Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2021 to Question 29805 on Local Government: Coronavirus, what budget has been made available for enforcement activities in respect of ventilation of council-managed buildings in each of the last ten years; what enforcement action has been taken in respect of ventilation of council-managed buildings in each of the last ten years; and when he most recently discussed the ventilation of council-managed buildings with (a) the Local Government Association, (b) other local government representative bodies and (c) trade unions recognised in English local government.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for enforcing health and safety law in council operated buildings.

HSE allocates resources based on planned levels of activity to deliver it's published strategy and plans. It does not allocate budgets by specific risk areas such as business premises ventilation, but inspectors will take action to respond to poor ventilation if identified during regulatory activity.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the risks associated with poor general ventilation in a workplace increased due to the risk of transmitting coronavirus. HSE has carried out more than 300,000 interventions since the start of the pandemic, to check how employers are implementing measures to reduce transmission of coronavirus at their sites, including whether employees are working in poorly ventilated spaces. Where contraventions are identified, HSE inspectors will take action to secure compliance by providing verbal advice, written correspondence or serving enforcement notices.

HSE has also updated their guidance to support employers in addressing the issue of ventilation- www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/equipment-and-machinery/air-conditioning-and-ventilation/index.htm.

HSE does not collate information about enforcement action taken specifically in respect of ventilation in council managed buildings.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) continues to lead the Government's significant and regular engagement with councils and local government sector bodies including the Local Government Association to ensure information is getting to councils and that we are made aware of any areas of concern:

• Ministers host regular teleconferences for local government leaders, chief executives and local resilience forums, with other Ministers from across government also present to give updates and answer questions.
• MHCLG continues to discuss priorities and support measures with councils in each of the nine English regions.
• MHCLG hosts regular engagement with local government sector bodies.
• MHCLG's Local Government Bulletin - a daily email sent to over 5,500 local government stakeholders.
• Ministers from MHCLG regularly speak to and meet with Mayors, both bilaterally and as part of the M9 Group of Mayors.

Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk.