Written questions by Taylor.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using automated parking systems to help tackle (a) congestion and (b) parking issues.

The government recognises the growth of automated vehicle technologies and services in the UK.The government is focused on delivering the Private Parking Code of Practice, which is being developed in accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. Any technological innovations will need to be compliant with the standards in the Code which will be made public in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to improve the Building Safety Regulator's processes to ensure the statutory eight-week timeframe for work to existing buildings is consistently met for all unsafe high-rise buildings in the remediation programme.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has a prominent role in supporting delivery of the Remediation Acceleration Plan (RAP), from monitoring through to enforcement, and accelerating the pace of remediation. The department published a further update to the RAP on 17 July.On 30 June, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced significant changes marking a new phase of operations for the BSR, including governance changes, new leadership and a new operating model which aims to speed up the processing of both new build and remediation applications. In addition to the new model, the BSR is setting up a standalone enforcement unit for remediation cases which is expected to be operational in autumn.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to protect shared ownership leaseholders from excessive administration fees imposed by housing associations during the resale of their share; and whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that such fees are proportionate to the share being sold.

Shared ownership landlords are required to publish clear information about the resales process for shared ownership properties on their websites. They are also required to outline their current selling fee in a ‘Key Information Document’ provided to prospective shared owners before reservation. Some shared ownership leases will also state the resale fee which can be charged by shared ownership landlords. The government is considering what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the number of vape shops on high streets in Hertfordshire on the prosperity of those high streets.

The quality of the public realm and the prosperity of high streets and town centres is of vital importance. The Government is supporting local efforts to reduce vacancy on high streets, including through High Street Rental Auctions, because of the damaging effect persistently empty shops can have on the vitality of town centres.The Government also recognises public sentiment about the value of some high street businesses will be mixed. Occupation of vacant units must in general be preferred to the alternative, including because of the benefits to high street footfall. The government encourages local partnership working between landlords, local government, businesses and residents to develop a unique vision for their high street. The planning system provides some tools to support these efforts, including the emphasis placed on local plans and diversification of primary shopping areas in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle mould in (a) council and (b) housing association properties in Hertfordshire.

The government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm, and free from damp and mould.The Deputy Prime Minister made a Written Ministerial Statement on 6 February (HCWS423) confirming that the government will be bringing Awaab’s Law into force for damp and mould in October 2025.Awaab’s Law is vital legislation that will empower social tenants to hold their landlords to account using the full force of the law if they fail to investigate and fix hazards within their homes within set timescales. It will also allow tenants to access the Housing Ombudsman if their landlord does not adhere to strict timelines for action.The government is also committed to consulting on a new Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards this year.