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

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with HM Land Registry about improving processing times for applications; and whether they have set any specific targets for service improvement.

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

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.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of the programme of new towns to be constructed in England.

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

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.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to help prevent anti-Israeli boycotts and divestment campaigns in local authorities.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government strongly opposes boycotts by local authorities except where formal legal sanctions, embargoes and restrictions have been put in place by the UK Government. Boycotts can be unlawful and lead to penalties against the contracting authority and the Government.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the remit is of the external remediation team at the Building Safety Regulator; and how it is engaging with stakeholders on applications.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The External Remediation team assess building control applications for proposed remediation works to the external envelope of a building, such as cladding, renders, and balconies. Individual team members liaise with the applicant throughout the application lifecycle, updating them on key milestones and offering wider support through regular educational webinars. An Account Manager function was established in March 2026 responsible for proactively identifying and engaging with key stakeholders to support improvements in the quality of applications.

A new Remediation Enforcement Unit (REU) became operational in March 2026. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has identified 650 registered higher-risk buildings that have either combustible Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) or high-pressure laminate as part of their external wall system. The principal accountable persons of buildings with combustible ACM have been directed to apply for a building assessment certificate and are already being assessed via that route.

During April, the REU will contact the remaining buildings to ask for a relevant fire risk assessment and plan, and check that the removal (of cladding) proposal is appropriate to the materials and layout.

The REU is also investigating 83 buildings referred to the BSR by the Cladding Safety Scheme (run by Homes England) with unconfirmed combustible materials. The REU has ruled out 20 of these buildings as not having combustible materials, with the remainder being contacted to provide the necessary fire risk assessments and plans.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress the remediation enforcement unit within the Building Safety Regulator has made on its objectives.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The External Remediation team assess building control applications for proposed remediation works to the external envelope of a building, such as cladding, renders, and balconies. Individual team members liaise with the applicant throughout the application lifecycle, updating them on key milestones and offering wider support through regular educational webinars. An Account Manager function was established in March 2026 responsible for proactively identifying and engaging with key stakeholders to support improvements in the quality of applications.

A new Remediation Enforcement Unit (REU) became operational in March 2026. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has identified 650 registered higher-risk buildings that have either combustible Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) or high-pressure laminate as part of their external wall system. The principal accountable persons of buildings with combustible ACM have been directed to apply for a building assessment certificate and are already being assessed via that route.

During April, the REU will contact the remaining buildings to ask for a relevant fire risk assessment and plan, and check that the removal (of cladding) proposal is appropriate to the materials and layout.

The REU is also investigating 83 buildings referred to the BSR by the Cladding Safety Scheme (run by Homes England) with unconfirmed combustible materials. The REU has ruled out 20 of these buildings as not having combustible materials, with the remainder being contacted to provide the necessary fire risk assessments and plans.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish details of the new batching model being trialled by the Building Safety Regulator to reduce the length of time taken to assess building control applications, including the number of applications being considered.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) publishes monthly data on Building Control Approval applications, including progress on the batching pilot launched in September 2025. Latest data, published in February 2026, showed average approval times for new cases of 18 weeks, representing an almost threefold improvement in processing times when compared to May-July 2025. More complex cases managed through Account Managers are taking around 25 weeks on average for approval.

The BSR has also addressed the backlog of legacy Gateway 2 applications through a substantial expansion of operational capacity and the integration of specialist expertise. These measures have strengthened decision-making, sped up the processing of both new‑build and remediation cases, and supported more efficient partnership working with industry.

In parallel, enhanced guidance, developed jointly with the Construction Leadership Council, is supporting applicants to submit clearer, higher‑quality applications that demonstrate compliance, helping to further reduce determination times.

There are currently four live Gateway 2 applications within the Stockport constituency (SK1–SK5): two remediation cases and two Category A applications.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, (a) what steps his Department is taking to reduce the backlog in Gateway 2 applications at the Building Safety Regulator and (b) how many Gateway 2 applications are outstanding for buildings in Stockport constituency.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) publishes monthly data on Building Control Approval applications, including progress on the batching pilot launched in September 2025. Latest data, published in February 2026, showed average approval times for new cases of 18 weeks, representing an almost threefold improvement in processing times when compared to May-July 2025. More complex cases managed through Account Managers are taking around 25 weeks on average for approval.

