Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his Department's expected timeline is to publish its response to the consultation entitled Local Government Pension Scheme (England and Wales): Governance and reporting of climate change risks.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government wrote to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Advisory Board on 15 June confirming the proposed requirements will not be implemented relating to the governance or disclosure of climate-related financial risks for the financial year 2023/24. The Government will respond to the consultation in due course.
As set out in The Local Government Pension Scheme (Management and Investment of Funds) Regulations 2016, the term “proper advice” means the advice of a person whom the authority reasonably considers to be qualified by their ability in and practical experience of financial matters.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what is meant by proper advice in the Local Government Pension Scheme’s proposed responsibilities on climate risk.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Government wrote to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Advisory Board on 15 June confirming the proposed requirements will not be implemented relating to the governance or disclosure of climate-related financial risks for the financial year 2023/24. The Government will respond to the consultation in due course.
As set out in The Local Government Pension Scheme (Management and Investment of Funds) Regulations 2016, the term “proper advice” means the advice of a person whom the authority reasonably considers to be qualified by their ability in and practical experience of financial matters.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 technical consultation for the Future Homes Standard.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 190088 on 22 June 2023
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department takes to assess the adequacy of (a) funding and (b) other resources for local authorities.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 184131 on 15 May 2023.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, If he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of introducing a system of proportional representation for Parliamentary elections.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The Government strongly believes that it would be a profound mistake to abandon the British system of voting and move to a system more favoured on the European continent of so-called ‘proportional representation’. The Government was elected on a manifesto which included a commitment to continue to support the use of the First Past the Post voting system which “allows voters to kick out politicians who don’t deliver, both locally and nationally”.
The Government believes the First Past the Post system is a robust and secure way of electing MPs and provides for direct local accountability. It ensures a clear link between elected representatives and their electors in a manner that other voting systems do not
There was a significant vote in favour of retaining First Past the Post for Parliamentary elections at 2011 Referendum while the proposal to introduce an Alternative Vote was rejected by a significant majority (67.9%) of voters. This Government strongly believes in respecting the results of referendums.
Experience of countries across the world with so-called proportional representation (PR) voting systems show that those with that voting system risk fragmented political parties, not grounded in local accountability. PR systems can create Governments which are less stable and more fragile, where inter-party ‘back room’ deals determine policy, and where minority and arguably fringe political parties can hold the balance of power. PR can also mean that political parties’ central establishments are strengthened versus local political parties.
First Past the Post is part of the voting system of the world’s oldest, biggest and greatest democracies including in the United Kingdom, India, and the United States.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of proscribing uplift clauses in new land sale agreements.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
We are introducing new transparency measures through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill so that we can better understand interests in land.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 increase the availability of affordable housing.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
This Government is determined to increase levels of affordable housing, and as my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State has outlined already, we are investing £11.5 billion through our Affordable Homes Programme which will deliver tens of thousands of much needed affordable homes right across the country.
Additionally, we remain committed to delivering at least as much on-site affordable housing through our proposed new Infrastructure Levy.