theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Chris Hinchliff:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of qualifying benefits for the Winter Fuel Payment. \p Torsten Bell: The Government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control. Linking Winter Fuel eligibility to Pension Credit and other means tested benefits for pensioners ensures the least well-off pensioners still receive the help they need. There are no plans to change the eligibility criteria.

Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.

We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit. We want to ensure as many people as possible have access to this support and urge pensioners to check their eligibility. Pension Credit will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payments in future, alongside other benefits – including help with rent, council tax, fuel bills and a free TV licence for those over 75. That’s why Government is taking significant steps to raise awareness and maximise take-up.

The Government also offers direct financial help to low-income pensioners through Cold Weather Payments (in England & Wales) – and the Warm Home Discount scheme which provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate on their winter energy bill. We expect over three million households, including over one million pensioners, to benefit under the scheme this winter.

Low-income pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living should contact their local council to see what further support may be available to them, whether through energy support programmes or through the Household Support Fund (in England).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what purposes the Pensions Regulator has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Torsten Bell: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has used artificial intelligence (AI) over the past 12 months to support its regulatory functions and decision-making to better protect savers.

To ensure AI is used responsibly and effectively, TPR has established an AI Accelerator Team and is exploring the creation of an AI Advisory Council. These initiatives aim to promote safe and ethical AI adoption both within TPR and across the pensions industry.

Key areas where AI has been applied by TPR include detecting pension scams, monitoring market trends, predicting pension scheme health and managing website feedback.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of people with a High Potential Individual visa are in employment. \p Andrew Western: The information requested is not held by this Department.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners in poverty during the winter of 2024-25; and how this compares to the winter of 2023-24. \p Torsten Bell: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 January 2025 to Question 24306

Statistics on the number of people living in relative and absolute poverty both before and after housing costs are produced on an annual basis and published in the Households Below Average Income statistics.

The latest available data covers financial year ending 2023, and is published by the Department here Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2023 - GOV.UK

Poverty figures relating to the financial year 2024-25 will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendations of the report entitled Nothing has changed, published by Citizens Advice Eastbourne in January 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits so that it promotes and enables employment amongst as many people as possible. We will set out our proposals in a Health and Disability Green Paper ahead of the Spring Statement. Whilst there will be no specific assessment made from the report, we are committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals with disabled people and representative organisations. We welcome the views of Citizens Advice Eastbourne and all other stakeholders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help ensure that workers contribute sufficiently into their pensions to achieve an adequate standard of living in retirement. \p Torsten Bell: Ensuring current and future pensioners have an adequate retirement income is a key priority for this Government and a focus of our landmark pensions review.

Automatic enrolment has already succeeded in transforming retirement saving with over 11 million employees having been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension since 2012. Over 22m employees in Great Britain are benefiting from participating in a workplace pension, with over £131bn saved for eligible individuals in 2023.

The first phase of our pensions review – focused on investment and growth – published its interim report in November 2024. Two consultations on unlocking the UK pensions market for growth and reforming the Local Government Pension Scheme closed in January and we expect to provide our response in Spring 2025.

The second phase of our review will follow in due course – focussing on pension outcomes and retirement adequacy.

Alongside this, the Pension Schemes Bill, announced in the King’s Speech includes measures which could boost pension pots by over £11, 000 for average earners saving over their lifetime in a defined contribution scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the impact of the withdrawal of Winter Fuel payments on pensioners who (a) are not in receipt of Pension Credit and (b) have an annual income below £15,000. \p Torsten Bell: The Government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control. The policy change ensures that the Winter Fuel Payment will be better targeted to low-income pensioners who need it most.

Information on pensioners with incomes below £15,000 affected by the change to Winter Fuel Payment policy is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. However, the Department has produced some analysis on the impacts of the change in policy on poverty levels which was published here: Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - Letter from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of low skilled immigration worker visa grants on job opportunities for low skilled domestic workers. \p Andrew Western: This would be a matter for UK Visas & Immigration and the Home Office.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Peter Dowd:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure people with bipolar receive the support they need to (a) access and (b) stay in work. \p Alison McGovern: Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched on 26 November will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.

