A brief summary of current government consultations of potential interest to RSN members. This is not intended as an exhaustive list of all relevant consultations.

- Download a printable version of the Government Consultations here

Consultation on local connection requirements for social housing for victims of domestic abuse – Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

During the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 concerns were raised relating to local connection tests for domestic abuse victims who apply for social housing.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities is seeking views on:

• Proposals to introduce regulations to enable victims of domestic abuse who need to move to another local authority district to qualify for an allocation of social housing in the new area, and;
• How local authorities are making use of the existing legislation and guidance to support victims of domestic abuse who wish to move within and across local authority boundaries.

This consultation closes on 10 May 2022.

Consultation on local connection requirements for social housing for victims of domestic abuse - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Consultation on the impacts of joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse – Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

During the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, concerns were raised over the current rules on joint tenancies, which mean that victims of domestic abuse who are in a joint tenancy with their abuser can be vulnerable to the threat of being made homeless by their abuser. Should the victim want to stay in the family home, there is currently no straightforward means to remove the abuser from the tenancy and remove the risk of homelessness.

The government has been considering these issues and this consultation aims to enable them to better understand the complex legal and practical issues.

The Department is seeking views on the impacts of the law on joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse in the social rented sector. They are interested in whether:

• perpetrators are using their ability to end a joint tenancy to threaten the victim with homelessness;
• victims feel trapped in their joint tenancy with the perpetrator;
• the current guidance for social landlords is sufficient to support victims in joint tenancies; and
• the law on transferring joint tenancies is functioning successfully for victims.

Government are gathering evidence from victims, landlords, the legal profession, advisory services and other organisations and individuals associated with the domestic abuse sector with an understanding of the issues impacting victims in joint social housing tenancies.

This consultation closes on 10 May 2022.

Consultation on the impacts of joint tenancies on victims of domestic abuse - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Landscapes review (National Parks and AONBs): implementing the review – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Government want to know what you think about their response to the landscapes review.

Implementing some aspects of the response to the review will require changes to legislation, subject to securing parliamentary time. Government are seeking public views on support for these proposed legislative changes, and their potential effects on different groups and interests. They are also interested to hear any wider views on other aspects of our response to the review.

This consultation closes on 9 April 2022.

Landscapes review (National Parks and AONBs): implementing the review - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Low carbon fuel strategy: call for ideas – Department for Transport

Government are asking for feedback on the priorities to be addressed in the development of a long-term low carbon fuels strategy for the transport sector. They are seeking views on the:

• areas to be addressed
• approaches to be taken
• ideas regarding procedure and practice

This call for ideas:

• summarises the progress to date in this area
• looks at some of the broad opportunities and challenges for low carbon fuels in the transport sector

The creation of low carbon fuels across different transport modes in the period up to 2050 was part of the Transport decarbonisation plan.

This consultation closes on 3 April 2022.

Low carbon fuel strategy: call for ideas - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Mobility as a Service: code of practice – Department for Transport

Government are seeking views on the content that could be included in a mobility as a service (MaaS) code of practice.

They are proposing that a MaaS code of practice could be used to:

• provide guidelines for new entrants to the market and incumbent MaaS platform providers to aid navigation around the relevant legislation
• support new businesses in the MaaS industry to make decisions in line with government goals
• encourage MaaS platform providers to include carbon data for each route offered, helping consumers choose lower carbon journeys
• provide best practice examples of MaaS solutions
• assist local authorities in developing or considering MaaS platforms to operate in their areas, developing local solutions that build on nationally agreed standards

They want to gain further evidence on the development of the content of the code of practice.

This consultation closes on 3 May 2022.

Mobility as a Service: code of practice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Enabling or requiring hydrogen-ready industrial boiler equipment: call for evidence – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Government state: “Hydrogen-ready industrial boilers have the potential to help industry decarbonise and kick start the UK hydrogen economy. They can run on fossil fuels today but are designed for subsequent conversion to hydrogen, enabling industry to transition to a low carbon future.”

The call for evidence covers these main areas:

• how hydrogen-ready should be defined
• whether hydrogen-ready boiler equipment would enable cheaper and?faster fuel switching
• whether government should take action to encourage?hydrogen-ready?boiler?equipment.
• the role of the supply chain and how best to maximise the?economic opportunities for the UK

This consultation closes on 14 March 2022.

Enabling or requiring hydrogen-ready industrial boiler equipment: call for evidence - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)