Topical Questions 2023-06-05

2023-06-05

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Christopher Chope Con
Christchurch
Context
The government is planning to bring forward a hybrid Bill for the Holocaust memorial.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. My right hon Friend has failed to address an important issue: the impact assessments of the Renters (Reform) Bill have been rejected by the independent Regulatory Policy Committee as not fit for purpose. Will my right hon Friend ensure that we see these before we debate the Bill?
I am hugely in favour of publishing impact assessments, but I reassure the House that the proposal that my hon Friend mentions was in the Conservative manifesto and supported by other noted figures. The key provisions were backed not just by Boris Johnson but also by Elizabeth Truss.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address publishing the impact assessments as requested, instead defending the bill's proposal.
Defended Manifesto Commitment Mentioned Other Supporters
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Christopher Chope Con
Christchurch
Context
The National Audit Office was asked to investigate serious allegations of misuse of public money and assets in Teesside, but an independent inquiry has been launched instead.
Why did the Secretary of State not allow the NAO to conduct an investigation when it was specifically requested by the Mayor of Tees Valley and supported by three Select Committee Chairs, the official Opposition, and countless others? How could anyone possibly have faith in this Government's investigation process?
We consulted with the NAO and others. There is no evidence of corruption but a risk that investment could freeze due to misinformation spread by Labour colleagues in Tees Valley.
Assessment & feedback
Changed subject to alleged programme of misinformation by Labour without addressing why an NAO investigation was blocked.
Changed Subject Accused Opposition
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Lisa Nandy Lab
Wigan
Context
The ONS reports that Kirklees Council is underperforming in delivering education, health and care plans within the 20-week target.
Does the Minister agree that the council's underperformance on EHCPs is letting children and parents down? When will we see a real improvement?
Colleagues from the Department for Education are working closely with Kirklees Council to support it in improving its performance. We are awaiting the imminent release of figures.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to when improvements would be seen, only that colleagues are supporting them.
Stated Ongoing Support Mentioned Pending Figures
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Lisa Nandy Lab
Wigan
Context
There is a national shortage of social homes, including over 9,000 in Nottingham alone. There was a net loss of 14,000 council homes last year.
Over one million households are waiting for social homes, including more than 9,000 in Nottingham. When will the Government take action on this housing crisis and enable mass construction of council homes?
I share the hon Lady's commitment but note we have built more social homes under this Administration than under the previous Labour Government. Under a previous Conservative Mayor, more homes were built than under the current Mayor.
Assessment & feedback
Avoided addressing action on the housing crisis by comparing to past administrations.
Compared To Previous Governments Mentioned Different Mayoral Figures
Response accuracy
Q5 Direct Answer
Context
There is a lack of disabled facilities in parks across Hyndburn and Haslingden, noted after the successful 'Let's Move Hyndburn' event.
Will the Minister agree to meet me to discuss how we can provide local authorities with funding for more disabled facilities in parks?
I am very grateful for raising this issue. We need to support people living with disabilities, and I will make sure that a meeting happens quickly, whether with myself or another Minister.
Assessment & feedback
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Q6 Partial Answer
Kate Osamor Lab Co-op
Edmonton and Winchmore Hill
Context
Families in Edmonton and Winchmore Hill are living in hotels due to affordability issues, with local authorities lacking the necessary powers or funding.
Hundreds of families in my constituency are living for months on end in hotels, as they can no longer afford to rent and the council has no suitable temporary accommodation left. Local authorities currently do not have the powers or funding they need to tackle the crisis, so will the Secretary of State confirm how he is going to change that and give councils such as Enfield the resources they need to end this hotel crisis?
I appreciate the nature of the problem that the hon. Lady mentions: too many people are in temporary accommodation. I will look at the challenges that Enfield Council faces in terms of the delivery of housing, including affordable housing for the vulnerable families that she champions, and hope to be able to report back more in due course.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on additional powers or funding for councils
Response accuracy
Q7 Direct Answer
Context
Concerns about house affordability and the quality of new housing developments in constituencies like Redditch.
House prices are all over the headlines yet again, but affordability is the key issue. Does my hon. Friend the Housing Minister agree that when we do get new houses built, often taking years and years to go through planning, they all look like identikit estates, just like the estates we have already? We need affordable homes that local people can aspire to and retirement homes for later living. Does she agree that we need to build the right houses in the right places?
I thank my hon. Friend very much. He represents a new town, as I do—I am very proud to represent the new town of Redditch. We are absolutely committed to building the right houses in the right places, and that includes enabling local communities to have more say over the design and type of housing. We are doing that through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: through design codes, street votes and reforming the planning system. I am pleased to report to my hon. Friend that I have also launched a taskforce for older people's housing to address the housing needs of older people.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Andy McDonald Lab
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
Context
Serious complaints about the use of public funds for economic development in Teesside.
I do not think that the staggering complacency of the Secretary of State in dismissing legitimate, serious complaints and concerns about the use of hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money will have passed anybody's attention. I warn him that that type of response may well come back and bite him. However, if there is to be any possibility of this House and the people of Teesside having any confidence in the findings of the inquiry that he has commissioned, that inquiry must have all the powers it needs to demand and secure whatever evidence and documentation it determines is necessary, and anyone must be able to submit that evidence to the inquiry. Will the Secretary of State give those commitments?
