The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 153 tabled · 153 answered

Written questions by Betts.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by Clive Betts this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.

Department:All (153)Department of Health and Social Care (51)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (31)Department for Transport (21)Home Office (12)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (10)Treasury (9)Department for Culture, Media and Sport (5)Department for Work and Pensions (4)Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (3)Department for Education (3)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2)Department for Business and Trade (1)

Showing 2131 of 31 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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11 Nov 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on embedding circular design principles in the construction of 1.5million homes.

Reply

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has written to the Deputy Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretaries of State for Business and Trade, Energy Security and Net Zero and Transport and invited them to join a S...

22 Oct 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure that people living in new homes have access to well-designed green spaces.

Reply

National planning policy and guidance recognise the importance of high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity for the health and wellbeing of communities.Our proposals to release ‘grey belt’ land for development will depend ...

4 Oct 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) putting the New Homes Quality Board on a statutory footing, (b) requiring developers to be members of the Board and

Reply

The Government is committed to improving upon existing means of redress for purchasers of new build homes. We are currently considering the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recommendations in their recent Housebuilding Market Study, which included ...

4 Oct 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to bring in (a) licences for and (b) registration of property managing agents.

Reply

The Government is committed to ensuring that those living in the rented and leasehold sectors are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents. The Government will set out its position on the regulation of letting, ma...

4 Oct 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to increase the availability of dwellings suitable for younger people with disabilities.

Reply

We understand that accessibility in new homes, and accessibility standards for buildings in general, are important concerns. Housing is one of this Government’s top priorities. Everyone deserves to live in a decent home in which they feel safe. We will se...

4 Oct 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce Part M category 2 of the Building Regulations for new build properties.

Reply

We understand that accessibility in new homes, and accessibility standards for buildings in general, are important concerns. Housing is one of this Government’s top priorities. Everyone deserves to live in a decent home in which they feel safe. We will se...

4 Oct 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to prevent products manufactured by (a) Kingspan and (b) Celotex being used by public bodies.

Reply

The Prime Minister has been clear that the government will write to all companies found by the Inquiry to have been part of these horrific failings, as the first step to stopping them being awarded government contracts. This process is being led by the Mi...

4 Oct 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to prevent products manufactured by (a) Kingspan and (b) Celotex from being used in Government-funded contracts.

Reply

The Prime Minister has been clear that the government will write to all companies found by the Inquiry to have been part of these horrific failings, as the first step to stopping them being awarded government contracts. This process is being led by the Mi...

30 Aug 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, how many units of accommodation in the (a) private and (b) social housing sector have combustible cladding; on how many such units is work under way to remove such cladding; and how many such units have no such work planned.

Reply

The latest data on remediation progress of 11m+ buildings identified with unsafe cladding is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-remediation-monthly-data-release-july-2024.This shows that as of 31 July 2024, in the private housing sector, 2,127 buildings have been identified as having combustible cladding. Of these, 416 buildings have remediation works underway, and works have not started on 1,119 buildings. In the social housing sector, 2,405 buildings have been identified as having combustible cladding. Of these, 528 buildings have remediation works underway, and works have not started on 1,210 buildings.

30 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring local authorities in their local plans to (a) allocate sites for (i) social housing and (ii) housing for elderly persons and (b) ensure the provision of housing with high-level adaptations for people with disabilities.

Reply

The National Planning Policy Framework outlines that it is for local authorities to assess the size, types and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, people with disabilities, older people, and to reflect this in their planning policies. In 2019, we published guidance to help local planning authorities implement this policy.We are consulting on our approach to revising the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system. This includes proposed changes designed to support the delivery of affordable homes including social rent, alongside securing a mix of types and tenures including housing for specific groups including older people. The consultation began on Tuesday 30 July and closes on Tuesday 24 September.

30 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of preventing second home owners who become subject to a higher council tax charge from switching their home to a business and avoiding council tax altogether.

Reply

From April 2025 councils have discretionary powers to charge a council tax premium of up to 100% on second homes. Properties available for commercial short-term letting may be eligible for business rates where they have been available to let for at least 140 days in the past year, are available to let for at least 140 days in the next year and can demonstrate at least 70 days of actual letting activity in the last year. The Government will continue to keep all tax policy under review.

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Sources
SourceUK Parliament Members API
MethodQuestion and answer text as published. Question preamble (“To ask the…”) trimmed for readability; answers shown in full.