Residential Buildings: Remediation
(Slough) (Lab)
1. What recent progress he has made on cladding and non-cladding
remediation for residential buildings.(903613)
Dame (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/Co-op)
5. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure
that residents are adequately protected from increases in
insurance premiums caused by remedial works.(903617)
(Wythenshawe and Sale East)
(Lab)
12. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help
protect leaseholders in low-rise apartment blocks from increases
in building insurance costs caused by cladding
issues.(903626)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
It is wonderful to see such a strong contingent from Lancashire
in the Gallery. Skelmersdale and Ormskirk will be proud of their
new MP, I am sure.
Developers are lining up to sign our contract to remediate
approximately 1,500 buildings. Some 95% of those buildings with
the most dangerous Grenfell-style cladding have already been
remediated or have work under way. The number of buildings that
are being fixed by the building safety fund has doubled in the
past year. The pilot for our new mid-rise scheme is making good
progress ahead of its full opening in the coming months.
Mr Dhesi
Even after the horrors of the Grenfell tragedy in 2017, the
Government have failed abysmally to get to grips with the
cladding scandal. While the Government dither and developers
delay, the leaseholders of potentially dangerously clad
apartments are stuck in limbo. Many, including people living in
West Central in Slough constituency, and in other blocks, cannot
sell or remortgage their apartments, and many face ever-rising
service charges and other charges that they cannot now meet. Does
the Secretary of State think it is fair for my Slough
constituents to have to continue to suffer intolerably under such
dire and demoralising conditions?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising the plight of his
constituents, but the action we have already taken will ensure
not only that the ultimate owners of those buildings—whether that
is the developers or the freeholders—are responsible for
remediation, but that those leaseholders who are currently
trapped and unable to move will be able to do so and to secure a
mortgage on their property if required.
Dame
I declare an interest: I live in a block with cladding. There are
many real concerns, and I commend the Secretary of State for some
of the progress he has begun to make, but there is still a big
issue with insurance premiums that are way too high for the risk
involved. Will he update the House on what progress he has made
with the insurance industry to get premiums down?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right. Not only have insurance
premiums been too high, but some of the middle people involved
have been gouging at the expense of leaseholders. We have made it
clear that there are responsibilities on the Association of
British Insurers and others to change their ways. The
Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Derbyshire
(), is responsible for local government and engaged in
work to make progress on that.
My constituent Joanne Davies faces a nightmare scenario. In a few
weeks’ time, she will have to fork out £5,000 because of
regulatory change in the light of Grenfell. She gets no support
because she lives in a low-rise block. Will the Minister meet me
to discuss her case?
I will absolutely make sure that I or another Minister meets the
hon. Gentleman and takes up the case of his constituent, yes.
Sir (New Forest East) (Con)
Does the Secretary of State recognise that issues like the
cladding scandal being foisted on innocent leaseholders will
continue until there is fundamental reform of the leasehold
system? I know he has plans to do that. When does he think they
might be put into effect?
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. We hope, in the
forthcoming King’s Speech, to introduce legislation to
fundamentally reform the system. Leaseholders, not just in this
case but in so many other cases, are held to ransom by
freeholders. We need to end this feudal form of tenure and ensure
individuals have the right to enjoy their own property fully.
Levelling-up and Town Centre Funding: Gillingham and Rainham
(Gillingham and Rainham)
(Con)
2. What levelling-up funding and town centre funding has been
provided to Gillingham and Rainham constituency. (903614)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
I am grateful for the question from my hon. Friend, who is a
great champion for his constituency. He will know that his
constituency has benefited from nearly £5 million of levelling-up
funding since 2020, including £4 million from the Getting
Building fund for the redevelopment of Britton Farm and the
Connecting Rural Kent and Medway project, and £600,000 from the
community renewal fund for the Medway Together project. His
constituency will also benefit from £3.3 million that Medway
Council was allocated from the UK shared prosperity fund.
I thank the Minister for that answer, but it was for the wider
Medway. I think Gillingham received £2 million with regard to the
Britton Farm skills hub.
Having worked very closely with Medway Council to put forward an
outstanding bid for Gillingham Open Lines, covering an area with
high levels of deprivation, I was disappointed to see that
application turned down. It raises real concerns about fairness
and a merit-based system of government, which the Prime Minister
assured me would be the case. Will the Minister visit Gillingham
with me and meet stakeholders to look at—
Mr Speaker
Order. Please, there are a lot of people on the Order Paper who I
want to get in. Let us help each other. If somebody does not want
to get in, please tell me and then we can help each other.
I will, of course, visit my hon. Friend’s constituency again,
after a fantastic visit just a few months ago. I should really
reiterate that all the funds in the Department are distributed
fairly and objectively, and that different allocation methods are
used for each fund to ensure that funding reaches those who most
need it, but of course I will meet him to discuss his own project
further.
(Birmingham, Selly Oak)
(Lab)
I commiserate with the hon. Member for Gillingham and Rainham
() and the people of
Gillingham and Rainham for feeling let down. The Tory Mayor of
the West Midlands went further. He said, after the disappointing
results for his area—including Druids Heath in my constituency,
one of the most deprived parts of the country—that it was time to
end this “begging bowl culture”. Does the Minister agree?
I am sure the hon. Member will be very, very pleased to read the
funding simplification plan we will be publishing in due
course.
Rent Controls: Local Government
(Nottingham East) (Lab)
3. If he will give local government powers to set rent controls.
(903615)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
The Government do not support the introduction of rent controls
in the private rental sector. Evidence suggests that they
discourage investment, lead to declining property standards and
may encourage illegal sub-letting, which would help neither
tenants nor landlords.
In September last year, a survey by the tenants’ union ACORN
found that 48% of private renters had received a rent hike from
their landlord since January 2021. Some increases were as high as
67%. In a cost of living crisis, that is fuelling poverty and
homelessness. Will the Government act now to freeze rents,
allowing vital breathing room while more permanent solutions to
tackle spiralling housing costs are devised?
