Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to take steps to (a) provide Gypsies and Travellers living on roadside encampments with support through Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding and (b) work with (i) Traveller Liaison Officers and (ii) other Local Authorities Officers to confirm the eligibility of those people for that scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
After stakeholder engagement sessions and research exercises, the government has been unable to establish a robust method for households in caravans not on permanent sites to prove that their caravan is their main or sole residence, whilst protecting public funds against fraud.
We recommend that these households should contact their local authority to apply for the Housing Support Fund and also visit the ‘Help for Households’ webpage on GOV.UK to view what other support they may be eligible to receive - https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/.
Sep. 07 2023
Source Page: Damp and mould in the private rented sectorFound: n/a n/a 0 0 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 x formal IN HA2004 (Cat 1) + 1 x EPA90 (re caravan
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not including gypsies and travellers living in roadside camps from the Energy Bill Support Scheme on those people.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government has been in contact with representatives of itinerant travellers to understand their concerns and seek to overcome barriers to accessing the EBSS Alternative Funding. We have been unable to establish a robust method for households in caravans not on permanent sites to prove that their caravan is their main or sole residence, whilst protecting public funds against fraud. We recommend that these households should contact their local authority to apply for the Housing Support Fund and also visit the ‘Help for Households’ webpage on GOV.UK to view what other support they may be eligible to receive - https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the Energy Bills Support Scheme to gypsies and travellers living in roadside camps.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government has been unable to establish a robust method for households in caravans not on permanent sites to prove that their caravan is their main or sole residence, whilst protecting public funds against fraud. However, we recommend that these households should contact their local authority to apply for the Housing Support Fund. We also recommend that they visit the ‘Help for Households’ webpage on GOV.UK to view what other support they may be eligible to receive - https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the report by National Energy Action entitled Plugged In, published in July 2023, on the level of Government support for the energy costs for (a) Gypsy, (b) Traveller, (c) Roma and (d) other nomadic communities' households; and whether her Department is taking steps to ensure nomadic communities can access energy support schemes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government will provide a £600 voucher to itinerant boat travellers who are registered with the Canal and River Trust as continuous cruisers and held a long-term licence for a minimum of one day while the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding was open. We have been unable to establish a robust method for households in caravans not on permanent sites to prove that their caravan is their main or sole residence, whilst protecting public funds against fraud. However, we recommend that these households visit the ‘Help for Households’ webpage on GOV.UK to view alternative support that may be available.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
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 amend the planning policy definition of Gypsies and Travellers in Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2015; and whether he plans to revert to the definition used in Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2012.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Secretary of State is carefully considering the policy contained in the Planning Policy Traveller Sites 2015 following the court judgment in Lisa Smith v SSLUHC [2022]
Found: hotels •hostels •guest houses •bed and breakfast accommodation •self catering accommodation •camping sites
Aug. 10 2023
Source Page: Commons and greens: casework databaseFound: Should sites no longer be needed, they should revert to the Common.
Aug. 10 2023
Source Page: Commons and greens: casework databaseFound: Should sites no longer be needed, they should revert to the Common.
Aug. 09 2023
Source Page: Section 62A Planning Application: S62A/2023/0022 - London Stansted Airport, Bassingbourn Road, Stansted CM24 1QWFound: housing, families with children, older people, students, people with disabilities, service families, travellers