theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_27

Lord Sikka:To ask His Majesty's Government what was the amount of fines paid by each of the water companies in each of the past five years. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: We will not let companies get away with illegal activity and where breaches are found, the regulators will not hesitate to hold companies to account.

The Water (Special Measures) Bill will provide the most significant increase in enforcement powers to the regulators in a decade, giving them the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies in the next investment period, which is due to start in April this year.

Details of the enforcement action taken against water companies by regulators are available on the relevant regulator’s websites.

Enforcement action by Drinking Water Inspectorate can be found on the DWI website.

Enforcement action by Ofwat can be found on the Ofwat website.

Enforcement action by the Environment Agency can be found on the EA website.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_28

Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 20 January (HL3929), what discussions they have had with Ofwat and water companies about encouraging domestic household customers to install rainwater harvesting systems. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given on 20 January 2025, PQ HL3929, as no further discussions with Ofwat or water companies have taken place since.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_29

Lord Cameron of Dillington:To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the criteria for '30 by 30' at sea for the purposes of their commitment to protect and conserve a minimum of 30 per cent of land and sea for biodiversity by 2030. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra announced last week that we will undertake a review of the English MPA network to consider how it can better address biodiversity loss and be more resilient to climate change. We will update on the results of that review in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_30

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to protect the unfettered flow of supplies to Northern Ireland in chemical industries. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Northern Ireland has unfettered access to the whole UK internal market, this ensures a smooth flow of goods, including in relation to chemical industries. The UK Government is steadfastly committed to continue protecting Northern Ireland’s unfettered access which has been guaranteed in perpetuity
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_31

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the development of new gaming hubs across the UK. \p Baroness Twycross: The Government recently announced £5.5 million funding for the UK Games Fund (UKGF) for 2025/26, which will provide grants to early-stage studios across the UK to develop new intellectual property, and deliver the graduate talent development programmes Tranzfuser and Dundee Development (DunDev).

Video games companies can also benefit from the Video Games Expenditure Credit, which allows studios to claim expenditure credit at a rate of 34% of their qualifying expenditure, and the Create Growth Programme, which supports high-growth potential creative businesses in 12 English regions outside London to scale up and become investment ready.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_32

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff:To ask His Majesty's Government whether funeral directors providing a direct cremation service are required to collect the body of a deceased person from a hospital mortuary within a specified time frame after the medical examiner has issued the medical certificate of cause of death. \p Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: At present there is no mandatory time period within which all funeral directors across England and Wales should collect the body of a person who has died and take them into their care.

The introduction of regulation into the funeral director sector requires thorough consideration due to the complexity and sensitive nature of the area. It is essential to ensure that the rights and dignity of deceased individuals and their bereaved family members are protected, while implementing measures that are proportionate.

For that reason, the Government is considering the full range of possible next steps to ensure appropriate standards are in place, including the potential for introducing some form of appropriate, proportionate regulation of funeral directors. An update on next steps will be provided in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_33

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to require all funeral directors and crematoria to publish their schedule of planned direct cremations to ensure that the service that has been commissioned has been carried out. \p Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: The Law Commission is currently undertaking its “Burial, Cremation and New Funerary Methods” project which seeks to create a future-proof legal framework to address what happens to our bodies after we die and to make recommendations that will provide modern, certain and consistent regulation across different funerary methods. As part of this project, the Law Commission has considered issues surrounding direct cremation. Its recent “Burial and Cremation” consultation document invited evidence from consultees as to whether, in relation to direct cremations, there are cases where an applicant for the cremation will not know which crematorium will be used at the time of application.

The Government does not currently have plans to require all funeral directors and crematoria to publish their schedule of planned direct cremations. Direct cremations are subject to the same legislation as any other cremation. The Government will consider any changes to the legal framework governing direct cremations as part of any wider recommendations made by the Law Commission in due course. As the Law Commission project is still ongoing, we do not want to pre-empt its recommendations. We look forward to carefully considering these once published, which we expect to be towards the end of 2025.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_34

Lord Clement-Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent research by the Manifesto Club which found that private enforcement companies now issue over 75 per cent of all penalties for breaches of public spaces protection orders on a payment-per-fine or otherwise incentivised basis; what assessment they have made of the risks associated with these arrangements; and what plans there are, if any, for the Home Office to follow DEFRA in introducing guidance that prohibits incentivised enforcement action. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: It is for local authorities to determine how to operate the powers granted to them in legislation.

Contracting enforcement to third parties is a common arrangement and it is for the local authority to ensure use of powers remains just and proportionate.

Contractors are bound by the same legal obligations, and the same safeguards in legislation, as councils themselves. Local authorities are also obliged to follow the rules set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 in appointment of such companies.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_35

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock:To ask His Majesty's Government whether public funds are used for security at private residences or non-official activities of members of the Royal Family, and, if so, what is the justification for using them for this purpose. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, including expenditure, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_36

Lord Godson:To ask His Majesty's Government which department is currently working on blasphemy-related extremism; and following the completion of their counter-extremism sprint, which department will then have the lead on countering this threat. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Office leads all the work on countering extremism, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government lead all the work on strengthening community cohesion, alongside local councils. The two programmes on cohesion and extremism work in parallel and the two departments work closely together on them.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_37

Lord Farmer:To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the map on page 11 of the guidance issued by the Home Office in March 2023 on provisions of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 relating to Parliament Square and the areas surrounding the Palace of Westminster, why the section of the A302 forming the north side of Parliament Square was not included in the controlled area. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Through section 76 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PCSC Act 2022), the previous Government amended section 142A of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 to expand the “controlled area” of the Palace of Westminster to include the vehicular access points to the Parliamentary Estate. The amendment also added obstructing the passage of a vehicle into or out of the Parliamentary Estate to the list of prohibited activities.

The aim of the amendments was to prevent the impediment of Parliamentarians’ vehicular access to the Parliamentary Estate via vehicular entrances. The scope of the amendment was determined in consultation with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and other key partners. The PCSC Act 2022 will be subject to post-legislative scrutiny between April 2025 and April 2027. We will carefully consider the findings of that review and should gaps in the legislation be identified, we will seek to address them.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_38

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the policy of the Government People Group and the Office for Equality and Opportunity on central government bodies affiliating to Stonewall using public funds. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to the Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP on 30 January 2025 by Minister Gould which states that:

‘Government departments are responsible for decisions about whether to buy services from third sector organisations to support equality, diversity and inclusion in their organisations. Currently no government department is a member of Stonewall’.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_39

Baroness Neville-Rolfe:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 27 November 2024 (HC14946), which specific department and programme reductions to Government Communication Service spending expect to save £85 million. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: I refer the noble Lady to the answer provided to Question HC25685 on 30 January 2025:

PQ25685: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2025, to Question 20957 on Government departments: communication and public consultation, if she will list the (a) Department, (b) theme and (c) estimated saving of each of the campaigns (i) that were cancelled, (ii) continuing with reduced budgets and (iii) aiming to reduce their expenditure by 25%.

Minister Gould’s answer: There are currently no plans to publish this list in detail. The comprehensive communications Spending Review identified 39 campaigns that were cancelled, 46 campaigns continuing with reduced budgets and 46 campaigns aiming to reduce their expenditure by 25%. The combined savings from these measures total £85 million in 2024-25 and up to £96 million in 2025-26.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_40

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office on 7 February (HC27716), what is the timetable for publishing the diversity dataset from the Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion review; and why it cannot yet be published. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The data from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Review will be published in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-25 conversation_41

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage firms to invest in green technologies, particularly investment in renewable energy. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: GBE will develop, own and operate assets, investing in partnership with the private sector. It will have a capitalisation of £8.3 billion of new money over the Parliament. This is in addition to the work of the National Wealth Fund (NWF), which is central to this Government’s mission to deliver growth and a greener economy. Capitalised with an additional £7.3 billion, the NWF will make transformative investments across every part of the country - mobilising billions of pounds worth of additional private sector investment.

We will continue to support new renewable deployment through our flagship Contracts for Difference scheme, with Allocation Round 7 due to take place this year. In addition, on 12 November, the government launched the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Clean Industry Bonus (CIB). Fixed and floating offshore wind applicants can obtain extra CfD revenue support if they choose to invest in more sustainable supply chains.

