Question
I thank my hon. Friend for sharing that good news. Chesterfield borough council is keen to assist the Government by achieving those housing targets, but in areas such as Chesterfield where there has been historical industrial blight and coalmining, it is more expensive to complete certain projects than it is in areas without those challenges. Our ability to achieve the housing targets in the east of our town was dependent on the creation of the Staveley bypass, and we were disappointed to hear recently that it would not go ahead at this stage. How is my hon. Friend working with other Departments to ensure that the industrial blight of the past does not make such projects too expensive to proceed with in future?
Answer
I know that my hon. Friend’s council wants to play its full part in our house building ambitions. As he will know, the Government provide financial support for essential infrastructure in areas with the greatest housing demand. While I cannot express an opinion on specific plans or schemes, for reasons that I know he will appreciate, my understanding is that Chesterfield borough council foresaw the site in question coming forward later in the plan period, and in the light of the Department for Transport’s decision in respect of that particular transport upgrade, the authority may need to look again at the allocation when developing its next local plan. However, I would be happy to discuss the matter further with my hon. Friend.
Verdict: RED (8/100)
The question asked how the Minister is working with other Departments to stop historical industrial blight and coalmining costs from making housing too expensive. The reply does not mention coalmining, blight, remediation, or work with other Departments on these legacy costs. Instead it offers generic infrastructure funding for high-demand areas and discusses a specific transport decision, so it answers a different question. The person who asked would most likely need to resubmit the question to get an answer.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the Minister is working with other Departments to ensure that the costs arising from historical industrial blight and coalmining do not make housing projects too expensive to proceed with in future. | Not Addressed | Generic MISREADS QUESTION | The item asks how the Minister is working with other Departments to stop historical industrial blight and coalmining costs from making housing too expensive. The reply never mentions coalmining, blight, remediation, or cross-departmental work on legacy costs. Statement 2 offers only generic infrastructure funding for high-demand areas, and statement 4 concerns a Department for Transport decision on a particular transport upgrade, so the reply answers a different question about a specific site and infrastructure. |