theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_153
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_153

David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will hold discussions with the Parole Board on the potential impact of the release of James Hurley on PC Frank Mason's family. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: James Hurley is rightly serving a life sentence for the murder of PC Frank Mason. The Court set his minimum term for the purposes of retribution and deterrence at 20 years. The minimum term expired on 8 January 2022, and from that date he became eligible for a review of his imprisonment by the independent Parole Board.

To assist the Parole Board in making its determination, it received detailed risk assessments from experienced probation and prison officers. The Lord Chancellor also submitted an overarching view of Hurley’s remaining risk of serious harm. In the overarching view, the Lord Chancellor concluded that Hurley should not be released, because she had concluded that his risk remained too high for him to be safely managed in the community.

Having considered all the reports, on 31 October 2024 the Parole Board directed Hurley’s release on life licence. The Lord Chancellor currently has only limited power to challenge a release decision by the Parole Board. Under the Parole Board Rules, she may apply to the Board to reconsider its decision where she has an arguable case that the decision is irrational or based on an error of law or reached in a procedurally flawed way. Unfortunately, there was no basis to apply for reconsideration, meaning that the release became final. Whilst the Lord Chancellor was disappointed by the outcome, she has to respect the independence of the Parole Board. By law, HMPPS then had to release him from prison.

Hurley will be on licence for the rest of his life. He is currently subject to stringent licence conditions, including exclusion zones, and faces being recalled to prison if he breaches them. Mrs Neaves will be informed by her Victim Liaison Officer of any developments whilst Hurley is on licence. He is managed under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements. The statutory MAPPA framework requires the Probation and Police Service to work together to assess and manage the risks presented by known dangerous offenders.

My thoughts are with Mrs Neaves at this difficult time.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_154
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_154

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of magistrates' court cases that involved cannabis possession in the last 12 months; and if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of legalising cannabis possession on the cost of these court cases. \p Sarah Sackman: The latest published data shows that 1.0% of magistrates’ courts proceedings in the year to June 2024 (12,429 defendants) in England and Wales were for cannabis possession offences. (Source: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: June 2024 - GOV.UK). Equivalent published data for the calendar year 2024 will be available on 15 May 2025. The number of proceedings is presented on a principal offence basis, this means that more serious offences accompanied by an additional cannabis possession offence will not be included in this number.

The estimated sitting day cost to HMCTS for those cases is c. £1 million.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_155
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_155

Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure jurors are adequately compensated for loss of earnings; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of jury service on jurors that receive compensation less than their usual income. \p Sarah Sackman: This Government has not made any specific assessment of the impact of jury service on jurors who receive compensation less than their usual income. However pursuant to my answer to PQ 36911, the Government will keep under review all support provided to jurors throughout their service. People who are not paid by their employer whilst they are on jury service can claim a loss of earnings allowance from the court. Self-employed people who lose earnings whilst doing jury service are also able to claim loss of earnings.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_156
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_156

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate she has made of the number of inmates with dyslexia in prisons in (a) Somerset, (b) the South West and (C) the UK. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) offers screening to prisoners upon entry to prison to help identify any additional needs they may have, including those associated with dyslexia. We would not attribute any additional needs that are identified during the screening process to a specific clinical condition but do encourage individuals to self-declare any conditions or needs they consider themselves to have.

HMPPS held data does not distinguish the specific types of learning needs of prisoners, so cannot identify those with dyslexia from other learning needs. However, the data from initial screening offered upon entry to prison, which indicates the number of learners in prison with a learning difficulty or disability can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prison-education-and-accredited-programme-statistics.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_157
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_157

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the total financial remuneration for Non-Executive Directors in (a) his Department, (b) Defence Equipment & Support, (c) the Atomic Weapons Establishment and (d) all other connected agencies for financial year 2024-25. \p Al Carns: The estimated financial remuneration for financial year 2024-25 for the Department’s public appointments (which includes a range of roles including non-executive board members, statutory officeholders and expert committee members, etc) is as follows:

a) Departmental - £1,270,920 (95 roles)

b) Defence Equipment & Support - £318,000 (7 roles)

c) Atomic Weapons Establishment - £359,965 (8 roles)

d) All other connected agencies - £1,305,257 (55 roles)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_158

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to establish an MPs' hotline for the Defence Business Services. \p Al Carns: There are no plans to establish a hotline for Members of Parliament to contact Defence Business Services officials.

