Submit Evidence (by 29 Aug 2025)

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee is holding an inquiry into the affordability of home ownership. Its focus is on people who are looking to buy property for themselves and their families to live in (owner-occupier), as opposed to those who purchase property to rent out as private accommodation (buy-to-let) or as speculative investment.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Government calls last orders on red tape choking pubs, clubs and restaurants in major boost to the British night out, published on 4 April 2025, whether the London pilot will operate on a voluntary basis; and whether it will be piloted in London boroughs which do not support the proposals to transfer licensing powers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In April, the government announced that it would work with the Greater London Authority to review strategic licensing powers and explore a pilot scheme, providing the Mayor of London with new powers over strategic licensing. My officials are working closely with the Greater London Authority to design a pilot to boost growth in London’s sporting, cultural and hospitality venues and revitalise London’s nightlife. Alongside this, the GLA is carrying out extensive consultation with key London partners including the Metropolitan Police, London councils and business groups. The London pilot will aim to unlock the full potential of London’s hospitality, cultural and night-time economies by exploring how the Mayor’s strategic oversight role can complement local licensing powers.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia informed her Department of potential conflicts of interest.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The group members completed declaration of interest forms which have been held by the Department. Their appointment was made on the basis that they had no conflicts of interest in taking up this role. Should any potential conflict of interest arise in future, the group must notify MHCLG in writing and be prepared to step aside from decisions on which they are conflicted.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to ensure the objectivity of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The working group includes members from a cross-section of society and have been selected for their technical expertise and experience and ability to work to deliver the objectives of the group.

The Terms of Reference and full membership of the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Working Group were published on Monday 24 March. Per the Terms of Reference, the Group is an independent, non-statutory body. These also set a requirement for group members to immediately raise any potential conflicts of interest with MHCLG.

The group will make evidence-based recommendations for ministers to consider, informed by engagement with a wide cross section of individuals and organisations from across the sector.

A Call for Evidence was recently published on gov.uk to ensure that the advice provided to Government reflects the diverse experiences and opinions of our faith communities’ and beyond across the country.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to rural proof (1) the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, and (2) the Renters' Rights Bill.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas.

The reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will fast-track the delivery of homes and critical infrastructure in all parts of the country, including in rural communities.

The Bill will work in tandem with our wider package of planning reforms to get Britian building again, and the government has committed to giving further consideration as to how we can better support rural affordable housing in national planning policy.

The reforms in the Renters’ Rights Bill will benefit tenants and landlords in rural areas. We recognise that rural areas sometimes have different needs to urban areas and have developed our reforms, accordingly, ensuring landlords have access to robust grounds for possession when necessary. This includes a possession ground to allow properties to be occupied by agricultural workers.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the regional allocation of (a) local authority housing and (b) affordable homes programme funds in the Spending Review 2025.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the proportion of projected additional funding for the Affordable Homes Programme that will be allocated to homes for social rent in the next three financial years.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.

The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme (2026-27 to 2035-36) will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.

As such, government spending on affordable housing investment will have almost doubled by the end of this Parliament.

Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance. We will continue to publish past year’s expenditure figures in the department's Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the projected percentage increase in nominal funding for the Affordable Homes Programme in each of the next three financial years.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.

The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme (2026-27 to 2035-36) will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.

As such, government spending on affordable housing investment will have almost doubled by the end of this Parliament.

Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance. We will continue to publish past year’s expenditure figures in the department's Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the real-terms percentage change in funding for the Affordable Homes Programme in each of the next three financial years.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.

The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme (2026-27 to 2035-36) will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.

As such, government spending on affordable housing investment will have almost doubled by the end of this Parliament.

Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance. We will continue to publish past year’s expenditure figures in the department's Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring landlords to update Efficiency Performance Certificates regularly.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is reforming Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to ensure that people, including tenants, have access to even more reliable and accurate information about the properties they are renting. Having a regularly updated EPC provides tenants with up to date information including relative energy bills and thermal comfort of their homes compared to other rental properties. More information, including the consultation stage impact assessment, can be found in the consultation ‘Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime’ on gov.uk.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) maintain and (b) promote local green spaces in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is firmly committed to creating better access to parks and green spaces for all sections of society. Green spaces such as South Holland’s Ayscoughfee Gardens are an essential part of local social infrastructure which supports more connected, stronger communities. The MHCLG-owned Green Flag Award sets the national quality standard for parks and green spaces, the scheme aims to meet the needs of the communities they serve and has helped to transform thousands of parks and green spaces across the country

MHCLG has also established the Parks Working Group, which brings together sector experts with government officials to find innovative ways of managing parks, creating employment, hosting economic activities and encouraging inward investment. Finally, the government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) allows communities to designate land as Local Green Space, in order to protect green areas that are important to them.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government how Awaab's Law will provide equal protection to Gypsies and Travellers living permanently in caravans on sites with amenity blocks that are rented from social landlords.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We have introduced regulations to bring the first phase of Awaab's Law into effect in the social rented sector. Awaab's Law will protect tenants with relevant social housing leases by imposing obligations on the landlord to address dangerous damp and mould and emergency hazards quickly.