The CIB allocation framework sets out how to apply for a Clean Industry Bonus, and how funding will be allocated. The CIB guidance sets out the process for receiving CIB payments, and other matters related to the delivery of CIB commitments. The CIB application window opened 12 February and will close in April 2025.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_2

Blake Stephenson:Whether the number of houses recommended by the new towns taskforce will be in addition to the housing targets set in the national policy planning framework. \p Matthew Pennycook: Not least because we will only begin construction of the next generation of new towns towards the end of this Parliament, the Government have been clear that they will deliver over and above the targets produced by the standard method. We will, of course, keep under review how the taskforce’s forthcoming recommendations on new towns interact with housing targets across England. \p Blake Stephenson: Communities in Mid Bedfordshire have always done their bit to take new housing, but continued pressure to build is chipping away at our beautiful countryside and the historical character of our towns and villages. Will the Minister assure communities such as mine that the new towns taskforce cannot hit us with a double whammy of house building? \p Matthew Pennycook: The independent expert taskforce, chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, will be submitting its final report to us in the summer and, as such, we have absolutely no idea which locations it will recommend to Ministers for decision. We have been clear, as I have said, that our ambition is that new towns will contribute over and above the targets produced by the standard method, but obviously we want to make sure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities, such as his, coming forward with these large-scale new communities. \p Neil Duncan-Jordan: We know that future generations of older people are unlikely to have had generous pensions or even to have been homeowners during their working lives. Will the Minister therefore confirm whether housing targets will include specific reference to older people’s housing and the growing need for age-appropriate accommodation? \p Matthew Pennycook: I would say two things to my hon. Friend. First, the older people’s housing taskforce recently reported, and we are weighing up its recommendations. We have also made clear through the national planning policy framework that we expect local authorities to take into account the types of tenure and homes that they need for their local areas, and local plans are the primary way that different types of housing for different demographic demographics should be brought forward.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_3

Paul Davies:What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the Penistone line project. \p Alex Norris: Our Department is in regular dialogue with the Department for Transport and with regional mayors on how best to support local transport infrastructure investment, including the Penistone line project. With our decision to finally grasp the nettle and support a mass transit system, this Government are now providing unprecedented levels of investment for the region. \p Paul Davies: The Penistone line connects Kirklees, Barnsley and Sheffield. Single-track sections constrain capacity and present reliability issues. On the day that the previous Conservative Government announced that Network North money would be spent on potholes in London, three out of six services running over a four-hour period were cancelled on the Penistone line. Does the Minister agree that the proposed improvements will boost connectivity, economic growth, education and healthcare? Will the Minister meet me and my colleagues to discuss advancing this project? \p Alex Norris: I thank my hon. Friend for raising these important points. I totally agree with him that improved connectivity is essential for places to thrive, and that is a point that Mayor Tracy Brabin makes to me frequently. I can happily say that the case for West Yorkshire is heard loud and clear. I would of course be happy to hold such a meeting.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_4

Harriet Cross:What her plans are for levelling-up projects. \p Alex Norris: Despite the difficult fiscal context, at the autumn Budget we provided stability for legacy levelling-up projects—now called local growth funding—prioritising expenditure on the programmes that most directly support the five missions that this Government were elected on. The Government will set out our long-term vision for local growth at the upcoming spending review. \p Harriet Cross: The provisional local government finance settlement for 2025-26 introduces changes to the previous methodology for the then levelling-up funding for categorising areas of priority need. The Rural Services Network has highlighted concerns and disparities that shift funding away from rural and coastal communities to urban areas. Can the Minister assure the House that any new funding formula will adequately address the unique challenges of rural and coastal communities? Will he commit to publishing the criteria by which future levelling-up funding decisions will be made? \p Alex Norris: We have been clear that for local growth funding we want to move away from the old model of competitive funding pots and beauty parades, which was short-term and based on central criteria. I can assure the hon. Lady that the model that people get from this Government will be longer term, will be allocative, will have more flexibility and will have more local leadership, and it will of course be targeted at those communities that need it the most. \p Maya Ellis: May I first thank the Secretary of State for visiting Preston last week to attend this year’s convention of the north? It was a fantastic event and reinvigorated the case for northern investment to be a key determinant in Government decisions. In that vein, can the Minister outline what conversations are being held with departmental colleagues to ensure that the opportunity of investing in the north is fully realised and understood? \p Alex Norris: I know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State enjoyed her visit. Our Ministry is clear that although we have a crucial role to play in devolution, it is a whole-Government venture. We are having frequent conversations with colleagues about how to crowd-in the important policy interventions they are making, to ensure that our communities across the country have the tools and resources they need to shape their place.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_6