Ministers are accountable for the policies, decisions and actions of their Departments. Parliamentarians have direct access to Ministers, and any information they require from the Department should be provided by Ministers.

This guidance is intended to ensure that only accurate and releasable information is provided to Parliament and that Ministers can assure themselves of that before it is released.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_159

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Strategic Defence Review will include capability annexes for each of the single services. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century. The SDR has been considering all aspects of Defence, including the major features of the force structure needed to create the necessary integrated all-domain Defence capability of the future.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_160
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_160

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 33949 on Ministry of Defence: Public Appointments, whether he plans to have discussions with his European counterparts on the appointment of the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe. \p Luke Pollard: Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) is one of NATO’s two strategic commanders and is a post that is traditionally held by the US.

The Secretary of State does not have plans to have discussions with his European counterparts on the appointment of the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_161

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his policy to support nuclear disarmament. \p Luke Pollard: The United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent exists to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life. It will remain essential for as long as the global security threat picture demands it.

This Government's commitment to our nuclear deterrent maintained on behalf of the UK and our NATO allies is unshakeable.

The UK Government believes that the best way to achieve global nuclear disarmament is through a gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach which takes account of the international security environment and is under the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_162
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_162

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 33951 on Joint Expeditionary Force, if he will publish a summary of his discussions with his Norwegian counterpart on (a) 19-20 February 2025 and (b) 27 February 2025. \p Luke Pollard: Pursuant to my Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 33951, the Secretary of State for Defence discussed future plans for the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) with his Norwegian Counterpart during his visit to Norway on 19 - 20 February; in particular, third-party engagement through the JEF + concept. As the Joint Statement on Enhanced Defence Co-operation between the UK and Norway (published during the course of the visit) states, the UK and Norway will step up our commitment to work together to strengthen Euro-Atlantic Security, including through the Joint Expeditionary Force. The meeting of JEF Defence Ministers on 27 February 2025 discussed the situation in Ukraine.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_163

Amanda Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the training provided by Capita to the Royal Navy. \p Luke Pollard: The Project Selborne contract began on 1 April 2021 and is implementing a transformation in the way that the Royal Navy delivers its training, unlocking more opportunities for them to fulfil their potential and get better trained people to the frontline, quicker.

We keep the program made by Project Selbourne under review.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_164
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_164

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) proportion and (b) value was of steel from the (i) US and (ii) EU used in UK military shipbuilding in each of the last five years. \p Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) contributes to the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) steel public procurement return. The information is published annually and can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/steel-public-procurement

The data available from the information published includes steel purchased for MOD shipbuilding projects. The response to this question assumes that UK military shipbuilding relates solely to the building of surface warships, and does not include submarine construction.

The tables below set out a summary of the details available, for each of the last five years. Data for Financial Year (FY) 2023-24 has not yet been published. The data gathered and subsequently published by DBT has matured and become more detailed since the start of publishing steel data for FY 2017-18 in January 2019. Therefore, the origin of the steel is only available for FY 2022-23.

Financial Year 2022-23

Project

Steel product type

EU / UK / US

Countries of origin

Value of steel £

Type 31

Flat rolled, Plate, Sections & shapes

EU

Finland, Spain

£41,850,500

Sections & shapes, Tubes/Pipes/Hollow sections

UK

UK

£1,311,790

Type 26

Plate, Sections & shapes

EU

Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain

£3,162,171

Plate, Sections & shapes

UK

UK

£1,537,996

Financial Year 2021-22

Project

Steel product type

Countries of origin

Value of steel £

Type 31

Plate, Bulb bar, Sections

Not detailed

£43,600,000

Type 26

Plate

Not detailed

£465,498

Financial Year 2020-21

Project

Steel product type

Countries of origin

Value of steel £

Type 31

Structural steel, Sections

Not detailed

£391,949

Type 26

Plate, Sections, Sheet, Non-ship

Not detailed

£3,758,269

Financial Year 2019-20

Project

Steel product type

Countries of origin

Value of steel £

Type 26

Various grades

Not detailed

£3,401,994

Financial Year 2018-19

No steel was recorded as having been purchased in FY 2018-19 for any UK shipbuilding projects.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_165
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_165

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding UK-based (a) maintenance and (b) upgrading facilities for defence assets. \p Maria Eagle: No recent assessments have been conducted on expanding UK based maintenance for Ministry of Defence (MOD) built assets.

