Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to mandate higher accessibility standards for new build homes.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Housing is one of this Government’s top priorities. Everyone deserves to live in a decent home that is suitable for them and meets their needs. The revised National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12 December 2024, requires local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those of older and disabled people, and to reflect this in planning policies. Where an identified need exists, plans are expected to help bring forward an adequate supply of accessible housing. The Government will shortly set out its policies on accessible new build housing, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to a safe, suitable home.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what are the delivery rates of M4(2) accessible and adaptable homes.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The data requested is not held centrally although the English Housing Survey does collect data on accessibility and adaptations within the home.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to conduct a review of blood donation rules for people over the age of 70.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England, and blood donor selection guidelines are prepared by the Joint United Kingdom Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC), with further information available at the following link:
https://www.transfusionguidelines.org/
JPAC is due to conduct a review of the upper age limit for new and returning donors in 2026, following analysis of adverse events over the preceding 12 months since NHSBT, and other UK blood services, adopted its updated guidelines for returning donors in 2024. A copy of the guidelines is attached.
The current maximum age of first-time donors was extended from 60 to 65 years old in line with Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 limits on the safe age range for new donors, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/50/contents
There is no age limit for regular donors, who may continue to give blood over the age of 72 years old if they remain in good health and have made at least one full donation in the last two years.
Returning donors, those who have given blood anywhere in the world without an adverse reaction, can return to donating up to, and on, their 72nd birthday, and then can continue to donate as long as they remain healthy
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce next plans to meet.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I intend to convene a further meeting of the Taskforce in the near future to discuss next steps. My officials will be in touch to arrange the specifics of this in due course.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when she expects the Legal Aid Agency's digital services covering civil legal aid will return online; and what recent discussions she has had with the Legal Aid Agency on this matter.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We expect that the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) digital platform and services will begin to be restored from early September onwards and this will be a phased return. The LAA has written to representative bodies and providers to update them that the old Portal will be replaced by a new, secure single sign-in tool for LAA online services (SiLAS). This represents a recovery and transformation model which has been subject to testing by a small pilot group throughout August. This is subject to testing, security and legal criteria being met.
The expected phased restoration is as follows:
In mid-September, Crime systems (Crime Apply, and Submit a Crime Form) will be available for access.
From mid to late September, Civil systems (Civil Apply, and the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS)) will be available for access.
Services relating to functionality previously provided by the Controlled Work Administration (CWA) system are expected to return from October.
The LAA continues to engage with representative bodies to help shape the steps to service restoration in a way which supports legal aid providers most effectively. Regular updates are being provided to providers. The LAA continues to publish information and updates about SiLAS on its FAQ page: Legal Aid Agency cyber security incident: frequently asked questions - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in what way compliance with accessibility regulations for new build homes is monitored.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
In the initial stages, a building control application is required for new build homes. This is reviewed by building control bodies to ensure compliance with building regulations, including Part M – Access to and use of buildings.
During the build process, progress on site may be checked and monitored, using a number of methods, including on site visits, where the inspector may ask the builders on site to open up parts of the build in order to check compliance, and give advice if needed.
At the end of the build process, if a building complies with relevant regulations, a completion certificate will be issued.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure the provision of accessible housing for disabled Ukrainian refugees.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
We provide a tariff of £5,900 per Ukrainian arrival to councils. Councils can use this funding flexibly to support households as best suits the local area, including using the funding for measures to support guests to access secure and appropriate accommodation in the private rental sector.
All Ukrainian guests have access to public services, including benefits to support the costs of private rented housing. The Citizens Advice Bureau can advise on which benefits individuals may be eligible for and how to apply for those.
Council housing teams can also offer advice to Ukrainians about the range of housing options available locally.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the proportion of businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector that will (a) not qualify for retail, hospitality and leisure relief and (b) pay a higher multiplier due to business properties with rateable values above £500,000.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for business rates reform and invited industry to co-design a fairer business rates system.
In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025.
To deliver our manifesto pledge, from April 2026, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.
This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we also intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from April 2026 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. This represents less than one per cent of all properties.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have published data on properties with RVs above £500,000 based on the previous valuation, broken down by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000. The VOA also routinely publish data on the whole commercial property stock by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024.
Every three years, all commercial properties are revalued by the VOA. The 2026 revaluation, which will take effect from April 2026, will update RVs and may, therefore, affect which businesses are within scope of the new higher rate. The revaluation process is ongoing. The VOA are required to publish a draft of all properties’ new RVs this year.
The rates for the new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the expected effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the planned higher multiplier for properties with rateable values above £500,000, broken down by business sector.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for business rates reform and invited industry to co-design a fairer business rates system.
In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025.
To deliver our manifesto pledge, from April 2026, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.
This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we also intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from April 2026 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. This represents less than one per cent of all properties.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have published data on properties with RVs above £500,000 based on the previous valuation, broken down by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000. The VOA also routinely publish data on the whole commercial property stock by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024.
Every three years, all commercial properties are revalued by the VOA. The 2026 revaluation, which will take effect from April 2026, will update RVs and may, therefore, affect which businesses are within scope of the new higher rate. The revaluation process is ongoing. The VOA are required to publish a draft of all properties’ new RVs this year.
The rates for the new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the expected effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her planned timeline is for the publication of the interim report on business rates.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for business rates reform and invited industry to co-design a fairer business rates system.
In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025.
To deliver our manifesto pledge, from April 2026, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.
This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we also intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from April 2026 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. This represents less than one per cent of all properties.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have published data on properties with RVs above £500,000 based on the previous valuation, broken down by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000. The VOA also routinely publish data on the whole commercial property stock by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024.
Every three years, all commercial properties are revalued by the VOA. The 2026 revaluation, which will take effect from April 2026, will update RVs and may, therefore, affect which businesses are within scope of the new higher rate. The revaluation process is ongoing. The VOA are required to publish a draft of all properties’ new RVs this year.
The rates for the new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the expected effects of the new multiplier arrangements.