Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to develop a national strategy on ending youth homelessness.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
This Government is committed to tackling all forms of homelessness including youth homelessness.
The Government's 'Ending Rough Sleeping for Good' Strategy, published in 2022 and backed by £2 billion over three years in England, recognises young people face particular challenges. The strategy confirmed a £200 million investment in the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP) which will deliver homes for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, including young people. In addition, £2.4 million of Rough Sleeping Initiative funding for 2022-2025 supports youth services in local areas.
The department will continue to work with local authorities and partners in the voluntary and community sector and private sector to tackle youth homelessness.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to set out more detail on his Department’s proposals for supporting knowledge-intensive clusters to drive economic growth, as announced in the Autumn Statement 2022.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Further to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, Investment Zones are being refocused to catalyse a number of the highest potential knowledge intensive growth clusters to boost productivity, growth and job creation. These will be based around the Chancellor's five priority sectors.
We will work closely with Mayors, the Devolved Administrations, local authorities, businesses, and other local partners.
I recently met with Maritime UK, and look forward to further engagement as this policy develops.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the next round of awards from the Levelling Up Fund for Northern Ireland will be announced.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
All bids submitted to the second round of the Levelling Up Fund are being assessed in line with our published guidance. We will announce the successful bids in due course.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans his Department has to announce the next group of freeports.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
The Government is working hard to support the other prospective Freeports. Subject to agreeing their governance arrangements and successfully completing their business cases, we expect the next set of Freeports to begin operations in 2022.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many bids have been submitted to the first round of the Levelling Up Fund from Northern Ireland by constituency.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
I am delighted to say that the first round of the Levelling Up Fund received significant interest from Northern Ireland bidding authorities across the three investment priorities of the Fund. Outcomes from the first round of bids for the Levelling Up Fund were announced at Spending Review on 27 October and the list of successful bids across UK has been published on GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-first-round-successful-bidders
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment the Government has made of the implications for its policies of proposals from the housing-with-care sector and their trade body ARCO to set up a cross-government task force to accelerate the growth of the housing-with-care sector.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 September to Question UIN 51650.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Government is taking steps to define the role of (a) extra care and (b) retirement villages in the social care system.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 September to Question UIN 51650.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Government is taking steps to increase the (a) amount and (b) availability of housing-with-care for older people.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 September to Question UIN 51650.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to increase economic activity in coastal communities.
Answered by Luke Hall
We are committed to increasing economic activity in our coastal communities. Our coastal areas have already benefited from over £250 million through successful bids into Town Deals and from the Future High Streets Fund. At Budget 2021, the Chancellor announced 7 Freeports in coastal areas, which will boost economic activity further in these communities.
This is all in addition to the £6 million available through the Welcome Back Fund to support coastal areas; offering assistance of up to £100,000 to help address the unique challenges facing these areas as restrictions ease. Further support will be available through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK in places most in need. Coastal places can also bid into the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund.