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.
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, what steps his Department has taken to embed the family test into its policy making.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Officials in my Department have liaised with the Department for Work and Pensions as the lead Department for the Family Test to embed it into the policy process. This has included training officials on applying the Test and disseminating relevant evidence, learning materials and best practice.