Charlie Dewhirst:What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on levels of non-domestic rates for pubs. \p Jim McMahon: Given the importance of business rates to both local government finance and local communities, and particularly to our high streets, our two Departments engage regularly on these matters. Pubs are eligible for the retail, hospitality and leisure relief scheme, and in the 2025-26 financial year pubs will benefit from a 40% relief on their bills, up to a cash cap of £110,000. For 2026-27, the Government intend to introduce a permanently lower rate for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, including pubs. Those rates will be set by the Chancellor in the 2025 autumn statement. \p Charlie Dewhirst: The highest pub in the Yorkshire wolds, the Wolds Inn at Huggate, is a great success story—Mr Speaker, I would be delighted to buy you a pint there the next time you find yourself on the right side of the Pennines—but, like many pubs in my constituency, it faces a crippling rise in non-domestic rates at a time when margins are very tight. Local pubs are not just businesses but much-loved community assets, so will the Minister reverse this tax grab and start supporting the great British local? \p Lindsay Hoyle: If I return as a missionary, I will bear that in mind. \p Jim McMahon: Well, if it is intended to be a tax grab on pubs, we are not doing a very good job of it, because when the permanent scheme comes in, 99% of pubs that  are under the £500,000 threshold will benefit from it. We absolutely recognise the importance of our community pubs in propping up the community and giving them places to meet, and to the economy and the good jobs that they provide. \p Chris Webb: The Armfield Club in my constituency is a fantastic local boozer that is run by, and was created by, Blackpool FC supporters. Venues such as the Armfield are the beating heart of our town, providing jobs and bringing local communities together. What steps will the Minister take to ensure a bright and sustainable future for clubs such as the Armfield? \p Jim McMahon: I thank my hon. Friend for the work that he is doing to champion pubs in his constituency. Like all of us, he recognises just how important they are to the economy, and probably even more so to local communities. The Government can do a lot on business rates and on things like the community right to buy, which gives the community the right to step in when pubs might face closure, as part of the package.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_7

Stephen Gethins:Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Arbroath town plan. \p Alex Norris: My officials and I continue to work with our counterparts, including in the Scotland Office and colleagues in the devolved Governments, to develop and deliver the reformed long-term plan for towns. I was delighted to visit Arbroath earlier this year. I was blown away by the quality of its consultation and the boldness of its plans, and I commend the leadership of Peter Stirling and the rest of the town board. \p Stephen Gethins: May I put on record my thanks to the Minister for visiting Arbroath? It was good of him to do that, and I join him in congratulating Peter Stirling and members of the Arbroath town board. We have seen how hard-working they are and the way the community really got behind the project. I put on record my thanks to everybody in the town who has taken part, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Angus and Perthshire Glens (Dave Doogan) for his work on it. Will the Minister work with the Treasury to ensure that there is maximum flexibility for local communities in Arbroath and elsewhere in the UK, to ensure that we can bring these projects to full fruition? \p Alex Norris: That is a very important point. We wanted to keep the promise made to the people of Arbroath, which is why I am very pleased that we have been able to do so through the long-term plan for towns. Going forward, as I have said to other colleagues, we want to see a longer-term, more allocative settlement that is driven by local people. As I stood in the church hall, with board after board after board of feedback from local residents about what they wanted to see, it only firmed my resolve that they should be in charge, rather than us. I came away with Arbroath smokies—they are always worth a visit as well—but I was very impressed with what the town board was doing.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_12

Paul Kohler:What steps she is taking to support councils with town centre regeneration projects. \p Alex Norris: We all want to see our town centres thrive, and it is one of those things that constituents raise with all of us. That is why we are delighted that at the Budget, the Chancellor confirmed that the long-term plan will be retained and reformed. The plan is working with 75 towns across the UK, providing each with £20 million to support their  regeneration. Of course, this comes on top of the innovation of high-street rental auctions, and the forthcoming community right to buy. \p Paul Kohler: I thank the Minister for his answer. I am proud to have half of Morden town centre in my constituency. Morden is an area ripe for rejuvenation. It has fantastic transport links, but like many town centres across the country, it is struggling. As one Labour councillor recently noted in the council chamber, despite years of promising to regenerate Morden, Labour-run Merton council has failed to deliver. Just last week, it again put off doing anything—this time until at least 2027. Will the Minister meet me to discuss why the council has failed to begin rejuvenation over the last 30 years, and to discuss what support the Government can  now give? \p Alex Norris: I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s invitation, which, of course, I will take up. The experience that he talks about is not uncommon in the rest of the country; certainly, over the last 14 years, there has been very little progress. I know that Merton council, for example, is investing some £300,000 in brightening and refreshing Morden town centre, but I know the council, like the hon. Gentleman, wants to see more done. I will be happy to sit down to talk to him about that. \p Paul Waugh: I warmly welcome today’s announcement of £20 million in community regeneration partnership money for Rochdale. This money will further revitalise our town centre and the area around our train station, as well as expanding our brilliant Hopwood Hall college. Does this prove what can happen when we have a Labour Government working with a Labour council and a Labour MP to revive an area? \p Alex Norris: It absolutely does. My hon. Friend has been dogged, almost to the point of—well, I will not say to what point—on securing money for Rochdale. I know this money will make a real difference. Despite this being yet another thing that was not funded by the previous Government, we are delighted to have been able to secure this funding, which I know will have a great impact. I look forward to visiting.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_13

