Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Applicants for electoral registration in Great Britain are required to provide a National Insurance number or, if they are not able to do so, the reason they cannot provide it. The applicant’s National Insurance number is checked to confirm that the details provided match those on record at DWP for that National Insurance number.

Since the introduction of the online absent vote application services in 2023, National Insurance numbers are also collected as part of postal vote applications. This acts to ensure that the person making the application is the same individual entitled to apply for the postal vote. While they are not yet a requirement for applications for postal votes for devolved elections in Scotland and Wales, this requirement will be introduced following passage of the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Act 2025.

The provision of a National Insurance number is compulsory for electoral registration in Northern Ireland. Postal vote applications in Northern Ireland are checked against information held on the register, including the National Insurance number.

National Insurance numbers are not used for the submission of completed postal votes.

Decisions on how their resources are best deployed to meet their core functions are a matter for each fire and rescue authority. Standalone FRSs will see an increase in Core Spending Power (CPS) of £87.51m in 2026/27 compared to 2025/26 from government. This funding will provide a minimum 3.8% increase in CSP for all standalone services in 2026/27, with some services seeing increases of over 7% in CSP.

The Government recognises the increasing risk posed by wildfires and the importance of a coordinated, cross-government approach to prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. It is why we have funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor since 2024 to assess what additional wildfire national capabilities might be needed to increase resilience to the wildfire risk and to ensure coordination of approaches across the sector.

To strengthen government response, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have established joint arrangements to oversee work on wildfire risk anticipation and assessment, preparedness, prevention, response and recovery.

Each Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) is required to plan for the foreseeable risks in their area (including wildfire), through their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) and having regard to the views of other key local responders.

To bolster this resource, as part of the New Dimensions 2 programme, the government has recently announced the launch of the national wildfire response capability at the end of June. The pilot will place specialist firefighters in key areas across the country ready to respond to wildfires across England, enhancing local response arrangements. The teams are equipped with state-of-the-art kit and have undergone intense training - taking on latest tactics and response strategies drawn from international best practice.

The government also recognises that good communication can shape public behaviour to help decrease the chances of a wildfire occurrence. The government publishes social media messaging around periods of high wildfire risk and including wildfire as part of Cabinet Office’s newly developed Resilience Website. Officials are also exploring other ways to expand the use of MHCLG’s Fire Kills campaign to deliver targeted messages and resources to the public.

MHCLG is also aware that Defra encourages landowners and land managers to adopt good quality wildfire management plans, as well as using sustainable methods to manage habitat and restore their peatland. Defra with its executive agencies, Arms Length Bodies (ALBs), and through the Protected Landscapes, encourage landscape scale land management to help increase wildfire resilience.

The Department has had no discussions with, and received no representations from, Labour Together / Think Labour in relation to proposals for compulsory voting.

This Government has placed the empowerment of local leaders at the heart of its agenda. Local authorities are responsible for delivering growth and regeneration in their areas, drawing on their understanding of local needs and priorities. Where schemes receive Government funding, the Department monitors delivery against agreed funding conditions. Any action taken in response to delays will depend on the specific circumstances and the terms of the relevant funding agreement.

The UK Government takes attempts by any country to intervene in democratic processes very seriously. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral processes, including from covert political funding.

The National Security Act 2023 provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats, including interference. Amongst other things, it is illegal for foreign states to engage in conduct that interferes with our elections and other political processes. The Act also provides for the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS). The scheme’s aims are twofold: firstly, to strengthen the resilience of the UK political system against covert foreign influence and, secondly, to provide greater assurance around the activities of specified foreign powers or entities who pose a national security risk to the UK.

In addition, as set out by the Security Minister in Parliament on 4 March, under the counter-political interference and espionage plan, officials are developing a programme of work to engage with the UK’s think-tanks and non-profit sector to discuss the threats that they face from foreign interference.

In December 2025, the Secretary of State commissioned former permanent secretary Philip Rycroft to lead an independent review into foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. The government is committed to responding formally and in full to the Rycroft Review in advance of the Commons report stage of the Representation of the People Bill.

MHCLG provides various funding streams exclusively to Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSA), including:

• Mayoral Capacity Fund (MCF): the Department allocated approximately £44 million to MSAs in 2026-27 through MCF. Approximately £3 million of this funding is subject to local consent to establish MSAs in Greater Essex and Norfolk and Suffolk. Further information on allocations for the Spending Review period is available here.
• Investment Funds: MHCLG has allocated approximately £522 million to MSAs in 2026-27 through Investment Funds. Approximately £32 million of this funding is subject to local consent to establish MSAs in Greater Essex and Norfolk and Suffolk.
• Integrated Settlements (IS): MHCLG has allocated approximately £3.6 billion to MSAs through the IS in 2026-27, rising to £4.3 billion in 2028-29. Some of the funds consolidated within the IS are also provided to non-MSA areas. Further information is available here.
• Local Growth Fund (LGF): MHCLG has allocated £202 million to MSAs through the Local Growth Fund in 2026-27, rising to £262 million in 2028-29. For areas with an Integrated Settlement, this funding is delivered via the Integrated Settlement. Further information is available here.
• Mayoral Revolving Growth Fund (MRGF): MHCLG will also provide £500 million to MSAs through the MRGF. Further information is available here.

To understand the funding given to MSAs more fully, information is outlined in each MSA annual report. Other government departments will hold the information on funding they provide.

The payment to Mills & Reeves LLP was for legal advice received in relation to a legal challenge from an unsuccessful supplier following the procurement for Local Government Cyber Security.

The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.

Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.

In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service. GPC card may be used for localised trials of AI products to a small, controlled group of internal technical users. This spend is tightly governed and details published externally in accordance with GPC spend guidelines.

AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes.

Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).

Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is procured through existing cross‑government commercial arrangements and is used to support productivity, improve access to information, and enhance the efficiency of day-to-day business operations.

The Department has established governance and assurance processes to ensure the safe, proportionate and responsible use of AI, including guidance for staff, and oversight of how tools are applied in practice.

In specialist Digital and Data Science teams the use of Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude and OpenAI GPT models is also permitted for small, controlled groups of technical users using non-contractual purchase methods. This spend is tightly governed and details published externally as appropriate.

The Anti-Muslim Hatred/ Islamophobia Working Group launched a Call for Evidence which closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence. The government does not routinely publish the details of individual respondents to calls for evidence.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 8085 on 16 June 2026.

The £18m Playgrounds Fund is a targeted programme to improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high‑quality local play spaces in communities where it has fallen furthest behind. This investment in playgrounds reflects the Government’s commitment to give children the best start in life. At this stage, we have no current plans to expand the Playgrounds Fund to additional local authorities.

The government recognises that markets can make a significant contribution to the vibrancy and diversity of our high streets and town centres. It is for local authorities, not central government, to make decisions on running, supporting and investing in local markets in their areas.

We are supporting local authorities in England through the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Spending Review 2025 provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on.

Later this year, we will also bring forward a High Streets Strategy, backed by £301 million of support, to help turn the tide on the high streets most in need.

The government is committed to taking action against illicit activity on high streets.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement (⁠HCWS32) made on 19 May 2026. I also refer the hon. Member to the Westminster Hall Debate on High Street Shops: Illicit Activity on 17 June 2026 (Volume 787, Column 383WH).

The government is equipping local authorities with the tools to help businesses succeed. Through our devolution agenda, we are empowering local authorities and Mayoral Strategic Authorities with greater responsibility for driving local economic growth. Local leaders will be able to set long-term priorities through Local Growth Plans, and identify the support needed to help businesses start, grow and thrive. The economic outlook for Local Growth Plans was developed through collaboration with local partners, such as engagement with business.

