Written questions by Coombes.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of the Future Homes Standard on air pollution emissions from domestic wood burning.

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) will require new-build homes to use heat pumps or other low-carbon technologies as their primary heating source, ensuring that almost all the home’s heating needs will be met with low-emission systems. This shift away from fossil fuels will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support improved air quality. The consultation on the FHS did not focus on secondary heating systems or support solid fuel systems, such as wood-burning stoves, as primary heating. The FHS will update Part L of the Building Regulations. While air quality falls outside the scope of Part L and the FHS, my officials and I work closely with our colleagues at DEFRA to align with broader efforts to tackle air pollution.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of funding provided by her Department to Steps to Work in Walsall through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is committed to evaluating the impacts and effectiveness of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UKSPF evaluation strategy sets out the approach to evaluation. The department has committed to publish evaluation findings on an ongoing basis as they are available.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of housing associations in England that are charging tenants for a 53 week rent year.

The Government does not collect data on whether weekly rent charged by housing associations is collected 52 or 53 times in a year. Government policy on social housing rents stipulates how the maximum weekly rent is to be calculated for any given social housing property, not how many times that weekly rent may be charged in any given year. The arrangements for charging rent should be set out in a tenancy agreement.