Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is taking forward a comprehensive programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold market. We are working with the Law Commission to make buying a freehold or extending a lease easier, quicker and cheaper – and to reinvigorate Commonhold to provide consumers with a choice of tenure and the Right to Manage to help empower those that wish to, to take on management...
Kelly Tolhurst: The MHCLG £10 million Domestic Abuse Emergency Support Fund aimed to ensure safe accommodation charities, including refuges, could continue to provide support to victims and their children during the pandemic. Charities could apply for funds to create additional temporary provision to meet short-term increases in demand as a result of the pandemic. Charities can now request to extend the...
Kelly Tolhurst: The MHCLG £10 million Domestic Abuse Emergency Support Fund aimed to ensure safe accommodation charities, including refuges, could continue to provide support to victims and their children during the pandemic. Charities could apply for funds to create additional emergency provision to meet short-term increases in demand as a result of the pandemic. We have extended the period for which...
Kelly Tolhurst: The MHCLG £10 million Domestic Abuse Emergency Support Fund aimed to ensure safe accommodation charities, including refuges, could continue to provide support to victims and their children during the pandemic. Charities could apply for funds to create additional temporary provision to meet short-term increases in demand as a result of the pandemic. We have extended the period for which...
Kelly Tolhurst: We recognise the pressures that the pandemic has placed on local authority finances, and are monitoring this closely through monthly financial returns. We are providing local authorities with an unprecedented package of support, including £3.7 billion of unringfenced grants. Local councils can use this funding to respond to pressures in their local area, including for respite services for...
Kelly Tolhurst: Government has taken significant steps, backed by substantial funding to bring forward support and accommodation for rough sleepers. During the pandemic, we have worked closely with local authorities and the sector to offer vulnerable people safe accommodation and support. That work is ongoing and in September we had successfully supported over 29,000 people, with over 10,000 in emergency...
Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for homeowners and ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service. We are taking forward a comprehensive programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold market. In January this year the Law Commission published the first of four reports, on the valuation aspects of enfranchisement, and on 21...
Kelly Tolhurst: We do not currently hold statutory homelessness statistics for the exact period stated. Data for July to September 2020 is expected to be published at the beginning of next year.
Kelly Tolhurst: During the 12 month period ending 30 September 2020 the largest salary increase for any member of staff, whilst working in the same role, within the Department was 21.4 per cent on the previous salary. This equated to £5990 in cash terms.
Kelly Tolhurst: To be eligible for funding through the MHCLG £10 million Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Emergency Support Fund, applicants needed to be charities providing domestic abuse safe accommodation services in England, as stated in the Fund Prospectus, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/file/890420/MHCLG_COVID-19_Em...
Kelly Tolhurst: In total the successful recipients of the MHCLG £10 million Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Emergency Support Fund proposed opening 1546 additional bedpsaces to meet increased demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have extended the period for which applicants can spend their grant funding and deliver their outcome by, and this may result in some changes to initial applications....
Kelly Tolhurst: The MHCLG £10 million Domestic Abuse Emergency Support Fund was open for safe accommodation charities, including refuges, to apply for funding to maintain their existing level of service or create additional temporary beds to meet the anticipated demand resulting from the pandemic. To be eligible for funding, applicants had to commit to meet the standards set out within the MHCLG Quality...
Kelly Tolhurst: Of the successful recipients of the MHCLG £10 million Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Emergency Support Fund, there was one organisation that was a Community Interest Company. We have extended the period for which applicants can spend their grant funding and deliver their outcome by, and this may result in some changes to initial applications. We are therefore unable to provide a breakdown...
Kelly Tolhurst: The MHCLG £10 million Domestic Abuse Emergency Support Fund aimed to ensure safe accommodation charities, including refuges, could continue to provide support to victims and their children during the pandemic. Charities could apply for funds to create additional temporary provision to meet short-term increases in demand as a result of the pandemic. The timescales for additional beds created...
Kelly Tolhurst: This Government is providing support to local leadership with a High Streets Task Force that will give high streets and town centres the expert advice they need to adapt and thrive. Through the Task Force local authorities in England will receive free expert advice to help them evolve their town centres and respond to the impact of COVID-19. These high streets experts have been recruited from...
Kelly Tolhurst: Whilst no specific guidance has been issued to local authorities on engagement with disability organisations, all local authorities are required to uphold the Public Sector Equality Duty. This requires that public bodies, including local authorities, pay due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between persons who share a...
Kelly Tolhurst: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Cummins, on your first day in the Chair. I thank the hon. Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen) for securing this vital debate, and hon. Members for their many contributions. It was powerful to hear about the experiences of the hon. Lady, particularly when she was at school, and the frightening experiences that she was subjected to. Also,...
Kelly Tolhurst: As the hon. Gentleman knows, I speak regularly with my colleagues across Departments when dealing with a whole host of issues that affect the United Kingdom, in particular in my new role as in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. I have only been in post for about three weeks now. I will definitely pass that sentiment on to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Kelly Tolhurst: I commit to doing as the hon. Lady asked. It is important that we remain committed to, and steadfast in standing up for anyone who finds themselves a victim of hate crime or of any hate, because, sadly, our Chinese and East Asian communities are not alone in that experience. We know that bigots are only too happy to spread hatred against Jewish and Muslim communities and others if it suits...
Kelly Tolhurst: The Secretary of State meets regularly with all his ministerial colleagues. We have taken steps to improve access to social housing for victims of domestic abuse. Statutory guidance issued in 2012 encourages local authorities to give additional preference (high priority) to people who require urgent rehousing as a result of domestic abuse, while guidance issued in 2013 advises authorities to...