We are also working in partnership with local authorities to deliver support to businesses through our Growth Hub network, a core part of the new Business Growth Service. Local authorities and businesses can also work together through Business Improvement Districts to improve the local trading environment, increase footfall, and reduce crime on the high street.

Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) are currently undertaking a review of brownfield sites as part of the wider Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) development.

The Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) will provide a long-term plan that set outs where new homes, jobs, transport and green spaces should go across the whole region, creating a blueprint for growth over the next 20 years.

In addition, the newly created Mayoral Development Corporation will speed up £11bn of regeneration plans for the east of the city by combining powers on land acquisition and planning, along with business tax incentives and infrastructure improvements.

It is not the Ministerial Envoys’ role to inspect the accounts and finances of political parties in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

The Electoral Commission is the independent regulator responsible for overseeing elections and regulating political finance. Political parties are required to submit an annual statement of accounts to the Electoral Commission. Any breaches of the rules are a matter for the Electoral Commission and the police.

Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) play a crucial role in managing water levels and flood risk.

The government is maintaining the IDB Levy Support Grant at £5m in 2026-27, the same level as 2025-26, in recognition of the financial impact continued increases in special levies has on affected local authorities. Allocations for the 2026-27 IDB Levy Support Grant will be announced in due course.

To support the provision of services, including those associated with managing water levels and flood risk, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

In September 2025, we streamlined local authority funding including the Town Deal, the Levelling Up Fund, and the Pathfinder pilot into a single, more flexible funding stream known as the Local Regeneration Fund, devolving decisions to local authorities. This approach empowers local authorities to allocate resources based on their own priorities. Decisions on how to manage these allocations rest with each authority’s Section 151 Officer or equivalent.

All MHCLG funding needs to be spent by the end of March 2028, which is a 12-month extension on the previous Levelling Up Fund deadline.

The government collects data twice a year on the business rates local authorities collect, once at the start of the year based on estimates, and then again at the end of the year based on what was actually collected in a given year. This is known as the National non-domestic rates collection.

Separately, the government has projected forward the measure of business rates included in the Local Government Finance Settlement, this is known as Baseline Funding Levels. Baseline Funding Levels represent the locally retained share of business rates in Core Spending Power (CSP) calculations, and these are uprated in line with forecasted inflation, using the Consumer Price Index. CSP for 2026-2027 to 2028-29 was published as part of the Final Local Government Finance Settlement.

The government will continue to keep its methodology for calculating the Core Spending Power of local government under review and in line with usual practice, decisions on future Settlements will be subject to consultation.

The hereditament level rateable value data and SCat code information is consistent between the published Valuation Office (VO) Rating List and the data held by my department. The data held by my department are provided by the VO to MHCLG ahead of publication for the purpose of estimating the impact of updates to the list on reliefs and to assess the interaction with business rates relief policy. The data are anonymised to protect taxpayer confidentiality but include additional information on geography, such as region and rural-urban classification, and whether business are part of a group or chain.

The VO Rating List download page is available: https://voaratinglists.blob.core.windows.net/html/rlidata.htm.

The government remains committed to the indicative timetable published in July 2025. Proposals for Worcestershire were received by 28 November 2025 and were subject to statutory consultation from 5 February 2026 to 26 March 2026. The Secretary of State is considering the proposals against the published criteria, together with consultation responses and other relevant information, with a decision expected on which proposals will be implemented before the summer recess.

Local authority support is not a condition of a proposed development being part of the new towns programme.

As per Annex C: Locations Methodology of the New Towns Draft Programme consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, sub-criteria and guidance in respect of programme objective 4 makes clear that locations should have the backing of either a local authority, a Mayoral Combined Authority, and/or a developer.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. The consultation can be found here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 13359 on 30 June 2026.

We recognise the difficulties facing some leaseholders in buildings under 11 metres who are being asked to pay significant cladding remediation costs. The Department’s investigations indicate that most buildings under 11 metres are safe and do not require cladding remediation, with risks often able to be addressed through lower-cost mitigations. However, as set out in the Remediation Acceleration Plan update, we remain committed to providing funding in specific circumstances where cladding remediation is needed to address life-critical fire safety risks from cladding. We intend to provide an update on this shortly.

