Topical Questions 2021-07-19
2021-07-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The government's high streets strategy was launched, introducing the community ownership fund and the multibillion-pound towns fund. The MP asks for a statement on these initiatives.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities including launching the Government's new high streets strategy, the £150 million community ownership fund and the multibillion-pound towns fund.
As the Prime Minister said last Thursday in his speech on levelling up, the Government's vital mission is about raising living standards, spreading opportunity, improving public services and restoring people's sense of pride in their community. This includes launching the Government's new high streets strategy as well as a £150 million community ownership fund and the final details of our multibillion-pound towns fund.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP notes that the government has provided funding ring-fenced for reactive responses to domestic violence. The MP asks if there can be non-ringfenced funding for new burdens under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
Dorset Council's extra funding from the right hon. Friend's Department will help substantially, but it is ring-fenced for reactive responses to domestic violence. Can my right hon. Friend look at providing non-ringfenced funding for new burdens under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 so that Dorset Council can continue its vital work in preventing domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is a terrible crime. The Government fully funded local authorities with £125 million for their duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. I have written to all local authorities in England asking them to use that money for its intended purpose, ensuring it goes to refuges and supporting victims of domestic abuse.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about non-ringfenced funding was not addressed directly
Will Take His Comments With Respect
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP seeks statutory obligations on banks to provide adequate access to cash withdrawals free at the point of use, covering needs of high streets and communities.
Will the Secretary of State lobby the Chancellor to ensure that any legislation introduced after the current consultation on access to cash will include a statutory obligation on banks to provide adequate access to cash withdrawals free at the point of use?
I will take her comments back to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor as he prepares to respond to any legislation introduced after the current consultation on access to cash.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for statutory obligations was not addressed directly
Will Take Her Comments Back To My Right Hon. Friend
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP's constituency has seen significant housing development leading to infrastructure pressures, school shortages, traffic congestion and high patient-to-doctor ratios. The MP asks what steps are being taken to ensure necessary infrastructure is in place.
My constituency has experienced massive housing growth, putting pressure on local infrastructure and causing a shortage of school places and increased traffic. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is put in place for these developments?
It is important that new housing development is supported by commensurate infrastructure funded by developer contributions from new housing. The idea behind the infrastructure levy will capture more land value to serve local communities.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for infrastructure before further developments was not addressed directly
We Need To Ensure That Developers Pay Their Fair Share
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Big Issue warned of a high risk of homelessness due to eviction post-covid. The MP asks for an assessment on the number of evictions likely and costs to local councils.
The Secretary of State was sent out to defend the indefensible regarding housing policy during the pandemic. With a warning that more people are at risk of homelessness than ever before, can he confirm if his promise that 'nobody should lose their home' has been abandoned?
This Government took exceptional steps early in the pandemic, legislating with longer notice periods under section 21. Rates of people sleeping rough on streets have been reduced by almost 40% due to our Everyone In programme.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about confirmation regarding abandonment of promise was not addressed directly
This Government Took Exceptional Steps
Will Keep This Under Review
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Green space in Wolverhampton is being considered for housing development by the city council, raising concerns about the accuracy of these numbers and their impact on city centre living.
In Wolverhampton, green space has been put forward for housing development by the city council. I am sure that the council would welcome reassurance from the Secretary of State that there can be discussions with his Department about the accuracy and reasonableness of those numbers going forward. Does he agree that city centre living is key, and that councils must be imaginative when incorporating housing into retail and leisure developments? I am thinking specifically of the Westside development in Wolverhampton, which could be reviewed.
As a son of Wolverhampton, I know the city well and I wish it well. It is absolutely right that we need to build more homes in our town and city centres, and that is what the Government are doing. That is why we brought forward changes to permitted development, why we created the right to demolish and rebuild a building, and why we are bringing forward reforms to modernise the planning system.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific discussions about the accuracy of numbers for housing developments were not addressed
Brought Forward Changes
Reforms To Modernise
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
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Context
There is a positive discussion ongoing with the Welsh Government about establishing a freeport in Wales, which could drive forward economic benefits across north Wales.
I was enthused to hear recently that a positive discussion is ongoing with the Welsh Government about a freeport in Wales. Does the Secretary of State agree that a freeport would be massively beneficial, particularly if it spreads the entire length of north Wales, taking into account its borders at the port of Holyhead, as well as manufacturing centres in Wrexham, Deeside and Delyn, to drive forward economic benefits for our entire region?
Yes, we want to establish at least one freeport in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as soon as possible, and negotiations with the devolved Administrations are ongoing. Freeports will benefit and regenerate communities across the country.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The Post Office served notice on Mr Ahmed, who runs Haworth post office in the constituency of Keighley and Ilkley without prior consultation. The post office plays a vital role in keeping high streets vibrant.
