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Written Question
Inland Waterways: Planning
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will introduce National Planning Policy Guidance to assist local government planning authorities to provide a consistent approach to (a) canal and (b) associated infrastructure restoration.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

The restoration of inland waterways are hugely important to so many communities around the country. Whilst we do not currently have plans to introduce further guidance, we will certainly keep the matter under review.


Written Question
Elections: Proof of Identity
Thursday 27th April 2023

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reason a young person's railcard is not valid for use in local and national elections as voter ID; and if he will take steps to make the young person's railcard a valid form of voter ID.

Answered by Dehenna Davison

The Government carefully considered a wide range of documents when selecting which acceptable forms of identification to use at polling stations . It is essential that the list of accepted identification includes those owned by the majority of the electorate, but also that the list can be effectively administered by polling station staff. Evidence from pilots showed that use of a young person's rail card was very low where they were trialled in Woking in 2018. Young person's railcards are also generally offered in digital and physical formats but digital formats are not currently accepted as voter identification. It was judged that allowing a physical version of a young person's railcard but not a digital version could lead to confusion.

Cabinet Office research shows that 98% of electors already own a form of photographic identification (in date or expired) that is accepted under the changes and this increases to 99% for those ages 18-29. A number of student cards are accredited by the Proof of Age Standards Scheme, and so are accepted. This includes the National Union of Students endorsed 'TOTUM +' student card, and a Young Scot card, meaning there are nationally available student cards that will be accepted as identification in polling stations.

The Government has committed in legislation to review the voter identification policy after implementation and, as set out previously, will consider appropriate changes to the list of accepted identification documents as part of this process.


Written Question
Regional Planning and Development
Thursday 2nd March 2023

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the third round of levelling up bids will be invited by his Department.

Answered by Dehenna Davison

I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer to Question UIN 140117 on 14 February 2023.


Written Question
Local Government Association
Tuesday 14th February 2023

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the letter to him from the Local Government Association of 1 February, what plans he has to (a) adopt a place-based approach and (b) return to multi-year settlements.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The mission we have set out in the White Paper is that by 2030, everywhere in England that wants one will have a devolution deal with powers at or approaching the highest level of devolution with a simplified long-term funding settlement.

Our policy statement released in December, provided multi-year certainty to local authorities into 2024/25. This statement supports councils’ budget setting processes, allowing local authorities to plan over the rest of the Spending Review.


Written Question
Local Government Finance
Tuesday 8th November 2022

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make it his policy to extend the IFRS9 statutory override for pooled investments beyond 31 March 2023 in the context of volatility in asset prices; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing further additional financial support as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement 2023/24 and 2024/25 to reflect additional costs in the context of inflationary pressures, including in external audit fees.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

With reference to financial years 2023/2024 and 2024/25, the Government is currently considering elements of the future financial settlement and will make announcements in due course.


Written Question
Local Government: Devolution
Tuesday 12th July 2022

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether shire counties, including Staffordshire, can receive devolved additional powers without an elected mayor; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing other governance models to enable shire counties to exercise those powers.

Answered by Lia Nici

For all places across England, including shire counties, who are interested in pursuing a new devolution deal, a mayor will not be a pre-requisite. However, we do believe that high-profile, directly elected leaders (such as a mayor) will be most effective for levelling up: providing a single point of accountability to local citizens, acting as a champion for their areas and attracting investment and opportunity to their places. As such, the most comprehensive devolution package will only be available to areas with a directly elected mayor. The devolution framework - published in the Levelling Up White Paper - sets a clear and consistent set of devolution pathways for places, enabling them to widen and deepen their devolved powers subject to meeting certain pre-conditions.


Written Question
Religious Buildings: Music
Wednesday 19th May 2021

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he publish a timescale for allowing choral singing and performance to resume in English cathedrals and churches as covid-19 restrictions are eased; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Eddie Hughes

The roadmap to reopening published on 22 February set out the steps by which restrictions on activities will be lifted and the considerations that will determine the rate of progress. Singing, playing some musical instruments, shouting and physical activity increases the risk of transmission through small droplets and aerosols and the cumulative effect of aerosol transmission means the more people involved, the higher the risk of transmission.

From 17 May, when Step 3 of the roadmap is taken, indoors in a Place of Worship a group of up to 6 amateur singers can perform, or rehearse for performance. There is no limit on the number of professional singers but they should follow guidance for the performing arts. Outdoors, the congregation may join in with singing in multiple groups of up to 30. Congregation members should continue to follow social distancing rules. A decision on whether to allow larger performances and communal singing in a place of worship will be taken as we approach Step 4 of the roadmap, no earlier than 21 June.


Written Question
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Monday 20th July 2020

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

What guidance his Department issues to local authorities on their membership of local enterprise partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Simon Clarke

The Department has provided clear guidance on the membership of Local Enterprise Partnerships through our National Local Growth Assurance Framework.

Each Local Enterprise Partnership is required to set out the membership requirements of their Board and Sub-Boards in a Local Assurance Framework which should be published on their website.


Written Question
Local Government: Coronavirus
Tuesday 16th June 2020

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

What recent steps his Department has taken to support the clinically extremely vulnerable during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

At the start of this pandemic we advised Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people to shield - to not leave their homes and avoid face-to-face contact – and we set up the National Shielding Service; a huge logistical exercise unprecedented since the Second World War.

This has included delivering over 3 million free food boxes to date, securing priority supermarket slots, getting people’s medicines delivered to their doorstep, and social contact.

On 1 June, following clinical advice, we announced that?clinically extremely?vulnerable?people in England?can spend time outdoors?with members of their household, or with one other person from another household if they live alone, while continuing to follow social distancing guidelines.

The next review will take place this week. As part of this, the Government will consider the next steps for shielding beyond 30 June. The Government will write to all individuals on the shielded patient list with information about next steps on shielding advice and the support that will be available to them after this review point.


Written Question
Local Enterprise Partnerships: West Midlands
Friday 7th December 2018

Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to reply to the letter from Andy Street, Metro Mayor of the West Midlands, on proposed changes to the geography of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull local enterprise partnership; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jake Berry

The letter from Andy Street, Metro Mayor of the West Midlands, has been received. A response will be sent shortly.

Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) have been integral to economic growth across England since their establishment in 2010. This Government remains committed to strengthening LEPs to deliver ambitious strategies for growth and build an economy which is fit for the future.