[{"topic":"Housing","id":"44138","proposer":"10521","edm":"6","session":"2012-13","title":"Value Added Tax On Repairs And Maintenance To Existing Buildings","text":"That this House supports calls from the Federation of Master Builders for a reduction in the rate ofVAT to five per cent on building repair and improvement work to existing buildings; believes that reducing VAT on repairs and maintenance to existing buildings would benefit millions of UK home owners by getting rid of rogue builders, helping those who cannot afford vital repairs to their homes, bringing empty homes back into use, and protecting the countryside and UK heritage; considers that reducing VAT to five per cent in this area would also make it easier for home owners to make energy efficient repairs and improvements to their properties, thus helping to make the UK's existing building stock greener and more energy efficient; and notes that, with buildings responsible for 40 per cent of the UK's total carbon emissions, this measure would go some wayto helping the Government to meet its target of a 60 per cent reduction in UK carbon emissions by 2050. ","date":"2012-05-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"43522","proposer":"24715","edm":"2431","session":"2010-12","title":"Housing And Health","text":"That this House welcomes the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) publication, A Foot in the door: a guide to housing and health; supports the NHC's efforts to encourage greater co-operation between housing and health and wellbeing; notes the positive contribution housing makes to improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities; further notes that 1.6 billion in housing-related support generated savings of 3.41 billion to the public purse including 315 million of savings to the health service in a year; and urges local leaders of health and wellbeing servicesto seize this unique opportunity to recognise their housing as a legitimate and fundamental partner in efforts to secure better health and wellbeing for all communities.","date":"2011-11-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"43468","proposer":"10431","edm":"2379","session":"2010-12","title":"Sprinkler Systems In Domestic Properties","text":"That this House notes the wealth of evidence showing that sprinkler systems installed in domestic properties reduce the risk of death and serious injury in the event of a fire as well as reduce the risk to firefighters attending such incidents; further notes that the downward trend of domestic fire deaths has begun to level off and numbers are likely to increase as a consequence of an ageing population; recognises that a modern approach is required to further reduce fatalities; congratulates the Chief Fire Officers' Association and others who seek to raise awareness of the effectiveness of sprinkler systems in reducing fire deaths and injury, reducing the amount of water used by firefighters to control a fire, reducing environmental damage caused by fire, and reducing the economic cost of fire; and calls on the Government to review the current regulations with regards to the installation of sprinkler systems in new residential premises to ensure appropriate evidence is considered including the international evidence and experience of sprinkler systems, the likely impact on fire risk of an ageing population, the impact of sprinkler systems on firefighters and the environmental impact of a reduction in the size of fires.","date":"2011-11-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"43258","proposer":"24904","edm":"2180","session":"2010-12","title":"Royal Institute Of British Architects' Homewise Campaign","text":"That this House believes that England faces a housing shortage with fewer homes being built than the new households that are being formed each year; welcomes the Royal Institute of British Architects' HomeWise Campaign which calls for greater information for homebuyers and renters and establishes the Future Homes Commission to build a comprehensive picture of homes fit for the 21st century; notes the findings of research based on a sample of homes being built by the UK's top eight housebuilders, showing that the average new home currently being built is around eight per cent. smaller than the recommended minimum size set out by the Greater London Authority; and calls on the Government to endorse two key policy recommendations from the report by making it mandatory for energy performance certificates to be made available to consumers at point of market and working with the housebuilding industry to introduce an industry-wide voluntary agreement that housebuilders should publish data about the size and design of new homes.","date":"2011-09-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"43188","proposer":"10527","edm":"2114","session":"2010-12","title":"Homelessness And Squatting","text":"That this House notes research by Crisis showing that 39 per cent. of single homeless people have squatted; acknowledges that conditions in squats are often horrendous; further notes that homeless people who squat are among the most vulnerable in society, with 37 per cent. having mental health problems and 20 per cent. being dependent on alcohol; and calls on the Government to ensure that any reform of the law on squatting does not penalise vulnerable homeless people and to focus on tackling the root cause of the problem by ensuring that no homeless person is forced to squat.","date":"2011-07-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"43039","proposer":"24935","edm":"1970","session":"2010-12","title":"Housing Market Renewal","text":"That this House recognises the important contribution made by the Housing Market Renewal (HMR) programme in regenerating deprived communities; notes the 2.2 billion invested and the additional private sector investment attracted under the programme since 2002; welcomes the contribution the programme made to the 12 pathfinder areas covered under the scheme Birmingham\/Sandwell, East Lancashire, Hull and East Riding, Manchester\/Salford, Merseyside, Newcastle\/Gateshead, North Staffordshire, Oldham\/Rochdale, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, West Cumbria, and Tees Valley; further welcomes the findings of the report by the Audit Commission published in February 2011 that HMR made a substantial contribution to improving housing and economic circumstances in some of the country's most deprived areas; regrets the Government's decision to close the HMR programme with effect from the end of March 2011 just eight years into its anticipated 15 year programme; expresses grave concern at the sudden termination of the programme and the risk of undermining previous investments; further welcomes the Government's announcement on 9 May 2011 to provide 30 million for five of the HMR pathfinder areas; however believes that this level of funding does not compensate those areas for the loss of the wider Housing Market Renewal programme; further notes that other HMR areas will not receive any funding and many residents could be left stranded in desperate circumstances; and calls on the Government to develop a coherent strategy for renewing the housing market and housing for the most deprived areas of the UK.","date":"2011-06-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42883","proposer":"24966","edm":"1817","session":"2010-12","title":"Housing For Former Members Of The Armed Forces","text":"That this House notes the significant contribution that the armed forces make to the UK; recognises the considerable progress being made on this issue following the recent statement to this House on the Armed Forces Covenant; and calls on the Secretaries of State for Defence and Work and Pensions to put in place a system by which former members of the armed forces are given priority in allocation of social housing.","date":"2011-05-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42804","proposer":"10521","edm":"1748","session":"2010-12","title":"Zero Carbon Taskforce And Wwf-Uk","text":"That this House regrets the decision of the environmental charity WWF-UK to resign from the Government's Zero Carbon Taskforce whose remit is to make all new homes zero-carbon by 2016, with the target meaning that such homes would produce no net emissions; acknowledges the criticism made by the charity following the disclosure in documents released by the Government that energy used to power appliances such as televisions, dishwashers and cooking equipment would no longer be included in the regulations; notes that the change was made without any consultation; and calls on the Government to revoke this decision so that the Zero Carbon Taskforce can continue its work towards reaching the previous 2016 targets.","date":"2011-04-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42706","proposer":"24904","edm":"1653","session":"2010-12","title":"Consumer Confidence In Microgeneration","text":"That this House notes that the introduction of the Feed-In Tariff has significantly increased consumer interest in generating their own electricity, and that the Renewable Heat Incentive will have the same effect on the market for low carbon heat; further notes that as 25 per cent. of our carbon emissions comes from our homes, microgeneration has a vital role to play in meeting our carbon emissions targets, as well as lowering household energy bills and improving the security of our energy supply; further notes that as a new industry, it is important to retain high standards and high levels of consumer confidence in the sector; and recognises the good work of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and other accreditation schemes such as REAL in setting initial standards for the industry, covering all aspects of the customer journey and guaranteeing continued high levels of consumer protection as the industry grows.","date":"2011-03-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42688","proposer":"10096","edm":"1637","session":"2010-12","title":"Green Deal And Microgeneration","text":"That this House notes that the proposed legislation setting up the Green Deal enables microgeneration to be part of this new scheme for making homes more energy efficient and reducing emissions of carbon dioxide; and therefore hopes that, when the details of the Green Deal are published, microgeneration technologies will be part of the final scheme, not only because they can assist with reducing emissions, but also because they can help in alleviating fuel poverty and in increasing public awareness of energy matters.","date":"2011-03-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42689","proposer":"10096","edm":"1638","session":"2010-12","title":"Green Deal And Passive Flue Gas Technology","text":"That this House welcomes the support of the Minister for Climate Change, the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle, for passive flue gas heat recovery devices, an innovative British technology that utilises the waste heat from boilers to provide hot water; notes that the proposed legislation setting up the Green Deal scheme enables this technology to be part of Green Deal; and hopes that when the details of the scheme are published they will include this technology, not only because it can assist with reducing emissions, but also because it can help in alleviating fuel poverty.","date":"2011-03-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42636","proposer":"24892","edm":"1589","session":"2010-12","title":"Housing Finance","text":"That this House welcomes the provisions in the Localism Bill to end central control and redistribution of council housing finance and to enable councils to manage their housing stock for the benefit of local residents; urges the Government to recognise that the maximum local freedom and control will be most conducive to councils' ability to