The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which ministerial responsibilities are held by the Office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Ben Gummer
The List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be published in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what further steps he plans to take to encourage buy-to-let mortgage lenders to allow longer tenancies.
Gavin Barwell
My Department has worked closely with the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) to encourage longer term tenancies in properties with a buy to let mortgage, including during the development of our Model Tenancy Agreement (MTA). The MTA enables longer tenancies, and addresses lender concerns by including appropriate break clauses. The CML estimates that the majority of buy to let mortgage lenders now permit tenancies of up to two to three years. We continue to encourage lenders to actively promote the use of the MTA to their landlord customers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what further steps he plans to take to ensure that people who require longer tenancies can get them.
Gavin Barwell
My Department has developed a Model Tenancy Agreement for use by landlords and tenants in the private rented sector, which encourages longer term tenancies for those who want them. We are working with the sector to actively promote the use of this and to identify any barriers. We have also established a working group focussed on affordability and security in the private rented sector which will look at what more we can do to help people who require longer tenancies to get them.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 18 July 2016, HC Deb, Official Report, column 538, whether it is the Government’s policy not to impose a devolution deal that includes an elected mayor on any area that does not want an elected mayor.
Andrew Percy
The Government’s policy is that if an area is to have an elected mayor, it will be because that area, through its democratically elected representatives, has chosen to have one.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate the average cost of moving home for a family in the private rented sector.
Gavin Barwell
The department does not collect this information. However, we have set up a working group to look at affordability and security in the private rented sector and one of the issues this is considering is moving costs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Colleen Fletcher on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of families with children living in temporary accommodation in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England in (i) each of the last two years and (ii) the latest month for which figures are available.
Gavin Barwell
The numbers of homeless families with children in temporary accommodation for each local authority in England are published each quarter at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness#detailed-local-authority-level-responses
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Colleen Fletcher on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) homeless people and (b) rough sleepers in (i) Coventry, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) England.
Mr Marcus Jones
One person without a home is one too many. That is why the Government is clear that prevention must be at the heart of everything we do to tackle homelessness. We have protected homelessness prevention funding for local authorities, which will amount to £315 million by 2020, to help them provide quality advice and assistance to everyone who approaches them for help. We are also exploring options, including legislation, to prevent more people from becoming homeless in the first place.
We have also increased central investment to tackle homelessness over the next four years to £139 million, including a new £10 million fund to support innovative ways to prevent and reduce rough sleeping, and a new £10 million Social Impact Bond to support rough sleepers with the most complex needs.
Statistics for each of the last five years on statutory homelessness acceptances, homelessness prevention and relief and rough sleeping are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department can take against developers who illegally build new developments too close to river banks and exacerbate existing flooding problems in the area.
Gavin Barwell
National planning policy is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains. Where unauthorised development has taken place, we have given local planning authorities a wide range of powers to tackle the situation. These powers include the ability to serve an enforcement notice setting out the steps required to remedy a breach – which can include the demolition of a building if the authority considers that appropriate. Non-compliance with such a notice is punishable by an unlimited fine and local authorities have the power to take the necessary steps themselves and recover the costs from the developer. Other powers include the ability to apply for a planning injunction against apprehended as well as actual breaches of planning control. The penalties for non compliance with an injunction are severe – including imprisonment for contempt of court. Full details of local authorities’ enforcement powers can be found in our online planning guidance: http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/ensuring-effective-enforcement/.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many net new additions to housing supply in England there have been in each category in each year since 1997.
Gavin Barwell
Full information including a breakdown by new build, conversion and change of use and other changes from 2006/07 is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-net-supply-of-housing
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to provide financial support to coastal communities to develop their capacity to manage local fishing waters after the UK leaves the EU.
George Eustice
The precise nature of our relationship with the EU is still being determined and will be subject to negotiation. We will be looking at a future package for fishing, including potential support measures, and will work closely with industry and other key interests to develop these new arrangements.