Edward Morello:Whether her Department is taking steps to ensure housing targets account for protected landscapes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Government are committed to maintaining strong protections for our protected landscapes. We are clear that the scale and extent of development within such designated areas should be limited, so that we are able to pass on their attractions and important biodiversity to future generations. National planning policy is clear that significant development within a national landscape should be refused, other than in exceptional circumstances where it can be demonstrated that the development is in the public interest. \p Edward Morello: West Dorset desperately needs new housing that is actually affordable for local people, especially key workers and young families looking to  get on the housing ladder, but 70% of West Dorset falls within a protected national landscape, formerly an area of outstanding natural beauty. Rigid housing targets could lead to inappropriate developments that undermine the character of this protected area. What discussions has the Department had with local authorities in Dorset on adjusting housing targets to reflect the constraints of the national landscape and our rural infrastructure challenges? \p Matthew Pennycook: Local authorities use the standard method to assess housing needs, but they can show evidence of any hard constraints in their areas, including protected landscapes. Those will be assessed by the Planning Inspectorate to judge whether the plan is sound. We are clear that local authorities should explore all options to deliver the homes that their communities need, including maximising the use of brownfield land, working with neighbouring authorities and, where appropriate, reviewing their green belt.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_15

Satvir Kaur:If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. \p Angela Rayner: In a written ministerial statement on 21 November, the Government committed to taking steps to bring the feudal leasehold system to an end and to reinvigorate commonhold to make it the default tenure for new flats. Today marks the first step in the transition, with the publication of the “Commonhold White Paper”, which sets out the Government’s proposal for how a reformed commonhold model will operate, based on the recommendations of the Law Commission. \p Satvir Kaur: The last Government’s disastrous changes to permitted development rights saw over 100,000 office and retail units converted into unsafe and unsuitable homes. In Southampton, they have left people living with office wires still hanging from the ceiling. Some have no windows, and others’ homes are no bigger than a car parking space. I welcome the Government’s excellent progress on renters’ and leaseholders’ rights, but will my right hon. Friend go further and confirm when permitted development rights will be reviewed, tighter regulations imposed and, where necessary, unsafe conversions banned? \p Angela Rayner: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that issue. We acknowledge that there has been criticism of some homes delivered through permitted development rights—particularly those that enabled commercial buildings such as offices and shops to change use to residential—and the Government are committed to keeping development rights under review. \p Lindsay Hoyle: I call the shadow Secretary of State. \p Kevin Hollinrake: Help to Buy helped 350,000 young first-time buyers and the stamp duty discount helped 640,000 first-time buyers get on the housing ladder with discounts of up to £11,000. Both are now scrapped. Is the Secretary of State pulling up the housing ladder behind her? \p Angela Rayner: It is staggering that the shadow Secretary of State says that, given that so many people now cannot get housing because his Government failed to meet their housing targets. We will have a mortgage guarantee scheme and we will build 1.5 million homes so that young people and other people can get the houses that they deserve. \p Kevin Hollinrake: I will try again. The Government’s manifesto promised to preserve the green belt. Then grey belt came along, which was supposed to be a few garage forecourts. Now it turns out that grey belt will mean 640 square miles of green belt—the size of Surrey—are to be built on. Is this simply another broken promise? \p Angela Rayner: I will also try again. Under the Tories, the number of homes approved on greenfield land increased nearly tenfold since 2009. Labour will be strategic in grey belt release, and we will have a brownfield-first policy.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_16

