Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that a higher proportion of housing is affordable in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) other rural areas.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771).
Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2024 to Question 9543 on Housing: Construction, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the fitting of solar panels on new homes and buildings.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government’s approach to building regulations remains technology-neutral, to ensure housebuilders have the flexibility to choose the most appropriate and cost-effective solutions for their site. However, we appreciate the benefits of solar panels, including lower bills for households and greater security from fluctuations in electricity prices. That is why the Deputy Prime Minister and I are clear that rooftop solar should play an important role, where appropriate, as part of future standards for homes and buildings.
Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to tackle anti-Hindu hatred in Aylesbury constituency.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
No one should ever be a victim of hatred because of their race or religion and the Government continues to work with police and community partners to monitor and combat this. This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion and we will not tolerate anti-Hindu hatred in any form.
From 2016/17 to 2022/23, under the Protective Security for Places of Worship Scheme, the Home Office has approved security measures at 523 places of worship across England and Wales, including Hindu temples. In 2024/25, £3.5 million will be available for the places of worship and associated faith community through the scheme.
More broadly, we continue to look at tackling all forms of religious hatred and the government is actively exploring a more integrated and cohesive approach to this.
Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to process Community Ownership Fund round 4 applications.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
This Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed its commitment to the communities' sector and community ownership through empowering communities to own and run those local assets which mean the most to them.
Communities will rightly be seeking clarity. The Chancellor’s July ‘Public Spending: Inheritance’ speech set out the path to confirming plans for this year and next at the forthcoming Budget on 30 October 2024. Future plans for the next Spending Review period will conclude in Spring 2025.
We understand that this may have caused uncertainty about Round 4 of the Community Ownership Fund. The Government recognises this is challenging and will seek to provide clarity in due course.
Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure the clarity of guidance on what justifies a landlord refusing a pet request.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Renters' Rights Bill requires landlords not to unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge a decision. The government will issue detailed guidance in due course to help landlords and tenants understand the new rules.
Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to prevent discrimination against prospective tenants with pets.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Renters' Rights Bill requires landlords not to unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge a decision. The government will issue detailed guidance in due course to help landlords and tenants understand the new rules.
Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number and proportion of disability-accessible housing in Aylesbury constituency; and what steps she is taking to increase the proportion of such housing in that constituency.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
The data requested is not held centrally although the English Housing Survey does collect data on accessibility and adaptations within the home. Housing is one of this Government’s top priorities, everyone deserves to live in a decent home, in which they feel safe. We will set out our policies on accessible new build housing shortly.