In the UK, rent increased by 4.4% in the year to January 2023. We
are clearly aware that there is a lot of pressure on household
budgets, which is why the Treasury put together an enormous £37
billion cost of living package in 2022-23. A further £26 billion
will be available in the coming year.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Liverpool, Wavertree)
(Lab)
More than 40 households have been served with a section 21 notice
every single day since the Government first announced their
intention to scrap such notices. That is a total of nearly 53,000
households, and the number is rising. I must sound like a broken
gramophone record, but the situation out there, in the real
world, is desperate for so many people at the sharp end of the
private rented sector. The Opposition are ready to support them.
Enough of the talking: when can we finally expect the
Government’s renters reform Bill to be put to the House?
The Government have a manifesto commitment to abolish section 21,
and we will do so as soon as parliamentary time allows. We have
just finished the consultation on the decent homes standard,
which concluded in mid-October. It is important that we get this
legislation right, and we intend to do so.
Trading Standards: Staffing and Resources
(Weston-super-Mare) (Con)
4. What assessment he has made of the impact of variations in
staffing and resources on the effectiveness of local trading
standards teams. (903616)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
As my hon. Friend will know, local authorities are responsible
for determining resourcing priorities in accordance with the
needs of their local electorates, and the members of those
electorates will differ according to the areas where they live.
That said, the local government finance settlement for 2023-24
makes available up to £60 billion for local government in England
in response to the requests of the sector, and the majority of
that funding is ringfenced in recognition of the fact that local
authorities are best placed to understand the priorities.
There is a widespread concern that some local trading standards
teams are no longer capable of protecting local citizens from
scams, fraud and rip-offs, or of delivering the strong and fair
competition locally which will ultimately be the only route for
levelling up jobs, exports and growth in left-behind communities.
Will the Minister meet me to discuss the proposals for minimum
standards in my Government-commissioned report “Power to the
people”, so that we can level up opportunities in communities
throughout the country?
I have read that report, and I should be happy to meet my hon.
Friend to talk more about this important issue, in which I know
he has a long-standing interest.
Local Planning Authorities: Land for Employment and Industrial
Use
(Rugby) (Con)
6. What steps his Department is taking to support the provision
of land for employment and industrial use by local planning
authorities. (903618)
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities ()
National planning policy makes it clear that local plans and
decisions should help to create the conditions in which
businesses can invest, expand and, most importantly, create jobs
and life opportunities. We are consulting on how the national
planning policy framework could better support these
developments, and we welcome contributions to that
consultation.
And I welcome my hon. Friend to her new position.
The businesses and jobs of the future will need modern premises
from which to operate. In my constituency, Rugby Borough Council
recently agreed to review its local plan emphasising the
provision of more land for employment to help levelling up and to
create jobs and opportunities. What further support and
incentives can the Department give local authorities such as
Rugby which are seeking to do the right thing and enable our
businesses to grow?
I thank my hon. Friend for his kind words. We are delighted to
see ambitious local authorities such as Rugby, which he doubtless
champions on behalf of his constituents, promoting the
development that will help to level up his area. We are therefore
creating a new framework to make local plans easier to produce,
and they will be given more weight in decision making so that we
can create certainty and foster a genuinely plan-led system.
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
When land is available for urban development, external partners
of local authorities often determine the future economic strategy
for locations such as my constituency. How is the Department
ensuring that there is a focus on a levelling-up agenda that
benefits local communities, as opposed to a trickle-down agenda
that benefits only the investors’ interests?
The hon. Lady will know that the Government are committed to
levelling up areas throughout the country, including her
constituency. Working with Homes England, we deliver significant
investment funds to enable York and other partners to deliver
homes and, more importantly, places that people will want to come
to, in order to drive all-important economic growth and level up
the country.
Statutory Public Consultations
(Orpington) (Con)
7. What recent assessment he has made of the contribution of
statutory public consultations to local decision making.
(903619)
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities ()
Meaningful engagement with local communities is essential to the
improvement of public services, and our reforms in the
Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill will strengthen community
engagement in planning and increase the opportunities for
engagement through the development of digital services.
I thank my hon. Friend and welcome her back to her well-deserved
place on the Treasury Bench. Would she agree that the Mayor of
London’s decision to go ahead with the expansion of the ultra low
emission zone despite overwhelming opposition to the scheme
expressed in a public consultation shows complete contempt for
the people of outer London? Would she further agree that what
appears to be a clear attempt by Transport for London to
interfere with the outcome of the consultation in order to
predetermine the result further undermines the democratic
process?
I thank my hon. Friend for his vital question. I have seen the
reports he refers to and I totally share his concerns about the
consultation process led by the Mayor of London. Clearly these
plans will have a significant impact on the communities that my
hon. Friend represents so ably, which is why we must get to the
bottom of what happened and hold the Mayor of London to
account.
Levelling-up Missions
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
8. What recent assessment he has made of progress in meeting the
levelling-up missions. (903620)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
We are advancing on all fronts, rolling out deeper and broader
devolution across England, allocating extra resource to the
poorest regions and taking steps to enhance productivity
everywhere. In Portsmouth, £20 million has already been received
through the levelling-up fund to transform the visitor economy,
and nearly £7 million has been allocated from the future high
streets fund. Portsmouth is also receiving £48 million as part of
the national bus strategy.
The Government promised that their levelling up plans would
provide much-needed funding to communities such as my own, but
last month Portsmouth South was once again deprived of funding
that would have revitalised our city centre. Having rejected a
bid twice, can the Minister confirm what action the Government
are now taking to make Portsmouth city centre a place that local
people can be proud of once again?
I think we can all be proud of Portsmouth city centre, the
visitor attractions and the historic communities that the hon.
