Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his oral statement of 10 February 2021 on Building Safety, whether the new levy on developers will be applied across the UK; and how revenues derived from that levy will be apportioned to the devolved administrations.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
We will be introducing a levy on developers, helping to ensure the industry take on collective responsibility for historical building safety defects. The proposed levy will be targeted and apply when developers seek permission to start building work on certain high-rise buildings in England. It will be implemented through the forthcoming Building Safety Bill.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his oral statement of 10 February 2021 on Building Safety, whether the guidance agreed with UK financial lenders and RICS on EWS1 forms will be applicable across the whole UK; and when that new guidance will come into effect.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
I understand that the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is reviewing the responses to the public consultation on its new draft EWS1 guidance and that the RICS will be publishing its new guidance for surveyors and valuers soon.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the proposed Gateway 2 developer levy.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The proposed gateway 2 developer levy will apply only when developers seek permission to develop certain high-rise buildings in England. It will not apply to Wales. Housing and building safety are devolved matters, with each of the four nations responsible for developing and enforcing their own regulations.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he first discussed the proposed developers levy with the Welsh Government and how that levy will apply to Wales.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The proposed gateway 2 developer levy will apply only when developers seek permission to develop certain high-rise buildings in England. It will not apply to Wales. Housing and building safety are devolved matters, with each of the four nations responsible for developing and enforcing their own regulations.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to increase the UK-wide capacity of qualified surveyors capable of undertaking assessments for EWS1 forms.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Department is funding nearly £700,000 to train more assessors to speed up the valuation process for homeowners in cases where an EWS1 form is required. The training is being delivered by RICS, who aim to have trained an additional 2,000 assessors by the end of the summer.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what agreements he has reached with (a) RICS, (b) UK Finance and (c) other stakeholders on reducing the requirement for EWS1 forms.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Industry have confirmed that buildings without cladding do not need an EWS1 form. This was announced on 21 November 2020. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-steps-in-to-help-homeowners-caught-up-in-ews1-process.
The Department estimates that this clarity will benefit 450,000 leaseholders.
RICS has recently completed a consultation on guidance for valuers when using the EWS1 process. When published the final RICS guidance should offer further clarity on the buildings where the EWS1 process should be used.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reduce fraud in the assessment and certification of EWS1 forms.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
RICS are aware of potential fraudulent use of EWS1 forms. RICS coordinate with the police and trading standards on any cases brought to their attention.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on the (a) fire safety, (b) building quality and (c) integrity of apartment complexes constructed in the UK since 1995.
Answered by Esther McVey - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department is in regular contact with the devolved administration on the subject of Building Regulations including fire safety and building quality.
The devolved administrations are routinely invited and regularly attend meetings of the Building Regulation Advisory Committee where matters in relating to the Building Regulations in England and the United Kingdom are discussed.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many complaints have been received by his Department on (a) building defects and (b) fire safety issues relating to developments built by Redrow Homes in each of the last five years.
Answered by Esther McVey - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government does not routinely maintain data on individual complaints it receives on specific developers. Complainants are directed to developers, the relevant complaints processes for new homes and local authorities. The Department does not deal with individual complaints but responds to correspondence advising how complaints can be resolved through existing processes. However we know that the current complaints and redress system does not provide sufficient protection for consumers and this is why we have committed to legislate to set up a New Homes Ombudsman.
The Department is committed to ensuring all buildings are built and maintained to a good standard. That is why we have announced in the Queen’s Speech that we will bring forward legislation on building safety in this parliament.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funding his Department has set aside for contingencies relating to the UK leaving the EU in the (a) current and (b) 2018-19 financial year.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
My Department's EU Exit plans are well developed and have been designed to provide the flexibility to respond to a negotiated agreement, as well as preparing us for the eventuality of leaving without a deal. The Government is committing new spending to the preparations for EU Exit, and the Treasury has committed over £250 million of new money to departments in this financial year.