maintain existing housing and provide new homes; and therefore calls on the Government to remove from the Bill any powers for controls on borrowing beyond the well-established and successful prudential code and to allow local authorities to keep 100 per cent. of right to buy receipts for reinvestment locally.","date":"2011-03-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42642","proposer":"24784","edm":"1545A1","session":"2010-12","title":"Squatting","text":"at end add `with the exception of the squat in the house of Saif al-Gaddafi in North London'.","date":"2011-03-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42596","proposer":"24889","edm":"1545","session":"2010-12","title":"Squatting","text":"That this house believes that squatting should be criminalised.","date":"2011-03-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42558","proposer":"11923","edm":"1519","session":"2010-12","title":"Ambleside Community Enterprise","text":"That this House welcomes Ambleside Community Enterprise's bid to bring affordable local housing to Ambleside; recognises the need for affordable housing in Cumbria; and calls for Cumbria County Council to sell the land at a cheaper rate to Ambleside Community Enterprise so that it can be developed at a reasonable price for local people.","date":"2011-03-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42470","proposer":"24966","edm":"1441","session":"2010-12","title":"Places For People Group Actions At Mearsbeck Apartments Morecambe","text":"That this House notes that the managing agents of the Mearsbeck Apartments are Places for People Group; further notes that the apartments were refurbished in 2006 at a cost of 240,000 but thatall the patio doors and a boiler have had to be replaced already; believes that Places for People has undertaken substandard work; further believes that the residents should not be paying for the mistakes of their managing agents; deplores the 134 per month service charges that have resulted from the poor management by Places for People; and calls on them to cut the service charges at once.","date":"2011-02-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42288","proposer":"24953","edm":"1273","session":"2010-12","title":"National Housing Federation And Breaking The Mould Project","text":"That this House notes the National Housing Federation's 75th anniversary and welcomes its Breaking the Mould project which seeks to enhance older people's housing care and support; however notes with concern that 70,000 older people are urgently in need of appropriate affordable housing with support, a figure which is expected to quadruple to at least 300,000 by 2019; further notes that just over one million older people in the UK always or often feel lonely; agrees that older people's housing, care and support should be fully recognised in local housing strategies; and urges local and national partners to meet the needs and aspirations of older people.","date":"2011-01-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42062","proposer":"24784","edm":"1072","session":"2010-12","title":"Electrical Safety And Residual Current Devices","text":"That this House welcomes the Plug into Safety campaign recently launched by the Electrical Safety Council, the UK's only charity dedicated to electrical safety, to increase awareness and use of residual current devices (RCDs) in domestic properties across the UK; notes that RCDs are safety devices that switch off electricity automatically if a dangerous fault develops; further notes that expert studies by the industry indicate that over 50 per cent of private rented accommodation lacks RCD protection and that if installed RCDs could prevent up to 20 per cent of domestic fires of electrical origin, over 4,000 annually, from starting and avoid the vast majority of deaths, on average one a week, from electrocution and electrical fires; and therefore calls for greater public attention to be given to electrical safety and the key role that RCDs can play.","date":"2010-11-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"42044","proposer":"10009","edm":"1054","session":"2010-12","title":"Naea Licensing Scheme For Estate Agents","text":"That this House welcomes the launch of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) licensing scheme for its members; supports the NAEA's stance in raising standards and professionalism in the estate agency industry; recognises that ethical and qualified estate agents are a presence and respected voice on Britain's high streets; believes that qualified agents help guide consumers through the complicated process of buying or selling property; notes with concern that there is no barrier to anyone setting up and practising as an estate agent; and calls on consumers to look for the NAEA logo when buying or selling a property.","date":"2010-11-18","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"41921","proposer":"10527","edm":"934","session":"2010-12","title":"Retirement Development Service Charges","text":"That this House notes with concern the report published by Age UK on 4 October 2010 regarding private retirement developments; further notes that too many older people are facing ever-increasing service charge bills, leading to anxiety and a risk to financial security; is concerned by the high fees levied on residents who wish to sell or rent their property; and calls on the Government to simplify the procedure by which leaseholders can challenge their unfair leasehold terms and to review and regulate the private retirement sector to bring an end to all unscrupulous companies.","date":"2010-11-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"41904","proposer":"10754","edm":"917","session":"2010-12","title":"Park Home Owners Justice Campaign","text":"That this House congratulates Sonia McColl for organising the national Park Home Owners Justice Campaign lobby on 3 November 2010; welcomes the Government's commitment to residential property tribunals; believes that access to justice without having to go to court will be very helpful for park home owners to resolve certain disputes with park home site owners; but believes that further protection and legislation will be required as residential tribunals will not stop park home site owners from interfering with the sale of park homes.","date":"2010-10-28","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"41790","proposer":"13864","edm":"824","session":"2010-12","title":"Housing For Ex-Service Personnel","text":"That this House recognises the great sacrifice given by serving soldiers; believes that after being discharged from the armed services they should be granted priority status for housing; and calls on the Ministry of Defence to work closely with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to ensure that appropriate housing points are apportioned.","date":"2010-10-13","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"41650","proposer":"10428","edm":"690","session":"2010-12","title":"Energy Security And Green Economy Bill","text":"That this House is aware that poorly insulated and heated homes make people ill, cost a lot to heat and contribute to climate change emissions; recognises that today in Britain overfour million households live in fuel poverty with this situation especially bad in the private rented sector; believes that to combat such unacceptable scenarios, it is now time to set legal minimum energy efficiency standards in all rented homes to ensure their tenants are protected from such poverty, high energy bills and poor health; and calls on the Government to include in its forthcoming Energy Security and Green Economy Bill measures to restrict the letting of properties which have unacceptable low energy performance levels, introduce beneficial tax incentives to improve energy efficiency in rented properties and give local authorities the right to know the energy ratings of all rented properties in their area.","date":"2010-09-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"41637","proposer":"10521","edm":"678","session":"2010-12","title":"Housing For Members Of Hm Armed Forces","text":"That this House urges the Government to implement recommendations based on the findings of a poll commissioned by The Royal British Legion just before the 2010 General Election which stated that 84 per cent. of the public wanted bringing armed forces accommodation up to the highest standard to be a top priority for the new Government, a conclusion which endorses the Legion's `Time to do your bit' manifesto to all election candidates to show their support for the armed forces, which included a specific call for thenew Government `to bring all single and family accommodation up the highest standard within the lifetime of the next parliament.'","date":"2010-09-06","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"41187","proposer":"10222","edm":"264","session":"2010-12","title":"National Housing Federation's Save Our Villages Campaign","text":"That this House is deeply concerned about the desperate shortage of affordable housing in rural areas; recognises that without sufficient affordable housing many lower income earners and young people will be forced to leave the countryside, putting local businesses and services under further threat of closure; notes the lack of research about the true level of rural housing need; and therefore supports the National Housing Federation's Save Our Villages campaign calling on the Government and local authorities to ensure that every rural ward is assessed for housing need every three years and is covered by an action plan to address that need.","date":"2010-06-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"41178","proposer":"24825","edm":"255","session":"2010-12","title":"Mention The Housing Crisis Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the mention the housing crisis campaign; notes that two million households are predicted to be on housing waiting lists by 2011 and that over two million vulnerable children are living in unsatisfactory housing; further notes that, in March 2010, the current housing minister said `We will put our proposals to a very simple test: have we built more homes?'; further notes that poor quality, overcrowded housing damages children's educational attainment and subsequent earnings potential and that according to research commissioned by the National Housing Federation, health problems relating to poor housing cost the country nearly 2.5 billion a year in treatment and time off work; urges the Government not to ignore the housing crisis; and calls on the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to safeguard the building of social rented and affordable homes in the forthcoming spending review.","date":"2010-06-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"40945","proposer":"10527","edm":"31","session":"2010-12","title":"Smoke Detectors And Fire Safety","text":"That this House notes that the number of fatalities from fires in dwellings has fallen by a quarter since 1999 but that there are still on average five fatalities a week; further notes with concern that approximately one quarter of social homes do not have smoke alarms; calls on the Government to strengthen legislation to ensure all local authority and registered social landlord properties have mains-powered smoke detectors on each floor and that privately rented properties have working smoke detectors at the commencement of any tenancy agreement; and further calls on the Government to increase its efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of smoke detectors.","date":"2010-05-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"40653","proposer":"10084","edm":"1027","session":"2009-10","title":"Port Of London Authority And Boat Home Owners","text":"That this House expresses concern at the inconsistent charging structure applied by the Port of London Authority (PLA) for river works licences for boat home owners; expresses concern that boat home owners believe that the PLA targets the weakest and most vulnerable to use as examples in disputes with marinas who have greater, collective, resources and are able to go to arbitration; condemns the fact that excessive charge increases, sometimes as much as 300 per cent., put pensioners and families on low and subsidised incomes at risk of losing their homes; expresses concern that the PLA is abusing its monopoly powers; further condemns the PLA for introducing confidentiality clauses in agreements and lacking transparency around decision-making; and urges the PLA to take immediate steps to introduce a fairer charging policy aligned to the Retail Price Index.","date":"2010-03-05","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"40502","proposer":"11869","edm":"893","session":"2009-10","title":"Taunton Deane Development","text":"That this House opposes the targets for new housing building being imposed on Taunton Deane by central Government; regards them as unrealistic in the current economic climate; further regards them as undesirable due to their adverse impact on rural Somerset, including the green wedges that bring the countryside into central Taunton; believes that excessive development will put undue pressure on road networks and key local public services; regrets the invidious position that councillors from all political parties are put in by being legally forced to identify land for development even when they have legitimate concerns about its suitability; emphatically recognises the need for practical levels of new development, especially of affordable housing, but wishes this growth to be organic rather than based on top-down targets and sensitive to the requirements of Taunton Deane as identified by the people who live in and represent the area; and urges cross-party agreement to suspend imposed national and regional development targets and replace them with a sustainable model of house building which is proportionate in scale, fosters natural communities and respects the attractions of the countryside.","date":"2010-02-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"40312","proposer":"11522","edm":"721","session":"2009-10","title":"Boiler Scrappage Scheme","text":"That this House notes with approval the boiler scrappage scheme and the endeavour against climate change which is its motivation; recognises that in its current form some people who are forced to run expensive and inefficient boilers are ineligible for the scheme; and calls on the Government to reappraise the scheme so that the most inefficient boiler systems are eligible for the scheme, irrespective of the means by which they warm the home.","date":"2010-01-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"40252","proposer":"10177","edm":"663","session":"2009-10","title":"Older People, Housing And The National Housing Federation","text":"That this House acknowledges that quality housing, care and support can enhance older people's ability to live independently and well; expresses concern that just over one million older people in the UK always or often feel lonely; notes that 2.8 million older people are in need of care and that this figure will double in 2025; agrees with the National Housing Federation that older people's housing care and support must be fully recognised in local housing strategies, leading to long-term certainty over the provision of older people's support; and welcomes the launch of the Federation's In Your Lifetime report.","date":"2010-01-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"40238","proposer":"10552","edm":"653","session":"2009-10","title":"Home Heat Helpline","text":"That this House notes the recent period of cold weather and the upward trend in energy costs; further notes the difficulties that many people have had heating their homes this winter; and welcomes the ongoing and important work of the Home Heat Helpline in advising people who are worried about the cost of heating their homes.","date":"2010-01-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"39975","proposer":"10459","edm":"411","session":"2009-10","title":"Park Homes And Fuel Poverty","text":"That this House notes park home residents across the country are particularly susceptible to fuel poverty; further notes that because of the nature and classification of park homes they cannot currently benefit from fuel poverty and other energy efficiency programmes; believes this places park home residents in a particularly vulnerable position; welcomes the recent investment in trials to establish the technical feasibility of products to reduce fuel costs in park homes; and calls on the Government to commit to introducing quickly these products if the pilot studies are successful and reclassify park homes to enable residents to access affordable warmth, improve their living standards and bring them more in line with the benefits and safeguards in place for more traditional homes.","date":"2009-12-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"39954","proposer":"11324","edm":"392","session":"2009-10","title":"Affordable Rural Housing","text":"That this House is deeply concerned about the shortage of affordable housing in rural areas and the threat it poses to the viability of rural communities; notes that the average price of a home in the countryside is now around \u00a340,000 more than in urban areas, pricing many lower income earners and young people out of the communities in which they work and were brought up; believes that in order for the shortage to be addressed, local authorities must be fully aware of housing need in each of their rural wards; supports calls by the National Housing Federation and the Countryside Alliance for the Government to ensure that local authorities and their residents have easy access to all relevant national and regional data about rural housing need in their area; and calls on the Government, in conjuction with local authorities, to make the provision of affordable rural housing a priority.","date":"2009-12-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"39938","proposer":"10096","edm":"377","session":"2009-10","title":"Microgeneration Strategy","text":"That this House welcomes the publication of the Microgeneration Manifesto drawn up by the Micropower Council, which recommends that the Government defines a clear, simple access route to all available support and information for householders in order to facilitate a comprehensive energy efficiency and microgeneration retrofit programme for all homes, including those in the private rental sector; notes that the press release by the Department of Trade and Industry of 12 December 2005 stated that microgeneration could, with the right policy support, provide between 30 and 40 per cent. of UK electricity needs and contribute 15 per cent. towards carbon dioxide savings by 2050; further notes that a study by the Sustainable Consumption Round Table showed that consumers become more energy-aware as a result of installing microgeneration; and hopes that the policies in the Microgeneration Manifesto will form the basis of a new microgeneration strategy and of the energy policy of both this Government and the next.","date":"2009-12-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"39886","proposer":"12005","edm":"326","session":"2009-10","title":"National House-Building Council Health And Safety Awards 2010","text":"That this House welcomes the National House-building Council (NHBC), the UK house-building standard setter and warranty provider, establishing the new health and safety awards which recognise and promote best on-site health and safety practice in the house-building sector; notes that on average there are 15 fatalities on Britain's house-building sites each year; further notes that history shows that as the UK emerges from recession, the number of on-site accidents in the house-building sector rises; recognises that the NHBC award scheme is the only scheme of its kind for house-builders; commends builders who invest in on-site health and safety and who provide a safe working environment; and hopes that their efforts will be recognised by these awards.","date":"2009-12-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"39871","proposer":"10295","edm":"311","session":"2009-10","title":"Stamp Duty","text":"That this House notes that the current exemption from stamp duty on properties valued at \u00a3175,000 or less is due to expire on 31 December 2009; recognises the importance of the current exemption in helping stimulate the housing market which has witnessed rising prices for the past seven months; further notes the need to continue helping families and individuals to buy property in the current economic climate; and urges the Government to extend the stamp duty exemption in order to stimulate the housing market further and to help the economy grow in 2010.","date":"2009-12-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"39806","proposer":"10527","edm":"263","session":"2009-10","title":"Smoke Detectors And Fire Safety","text":"That this House notes that the number of fatalities from fires in dwellings has fallen by a quarter since 1999 but that there are still on average five fatalities a week; further notes with concern that approximately one quarter of social homes do not have smoke alarms; calls on the Government to strengthen legislation to ensure all local authority and registered social landlord properties have mains-powered smoke detectors on each floor and that privately-rented properties have working smoke detectors at the commencement of any tenancy agreement; and further calls on the Government to increase its efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of smoke detectors.","date":"2009-11-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"39307","proposer":"11345","edm":"2076","session":"2008-09","title":"Boiler Scrappage Scheme And Reheat Britain Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Reheat Britain campaign for a boiler scrappage scheme that would support existing jobs for plumbers, builders and suppliers suffering during the recession as well as creating new green jobs and training places; notes that a household could save more than \u00a3200 a year in gas bills with a new boiler and that by replacing just some of the 4.5 million inefficient boilers, thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions could be saved every year as well as supporting British manufacturers; and calls on the Government to support this scheme.","date":"2009-10-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"38753","proposer":"11324","edm":"1575","session":"2008-09","title":"NATIONAL HOUSING FEDERATION'S SAVE OUR VILLAGES CAMPAIGN","text":"That this House is deeply concerned about the desperate shortage of affordable housing in rural areas; recognises that without sufficient affordable housing many lower income earners and young people will be forced to leave the countryside, putting local businesses and services under further threat of closure; notes the lack of research about the true level of rural housing need; and therefore supports the National Housing Federation's Save Our Villages campaign calling on the Government and local authorities to ensure that every rural ward is assessed for housing need and covered by an action plan to address that need every three years.","date":"2009-06-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"38698","proposer":"11917","edm":"1528","session":"2008-09","title":"Home Information Packs (No. 2)","text":"That this House believes that home information packs (HIPs) are having an adverse effect on the current housing market; notes with concern the recent evidence that the cost of home information packs is being artificially inflated by