Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The Know Your Donor regime will introduce new risk-based due diligence checks on significant political donations. These rules will apply across the electoral regime, which includes members of the House of Commons and holders of relevant elected office as set out in Schedule 7 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act.

An initial payment has been made, and the remaining costs will be determined in line with the usual processes.

My Department has held no specific discussions with Stockport Council regarding the condition of Reddish Library.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

The precise funding offer for each new town location will be confirmed once final decisions have been made on the programme. Final decisions on locations will be confirmed later this year once the New Towns Draft Programme consultation has closed and all necessary environmental assessments have been completed.

Improving speed of service remains a top priority for HM Land Registry (HMLR). Plans to achieve this are set out in the Agency’s Strategy 2025+ which was published on 5 November 2025 and can be found on gov.uk here(opens in a new tab).

As its sponsor department, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government holds HMLR to account for its performance and operational delivery and is in regular communication with HMLR about their processing times.

HMLR has been making improvements in this area through hiring and training more staff and by improving the efficiency of the services its customers use. The introduction of new pre-submission validation checks will speed up processes and reduce staff time spent on dealing with errors or mistakes. The age of outstanding post-completion applications is now under 12 months across all service lines, from a peak of 20 months in February 2023.

HMLR processing times are publicly available on gov.uk here(opens in a new tab).

Anyone who is concerned that a delay to their application may cause financial, legal, or personal problems or put a property sale at risk, can apply to have their application expedited free of charge. HMLR processes nearly 1,400 expedited applications every day, with more than 95% actioned within 10 working days.

I recently wrote to the Chair of the Land Registry Board setting out the government’s priorities for HMLR on organisational performance over the coming year.

The department regularly reviews its forward secondary legislation programme, including commencement orders for as yet uncommenced legislation.

In the last year the department has undertaken a number of separate exercises to review delivery of secondary legislation and to ensure it is being prioritised in line with our legal requirements and the Government’s priorities.

We will continue to keep under review the question of when uncommenced legislation relevant to our department’s work should be brought into force.

The Government does not routinely comment on the detail of operational matters or specific threats. But the UK will always stand up to threats from foreign states. We continually assess potential threats to the UK and its residents and will continue to take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms and safety in the UK very seriously. Any attempt by a foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK will not be tolerated.

We are also taking broader action on antisemitism - rooting out extremism, tackling it in schools and universities, and in the NHS.

We are committed to tackling those who spread views that sow divisions between or within communities and oppose the values we share as a society.

Information on the nationality of the lead applicant of households on housing registers is collected on a voluntary basis in the Local Authority Housing Statistics (LAHS).

Information is available for the past two years and is published in Section 6.7 of the Social Housing Lettings in England (tenants) statistical release. The 31 March 2024 snapshot can be found here and 31 March 2025 snapshot can be found here.

Please note that the percentages presented in these reports should not be used to estimate the number of households on housing registers in England with particular characteristics due to the low response rate and insufficient coverage of these voluntary questions. As the data is collected on an aggregated basis it is not possible to provide information on where lead applicants hold multiple particular characteristics. Further detail about the low coverage is published in Section 4.3 of the LAHS technical notes here for the figures as at 31 March 2024 and here for the figures as at 31 March 2025.

All lead applicants of households on housing registers are eligible for social housing. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they would not be eligible to join a local authority's housing register.

Information on the nationality of the lead applicant of households on housing registers is collected on a voluntary basis in the Local Authority Housing Statistics (LAHS).

Information is available for the past two years and is published in Section 6.7 of the Social Housing Lettings in England (tenants) statistical release. The 31 March 2024 snapshot can be found here and 31 March 2025 snapshot can be found here.

Please note that the percentages presented in these reports should not be used to estimate the number of households on housing registers in England with particular characteristics due to the low response rate and insufficient coverage of these voluntary questions. As the data is collected on an aggregated basis it is not possible to provide information on where lead applicants hold multiple particular characteristics. Further detail about the low coverage is published in Section 4.3 of the LAHS technical notes here for the figures as at 31 March 2024 and here for the figures as at 31 March 2025.

All lead applicants of households on housing registers are eligible for social housing. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they would not be eligible to join a local authority's housing register.

A great strength of our national identity is its pluralism. Whether we are from England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland; whatever our religion or belief; whether we were born here or abroad; or whatever the colour of our skin, we can all embrace our shared identity, celebrate what we have in common, and be proud of our country’s long history and heritage.

As set out in Protecting What Matters, we will set clear national integration expectations for communities across the country, focused on stronger social connections, shared identity, English language proficiency, and participation in work. We will also strengthen the national curriculum and qualifications in England to ensure high quality teaching of our nation’s history.

The government is taking the time to review the Panel’s report to ensure that its response is in the best interest of communities in Leicester and beyond. We will respond in due course. Our ‘Protecting What Matters’ Action Plan, published on 9 March, considered learnings from the events of Leicester in 2022 and has set out measures we are taking to build social cohesion and protect our communities from harm, such as establishing an Advisory Board to support local authorities when tensions arise, and tackling harmful content in online spaces.

