Blog

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect on industry of delays in the implementation of the Government’s proposals to streamline regulatory and competition appeals.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    No such assessment has been made. Ministers are currently considering the responses received to the consultation. They will then decide the scope and extent of proposals to be implemented.

  • Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has any plans to end the employee trade union membership dues check-off system.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    Check-off is a matter delegated to Departments and it is for them to determine the appropriateness of continuing with the current arrangements. DCMS is in the process of reviewing its current arrangements for provision of check-off.

  • Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of emergency telephone coverage in West Lothian local authority area.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not made any specific assessment of the adequacy of emergency telephone coverage in the West Lothian local authority area. However, the Department and the independent national telecommunications regulator (Ofcom) work closely with all the Scottish emergency services and communications providers on matters such as this through the Government’s 999/112 Liaison Committee. All the Scottish emergency services have been key contributors both in discussions on next generation access to 999 and in reviewing the code of practice that defines how emergency services and telecommunications providers work together.

  • Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roberta Blackman-Woods on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that measures to protect bees and other pollinators are fully reflected in planning practice guidance.

    Nick Boles

    The National Planning Policy Framework sets out our policies for the conservation and enhancement of the natural environment. The biodiversity, ecosystems and green infrastructure section of our new web-based planning guidance explains how these matters should be taken into account in the planning system. Defra is consulting on a National Pollinator Strategy and my officials are working with Defra officials.

  • Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with Brighton and Hove City Council on the finalisation of the City Plan for the area; and if he will make a statement.

    Nick Boles

    The Localism Act 2011 has strengthened the role of Local Plans and abolished the last Administration’s top-down Regional Strategies. Our streamlined National Planning Policy Framework strongly encourages areas to get up-to-date Local Plans in place, and we have been actively supporting councils in doing so. Local Plans now set the framework in which decisions on particular applications are taken, whether locally or at appeal, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

    The Brighton and Hove Local Plan is currently at examination before an independent Inspector and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the content of the Plan. However, I understand that the Inspector has agreed a programme of additional work with Brighton and Hove Council.

  • Steve McCabe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Steve McCabe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2014, Official Report, column 56W, on families: disadvantaged, what criteria his Department uses for assessing whether a family has been turned around.

    Kris Hopkins

    As set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Croydon North (Steve Reed) on 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 556W, the criteria used by local authorities to determine whether a family is deemed turned around are published in the Financial Framework for the Troubled Families Programme’s Payment by Results Scheme. This can be found at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-troubled-families-programme-financial-framework

    “

  • Mary Macleod – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Mary Macleod – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Macleod on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent representations he has received on the potential merits of extending the Right to Acquire to homes built before 1997.

    Kris Hopkins

    My Department has received a number of recent representations from individual housing association tenants to extend the Right to Acquire to homes built before 1997, to enable them to buy the home in which they currently live.

    The Right to Acquire is offered on a different basis to the Right to Buy, including the level of discount, to reflect the different tenancy and type of landlord. Housing association properties which were not part of a stock transfer have been provided through various forms of finance, including private money. However, the Government is committed to keeping the policy under review and we are open to further representations on this matter.

  • Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help local shops in (a) England and (b) Lancashire with the cost of business rates.

    Brandon Lewis

    At the Autumn Statement we announced a £1 billion package of business rates support to help shops and local firms. This included a £1,000 discount for two years for smaller shops, pubs and restaurants. Based on local authority reports of the amount of relief awarded, we estimate that 272,300 properties will benefit in England, including 7,740 in Lancashire.

    The support package also included a 50 per cent discount for businesses taking on long-term empty shops, the doubling of small business rate relief for another year, a 2% cap on RPI increases for 2014-2015, allowing businesses to spread their business rates payments over 12 months, and allowing ratepayers that take on a second property to keep their small business rate relief for an extra year.

    The Localism Act has also made it easier for small firms to claim small business rate relief.

  • Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the spending power is for (a) Wokingham Council and (b) Newcastle upon Tyne City Council in (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16.

    Brandon Lewis

    [Holding Reply: Thursday 1 May 2014]

    Spending power figures by local authority are published as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, which is laid before the House each year. This information is also reasonably accessible to the hon. Member on my Department’s website at:

    www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2014-to-2015 (2014-15 and provisional 2015-16)

    www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/settle.htm (2013-14)

    “

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities publish magazines or newsletters more than four times a year.

    Brandon Lewis

    [Holding Reply: Wednesday 30 April 2014]

    I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 21 November 2013, Official Report, Column 980-981W and my answer to him of 16 December 2013, Official Report, Column 443-444W.

    I also refer him to the Written Ministerial Statement by my rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State (Eric Pickles) of 28 April 2014, Official Report, Column 35WS, which outlines the rationale for the steps taken on 17 April, and how we are prepared to take further action against other breaches of the Publicity Code.