pack providers and estate agents; recognises that the housing industry has pronounced them unhelpful for buyers and sellers; further notes that at the end of the first day of marketing last month the National Association of Estate Agents said 65 per cent. of estate agents questioned thought the new arrangements would discourage sellers from putting their homes up for sale, and 89 per cent. did not think they would benefit buyers; further notes that the Government's own statistics had shown that 77 per cent. of people paid no attention to HIPs when deciding whether or not to buy a property; further notes with concern that in many areas of the sale and rental industry the home information pack legislation is being routinely ignored; and calls on the Government to use its powers to suspend home information packs immediately, and then introduce primary legislation to scrap them completely.","date":"2009-05-19","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"38221","proposer":"11245","edm":"1110","session":"2008-09","title":"House Repossessions","text":"That this House notes with concern that house repossessions by lenders rose last year to 46,750 and are still rising; recognises the misery and harm this causes families and society; and therefore calls on the Government to redouble its efforts with lenders to delay and prevent repossessions.","date":"2009-03-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"37911","proposer":"11420","edm":"836","session":"2008-09","title":"Houses In Multiple Occupation","text":"That this House notes that local residents are not consulted when a licence for multiple occupation is given under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 unless planning permission is requested; and proposes that the Government bring forward proposals for legislative changes to require planning permission to be in place as appropriate before a licence for multiple occupation is given.","date":"2009-02-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"37537","proposer":"11245","edm":"512","session":"2008-09","title":"Home Information Packs","text":"That this House is concerned at the current stalling of the housing market and its knock-on effects on local economies; notes that there is uncertainty about the precise impact of home information packs (HIPs) but that the evidence from sellers, buyers and estate agents indicates that HIPs do not represent value for money, are inhibiting the market, increase costs and are ineffective; and therefore calls on the Government to make HIPs voluntary pending further research into their usefulness.","date":"2009-01-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"37483","proposer":"10022","edm":"460","session":"2008-09","title":"Ocean View Properties","text":"That this House is concerned by the business practices of Ocean View Properties; expresses its concern that properties on which Ocean View have taken deposits have failed to materialise, and in some cases have not even secured planning permission; is particularly worried that innocent people have lost millions of pounds having invested in such developments, and have been unable to obtain a refund; and strongly urges the relevant authorities to conduct a full and proper investigation into the business practices of Ocean View Properties and all other associated parties involved.","date":"2009-01-14","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"37366","proposer":"10436","edm":"355","session":"2008-09","title":"Council House Building","text":"That this House points out the urgent need to boost the economy by a massive programme of public investment to improve existing council homes and estates and build a new generation of first-class council housing to provide secure tenancies and low rents, and managed by an accountable landlord of the type the large numbers of people in housing need desire; and calls on Government to stop taking money out of tenants' rents and to ring-fence all rents and receipts within a national housing revenue account, to fully fund allowances to local authorities for the management, maintenance and repair of council homes at level of need, along with a level playing field on gap funding and debt write-off so as to secure the long-term future for council housing, and to provide funding to build new council homes thus allowing authorities to open up their allocation policies once again to the wide range of people on council housing waiting lists so that butchers, bakers, nurses and teachers can live together with young families and pensioners thus returning our estates to the mixed and sustainable communities they used to be, and to provide a sustainable housing policy offering security and stability for the 21st century.","date":"2008-12-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36999","proposer":"10521","edm":"7","session":"2008-09","title":"VAT On Repairs And Maintenance To Existing Buildings","text":"That this House supports calls from the Federation of Master Builders for a reduction in the rate of value added tax (VAT) to five per cent. on building repair and improvement work to existing buildings; believes that reducing VAT on repairs and maintenance to existing buildings would benefit millions of UK home owners by getting rid of rogue builders, helping those who cannot afford vital repairs to their homes, bringing empty homes back into use, and protecting the countryside and UK heritage; considers that reducing VAT to five per cent. in this area would also make it easier for home owners to make energy efficient repairs and improvements to their properties, thus helping to make the UK's existing building stock greener and more energy efficient; and notes that, with buildings responsible for 40 per cent. of the UK's total carbon emissions, this measure would go some way in helping the Government to meet its target of a 60 per cent. reduction in UK carbon emissions by 2050.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"37012","proposer":"11420","edm":"20","session":"2008-09","title":"Parking Outside Residential Property","text":"That this House notes that there are considerable disputes about parking in areas of high housing density; and calls upon the Government to review what statutory procedures should exist to facilitate the resolution of these disputes and the ability of people to park close to their property.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36984","proposer":"10295","edm":"2560","session":"2007-08","title":"Section 106 Monies","text":"That this House is concerned that a number of local authorities are sitting on reserves of section 106 monies; recognises that this money is designated for specific projects such as building affordable properties and community facilities; and calls on local authorities to act now by spending this money to help stimulate local economies and provide much needed housing for people who currently cannot afford to buy their own home and cannot access housing association lists or council properties because of long waiting lists.","date":"2008-11-25","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36815","proposer":"13735","edm":"2420","session":"2007-08","title":"Taxpayer-Owned Empty Properties And Homeless Families","text":"That this House notes that in response to a Written Question asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would make it his policy to take possession of houses and flats on which mortgage-holders with Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley have defaulted and allocate the properties to those on the waiting list for social housing, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury responded saying that these banks `are run at arm's length from the Government, on commercial principles', as announced on 27th October 2008, Official Report, column 789W; further notes that in response to a related Question asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would direct those banks which have received funds from the public purse not to repossess any property in cases where the mortgage holder is unable to keep up payments where the property in question is the mortgage holder's home and solely-owned property, the Economic Secretary referred to the `comprehensive package of measures to ... protect ordinary savers, depositors, businesses and borrowers, and to safeguard the interests of the taxpayer', as announced on 28th October 2008, Official Report, column 888W; believes Ministers are taking insufficient opportunities to ensure that vacated houses and flats now owned by the taxpayer through the \u00c2\u00a3250 billion banking bail-out with public funds, are provided to those currently homeless and on housing waiting lists, which would be a win-win policy; and demands Ministers direct banks in receipt of taxpayers' money to make these properties available to the homeless.","date":"2008-11-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36706","proposer":"10327","edm":"2327","session":"2007-08","title":"Richard Kay, Manchester Property Owner","text":"That this House declares Richard Kay, 287 Middleton Road, Crumpsall, Manchester M8 4LY, to be unfit to be a property owner, since on 30th June 2007 he bought 64 Sandown Street, Manchester M18 8SA from Places for People with a covenant put into the contract of sale that the property be brought back into occupation within nine months of being sold but has flouted that covenant, leaving 64 Sandown Street virtually derelict, not only making the area unsightly but causing considerable expense to a neighbour; and calls on Manchester City Council to take immediate action against this irresponsible person to require him to conform to the covenant without further delay or face condign consequences.","date":"2008-10-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36709","proposer":"10388","edm":"2330","session":"2007-08","title":"Support For Homeowners In Scotland","text":"That this House congratulates the Government for its announcement of new guidance for the judiciary to halt court action on repossessions unless alternative options have been considered; notes that the measures are an important and significant support to homeowners to protect them during the current global economic slowdown; further notes that this guidance sets out steps lenders are expected to take before bringing a claim to court and further notes that it applies throughout England and Wales; and therefore calls upon the Government to ensure that the devolved SNP administration in Scotland is provided with details of this guidance, and is encouraged to implement similar measures so that homeowners in Scotland can be afforded the same protection as those afforded to homeowners in England and Wales by the Labour Government.","date":"2008-10-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36631","proposer":"10436","edm":"2264","session":"2007-08","title":"Council House Building","text":"That this House, recognising that housing starts are falling as private builders fail and housing associations struggle with financial difficulties, points out that the only way to achieve the big house building drive which is essential to stimulate the economy and provide for growing housing need is by bringing councils back into house building on a big scale and enabling them to build the type of housing which is now necessary: public housing for rent on secure tenancies; and therefore emphasises that doing that requires the Government to stop siphoning large sums out of housing revenue accounts, and to end the financial meanness, inducements and bullying used to force councils to privatise their housing stock, to call a moratorium on large-scale voluntary transfers, which are now a drain on both financial markets and government funding, diverting money needed for building to ownership games and to give councils a level playing field