Tag: Grahame Morris

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to secure the adequate supply of accessible homes suitable for disabled people.

James Wharton

In 2015 the Government updated planning policy and Building Regulations to support local authorities in meeting the housing needs of disabled and older people in their communities. This included the introduction of two optional levels of accessibility in the Building Regulations, Category 2 – Accessible and adaptable dwellings, and Category 3 – Wheelchair user dwellings which local authorities can apply to new development in their local area subject to needs and viability assessments.

These new options work as planning conditions to planning applications. Accessibility needs are met by each project’s own finance, be it for public, social or private homes. Some adaptations by individuals are eligible for funding through disabled facilities grants.

Accessibility to buildings has always been central to Approved Document M and greater concern and detail has been worked in since Disability Discrimination Act regulations 1995, 2005 and with the Equality Act 2010. Each update of Approved Document M further embeds government commitment to inclusivity and accessibility in guidance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to replicate the Northern Ireland electoral registration/schools initiative before the May 2016 elections and EU referendum.

John Penrose

EROs are already free to work with local schools and colleges in their area and many already do. In addition the Cabinet Office has published a collection of free learning resources aimed at engaging young people in the democratic process. This includes Rock Enrol! which can be used in an educational setting and provides an opportunity for participants to register to vote. The N.I.registration is different from the rest of the UK, so the schools initiative might would not necessarily translate easily across.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve transport connectivity between Easington constituency and the six principal city regions as part of the Northern Transport Strategy.

Andrew Jones

The Government is working closely with all northern local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships to deliver, prioritise and develop a range of interventions for the Northern Transport Strategy, which aims to put in place a faster, more frequent and fully integrated transport system to connect up the North.

In the short term, the £380m A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade will see the motorway connection between the North East and the five other city regions of the north completed in summer 2017. Network Rail are developing a proposal for the Transpennine Route upgrade between Stalybridge and York. Subject to final funding approvals this could be complete by the end of 2022 and would see an electrified rail line running from the North East to Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.

For the longer term, we are progressing plans on projects which will transform travel across the North. These include a strategic study to consider improved trans-pennine connections on the A66 and A69; the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail east-west high-speed rail link; and Smart North, a smart ticketing system for the north of England.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-05-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues on housing renewal in former industrial areas and the replacement of dilapidated housing when it no longer meets the needs of the local community.

Brandon Lewis

The current government is committed to increasing the supply of new housing, including through £8 billion announced at the spending review to support the delivery of 400,000 affordable homes and the £140 million to kick start estate regeneration.

We announced at Spending Review that £2 billion in loans will be made available to invest in infrastructure needed for major housing developments. We would expect at least 50% of this funding to support housing on brownfield sites. Full bidding guidance will be available when the fund is launched.

In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework sets out the expectation that local planning authorities should identify and bring back into residential use empty housing and buildings in line with local housing and empty homes strategies. Planning applications for change to residential use from commercial buildings in areas where there is an identified need for additional housing should be approved provided that there are not strong economic reasons why such development would be inappropriate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with his Ministerial colleagues on encouraging young people in deprived communities to pursue a career in medicine.

Mr Philip Dunne

We are increasing the number of medical training places available to students each year. Beginning in September 2018, the Government will fund up to 1,500 additional student places through medical school each year. Students will be able to apply for the extra places from next year in order to take them up from the academic year 2018/19.

This increase will provide more opportunities for people from all backgrounds to study medicine, and will ensure the National Health Service will continue to have the right workforce to provide safe and effective patient care.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-11-06.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average time taken was for a rating assessment appeal to be considered by the Valuation Office Agency in the last 12 months.

Mr David Gauke

Based on data used to publish the latest Official Statistics, the average time taken to resolve a challenge to the rating list is 13 months for the 2005 list and 14 months for the 2010 list.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the regulatory requirements of the EU Directive on the safety of offshore oil and gas operations have been fully implemented; and which regulatory bodies are represented on the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator.

Justin Tomlinson

The regulatory requirements of the EU Directive were fully implemented in GB by the Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations (2015) which came into force on 19 July 2015. Northern Ireland is in the process of implementing regulations.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are represented on the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator (OSDR).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that internet service providers and social media organisations co-operate with the police to combat incidents of cyber bullying and harassment.

Mike Penning

As part of the arrangements for the collection of police recorded crime data the Home Office has introduced an ‘online flag’ allowing police forces to record online instances of crimes such as stalking and harassment. These data are still being developed but will be published once the data are considered to be of sufficient quality. In October 2015, the Office for National Statistics introduced new fraud and cyber questions to the Crime Survey for England and Wales. These new questions mean that we will be able to identify those crimes that had an online component and hence be able to provide estimates of cyber crime. This data will be published in due course.

Legislation is in place to deal with internet trolls, cyber-stalking and harassment, and perpetrators of grossly offensive, obscene or menacing behaviour. Through the Criminal Justice Act 2015, we improved two communications offences which can be used to prosecute misuse of social media: section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988, and section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, giving the police longer to investigate either offence, and increasing the maximum penalty for the former to two years imprisonment.

Engagement with the industry is essential, and the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) brings together industry, law enforcement, academia, charities, parenting groups, and government departments (Home Office, Department for Culture, Media & Sport, and Department for Education), to work in partnership to help to keep children and young people safe online. As part of this work, the UK’s Communications regulator, Ofcom, recently led a working group to develop good practice guidance for providers of social media and interactive services. Its purpose is to encourage businesses to think about “safety by design” to help make their platforms safer for children and young people under 18. This guidance was published in December 2015. A wide range of partners contributed to this project, including Twitter, Facebook, Google, Ask.FM, MindCandy and Microsoft.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect on the availability of women’s refuge services of the local rate of local housing allowance being applied to tenants in supported housing.

Justin Tomlinson

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 January 2016 to Question UIN 20740

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will ring-fence housing payments for tenants in supported accommodation.

Justin Tomlinson

We value the work of the supported housing sector extremely highly and are working closely with them to ensure they are supported as effectively as possible. As part of this, we have commissioned an evidence review of supported housing. The results of this research will determine any appropriate exemptions.

In addition, the Government has agreed to put in place a year-long exception for all supported housing provided by local authorities and private registered providers from the one per cent rent reduction.