The MOD is investing in upgraded facilities to improve living, working and training environments in UK sites.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_166

Alison Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve (a) recruitment and (b) retention within the army reserve. \p Luke Pollard: This Government inherited a recruitment crisis, with targets being missed every year for the past 14 years, and is taking decisive action to get recruitment back on track. This has included the largest pay rise to personnel in decades and scrapping 100 outdated policies that slow recruitment down.

Improving recruitment and retention levels is one of the Army’s top priorities, supported by defence.

Measures in place to increase recruitment into the Army Reserves include a sustained digital and physical marketing campaign; an increased focus on professional training and upskilling courses; and improved financial incentives.

A retention strategy has been launched to address barriers to retention through a holistic set of financial and policy initiatives spanning the entire employee lifecycle.

Further announcements will be made in due course, in line with the future Strategic Defence Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_167

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to review the UK's nuclear weapons policy. \p Luke Pollard: The United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent exists to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, which cannot be deterred by other means. It will remain essential for as long as the global security environment demands.

We continually review our nuclear deterrence posture in light of the international security environment and the actions of potential adversaries, to ensure we can meet the threats facing the UK and our NATO allies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_168

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to send representatives to attend the Third Meeting of States Parties of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as observers. \p Luke Pollard: No officials will attend the Third Meeting of States Parties of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_169

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with industry on social value models since 5 July 2024. \p Maria Eagle: This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. As part of the Government’s primary mission to grow the economy and spread the benefits to every region and nation in the UK, this will include supporting policy areas such as innovation, skills and international trade.

The Cabinet Office have released an updated Social Value Model that is aligned to the Government’s missions. The Defence Industrial Strategy will include measures that supplement this with action to reform procurement, reduce waste, leverage inward investment and boost sovereign defence industrial capacity to create good jobs and grow UK exports.

The Cabinet Office Social Value Model is mandated for all competitive-based Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts that are in-scope of the Procurement Act 2023, excluding defence and security contracts and exempt procurements. MOD policy is that Social Value Model criteria can still be included in defence and security and exempt contracts where relevant and appropriate, at the discretion of delivery teams and considered on a case-by-case basis. This approach will be kept under review as the Defence Industrial Strategy is developed.

MOD delivery teams currently have the option to apply either the previous or updated (as of March 2025) Cabinet Office Social Value Model, as part of a transition period until October 2025 when the new model will be mandated for procurements to which it is applied.

The Defence Industrial Strategy is being developed through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including industry, academia and international partners. Ministers have held a number of roundtables and bilateral engagements with industry. The MOD has released communications on the recent National Procurement Policy Statement and what this means for the application of the Cabinet Office Social Value Model in MOD procurements via a range of standard channels of communication and engagement routes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_170

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Office for Veterans’ Affairs provides oversight of military charities. \p Al Carns: Charities are independent from Government and are regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Scottish Charities Regulator or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland depending on location. Specific services provided by charities are subject to other regulators as appropriate, such as the Care Quality Commission or the Fundraising Regulator.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs works closely with many Armed Forces charities who play a vital part of the wider support system for veterans, and I am also actively exploring ways of simplifying and cohering access to Government support, working in partnership with the charity sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_171

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Air - Specialist Instructional Officers were employed by his Department on 13 March 2025. \p Al Carns: As at 13 March 2025, there were 271 people in positions within Air’s Top Level Budget with a job field as either “Specialist Instructional Officer” or “Instructor” at Executive Officer (EO) grade.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_172

Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to reform the leasehold system. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_173