I am tempted to say that if the hon. Gentleman has evidence, he should please share it. It is the case that Labour in Teesside, including Labour in Middlesbrough, has consistently sought to undermine, thwart and oppose those efforts at economic development and investment that the Mayor of Tees Valley has brought forward. I recognise that the hon. Gentleman has made a number of allegations in this House that he has been reluctant to repeat outside. We look forward to him putting us right in a way that actually contributes to the welfare of the people of Tees Valley, rather than advancing the agenda of the Labour party.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to giving full powers to the inquiry or respond to allegations directly
Changed Subject Criticised Opposition
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Danny Kruger Reform
East Wiltshire
Context
Wiltshire's housing needs and challenges in meeting targets.
Wiltshire urgently needs a lot more housing, and the good news is that we are getting it. For the past six years, we have met our house building target by 130%, with 4,000 new houses in Wiltshire every year, but because developers routinely underestimate their future building forecasts, we have a theoretical shortage in the five-year land supply. Because inspectors routinely declare that local plans are out of date, it means that developers can impose unwanted and ugly developments that communities do not want. Will the Secretary of State use the NPPF review to exempt—
My hon. Friend is on exactly the right lines. That is what the NPPF consultation hopes to do.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific measures or timeline for addressing development forecasts and local plans
Response accuracy
Q10 Direct Answer
Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem
North East Fife
Context
Regulations for overseas voting rights before a potential upcoming election.
I have raised the issue of overseas voters in this place before, and I understand that the regulations will be brought forward by the end of the year, but we might have a general election by then, and we need six months between the regulations being made and a general election in order for them to take effect. Can the Secretary of State provide more clarity on the guarantee that overseas voters will be able to vote?
I will do everything in my power to ensure that there is at least six months between those regulations coming forward and any general election.
Assessment & feedback
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Q11 Direct Answer
Context
Concerns about the process and support for a combined authority in Essex.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for levelling up, the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Dehenna Davison), has been generous with her time in discussing the future of Essex. Can she reassure the House that no plans for a combined authority will go forward without the support of the majority of Essex MPs, because at the moment I am pretty sure that none of us wants it?
We are absolutely clear that any devolution deals must be locally led with local consent. I have consulted my hon. Friend, and we will continue to have such conversations, but ultimately this is about getting the best for the people of Essex, and I know he shares my ambition to deliver that.
Assessment & feedback
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Q12 Partial Answer
Kerry McCarthy Lab
Bristol East
Context
Commitments to a brownfield-first approach and biodiversity support in Homes England's strategic plan.
Homes England's new strategic plan contains commitments to work with local leaders to deliver “a brownfield first approach” and to “support biodiversity” by working with partners “to protect, enhance or create new environmental assets”, yet there are plans to put 260 housing units on Brislington meadows, a beautiful nature-rich site in my constituency, going against the wishes of the council, local residents, the mayor and me. Does the Secretary of State really think the plan is worth the paper it is written on if Homes England does not put its principles into practice?
I have a lot of sympathy with the hon. Lady's position, and I will look closely at that proposal. I agree with her and, indeed, with the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Wigan (Lisa Nandy), that the green belt is a valuable environmental asset that we need to protect, but sadly that is not the view of the Leader of the Opposition.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to reviewing specific proposals or principles in practice
Response accuracy
Q13 Direct Answer
Context
Concerns about protecting the green belt through brownfield-first policy.
In reforming planning policy to deliver more homes, can I have an assurance that the brownfield-first policy will be paramount to protect the green belt and green fields from development?
Yes, absolutely. As the hon. Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) has pointed out, that is absolutely at the heart of the strategic plan for Homes England.
Assessment & feedback
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Q14 Partial Answer
Context
Discussions are ongoing with devolved counterparts about the potential location of investment zones. The SNP is advocating for these zones to be tailored to Scotland's economic strengths and its goal of transitioning to a wellbeing economy.
What discussions has the Secretary of State had with devolved counterparts on the potential location of investment zones in Scotland? What steps is he taking to tailor those zones to Scotland's economic strengths and the Scottish Government's ambition of transitioning to a wellbeing economy?
I have had good conversations with SNP leaders regarding this issue, and we want to ensure that investment zones operate in a way that aligns with the Scottish Government's priorities. However, no specific steps or plans were detailed.
Assessment & feedback
Specific steps and tailored plans for Scotland's economic strengths and sustainability goals
Better Together
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Context
Water companies like South West Water need to ensure their infrastructure can handle new housing developments to meet sewage reduction targets. The questioner seeks updates on Government plans to involve water companies in such consultations.
To hit the Government's new sewage reduction targets, water companies such as South West Water must make sure that the infrastructure can cope with new housing developments. With that in mind, will my right hon. Friend update the House on what plans the Government have to make sure that water companies are statutory consultees in major housing developments?
Proposals have been brought forward to improve waste water treatment operations, but no specific plans or timelines were detailed regarding making water companies statutory consultees in major housing developments.
Assessment & feedback
Specific plans and timelines for involving water companies as statutory consultees
Point Is Well Made
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Clive Efford Lab
Eltham and Chislehurst
Context
Residents in Master Gunner Place are still paying for a waking watch despite the installation of a new fire alarm. The properties were built with major defects by Countryside Properties and are now owned by Samnas.
Residents in Master Gunner Place in my constituency are still paying for a waking watch, despite a new fire alarm being introduced. These properties were built with major defects by Countryside Properties, and they are now owned by Samnas. I want to know what the Minister is going to do to take these people to task, because they are costing my constituents a lot of money, which should have been resolved before.
We have reopened the waking watch fund and are willing to meet with the hon. Gentleman to understand why this has not been resolved despite previous spending.
Assessment & feedback
Specific actions or commitments from Samnas or Countryside Properties
Willing To Meet
Response accuracy