Gentleman is so fortunate to represent. I look forward to working
with and others like him
across the party divide in local government in Portsmouth to
ensure that the next bid can be successful.
(Lichfield) (Con)
On the subject of the next bid, my right hon. Friend will know
that we are very disappointed in Lichfield that after two bids we
were not awarded any grant to help with the leisure centre, but
does he agree that an application for Burntwood, an ex-mining
town in the Lichfield constituency, might be more successful?
My hon. Friend is a brilliant advocate for Lichfield. It may well
be that his impassioned advocacy for the community that he has
come to call Lich Vegas has meant that bids for the leisure
centre might have been seen as de trop, but Burntwood certainly
seems to be one of the communities that would be a prime
candidate. I took the opportunity when I was in the west midlands
recently to visit Willenhall to see how the levelling up fund was
helping to transform communities there. My hon. Friend the Member
for Walsall North () has done an amazing job in
making sure that communities that have been overlooked and
undervalued for years are at last getting the investment they
need. That is levelling up in action.
Levelling-up Fund Round 2
(Glasgow Central)
(SNP)
9. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the
levelling-up funding allocated in the second round. (903621)
(Waveney) (Con)
19. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the
geographical spread of the funding awarded in the second round of
the levelling-up fund. (903633)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
The second round of the levelling-up fund will invest up to £2.1
billion in 111 vital local infrastructure projects. We
prioritised investment in high-quality bids in places that have
not previously received levelling-up fund money in order to
maximise the spread of overall funding from rounds 1 and 2. In
this round of the fund, two thirds of the funding went to those
places in the greatest need, which we designated as category 1.
In Scotland, across both rounds, the amount of money awarded
exceeded our public funding commitments.
The Earl of Rosebery said at the opening of the People’s Palace
and Winter Gardens 125 years ago that they would be
“open to the people for ever and ever”.
The M8 motorway driven through the centre of Glasgow was called
the
“scar that will never heal”.
Can the Minister tell me why Glasgow’s bids to address both of
those issues were rejected in a process that she has already
admitted to Members of this House was rigged?
I ask the hon. Lady to retract that statement, because in no way
have I said that the process was rigged. It absolutely was not.
The decision-making framework that we use was outlined in full,
in writing, in the technical note that we published, and I would
be happy to send her a link to it on gov.uk. She has raised the
question of the People’s Palace, and I would be happy to sit down
with her to talk about the bid once she has received the written
feedback, to see if we can strengthen it for any future funding
rounds, potentially including round 3 of the levelling-up fund,
which will be announced in due course.
Projects to protect coastal communities against erosion and
flooding bring significant economic and social benefits on their
own. Can my hon. Friend therefore review the investment criteria
for round 3 of the levelling-up fund to include stand-alone
coastal defence schemes that are not part of a wider transport
regeneration or cultural bid?
My hon. Friend is a fantastic champion not only for the east of
England but, in particular, for coastal communities. We know that
coastal communities add unique value to our country and offer
significant growth potential, which is why 22 coastal areas are
benefiting from more than £673 million of investment via the
towns fund, why eight English freeports are in coastal areas and
why coastal areas such as Ramsgate continue to benefit from the
levelling-up fund, but of course I will be happy to meet him to
discuss this further.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Nottingham North)
(Lab/Co-op)
It was not just councils that put time and money into these bids;
local people put their heart and soul into developing their
community’s submissions, only to find that their bid would never
have been allowed to win, that their time had been wasted and
that they had been taken for fools. The Minister does not seem
troubled about wasting Members’ time, and certainly not local
authorities’ time, but surely she will apologise to those
volunteers.
I have already expressed my admiration for the incredible work
put in by local government officials, volunteers and Members
across the House, and I have apologised—the hon. Gentleman can
read the Select Committee transcript for himself.
I need to make the point that we had £8.8 billion-worth of bids
for round 3 of the levelling-up fund and only £2.1 billion to
allocate, which unfortunately means difficult decisions had to be
made. We are not a Government who shy away from making difficult
decisions, and my own county council unfortunately faced a
detriment, too. Ultimately, in line with the decision-making
framework outlined in the technical note, we were keen to ensure
geographic spread so that the most areas possible benefited from
the levelling-up fund across rounds 1 and 2.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Glasgow South West)
(SNP)
The Minister gave assurances in Westminster Hall less than two
weeks ago that unsuccessful local authorities would receive
feedback and their scorings. Local authorities are now being told
that they will not receive their scorings. Why has that decision
been taken?
As I outlined in the Westminster Hall debate, local authorities
will receive detailed feedback on their specific bids in due
course. Some areas have already received feedback, and it will be
rolled out further in the weeks to come.
Let me recap, then. As the Minister admitted in Westminster Hall,
councils that received money in round 1 were told at the very end
of the process that they would not receive money at the end of
round 2, despite the many hours that officials had spent putting
bids together. We are now being told that councils will no longer
receive their scorings. What confidence can local authorities
have that this process is fair and transparent? Or is it simply
the case that this policy is in tatters and no faith can be
placed in this process?
I would ask the hon. Gentleman to visit some of the areas that
are benefiting from the levelling-up fund. He should visit some
of the incredible projects that are benefiting local communities
and then look me in the eye and tell me that this policy is in
tatters.
Metro Mayors: Transfer of Powers
Sir (Rochford and Southend
East) (Con)
10. If he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of
transferring powers from central Government to (a) the Mayor of
Greater Manchester and (b) other metro Mayors.(903624)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
Devolution gives local leaders the tools to level up. Mayors
already drive economic growth, improve public services and
respond to local priorities, which is why the Government are
committed to deepening the devolution settlement for the most
mature institutions, supported by stronger processes for
accountability. The west midlands and Greater Manchester
trailblazer deals will act as a blueprint for other areas.
