Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 7 October 2019 to Question 291003 and to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 290324, if he will introduce the same policy as the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and switch to an electricity provider that supplies electricity solely from renewable resources within the next 12 months; and for what reason his Department has not already ensured its electricity is supplied solely from renewable resources.
Answered by Jake Berry
All government departments are mandated to use the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Energy frameworks for the supply of gas, electricity and liquid fuels.
The CCS competes the frameworks on the open market and selects the energy providers according to a set of award criteria, normally based on price and quality.
The Department's main building is at 2 Marsham Street, which is operated through the Home Office PFI, which was signed in 2002. The supply of electricity is provided by the PFI provider and Home Office.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which provider supplies energy to his Department; how much CO2 was emitted through his Department’s energy consumption in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria his Department uses to select an energy supplier includes how environmentally friendly the supplier is; and what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce CO2 emissions from its energy use.
Answered by Jake Berry
The Department is mandated to use the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Energy frameworks for the supply of gas, electricity and liquid fuels. The CCS competes the frameworks on the open market and the criteria used to select energy suppliers is set by Crown Commercial Services. The current suppliers of each of these services are as follow:
In 2018/19, the Department emitted 5,241 t/CO2e through its energy use which represents a 70 per cent reduction compared to 2009/10. This has been achieved largely through improved building management (primarily relating to heating and cooling), adopting more resource efficient behaviours, more efficient use of space, and co-location.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will sign his Department up to the UK Steel charter.
Answered by Jake Berry
We have discussed the procurement of steel with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which has asked all Government departments to consider guidance on steel procurement and to notify of any upcoming opportunities for industry.
More broadly, the Government is committed to supporting the steel sector to realise the broader commercial opportunities that are open to it, which could be worth an additional £3.8 billion a year by 2030. We are establishing the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund – backed by up to £315 million of investment – to help businesses with high energy use (including steel companies) to cut their bills and transition UK industry to a low carbon future. We are also providing up to £66 million through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to help steel and other foundation industries develop radical new technologies.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had discussions with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the UK Steel charter.
Answered by Jake Berry
We have discussed the procurement of steel with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which has asked all Government departments to consider guidance on steel procurement and to notify of any upcoming opportunities for industry.
More broadly, the Government is committed to supporting the steel sector to realise the broader commercial opportunities that are open to it, which could be worth an additional £3.8 billion a year by 2030. We are establishing the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund – backed by up to £315 million of investment – to help businesses with high energy use (including steel companies) to cut their bills and transition UK industry to a low carbon future. We are also providing up to £66 million through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to help steel and other foundation industries develop radical new technologies.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to address Islamophobia in the UK.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We remain deeply concerned at hatred directed against British Muslims and others because of their faith or heritage. This is utterly unacceptable and does not reflect the values of our country.
This Government has done more than any other to tackle Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred. In early March 2019, the Communities Secretary and Home Secretary chaired a high-level roundtable discussion on Islamophobia to hear directly from communities about their concerns. In addition, the Cross-Government Working Group to Tackle Anti-Muslim Hatred plays a critical role as the Government’s main forum for discussing issues of concern around Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred.
Alongside, we have supported Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) with over £2.5 million between 2016 and 2020 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred. We have committed £1.6 million for the Places of Worship Security Grant this year, and a further £5 million over three years to support security training for places of worship.
To agree a formal definition of Islamophobia the government will be appointing two advisers, building on the important work already undertaken by the Anti Muslim Hatred Working Group.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress the Government has made in increasing (a) the number of and (b) access to Changing Places toilets.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The number of Changing Places toilets continues to increase, with 1162 facilities available today, compared to 140 in 2007. The Government has supported the development of a web based map showing the location of Changing Places toilets and has recently announced, in its Inclusive Transport Strategy, £2 million grant funding for Changing Places facilities in motorway service areas. The Government is considering what further can be done to promote the provision of Changing Places toilets.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee on the scope of a review of guidance in Approved Document M Volume 2.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Department is speaking with the Building Regulations Advisory committee and is looking to set out its plans to scope a review of guidance in Approved Document M Volume 2. The committee is expected to discuss this at a forthcoming meeting in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Transport on increasing the number of changing places toilet facilities at National Rail stations.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have discussed with the Department for Transport the provision of Changing Places toilets. Both Departments have met to talk to representatives of the Changing Places consortium to review current and forecast provision in National Rail stations.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will revise planning system guidance so that the clustering of fast food and junk food outlets near to school premises is discouraged.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Current planning policy guidance provides local authorities with advice in relation to healthy food environments. It already states that local authorities may consider limiting a certain use of building class in an area, providing there is evidence to support such a decision.
Considerations can include the proximity to locations where children and young people congregate, which would encompass schools but also play areas and community centres. Levels of obesity and the over-concentration of a use class within an area are also factors a local authority may consider.
On 5 March the Government issued for consultation our proposed revision of the National Planning Policy Framework, which sets out stronger and clearer expectations of local planning authorities in their approach towards healthy communities. The revised framework has a greater emphasis on the importance of health and wellbeing in our communities and places, including through greater access to healthier food and recreational facilities.
Asked by: Nicholas Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to Question 9980, on iron and steel: procurement, what progress his Department has made on delivering greater UK steel content in line with the public procurement guidelines published by the Government in April 2016.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Our procurement activities for all projects does and will follow government guidance to ensure we take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers.