Asked by: Mark Logan (Conservative - Bolton North 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 is taking steps to support the Bolton Interfaith Forum.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Government is supportive of efforts by faith groups and others to bring together people of different faiths and beliefs.
Asked by: Mark Logan (Conservative - Bolton North 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 assessment he has made of the impact of the planning system on onshore renewable energy projects.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Government recognises the importance of onshore wind in meeting our net zero and carbon budget ambitions. In recognition of this, last month he National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was updated to help make it easier and quicker for local planning authorities to consider and, where appropriate, approve onshore wind projects where there is local support. We will keep the impact of this change under review.
Asked by: Mark Logan (Conservative - Bolton North 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 held recent discussions with the Association for British Insurers on the provision of insurance for buildings deemed at risk of fire.
Answered by Lee Rowley
I have met both the British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers, along with companies providing services in these sectors, on multiple occasions during 2023 to highlight the concerns of leaseholders regarding excess insurance costs and the need to make progress in this important area.
The Government is committed to making sure that buildings insurance costs are fair and transparent, and that leaseholders have confidence in challenging costs where necessary. Insurers must price risk in a responsible manner. It is clear from the Financial Conduct Authority reports into this market that leaseholders have not always been getting the service that they should, and this must change.
Regarding broking fees, in April 2023 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consulted on giving leaseholders rights under their fair value rules and increasing requirements on the disclosure of information to leaseholders by brokers, and I strongly welcome its initiatives in this direction. The British Insurance Brokers' Association have already confirmed that they are in the process of testing new guidance for their members on how to comply with FCA fair value rules.
The Association of British Insurers has been developing a scheme for buildings with fire safety risks experiencing particularly high premiums for a significant period of time. I continue to highlight the Government’s clear expectation that this be delivered as soon as possible.
Asked by: Mark Logan (Conservative - Bolton North East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if she will hold discussions with the British Insurance Brokers' Association on the potential merits of producing industry guidance for meeting fair value rules to ensure that leaseholders benefit from such rules.
Answered by Lee Rowley
I have met both the British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers, along with companies providing services in these sectors, on multiple occasions during 2023 to highlight the concerns of leaseholders regarding excess insurance costs and the need to make progress in this important area.
The Government is committed to making sure that buildings insurance costs are fair and transparent, and that leaseholders have confidence in challenging costs where necessary. Insurers must price risk in a responsible manner. It is clear from the Financial Conduct Authority reports into this market that leaseholders have not always been getting the service that they should, and this must change.
Regarding broking fees, in April 2023 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consulted on giving leaseholders rights under their fair value rules and increasing requirements on the disclosure of information to leaseholders by brokers, and I strongly welcome its initiatives in this direction. The British Insurance Brokers' Association have already confirmed that they are in the process of testing new guidance for their members on how to comply with FCA fair value rules.
The Association of British Insurers has been developing a scheme for buildings with fire safety risks experiencing particularly high premiums for a significant period of time. I continue to highlight the Government’s clear expectation that this be delivered as soon as possible.
Asked by: Mark Logan (Conservative - Bolton North 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 with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure that all public parks are made accessible to emergency vehicles.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Local authorities are responsible for public parks and spaces under their ownership. I would encourage local authorities to work with the emergency services to ensure access to emergency vehicles.