Sir
Devolving powers seems like such a great idea, but is the
Minister as concerned as I am that Mayors like Andy are using the role to build a
personal power base and to implement policies, such as the
so-called Manchester clean-air zone, that are diametrically
opposed to Conservative values?
I thank my hon. Friend for staying vigilant on the creation of
socialist power bases, which those of us on the Government side
of the House take incredibly seriously. I believe that levelling
up this country by devolving power is the best way to champion
the Conservative values and principles of entrepreneurialism,
innovation and individualism. As I have already outlined, this
will happen alongside a deepened accountability framework.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Committee.
(Sheffield South East)
(Lab)
The trailblazer deals in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester
imply that everyone else will have to sit and wait, and not get
extra devolution. Will the Minister disabuse me of that by
setting out a timetable—nothing in her response indicates a
timetable—for when the Mayors of other combined authorities will
be given the same powers as Greater Manchester and the West
Midlands?
Our priority at the moment is securing these trailblazer
deals—securing the devolution of vital powers on things we know
really matter to communities in Greater Manchester and the West
Midlands. Following that point, we will be talking to other metro
areas about how we can deepen their devolution deals as well.
(Bolton West) (Con)
Does the Minister share my concern about the Mayor of Greater
Manchester’s proposals for a workplace parking levy? It is a tax
on business, jobs and families, is it not?
My hon. Friend is a great champion for his community and I would
be happy to meet him to discuss this policy further.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
The Minister knows that I am very supportive of the devolution of
more powers to Greater Manchester, but one area that she needs to
look at carefully is the increase in scrutiny that will be
necessary at a very local level. As powers shift from this place,
where scrutiny is strong, to local government, where scrutiny is
not as strong as it perhaps ought to be, we need to look afresh
at those powers.
I could not agree with the hon. Gentleman more on that point. If
powers are being handed to local areas, which I think we all
agree is right, it is important that that comes with a proper
scrutiny framework. That is why we will shortly be publishing a
detailed devolution accountability framework, alongside the
trailblazer deals.
Local Authority Budgets
(North Shropshire) (LD)
11. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of trends in the level of local authority
budgets.(903625)
(Twickenham) (LD)
17. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of trends in the level of local authority
budgets.(903631)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
The local government finance settlement 2023-24 recently made
available nearly £60 billion of funding for local government in
England in the coming financial year, responding to the requests
of the sector for clarity, space and additional resources.
Shropshire Council has recently reported that it needs to find
£10 million of cuts this quarter and £50 million in the coming
years. Some 85% of its budget is spent on social care, so 97% of
residents are going to pay more for reduced services. Will the
Government consider reviewing the fair funding formula, so that
councils in rural areas can continue to provide proper services
to their constituents?
The main message we heard from the local government sector in the
past 12 months, after covid, inflation and all the pressures it
had, was that it wanted stability. What we have tried to offer as
part of the financial settlement for 2023-24 is a stable platform
upon which colleagues in local government can plan, reform and
work through where they are going in the future.
Both adult and children’s social care are in crisis, but the
social care grant, which can be used for both, excludes from its
flawed funding formula the needs of tens of thousands of
vulnerable children across this country. That means that in
London alone councils will miss out on some £600 million by 2025,
leaving boroughs such as mine in Richmond struggling to provide
high-quality care for those children in need. Will the Minister
look at fixing this faulty formula so that the most vulnerable
children in our society can get the care they desperately
need?
As I said to the hon. Member for North Shropshire (), we are prioritising
stability this year. Of course we always look at elements of the
settlement and what we can or cannot do, and how we can make them
better for the long term. However, substantial additional
funding, support and resources are going into the local
government finance settlement, which we hope will make a
difference on the frontline.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Luton North) (Lab)
Over a decade of Tory cuts are not the only thing damaging
council budgets; fly-tipping is a stain on our communities and
costs nearly £400 million a year. Taxpayers are left footing the
bill for the 16% increase in this crime under a Tory Government.
Councils should not pay the price for Conservatives being soft on
crime, so does the Minister agree that it is time to get tough on
people who do not respect our neighbourhoods? Will he back
Labour’s plan for stronger punishment for fly-tippers and the
introduction of clear-up squads?
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her comments. I absolutely
agree that fly-tipping is a scourge and a crime, and that local
authorities have the resources and the ability to try to do this
and to crack down on it. I encourage them to do so.
Antisocial Behaviour: Local Authorities
(Blyth Valley) (Con)
13. What steps he is taking to support local authorities in
tackling antisocial behaviour.(903627)
Kate Kniveton (Burton) (Con)
18. What steps he is taking to support local authorities in
tackling anti-social behaviour.(903632)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
Across Government, we are developing an action plan to tackle
antisocial behaviour. We are looking at stronger enforcement and
swifter justice, as well as supporting young people into sports
and other activities. This action builds on our wider investment
in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, including our
recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers.
Antisocial behaviour and petty crime have long been a problem in
Blyth Valley, which is why I have been meeting the police,
community groups and local retailers to try to resolve the
issues. Will my right hon. Friend please agree to meet me to
discuss the matter in greater detail, and hopefully find where
the support is?
I absolutely will. My hon. Friend, who is a spirited champion for
the communities in Blyth Valley, recognises how important it is
that we work together with other agencies to deal with antisocial
behaviour, that we have swift and certain justice, and that we
ensure that perpetrators clear up the mess they have created.
Above all, we have activities to intervene upstream and ensure
that the persistent absentees and truants of today, who could go
on to become the antisocial actors of tomorrow, are helped back
on to the right path.
Kate Kniveton
My constituents on Ashby Road, the A511 and the former A50 trunk
road, are suffering as a result of drivers racing along the road
with no consideration for residents who need to pull in and out
of their driveways. Excessive speed, aggressive driving habits
and numerous traffic collisions are very worrying for those who
live there. What support can my right hon. Friend give local
authorities to help them tackle such instances of antisocial
behaviour?
