Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of updating the Solar Energy Planning Guidance to give the same protections to ordinary agricultural land, categories Agricultural Land Classification Grade 3b and below, that it receives in other planning guidance.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by recognising the benefits from natural capital, including those from the best and most versatile agricultural land. Though the Framework does not refer to agricultural land that is less versatile (graded 3b, 4 or 5 by Natural England), it does expect local planning authorities to have regard to the character and beauty of the countryside, and to protect valued soils and landscapes. Wherever possible, authorities should make the most of brownfield land for development.
The Framework explains that all communities have a responsibility to help increase the use and supply of green energy, but this does not mean that the need for renewable energy automatically overrides environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities. As with other types of development, it is important that the planning concerns of local communities are properly heard in matters that directly affect them.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will issue guidance (a) for all religions to allow for outdoor group prayer to take place with the same criteria that applies to indoor places of worship before Step 3 of the covid-19 response Spring 2021 roadmap and (b) to facilitate communal Eid prayer in connection with Ramadan.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We know that it will be disappointing that Eid will take place before Step 3 of the roadmap to reopening has been taken. However, we must remember that we are still living through a pandemic – every additional day of restrictions directly improves our ability to reduce transmission and control the virus.
Communal worship outdoors in the grounds of a Place of Worship is already possible. Outdoors each participating group can involve up to two households. Mosques will also be able to organise ‘Eid in the Park’ prayers, but will need to work with local councils and health officials to facilitate this. Because larger events inevitably carry risks around groups mingling we have advised anyone planning such an event to ensure they are modest in size and well stewarded to ensure social distancing guidelines are followed, consistent with our guidance on Outdoor Events.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the number of local authorities that offer a deposit scheme to support young people in moving into the private rental sector; and what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of such schemes.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 places duties on local housing authorities to take reasonable steps to try to prevent and relieve a person’s homelessness. Local authorities must now work with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes to develop personalised housing plans, tailored to focus on the needs and circumstances of the household. The support offered may involve financial support.
We are providing a £310 million Homelessness Prevention Grant to local authorities in 2021/22 to help them plan and respond to their local homelessness pressures. Amongst other things, local authorities may use this to support people into the private rented sector, for example through guarantor schemes or by providing deposits. Local authorities may use homelessness funding flexibility in line with local need.
In addition, this year there is £140 million available in Discretionary Housing Payments which can be used for those who may need additional support with housing costs.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of local authorities that will act as a guarantor for young people who have experienced homelessness; and what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of such schemes.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 places duties on local housing authorities to take reasonable steps to try to prevent and relieve a person’s homelessness. Local authorities must now work with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes to develop personalised housing plans, tailored to focus on the needs and circumstances of the household. The support offered may involve financial support.
We are providing a £310 million Homelessness Prevention Grant to local authorities in 2021/22 to help them plan and respond to their local homelessness pressures. Amongst other things, local authorities may use this to support people into the private rented sector, for example through guarantor schemes or by providing deposits. Local authorities may use homelessness funding flexibility in line with local need.
In addition, this year there is £140 million available in Discretionary Housing Payments which can be used for those who may need additional support with housing costs.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) accessibility of the private rental sector to young people moving on from supported accommodation and (b) barriers faced by young people trying to move on from supported accommodation into the private rental sector; and what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on that matter.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Whilst my Department has not made a formal assessment, we recognise the importance of supporting vulnerable young people, including those staying in supported accommodation, into independent living for example in the private rented sector and we keep this and similar issues under regular review. Ministers in my Department and in the Department for Work and Pensions meet regularly on a range of matters.
We are already undertaking a range of wider action that should also help vulnerable young people with their onward housing needs. We have also taken action to support people, including young people, with renting property in the private rented sector, and we will go further to bring in a better deal for renters.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when community centres can re-open as covid-19 restrictions are eased; and whether those facilities are allowed to offer food and beverages.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
As part of the Government's 'COVID-19 Response Spring 2021' roadmap, community centres can re-open in the whole of England from 12 April, but restrictions on meeting indoors with people not in your household or support bubble will remain unless the community centre is used for the purposes set out in the exemptions at Paragraph 14(5) of Schedule 1 to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021.