As caravans are not buildings according to the definitions set out in the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 or the Housing Act 2004, it is the government’s position that Awaab’s Law will not extend to Gypsies and Travellers living permanently in caravans on sites with amenity blocks that are rented from social landlords.

We expect local councils to ensure amenity blocks provided on local authority managed GRT sites are safe and healthy. We will continue to engage with Parliamentarians and stakeholders on the issues affecting those in non-traditional tenures.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are proposing to take any new measures to prescribe the inclusion of swift boxes in new housing.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the noble Lord to the answer to Question UIN 62367 on 2 July 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to improve the regulation of supported exempt accommodation; and what information her Department holds on levels of supported exempt accommodation in (a) Birmingham and (b) Birmingham Northfield constituency.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in the written statement on Supported Housing Regulation (HCWS800) published on 10 July 2025, following the recent consultation on supported housing regulation the government is considering the responses received and will publish a full government response as soon as possible, in advance of consulting on draft regulations in early 2026.

The department does not hold data on supported exempt accommodation. The most recent estimates of national levels of supported housing were published in the gov.uk Supported Housing Review 2023 on 4 November 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will commission research on the operation of shariah courts in England.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 50309 on 14 May 2025.

Sharia Courts are not part of the judicial system in England and Wales.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the funding available to (a) housing associations, (b) property owners and (c) local authorities for the provision of infrastructure for the secure storage of (i) mobility scooters, (ii) e-bikes and (iii) e-scooters, in the context of the (A) potential fire risk posed by lithium ion batteries and (B) needs of people who use mobility scooters who do not live on the ground floor.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No such specific assessment has been made.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many affordable homes were delivered in (a) 2013-24 and (b) 2023-24.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The number of affordable homes delivered in each year since 1991-92 is published in Live Table 1000 on gov.uk here.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 7.12 of her Department's publication, Local authority funding reform objectives and principles consultation: summary of responses published on 20 June 2025, whether she plans to set a higher council tax referendum threshold for councils with a Band D council tax below the notional council tax.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognised in its response to the consultation a number of respondents had requested increased council tax flexibility to reflect funding reform. The Spending Review confirmed the government intends to maintain the 3% threshold with an additional 2% for the adult social care precept, in line with OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60129 on Local Government Finance, whether the LG DEL figures of (a) £15.0bn in 2025-26, (b) £15.4bn in 2026-27, (c) £15.6bn in 2027-28 and (d) £15.8bn in 2028-29 set out in Table 5.17 of CP1336 were used as the evidential basis for the core spending power calculations in the Spending Review 2025.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Core Spending Power (CSP) figures in Table 5.17 of the Spending Review document do contain the uplift from the LG Resource DEL figures, although not all of LG DEL is distributed through CSP. However, the CSP figures also contain estimations for Council Tax revenue which reflect the referendum principles announced at the Spending Review. They also contain an adjustment reflecting the impact of MHCLG retaining grant funding from 2026-27 onwards that has been surrendered in previous years to offset the impacts of additional business rates retained in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, as outlined in footnote four of the table as well.

There is £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29, and individual local authority CSP figures will be confirmed at settlement in the usual way.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities in adopting AI responsibly in service delivery.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government supports the responsible integration of AI across local government operations and services to reduce costs, drive efficiencies and improve service outcomes.

My Department is working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Incubator for AI (i.AI) to deliver the ‘Extract’ tool, which uses AI to transform planning information and maps from PDF’s into data. The tool includes a human verification element, and when launched will be accompanied by guidance to support local authorities.

We also continue to fund the development of AI solutions in collaboration with local planning authorities via our PropTech Innovation Fund. Previous funding rounds saw a number of AI projects balancing innovation with responsible service delivery and implementation of safeguards. The latest round, which closed June 2025, placed ethical and responsible considerations as a priority criterion for assessment, with applications proposing to develop AI solutions required to set out steps towards responsible delivery and regulatory compliance.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether county council elections which were postponed in May 2025 will take place in May 2026.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification. As set out to the House on 17 June, the government is now consulting on two proposals for unitary local government from councils in Surrey. If the Secretary of State decides to implement a proposal, secondary legislation, which will be subject to Parliamentary approval, will be required to abolish existing councils, establish new structures and make transitional arrangements. Those transitional arrangements, consistent with precedent, would include replacing scheduled local elections with elections for the new councils, which will operate initially as new unitary authorities. This follows standard practice during Local Government Reorganisation, as conducted by the last government in Northamptonshire in 2020 and in Cumbria and North Yorkshire in 2022.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of processes by which local authorities can be (a) incentivised and (b) held accountable to meet their social housing targets.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 2 July, the government published a plan setting out the foundations for a decade of renewal in social and affordable housing. This is focused on delivering the biggest increase in supply in a generation, alongside a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of homes. The plan includes a “call to arms” to everyone with a role in social and affordable housing – including local authorities – to step up and prove they can deliver at scale and at pace.

We have asked all Council Leaders to examine what role they can play in reinvigorating council housebuilding. Councils will be able to bid for the new 10-year £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which is the biggest long-term investment in social and affordable housing in recent memory – with a target to deliver at least 60% of the homes as Social Rent. We also want to make it easier for councils to use their own resources and land to build more homes. For those without a Housing Revenue Account, we are reviewing the threshold of homes they hold at which they need to open one. We will exempt newly built social homes from Right to Buy for 35 years, ensuring councils are not losing homes before they have recovered the costs of building them. We are also allowing councils to retain 100% of the receipts generated by Right to Buy sales with greater flexibility on how to spend them to accelerate and increase delivery of replacement homes.

We are helping councils borrow more cheaply from the Public Works Loan Board until the end of 2025-26 and with the LGA, the government has established a new Association of Directors of Housing to help councils collaborate and share best practice. We have also launched the Council Housing Skills and Capacity Programme, backed by £12m of funding in 2025-26. This programme will be delivered in partnership with Homes England and the Local Government Association, to support councils to upskill their existing workforces, recruit and retain graduates to specialist housebuilding positions, and enhance their engagement with the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

The government’s revised National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that, in their role as local planning authorities, councils are responsible for establishing the need for affordable housing in their area – including for Social Rent homes in particular.

Local authorities who own social housing are required to meet regulatory standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing – including for the quality of accommodation they provide. As part of our commitment to ensuring that all social and affordable housing tenants can live in a warm and decent home, on 2 July we launched consultations on an updated and modernised Decent Homes Standard and on a new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard. These new standards would be binding on local authorities and other registered providers of social housing.

On 3 July the government launched the new Local Government Outcomes Framework, which represents a new approach to outcome-based accountability for councils in England. The Framework includes draft metrics on the year-on-year change in social rented dwellings held in local authorities’ Housing Revenue Account and the proportion of council-owned social housing deemed decent.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of resolving shared ownership arrangements of properties where offshore freehold ownership precludes staircasing.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Leases for shared ownership properties, whether these are grant funded or Section 106 delivery, must follow one of the shared ownership model leases provided by Homes England or the Greater London Authority. These model leases contain a fundamental clause which ensures that staircasing is permitted. In certain types of shared ownership, staircasing is however restricted to below 100%, this is to ensure properties remain as affordable housing in perpetuity.

Properties sold by private developers, and without grant funding or through Section 106, are not required to follow a model lease when sold via a shared ownership arrangement.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2025 to Question 60136 on Affordable Housing: Finance, excluding the affordable housing programme, what is the average annual real growth in capital expenditure from 2025-26 to 2029-30.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Excluding our new Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP), my Department’s capital expenditure will decrease by an average of 2% per year from 2025-26 to 2029-30. This is equivalent to keeping capital investment other than the SAHP flat in cash terms on average across the period.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2024 to Question 11995 on Park Homes: Sales, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing the 10 percent commission on the sale of park homes.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44299 on 16 April 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what data they hold to support the conclusion in the impact assessment of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that the proposed environmental measures will have a positive economic and social impact.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Nature Restoration Fund proposed in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would take a strategic approach to assessing environmental impacts and supporting nature recovery. This will reduce the need for costly project-level assessments while ensuring that every pound spent helps deliver our environmental goals as effectively as possible.

Through the Fund, developers will be able to discharge their environmental obligations at an earlier stage and through a simpler process, which will help to facilitate the earlier delivery of housing and other socially valuable development.

The impact assessment for the Bill contains the relevant data and sources that were used to support the conclusions in respect of the economic and social impact of the Nature Restoration Fund.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendations set out in the Fifth Report of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee on Shared Ownership, Session 2023-24, published on 26 March 2024, HC 61.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Shared ownership has an important role to play in supporting households into home ownership who would otherwise struggle to purchase a property on the open market that meets their needs.

The Government is aware that some people who have entered shared ownership have faced significant challenges with their properties and there is ongoing consideration of what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners, including consideration of the former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee’s report recommendations on shared ownership.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to reform the Shared Ownership system.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Shared ownership has an important role to play in supporting households into home ownership who would otherwise struggle to purchase a property on the open market that meets their needs.

The Government is aware that some people who have entered shared ownership have faced significant challenges with their properties and there is ongoing consideration of what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners, including consideration of the former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee’s report recommendations on shared ownership.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect bridleways in the context of changes to national planning regulations.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should protect and enhance public rights of way and access, including taking opportunities to provide better facilities for users, for example by adding links to existing rights of way networks including National Trails.