Employers play a key role in increasing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, to thrive as part of the workforce. Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme.

Appropriate work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live.

Disabled people and people with health conditions, including people with bipolar disorder, are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems.

Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Olly Glover:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to tackle the proportion of people who die in poverty in South Oxfordshire constituency. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The primary way the Department supports people nearing the end of life is through special benefit rules which are known as the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit.

For many years, the Special Rules applied to people who have 6 months or less to live, they have now been changed so they apply to people who have 12 months or less to live.  Changes to the Special Rules mean that thousands of people nearing the end of life are now able to claim fast-tracked financial support from the benefits system six months earlier than they were able to previously.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help ensure that people claiming benefits have all the information required to access their entitlement. \p Sir Stephen Timms: GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) provides information on eligibility and how to make a claim for benefits, including signposting to telephony routes (including textphone and Relay UK) for people who are unable to complete forms online. There are videos on the DWP YouTube channel that provide further information on a range of benefits including Personal Independence Payment, Universal Credit, Winter Fuel Payment, Pension Credit and DLA for Children and these explain how to claim and what to expect once a claim has been made.

Guidance on GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) also includes information on benefits people may be able to claim and other financial support. This includes housing support, help with council tax and direct payments for social care. Where appropriate DWP letters include signposting to additional help and support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Peter Dowd:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of welfare reforms on people living with (a) bipolar and (b) other serious mental illnesses. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Work Capability Assessment is not working and needs to be reformed or replaced alongside a proper plan to help disabled people into work, which will help them, businesses and the economy.

We know that change is desperately needed but equally these sorts of changes should not be made in haste.

So, alongside our Get Britain Working White Paper, we want to engage with disabled people, and others with expertise and experience on these issues, to consider how to address these challenges and build a better system.

We will reconsult on the proposed WCA changes as part of our Green Paper before the Spring 2025 forecast that will bring forward wider proposals to reform the health and disability benefits system. The reforms will be subject to full consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people with disabilities at risk of food insecurity. \p Alison McGovern: People with a health condition or disability may be eligible for a range of support such as Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, premiums and additional amounts paid within the income-related benefits.

In addition, the extra costs disability benefits are a contribution to meeting the extra costs that arise from a disability or long-term health condition and can be paid regardless of any income or savings. They are also tax-free and worth up to £184.30 a week, or over £9,580 a year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of GDPR regulations on people who experience bank (a) fraud ,(b) error and (c) deletions. \p Andrew Western: DWP will ensure that any data is processed in compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The Department routinely handles large volumes of data and has robust security processes in place to manage the safe transfer, storage, and use of data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to support benefits claimants who are being investigated by her Department but no longer have access to required information because it has been deleted by their bank. \p Andrew Western: Where DWP is conducting a criminal investigation into suspected fraud it may request relevant information from third parties. Information received may be presented as evidence if that investigation proceeds to prosecution. Requests for information must comply with DWP’s statutory Code of Practice.

Where an individual is asked to provide information to the department, they should endeavour to provide it unless there is a reason that they cannot. If they are dissatisfied with the service they have received, they should raise the issue with the team handling their case. If they do not feel they have received a satisfactory service, they can raise this with the Independent Case Examiner.

DWP’s complaints procedure can be found here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of employees working on benefit (a) underpayments and (b) overpayments. \p Andrew Western: His Majesty’s Treasury allocated DWP £110m to deliver on the fraud, error and debt Autumn Budget measures over the next financial year. As part of this, the Department is hiring an additional 3,000 staff to expand DWP’s Fraud, Error and Debt (FED) operations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to announce any changes to the benefit system for financial year 2024-25. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Our Get Britain Working White Paper sets out that we plan to develop proposals for long term reform of the system of health and disability benefits.

We are working to develop proposals for Health and Disability reform in the months ahead and will set them out in a Green Paper in Spring.