with housing associations and the adequate grants they need, not only to build but to repair their 2.8 million council houses, to regenerate the estates as mixed communities, not social dumping grounds, and to achieve the Decent Homes Target by 2010, because only if the Government now abandons its obsession with home ownership and its ideological hostility to councils can a new era of co-operation be initiated without which Government, both local and national, will fail to meet the housing needs of the people.","date":"2008-10-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36649","proposer":"10465","edm":"2282","session":"2007-08","title":"NATIONAL HOUSE BUILDING COUNCIL'S PRIDE IN THE JOB AWARD","text":"That this House congratulates the 410 site managers across the country who have recently been awarded the National House Building Council's (NHBC) Pride in the Job Quality Award for site management; recognises that more than 18,000 site managers compete in the awards which is widely recognised as the most coveted and respected awards scheme in the housebuilding industry; supports the aim of the award in encouraging best practice and driving up standards in the housebuilding industry; and wishes the Quality Award winners luck as they proceed through further rounds of the NHBC Pride in the Job competition.","date":"2008-10-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36607","proposer":"11924","edm":"2257","session":"2007-08","title":"South West Regional Spatial Strategy","text":"That this House expresses its deep concern over the South West Regional Spatial Strategy; is concerned that the local employment, infrastructure, public services and transport networks needed to support this number of homes is not adequately planned for; fears this imbalance will create soulless dormitories with unsustainable levels of commuting; observes that the Secretary of State has altered the latest draft of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) to allow building on green belts; believes that any decisions over house building in the South West should be made by elected local authorities; and urges the Secretary of State to abandon the RSS entirely.","date":"2008-10-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36489","proposer":"10075","edm":"2140","session":"2007-08","title":"Out-Of-borough Placements For Temporary Accommodation","text":"That this House notes the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Code of Practice in respect of the use of out-of-borough placements for temporary accommodation, which is intended to protect both vulnerable, homeless households and communities receiving large numbers of other local authorities' homeless families; further notes the large number of such placements being made by, amongst others, Westminster City Council; expresses concern that the number of such placements is having a serious impact upon the well-being of children and vulnerable adults; and calls upon the DCLG to act swiftly to ensure compliance with its own Code of Practice.","date":"2008-07-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36473","proposer":"10526","edm":"2126","session":"2007-08","title":"Campaign For The Protection Of Rural England And The Kennet Floodplain","text":"That this House welcomes the announcement by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government not to designate the Kennet Meadows south west of Reading within the South East Plan as a strategic development area; notes the strong representations from the Environment Agency, local councillors, and residents regarding the serious risk of flooding should the functional flood plain of the river Kennet be developed; applauds the recent campaign against the inclusion of the Kennet Meadows in the South East Plan; condemns the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England's (CPRE) for attempting to allocate a major housing development on the Kennet floodplain at the Examination in Public; and calls upon the CPRE to explain why it is prepared to countenance the destruction of an important wildlife site and put thousands of homes in the Reading area at risk of flooding.","date":"2008-07-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36431","proposer":"13735","edm":"2084","session":"2007-08","title":"PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF HON. MEMBERS' ACCOMMODATION","text":"That this House believes the debate in the House on 3rd July on the Members Estimates Committee report on pay, expenses and accommodation of hon. Members did not arrive at a solution that will gain public support for the way in which the Additional Costs Allowance is to be allocated in the future; notes that 415 hon. Members have an existing mortgage, the interest on which is paid by the Department of Resources and therefore from the public purse; and further believes that wholesale ownership of these properties is preferable but if this cannot be achieved then hon. Members should be allowed voluntarily to sign over their mortgages to the ownership of this House, and that an allocation officer should then be appointed to ensure that these nationally-owned properties are allocated on the basis of need.","date":"2008-07-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36419","proposer":"11917","edm":"2078","session":"2007-08","title":"Government Policy On Affordable Housing","text":"That this House recognises that Britain is suffering the effects of a housing affordability crisis; highlights new research by Shelter showing that two million households are being pushed to breaking point by unmanageable housing costs; notes that thousands of households are homeless or trapped in damp, dilapidated or overcrowded housing, because they are unable to afford to rent or buy a decent home; emphasises problems faced by the record 1.7 million households on the social housing waiting list, representing four million people; urges the Government to remove its arbitrary targets and Whitehall-driven approach which have led to fewer homes of every type being built in the last decade than either of the previous two decades, an approach which is failing families, first time buyers and the worst off in society; calls on the Government to raise the threshold on stamp duty to \u00c2\u00a3250,000 for first time buyers, meaning that nine out of 10 will pay nothing and to scrap home information packs, preventing needless bureaucracy from further choking the housing market; and encourages the Government to work with communities and local democracy to build homes of all types that the United Kingdom needs.","date":"2008-07-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36244","proposer":"10500","edm":"1922","session":"2007-08","title":"Slum Dwellers","text":"That this House notes that over 900 million people in the world live in slums and that due to a number of factors, including climate change, this figure could rise to almost two billion by 2020; recognises that many slum dwellers lack access to basic services such as water and sanitation, live in hazardous conditions, and are under the permanent threat of eviction; commends Soul Survivor and Tearfund for their Slum Survivor initiative which raises awareness of global poverty amongst young people by simulating life in a slum and raises money for projects in developing countries; and calls on the Government to ensure that faster progress is made towards meeting the global target for improving the lives of slum dwellers, for example by working to agree a new global action plan for water and sanitation.","date":"2008-06-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36182","proposer":"10586","edm":"1830A4","session":"2007-08","title":"Housing Need","text":"after `crisis;', insert `calls on the Government to restore the powers of local authorities to build, manage and maintain homes on a much more substantial scale;'.","date":"2008-06-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"36112","proposer":"11245","edm":"1808","session":"2007-08","title":"Action To Stimulate The Housing Market","text":"That this House notes the continued and serious downturn in house sales and in new mortgages; and urges the Government to freeze stamp duty and to meet industry stakeholders to find additional ways to help stimulate the housing market.","date":"2008-06-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35996","proposer":"10564","edm":"1710","session":"2007-08","title":"Disabled Children And Housing","text":"That this House welcomes the new campaign briefing, Disabled Children and Housing, produced by the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign with the support of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation; recognises the commitment made through the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme to transform the health and social care services available to disabled children and their families; notes that housing issues are not central to this programme; further notes with concern the evidence in Disabled Children and Housing that fewer than half of families with disabled children live in housing suitable to their needs, and that the primary problem for families whose children have all types of disabilities is lack of space; acknowledges the impact of bad housing on the ability of disabled children to develop independent living skills and the physical and mental health of parents; and calls on the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, regional government, local housing authorities and housing providers to respond positively to the recommendations in the briefing in order to provide families with disabled children with housing that meets their needs.","date":"2008-06-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35928","proposer":"10351","edm":"1646","session":"2007-08","title":"LOCK-KEEPERS' RESIDENCES (No. 2)","text":"That this House notes the plans by the Environment Agency to sell 10 of their Thames lock-keepers' cottages on the open market; further notes that a further 12 are to be let to third parties and that many long-standing lock-keepers and their families fear they will be removed from their homes; further notes that previous sales of lock-keepers' cottages have in the past caused problems on other navigations where new owners with little or no interest in the use of the navigation have used the law of public nuisance to restrict the activities of the waterway in the immediate vicinity of the property to the ultimate detriment of other waterway users; believes the sale of the freehold releases only short-term benefits and that a longer-term view should be taken where property divestment is proposed; is concerned that the use of peripatetic lock-keepers will cause delays in cases of emergency or during flooding and will lead to a decrease in public safety; and calls on the Environment Agency to think again.","date":"2008-06-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35897","proposer":"11458","edm":"1619","session":"2007-08","title":"Accommodation For First Year Junior Doctors","text":"That this House notes with concern the Government's proposed removal of free hospital accommodation for new first year junior doctors from August 2008; further notes that medical students graduate with an average debt in excess of \u00c2\u00a320,000 and that adding almost \u00c2\u00a35,000 of accommodation costs will increase the financial burden on medical students as they enter their first year of junior doctor training; is concerned that hugely increasing levels of debt among medical students - made worse by the removal of free accommodation - will mean that medicine will become more about ability to pay than about ability to become a good doctor; believes that the decision to remove free accommodation was taken without proper consultation with junior doctors; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that