The government will consult on a new suite of national policies for decision making later this year and as part of that exercise we will consider whether any changes are needed to policy relating to public rights of way.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered including child development in the planning process to encourage outdoor activities.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) recognises that access to a network of high-quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities, including children.

The Framework is clear that local planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities, and opportunities for new provision, including places for children’s play.

In the revised NPPF published on 12 December 2024 we strengthened the strong protections already in place by adding explicit reference to safeguarding “formal play spaces”. That means that facilities can be lost only where there is clear evidence they are no longer required, where equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or where development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of steps that local authorities are taking to help improve the representation of people with (a) a working class background, (b) a minority ethnic background and (c) disabilities in local government.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including recruitment practices. It is the duty of local authorities to comply with all relevant employment and equalities legislation and there is no role for central government intervening in this, except where specific provision has been made in legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether allotments are classified as (a) greenfield or (b) brownfield land for planning purposes.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework defines previously developed land (brownfield land) as land which is, or was, occupied by a permanent structure and any associated fixed surface infrastructure.

However, the definition explicitly excludes land in built-up areas such as residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments.

As such, allotments do not fall within the category of previously developed land and are therefore considered greenfield.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress she has made on considering the capital funding request from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The fiscal position means that there have been tough choices to get us back on the path to recovery. It is in this context that the department is considering the request made for funding by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

I was pleased to meet with Andy Lock to discuss the outstanding work done by the organisation across Britain’s coalfields. I recognise that addressing the acute challenges faced by our coalfield communities will require greater partnership working between government and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, and I am committed to working in partnership with them to explore opportunities for collaboration.

This government remains committed to supporting our most disadvantaged communities. At Spending Review, we announced funding for up to 350 places. Of the 100 places announced, 15 are in coalfield areas. Details of the remaining places will be announced in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of creating a Minister for Coastal Communities to oversee a coastal strategy.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There are no current plans to create a Minister for Coastal Communities.

As Minister for Local Growth, I am responsible for regional growth nationwide and recognise that coastal communities can make a contribution to growth.

The Plan for Neighbourhoods will support regeneration across the country including in many of our cherished coastal communities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 6.2.5 of the consultation entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of council tax increases on funding allocations to local authorities with average Band D council taxes below £2,000.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s proposal is to make funding available in a way that enables all local authorities to provide the same level of service to their residents. We propose to do this by setting the notional Council Tax level at the average Band D level of Council Tax in England, which will fully equalise for a local authority’s ability to raise Council Tax.

The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles are to protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases. We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement in the usual way.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58771 on Local Government: Elections, whether she has made an estimate of the number of councils which will be subject to the transitional arrangements in 2026, and have their scheduled 2026 elections cancelled to make way for replacement elections; and in what year would the replacement elections take place.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Seven councils could have their elections replaced with elections to new unitary councils in May 2026. Surrey is the only area whose ambitious timetable is such that we will need Parliamentary approval by March 2026 to allow for elections to the new unitary authorities in May 2026 to enable new authorities to go live in April 2027.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether revenues from selective licensing charges on private rented sector landlords (a) are ringfenced and (b) can be applied to the general revenue account; and whether councils can charge above cost recovery.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Selective licensing fees paid by landlords to local authorities should only be used to cover the costs of running schemes. Local authorities are not expected to profit from licensing, nor should they use licensing revenues to fund other local authority services.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure that new housing developments have adequate access to infrastructure.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.

The government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through Land and Infrastructure funding programmes, such as the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 will also support the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.

The government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.

Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes various provisions designed to streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Localis entitled Reorganisation, local government and the future of English Devolution, published on 25 June 2025; and what estimate her Department has made of the reduction in the number of councillors from local government reforms.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I would like to thank Professors Copus and Leach for their analysis of the short and long-term history of English local government reform, which my officials are considering. The department has not made an estimate of the reduction in the number of councillors from local government reforms. It is important that councils have the right number of members to achieve the strategic, decision-making and representative roles of the authority. As I set out in my answer to PQ 26697 on 4 February 2025, my department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) so that they are involved at the appropriate time to ensure fair electoral arrangements across the area of any new unitary local authorities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the outcome of the consultation entitled Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, which closed on 26 February 2025.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government response to the ‘Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework for Local Authorities in England’ consultation will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will take steps with (a) academies and (b) schools to introduce impact statements for large housing developments within their catchment area.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework recognises the importance of ensuring a sufficient choice of early years, school and post-16 places are available to meet the needs of existing and new communities and outlines that local planning authorities should take a proactive, positive, and collaborative approach to meeting this requirement, and to development that will widen choice in education.

The Framework further states that local planning authorities should give great weight to the need to create, expand or alter early years, schools, and post-16 facilities through the preparation of plans and decisions on applications, and work with early years, school and post-16 promoters, delivery partners and statutory bodies to identify and resolve key planning issues before applications are submitted.