The Get Britain Working White Paper also sets out our plans to bring down economic inactivity levels and take the first steps to delivering our long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate. It can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-britain-working-white-paper
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy that all changes to financial support for (a) people who are unwell and (b) disabled people be preceded by a public consultation. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are working to develop proposals for health and disability reform in the months ahead and will set them out in a Green Paper ahead of the Spring Statement. This will launch a public consultation on the proposals.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals, where appropriate, with disabled people and representative organisations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has plans to increase the fees available for people working as First-tier Tribunal members while claiming the Employment and Support Allowance. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Customers working as a member of the First-tier Tribunal can receive ESA if they work no more than one full day, or two half days, in a working week. They have a weekly £20 disregard applied to their earnings and the remaining amount is deducted penny for penny from the customer’s ESA entitlement.

There are no current plans to increase the earnings disregard amount beyond £20.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help reduce the long-term use of food banks. \p Alison McGovern: We are committed to tackling poverty and reducing mass dependence on emergency food parcels.

We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty so this will be the foundation of our approach. The Get Britain Working White Paper has set out how the Government will seek to grow the economy through using work as a route out of poverty and to improve living standards in turn.

Our joint ministerial taskforce, jointly chaired by Work and Pensions and Education Secretaries, has begun work on an ambitious Child Poverty Strategy, to reduce child poverty, tackle the root causes, and give every child the best start in life.The vital work of the Taskforce comes alongside our commitments to roll out free breakfast clubs at all primary schools, create 3,000 additional nurseries, as well as deliver our plan to make work pay to turn the minimum wage into a real living wage.

Alongside this, we are committed to reviewing Universal Credit to make sure it is doing the job we want it to do.

To further support struggling families, £1 billion, including Barnett impact, will be invested to extend the Household Support Fund in England by a full year until 31 March 2026, on top of the six months already announced, and to maintain Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of repeat food bank users receive disability benefits. \p Alison McGovern: The Family Resources Survey that measures whether a household has used a food bank in the past 30 days or 12 months can be accessed here Family Resources Survey - GOV.UK

Individual level statistics on food banks can be found in the annual Households Below Average Income statistics publication: Households below average income (HBAI) statistics – GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in her Department are responsible for (a) processing and (b) responding to Freedom of Information Act requests; and if she will make an estimate of the annual cost to the public purse of this work. \p Andrew Western: The Department does not keep this information centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs. This is because, whilst all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests are cleared by a central team, depending on the nature of the request, any member of the Department’s staff could potentially be involved in: processing; locating information for; or drafting, a response to a FOI request.

DWP Departmental spend is published here: DWP: departmental spending over £25,000 - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions for financial year 2025-26. \p Andrew Western: The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments in the usual way, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Fylde constituency are awaiting winter fuel payments for 2024-25. \p Torsten Bell: We do not hold the data requested at constituency level. However, where the customer is eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment, the Department aims to make this payment within 2 weeks of the award of their qualifying benefit. Customers won't miss out on Winter Fuel Payments even if their qualifying benefit takes longer to process than usual.

Statistics on Winter Fuel Payments are published annually. The latest publication contains data on Winter Fuel Payments made in 2023/24.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Nesil Caliskan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the current Personal Independence Payments system for (a) supporting people with long-term illness and disability (b) adequate assessment of eligibility and (c) adapting to changing needs of recipients. \p Sir Stephen Timms: a). Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides extensive support to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to help them live independent lives, contributing up to £9,583 a year, tax free, to help cover extra costs.   b)  DWP has set standards for the quality of assessments and closely monitors all aspects of the process including the performance of the assessment suppliers. Our audit process considers the initial review, evidence collection, further evidence provided, and the advice within the assessment report completed by a health professional (HP).

c) PIP award rates, and their durations, are set on an individual basis, based on the claimant’s needs and the likelihood of those needs changing. Award durations can vary from nine months to an on-going award, with a light touch review at the ten-year point. Award reviews remain an important feature of PIP to ensure customers receive the correct level of benefit.