negotiations begin with the British Medical Association to reach an acceptable agreement.","date":"2008-05-20","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35864","proposer":"10587","edm":"1587","session":"2007-08","title":"LOCK-KEEPERS' RESIDENCES","text":"That this House is concerned about the Environment Agency's proposal to dispose by sale or letting of 22 lock-keepers' homes along the Thames; recognises the importance of lock-keepers being resident in homes adjacent to locks to maintain safety on the river; fears for the welfare of the lock-keepers and their families; and calls on the Government to ask the Environment Agency to re-examine its decision so as to protect this unique part of the nation's river heritage and the tradition of lock-keepers living at the site of locks.","date":"2008-05-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35833","proposer":"11672","edm":"1557","session":"2007-08","title":"Return Of Student Deposits By Educational Establishments","text":"That this House notes with concern that, although educational establishments were exempted from certain provisions of the Housing Act 2004, including deposit protection, if they signed an Approved Code of Practice under section 233 of the Housing Act 2004, a problem remains with educational establishments taking a long time to return deposits and that National Union of Students\/Unipol estimates that over 50 per cent. of deposits taken are not returned to students within two months of their tenancies ending and some take many months; further notes that the time set under tenant deposit protection for the return of a deposit is 10 days; and calls on the Government to require the tenancy deposit protection timescales for the return of students' money to be written into the Approved Code of Practice forthwith.","date":"2008-05-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35834","proposer":"11672","edm":"1558","session":"2007-08","title":"Tenant Deposits In The Private Rented Sector","text":"That this House expresses concern that, although deposit protection was introduced with overwhelming support from April 2007 to protect tenants renting in the private sector on assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs), a significant number of tenants remain unprotected because tenancies where the annual rent exceeds \u00c2\u00a325,000 are outside the protection offered by ASTs; notes that many dwellings let on joint tenancies exceed that \u00c2\u00a325,000 limit, estimated by the National Union of Students\/Unipol at 40 per cent. of all student tenants in London and the South East and 10 per cent. of student tenants throughout the rest of England and Wales; further notes that the threshold of \u00c2\u00a325,000 was set in 1990 to take luxury lets out of AST protection and that had this threshold been indexed to the Retail Prices Index it would now be \u00c2\u00a352,000; and calls on the Government to raise the current AST threshold to \u00c2\u00a352,000 and index it hereafter in order to protect many young and vulnerable house-sharers renting in the private sector, as was originally intended by introducing deposit protection.","date":"2008-05-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35781","proposer":"10619","edm":"1513","session":"2007-08","title":"Red Ash","text":"That this House pays tribute to the six year long campaign of John Birks of Stoke-on-Trent to clarify the policy in respect of sulphate damage to concrete floors laid on sulphate-bearing hardcore; welcomes the Building Research Establishment's guidance in respect of domestic properties built in the period 1945 to 1970; and urges all responsible for implementing building regulations to refer to the RIBA publishing document.","date":"2008-05-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35737","proposer":"12004","edm":"1472","session":"2007-08","title":"New Build Council Houses In Scotland","text":"That this House recognises that the number of council houses built in Scotland since devolution has been negligible; supports the Scottish Government's decision to freeze the right to buy; welcomes the announcement by the Scottish Government that it will invest \u00c2\u00a325 million to build new council houses over the next three years; and supports the Scottish Government's ambition to build 35,000 council houses every year until 2015.","date":"2008-05-01","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35674","proposer":"10578","edm":"1423","session":"2007-08","title":"Standard Definition For Zero-Carbon Homes","text":"That this House believes that if the Government's target of all new homes being zero carbon by 2016 is to be met it is imperative that there must be a uniform definition of what constitutes zero carbon, specifically with regard to the source of heat and power generation; urges the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Treasury to work together to provide clarity in this area to the building industry; calls on the Treasury to lay before the House the definition of a zero carbon home before 31st December 2008; and believes that such definition should be subject to affirmative resolution procedure.","date":"2008-04-24","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35652","proposer":"10754","edm":"1402","session":"2007-08","title":"Smoke Inhalation And Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In The Home","text":"That this House welcomes the WAKE UP campaign sponsored by the fire prevention industry, highlighting the dangers of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning in the home; notes with extreme concern that in the case of smoke inhalation a study revealed that 94 per cent. of children did not wake when a smoke alarm was triggered; further notes that public awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide remains low, with research showing that almost one third of people questioned were unaware of what carbon monoxide is and where it comes from; and calls for greater efforts to be made to ensure that information and advice is provided to the public.","date":"2008-04-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35624","proposer":"10436","edm":"1377","session":"2007-08","title":"Protection For House Buyers","text":"That this House considers that in view of the huge efforts made by the Bank of England and the Government to protect the banks, building societies and lending institutions from the consequences of their own lax lending, it is now time to act to protect those borrowers who are suffering from the consequences of the excessive exuberance and irresponsibility of the financial sector by helping the victims of these financial follies in the way the American Congress is now proposing; and therefore urges the Government to implement quickly some or all of the following strategies: an urgent mandatory three month delay in foreclosures and repossessions to allow reorganisation of the financial affairs of the borrowers on the advice of debt advisers, ensuring that during this period the victims should be paid housing benefit, requiring lending institutions to reduce their claims and interest charges in foreclosure cases, providing government support of the type and on the scale available to first-time buyers to support borrowers in danger of foreclosure to help them to stay in their houses and, as a last resort, when repossession cannot be avoided, encouraging and financing local authorities to buy repossessed houses and add them to their housing stock rather than allowing them to be dumped on the market to depress property prices generally.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35627","proposer":"10578","edm":"1380","session":"2007-08","title":"Complete Life-Cycle Carbon Footprints Of Housing Stock","text":"That this House notes that more than a third of the UK's housing stock predates 1945 and that at current replacement rates it will take several centuries to replace; therefore believes that greater research is needed into evaluating the complete life-cycle carbon footprints of existing housing stock, taking account of energy used in the manufacture of building materials, construction of the home, its efficiency in use, and eventual demolition and recycling or disposal of materials; and urges the Government to investigate the total carbon budgets for renewal and upgrading of existing homes against their demolition and replacement with houses built to higher environmental standards.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35628","proposer":"10521","edm":"1381","session":"2007-08","title":"Service Charges","text":"That this House registers with extreme concern the tendencies of monopolistic companies to impose high service charges on residents to pay for maintenance costs over which they have little or no say; draws particular attention to the performance of Mitie in respect of former Ministry of Defence houses at Colchester which have been sold by Annington Homes; believes that residents should have the right to choose which companies should be engaged to provide maintenance services, and what these services should comprise; and calls on the Government to institute a full inquiry into the levying of service charges with a request that the performance of Mitie and Annington Homes should be the subject of a specific investigation.","date":"2008-04-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35565","proposer":"10777","edm":"1312","session":"2007-08","title":"Housing (S.i., 2008, No. 572)","text":"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Housing - (1) Home Information Pack (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 572), dated 27th February 2008, a copy of which was laid before this House on 6th March, be annulled.","date":"2008-04-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35486","proposer":"10379","edm":"1252","session":"2007-08","title":"Ending Of Mortgage Fixed Rate Agreements","text":"That this House notes that the Financial Services Authority estimates that during 2008 1.4 million borrowers are likely to face higher mortgages following the end of their fixed rate agreements and applauds the joint initiative of the Money Advice Trust and the Council of Mortgage Lenders in disseminating free early advice to these borrowers and highlighting key sources of independent and free confidential advice, such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, Advice UK and Northern Ireland agencies, National Debtline, Shelter and the Consumer Credit Counselling Service.","date":"2008-03-25","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35449","proposer":"10100","edm":"1223","session":"2007-08","title":"Digital UK And Digital Switchover","text":"That this House welcomes the Homes Set for Digital scheme which was launched on 24th January by Digital UK, the organisation leading the process of digital television switchover in the UK; congratulates those housing organisations which have demonstrated that they are committed to providing quality homes and services by preparing their homes in advance of digital television switchover; and calls on other housing organisations from both the private and public sector, including housing providers, as well as managers of residential accommodation to engage with the scheme by registering and applying.","date":"2008-03-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35415","proposer":"10327","edm":"1193","session":"2007-08","title":"Adactus And Spinoza Kennedy Vesey Pr","text":"That this House is astonished to learn that Adactus employs the public relations firm of Spinoza Kennedy Vesey PR to respond to press queries made to this publicly-funded housing association; demands to know how much taxpayers' money is spent on this frippery; and calls on the Housing Corporation and the Housing Minister to conduct an immediate inquiry into how