Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of Changing Places toilet facilities in public places; and if he will include requirements for such facilities in any future disability strategy.
Answered by Lord Barwell
The Government supports steps to increase the number of Changing Places toilets. Research into the effectiveness of the statutory guidance which supports Building Regulations’ requirements for access for non domestic buildings is currently being finalised. The research has covered provision of Changing Places toilets. The research will be published in due course and the Government will consider carefully any findings relating to Changing Places toilets.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the effect of Scottish Government policies on the level of new affordable social housing in Scotland.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Delivery of affordable housing in Scotland is a devolved matter.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what effect the policies outlined in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 will have on the amount his Department plans to spend on policies and services which in Scotland are devolved to the Scottish Government.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
My Department does not have responsibility for policies or services in Scotland. These are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. However, the increased funding for Housing announced in the Autumn Statement will deliver benefits to Scotland, thanks to the application of the Barnett formula. This Spending Review delivers a 14% real terms increase in capital budgets for the Scottish Government, which is equal to £1.9 billion over the spending review period. This is in addition to existing borrowing powers of over £2 billion. This will enable the Scottish Government, should they chose to do so, to support hard-working people who aspire to own their own home, and deliver the homes that communities want.