In view of these existing provisions, the government has no plans to introduce separate requirements for impact statements for large housing developments.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on the (a) siting and (b) appearance of statutory undertaker infrastructure on highway land; and whether she plans to ensure that (i) local authorities and (ii) residents can determine the placement of visible above-ground installations in residential neighbourhoods.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department has not issued any such guidance.

The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review the scope of permitted development rights for above-ground utility infrastructure in residential areas; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring prior community consultation before such installations occur.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department has not issued any such guidance.

The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps she has taken to increase community involvement in the planning process.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46945 on 30 April 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the publication entitled Count of Traveller Caravans, January 2025: England, published on 25 June 2025, what steps she is taking to help tackle the increase of (a) unauthorised traveller development on land they own and (b) unauthorised traveller encampments and trespass on land they do not own.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Whilst the number of caravans on unauthorised sites did increase between the 2024 and 2025 counts, local authorities have been encouraged to report excess numbers on authorised sites as unauthorised so the reported increase may reflect improved data quality, rather than a genuine increase in the number of caravans on this site type.

More widely, the number of caravans on unauthorised encampments is a very small proportion of the overall number of caravans reported (1%) and subject to more fluctuation than other site types.

In relation to local planning authority enforcement powers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46336 on 30 April 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of abolishing residential leaseholds.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether private sector landlords will be required to pay multiple fees to register under (a) selective licensing introduced by local authorities, (b) the Private Rented Sector Database and (c) to be regulated under landlord redress schemes; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of consolidating those fees.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Selective licensing schemes introduced by local authorities, the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, and the PRS Ombudsman are separate regimes and fees will be structured and set according to the relevant legislation.

My Department is exploring options for administrative alignment where possible; for example, aligning the registration process for the Ombudsman and Database.

We will provide guidance which will make clear what landlords need to do to meet their new responsibilities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect nature through the planning process.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear about the importance of conserving and enhancing the natural environment.

Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures and incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats, and hedgehogs.

We are considering using a new suite of national policies for decision making, which we will be consulting on later this year, to require swift bricks to be incorporated into new buildings, unless there are compelling reasons that preclude their use or that would make them ineffective. As an interim step ahead of the planned consultation, we published updated Planning Practice Guidance setting out how swift bricks are expected to be used in new developments.

Under the new statutory framework for Biodiversity Net Gain, every grant of planning permission (subject to some exemptions) is subject to the condition that the development must deliver at least a 10% increase in biodiversity value relative to the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat.

When it comes to development and the environment, we know we can do better than the status quo, which too often sees both sustainable housebuilding and nature recovery stall. Instead of environmental protections being seen as barriers to growth, we want to unlock a win-win for the economy and for nature. Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces a new Nature Restoration Fund that will unlock and accelerate development while going beyond neutrality to unlock the positive impact development can have in driving nature recovery.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect nature in the design of new build housing developments.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear about the importance of conserving and enhancing the natural environment.

Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures and incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats, and hedgehogs.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that local authorities offer adequate reasonable adjustments during recruitment assessments for candidates with declared disabilities.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including recruitment practices. It is the duty of local authorities to comply with all relevant employment and equalities legislation and there is no role for central government intervening in this, except where specific provision has been made in legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of children living in temporary accommodation in Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme constituency.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government publishes statistics on homelessness including the number of children in temporary accommodation each quarter through gov.uk. You can find the data gov.uk here.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have given to local authorities about the specific democratic decision-making processes they should adopt; and under which legislation has such guidance been given.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We have provided no current guidance to local authorities on their decision-making processes; within the governance models provided for in legislation, the precise nature of each council’s constitutional arrangements is for that council to decide.

As part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill we intend that in future any council operating under the committee system will be required to operate with the leader and cabinet form of governance, and that leader and cabinet will be the only option, for councils currently operating with a directly elected mayor, should they determine to change governance arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she expects new elected mayoral roles to be filled for each authority.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The consultations in the six areas on the Devolution Priority Programme have now closed, and the government is carefully considering the evidence collected. Further updates will be communicated in the usual way, in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 20 June 2025 on Fair Funding Review 2.0 and Modernising and Improving the Administration of Council Tax, HCWS724, how much was allocated to the New Homes Bonus including legacy payments by tier of local government in England in 2024-25.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

New Homes Bonus allocations are published online, and the amounts awarded in 2024-25 can be found gov.uk here. The then government ended new legacy payments in 2020-21, with final payments made in 2022-23.