This government is committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits. We are working to develop proposals for reform and will set them out in a Green Paper ahead of the spring statement later this year.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the change is in the rate of unemployment in Fylde since the Autumn Budget 2024. \p Alison McGovern: No estimate is available of the unemployment rate in Fylde since the Autumn Budget 2024. The latest estimates of unemployment, covers the period October 2023 – September 2024. This is available via ONS Nomisweb site: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp

Guidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls to her Department were translated in each month since January 2021 for which data is available by language code; and what the cost of that translation was. \p Andrew Western: The Contract value for the 3-year term (9th May 2022 - 8th May 2025) is £23.1m which is inclusive of all calls and face to face services. This includes interpretation translation, British Sign Language, video remote services and staff support (internal British Sign language needs for DWP colleagues).

We are unable to break this down by month as it is commercially sensitive.

Attachment (xlsx, 12.3KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will provide details of (a) gifts, (b) donations, (c) donations in kind and (d) hospitality that Ministers in her Department have accepted that have since been paid back to the original donor by the relevant Minister; and under which declaration regime each of those were originally declared. \p Alex Norris: All gifts and donations are declared in line with the Ministerial Code and published on gov.uk in the usual way. No gifts or donations have been paid back by the department.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the end of fixed term tenancies on student accommodation in the private rented sector. \p Matthew Pennycook: We want all tenants renting privately, including students, to benefit from the increased security and flexibility the Renters’ Rights Bill will provide.

Students will benefit from the removal of fixed term tenancies. Fixed terms mean that renters are obliged to pay rent regardless of whether a property is up to standard, and they reduce renters’ flexibility to move when they need to. The government is clear that there is no place for fixed terms in the future assured tenancy system.

To facilitate the yearly cycle of short-term student tenancies, the Bill introduces a new ground for possession which will allow landlords renting to full-time students in Houses of Multiple Occupation to seek possession ahead of each new academic year.

The department has engaged with a range of stakeholders in the student accommodation market and will continue to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to retain office-to-residential permitted development rights. \p Matthew Pennycook: The office to residential permitted development right (Class O) was subsumed into the commercial, business and service uses to residential permitted development right (Class MA) in August 2022.

Using the most recently available published data, in each quarter between October 2022 and September 2024 there were 248, 297, 296, 290, 352, 297, 410 and 476 prior approval applications under the new right.

The government continue to keep permitted development rights under review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Claire Hanna:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that the provisions of the Renter's Rights Bill do not negatively impact students from (a) Northern Ireland and (b) other devolved nations renting accommodation in England. \p Matthew Pennycook: All tenants renting privately in England, including students, will benefit from the protections in the Renters’ Rights Bill, wherever they are from.

The abolition of section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will end chronic insecurity in the private rented sector, and the abolition of fixed term tenancies will enable tenants to leave tenancies by giving two months’ notice, ending the injustice of being trapped paying rent for substandard properties or unable to respond to their changing circumstances.

We recognise the cyclical nature of the student lettings market, which is why the Bill introduces a new mandatory ground for possession which will allow landlords renting Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) to full time students in England to seek possession ahead of each new academic year, facilitating the ongoing yearly cycle of short-term student tenancies and ensuring there is a supply of properties for incoming groups of students.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Sir Julian Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussion has she had with the Housing Ombudsman on the potential merits of a pilot testing scheme on for lead in UK housing stock. \p Alex Norris: Government has regular dialogue with The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and other professional bodies in the built environment to ensure that the services their members provide uphold the highest ethical and technical standards for consumers. RICS are an independent body, and it is for them to consider and prioritise any guidance or communications they issue to members regarding built environment risks.

The Housing Ombudsman is an independent service providing redress to individual social housing residents in dispute with their landlords. It regularly publishes reports on, and shares with the sector and Government, its findings and makes recommendations for landlords on how they can respond in similar circumstances.

The Secretary of State of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government has had no engagement with RICS, the Housing Ombudsman, nor the Chief Medical Officer, regarding lead contamination in homes. However, we would welcome any written representations or evidence from the Rt. Hon. Member on this matter.

