Tag: Bob Blackman

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed changes to the National Planning Framework for London on the (a) availability and (b) affordability of housing in London.

Brandon Lewis

The proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework reaffirm this Government’s commitment to increasing the supply of housing in sustainable locations. Consultation on our proposed changes closed on 22 February and we are currently analysing the responses.

We have doubled the housing budget to help deliver our ambition of one million new homes and are committed to spending £8 billion to deliver over 400,000 affordable housing starts by 2021. Negotiations over the financial settlement to deliver affordable housing within London are continuing.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate the Government has made of the cost to the public purse of constructing a third runway at Heathrow Airport over the course of the construction period.

Mr John Hayes

The Airports Commission shortlisted three airport expansion schemes, two at Heathrow and one at Gatwick. The Government accepted the Commission’s shortlist in December 2015 and is considering all of the evidence very carefully before reaching a view on its preferred scheme. The Government is not providing a running commentary on this work and nor would it be appropriate to outline specific pieces of evidence before a decision is announced on its preference. Any work to inform an announcement will be set out in subsequent publications and associated consultation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of encouraging increased residential density around business and transport hubs to reduce community demand on public and private transport.

Brandon Lewis

There are some specific circumstances where there are clear opportunities for having higher density housing development while creating high quality, safe and attractive places to live.

Last December we consulted on changes to national planning policy to encourage higher densities around commuter hubs, and will publish our response to this consultation in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 3 May 2016 to Question 35653, how much Public Health England plans to spend on campaigns promoting the cessation of smoking in 2016-17.

Nicola Blackwood

Public Health England took over all the public health campaigns formerly run by the Department on 1 April 2013, including smoking cessation.

Campaigns for 2016-17 promoting the cessation of smoking are currently ongoing. Final media costs will be available only after the 2016-17 financial year end, when spend has been confirmed and completed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to encourage the development of small sites by small builders; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of deferring payment of the community infrastructure levy for sites of less than 50 units until those properties are placed on the market on the development of such sites.

Brandon Lewis

Increasing the number of homes is a top priority for this Government and helping smaller builders to contribute is key. Self builders are exempt from the Community Infrastructure Levy and charging authorities may offer relief from the levy in exceptional circumstances where a specific scheme cannot afford to pay it.

We brought forward policy to exempt sites of less than 10 units from making affordable housing and tariff style contributions through section 106 planning obligations, which was subsequently quashed by the courts. We have appealed this decision and we are awaiting the judgment from the Court of Appeal.

The Government is currently undertaking a review of the Community Infrastructure Levy, through an independent panel, to assess the extent to which the levy provides an effective mechanism for funding infrastructure, and to recommend changes that would improve its operation in support of the Government’s wider housing and growth objectives. The review, amongst other issues, will be looking at the relationship between the levy and section 106, including how they work together in practice.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the rebuilding of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

Ben Gummer

A Full Business Case for the redevelopment of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital will go to the trust board later this month and the approved version will be submitted to NHS Improvement for review. This is now very much a priority project for the Department and NHS Improvement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2015-11-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to improve health literacy among children; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb

Schools have a key role to play in teaching children about healthy lifestyles.

The new national curriculum set the expectation that pupils are taught about the importance of leading healthy and active lives, across a variety of subjects. The new design and technology curriculum strengthens requirements for maintained schools to teach children about food, nutrition and healthy eating, and how to cook a repertoire of meals. Pupils in maintained primary schools should learn about healthy eating and a good, balanced diet. In maintained secondary schools, food education is now compulsory in years 7–9 for the first time. The new science curriculum makes young people aware of different types of diseases and the impact of lifestyle factors on the incidence of some diseases.

Physical Education is a compulsory subject at all four key stages in the national curriculum in maintained schools. The programme of study makes clear that a high-quality PE curriculum should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically active in a way which supports their health and fitness.

In addition, the Department is actively engaged in work across government to develop a national childhood obesity strategy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to ensure the adequacy of provision of affordable homes to rent to help house London’s homeless population.

Brandon Lewis

The Government has committed to investing £8 billion to deliver over 400,000 affordable housing starts across the country.

Also we are providing £110 million to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness. This will deliver at least 2,000 accommodation places and will support projects helping to get people off the streets.

We have invested more than £500 million since 2010 to help local authorities prevent almost one million households from becoming homeless.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2015-11-23.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will undertake an analysis of the feasibility of devolving property taxes to London linked to specific infrastructure projects.

Mr David Gauke

By 2020, local government will retain 100% of business rates and will have the power to reduce business rates. Directly elected mayoral authorities, such as the Mayor of London, will have the power to levy a small supplement on business rates to fund new infrastructure.

In the last Parliament, the Government gave local councils greater power over council tax support schemes and the treatment of second homes and empty properties. The Government believes there would be difficulties in devolving other property taxes, such as Stamp Duty Land Tax and Capital Gains Tax, to London as this would create a distortive effect around the border, increase administration costs and complexity and expose local government to significant fiscal risk.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his international counterparts on reports that a UN-funded Palestinian non-governmental orgaisation, Rural Women’s Development Society, organised an event commemorating a Palestinian terrorist who killed three Israeli civilians.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

While we have not made any representations to our international counterparts about this specific issue, we condemn all acts of terrorism and incitement to commit violence, whichever side it comes from.