The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-12-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning refusals for greenfield sites have been overturned on appeal in each year between 2010 to 2015.
Brandon Lewis
This information is not held centrally by this Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-12-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what encouragement he has given local authorities to switch street lighting to LED light sources since May 2015.
Mr Marcus Jones
Many local authorities are choosing to reduce street lighting at night to save energy costs and reduce carbon emissions using a variety of approaches, which include replacing traditional sodium lamps with more energy efficient LED lamps.
However, decisions about street lighting are for elected local councillors, reflecting local circumstances and views.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2015-12-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the extent of financial and operational links between the social housing sector in Scotland and England.
Brandon Lewis
The Department has made no such formal assessment. The Social Housing Regulator for England’s Regulatory Framework only applies to registered providers of social housing in England. Responsibility for housing is a devolved matter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Rotheram on 2015-12-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of young people who own their own home since 2010.
Brandon Lewis
The Government is committed to increasing the number of first time buyers. Action taken in support of this Includes:
– extending the Right to Buy – which has supported council tenants into home ownership for decades – to housing association tenants. This will give another 1.3 million families the chance to purchase a home at right to buy level discounts;
– Help to Buy schemes, targeting those wanting to get onto the housing ladder with 80% of sales going to first time buyers, which have so far enabled over 130,000 families to purchase a home;
– launching, on 1 December 2015, the Help to Buy: ISA which will help first-time buyers save for their first deposit. The Government will top up savings by 25%, up to a maximum top-up of £3,000; and
– a £2.3 billion fund to deliver 200,000 Starter Homes by 2020, to be exclusively offered to first time buyers under 40 at a 20% discount on market value.
Information on housing tenure and the age of the household reference person in England, based on data from DCLG’s English Housing Survey, can be found (in Annex Table 1.4) at:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Rotheram on 2015-12-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to tackle landlords who knowingly rent out unsafe and substandard accommodation.
Brandon Lewis
Through the Housing and Planning Bill we are taking measures to tackle rogue landlords who rent out sub-standard accommodation. Our proposals include a database of rogue landlords and property agents, introducing banning orders for serious or repeat offenders, a tougher fit and proper person test, extending Rent Repayment Orders and introducing civil penalties for offences such as failing to comply with an improvement notice or overcrowding a property.
In addition, over the last Parliament, we made over £6.7 million available to local authorities to help them tackle rogue landlords in their areas. We have also invited 65 local authorities to bid for a share of a further £5 million funding to tackle rogue landlords and will be announcing successful schemes shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2015-12-09.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department is offering to businesses affected by flooding in Cumbria in advance of tax payment deadlines.
Mr David Gauke
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) operates a dedicated Severe Weather helpline to offer help and advice on any tax matters to those people and businesses affected by the recent flooding. The helpline is 0800 904 7900
Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 8.00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, excluding bank holidays.
HMRC will also:
The helpline is in addition to other HMRC telephone contact numbers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2015-12-09.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the Exchequer was of disposing of illegal fuel in each of the last three years.
Damian Hinds
HMRC does not have specific figures for disposing of illegal fuel.
HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently announced, jointly with Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2015-12-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress is being made on the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal.
James Wharton
The Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal is progressing well. Local partners are committed to a programme of 20 infrastructure projects over twenty years. The Glasgow and Clyde Valley Cabinet are agreeing business cases, with construction work to begin in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2015-12-09.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many charities registered in Wakefield constituency have claimed back Gift Aid on small cash donations using the Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme since that scheme’s inception.
Mr David Gauke
Since the scheme’s inception in April 2013, 12 charities that fall within Wakefield postcodes have claimed back Gift Aid on their small cash donations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-12-09.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress HM Revenue and Customs has made in recovering VAT and business rates from the shooting industry in the last five years.
Mr David Gauke
HM Revenue and Customs do not collect business rates. Information on VAT receipts by industry or trade is not held.