery nationally. From records provided by Foundations, the data shows the following estimates for adaptations that were delivered from 2014 to 2019:
Estimates for number of Disabled Facilities Grants delivered (2014 to 2019)
2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | Total |
40,645 | 40,800 | 46,000 | 47,850 | 53,500 | 228,795 |
Source: Foundations, the national body for home improvement agencies
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government, how many people with a diagnosis of autism received a Disabled Facilities Grant in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Luke Hall
The number of people with a diagnosis of autism who received a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for each of the last 5 years is not held centrally. However, anyone can apply for a DFG, including people diagnosed with autism. The Government is committed to helping people to live independently and safely in their own homes, which is why we have invested over £2.7 billion into the grant since 2012, delivering around 280,000 home adaptations by the end of 2018-19.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish a Statement of Expectations for supported housing providers; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Luke Hall
My Department is completing a National Statement of Expectations (NSE) for supported housing, which we have developed in close collaboration with local authorities and provider membership bodies. The guidance sets out Government's vision for the planning, commissioning and delivery of supported housing, and outlines our expectations for standards in accommodation. We are currently finalising the NSE and intend to publish it shortly.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to respond to the permitted development for shale gas exploration consultation which closed on 25 October 2018.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government will provide a comprehensive response to the Select Committee’s report, and respond to the consultations on permitted development for shale gas exploration and compulsory community pre-application consultation for shale gas development, in due course.
We are currently analysing the representations to both the consultations, and considering the Select Committee’s report and its conclusions and recommendations.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to respond to the compulsory community pre-application consultation for shale gas development consultation which closed on 7 January 2019.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government will provide a comprehensive response to the Select Committee’s report, and respond to the consultations on permitted development for shale gas exploration and compulsory community pre-application consultation for shale gas development, in due course.
We are currently analysing the representations to both the consultations, and considering the Select Committee’s report and its conclusions and recommendations.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to respond the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee’s 8th report, Planning guidance on fracking, published on 5 July 2018.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government will provide a comprehensive response to the Select Committee’s report, and respond to the consultations on permitted development for shale gas exploration and compulsory community pre-application consultation for shale gas development, in due course.
We are currently analysing the representations to both the consultations, and considering the Select Committee’s report and its conclusions and recommendations.