My hon. Friend is quite right to raise this issue. Vehicle
crime—whether those driving cars or using e-scooters in an
antisocial fashion, or otherwise making life difficult for their
neighbours—often needs attention. That is why an additional 231
uplift officers have been added to Staffordshire police, but I
will be working with Staffordshire’s police and crime
commissioner to ensure that this issue is tackled
appropriately.
Second Homes in Coastal Areas
(North Norfolk) (Con)
14. What steps his Department is taking to address numbers of
second homes in coastal areas.(903628)
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities ()
The Government fully understand that beautiful areas attract
large numbers of holidaymakers and, therefore, large numbers of
second homes. That is why we have introduced higher rates of
stamp duty land tax for those purchasing additional properties,
which will help to support local areas that have a large number
of second homes.
The ability to double council tax on second homes is a real step
in the right direction to help communities, such as mine in North
Norfolk, that suffer from a high concentration of second homes.
However, clause 73 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
requires greater clarification. Currently, a district council
such as North Norfolk benefits from just 8p in the pound from
council tax revenue. Does the Minister agree that we ought to
look at that clause and ensure that the communities affected by
second homes are the ones that benefit from additional taxation
raised?
My hon. Friend does a superb job of representing communities
affected by large numbers of second homes. That is why the new
council tax second homes premium will enable councils,
particularly in areas such as his with a strong tourism industry,
to generate significant additional funding for local services. If
they introduce the maximum premium, they will benefit from double
the council tax revenue. I am happy to discuss that issue with
him in more detail.
(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
The pandemic turbocharged the housing crisis in rural areas,
especially in Devon and Cornwall. Families are being turfed out
of their private rented homes under section 21 notices so that
they can be turned into second homes and Airbnbs. Does the
Minister agree with south-west supporters of the First Homes Not
Second Homes campaign, which I run with Cornwall councillor
, that it is time not only
for increased council tax on second homes but for a proper
licensing regime, so that communities can decide how many second
homes should be in their community, to stop them being hollowed
out?
I thank the hon. Member for bringing this issue to the Floor of
the House on behalf of his constituents and communities. We are
looking at the issue of registration of second homes through the
Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill and other frameworks. We
understand that, naturally, people want to go on holiday to
beautiful areas, but there is an impact on communities. We need
the registration scheme so that we understand and better mitigate
that.
Rural Areas: Housing Provision
(Totnes) (Con)
15. What steps his Department is taking to support the provision
of housing in rural areas.(903629)
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities ()
We want to ensure that affordable homes are available to anyone
who needs them, including in rural locations where stock is
limited and often difficult to replace. Our £11.5 billion
affordable homes programme is one of the vehicles through which
rural housing is delivered. It will provide thousands of
affordable homes in rural communities such as his across the
country.
I wholeheartedly agree with the suggestion of my hon. Friend the
Member for North Norfolk (): we need to build more
houses and put them in the right places and spaces, in the right
style and at genuinely local affordable levels. One of the ways
to do that is through community land trusts. Could the Minister
outline how we can do better to support community land trusts in
south Devon to build the houses that local people need, on a
primary residency basis?
The Government completely agree with those comments. We are clear
that the community-led housing sector offers significant untapped
potential for helping to meet housing need. It is the support and
close involvement of the local community that helps secure that
planning permission, so that we can build the homes that local
people support and can afford to buy.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Greenwich and Woolwich)
(Lab)
May I once again welcome the new Minister to her place?
Over a quarter of a million people in rural England are on a
housing waiting list, yet the Government are on course to miss
even the paltry target of 13,000 new rural affordable homes set
out in the current five-year affordable homes programme. At the
same time, the steady erosion of our country’s social housing
stock continues apace, with data released by the Department only
last month making it clear that the Government presided over the
net loss of 14,110 social homes last year. Is it simply not the
case that, when it comes to providing rural and urban communities
with the genuinely affordable rented homes they need, Ministers
are failing woefully?
No, that is not the case. It is a pleasure to respond to the hon.
Gentleman. This Government are taking the delivery of affordable
housing across the whole country incredibly seriously. That is
why more than 243,000 affordable homes have been provided in
rural local authorities in England, such as those represented by
Members across this House, between April 2010 and March 2022. We
must get the planning system right. We have a mission to level up
the country, which includes building affordable homes in rural
areas, as well as in urban areas.
Housing Developments: Primary Care Capacity
(South West Bedfordshire)
(Con)
16. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
provision of primary care capacity for large-scale new housing
developments.(903630)
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities ()
New housing needs to be supported by the right infrastructure,
including primary care services. The new infrastructure levy that
we are introducing through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
will be able to provide funding for local infrastructure and so
contribute towards addressing that vital issue.
I am running out of ways to describe how unbelievably awful the
current system is, which is failing to allocate sufficient
increased general practice capacity when we build tens of
thousands of new homes. Do the Government recognise the urgency
of this matter? If we are going to build housing, people must be
able to see a doctor when they move into their new homes.
Yes, the Government do recognise the urgency of this issue, and I
thank my hon. Friend for raising it. He is right to be consistent
about it, because, as we recognise, access to healthcare is one
of the most important concerns—if not the most important concern
—of local communities when new housing is planned. Our community
infrastructure levy places much firmer requirements on local
planning to engage with healthcare provision in the local
community, and I would be happy to meet him to discuss this
matter further.
Devolving Power to Local Communities
(Ruislip, Northwood and
Pinner) (Con)
21. What progress he has made on devolving power to local
communities.(903635)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
In 2022 we signed six new devolution deals—with York and North
Yorkshire, the east midlands, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall, and the
north-east—with £4 billion of long-term investment funding and
key powers devolved to local leaders. When these deals are
implemented, more than half of the English population will
benefit from devolution.