Local post offices play a vital part in keeping our high streets vibrant and our communities thriving. That is why I am deeply disappointed that, without undertaking a prior consultation, the Post Office served notice on Mr Ahmed, who runs Haworth post office in my constituency. Will the Minister meet me, alongside ministerial colleagues from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, urgently to review the Post Office's intention, and aim to save our Haworth post office?
I completely agree with my hon. Friend about the role that post offices play across our country. They have a vital role in supporting high streets, and keeping them a social and vibrant place in which to live, shop and work, and I thank him for bringing that case to my attention.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific meeting commitment was not provided
Completely Agree
Vital Role
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Many buildings in Lewisham with cladding defects are under 18 metres and therefore ineligible for the building safety fund. A loan scheme is being offered but with no clarity on how it works or when it will be available.
Many of the buildings in my constituency that have been found to have cladding defects, including Norfolk House, St Peters Gardens and Leeward Court, are under 18 metres and therefore ineligible for the building safety fund. The only offer made to impacted leaseholders is a loan scheme, with no clarity about how it will work and when it will be made available. When will the Secretary of State's Department finally step up and extend funding to those blocks under 18 metres that are in need of remediation?
In terms of buildings with the most dangerous form of cladding, there are five that I am aware of in Lewisham. One has completed work and is awaiting building control sign-off, three have had their unsafe aluminium composite material cladding removed altogether, and the other one has works under way.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline for extending funding was not provided
Most Dangerous Form
Completed Work
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
There has been a record rise in council tax arrears of £1.5 billion due to families struggling under the weight of the pandemic. The Centre for Social Justice proposes an enforcement conduct authority.
The last year saw a record rise in council tax arrears of £1.5 billion, as families struggled under the weight of the pandemic. With tens of thousands more people likely to receive a call or a knock on the door from a bailiff in the months and years ahead, will the Secretary of State look at proposals from the Centre for Social Justice for an enforcement conduct authority, developed through a historic coming-together of bailiffs and the debt advice sector?
I would be happy to look at those proposals. I have already seen them, but perhaps the hon. Lady and I can meet to discuss them in further detail.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific review commitment was not provided
Happy To Look
Meet To Discuss
Response accuracy
Q11
Direct Answer
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Context
There are building safety issues beyond cladding, such as missing firebreaks. Some people have been unable to sell or let their properties due to these issues.
As my right hon. Friend knows, there are building safety issues other than cladding, including missing firebreaks. Will he therefore tell me what advice I can give to my constituents who are currently unable to sell or let properties that they bought in good faith a matter of only a few years ago?
Shoddy workmanship of that kind is disgraceful, and developers should step up and pay for any works that are required. We are changing the law through the Building Safety Bill to give homeowners a longer period of redress to take action against developers and builders who build poorly.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
Residents of Batley and Spen are concerned about proposals for a large Amazon warehouse in Scholes. They fear the shift in power from residents to developers.
During my by-election campaign, fellow residents raised concerns about proposed plans for a large Amazon warehouse in Scholes. Will the Secretary of State assure me that local people's rights to be informed and their objections taken seriously will always be respected?
The reforms made to the planning system will continue to have constituents at heart. Local authorities can allocate commercial sites and object to planning applications if they wish.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the assurance requested about respecting local people's rights.
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
A bid for the levelling-up fund is being considered to secure well-deserved investment in Hyndburn and Haslingden.
Although my constituency was not a beneficiary of the towns deal, we are now in a position to bid for the levelling-up fund. Will the Secretary of State confirm that an announcement will be made soon on the second round so that we can put forward our case?
Proposals for the second round will be brought forward shortly and set out later in the year by either myself or my right hon. Friend the Chancellor.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm an exact date for the announcement.
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
Permitting developers to provide slum living accommodation through relaxation of permitted development rights is causing concern.
Instead of creating opportunities for developers to build poor quality housing, why does the Secretary of State not force developers with permission for 1.1 million homes and planning applications for another 1 million homes to bring forward their plans?
The Government will include proposals in the planning Bill to tackle issues related to developers not building homes they have permission for. We hope to achieve this on a cross-party basis.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions or timelines to compel developers.
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State's earlier answers suggest the Government supports home ownership, but younger generations face challenges in buying homes.
Young people have faced difficulty buying houses at the same rate as previous generations. May I welcome the Government's proposals and consultation to help young people enter homeownership while opposition parties lack policies?
The Conservative party aims to extend opportunity to all through measures such as First Homes offering discounts up to 50% to local first-time buyers.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details about upcoming consultations or policies.
Response accuracy