The BSR has also addressed the backlog of legacy Gateway 2 applications through a substantial expansion of operational capacity and the integration of specialist expertise. These measures have strengthened decision-making, sped up the processing of both new‑build and remediation cases, and supported more efficient partnership working with industry.

In parallel, enhanced guidance, developed jointly with the Construction Leadership Council, is supporting applicants to submit clearer, higher‑quality applications that demonstrate compliance, helping to further reduce determination times.

There are currently four live Gateway 2 applications within the Stockport constituency (SK1–SK5): two remediation cases and two Category A applications.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will set out what support his Department and Cabinet colleagues makes available to local authorities to develop community energy schemes, local food production and emergency preparedness plans.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In the recently published Local Power Plan, Government recognises that limited capacity and capability are major barriers for local government to participate in small-scale energy projects. Backed by up to £1 billion and working in partnership with local government, Great British Energy (GBE) has committed to support at least 1000 local and community energy projects by 2030.

The Good Food Cycle recognises the key role that regional and local food systems can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes of the Good Food Cycle. We know the best solutions often come from the ground up. That is why the Good Food Cycle sets the ambition to use local community initiatives to harness a stronger food culture to support our health, sustainability and resilience outcomes.

Improving the food environment will support healthier and more environmentally sustainable food sales, and access to all for safe, affordable, healthy, convenient, and appealing food options. Defra is developing a programme of work to support local, hyper-local and community-based interventions around access to healthy and affordable food in priority locations.

MHCLG and CO run a local capabilities assessment programme which assesses emergency preparedness planning for specific response capabilities across the 38 Local Resilience Forums (LRFs). This work helps inform national government on local preparedness gaps and identify actionable areas for improvement.

The Civil Contingencies Act (2004) places a duty on all local authorities to cooperate with other agencies (e.g. police, fire & rescue, health), operating as a Local Resilience Forum, to prepare and maintain plans for the key risks facing their area. In addition, local authorities are expected to have business continuity plans that will assist them to continue to operate when emergencies impact them directly.

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 9 March 2026 to Question 116476 on Political Parties: Finances, whether (a) hon. Members and (b) peers will have to undertake due diligence checks on political donations made directly to them.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (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.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had discussions with Stockport Council regarding the condition of Reddish Library.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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.

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 9 March 2026 to Question 116477 on Local government: elections, what his timetable is for establishing the claimant’s reasonable legal costs.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

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

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 24 March (HL15443) and the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 5 March (HL Deb col 585GC), what steps the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has taken in the last year to meet its legal duty to keep under review the question of when uncommenced legislation that falls within its area of responsibility should be brought into force.

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

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.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the issue of homelessness.

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

The government set out our plans to tackle homelessness in England through the National Plan to End Homelessness in December 2025 which you can find on gov.uk here (attached).

Our Plan sets out actions to address the root causes of homelessness including building more homes, reforming renters’ rights, and tackling poverty. The Plan will also drive medium-term change to shift from crisis to prevention through cross-government targets, £3.6 billion funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next 3 years and new duties on services to work together to prevent homelessness.

In the short-term, we will tackle the worst forms of homelessness by ending the unlawful use of B&Bs for families and tackling unacceptable temporary accommodation, including through our £30 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Programme. And we will halve long-term rough sleeping by the end of this parliament, including through £159 million new funding for supported housing, £37 million for voluntary, community and faith organisations, and £15 million for councils to test new approaches.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish a wildfire strategy and action plan.

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

The Government recognises the increasing risk posed by wildfires and the importance of a coordinated, cross-government approach to prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are working closely with a wide range of partners to strengthen our collective approach to wildfire resilience.

We are taking action across critical areas such as response and national capabilities, forecasting, and risk assessment and ensuring these are drawn together into a coherent cross-government approach.

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 issued guidance to local authorities undergoing Local Government Reorganisation on the transfer or sale of assets to community groups.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

During the local government reorganisation process, councils are expected to continue to operate on a business-as-usual basis. Assets and liabilities remain locally managed by councils until reorganisation is complete. Decisions about the disposal or transfer of assets, including to community or voluntary groups, are matters for individual local authorities to determine.

