Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reason the Renters (Reform) Bill contains no provisions for renters of mobile homes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Further to the answer given to Question UIN 185473 on 22 May 2023, updated dwelling stock estimates published today continue to show that supply within the private rented sector is roughly stable.
We are continuing to monitor the private rented sector, through sources such as the English Housing Survey and ONS Rental Price Index.
The Renters (Reform) Bill exempts Private Registered Providers of Social Housing (PRPSH) offering assured tenancies of social housing from these changes. These are defined as a ‘relevant low-cost tenancy’. The power allows the Secretary of State to specify a description of other assured tenancies that meet the definition of ‘relevant low-cost tenancy’.
The Bill does not apply to those whose accommodation does not meet the definition of a ‘dwelling’ as defined in housing legislation, such as those who live in caravans. We continue to take a series of measures across the park homes sector and I am happy to discuss our plans further with the Hon member at his convenience.
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many park home applications for the (a)Energy Bills Support Scheme and (b) Alternative Fuel Payment have been made in Northern Ireland; and how many applications are still in process.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Application numbers for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding and the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding for Northern Ireland were published on 11 May.
In Northern Ireland the £600 Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding for households without a domestic electricity meter, such as park home residents, also includes the Alternative Fuel Payment.
Application figures can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support-scheme-alternative-fund-gb-ni-and-alternative-fuel-payment-alternative-fund-applications-made-by-customers.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the report entitled, Mobile homes: The impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission, published by his Department on 16 June 2022, whether he plans to respond to the recommendations in the report.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to Question UIN 158983 on 13 March 2023.
Asked by: Richard Foord (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Honiton)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he intends to publish a response to the report Mobile Homes: The impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission, published on 16 June 2022.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Announcements will be made in the usual way.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether residents of houseboats in marinas are eligible for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Only residents living in a park home can apply for a rebate under the Park Homes Warm Home Discount.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the number of households living in (a) park homes and (b) houseboats that are (i) eligible for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund payment and (ii) have not applied for that payment as of 14 March 2023.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has estimated that there are 131,000 park home residents, houseboats, and caravans who can provide proof of address are eligible for the EBSS AF. We do not at this stage have figures on the number of these households who have not yet applied for the scheme.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will extend the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme to all households with a communal electricity supply.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Rebates provided under the Warm Home Discount have always been provided to the electricity bill payers of participating energy suppliers so households with a community energy supply are not eligible. The Warm Home Discount Park Homes Scheme is run by Charis Grants and funded voluntarily by energy suppliers under the Industry Initiatives element of the Warm Home Discount. It is not a government scheme.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will expand the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding to include people whose primary residence is on a non-permanent caravan or mobile home site.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
A requirement of the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding application process is proof of address, which is to protect public funds against fraudulent activity. The Government understands some households who are reside in a non-permanent caravan or mobile home site may not be able to provide proof that their caravan or mobile home is their main or sole residence. The Government is working to find an acceptable method for these households to provide this proof so they can claim their support.
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, with reference to his Department's research entitled the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission, published June 2022, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of that report's findings.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
We will consider the report in more detail and publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Lewer (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to Government guidance entitled Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically, what the planned (a) timescale and (b) scope is for the review into Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding for (i) people occupying non-permanent park home sites or (ii) on a boat as a continuous cruiser.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
To protect public funds against potentially fraudulent activity, the Government require applicants to show proof of address. The Government understands some travellers not on permanent sites or on boats not on registered moorings may not be able to provide proof of main or sole residence. The Government is working to find an acceptable method for these households to provide this proof so they can claim their support.