As set out in my response on 11 March, each of the 6 areas on the Devolution Priority Programme will receive a proportion of their investment fund to ensure they can start delivering on key local priorities and deliver the benefits of devolution on the ground ahead of the mayors taking office. Per the standard procedures for government Departments, the funding originally earmarked for the full programme will be re-allocated, in this case for other local growth priorities.

As is standard practice in government policy making, officials undertook limited and focused informal engagement with selected stakeholders as the government considered the advice submitted by the Working Group.

Social housing lettings data collected through the Continuous Recording (CORE) system focuses on the "lead tenant" (or Household Reference Person) in order to create accurate, consistent, and manageable demographic profiles of households, rather than trying to track every individual member. My Department has no current plans to amend commonly record data collected through the CORE system.

My Department consulted on changes to policy in respect of 5-year housing land supply as part of the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework that took place between 30 July and 24 September 2024. Paragraph 78c was introduced in the December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework update.

A government response, which can be found on gov.uk here, was published alongside the updated Framework. It made clear that there are many authorities whose local housing need figures will be substantially larger than their adopted or emerging local plan housing requirement figures, indicating a significant unmet demand for new homes in these areas. To help close the gap, we are introducing a new requirement that authorities with plans adopted under the old standard method must provide an extra year’s worth of homes in their 5-year housing pipeline.

As such, those authorities whose adopted plan annual housing requirement figure is 80% or less of their annual local housing need figure will be required to add a 20% buffer to their 5-year housing land supply from 1 July 2026. This window will give these authorities time to make provision for the new policy. As with other housing supply buffers, this will not be cumulative, so those authorities who are already required to add a 20% buffer due to scoring below 85% in the most recent housing delivery test will not be required to add an additional buffer should they meet these criteria.

Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) framework gives principal local authorities the power to dispose of land held by them in any manner they wish. Most local authorities will have and operate their own CAT policy, and as part of that framework they are obliged to publish a list of suitable assets and a process for communities to acquire them should they become available.

Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) framework gives principal local authorities the power to dispose of land held by them in any manner they wish. Most local authorities will have and operate their own CAT policy, and as part of that framework they are obliged to publish a list of suitable assets and a process for communities to acquire them should they become available.

On forfeiture reform, I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement on 27 January 2026 (HLWS1278).

The government is committed to ensuring that those living in the rented and leasehold sectors are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents.

The previous government committed to regulate the property agent sector in 2018 and asked a working group Chaired by Lord Best to advise them how to do it, yet it failed to respond to their findings from 2019. We are looking again at Lord Best’s 2019 report on regulating the property agent sector, particularly in light of the recommendations in the final Grenfell Inquiry report.

On 4 July 2025, we launched a wide-ranging consultation on proposals to hold landlords and managing agents to account for the services they provide and the charges and fees they levy. This included a number of proposals recommended by Lord Best, including the introduction of mandatory qualifications for managing agents and estate managers on freehold estates. We are clear that this consultation is not the final step in the regulation of managing agents and we will continue to reflect on the various other recommendations made in the 2019 report.

The government’s recent home buying and selling reform consultation sought views on proposals to professionalise property agents, including introducing a code of practice setting out minimum standards for letting, estate and managing agents.

The government also proposed a future consultation on mandatory qualifications for letting and estate agents and, depending on the outcome, potential legislation in respect of this issue. The home buying and selling reform consultation closed on 29 December and we will publish a roadmap setting out further details later this year.

On forfeiture reform, I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement on 27 January 2026 (HLWS1278).

The government is committed to ensuring that those living in the rented and leasehold sectors are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents.

The previous government committed to regulate the property agent sector in 2018 and asked a working group Chaired by Lord Best to advise them how to do it, yet it failed to respond to their findings from 2019. We are looking again at Lord Best’s 2019 report on regulating the property agent sector, particularly in light of the recommendations in the final Grenfell Inquiry report.

On 4 July 2025, we launched a wide-ranging consultation on proposals to hold landlords and managing agents to account for the services they provide and the charges and fees they levy. This included a number of proposals recommended by Lord Best, including the introduction of mandatory qualifications for managing agents and estate managers on freehold estates. We are clear that this consultation is not the final step in the regulation of managing agents and we will continue to reflect on the various other recommendations made in the 2019 report.

The government’s recent home buying and selling reform consultation sought views on proposals to professionalise property agents, including introducing a code of practice setting out minimum standards for letting, estate and managing agents.

The government also proposed a future consultation on mandatory qualifications for letting and estate agents and, depending on the outcome, potential legislation in respect of this issue. The home buying and selling reform consultation closed on 29 December and we will publish a roadmap setting out further details later this year.

My Department has not made such an assessment. Our National Planning Policy Framework sets out the strong protections in place for World Heritage Sites including their settings.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should ensure that new development is appropriate for its location, taking into account the likely effects (including cumulative effects) of pollution on the natural environment, as well as the potential sensitivity of the site or wider area to impacts that could arise from the development. In doing so they should limit the impact of light pollution from artificial light on local amenity, intrinsically dark landscapes and nature conservation.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to pollution. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

On-farm reservoirs which are necessary for agricultural purposes can be developed under a nationally set permitted development right. Guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/when-is-permission-required.

