Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
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 is taking to help home buyers purchase properties in areas of above average house price growth.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
This Government is committed to making homeownership a reality for as many households as possible.
We operate a range of schemes to support first-time buyers in purchasing properties, including First Homes, Shared Ownership, Right to Buy and the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme. Over 860,000 households have been helped to purchase a home since spring 2010 through Government-backed schemes. The Government also helps first-time buyers to save for a deposit through the Lifetime ISA.
We have also increased the level at which first-time buyers start paying Stamp Duty from £300,000 to £425,000. First-time buyers will be able to access the relief on property purchases up to £625,000, compared to £500,000 previously. This will apply until end March 2025.
Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
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 is taking to help first-time home buyers with their deposits.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
This Government is committed to making homeownership a reality for as many households as possible.
We operate a range of schemes to support first-time buyers in purchasing properties, including First Homes, Shared Ownership, Right to Buy and the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme. Over 860,000 households have been helped to purchase a home since spring 2010 through Government-backed schemes. The Government also helps first-time buyers to save for a deposit through the Lifetime ISA.
We have also increased the level at which first-time buyers start paying Stamp Duty from £300,000 to £425,000. First-time buyers will be able to access the relief on property purchases up to £625,000, compared to £500,000 previously. This will apply until end March 2025.
Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department plans to report on (a) any decisions reached and (b) points in discussions from the annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council on 26 and 27 November 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
At the November Joint Ministerial Council, the UK Government agreed a Declaration with the elected Governments of the Overseas Territories (OTs), providing a new framework for our relationship with the OTs that is based on our shared values, and is fit for the 21st Century. A Written Ministerial Statement on the Declaration will be made once it has been approved by the Cabinets and Executive Councils of the OT.
The UK and OTs also discussed the timeline for implementation of publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership. Intensive discussions continue and we have made progress with the majority of the OTs. We will inform Parliament of the outcome of these discussions before recess.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will bring forward proposals to make the voluntary rent cap scheme in shared ownership arrangements mandatory.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Most registered providers of social housing chose to limit voluntarily annual rent increases for their shared owners in 2023-24 to no more than 7%. Though the department was clear in its discussions with the sector that we expected them to take reasonable and responsible decisions at a time when many shared owners were facing pressures on their finances, we recognise that the decision to engage in this voluntary arrangement was one for individual providers to take independently. Rent increases for shared owners will continue to be based on the terms of their lease agreements with their providers.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the cost of living crisis on home-owners whose shared ownership rent increases are not capped by the voluntary rent cap.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Most registered providers of social housing chose to limit voluntarily annual rent increases for their shared owners in 2023-24 to no more than 7%. Though the department was clear in its discussions with the sector that we expected them to take reasonable and responsible decisions at a time when many shared owners were facing pressures on their finances, we recognise that the decision to engage in this voluntary arrangement was one for individual providers to take independently. Rent increases for shared owners will continue to be based on the terms of their lease agreements with their providers.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether banks charge fair and reasonable arrangement fees, and of the impact of such fees, combined with restrictive affordability criteria on the affordability of consumer mortgages.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The availability and pricing of mortgages, including arrangement fees, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene.
It is important for both lenders and consumers that proper checks are carried out to ensure that borrowers will be well placed to repay the mortgage. Since April 2014 all lenders must now conduct an affordability assessment, which includes a robust income and expenditure analysis that will include a consideration of other debts owed. Lenders must also obtain evidence of that income to support this assessment.
The Government remains committed to making the aspiration of homeownership a reality for as many households as possible.
We operate a range of schemes that aim to increase the supply of low-deposit mortgages for credit-worthy households, including first-time buyers, increase the availability of new housing, and stimulate economic growth. These include the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, which is open until the end of 2023, as well as First Homes and Shared Ownership through the Affordable Homes Programme. The Government also helps first-time buyers to save for a deposit through the Lifetime ISA and Help to Buy: ISA.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
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 impact of energy costs on the purchase of shared ownership extra care schemes.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
All shared ownership applicants must complete an affordability assessment with an independent, accredited financial adviser before completing their purchase. This assessment is designed to establish the size of share that the applicant should purchase and to ensure that they have the financial resources necessary to meet their ongoing housing costs over the long term.
Energy prices have come down 23% since their peak and the Government spent around £40 billion to cover around half a household's typical bill last winter, plus extra targeted support for older and disabled people. We are still providing extra support for those who need it most.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
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 is taking to help more young people onto the housing ladder in Yorkshire.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government has a range of home ownership schemes that are available to first time buyers, including First Homes and shared ownership.
The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme helps to increase the supply of 95% loan-to-value mortgages for credit-worthy households.
We have also doubled the threshold at which SDLT becomes due to £250,000 and expanded First Time Buyers Relief, raising the threshold at which stamp duty becomes payable from £300,000 to £425,000.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 is taking to help first-time home buyers in the London Borough of Havering.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government has a range of home ownership schemes that are available to first time buyers, including those in the London Borough of Havering, including First Homes and Shared Ownership.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff Central)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when a Minister from his Department last made an official visit to Aberavon constituency.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I both live in Wales and serve Welsh constituencies. We have a consistent presence in Wales as we conduct many visits, events and meetings in Wales on a regular basis.
Details of Ministerial visits and meetings are published on the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales’ website and in Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns. In addition, visits and meetings conducted in support of the Wales Office priorities are published in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Annual Report and Accounts.
The UK Government has provided extensive support to Aberavon. A typical household in Wales has received almost £2000 in UK Government support to help with the cost of living. This includes around 186,000 payments delivered in Aberavon through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. During the Covid-19 pandemic around 9000 jobs were supported through the furlough scheme, around £15 million was claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and over £39 million was given to businesses through government-backed business loans.
The UK Government has also supported innovation within Aberavon with around £10 million awarded by Innovate UK since April 2019. Aberavon has also received over £34,000 through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to level up local sports facilities. In addition, Aberavon will benefit from the Celtic Freeport, backed by £26 million from UK Government. The Celtic Freeport aims to attract significant inward investment, including £3.5 billion in green energy as well as the creation of 16,000 jobs, generating £900 million in Gross Value Added by 2030.
In addition, Neath Port Talbot, the local authority for the Aberavon constituency, is receiving over £34 million from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Aberavon is also benefitting from the £235 million Swansea Bay City Deal including the newly opened £8 million Baglan Bay Technology Centre and the South Wales Industrial Transition from Carbon Hub (SWITCH) facility.
This Government is investing in Wales like never before; over £790 million in four City and Regional Growth Deals covering the whole of Wales, £585 million for local authorities to invest through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, including over £100 million for the Multiply adult numeracy programme, £330 million in capital investment through the Levelling Up Fund and £3.2 million to preserve community assets through the Community Ownership Fund. Wales will benefit from two Freeports backed by £52 million, the British Business Bank’s new £130m Regional Investment Fund, and from Project Gigabit which will enable hard to reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband.