Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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
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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 Baroness Maclean of Redditch
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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 Baroness Maclean of Redditch
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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 Baroness Maclean of Redditch
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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 Baroness Maclean of Redditch
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 Baroness Maclean of Redditch
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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 Baroness Maclean of Redditch
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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
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 Baroness Maclean of Redditch
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).