The health risks associated with lead in housing are longstanding and well known. All building owners are responsible for managing building safety and performance issues of all kinds in their buildings in a proportionate, risk-based, and evidence-based manner, taking action where they deem necessary. Guidance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) outlines where historic sources of lead might lead to exposure in the home, accessible here: Lead: information for the public - GOV.UK.

Homes must be free from health and safety hazards, including lead, at the most dangerous ‘category 1’ level. The Housing Act 2004 says that local authorities must take enforcement action if they find category 1 hazards in any dwelling, regardless of tenure. In addition, social housing fails the Decent Homes Standard if it contains hazards, including lead, at category 1 level. The government has committed to bringing forward a consultation in 2025 setting out plans for a reformed Decent Homes Standard that will apply to both the social and private rented sectors.

Finally, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has a duty to keep the safety and of people in or about buildings under review and will undertake their own engagement across the sector to achieve this. Where action needs to be taken, the BSR will advise the Government accordingly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of progress of remediation works by property management companies on properties approved for the Cladding Safety Scheme in Slough. \p Alex Norris: Speeding up the remediation of buildings throughout England is essential. More than seven years have passed since the Grenfell tragedy, yet progress remains unacceptably slow. In the Slough area, there are five live applications to the Cladding Safety Scheme - two from social sector organisations and three from private sector applicants. Of the remaining three, one began its application at the end of January and remains in the early stages of the process. Two projects are in the initial tender stage, planning their works, and we are monitoring monthly progress updates to ensure they are on track. We remain committed to driving timely progress for every building with unsafe cladding. As set out in our Remediation Acceleration plan, by intensifying efforts to identify at-risk buildings and accelerate pace of remediation for buildings, including by fully utilising the efficiencies of the Cladding Safety Scheme, we are mitigating the ongoing threat posed by unsafe cladding in the Slough area, and across the country.

The Cladding Safety Scheme interacts with all applicants. It is a data-led programme designed with key performance indicators to ensure we can monitor and track progress and escalate applications as required. The system allows RAG ratings for all buildings to ensure that we are able to support and engage buildings experiencing delays or blockers. A key tenant of the programme is ensuring leaseholders and residents receive regular communications from the applicant so that they are aware of progress. In the Slough area, there are five live applications to the Cladding Safety Scheme of which two are experiencing delays. One is still within the design phase, while the other building is more complex having discovered potential additional works required. We are engaging these buildings to receive regular updates on their progress and are closely monitoring their performance. Our key focus is to support these applications to ensure progress at pace resumes to provide leaseholders and residents with the necessary comfort to know that their buildings will be remediated without further delay.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_37

Llinos Medi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the funding framework that will replace the shared prosperity fund. \p Alex Norris: The government is progressing with the development of a future funding framework to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund. We will set out our long-term vision for local growth at the multi-year spending review.

I have discussed this issue with my Ministerial counterparts in each of the devolved governments, including a very constructive meeting with the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning. I look forward to building on this engagement as we approach the spending review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_38

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to activate the (a) Bellwin scheme and b) Flood Recovery Framework following Storm Darragh; and whether there is a deadline by which a decision must be made. \p Alex Norris: My thoughts remain with householders and business owners impacted by flooding after Storm Darragh at the start of December last year, flooding is a devastating experience for all those affected.

The government is ready to consider local authority requests for Bellwin Scheme support. This can reimburse immediate eligible response costs for authorities affected by the recent storms, including Storm Darragh. Guidance is published online which sets out the procedures for the scheme.   Government recovery support in the aftermath of flooding is only provided in exceptional circumstances. The scale of impacts after Storm Darragh was not sufficiently significant for the Flood Recovery Framework to be activated in any area. For comparison, when the Framework was activated following Storms Babet in October 2023 and Henk in January 2024, together over 8,500 homes and businesses were impacted across England.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_39

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 18875 on Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2025 and to the corrected Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question HL3525 on Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, if she will list the reasons for the flaws in the Leasehold and Freehold Act 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 contains a small number of specific but serious flaws which would prevent certain provisions from operating as intended and that need to be rectified via primary legislation.

The Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244) outlined two flaws regarding a loophole in the valuation scheme set out in the Act, and an omission on shared ownership lease extensions.

Primary legislation will also be needed to address the following flaws:

The government will address these matters as soon as parliamentary time allows.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_40

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18957 on Devolution: East of England, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to devolve decision-making powers to (a) parents in relation to local education policy and (b) local taxpayers in relation to the delivery of public services. \p Jim McMahon: We committed in the English Devolution White Paper to look at the case for strengthening communities with greater rights to be involved in their local issues and there will be further announcements relating to communities later this year. It is for local leaders to decide to decide how best to engage with residents in their delivery of services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_41

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Written Statement of 18 December 2024 on the Local Government Finance Settlement, HCWS342, what the real terms increase in core spending power is for each local authority. \p Jim McMahon: The Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government. This is a 6.8% cash terms increase or 4.3% real terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_42

Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help improve the quality of housing stock in Heywood and Middleton North constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: Everyone deserves to live in a decent, safe and warm home. The government is therefore bringing forward a consultation in early 2025, setting out plans for a reformed Decent Homes Standard that will apply to both the social and private rented sectors to ensure safe and secure housing is the standard across the country.

The Renters’ Rights Bill will also drive significant improvements to conditions in the private rented sector. Ensuring landlords adhere to a legally binding Decent Homes Standard and extending ‘Awaab’s Law’ to private landlords will reduce the number of poor-quality privately rented homes and empower tenants to raise concerns about damp, dangerous and cold homes.

Regarding new homes, the Building Safety Act created a power to mandate, for the first time, the requirement that all newly built homes be sold with a new build warranty. The government is carefully considering next steps regarding commencement of this power.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_43

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question HL4145 on Local Government: Elections, whether (a) county and (b) district council by-elections will take place in areas where elections are postponed. \p Jim McMahon: As set out in my Statement on 5 February 2025 (HCWS418), I will make secondary legislation to postpone elections to nine local authorities from May 2025 to 2026. No further secondary legislation is planned before May 2025.

Where elections have been postponed, all by-elections to county and district councils will take place as normal. Where a vacancy would have been filled at an election which is postponed, it will, instead, be filled at a by-election.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_44

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of an independent parking regulator with powers to regulate (a) fees, (b) enforcement and (c) appeals. \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. This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector and currently reviewing all options on how to achieve this. The government will set out its plans for a new Code in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_45

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 19964 on Land Registry: Buildings, how many members of Land Registry staff attended the office in person on average each day in November 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: 3209
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_46

Rachel Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for publishing revised guidance for the Long-Term Plans for Town programme. \p Alex Norris: The Chancellor confirmed at the Budget on 30 October that the Long-Term Plan for Towns will be retained and reformed as part of a new regeneration programme.

A revised prospectus for the programme will be published in due course, confirming the associated timelines and a new set of strategic objectives aligned to this government’s missions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_47

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with (a) Ministers and (b) hon. Members on the application for a proposed Chinese Embassy. \p Matthew Pennycook: As has been the case under successive administrations, government does not normally disclose details of internal discussions or discussions with Members of Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_48

Nesil Caliskan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) estimate her Department has made of the number of local authorities not meeting targets on guidance set for housing delivery and (b) assessment she has made of the potential impact of planning restrictions on housing delivery. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Housing Delivery Test, published annually, measures how well authorities have delivered against their housing requirements over a three-year period.

In the latest publication, published on 12 December 2024, 110 of 302 authorities delivered below 95% of their requirements.

The consequences that result from this under-delivery are set out in the National Planning Policy Framework which can be found on gov.uk here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_49

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 19702 on Housing: Construction, if the 1.5 million target will be backloaded in this Parliament. \p Matthew Pennycook: As set out in our Plan for Change, lead times in planning, infrastructure and construction mean we are already constrained by the impact of decisions taken by the previous government, but we expect the number of new homes to start rising significantly in the third year of the Parliament once our reforms take effect.