The totals allocated by tier in 2024-25 are as follows:

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what dates were the first and last payments they agreed for each of the past five sets of elections, excluding by-elections, for which returning officers received payments from the Consolidated Fund.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This Government has not agreed any of the initial payments for the last five sets of elections funded from the Consolidated Fund. However, it will be responsible for settling the claims for both the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner elections and the 2024 UK parliamentary general election. The timing of the final payments will depend on when responses to any queries for the last outstanding claims for each poll are submitted and payments settled.

Payments to statutorily independent Returning Officers (ROs) for UK parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner polls are made from the Consolidated Fund. An advance payment – typically 75% of the estimated cost – is issued in advance of the election, meaning ROs are not required to meet election costs upfront or wait a considerable length of time for the majority of the funding. The final payment reflects the balance due, following scrutiny and agreement of the expenses claim.

The table below sets out the dates of the first and last payments agreed for each of the last five sets of elections, based on records held by the Department. These figures relate to claims made by ROs for reimbursement of properly incurred costs.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of discrepancies between voter identification documents and electoral register entries caused by (a) failure to update identification documents of a change of surname following marriage (b) other named-related reasons on trends in the level of voter participation; and what steps her Department is taking to communicate the need for identification documents to match the electoral register for future elections.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in the Elections Act 2022, where there is a discrepancy between the name shown on an elector’s identification document and how their name is recorded on the electoral register, that elector may still use that document if they are able to explain the discrepancy to the satisfaction of the presiding officer, and may provide further evidence (e.g. a marriage certificate) when doing so

This information is set out on poll cards and is displayed in polling stations.

No assessment has been made on the potential impacts that such discrepancies might have on levels of voter participation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will list the results of the mayoral elections held on 1 May, including the turnout percentage in each mayoralty.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Elections are run by independent Returning Officers, who are responsible for publishing election results.

My Department does not have a formal role in collating and publishing information on the results of Mayoral elections.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what dates Ministers in her Department have met with (a) Dominic Grieve and (b) the members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia to discuss (i) that working group and (ii) the definition of Islamophobia.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement has had monthly meetings with the Chair of the Working Group. He has met with members of the Working Group on several occasions.

Found: November 2024 2 AEA 2024 Post polls ministerial letter, 18 July 2024; Q135 3 Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government

Found: The level of co-operation there has been with MHCLG, MOD, the Treasury, DBT and other Government Departments

Found: We encourage increased co-ordination between DESNZ, MHCLG, and DEFRA to ensure efficient planning and

Found: Letter to the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to

Found: My department has engaged with Ofgem, NESO, HMT, DBT, DFT, DFE, DEFRA, MHCLG and No.10 to develop the

Found: That will continue to be paid through the local government finance settlement, which MHCLG pays, along

Found: Q41 Mike Reader: We talked before about how the seventh carbon budget covers DFT and MHCLG.

Found: Being the Lords preferred decant location, the Board noted the ongoing discussions with MHCLG to facilitate

Found: I have spoken to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on a number of occasions

Found: I have a lot of close dealings with MHCLG because, for example, you cannot do the plans for new towns

Found: Through our conversations with MHCLG and the New Towns Taskforce, the Council is thinking about how

Found: Joshua McTaggart: For context in case any Members do not know, there is coming down the line—I believe MHCLG

Found: Joshua McTaggart: For context in case any Members do not know, there is coming down the line—I believe MHCLG

Found: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is deploying AI for four use cases.

Found: service for the customers, who often don’t care whether they are engaging with DWP, the Home Office or MHCLG

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has met with (a) Dominic Grieve and (b) the members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia to discuss the working group and the definition of Islamophobia.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The work he refers to is being overseen by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Sport England’s Planning Statutory Consultee status on the provision of sporting facilities in new housing developments.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is reviewing the statutory consultee system, including Sport England, to promote growth and unblock building.

The statutory consultee system must work in support of development and economic growth—reflecting the central place of these objectives in the Government’s plan for change. A process is in place to consult on the impacts of removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sport England.

Access to open green spaces and playing fields is important, and we will work closely with MHCLG as part of their proposed reforms, and we remain committed to ensuring our playing field capacity is protected.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the protection of sporting facilities in the planning process.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is reviewing the statutory consultee system, including Sport England, to promote growth and unblock building.

The statutory consultee system must work in support of development and economic growth—reflecting the central place of these objectives in the Government’s plan for change. A process is in place to consult on the impacts of removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sport England.

Access to open green spaces and playing fields is important, and we will work closely with MHCLG as part of their proposed reforms, and we remain committed to ensuring our playing field capacity is protected.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support capital funding for Broomfield's leisure centre in Warrington South constituency.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to leisure facilities which are vital spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and which play an important role within communities.

The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level with funding levels set by MHCLG as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve, investing in sport and physical activity with a place-based approach, to meet the needs of individual communities.