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the implementation of the recommendations of the report by British Future entitled Working it Out: Hong Kongers, Employment and the Cost of Living, published on 29 October 2024, that fall within the remit of the Department for Education. \p Alex Norris: The government has noted the report. We continue to support Hong Kong British National (Overseas) on these issues through our Welcome Programme, including through specific English language provision, the network of Welcome Hubs and online resources that provide advice on employment, childcare and accessing public services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_174

Daniel Francis:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide additional funding for the Night Shelter Transformation Fund in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Rushanara Ali: This government has increased homelessness and rough sleeping funding by £233 million in 2025/26, taking total investment to nearly £1 billion. This includes a further £3.5 million for the Night Shelter Transformation Fund extension in 2025-26. NSTF projects that were in receipt of revenue funding in 2024/25 were eligible to apply for additional funding in 2025/26. Successful applicants will be informed about the outcome of their applications, and all allocations be published on gov.uk website in the new financial year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_175

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on the extension of the Rough Sleeping Initiative in the North East. \p Rushanara Ali: For 2025-26, we are consolidating our main rough sleeping and single homelessness focused grants (Rough Sleeping Initiative, which includes Housing First funding, and Accommodation for Ex Offenders) into a single Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant. The Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant will provide up to £280.75 million in funding across England in 2025/26.

Allocations for the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant 2025/26 can be found here: Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant allocations 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_176

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 23917 on MHCLG: Public Consultation, what the reference number is of each response that was published in response to a (a) Freedom of Information and (b) Environmental Information Regulations in the last three years. \p Alex Norris: The Department has not published Freedom of Information or Environmental Information Regulations responses for the last three years. We are currently exploring options for routinely publishing this information in future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 23920 on MHCLG: Minister’s Private Offices, if she will publish the invoices for these works. \p Alex Norris: It is not in our policy to publish individual invoices for works. However, we have previously provided costings for fittings in Ministers’ Private Offices in the answers to Question UIN 9072 on 3 December 2024 and Question UIN 23920 on 14 February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_178

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30632 on Admiralty House, whether any civil servants assisted her move into Admiralty House. \p Alex Norris: Professional removal and cleaning services were hired and paid for personally by the Deputy Prime Minister and at no cost to the Department. Some logistical support was provided by civil servants for the move into an official residence.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_179
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_179

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30336 on Parking: Regulation, for what reason a further consultation is required. \p Alex Norris: The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. The Act explains in Section 2 that the Secretary of State must consult relevant stakeholders prior to the Code’s publication. The consultation in 2021 related to a Code laid by the previous government which was later withdrawn.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to (a) continue and (b) expand to more towns the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme. \p Alex Norris: The new £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods will deliver up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade into 75 communities across the UK, a long-term commitment to building the foundations to kickstart local growth and drive-up living standards. There are no plans to expand the programme at this time, this would be a decision for the upcoming Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29983 on Parking: Fees and Charges, whether she has had discussions with parking companies on the potential impact of a parking code of practice on (a) those companies' profit models (b) the number of parking charge notices issued and (c) contracts based on the financial model of profits from the number of FPN notices issued. \p Alex Norris: My officials have regular meetings with both parking Trade Associations and representatives for motorists. Meetings with the Trade Associations are scheduled monthly, and meetings with the motorist group are quarterly. In addition to regular meetings, my officials also have ad hoc meetings with both groups dependent on the business needs.

Dates for my meetings have not been confirmed.

On representations on the potential impacts of implementing a Private Parking Code of Practice on businesses and operations, in 2023 the Department published a draft Private Parking Code of Practice Impact Assessment, alongside a Call for Evidence to improve the evidence base within the draft Impact Assessment. Both are available online from https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/private-parking-code-of-practice-call-for-evidence

My officials have used the responses to the Call for Evidence to review previous proposals and develop new ones on which, as per my previous answer, we intend to consult shortly. A Final Impact Assessment will be published following the consultation.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_182
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_182

Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an estimate of costs for housing associations related to the remediation of aluminium composite material cladding. \p Alex Norris: In 2018, government estimated that the cost of removing and replacing unsafe ACM cladding on 18m+ social residential buildings would be approximately £400 million. As of March 2025, 144 high rise buildings had entered the Social Sector ACM Fund. To date, government schemes approved allocation of c.£297 million towards remediating those buildings, including c.£101 million for buildings owned by Housing Associations.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_183
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_183

Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support she is providing to housing associations, in the context of costs associated with the Building Safety Act 2022. \p Alex Norris: Social landlords, including Housing Associations, can apply to the Building Safety Fund and the Cladding Safety Scheme where the cost of remediating a building would threaten the financial viability of the landlord or to cover costs which - without the protections of the Building Safety Act - could have been passed on to leaseholders and shared owners.  As of November 2024, social landlords had been allocated £568 million by government remediation schemes. From April 2025, we will increase funding for social landlords applying for government remediation funding so that remedial works can start sooner. We are working with the sector to develop a long-term social housing remediation strategy.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_184
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_184

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2025 to Question 29152 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Equality, which (a) contractors and (b) organisations that funding went to. \p Alex Norris: a) Funding in the aforementioned response procured learning services from the following suppliers:

b) This funding was not provided to any other organisations.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_185
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_185

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Growth and Building Safety of 4 March 2025 on Plan for Neighbourhoods, Official Report, columns 210-212, who will the new Neighbourhood Boards be accountable to; and what steps her Department plans to take to measure the effectiveness of the Boards. \p Alex Norris: The relevant local authority in each place will act as the accountable body for the funds with responsibility for ensuring that public funds are distributed fairly and effectively, and that funds have been managed in line with the Nolan Principles and Managing Public Money principles. They will also be responsible for compliance with legal responsibilities in relation to subsidy control, state aid and procurement.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_186
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_186

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Growth and Building Safety of 4 March 2025 on Plan for Neighbourhoods, Official Report, columns 210-212, what criteria will be used to determine the (a) geographical boundaries and (b) jurisdiction of the Neighbourhood boards. \p Alex Norris: The default geographic boundary for each place is determined as follows:

Neighbourhood Boards may make representations to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to alter their default boundary.
wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_187
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_187

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support disabled people living in private rented accommodation to secure adaptations to make their homes (a) safe and (b) suitable for their needs. \p Rushanara Ali: Government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. People of all ages and tenures, including in the private rented sector, can apply to their local authority for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). The DFG is a capital grant administered by local authorities in England that can contribute towards meeting the cost of adapting an eligible person’s home. Government has awarded an £86 million in-year uplift to the DFG for 2024-25, bringing the total funding for 2024-25 to £711 million. Government has also confirmed £711 million for 2025/26.

The Renters’ Rights Bill, currently before Parliament, will empower disabled tenants to request the home adaptations that they need and to complain if their requests are unreasonably refused. By abolishing section 21, the Bill will remove the threat of retaliatory eviction. It will also establish a new PRS Landlord Ombudsman, which will have strong powers to put things right for tenants where their landlord has failed to resolve a legitimate complaint.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_188

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of homeless shelter services in (a) Slough and (b) Thames Valley. \p Rushanara Ali: The government is clear levels of homelessness and rough sleeping are too high. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25). This increase brings total homelessness grant funding to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26.

The eight local authorities in the Thames Valley area have been allocated a total of £23,007,657, including an allocation of £3,943,746 in Slough, through the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant in 2025/26. This funding is to enable local authorities to provide the services needed to tackle rough sleeping locally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_189

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what access rights asylum seekers with refugee status have to social housing; and whether homeless asylum seekers with refugee status are entitled to emergency housing. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 34617 on 10 March 2025 and Question UIN 11929 on 8 November 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_190

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of homes that are uninhabitable due to excessive mould and damp. \p Matthew Pennycook: The English Housing Survey (EHS) provides findings on housing quality and condition in England, including damp and mould.

The EHS found that, in 2022-23, 4% of dwellings had a problem with damp.