My constituents benefit from access to places such as Ruislip
woods and the Pinner Memorial Park as a means of getting to green
spaces in the local area. What measures does my hon. Friend have
in mind to ensure that, through the access to nature target, more
local authorities can use these devolution powers to create
good-quality green spaces?
I completely agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of
access to green space. My Department has made significant funds
available to local areas, including through the UK shared
prosperity fund and the levelling-up parks fund, which can be
used to regenerate green spaces, but I would be happy to sit down
with him to discuss the matter further.
(Barnsley East) (Lab)
Can the Minister confirm whether there is levelling-up funding
within the Department that has not been spent or allocated?
I am not quite sure whether I understand the hon. Lady’s
question. If she would like to write to me, I will certainly
follow up in writing.
Building Regulations: Energy Efficiency
(Walsall North) (Con)
22. What assessment has he made of the impact on energy
efficiency of the part L uplift in the building
regulations.(903636)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
The part L uplift, which came into force in June 2022, delivered
a significant improvement in energy efficiency. New homes now
produce 30% fewer CO2 emissions, and new non-domestic buildings
produce 27% fewer. The uplift will act as a stepping stone to the
2025 standards, which we will consult on in due course.
Is the Minister aware of a simple additive called EndoTherm,
which can be added to both domestic and non-domestic wet heating
systems for condensing boilers? Tests have proved that it reduces
energy use and hopefully it will soon be standard assessment
procedure-approved for testing. If he is not aware of it, will he
meet me and Andrew Bean to discuss its properties?
I was not aware of it until now, but I thank my hon. Friend for
highlighting it. As he knows from his time in the Department, our
approach is agnostic on technology and materials, but where there
are opportunities to find out more about how things are working
and how we can improve things, I am happy to do so.
Topical Questions
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(903638)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
I was honoured 10 days ago to have the chance to meet the family
of Awaab Ishak, the child who died so tragically in horrendous
circumstances in Rochdale. I was able to thank them for their
campaigning work and, as a result, with co-operation from bodies
across this House, we are taking forward legislation in his name
and in his honour to ensure that the scourge of damp and mould is
at last effectively dealt with.
In the levelling up White Paper the Government rightly confirmed
that they would match European Union structural fund receipts for
Cornwall. They could do the same for South Yorkshire, Tees
Valley, County Durham and Lincolnshire, but so far have not. Will
they?
I think we may be arguing from slightly different premises,
because it depends how one defines the replacement for EU
structural funds. I am more than happy to take the hon. Gentleman
through the figures and point out the ways in which the funding
we have supplied through the funds at our disposal match European
commitments.
(Stoke-on-Trent North)
(Con)
T3. One issue recently discussed at the Stoke-on-Trent summit at
10 Downing Street, led by my right hon. Friend, was setting free
Homes England and Stoke-on-Trent City Council on their fantastic,
UK-leading strategy for the regeneration of industrial cities.
Will he update the House on how his mission to set free Homes
England is going to date?(903641)
Stoke-on-Trent and all the six towns are enjoying a renaissance
under this Government in a way that they did not under the last
Labour Government. We are ensuring that investment is going into
Burslem, Tunstall, Stoke and Hanley in a way that did not occur
under that Labour Government. Homes England is at the heart of
that investment, providing new homes and cultural investment and
ensuring that people who voted Conservative at the last general
election recognise that they made the right decision.
Mr Speaker
We now come to the shadow Secretary of State.
(Wigan) (Lab)
I wish the Secretary of State good luck with that. Last week, he
told ITV News that,
“nobody will get in the way of making sure we get money to those
who are vulnerable and who deserve it”.
Was he referring to the Chancellor or the Chief Secretary to the
Treasury?
.
Seriously, the Secretary of State no longer has the power to sign
off on a park bench. There are now reports of significant
underspends in his Department that are about to be clawed back by
the Treasury. Can he guarantee to the towns crying out for
investment in town centres, high streets and affordable housing
that the full allocation of the towns fund, the future high
streets fund and the affordable homes programme will be spent? If
he cannot, will he tell us who is to blame—him, or the
Chancellor?
Mr Speaker
Just before the Secretary of State replies, I remind him that we
should not use the name of the Member but their constituency, and
also that he is certainly a right hon. Member.
My apologies to you, Mr Speaker, and to the right hon. and
learned Member for Holborn and St Pancras ()—the “human roadblock”, as he
was once memorably described by my right hon. Friend the Member
for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (). Returning to the issue, it
is absolutely the case that this Department is responsible for
the disbursement, successfully, of funds to the frontline,
helping to transform communities that were overlooked and
undervalued by the last Government. No one is going to get in the
way of this Department spending the money we need on the
communities that need it. The only thing I would say is that
there is not a single spending commitment that the hon. Lady has
been able to make because of the shadow Chancellor. Labour—
Mr Speaker
Secretary of State, I do not want to do this every time we have
questions. We get to topicals, and because the question is asked
you feel it is a free-for-all. It is not your questions; it is
Back-Benchers’ questions. Please, let us get everybody in, and
let us start with , who wants to ask a good
question.
(Buckingham) (Con)
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Whole communities have been up in arms
after perverse decisions by the Planning Inspectorate, most
recently on a site between Askett and Meadle and another between
Twyford and Poundon. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to
reform the Planning Inspectorate to stop it walking all over
local wishes?
The new national planning policy framework ensures that the
Planning Inspectorate will work with, not against, local
communities. The Planning Inspectorate also has a wonderful new
chief executive officer—an official from my Department who helped
to deliver the homes for Ukraine programme and understands what
communities need and want.
(North Down) (Alliance)
T2. With around 1,000 jobs and 17,000 placements at stake in
Northern Ireland, the shared prosperity fund is too little, too
late for those organisations that are currently availing
themselves of European social fund support. Can the Minister
ensure that, at the very least, decisions on funding will be
taken before the end of March to allow successful bids to
continue without interruption?(903639)
We will do everything we can to expedite that funding to Northern
Ireland.