Any facility which offers food and drink for consumption, must close any indoor premises or indoor parts of the premises in which food or drink are provided, the food and beverages must be consumed off the premises in a seated area, and the person responsible for the facility must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the customer remains seated outdoors whilst consuming the food or drink on the premises.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the stay on eviction proceedings during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
This Government took urgent and necessary steps in the immediate face of a public health emergency to suspend housing possession action in the county courts between 27 March 2020 until 20 September 2020. This meant that neither cases in the system nor any about to go into it could progress to the stage at which someone could be legally evicted from their home. The latest government statistics for the period between April to June 2020 show that, as a result of the stay on possession proceedings, there were no bailiff repossessions recorded during this time.
The suspension of possession proceedings ended on 20 September 2020 and landlords are now able to progress their possession claims through the courts. We have published guidance on the possession action process which includes new rules to protect tenants and new processes and procedures which landlords need to follow.
To further protect renters over winter, we have legislated to increase notice periods to 6 months in all but the most serious circumstances and asked bailiffs not to carry out evictions over Christmas or in areas that are subject to a local lockdown where that includes a restriction on gatherings in homes
These measures build on the Government’s major economic package of support including assistance for businesses to pay wages; boosting the welfare safety-net by more than £9 billion; increasing Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile; and providing £180 million funding for Discretionary Housing Payments, for local authorities to distribute to support renters needing additional help.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to support London fringe local authorities by introducing a cap to incentive payments to landlords in those authority areas in line with the pan-London Local Authority Agreement as agreed by the London Boroughs.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping.
The London Collaboration Project initiated the creation of a local authority owned, not for profit, company named Capital Letters that will both procure and manage properties in the private rented sector across London.
It was set up with the support of £37.8 million of Government funding. It aims to become the main source of private rented sector accommodation to prevent and relieve homelessness in London.
It aims to increase efficiency, reduce competition between boroughs, increase market reach and market power, and allow many more homeless households to be accommodated in, or close to, their home borough.
Capital Letters will improve the supply of homes, reduce the costs to local authorities, and achieve better outcomes for homeless families. It will do this through centralised procurement and be assisted by £37.8 million Government funding to procure around 21,000 additional tenancies.
As part of the Rough Sleeping Strategy 2018, we announced an additional £20 million to fund existing or new local authority schemes that support both families and individuals in accessing or sustaining PRS tenancies.
The schemes range from an innovative transitional insurance policy to providing incentives to landlords to offer longer term tenancies.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) efficiency of affordable housing schemes in Wycombe; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Esther McVey - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Government is committed to increasing the supply of social housing and has made £9 billion available through the Affordable Homes Programme to March 2022 to deliver approximately 250,000 new affordable homes in a wide range of tenures, including Social Rent.
Wycombe has a total housing stock of over 73,000 homes (2018) and almost 10,000 of these are affordable homes. Over 100 new affordable homes were built in the area in 2018-19
To enable councils and housing associations to build more we have increased the size of the Affordable Homes Programme, re-introduced social rent, removed the HRA borrowing cap for local authorities, and have set out a long-term rent deal for councils and housing associations in England from 2020.
Breakdowns of delivery by borough are available in live table 1011 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply.
Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the level of compliance of local authorities with the (a) affordability and (b) suitability criteria under the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 when placing homeless households out-of-borough.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
As the legislation and guidance sets out, the Government is clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, avoid placing households out of their borough. However, in some areas where there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation, we are aware that, on occasion, it is necessary to place households in temporary accommodation outside of the local area. This should be as a last resort.
If a local authority places a household into accommodation in another local area, they are required by law to notify the receiving local authority of any placement, to ensure there is no disruption to schooling, employment and other vital services.
In order to support local authorities,?the Government has put in place bespoke support in the form of the Homelessness Advice and Support Team, a group of specialist advisors drawn from authorities and charities with expertise in the homelessness sector. The team has contact with all 326 local authorities to provide?challenge, advice, and support on?issues such as?out of?borough?placements.