Written questions by Dance.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure the provision of affordable housing for disabled people in rural communities in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England.

At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549).The investment made at Spring statement follows the £800 million in new in-year funding which has been made available for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme and that will support the delivery of up to 7,800 new homes, with more than half of them being Social Rent homes.We will set out set 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.Homes England and GLA will assess bids received in the usual way before awarding funding. Exact funding to different places and the locations of homes that will be built will depend on the bids received from local councils and housing associations.Local authorities are responsible for their own allocation scheme for social housing within the framework of legislation. By law, people who are homeless must be given ‘reasonable preference’ (priority) and local authorities can give ‘additional preference’ (high priority) to those who have urgent housing needs.The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should assess the size, types and tenure of housing needed for different groups, including disabled people, and to reflect this in their planning policies. My Department has set out guidance for councils in preparing planning policies on housing for disabled people. This can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to accelerate the processing of pensions claims made by retired firefighters in Yeovil constituency.

While the government has responsibility for overarching policy and legislative changes to the firefighters’ pension scheme regulations, the firefighters’ pension scheme is locally administered by each individual Fire and Rescue Authority. As the designated scheme manager, it is for each Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA) to determine their administrative timetable, including for the McCloud/Sargeant remedy, in accordance with the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (PSPJOA), including when remedy payments will be distributed. The Government has been working, and will continue to work, with the fire sector and Local Government Association to support and remind FRAs of their duty under the PSPJOA for all affected individuals.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to compensate fire fighters in Yeovil constituency whose pensions were transferred from the 1992 Fire Fighters Pensions scheme to the 2015 Fire Fighters Pension Scheme in 2022.

Discrimination experienced as a result of the transfer of pensions from the 1992 Firefighters’ Pension Scheme to the 2015 Firefighters’ Pension Scheme is being addressed by the McCloud/Sargeant remedy. The Government continues to work with the fire sector to support the effective implementation of the McCloud/Sargeant remedy for all affected individuals.While the government has responsibility for overarching policy and legislative changes to the firefighters’ pension scheme regulations, the firefighters’ pension scheme is locally administered by each individual Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA). For Yeovil constituents, the relevant FRA is Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. Their remit includes determining their administrative timetable, in accordance with the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022, as well as when remedy payments will be distributed.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the mandatory transfer of pensions from the 1992 Fire Fighters Pensions scheme to the 2015 Fire Fighters Pension Scheme on firefighters.

Discrimination experienced as a result of the transfer of pensions from the 1992 Firefighters’ Pension Scheme to the 2015 Firefighters’ Pension Scheme is being addressed by the McCloud/Sargeant remedy. The Government continues to work with the fire sector to support the effective implementation of the McCloud/Sargeant remedy for all affected individuals.While the government has responsibility for overarching policy and legislative changes to the firefighters’ pension scheme regulations, the firefighters’ pension scheme is locally administered by each individual Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA). For Yeovil constituents, the relevant FRA is Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. Their remit includes determining their administrative timetable, in accordance with the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022, as well as when remedy payments will be distributed.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support Ukrainians staying in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset, and (c) the South West of England in the long term.

Councils receive integration funding of £5,900 per Homes for Ukraine arrival to support guests to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities. All councils have the flexibility to use this funding as best suits the local area and the specific needs of the Ukrainian guests that they support. This could include measures to support guests to access employment, develop their English language skills, and access privately rented accommodation.The Department for Education supports adults aged 19+ in England who do not have English as a first language to access ESOL provision via the Adult Skills Fund. Thank-you payments to sponsors of Homes for Ukraine guests have also been extended for 18-months under the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme, to support guests who wish to remain in sponsorship and provide enough time for guests and sponsors to plan for next steps. All Ukraine visa holders have rights to work, live and study as well as access to healthcare and welfare support in the UK.

Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to improve (a) transparency and (b) professionalism in the leasehold sector in Somerset.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take steps to ensure (a) Wessex Water and (b) Environment Agency impact surveys are considered in new planning decisions in Somerset.

The Environment Agency is a statutory consultee in the planning system, while water companies can comment on relevant planning applications.By law, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. This means that where relevant planning matters are raised, including as a result of surveys, the local planning authority should take them into account when making decisions.The National Planning Policy Framework includes strict policies to prevent inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding. Where these tests cannot be met, development should not be approved.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring social housing providers to refer tenants to a local debt advice service before serving them with an eviction notice for rent arrears.

The government is clear that social landlords should seek to sustain tenancies and should only evict as a last resort.Landlords will, when managing their social housing schemes, provide advice and assistance to those struggling financially, including signposting to support services.The Pre-Action Protocol for Possession Claims by Social Landlords sets out the actions social landlords should take to support the tenant before they consider taking legal action for rent arrears. These actions include making early contact with tenants to discuss the cause of the arrears, checking eligibility for housing benefit, assisting with any claim, and agreeing affordable repayment terms for the arrears. The protocol can be found on the justice website here.