(The Wrekin) (Con)
Solar is an important part of the UK’s energy mix, and, as the
Secretary of State will know, the sun always shines in
Shropshire. Does he agree that solar farms, which are often of
huge scale, need to be in the right place, not the wrong place?
So often, a lot of good agricultural land is lost.
Shropshire, home to the “blue remembered hills” of A. E. Housman,
is one of our most beautiful counties. It is vital, even as we
pursue renewable energy across the United Kingdom, that we
recognise that our environment is just as much about natural
beauty as it is about striving towards net zero.
(Bradford South) (Lab)
T4. According to the Government’s own reports, the Prime
Minister’s Richmondshire local authority is the 67th least
deprived local authority in the country, while Bradford is the
21st most deprived. Was levelling up at the heart of the
Government’s decision to approve roughly £20 million of funding
for Richmondshire and no funding for my constituency of Bradford
South?(903643)
That money went towards ensuring that service families get the
accommodation and support they deserve. If Labour wants to be
taken seriously as a patriotic party, it should stop talking down
our armed forces and ensure that they receive the money they
deserve.
(East Devon) (Con)
Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset secured £152 million from
the levelling-up fund last month. The four counties make up the
region’s new powerhouse, the great south west, of which I chair
the all-party parliamentary group. Will my right hon. Friend meet
me to discuss the fantastic opportunities that lie ahead for the
great south west?
I absolutely will, and I will make sure that the Under-Secretary
of State for Levelling Up, my hon. Friend the Member for Bishop
Auckland (), is with me as well.
There is nothing that the two of us enjoy more than hearing good
news from fantastic constituency MPs such as my hon. Friend the
Member for East Devon ().
Mr Speaker
Let us hear from another: I call .
(South Shields) (Lab)
T5. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.Not only have the Government
legislated to allow sewage on to our beaches and into our sea,
but they are now limiting funds for local authorities to stop
historic coastal landfill sites polluting our coast. One of those
sites is in gorgeous South Shields. When can we expect the
Government to do something about it?(903644)
Actually, the way that this Government have handled Ofwat has
ensured that we have done more to improve water
quality—[Interruption.] If the hon. Lady were to ask the chief
executive of any water company about the toughest Environment
Secretary that they have had to deal with, they would know. But
anyway, on the key question of South Shields, I agree that it is
beautiful, and I will have the chance to visit soon. The
additional money that we are making available for the devolution
deal for the north-east should help, but I would be delighted to
visit and find out more.
Mr (South West Hertfordshire)
(Con)
There have been multiple frivolous applications in my beautiful
South West Hertfordshire constituency, including in my hometown
of Tring, where such applications would increase the population
by 30%. What advice can the Secretary of State give me on how
best to engage with his Department on these issues so that my
constituents’ voices are heard clearly?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I know that the new Minister of
State for housing and planning, my hon. Friend the Member for
Redditch (), will be meeting him
shortly. It is absolutely vital that communities in the suburban
green belt such as his have the opportunity to ensure that people
have the new homes that they need and that we preserve the
communities that make his constituency so attractive to so
many.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
T6. Around one in 10 owners relinquishing animals to the Dogs
Trust cites housing issues as the reason. Can the Minister
confirm that planned measures to protect pet ownership in the
renters’ reform Bill will be maintained to prevent further pets
from being given up unnecessarily?(903646)
Yes.
(Eastbourne) (Con)
Fisherman’s Green has been identified by the local council as a
potential housing development site in Eastbourne. Local people do
not support that, and I support them. Can my right hon. Friend
confirm that the council, which owns the land and has put the
site into the strategy, can take Fisherman’s Green out of the
strategy without sanction?
My hon. Friend is absolutely spot on. I have been taking a close
interest in the activities of Eastbourne Borough Council. The
decision to develop Fisherman’s Green is the council’s alone, so
the council could easily take it out—the changes that we have
made in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill would allow it to
do that. I am afraid that there has been a campaign of
dissimulation on the part of her local council; it is a case of
Lib Dems spinning here.
(North Tyneside) (Lab)
T7. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the
leaders and elected Mayor of the north-east’s authorities on
their work with the Government to secure a strong devolution
deal? As his work concludes with Greater Manchester and the West
Midlands, can he confirm that he will move quickly to work with
those north-east authorities to convey “trailblazer” status and
powers, as agreed in the deal?(903647)
I could not agree more that the north-east is on the up.
Newcastle and Sunderland are doing well in footballing terms, but
even better in political terms, thanks to the leadership of local
figures, who are uniting with central Government to deliver
devolution.
(Newcastle-under-Lyme)
(Con)
Antisocial behaviour is causing misery for my constituents, as I
can tell from responses to my survey. Does the Secretary of State
therefore welcome the stronger action that we have seen from
Staffordshire police since its new local policing model was
introduced last June? In the last month, that action has included
a closure notice in Knutton, working with Asda to stop boy racers
in the Wolstanton car park, and a section 34 order in Chesterton.
It is a big issue, but we are moving in the right direction.
Staffordshire’s police and crime commissioner is certainly moving
in the right direction, as is Staffordshire police, supported
ably by my hon. Friend and others such as my hon. Friend the
Member for Burton (Kate Kniveton). Boy racers and others who
cause misery for their neighbours need to be dealt with
effectively. That is happening in Staffordshire and should be
happening more broadly as well.
(Vauxhall)
(Lab/Co-op)
Many constituents are contacting me about the rental market; I am
sure it is the same across the country. The shortage of available
properties is making it hard for private renters who are seeking
accommodation. One constituent emailed to say that she had been
told to keep requests to a minimum if she wanted to have a chance
of getting a property. What will the Secretary of State do about
the frankly disgraceful emails that tenants are receiving from
letting agents?
