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  • Nigel Huddleston – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Nigel Huddleston – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Huddleston on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of differences in the roll-out of superfast broadband in each county.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Current availability of superfast broadband at county and local authority level is published by Ofcom. The latest data (June 2014) is available here:http://infrastructure.ofcom.org.uk/

    A data table listing all local authorities in the UK is available here:http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/infrastructure/2014/Fixed_local_authority.csv

    Over 2 million additional premises have been given access to superfast broadband since June 2014. This will be reflected at local and county levels in the next Ofcom figures.

    “

  • Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will introduce a television licence scheme based on days rather than months.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The way in which the BBC is funded, and how the licence fee works -including potential simpler systems of payment -is an important aspect of the current debate around Charter Review. There has been a range of opinions expressed, not least as part of the substantial consultation response,and I will be considering these through the Charter Review process.

  • Ben Howlett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Ben Howlett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Howlett on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to support the expansion of children’s theatres across the UK.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Government believes it is important for all young people to have access to the very best arts and culture, and will continue to support children’s theatres through Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs)and Grants for theArts projects.

    For example, 2012 – 2015 (year to date) NPO funding has provided over £74 million to organisations that provide support to children and young people’s theatre, while Grants for theArts has invested £4 million ofNationalLottery funds in theatre projects specifically for children and young people. TheGovernment’sTheatres Taxrelief, launched during the last Parliament,also supports new and touring theatre productions across the UK and includes children’s theatres.

  • Craig Mackinlay – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Craig Mackinlay – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Mackinlay on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many empty properties were brought back into use as affordable housing by the Empty Homes programme; and if he will introduce a similarly-operating scheme to that programme.

    Brandon Lewis

    The Coalition Government set a new direction in tackling empty homes and property to ensure their value and opportunity was realised. It provided £216 million direct funding to local authorities, registered providers and community groups between 2012- 2015 and 9,044 homes were created from empty property. Of these 5,722 homes were brought back into use as affordable housing. The remaining 3,322 were brought back to use in line with local demand and the requirements of the neighbourhood as part of the Clusters of Empty Homes Programme.

    This funding was intended to provide a push in the right direction, we have no plans to provide more. The Government has achieved a year on year reduction in long-term empty homes and the number of homes that stand empty for more than six months is now at its lowest level since records began.

  • John Howell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    John Howell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Howell on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the percentage change in Oxfordshire County Council’s spending power is in 2015-16.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Spending power figures for 2015-16 are published at the link below:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/400629/Spending_Power_per_Dwelling.xlsx

    “

  • John Howell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    John Howell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Howell on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what obligation there is on local authorities to publish online a property asset register; and to what timetable such an obligation must be met.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Local people expect their local authorities to make the most of its land and assets, sharing their estate with other organisations and selling empty or high value property that is unnecessarily being retained. To ensure local people are able to scrutinise how their local authority manages its assets the Government made it a legal requirement for local authorities to annually publish details of the land and assets it owns in a readable format.

    Under the Local Government Transparency Code 2015, local authorities are required to publish details about the land it owns (subject to a few exceptions), including details of its location, and the value of its social housing stock.

    Local authorities were required to first publish details of its land and assets by February 2015 and details of their social housing stock by September 2015.

  • Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many children in each borough in the Liverpool City Region have been transferred to temporary accommodation in each of the last five financial years.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Figures for the numbers of children transferred to temporary accommodation are not collected centrally. The numbers of children in temporary accommodation on the last day of the financial years 2004/05 to 2014/15 in each of the Boroughs of the Liverpool City region are shown in the attached table.

  • Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many children have been registered as homeless in each borough in the Liverpool City Region in each of the last five financial years.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The numbers of households with children accepted as homeless in each of the Boroughs of the Liverpool City region in the financial years 2004/05 to 2014/15 are shown in the attached table.

  • Ben Howlett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Ben Howlett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Howlett on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will consider issuing guidance restricting the taking of photos and videos following the Shoreham air show crash.

    James Wharton

    This is not a matter for the Department for Communities and Local Government.

  • Mark Menzies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Mark Menzies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made in developing enterprise zones at (a) Blackpool Airport and (b) Warton.

    James Wharton

    Since the Lancashire Enterprise Zone was established in 2012 the Local Enterprise Partnership and UK Trade and Investment have actively promoted the Enterprise Zone as a good place for companies to set up or expand their businesses.

    Two companies have also set up on the Enterprise Zone’s other site at Warton, already attracting 25 jobs.

    Work has recently started on BAE’s training facility on the Enterprise Zone site in Samlesbury. This is a part of BAE’s national commitment to double the number of apprentices they train bringing important opportunities and skills to the area. The new facility is expected to be completed by September 2016.

    An announcement about the Blackpool Airport site will be made in due course.