Ian Lavery:Many families in my constituency live in new housing estates where the developers have made their profits, sailed off into the sunset, and left the roads and services in an unacceptable state and unadopted. What steps might the Government be able to take to push local authorities like Northumberland county council into action to accept their responsibilities and adopt those estates? \p Matthew Pennycook: I well recognise the situation that my hon. Friend describes, but I also recognise the reluctance of local authorities to take on substandard housing estates that have been built. We have decided to consult this year on options to reduce the prevalence of private management of estates of the kind he describes. We will also, importantly, implement new consumer protections for homeowners on private estates in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. \p Lindsay Hoyle: I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson. \p Vikki Slade: Homelessness stats published last week show that rough sleeping has increased for the third year in a row and is now 91% higher than in 2021, yet the Vagrancy Act 1824 has not been repealed and rough sleeping is still a criminal offence. In July 2024, the Minister was asked for a progress report and advised that consideration of relevant legislation was needed, but it is now more than three years since Parliament voted to repeal the Act. Will she now give us a date when that will come into force? \p Rushanara Ali: We are taking urgent action to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and have announced £60 million to tackle winter pressures. We will update the House on progress in repealing the Vagrancy Act in due course.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_17

Douglas McAllister:In Scotland, 10,000 children are currently homeless and record levels of children are in temporary accommodation. The number of social houses built by housing associations in Scotland is at its lowest level since Margaret Thatcher. Does the Minister agree that the SNP has taken Scotland in the wrong direction and that instead we need to see the bold action taken by this UK Labour Government to build more homes replicated in Scotland, with a Scottish Labour Government in 2026? \p Matthew Pennycook: I agree with my hon. Friend. Last year, as the housing emergency took hold, the SNP Government cut £200 million from the affordable housing budget. It was only as a result of Labour’s record budget settlement that they were forced to reverse those cuts, but they are still not showing the adequate ambition that we need. The SNP Government must set out a real plan to reform planning and boost house building to meet their affordable housing targets.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_18

Carla Denyer:In response to the minimum energy efficiency standards consultation for privately rented homes, landlord groups are saying that they would pass the cost of energy efficiency works on to tenants, despite that being the cost of bringing their properties up to basic minimum standards. Relying on council guidance that that should not happen is too weak. What additional measures will the Minister take to enforce that and ensure that it is private tenants—who are already at the greatest risk of fuel poverty—who will benefit, and not landlords? \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer to that precise question. The Renters’ Rights Bill will protect tenants from having costs passed on to them.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_19

Tom Rutland:Many of my constituents face extortionate hikes in service charges while getting little in return, with repairs not being carried out, poor service and a lack of transparency and accountability from their managing agent, FirstPort. Can the Minister outline what the Government are doing to bring an end to the scandalous fleecehold system that is ripping off leaseholders across the country? \p Matthew Pennycook: To add to the responses I gave earlier, we intend to take action to provide leaseholders with the transparency of standardised service charge invoices, so that they can better challenge unreasonable rent hikes. We also need to strengthen the regulation of managing agents, including those such as FirstPort that, as is clear from the feeling in the House, are not performing the necessary services for their residents. \p Graham Stuart: Welcome though the hundreds of millions of pounds extra for adult social care in the Budget were, can the Secretary of State confirm that the cost of rises in national insurance contributions and the minimum wage will run into the billions, and that local authorities will in fact be worse off than they were prior to the Budget in tackling social care? Can she confirm that—yes or no? \p Jim McMahon: That is exactly the reason that there was £3.7 billion of new money for adult social care in the Budget.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_20

Lloyd Hatton:Eden Portland is an exciting proposal for my community and, much like the Eden Project in Cornwall and Morecambe, it would be a hub for education and ecology. If delivered, it would boost investment and create well-paid jobs. I know that Ministers agree that this could be a real success story, so will they meet me and the team at Eden Portland, alongside colleagues from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the council, to discuss how we can deliver this exciting project? \p Alex Norris: I welcome the exciting Eden Portland proposals and I enjoyed meeting my hon. Friend to hear further from him. It  is clear that it would be great for the area’s economic regeneration, for tourism in the region and for supporting greater understanding of biodiversity loss. Colleagues at DCMS are working closely with the proposers and with officials in my Department, but I would be happy to involve myself in whatever way is useful. \p Richard Holden: The planning proposals for Laindon Road and Mountnessing Road in Billericay and for Noak Bridge were previously rejected because of the green belt aspect but are now being reconsidered under grey belt. Will the Minister urgently meet me, the Billericay Action Group and some of the local councillors to look at the issues around where grey belt is perhaps not being used in the way the Government originally intended? \p Matthew Pennycook: Local authorities can be clear about how grey belt should be used because we released planning policy guidance last week to give them a better sense of where it is appropriate to be released and be brought forward for development.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_21