On 20 June 2025, the Culture Secretary announced that following the Spending Review, at least £400 million is going to be invested into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities right across the UK, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will now work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to discourage the use of disposable barbecues in National Landscapes during periods of high fire risk.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques at present. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It would also be a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute

National Landscapes and National Parks also have specific powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government departments to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code also advises visitors to the countryside to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires and fire risk are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with retailers on limiting the sale of disposable barbecues during periods of high fire risk.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques at present. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It would also be a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute

National Landscapes and National Parks also have specific powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government departments to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code also advises visitors to the countryside to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires and fire risk are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62602 on Police: Employer’s Contribution, what the monetary value is of the additional National Insurance compensatory amount of funding given to a (a) police force and (b) fire and rescue authority for one additional member of full-time staff.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The police funding settlement provided territorial policing in England and Wales with additional funding of £230.3 million in 2025/26 to support forces with the cost of the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions set out in the Autumn Budget. Allocations were based on forces’ share of the total national workforce headcount as at 31 March 2024, which was 245,765.

Separately, in recognition of the decision to increase employer National Insurance Contributions, MHCLG provided £515 million to local authorities in England. This includes standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities, as well as Fire and Rescue Authorities that are part of a county council. Allocations are based on local authorities’ net current expenditure.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered introducing restrictions on the sale of disposable barbecues in areas experiencing prolonged dry weather.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It is a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute.

Research published under the previous Government titled Sky Lanterns, Single-Use Barbecues and Helium Balloons - Risks and Mitigation Options - EV04104 considered the risks posed by disposable barbecues but failed to demonstrate a clear net benefit from a total ban.

National Landscapes and National Parks also have powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land.

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code advises visitors to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce a national policy on the (a) use and (b) sale of disposable barbecues in relation to increased wildfire risk.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It is a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute.

Research published under the previous Government titled Sky Lanterns, Single-Use Barbecues and Helium Balloons - Risks and Mitigation Options - EV04104 considered the risks posed by disposable barbecues but failed to demonstrate a clear net benefit from a total ban.

National Landscapes and National Parks also have powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land.

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code advises visitors to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities (a) in West Dorset constituency (b) nationwide to limit the use of disposable barbecues during periods of high wildfire risk.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It is a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute.

Research published under the previous Government titled Sky Lanterns, Single-Use Barbecues and Helium Balloons - Risks and Mitigation Options - EV04104 considered the risks posed by disposable barbecues but failed to demonstrate a clear net benefit from a total ban.

National Landscapes and National Parks also have powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land.

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code advises visitors to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of banning the use of disposable barbecues during periods of elevated wildfire risk due to dry conditions.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It is a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 or prosecute.

Research published under the previous Government titled Sky Lanterns, Single-Use Barbecues and Helium Balloons - Risks and Mitigation Options - EV04104 considered the risks posed by disposable barbecues but failed to demonstrate a clear net benefit from a total ban.

National Landscapes and National Parks also have powers to regulate and prohibit fires on access land.

The public are encouraged to behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk. We are working across government to increase wildfire messaging to the public. The Countryside Code advises visitors to only use barbecues where signs state they are allowed.

Voluntary guidelines by the British Retail Consortium encourage retailers to restrict the sale of disposable barbecues during extreme heat events, or when there are increased fire risks, or when asked to by local authorities.

Wildfires are not in Defra’s remit, but instead fall to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If you would like further information on wildfires, please reach out to MHCLG.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consultation his Department has had on the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Future Homes Standards work in relation to wellbeing and health standards in homes.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government plans to legislate for the Future Homes Standard this autumn. This legislation will aim to ensure that all new homes are warm, comfortable, and maintain high indoor air quality. This work is being led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Department of Health and Social Care will continue to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as the standards are finalised and implemented, to ensure that evidence on health impacts can be taken into account.

Found: Department for Work and Pensions, Get Britain Working White Paper, November 2024; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: (MHCLG) supports the ‘unlocking’ of land the market deems unviable or difficult

Council Tax Reform APPG
Thursday 17th July 2025

Found: Next Steps Future APPG sessions and ongoing engagement with MHCLG.

Digital Communities APPG
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Found: The absence of MHCLG was noted by several witnesses, given the role of local government in the PSTN

Found: Labour Force Survey LPC – Low Pay CommissionSection 4: References, abbreviations, and stakeholders 57 MHCLG

Found: Performance Indicator LAs – Local Authorities LFS – Labour Force Survey LPC – Low Pay Commission MHCLG

Found: These findings are consistent with evidence from the English Housing Survey (MHCLG, 2024) regarding

Found: (MHCLG) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), commissioned the National Centre for

Found: Account28483356379641834460Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office12536913892391105310952MHCLG - Local Government -----MHCLG

Found: Bonus907622556291291PFI special grant (Housing)185185173168168City Deals175167168167167Other11491414262220582503Total MHCLG

Found: Office-0---Defence-32-27-15-18-21Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office147283161174163Total MHCLG

Found: years, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) partnered with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: MHCLG is doing some specific work on this.