The government remains committed to the indicative timetable published in July 2025. Proposals for Gloucestershire were received by 28 November 2025 and were subject to statutory consultation from 5 February 2026 to 26 March 2026. The Secretary of State is considering the proposals against the published criteria, together with consultation responses and other relevant information, with a decision expected on which proposals will be implemented before the summer recess.

The department publishes most of its statistics in open, accessible formats such as OpenDocument Spreadsheet (ODS) files, in line with Government Statistical Service standards. The department keeps its approach to dissemination under review, including opportunities to improve machine-readability and access through API interfaces where there is clear user need and this represents value for money.

As stated previously, this Government takes extremism seriously and we are committed to ensuring we have the required tools and powers needed to address this issue. If an ideology is causing harm by radicalising others into hatred, violence and extremism we will take action to prevent this and to safeguard susceptible individuals.

In the publication of Protecting What Matters, we set out a bold new approach to countering extremism and hate crime, including antisemitism and anti-Muslim hostility. This focuses on disrupting extremist influence and strengthening Government’s ability to stop extremist abuse of institutions including charities and universities. We will publish an Annual State of Extremism Report setting out the current extremist threat in the UK and government action to tackle it.

Alongside this, we are taking wider steps to address the harms associated with extremism and the divisions it can create within communities. This includes providing record levels of funding to support protective security at mosques and Muslim community sites, and appointing a Special Representative on anti‑Muslim hostility, who will support engagement with communities and help drive a more coordinated response to hate, division and the conditions in which extremism can take hold.

I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87636 on 11 November 2025.

My Department plays an important role in strengthening community resilience and emergency preparedness, supporting local authorities and Local Resilience Forums to plan for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

It is the Government’s position that local communities are best placed to make decisions about public accessibility to defibrillators as they are a critical component of emergency preparedness and community resilience, they provide a vital time gap between a sudden medical emergency and the arrival of emergency medical services.

I visited the Edaroth factory in Bradford on 17 September 2025.

Neither the Secretary of State nor I have had any subsequent meetings with members of the Edaroth team in a ministerial capacity.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 11611 on 30 June 2026.

My Department has worked closely with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) to ensure that the justice system is well prepared for the ongoing implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, including the potential impact of the Act on the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).

This work included ensuring that suitable arrangements are in place for monitoring data relating to rent increase challenges in the Residential Property Tribunal.

The MoJ publishes quarterly national statistics on possession claim actions in the County Court by private landlords. They can be found on gov.uk here and include data on the volume of claims, orders, warrants and possessions going through the system and average case timelines.

Data for residential property cases is published within Tribunals Statistics Quarterly on gov.uk here. This includes data on receipts, disposals, and open caseload.

The justice system will be supported with appropriate funding to ensure that the courts and tribunals have the resources and capacity they need to handle the workload that implementation of the Act will generate.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a Code of Practice containing guidance on the operation and management of private parking facilities, which will replace the existing Sector Single Code of Practice. The Department consulted on the Code of Practice last year, including on mitigating circumstances that would warrant the cancellation of a parking charge. Consultation responses are currently being considered, and the Government’s response will be published alongside the new statutory Code of Practice in the autumn.

The Department consulted on the effectiveness of the current enforcement regime in the Parking Code Enforcement Framework consultation in 2021. The government response can be found here Parking code enforcement framework: consultation response - GOV.UK. To address the issues of transparency and the lack of independence, the Government is developing a Certification Scheme to hold operators accountable for not adhering to standards in the Code.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a Code of Practice containing guidance on the operation and management of private parking facilities, which will replace the existing Sector Single Code of Practice. The Department consulted on the Code of Practice last year, including on mitigating circumstances that would warrant the cancellation of a parking charge. Consultation responses are currently being considered, and the Government’s response will be published alongside the new statutory Code of Practice in the autumn.

