The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-02-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the effect of the European Regional Development Fund on economic growth.
James Wharton
My Department has not carried out a recent estimate of the effect of the European Regional Development Fund on economic growth.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-03-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 1.160 of Budget 2016, what his policy is on providing compensation to local authorities for potential loss of income related to the planned reductions in business rates.
Mr Marcus Jones
These tax cuts provide significant support to local businesses. The Small Business Rate Relief measure announced at the Budget will mean 600,000 of the smallest businesses will not have to pay business rates.
Local authorities will be compensated in full for their loss of income as a result of these changes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he plans to take to ensure that local government representatives are included in the process of exiting the EU.
Mr David Jones
As the Secretary of State said in his statement of 5 September, we are going to listen and talk to as many organisations, companies and institutions as possible – from the large PLCs to small business, from the devolved administrations through to councils, local government associations and the major metropolitan bodies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of product safety guidance for manufacturers of children’s fancy dress costumes; and what assessment he has made of the effect on safety of retailers classifying such costumes as toys rather than clothing.
Anna Soubry
I am satisfied that existing guidance for manufacturers of children’s fancy dress costumes on compliance with the appropriate product safety legislation is adequate.
I am also satisfied that the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 include robust requirements that provide for a high level of protection of children. However, Trading Standards are currently undertaking a major assessment of the state of the UK market and the compliance of fancy dress costumes with the relevant European Standard (BS EN71-2). In addition, the British Standards Institution is considering whether the Standard still reflects best practice or should be improved. This will include consideration of testing methods used for fabrics in other consumer products.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-02-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of exit from the EU on his Department’s work on the European Regional Development Fund.
James Wharton
No.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-03-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the local government finance settlement 2016-17, whether he consulted the Office for Budget Responsibility on the distribution of the transitional grant.
Mr Marcus Jones
The Office for Budget Responsibility is concerned with national economic forecasting, while the Transition Grant is a subnational distribution. It was therefore not necessary nor would it have been standard practice to consult the OBR on this issue.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on the lack of clean water in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna Peninsula; and if he will raise that scarcity with the Sri Lankan government.
Alok Sharma
The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka visited Jaffna in June and raised concerns about water contamination with the local authorities. He received assurances that they were aware of the issue and were addressing it. They also discussed water quality in general and longer term plans for providing water through desalination.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2015-12-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how his Department plans to enable the sharing of best practice from current and completed devolution deals.
Mr Marcus Jones
The Government is pleased to have reached agreement on devolution deals with seven local areas during 2015 which will enable local people to make decisions on the priorities and investments which will best help local areas to succeed and grow. We are now focused on implementation of these deals, and as part of this process monitoring and evaluation will be crucial.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support Help to Buy applicants whose new build completion has been delayed.
Brandon Lewis
Current arrangements provide substantial support to Help to Buy purchasers in these circumstances. As with any new build sale, the house builder and purchaser, after exchange of contracts, have a binding contract that will specify arrangements for legal completion. As such, if there are delays to completion, the purchaser should speak to their conveyancer. The Help to Buy scheme specifies that house builders must include a completion date at the point they make a claim to the Homes and Communities Agency for the Help to Buy funding to assist the purchase. If the completion date is subsequently delayed the Agency can seek to reclaim or withhold the funding from the builder if there is very little prospect of ever achieving purchaser legal completion within a reasonable time frame.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-03-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the methodology used by his Department to calculate the distribution of the Transitional Grant announced in the local government finance settlement 2016-17.
Mr Marcus Jones
The Secretary of State has published an explanatory note setting out the method of calculation of the Transition Grant. It is available to view at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/510870/Explanatory_note_on_the_allocation_of_the_Transition_Grant.pdf