Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 assessment of the potential impact of the Midlands Engine Strategy on economic growth in the Midlands.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Pan regional partnerships have made a valuable contribution, supporting collaboration and taking forward a breadth of work on shared growth opportunities. Moving forward, the government intends to support Mayors in collaborating at pan-regional level and creating convening bodies whose purpose, priorities and membership are decided at a regional level, and working with existing regional organisations such as Sub-National Transport bodies.
At the Autumn Budget, the government confirmed that it would consult on its minded to decision to cease funding for pan-regional partnerships at the end of this financial year. The consultation sought to gather views from all interested parties on the impacts of this decision, should it be taken forward, and closed on 16 December. The Department is currently considering the responses received and will confirm a final decision shortly.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to ensure the long-term maintenance of the Local Authority Data Explorer following the closure of the Office for Local Government.
Answered by Jim McMahon
It is right for government, the sector, and for the general public that there is transparency on the delivery of the Government’s key missions, objectives and outcomes. My department will measure and publish data related to these priorities. This will incorporate the benefits of the Office for Local Government’s measurement work to date. As this work develops, the Data Explorer will stay live and continue to be updated.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 a comparative assessment of the effect of the (a) proposals in Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committee on the applicability of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 and (b) protections afforded to the (i) habitats and (ii) species listed in Section 41 of that Act.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government’s planning reform working paper on planning committees invites views on a number of proposals designed to support better decision making in the planning system. The working paper does not propose any changes which would affect the application of the biodiversity duties and protections under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has plans to help increase the building of accessible housing for people with accessibility needs.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
Housing is one of this Governments 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.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to extend the Rough Sleeping Initiative 2022-25 beyond April 2025.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
The Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for cross-governmental coordination of policy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and will update in due course.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 encourage joint working between (a) councils and (b) voluntary bodies to tackle local homelessness.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
This Government recognises the crucial role that councils and the voluntary and community sector play in addressing homelessness and is committed to working closely with these partners, as well as councils and mayors, as we develop a new cross-government strategy that will put us back on track to ending homelessness once and for all.