Found: (MHCLG, previously known as the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing

Found: Work by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to maximise its return on

Found: This includes the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government describing how they adopted

Found: Information hubs MyCommunity - a MHCLG-backed central hub for information and support, including community

Found: Fuel Payments, and Cold Weather Payments.7.67.7Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG

Found: MHCLG figures show that as of 20 May 2025, over 92% of bodies had published audited accounts for this

Found: closely with key stakeholders across the local audit system, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: closely with key stakeholders across the local audit system, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: To tackle the backlog of unaudited local authority ARAs, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: To tackle the backlog of unaudited local authority ARAs, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Homes England; Leeds City Council; West Yorkshire Combined Authority; the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: ● Working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government towards a Local Government

Found: (MHCLG) and the devolved administrations (Scottish Government, Welsh Government

Found: Office-0----Defence-32-27-15-18-21-Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office147283161174163161Total MHCLG

Found: Account284833563796418344604988Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office1253691389239110531095211271MHCLG - Local Government ------MHCLG

Found: special grant (Housing)185185173168168168City Deals175167168167167212Other114914142622205825032754Total MHCLG

Found: Government Association; z Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology; z Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Government Association; z Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology; z Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: , implemented jointly between the expanded Office for Investment and the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government

Found: Companies House DBT Government Property Agency CO Building Digital UK DSIT Planning Inspectorate MHCLG

Found: programme has suffered periods of uncertainty, adjustment and confusion following Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Community Pub Ltd Independent Member, Audit & Risk Assurance Committee, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Community Pub Ltd Independent Member, Audit & Risk Assurance Committee, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: and accounts 2024–25 Accountability report which is coordinated from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: This is part of a national boardroom apprenticeship scheme sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: This is part of a national boardroom apprenticeship scheme sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Our minister at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Matthew Pennycook

Found: Our minister at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Matthew Pennycook

Found: planning and placemaking strategy team, who work with LPAs, developers, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: can confirm that Homes England is party to a contract with XMA held by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Approval was obtained in February/March 2013 from MHCLG and HMT for the disposal of the site to Hadlow

Found: redirect their request to, and in accordance with this we can advise that you contact both OCC and MHCLG

Found: This is the template GFA to which the GFA between SGIMC and DLUHC, now MHCLG, was created from and contains

Found: provide copies of any correspondence between the Funding Agency’s and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: clarification, Homes England is a Non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: ERDF provided to the scheme, the responsible body for that programme is the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: can advise that the Oxpens River Bridge is a direct funding award from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: successful PAS 9980:2022 compliant FRAEW assessment and application form have been accepted by the MHCLG

Found: Pioneer Programme, in collaboration with Government Commercial Function (GCF), Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: members of Homes England’s Shared Ownership team and our counterparts in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: This information is collated and made available by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: In line with MHCLG Guidance, the sales value is not reduced for affordable properties (i.e. all properties

Found: Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) is a cross-government initiative between the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: duty we are able to confirm that the information is likely to be held by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: the information held would reveal the estimation by Homes England and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: correspondence between Homes England, Zenith Property Management, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: BACKGROUND:- (A) The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (now the Department for Levelling

Found: To tackle the backlog of unaudited local authority accounts, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: year we are hosting a boardroom apprentice as part of the scheme run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: we are hosting a boardroom apprentice as part of the scheme run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: provision of a unified shared service across HMRC, Department for Transport and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: work in partnership with HM Treasury, HMRC, the Welsh Government and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: innovation and impact through expansion of initiatives, including with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: innovation and impact through expansion of initiatives, including with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: (MHCLG).

Found: (MHCLG).

Found: Government This plan sets out how the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG

Found: development involving the boring for or getting of oil and natural gas for shale: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: This includes the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government describing how they adopted

Found: Work by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to maximise its return on

Found: (MHCLG, previously known as the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing

Found: comprises over 30 policy officials and analysts from the core government departments that use the EHS (MHCLG

Found: comprises over 30 policy officials and analysts from the core government departments that use the EHS (MHCLG

Found: (MHCLG) to ensure that the EHS maintains compliance with those standards. 5.

Found: (MHCLG).

Found: (MHCLG), formerly the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Found: (MHCLG), formerly the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Found: (MHCLG).

Found: (MHCLG).

Found: (MHCLG).

Found: From: Building Control Independent Panel and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Called In Planning Applications and Recovered Appeals, including decision letters, can be viewed on the MHCLG

Found: the RSH’s consumer standards in due course, following a direction being issued to the regulator by MHCLG

Found: the RSH’s consumer standards in due course, following a direction being issued to the regulator by MHCLG

Found: Turned Away projectThe No Woman Turned Away (NWTA), project, funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: MHCLG is doing some specific work on this.

Found: (MHCLG).

Found: officials.One member suggested that the Scottish Government should convene its own panel to shadow the current MHCLG