Community Ownership 2026-03-10
2026-03-10
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Communities have seen assets hollowed out due to 14 years of Conservative austerity. Woodgate and Bartley Green will receive £20 million through Pride in Place funding over the next decade.
After 14 years of Conservative austerity, many communities like mine have seen the assets that matter most to them hollowed out. I welcome the Government's community right to buy, because putting local people in control of local assets is simply common sense. In my constituency, Woodgate and Bartley Green will receive £20 million through Pride in Place funding over the next decade thanks to this Government. Does the Minister agree that tackling barriers such as access to finance will help communities to take ownership of local assets and rebuild neighbourhoods?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Pride in Place funding can be used for communities to take ownership of and support local assets, from youth centres to libraries and cultural venues. I am very glad to hear that the funding will make such a positive difference to her constituents in Woodgate and Bartley Green, and I am proud that this Government are putting people in control of what happens in their local area.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the specific ask about tackling barriers such as access to finance
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Communities have seen assets hollowed out due to 14 years of Conservative austerity. Woodgate and Bartley Green will receive £20 million through Pride in Place funding over the next decade.
After 14 years of Conservative austerity, many communities like mine have seen the assets that matter most to them hollowed out. I welcome the Government's community right to buy, because putting local people in control of local assets is simply common sense. In my constituency, Woodgate and Bartley Green will receive £20 million through Pride in Place funding over the next decade thanks to this Government. Does the Minister agree that tackling barriers such as access to finance will help communities to take ownership of local assets and rebuild neighbourhoods?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Pride in Place funding can be used for communities to take ownership of and support local assets, from youth centres to libraries and cultural venues. I am very glad to hear that the funding will make such a positive difference to her constituents in Woodgate and Bartley Green, and I am proud that this Government are putting people in control of what happens in their local area.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the specific ask about tackling barriers such as access to finance
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Small villages tend to have a pub, a church, and a village hall. Community asset policy supports community ownership of pubs, but changes to VAT relief on listed buildings concern those who run large faith buildings.
Across my constituency, there are three things that small villages tend to have: a pub, a church and a village hall. The community asset policy will support community ownership of the pubs, but I am hearing from those who run large faith buildings that they are deeply concerned about the changes to VAT relief on listed buildings. Will the Minister agree to meet me and others who are literally trying to repair the church roof to discuss that uncertainty?
As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, this scheme is operated by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, so I am happy to ask colleagues in that Department to come back to him.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the specific ask for a meeting
Redirected To Another Department
Response accuracy