The Department consulted on the effectiveness of the current enforcement regime in the Parking Code Enforcement Framework consultation in 2021. The government response can be found here Parking code enforcement framework: consultation response - GOV.UK. To address the issues of transparency and the lack of independence, the Government is developing a Certification Scheme to hold operators accountable for not adhering to standards in the Code.

The government recognises the evolving risk of wildfire and is committed to putting in place the necessary measures to mitigate its impacts and drive forward the UK’s resilience to wildfires. To strengthen government response, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have established joint arrangements to oversee work on wildfire risk anticipation and assessment, preparedness, prevention, response and recovery.

As part of the New Dimensions 2 programme, the government has recently announced the launch of the national wildfire response capability at the end of June. The pilot will place specialist firefighters in key areas across the country ready to respond to wildfires across England, enhancing local response arrangements. The teams are equipped with state-of-the-art kit and have undergone intense training - taking on latest tactics and response strategies drawn from international best practice.

The Local Government Finance Settlement will make available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power (CSP) for standalone fire and rescue authorities in England (excluding York & North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester), an average 4.71% increase compared to 2025/26. By the end of the multi-year period, the government will have provided a 12.75% increase in CSP compared to 2025/26. Decisions on how resources are best deployed to meet their core functions, including wildfire resources, are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.

Furthermore, since 2024 the government has funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor. The advisor's role is to evaluate what further national capabilities are needed to boost resilience against wildfires and to ensure that efforts across the sector are well-coordinated. Additionally, the government has recently recruited for an additional support officer to assist in this space.

Finally, each Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) is required to plan for the foreseeable risks in their area (including wildfire), through their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) and having regard to the views of other key local responders. This could include the use of aerial assets should a service deem it locally necessary. The government does not keep a register of aerial capabilities for firefighting as it's a local decision.

The government recognises the evolving risk of wildfire and is committed to putting in place the necessary measures to mitigate its impacts and drive forward the UK’s resilience to wildfires. To strengthen government response, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have established joint arrangements to oversee work on wildfire risk anticipation and assessment, preparedness, prevention, response and recovery.

As part of the New Dimensions 2 programme, the government has recently announced the launch of the national wildfire response capability at the end of June. The pilot will place specialist firefighters in key areas across the country ready to respond to wildfires across England, enhancing local response arrangements. The teams are equipped with state-of-the-art kit and have undergone intense training - taking on latest tactics and response strategies drawn from international best practice.

The Local Government Finance Settlement will make available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power (CSP) for standalone fire and rescue authorities in England (excluding York & North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester), an average 4.71% increase compared to 2025/26. By the end of the multi-year period, the government will have provided a 12.75% increase in CSP compared to 2025/26. Decisions on how resources are best deployed to meet their core functions, including wildfire resources, are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.

Furthermore, since 2024 the government has funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor. The advisor's role is to evaluate what further national capabilities are needed to boost resilience against wildfires and to ensure that efforts across the sector are well-coordinated. Additionally, the government has recently recruited for an additional support officer to assist in this space.

Finally, each Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) is required to plan for the foreseeable risks in their area (including wildfire), through their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) and having regard to the views of other key local responders. This could include the use of aerial assets should a service deem it locally necessary. The government does not keep a register of aerial capabilities for firefighting as it's a local decision.

The government recognises the evolving risk of wildfire and is committed to putting in place the necessary measures to mitigate its impacts and drive forward the UK’s resilience to wildfires. To strengthen government response, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have established joint arrangements to oversee work on wildfire risk anticipation and assessment, preparedness, prevention, response and recovery.

As part of the New Dimensions 2 programme, the government has recently announced the launch of the national wildfire response capability at the end of June. The pilot will place specialist firefighters in key areas across the country ready to respond to wildfires across England, enhancing local response arrangements. The teams are equipped with state-of-the-art kit and have undergone intense training - taking on latest tactics and response strategies drawn from international best practice.