We intend to update the guidance in the coming months.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the paragraphs 103-105 of the Secretary of State’s decision letter which can be found on gov.uk here.

On 13 November 2025, the government published a roadmap for implementing the Renters' Rights Act, which can be found on gov.uk here.

In implementation Phase 2 from late 2026, we will introduce the national Private Rented Sector Database and Private Rented Sector Ombudsman.

Prior to the establishment of the new service, if a tenant thinks their landlord has unreasonably refused a request to rent with a pet, they will be able to challenge the decision in court.

My Department has made no specific assessment of the impact on tenants of the period between 1 May 2026 and when the new service will be available.

On 13 November 2025, the government published a roadmap for implementing the Renters' Rights Act, which can be found on gov.uk here.

In implementation Phase 2 from late 2026, we will introduce the national Private Rented Sector Database and Private Rented Sector Ombudsman.

Prior to the establishment of the new service, if a tenant thinks their landlord has unreasonably refused a request to rent with a pet, they will be able to challenge the decision in court.

My Department has made no specific assessment of the impact on tenants of the period between 1 May 2026 and when the new service will be available.

My Department does not hold the information requested.

My Department does not hold the information requested.

My Department does not hold the information requested.

Available social housing lettings data is not broken down by the nationality of the lead tenant and whether they are in receipt of housing-related benefits, or a lead tenant’s formal immigration status.

The number of new social housing lettings allocated to households who self-report as refugees can be found in the ‘Social Housing Lettings’ statistics tables 3p and 3pi on gov.uk here.

Available social housing lettings data is not broken down by the nationality of the lead tenant and whether they are in receipt of housing-related benefits, or a lead tenant’s formal immigration status.

The number of new social housing lettings allocated to households who self-report as refugees can be found in the ‘Social Housing Lettings’ statistics tables 3p and 3pi on gov.uk here.

Available social housing lettings data is not broken down by the nationality of the lead tenant and whether they are in receipt of housing-related benefits, or a lead tenant’s formal immigration status.

The number of new social housing lettings allocated to households who self-report as refugees can be found in the ‘Social Housing Lettings’ statistics tables 3p and 3pi on gov.uk here.

Using data as of 31 December 2025, which is in line with the latest published official statistics found on gov.uk here, the proportion of open cases that are enforcement notices is 27%.

This is calculated as open enforcement notices divided by total open cases.

The number of new social housing lettings to households with UK, EU and non-EU national lead tenants in each year between 2020/21 and 2024/25 can be found in the ‘Social Housing Lettings’ statistics tables 3e and 3ei on gov.uk here.

Available social housing lettings data is not broken down by the nationality of the lead tenant and household size.

The number of new social housing lettings to households with UK, EU and non-EU national lead tenants in each year between 2020/21 and 2024/25 can be found in the ‘Social Housing Lettings’ statistics tables 3e and 3ei on gov.uk here.

Available social housing lettings data is not broken down by the nationality of the lead tenant and household size.

The number of new social housing lettings to households with UK, EU and non-EU national lead tenants in each year between 2020/21 and 2024/25 can be found in the ‘Social Housing Lettings’ statistics tables 3e and 3ei on gov.uk here.

Available social housing lettings data is not broken down by the nationality of the lead tenant and household size.

The number of new social housing lettings to households with UK, EU and non-EU national lead tenants in each year between 2020/21 and 2024/25 can be found in the ‘Social Housing Lettings’ statistics tables 3e and 3ei on gov.uk here.

Available social housing lettings data is not broken down by the nationality of the lead tenant and household size.

My Department does not hold the information requested.

Information in respect of households on housing registers is collected as an aggregated snapshot by local authority on 31 March each year. As a result, individual households cannot be tracked, and it is not possible to calculate the proportions requested.

Staff have a statutory right to apply for flexible working at any point during their employment.

My Department has not issued specific guidance on the change of use and conversion of former school buildings to residential accommodation.

In November 2025, my Department launched a multi-platform communications campaign to raise awareness of reforms to the private rented sector in England resulting from the Renters’ Rights Act. To date, the campaign has seen strong engagement and achieved a wide reach.

We continue to work closely with relevant media, and sector representative organisations to make sure we reach as many landlords as possible.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 116835 on 9 March 2026.

On 23 March 2026, the government launched a public consultation on the proposed New Towns Programme and its environmental implications. This can be found on gov.uk here.

The consultation makes clear that the seven locations we propose to take forward as part of the Programme are at different stages of maturity and require different types of intervention and support – including blends of public and private capital – to achieve their potential.

Following the consultation and completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessments, the government intends to publish final proposals and confirm the new towns locations later in the Summer. We will publish a full government response to the recommendations of the New Towns Taskforce, including more detail on how our confirmed locations will be delivered in line with our ambition for the programme.

The transitional provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, set out the dates by which local planning authorities are required to start plan-making. It is the responsibility of individual local planning authorities to ensure they meet these requirements.

Local government reorganisation should not delay plan making. Local planning authorities who will form part of a new unitary authority should work together either on a joint plan or to align plan-making as far as practicable.