Rachel Blake MP: written questions
131 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Local Government ServicesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to remove the requirement for a local connection for (a) homeless veterans, (b) survivors of domestic abuse and (c) care leavers.
Answer: On the 24 September the Prime Minister announced an ambition to improve access to social housing for veterans, survivors of domestic abuse and young care leavers. Statutory guidance recommends that local authorities exempt victims of domestic abuse and ca...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordJimmy LaiForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 901464More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help secure the release of Jimmy Lai.
Answer: We call on Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution of Jimmy Lai. The Prime Minister raised his case with President Xi at last week’s G20 Summit; the Foreign Secretary raised with China’s Foreign Minister last month; and I rais...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPedicabs: VettingDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15322More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will introduce advanced disclosure and barring service checks for pedicab drivers.
Answer: The Pedicabs (London) Act 2024, which received Royal Assent on 25 April 2024, confers powers onto Transport for London (TfL) to regulate London’s pedicab industry for the first time. TfL is preparing to consult on these prospective regulations, which will...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric BicyclesDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15321More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with (a) local authorities and (b) organisations that represent local authorities on the use of dockless e-bikes.
Answer: The department works closely with local authorities and their representative organisations to deliver our shared transport objectives. My officials regularly meet with local authority officials to discuss specific transport challenges and better understan...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15320More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to consult on the draft of the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill.
Answer: I refer my hon Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: RegistrationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15319More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13348 on Private Rented Housing: Rents, what her planned timetable is for introducing a registration scheme for short-term lets; and whether
Answer: Parliament legislated for a registration scheme for short-term lets in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, and we are committed to introducing such a scheme as soon as possible. , We will soon publish the government’s response to the 2023 consulta...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSt Mary's Hospital Paddington: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14144More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse per (a) week and (b) month of waiting for the release of (i) design and (ii) planning funding for the rebuilding of St Mary’s H
Answer: While the review into the New Hospital Programme is taking place, requests for funding are being considered on a case-by-case basis.We are finalising the implications of the review for all schemes in the programme so we can be honest and upfront with ever...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHistory: JudaismMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made on establishing a Jewish History Month.
Answer: This Government is committed to celebrating the positive contributions to society made by this country’s faith and belief groups, including our Jewish communities. We are proud of the contribution that Jewish people have made and continue to make to the U...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFlood Re: Cities of London and WestminsterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data his Department holds on the number of residences that are ineligible for Floor Re support due to qualifying policy five in Cities of London and Westminster constituency.
Answer: The department does not hold data on the number of residences that are ineligible for Floor Re support due to qualifying policy five in Cities of London and Westminster constituency. Tenants and leaseholders can however, obtain contents insurance supporte...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric Bicycles: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the number of road traffic incidents which involved bicycles operated by (a) Lime and (b) Forest in 2023.
Answer: The Department does not hold the information requested. The Department collects information on personal injury road collisions reported to police via the STATS19 data collection system. STATS19 data does not require information on whether the vehicle was ...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: RentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13348More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of short-term letting websites on recent trends in private rental prices in Cities of London and Westminster constituency.
Answer: Whilst short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government appreciate that excessive concentrations in some areas of the country can impact the availability and affordability of homes both to rent and buy. We have committed to introducing a regist...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on recent trends in the cost of service charges for leaseholders.
Answer: The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building.By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness o...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFast Food: Delivery ServicesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to improve employment regulation applicable to (a) Deliveroo, (b) Just Eat and (c) other online food delivery companies.
Answer: Online food delivery companies, like all companies, must comply with their legal obligations to ensure those they engage receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled. However, we recognise the complexity of the UK’s current three-tiered e...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordIsrael: UNRWAForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Israeli legislation on the (a) status and (b) operation of UNWRA on the humanitarian situation in (i) Gaza and (ii) the
Answer: As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement to the House on 28 October, the UK is gravely concerned at legislation against United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) passed by Israel's Knesset. This risks mak...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSt Mary's Hospital PaddingtonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) business case status and (b) RIBA stages are for the delivery of work on St Mary's Hospital as part of the New Hospitals Programme.
Answer: The standard process for confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support plannin...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSt Mary's Hospital PaddingtonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding had been (a) allocated and (b) confirmed by Government for the redevelopment of St Mary's Hospital as of 2 July 2024.
Answer: The standard process for confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support plannin...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSt Mary's Hospital PaddingtonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse was of work on St Mary's Hospital via the New Hospital programme in financial year 2023-24.
Answer: The standard process for confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support plannin...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSt Mary's Hospital PaddingtonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the total cost to the public purse of work on St Mary's Hospital via the New Hospital programme.
Answer: The standard process for confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support plannin...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Temporary AccommodationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the National Audit Office report entitled The effectiveness of government in tackling homelessness, published on 23 July 2024, what steps her Department is taki
Answer: The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high and that this can have a devastating impact on those involved. That is why we will take the action needed to tackle this issue and develop a long-term, cross-government strategy working w...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4859More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of utilising unallocated funds from the Housing Infrastructure Fund to directly fund delivery of new social
Answer: The £4.2 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) is now fully allocated to HIF projects. As of the end of June this year, £1.8 billion had been drawn down by local authorities.The Department estimates that HIF has unlocked c260,000 homes. Local Authorit...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the (a) number of homes that have been unlocked by the Housing Infrastructure Fund and (b) number and proportion of those homes that have (i) receiv
Answer: The £4.2 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) is now fully allocated to HIF projects. As of the end of June this year, £1.8 billion had been drawn down by local authorities.The Department estimates that HIF has unlocked c260,000 homes. Local Authorit...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing Infrastructure FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4857More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much of the previous Government’s £4.2 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund remains (a) unspent and (b) unallocated.
Answer: The £4.2 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) is now fully allocated to HIF projects. As of the end of June this year, £1.8 billion had been drawn down by local authorities.The Department estimates that HIF has unlocked c260,000 homes. Local Authorit...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordTemporary Accommodation: Housing BenefitDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will remove the cap on housing benefit subsidy rates for temporary accommodation.
Answer: DWP pays local authorities a Housing Benefit subsidy for temporary accommodation cases. There are restrictions on the amount paid, including a subsidy cap which is £500 per week in certain areas of London or £375 elsewhere. We appreciate these are difficu...
Answered 16 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Departmental CoordinationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made on developing the cross-departmental strategy to end homelessness; and what her planned timeline is for publishing that strategy.
Answer: The Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for cross-governmental coordination of policy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and will update in due course.
Answered 16 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure continuity of payments for disabled people who are (a) about to start and (b) mid-way through migrating from legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
Answer: For DWP customers in receipt of ESA, DWP has agreed to continue to pay customers their legacy benefit for a further two weeks from when their legacy benefit stops to support a seamless continuation of payments. All customers will automatically receive a t...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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