Adactus conducts itself.","date":"2008-03-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35393","proposer":"10327","edm":"1172","session":"2007-08","title":"Adactus Housing","text":"That this House deplores the incompetence and lack of concern of Manchester-based Adactus Housing Association which, informed on 15th January by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of a life-threatening situation affecting a constituent of the right hon. Member, due to the negligence and lassitude of Adactus, and which led to that constituent having to leave his home for his safety, after two months and nine letters from the right hon. Member has still failed to solve the problem and at one time even offered that constituent \u00c2\u00a325-worth of B&Q vouchers as full compensation for his intolerable predicament; and calls on the Housing Corporation not only to intervene urgently to bring an immediate end to this totally unacceptable situation but to conduct an inquiry into publicly-funded Adactus and its publicly-funded staff.","date":"2008-03-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35335","proposer":"10077","edm":"1116","session":"2007-08","title":"Housing And Employment","text":"That this House recalls Article 25 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees everyone the unqualified right to adequate housing irrespective of employment status and welcomes the Government's announcement to build three million new homes; but notes with concern proposals to make the right to access social housing contingent upon the applicant's activities in the labour market; believes that such a policy will place a greater burden on the taxpayer in terms of temporary accommodation costs, increase the already too large number of homeless people, increase poverty among vulnerable groups, and will not tackle barriers that are in place for those trapped in a cycle of unemployment; further notes that such issues as housing benefit regulations act as a barrier for people to access work and that reform is much overdue, that changes in benefit regulation, greater provision of employment advice and support as well as increased low-cost childcare options would help many of those who are currently unemployed enter into the labour market; believes that threatening the tenancies of social housing residents is not an effective solution to tackle unemployment; and calls upon the Government to reject this approach to housing and employment.","date":"2008-03-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35324","proposer":"11170","edm":"1109","session":"2007-08","title":"Capital Gains Tax, Second Homes And The 2008 Budget","text":"That this House notes with concern that the 2007 Budget announced plans to reduce capital gains tax on the sale of second homes to 18 per cent.; further notes that the new tax rate is due to come into force in April; welcomes the decision by the Prime Minister to establish an inquiry into the rural housing crisis; notes with interest the comments of the author of the review, the hon. Member for Truro and St Austell, that local planning authorities should have the power to prevent the purchase of second homes in areas of high housing pressure; further welcomes the comments of the Government's rural affairs adviser that the proposed reduction in capital gains tax on second homes will worsen rural poverty and make property unaffordable; and calls for the Government to scrap its reduction in capital gains tax on second homes in the 2008 budget.","date":"2008-03-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35244","proposer":"10177","edm":"1046","session":"2007-08","title":"Carbon Emissions And New Homes","text":"That this House recognises the need to improve domestic energy efficiency in order to tackle climate change and reduce fuel poverty; welcomes the introduction of carbon reduction targets for new homes; however notes that in line with the Code for Sustainable Homes all new homes built using Government grant are required to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent. from April 2008, 44 per cent. from 2012 and to become zero carbon from 2015, whilst private developers will have until 2010, 2013 and 2016 respectively to meet the same targets; is concerned that if three-quarters of the housing market is allowed to lag behind in this way green technologies will not sufficiently benefit from economies of scale and prices will remain unnecessarily high, deterring product take up and imposing higher building costs on the affordable housing sector; and therefore supports the National Housing Federation's campaign asking the Government to commit private developers to the same environmental standards and timetable as housing associations as soon as possible.","date":"2008-02-26","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35101","proposer":"10614","edm":"920","session":"2007-08","title":"Eco-Towns And Leicester","text":"That this House notes the plans to build an eco-town in the county of Leicestershire adjacent to Leicester City; believes that citizens of Leicester should be properly consulted on any plans of this nature; and calls upon the Government to ensure that any decision made as to the final location of eco-towns should take into account the effects their creation will have on local areas.","date":"2008-02-18","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35062","proposer":"10483","edm":"886","session":"2007-08","title":"Stanhill Village And Barratts Homes","text":"That this House notes the strong sense of community in the village of Stanhill near Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire; welcomes moves to develop derelict land in the village in a sensitive and proportionate way; expresses great concern over plans produced by Barratts Homes to build high density housing on the site; deprecates the fact that Barratts have refused to compromise or make any concessions to the concerns of the villagers at meetings with the hon. Member for Hyndburn, local councillors and the villagers themselves; notes that the root cause for this is Barratts' sole concern with profit rather than any concept of corporate social responsibility; further notes that with operating profits of \u00c2\u00a3507.2 million last year Barratts could have afforded some leeway towards local concerns; believes that this is an example of an arrogant and over-powerful big business trampling on the concerns of local villagers; and commends the people of Stanhill on their well-organised and reasonable campaign for low density development in their village; and wishes them well in presenting their case at the planning inquiry.","date":"2008-02-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35029","proposer":"10436","edm":"853","session":"2007-08","title":"Protection Against Repossession","text":"That this House urges Her Majesty's Government to provide funding to local authorities on the scale necessary to buy up, at market rates, the large and growing number of houses which will be repossessed by building societies and other lenders in this year's credit squeeze and to make the former owners council tenants paying rent, thus adding, at low cost, to Britain's council housing stock, avoiding turning people out onto the street where the council would in any case become responsible for re-housing those with families while at the same time preventing the housing market being swamped and clogged by large numbers of difficult to sell houses being dumped on it.","date":"2008-02-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"35033","proposer":"11189","edm":"857","session":"2007-08","title":"Homes For Our Heroes Campaign","text":"That this House supports the Daily Express Homes for our Heroes campaign; condemns the sale of housing stock by the Ministry of Defence while brave servicemen and women face eviction and homelessness; believes that the Ministry of Defence has a duty of care to ex-service personnel; and calls on Defence Estates to take urgent action to provide greater flexibility and assistance to ex-service personnel, and their families, as they seek alternative accommodation.","date":"2008-02-04","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34958","proposer":"10356","edm":"793","session":"2007-08","title":"Home Improvement Agency Sector","text":"That this House recognises the excellent work of the home improvement agency sector in assisting vulnerable people to live safely and securely in a place of their choosing, as highlighted during the recent Foundations HIA Awards, sponsored by Stannah; welcomes Government support for the sector through confirmation that there will be a national co-ordinating body for the sector for the next three years, and through funding of the Future HIA project; and believes that such agencies have an increasingly important role to play in ensuring that every home is a decent home.","date":"2008-01-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34921","proposer":"10218","edm":"758","session":"2007-08","title":"Old Ford Housing Association And Michele Dennis","text":"That this House expreses its concern over the case of Michele Dennis, a tenant of Old Ford Housing Association and prior to that of Tower Hamlets Council before her housing estate was transferred; notes that Ms Dennis is sadly recently bereaved, having been her late mother's registered carer for 16 years; further notes that in the proposal to tenants to transfer her housing estate Tower Hamlets Council and Old Ford Housing Association promised that tenants would retain their second right of succession but that when Ms Dennis tried to exercise that right upon her mother's death, Old Ford Housing Association gave her a notice to quit and denied that she had a right of succession; is concerned that many other tenants may have similarly believed promises in stock transfer proposal documents only to find that they are not being honoured; expresses its support for Ms Dennis; calls on Old Ford Housing Association to honour its obligations; and further calls on the Government to draw the appropriate conclusions from this tragic case.","date":"2008-01-23","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34875","proposer":"11869","edm":"718","session":"2007-08","title":"Rhianna Hardie And Safe Water Tanks","text":"That this House notes the verdict of the inquest into the death of 18 month old Rhianna Hardie, who was killed in her Taunton council home by boiling water seeping through the ceiling from a faulty water tank system in 2006; condemns the decision of the Health and Safety Executive not to issue safety warnings regarding faulty water tanks in council houses after the death of Sharon Minister in Penzance in 2002 in similar circumstances; recognises that the British Standard implemented since 2004 has increased safety by requiring all newly fitted thermostats in council housing to have a failsafe in the event of it becoming faulty; deeply regrets that the British Standard was not required to be retrospectively implemented and recognises that such an action could have prevented Rhianna's death in 2006; and calls on the Government to legislate to make the retrospective implementation of the British Standard mandatory in all council houses, thereby ensuring that such a tragedy is much less likely to happen again.","date":"2008-01-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34635","proposer":"10492","edm":"502","session":"2007-08","title":"Conduct Of The Hon. Member For Totnes","text":"That this House condemns the comments in the South Devon Herald Express newspaper on 19th November 2007 attributed to the hon. Member for Totnes criticising the idea of allowing local authorities to build new council housing on the grounds that `No one felt any obligation to anybody on these public housing estates, they were hotbeds of crime. It's a very serious, retrograde