The Local Government Finance Settlement will make available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power (CSP) for standalone fire and rescue authorities in England (excluding York & North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester), an average 4.71% increase compared to 2025/26. By the end of the multi-year period, the government will have provided a 12.75% increase in CSP compared to 2025/26. Decisions on how resources are best deployed to meet their core functions, including wildfire resources, are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.

Furthermore, since 2024 the government has funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor. The advisor's role is to evaluate what further national capabilities are needed to boost resilience against wildfires and to ensure that efforts across the sector are well-coordinated. Additionally, the government has recently recruited for an additional support officer to assist in this space.

Finally, each Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) is required to plan for the foreseeable risks in their area (including wildfire), through their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) and having regard to the views of other key local responders. This could include the use of aerial assets should a service deem it locally necessary. The government does not keep a register of aerial capabilities for firefighting as it's a local decision.

The government recognises the evolving risk of wildfire and is committed to putting in place the necessary measures to mitigate its impacts and drive forward the UK’s resilience to wildfires. To strengthen government response, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have established joint arrangements to oversee work on wildfire risk anticipation and assessment, preparedness, prevention, response and recovery.

As part of the New Dimensions 2 programme, the government has recently announced the launch of the national wildfire response capability at the end of June. The pilot will place specialist firefighters in key areas across the country ready to respond to wildfires across England, enhancing local response arrangements. The teams are equipped with state-of-the-art kit and have undergone intense training - taking on latest tactics and response strategies drawn from international best practice.

The Local Government Finance Settlement will make available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power (CSP) for standalone fire and rescue authorities in England (excluding York & North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester), an average 4.71% increase compared to 2025/26. By the end of the multi-year period, the government will have provided a 12.75% increase in CSP compared to 2025/26. Decisions on how resources are best deployed to meet their core functions, including wildfire resources, are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.

Furthermore, since 2024 the government has funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor. The advisor's role is to evaluate what further national capabilities are needed to boost resilience against wildfires and to ensure that efforts across the sector are well-coordinated. Additionally, the government has recently recruited for an additional support officer to assist in this space.

Finally, each Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) is required to plan for the foreseeable risks in their area (including wildfire), through their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) and having regard to the views of other key local responders. This could include the use of aerial assets should a service deem it locally necessary. The government does not keep a register of aerial capabilities for firefighting as it's a local decision.

I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the answer given to UIN 9587 on 23 June 2026.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the decisions of a previous administration.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the decisions of a previous administration.

The 2025/26 pay award reflected an exceptional pay flexibility agreement, reached following negotiations with the recognised Trade Unions and approved within the Civil Service pay framework. The award was based on clearly defined criteria that targeted investment in specific areas to aid recruitment and retention of skills we need to deliver in future as an organisation. The Voluntary Exit Scheme, separately, allowed staff to exit the organisation based on targeted criteria which focussed on the suitability of skills, talent and deployability relating to the Department’s future workforce priorities.

Civil servants are contractually entitled to an annual pay review, but there is no contractual entitlement to a specific uplift or eligibility for any particular award. Decisions on eligibility and distribution are determined each year through negotiation with recognised Trade Unions and may vary.

For 2025/26, eligibility for further elements of the pay award required individuals to be in post on the departmental settlement date and not to have left, or be leaving, under the Voluntary Exit scheme. Those leaving under that scheme received the interim pay award agreed earlier in the process.

The Department has no plans to make retrospective payments. Impacts on exit terms and pensions were considered as part of the overall decision-making process.

The Government will bring forward a High Streets Strategy later this year, backed by £301 million. Within this envelope, £61 million will support the Pride in Place Community Right to Buy Fund, empowering communities to take control of valued local assets, and £10 million will fund High Street Rental Auctions to bring vacant properties back into use.

This funding will also establish new High Street Innovation Partnerships, supporting some of the most challenged high streets to transition to more resilient, mixed-use models. Further detail, including locations, will be set out in due course.