Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish the report he commissioned from PriceWaterhouseCoopers on the public benefit value provided by the Learned Societies at Burlington House.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The Department did not commission PriceWaterhouse Coopers to produce the report.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure that data collected by his (a) Department and (b) Department’s associated arms-length bodies records biological sex as opposed to gender identity.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
When it is necessary to collate data on individuals, it is best practice to mirror the methodology used in the Census which distinguishes between sex and gender identity to ensure consistency and allow for comparative statistical analysis.
In some areas of public policy (for example, DLUHC policy on the provision of separate toilets for men and women), biological sex will be a relevant and pertinent consideration.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of potential protests taking place at the proposed new site of the Chinese Embassy at Royal Mint Court on traffic and pedestrians.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
A planning application for a new Chinese Embassy is currently before the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. As the Secretary of State has a quasi-judicial role in the planning system, it would not be appropriate to comment on the merits of the proposal in case it were to come before Ministers in the future.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing training and support for Ukrainian refugees in (a) medicine, (b) construction, (c) leadership, (d) education, (e) social care and (f) other areas that will help them rebuild their country after their eventual return to Ukraine.
Answered by Paul Scully
We continue to review and develop plans to support guests to access economic opportunities, informed by engagement with other government departments, local councils, Voluntary and Community Sector organisations, sponsors, and guests. We have been working across government to explore wider training and support options.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a ring-fenced fund for regulatory compliance apprenticeships.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
Regulatory services are not the responsibility of a single department. While no DLUHC funding is currently available we will keep this under review and maintain a dialogue with other departments and local government regarding this matter.
My Department is committed to addressing capacity and capability issues affecting regulatory services in general, and the regulation of the construction products sector in particular. The Government has supported the sector through the National Regulator for Construction Products within the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to oversee a stronger regulatory regime. Up to £10 million has been set aside for this work in 2021/22. My Department remains committed to making sure that OPSS have the necessary resources at its disposal, and we expect that OPSS will continue to work with and support Local Authority Trading Standards teams to implement the regime.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what funds have been paid by his Department to Stonewall in each of the last five years; and to what projects those funds were allocated.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) , formerly the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, became a member of Stonewall Diversity Champions in 2010. DLUHC is no longer a member of Stonewall UK Diversity Champions Programme, it concluded its membership with the 2018/19 subscription which was also the year MHCLG last applied to be included on Stonewall's "Workplace Equality Index. Detailed below is the funds allocated to Stonewall by project for each of the last five financial years
2016/17 FY | 2,400.00 | Stonewall Diversity Champions Annual Membership 16/17 |
2017/18 FY | 7,506 | Stonewall In House Allies Programme (£6,000) Stonewall – Leadership Program (£1,506) |
2018/19 FY | 3,000 | Stonewall - Diversity Champions Annual Membership 18/19 (£3,000) |
2019/20 FY | Nil |
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2020/21 FY | Nil |
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Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the (a) properties classified as heritage assets by his Department, (b) most recent estimate of the value of those properties and (c) annual income derived from those properties.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is advised on the management of designated heritage assets in its portfolio by Historic England’s Government Historic Estate Unit. Further details can be found here: https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/our-planning-services/advice-for-government-historic-estates/
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does not collect or collate data on the value (property value) or income data for these assets.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will list all the correspondence and communication he or his officials have had with the officers of the Learned Societies at Burlington House since June 2020.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Ministers and officials are in frequent contact with the Learned Societies.
The Learned societies pay discounted rent on new Burlington House, currently 30% of the market rate, in line with the agreement they reached with the then Government in 2006. The current arrangement would not see them pay market rent until 2085, however the Government is sympathetic to their position and is working with them to find a solution.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the percentage increase was in rent set by his Department payable by the Courtyard Societies in each year since 2005; for what reasons there has been a change in the level of the percentage increase since 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Five Learned Societies are tenants of New Burlington House, owned by the Department. Following a High Court settlement, all parties agreed in 2005 that rent would increase to market levels over a period of 80 years. The rent is at a limited rate to reflect the fact that the land is being used for cultural and educational purposes. The Department and the Learned Societies agreed in 2019 that the market rental value of the land was £50 per square foot but the Learned Societies are currently paying only £15.35 per square foot.
The rents charged are in accordance with the Learned Societies’ leases. The rents are calculated annually by way of a valuation that is based on evidenced market transactions and have followed growth of market rent since 2005. Rents can therefore rise and fall. The Department does not currently hold a forecast of rental projections from 2005. Rents based on the current lease are updated each year following valuation.
The Department is sympathetic to the Societies’ position and is exploring whether there is a solution that can deliver value for taxpayers and help the Learned Societies to remain at New Burlington House and an assessment of value will be made as part of an agreement. The Department has been discussing options with the Learned Societies and DCMS given their responsibility for policy in regards to culture, museums and heritage.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the difference for his Department's rental projections for the Burlington House Societies (a) as forecast in 2005 and (b) latest figures available; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Five Learned Societies are tenants of New Burlington House, owned by the Department. Following a High Court settlement, all parties agreed in 2005 that rent would increase to market levels over a period of 80 years. The rent is at a limited rate to reflect the fact that the land is being used for cultural and educational purposes. The Department and the Learned Societies agreed in 2019 that the market rental value of the land was £50 per square foot but the Learned Societies are currently paying only £15.35 per square foot.
The rents charged are in accordance with the Learned Societies’ leases. The rents are calculated annually by way of a valuation that is based on evidenced market transactions and have followed growth of market rent since 2005. Rents can therefore rise and fall. The Department does not currently hold a forecast of rental projections from 2005. Rents based on the current lease are updated each year following valuation.
The Department is sympathetic to the Societies’ position and is exploring whether there is a solution that can deliver value for taxpayers and help the Learned Societies to remain at New Burlington House and an assessment of value will be made as part of an agreement. The Department has been discussing options with the Learned Societies and DCMS given their responsibility for policy in regards to culture, museums and heritage.