There are challenges in the private rented sector and with
housing supply everywhere. I would say two things: first, we need
to work together to unlock additional supply, which is why it is
important for the Mayor of London—I am not criticising him—to
play his part; secondly, we need to ensure that renters have the
protections that they deserve. That is why we are bringing
forward legislation, which I know the hon. Lady supports.
(Bolsover) (Con)
The Help to Buy scheme has helped hundreds of my young
constituents to get on to the housing ladder, yet it is due to
end shortly. Can the Secretary of State assure me that he is
badgering the Chancellor to ensure that that vital scheme
continues?
I do not need to badger the Chancellor; we are not just
constituency neighbours, but brothers from different mothers.
More than that, the newly appointed Minister of State, Department
for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, my hon. Friend the
Member for Redditch (), was immediately on the
case. We will secure an extension to make sure that my hon.
Friend’s constituents get the benefits from the scheme that they
deserve, and I look forward to meeting him next month.
(Leeds Central) (Lab)
Does the Government’s commitment to look at helping blocks below
11 metres with cladding apply not only where that cladding is
found to be dangerous and needs to be removed, but where lenders
are still demanding EWS1 certificates, which cannot currently be
provided?
Let me look into the specifics of any individual case. It should
be the case, however—as the conversations that the
Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Derbyshire
(), has had with lenders show—that there has been a
significant diminution in the demand for EWS1 forms. Where they
are still being demanded, however, I would like to know more, so
I look forward to working with the right hon. Gentleman to find
out more about any kinks in the system.
(Rugby) (Con)
On-street parking is a policy of Warwickshire County Council.
Does the Secretary of State agree that the council has got it
wrong in allowing people who drive internal combustion engines to
park all day directly in front of the electric vehicle chargers
that it has provided?
I will have to look closely at that. It is rare that Warwickshire
gets things wrong, in my experience, but my hon. Friend seems to
have identified an anomaly that stands in the way of the
effective transition to electric vehicles, so I look forward to
considering more closely the issue that he raises.
(Weaver Vale) (Lab)
How can taking away £25 million from Halton Borough Council over
the next three years be classed as levelling up? For Cheshire
West and Chester Council, it is nearly half a billion pounds
since 2010. That is not levelling up. When can we expect a
genuine, fair funding review?
It is the case that at the last spending review, we secured a
significant increase in local government spending, and as my hon.
Friend the Member for North East Derbyshire pointed out when we
had the debate on the local government finance settlement,
authorities such as that of the hon. Member for Weaver Vale
() have received the funding
they need in order to deliver the services on which constituents
rely.
(South West Bedfordshire)
(Con)
Does the Secretary of State agree that when we build thousands of
new homes, we need to do as well at providing extra general
practice capacity as we do at providing extra primary school
places? If he does, what will he do about it?
I do, and our new infrastructure levy in the Levelling-up and
Regeneration Bill is designed to do just that. I look forward to
working with my hon. Friend and with the new Minister of State
for Housing and Planning, my hon. Friend the Member for Redditch,
in order to make sure that the infrastructure levy delivers as we
both would want.
(Glenrothes) (SNP)
While people in Levenmouth certainly welcome the fact that the
levelling-up process gave us some of our own money back again,
can the Secretary of State identify a single measure of need or
deprivation by which the Prime Minister’s constituency is as
needy and as deprived as the Levenmouth area in my constituency,
and more deprived than the entire city of Glasgow?
First, as I mentioned earlier, the reason that money has gone to
the Prime Minister’s constituency is that it is going to help
service families who do so much in order to make sure that we are
all kept safe and protected. Secondly, I am grateful that the
hon. Gentleman acknowledges that it is a good thing that the UK
Government are distributing this money in this way. It is the
case that his party used to oppose that, but we are now
delivering that money; for two successive years, cash has been
delivered to Glenrothes, to Glasgow, and to other
communities.
The third thing I would say is that I hope the hon. Gentleman is
not the SNP MP quoted in The Times at the weekend as saying that
the thing about the Scottish Government is that they cannot
even—
Mr Speaker
Order. .
(Tiverton and Honiton)
(LD)
The latest round of levelling-up funding has once again failed to
provide much-needed investment in my part of Devon. The proposals
put forward by East Devon District Council would have funded
vital investment in Seaton and Axminster. What does the Secretary
of State say to people in towns that are attractive to tourists,
who feel taken for granted and feel that this Government are not
serious about levelling up for them?
I say, “Vote Conservative,” because with a Conservative MP such
as my hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (), you have an effective
advocate who can work with central Government in order to
deliver.
Dame (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/Co-op)
More people rent privately in my constituency than own their own
homes, and more people rent socially than both of those groups
combined. When I visit those people, week in and week out, they
are massively overcrowded with no prospect of renting in the
private sector or buying. What is the Secretary of State doing to
deliver properly affordable social rented housing?
The hon. Lady’s point is very similar to that made earlier by the
hon. Member for Vauxhall (), and my answer is also
very similar: we need to work with the Mayor of London, who has
clear responsibilities in this area. Once again, I am not
criticising him, but I am stressing that the delivery of so much
of the funding required to improve housing in the capital depends
on effective action by the Mayor.
(St Albans) (LD)
Some of the Homes for Ukraine six-month placements are now
starting to come to an end, and some Ukrainian nationals in my
constituency cannot get into private rented accommodation because
they have no credit history. The local council is ready to look
at rematching families, but if that does not work out, some of
those Ukrainian refugees will have no choice but to present as
homeless. Will the Secretary of State look at this issue, and
look at the suggestion of a guarantor system backed by the
Government?
That is actually a very fair and constructive point. Making sure
that there are not just banking facilities, but the kinds of
guarantees that the hon. Lady asks for, is something we have been
looking at in the past. I will ask the Under-Secretary of State
for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, my hon. Friend the
Member for Kensington (), to talk to the hon. Lady
and to St Albans council in order to make sure that the
generosity of her constituents is not undermined by the activity
of the financial sector.