Rosena Allin-Khan:Far too many renters get a terrible deal, living in cold, mouldy substandard homes and being charged eye-watering rents by landlords. I am proud of this Government’s Renters’ Rights Bill, but while legislation is welcome, too many are still paying extortionate prices for really shoddy properties. Can the Secretary of State assure me that the Government are taking more steps to make renting affordable again? \p Matthew Pennycook: I assure my hon. Friend of that fact, and we are also succeeding where the previous Government failed, in that we are finally abolishing section 21 no-fault evictions. The Renters’ Rights Bill will empower tenants to challenge unreasonable within-tenancy rent increases. We also need to boost supply, which is why we set the hugely ambitious milestone, as part of our plan for change, of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. \p Tim Farron: In the Lake district and the dales of Cumbria, average house prices are around 20 times average household incomes. Will the Minister try to tackle this issue by  making sure that there is a specific and unappealable designation of social housing-only developments that national park authorities and local councils can enforce? \p Matthew Pennycook: We want to see far greater use of rural exception sites in particular, and I am more than happy to sit down with the hon. Gentleman—I think we have already planned to do so—to discuss short-term lets as well as this issue.
debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-03-03c conversation_22

Phil Brickell:I have recently received a number of complaints from my constituents about leasehold managing agents. These include unacceptably long delays for repairs— \p Lindsay Hoyle: Order. It is totally unfair when a Member is speaking to block the vision of the Chair. \p Phil Brickell: These include unacceptably long delays for repairs and exorbitant costs at Greenmount Court in Smithills, despite spiralling fees, poor transparency and little to no communication from the agent. What steps is the Minister taking to deliver a fairer deal for existing leaseholders and to hold poorly performing managing agents to account? \p Matthew Pennycook: We need to balance speed with care, because we will not make the mistake that the previous Government did and pass flawed legislation that requires us to fix it, therefore delaying reform for leaseholders. We will, as soon as possible, introduce the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, which will allow us, as I said, to bring in transparency around service charges to allow leaseholders to better challenge unreasonable increases, and we intend to strengthen the regulation of managing agents. \p Gagan Mohindra: On 8 February, the Court—a grade II listed landmark in Chorleywood in my constituency—burned down in mysterious circumstances. I met the three local councillors—Councillors Cooper, Hearn and Reed—on Friday to discuss the matter. I am not asking the Secretary of State to comment on this specific case, but will she confirm that where listed buildings are destroyed without permission, there should be a presumption that they are rebuilt brick by brick to how they were before the destruction? \p Angela Rayner: I am sorry to hear about that particular case, and I am happy to meet the hon. Member to get the details; absolutely, listed buildings are an important part of our landscape.
debates/debates2025-07-10c conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-07-10c conversation_2

Tom Hayes:What discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on visa rules for UK citizens visiting the Schengen area for 90 in 180 days. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Government officials and Ministers, including me, regularly engage the EU on a range of issues of importance to British citizens. The UK and the EU allow for visa travel in line with the standard arrangements for third-country nationals. The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for British citizens. \p Tom Hayes: Many thousands of constituents, including Philip and Kathryn in my constituency, live for part of the year in Spain. Prior to Brexit, they did so without restriction, but now they face limited visa options, resulting in more frequent flying. What conversations has the Minister had with Spain’s Government about ending these barriers? \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: I thank Philip and Kathryn for raising this issue, and I know my hon. Friend is a powerful advocate for them. The Foreign Office leads on bilateral issues with EU member states, and they regularly engage on a range of issues. While we recognise that extending the 90/180 day period is a matter for member states and the EU, my hon. Friend can be assured that we will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals affected. \p Jim Shannon: As the Minister knows, Northern Ireland is in that wonderful limbo land of movement—half in the United Kingdom and half in the EU, because of the unfinished protocol Bill. Can he tell us how those in Northern Ireland will be affected by the Schengen area due to the particular, and perhaps peculiar position they are in as a result of the protocol? \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Northern Ireland has the unique advantage of dual market access. On the wider issues of application of EU law that the hon. Gentleman is talking about, he can be assured that as co-chair of the joint committee I work carefully and closely on these matters with the Northern Ireland Executive.