step'; and calls on the hon. Member either to issue a correction if his comments were wrongly reported or to apologise to the millions of law abiding citizens of this country who have lived, or currently live, on public housing estates, including those in the hon. Member for Totnes' constituency.","date":"2007-12-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34562","proposer":"10777","edm":"430","session":"2007-08","title":"Housing (S.i., 2007, No. 3301)","text":"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Home Information Pack (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., No. 3301) dated 22nd November 2007, a copy of which was laid before this House on 23rd November, be annulled.","date":"2007-11-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34526","proposer":"10295","edm":"404","session":"2007-08","title":"Homelessness","text":"That this House notes that while people enjoy the Christmas period many individuals and families will be left homeless; pays tribute to the work of organisations, such as Shelter and Help the Homeless, who support hundreds of thousands of people every year, supporting those who are homeless, campaigning to raise awareness of the root causes of homelessness and looking to tackle poor quality housing; and calls on the Government to work closely with these organisations to improve the quality of housing and make up for the lack of work done to reduce the incidence of homelessness and look to ensure that adequate housing standards are provided throughout the UK.","date":"2007-11-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34486","proposer":"10076","edm":"366","session":"2007-08","title":"Israeli Settlements In The Occupied Territories","text":"That this House calls for a complete freeze on all Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Territories; welcomes the Israeli announcement to partially freeze settlement construction prior to the Annapolis meeting; however, notes that despite the transfer of Israeli civilians into the Occupied Territories being illegal under international law, the Israeli settler population in the West Bank has grown steadily by around 5.5 per cent. each year to a total of 450,000; acknowledges that this is significantly higher than the population growth rate inside Israel (1.8 per cent.); further notes that Israel has failed to take any action to dismantle the 106 outposts which it accepts are unauthorised; calls on the Government to urge Israel to immediately and permanently cease all settlement expansion in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights, including construction for so-called natural growth and the construction of infrastructure supporting the settlements, bypass roads and the barrier, and the provision of Government subsidies and other incentives for settlers; regards with serious concern the devastating impact on the Palestinians' freedom of movement caused by the settlements which dissect the West Bank into fragmented enclaves; and considers that the settlements are a serious threat to a viable independent Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution.","date":"2007-11-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34488","proposer":"10436","edm":"368","session":"2007-08","title":"Investment In Council Housing","text":"That this House welcomes the Government's new commitment to tackle housing needs; believes that this must include a first-class council housing sector providing secure tenancies, with lower rents and charges and a landlord whom tenants can hold to account as an alternative to ownership and the private housing market and that to achieve this Government must introduce changes to local authority housing finance to enable all local authorities to bring their existing homes up to modern standards, start a new council house building programme and maintain existing and new council housing as first-class housing in years to come; and actively opposes both the stigmatisation of council housing as housing of last resort and proposals to means test or time limit secure tenancies so that local authorities can respect the choice of existing tenants who want to keep the council as their landlord and get their homes and estates improved, house the wide range of people on council housing waiting lists and so return council estates to the mixed communities they were before shortage distorted allocations policies and concentrated deprivation.","date":"2007-11-22","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34463","proposer":"10045","edm":"343","session":"2007-08","title":"Release Of Land For New Housing Developments","text":"That this House recognises the urgent need to address the shortage of homes in this country; recognises the economic and social consequences of unaffordable housing, particularly for first-time buyers; notes that annual land supply for new development fell by seven per cent. between 1997 and 2003; welcomes the Government's commitment to increasing housing supply by three million homes by 2020; applauds the Unlock the Land campaign by Housebuilder magazine, calling for more land to be released for new housing developments; and calls on the Government to ensure that the planning system is used constructively and speedily to release more land to provide the homes necessary to meet the needs of people throughout the UK.","date":"2007-11-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34237","proposer":"11923","edm":"147","session":"2007-08","title":"Second Home Ownership","text":"That this House notes the distortions caused to rural housing markets by high levels of second home ownership, which can exclude local people from buying a home in their own community; further notes that disproportionate second home ownership can lead to critical reductions in demand for local services such as schools, post offices and public transport; and calls for local communities to be given powers to set the right balance for them between affordable and second homes, including amending planning law to make transferring the use of a property from a main home to a second home a formal change of use and to allow local authorities to levy business rates on second homes in their areas.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34242","proposer":"11923","edm":"152","session":"2007-08","title":"Capital Gains Tax And Second Homes","text":"That this House notes with concern the Government's decision to lower the rate for capital gains tax on sales of all property excluding the primary residence, reducing it from a maximum of 40 per cent. and a minimum of 24 per cent. to a flat rate of 18 per cent.; recognises that this could result in a further increase in second home ownership, which is already a serious problem in areas such as Westmorland and Lonsdale, where in some villages up to 75 per cent. of properties are classified as second homes, forcing schools, post offices and other vital local services to close; and urges the Government to reconsider this policy.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34244","proposer":"11923","edm":"154","session":"2007-08","title":"Affordable Homes In Rural Areas","text":"That this House calls on local authorities to take a lead by seeking to solve the lack of affordable homes in rural areas, and the challenges to the viability of farms, by working with farmers, house builders and housing associations in order to make use of disused or underused farm buildings for the exclusive purpose of creating affordable homes for local people.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34125","proposer":"10389","edm":"35","session":"2007-08","title":"Managing Flood Risk","text":"That this House notes that the flooding in the summer of 2007 was a result of a combination of factors including exceptionally heavy rainfall on already saturated land, poor maintenance and dredging of rivers, inadequate drainage to cope with surface water run-off, an increase in the amount of impermeable surfaces, and insufficient flood defences in vulnerable areas; notes that the National Audit Office report found that only 61 per cent. of flood defences were in good condition or better in 2007; recognises the increased number of insurance claims since the flooding in June and July of 130,000 claims, at a total estimated cost of \u00c2\u00a33bn; is concerned that new developments are still being situated in floodplains; is alarmed there is no clear responsibility for surface water flooding; and calls on the Government to work to prevent such catastrophic flooding again by ensuring sufficient drainage, consultation of water companies before a new development takes place, and better co-ordination of decision-making in the event of flooding.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34135","proposer":"10527","edm":"45","session":"2007-08","title":"Government Response To Coastal Town Report","text":"That this House commends the hard work of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee and its Report on Coastal Towns; notes with disappointment the response to the Report by the Government; further notes that the only recommendations the Government has agreed to involve no action by the Government; and believes that the Government has wasted a perfect opportunity to address the common problems faced by a number of coastal towns, including lack of affordable housing, geographic isolation, high benefit uptake and low wage seasonal employment, among many factors highlighted in the Report.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34160","proposer":"10258","edm":"70","session":"2007-08","title":"Affordable Social Housing In The South East","text":"That this House urges the Government to recognise the dire state of affordable social housing supply in the South East region, which is running at less than one third of the regional planning guidance minimum target, and that housing waiting lists in the region have increased by 27 per cent. since 1998, with the use of temporary accommodation increasing by over 97 per cent.; notes that local authority lettings have fallen by 22 per cent.; recognises that house prices have doubled in five years; and therefore calls on the Government to increase substantially investment in affordable social housing in the South East region in order to allow local authorities and housing associations to meet the needs of local people and to promote the long-term health and geographical balance of the local economy.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Housing","id":"34170","proposer":"10713","edm":"80","session":"2007-08","title":"Local Government And The Merton Rule","text":"That this House supports the Merton Planning Rule requiring onsite renewable energy in all major new developments where viable; notes that onsite renewables such as solar hot water, solar photovoltaics, biomass boilers, small wind turbines and ground source heat pumps are proven technologies with rapidly expanding European and global markets; recognises that the UK languishes unnecessarily near the bottom of the European league table of installed micro renewable energy capacity; acknowledges that onsite renewables will need to make a significant contribution to the EU's 2020 20 per cent. renewable energy target if that target is to be met in the UK; congratulates forward thinking councils for adopting and implementing local planning rules requiring onsite renewable energy in new developments; believes that the Merton rule makes the delivery of the Government's 2016 zero carbon homes timetable more rather than less likely; and therefore urges ministers to ensure that the rights of local planning authorities to set borough-wide Merton rules and other local energy efficiency and renewable energy planning requirements are promoted unambiguously in the forthcoming Climate Change PPS.","date":"2007-11-06","status":"c"}]