The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how the Transitional Grant in the local government spending review is funded.
Mr Marcus Jones
DCLG has reprioritised existing spending in addition to using unallocated and contingency budgets to fund the transitional grant.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roberta Blackman-Woods on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether it is his policy that his Department’s changes to security of tenure for council tenants will apply to (a) the tenancies of existing tenants and (b) existing tenants when they transfer to a new local authority property; and when he plans that those changes will come into effect.
Brandon Lewis
The changes will not apply to existing lifetime tenants who remain in their own home.
If tenants are required to move home by their landlord, for example to allow demolition and regeneration work to take place, they will be granted a tenancy with no less security in their new home.
Where existing lifetime tenants seek to transfer, local authorities will retain a discretion to offer the tenant a further lifetime tenancy in their new home. We will set out the circumstances in which local authorities may exercise this discretion in regulations. We expect these will include where tenants downsize into a smaller home or move for work.
We expect that the provisions will come into force early next year, subject to passage of the Bill and implementation of the regulations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the deadline is for making an application to the EU Solidarity Fund in relation to the Cumbria floods.
James Wharton
Applications for the European Solidarity Fund must be received by the Commission within 12 weeks of the date of first damage caused by the disaster.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Scully on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with housing associations on flexibility on the mandatory 20 per cent discount for the section 106 starter homes.
Brandon Lewis
Ministers have had discussions with many different organisations regarding the Government’s commitment to build 200,000 Starter Homes to help young, first time buyers into home ownership. The 20 per cent discount on a starter home is a minimum discount and any increase will be negotiated locally. Legislation is currently being taken forward through the Housing and Planning Bill to bring these commitments into effect.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Scully on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with housing associations on reducing or removing Government control over rent setting.
Brandon Lewis
In order to control the housing benefit bill, the Government is reducing social housing rents by 1% per annum over the coming four years to 2019-20. The Government has constant and on-going dialogue with the sector and lenders. We will consider rent setting policy from 2020 at future fiscal events.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what account his Department has taken of (a) new nuclear developments and (b) tidal lagoon projects in West Cumbria in devolving its Northern Powerhouse agenda.
James Wharton
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership has identified nuclear and energy excellence as a key priority contributing significant growth opportunities for the Cumbria economy. Discussions with Cumbria about their Devolution deal proposals are progressing well. I am pleased they have strong ambitions to drive growth across the Cumbria area by improving the delivery of skills, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and business support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Scully on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with housing associations on flexibility in the time allowed to spend capital receipts from Right to Buy.
Brandon Lewis
Under the terms of the historic voluntary agreement between the Government and the sector, the Government will compensate housing associations for the value of the Right to Buy discount. In return, housing associations will deliver at least one additional new home for each home sold nationally. They will have flexibility in relation to the tenure and location of the additional homes built. It is a mutual objective to ensure that additional homes would be delivered as quickly as possible. The aim is to deliver the new properties within two years. The historic grant portion of any receipt released by the property sale will go back into the Recycled Capital Grant Fund. Under the current rules for that Fund receipts must be spent within three years or returned to the Homes and Communities Agency.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the increase in council tax on living standards in each income decile.
Mr Marcus Jones
Council tax schemes are set by local councils who are also responsible for local council tax support schemes. Local councils know the local demographics, and have designed their own council tax support schemes to reflect these. Between 1997-98 and 2010-11, the average Band D council tax in England more than doubled. However, since 2010, council tax in England has fallen by 11% in real terms, and electors can hold councils accountable at the ballot box for any excessive council tax rises. The Department has not made any assessment of the effect of any increase on living standards.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerald Kaufman on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he intends to answer the letter to him dated 5 January 2016 with regard to Mr Julian Chapman.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Thank you to the Right Hon Gentleman for his letter, which we received on February 12. He will receive a response within 20 working days from that date.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff have been seconded to his Department to analyse responses to the BBC Charter Review consultation.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Given the number of responses, DCMS brought in additional resource into the BBC policy team. Based on demand, an average of 25 additional people per week supported the process to review the consultation responses, which included 19 staff seconded from other departments.