The EHS does not report on whether damp has made a property uninhabitable or not, but relevant government guidance clearly sets out the health risks associated with damp and mould in the home and how to reduce these risks. The guidance in question can be found on gov.uk here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_191

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the indirect impact of local government restructuring on the appointment and boundaries of the High Sheriffs. \p Jim McMahon: There is no intention that the priorities set out in the English Devolution White Paper will impact on the ceremonial counties or the important roles the High Sheriffs and Lord Lieutenants play as the Monarch’s representatives in those counties, and ceremonial counties will be retained. The Government recognises and values the work they do in relation to civic, business, social and community life in the ceremonial counties, and will ensure that the ceremonial rights and privileges of an area will be maintained after any reorganisation of local government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_192

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of charging Council Tax on properties which have received planning permission but where no construction has commenced after a year. \p Jim McMahon: Council tax is a tax on domestic properties based on their capital value in 1991. The Valuation Office Agency is responsible for allocating council tax bands in England, and upon completion will assign a band to newly constructed properties. The government has no plans to change this.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_193

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to answer Question 26478 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Employers' Contributions, tabled on 27 January 2025. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 26478 on 17 March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_194

Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that green spaces are adequately designed to (a) tackle climate challenges, (b) support water availability and (c) increase flood resilience. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 makes clear that the planning system should take full account of all climate impacts, including water scarcity and flood risk.

Planning should help to shape places in a way that minimises vulnerability and improves resilience to the effects of climate change though suitable adaptation measures, including through incorporating green infrastructure and sustainable drainage systems.

The government provides design guidance through the National Design Guide (NDG) and National Model Design Code (NDMC) which support the National Planning Policy Framework. The department intends to update this guidance in Spring 2025.

Natural England have also published The Green Infrastructure Framework and accompanying Design Guide in February 2023. This can be used to support local planning authorities and developers to design and create more nature-rich urban greenspaces.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_195

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the potential for deep geothermal energy for new housing developments is being considered in her planning reforms. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 makes clear that when determining planning applications, local planning authorities should give significant weight to the benefits associated with renewable and low carbon energy and the contribution of the proposal in question to a net zero future.

The Framework also states that plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable or low carbon energy supply systems and for co-locating potential heat customers and suppliers, to help increase the use and supply of renewable and low carbon energy and heat.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_196

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking embodied carbon into account when considering proposals to restore or replace older buildings. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 28035 on 18 February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_197

Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle unaffordable rent increases. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises that paying rent is likely to be a tenant’s biggest monthly expense. The Renters’ Rights Bill empowers private rented sector tenants to challenge unreasonable rent increases, with all rent increases taking place via an existing statutory process.

Tenants who receive a rent increase that they feel is not representative of the market value will be able to challenge the increase at the First-tier Tribunal. This will prevent unscrupulous landlords using rent increases as a backdoor means of eviction, while ensuring rents can be increased to reflect market rates.

The Bill also prohibits rental bidding practices and landlords demanding large amounts of rent in advance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_198

Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to increase funding for social housing in the next Spending Review in the context of levels of homelessness. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 30393 on 24 February 2025 for more detail on the steps we have already taken to increase social and affordable housebuilding.

We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_199

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she will make it her policy to require all housing developers to register with the New Homes Ombudsman Service. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government believes that existing redress mechanisms for those buying a new home are inadequate. We are therefore working with the devolved administrations to implement the statutory UK-wide New Homes Ombudsman (NHO) to investigate and resolve complaints, and will bring forward the necessary secondary legislation in due course. Once enacted all developers will be required to be a member of the statutory NHO.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_200

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Growth and Building Safety of 4 March 2025 on Plan for Neighbourhoods, Official Report, columns 210-212, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure Neigbhourhood boards are representative of the community. \p Alex Norris: The local authority or an alternative organisation, such as a community group if agreed by the chair and local authority, should act as secretariat to the board. Recognising the partnership between the board and local authority, council officers may provide secretariat support and can sit as an observer to discussions, if agreed with the chair. We strongly encourage the board to consider whether an alternative organisation, e.g. a local community group, could act or support in this role to build capacity and capability. In line with the principles of public life and to ensure the local community can hold the board to account, its operations must be transparent, with membership and governance arrangements (including minutes of meetings and decision logs) published on the lead council’s website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_201

Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff their Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024. \p Alex Norris: Secondments is one way of bringing talent and experience into the civil service for short periods of time and has been used by successive governments. Secondments are arranged at a business unit level and data is held at Business Unit Level.

There have been no secondments from Hakluyt into the Department since 5th July 2024.