The Government has issued explanatory guidance to councils undergoing local government reorganisation on financial and asset‑related decision making and has been clear that councils should take a responsible approach to such decisions and avoid actions that could jeopardise the financial sustainability of successor authorities.

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 command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 29, whether requirements to learn English for new arrivals will apply to asylum seekers as a condition of receiving (a) asylum and (b) settled status.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The ability to use and understand our shared language is a fundamental basis for participating in society and an expectation of all who wish to call the UK home. English language proficiency is a key facilitator of cohesive communities, and proficiency provides opportunity for individuals, including improved social connections, participation, access to employment and access to essential services.

A decision to grant asylum is based on whether an individual is at risk of persecution in their home country. In compliance with our international obligations, this does not take into account whether or not they can speak English.

As outlined in Protecting What Matters, this government has already strengthened English language requirements for people subject to immigration control, including those applying for settlement. We will also review English language provision to identify best practice, and explore how innovation, including digital delivery, can increase the numbers able to speak English, with conclusions published in Autumn 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Welsh Government will receive consequential funding as a result of the decision to expand Phase 2 of the Pride in Place programme to an additional 40 places, based on an England-only methodology.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are already supporting 14 communities across Wales through the Pride in Place programme, each with up to £20 million of funding to unlock the potential of the place they call home. The recent programme expansion is limited to English neighbourhoods since it is funded from existing MHCLG budgets for England. The governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have already received their share of this funding via their respective block grant.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department have awarded the funding to the British Muslim Trust which was pledged in July 2025.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Hate crimes targeting Muslims are now at record levels: in the year to March 2025, there were 4,478 religious hate crimes against Muslims, representing almost half of all religious hate crimes. This is abhorrent and this Government is committed to tackling anti-Muslim hostility wherever, and however it manifests.

To do this, the Government provided £650,000 in the 2025/26 financial year to the British Muslim Trust to monitor anti-Muslim hostility and support victims. This includes providing a helpline to report incidents safely, raising awareness of hate crime and working closely with partners across the country to deliver on this vital work.

This funding is an important step in the Government’s mission to confronting all kinds of hatred and building safer, stronger and more cohesive communities for all.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on non-mayoral visitor economies, including Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, of limiting powers to introduce an overnight visitor levy in England to Mayoral Strategic Authorities and any future Foundation Strategic Authorities.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

West Sussex is a constituent member of the Sussex and Brighton Combined County Authority, which was formally established on 25 March 2026. Consequently, the towns of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton will benefit from a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) for the region with the power to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy (OVL). As set out in the Visitor Levy consultation document, the Government believes this power best sits with MSAs as Mayors hold the levers to drive local growth and have the mandate to make strategic decisions over a large geography. Evidence from other countries suggests that modest levies have a limited impact on visitor numbers and displacement.

In February, the Government invited all local authorities that do not currently have a devolution agreement to come forward with proposals for a Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA) across a sensible geography to ensure everywhere has access to the benefits of devolution. As you note, the Government has also consulted on whether to give the Visitor Levy power to FSAs, given they also hold levers to drive local growth and have strategic roles in economic development over a significant geographic area. The Government will publish the response to the consultation which ended on 18 February shortly

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 command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 28, what issues the consultation paper on national integration will include.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government recognises that integration is a two-way street: we all share a role in providing opportunities for people to participate free from fear of discrimination or bigotry, while newcomers have a responsibility to engage with and embrace what it means to be British.

As set out in Protecting What Matters, we will set clear national integration expectations - focused on stronger social connections, shared identity, English language proficiency, and participation in work. To ensure these expectation are grounded in evidence and lived experience, we will launch a national consultation later this year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to issue guidance to billing authorities on the publication of aggregate and recipient-level information on discretionary business rates relief awarded to premises used wholly or mainly for community sport.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Billing authorities report on the value of discretionary relief provided to Community Amateur Sports Clubs and a snapshot of the number of hereditaments in receipt of this discretionary relief via the Department’s national non-domestic rates forms. Guidance to help complete the forms is provided to billing authorities.

The latest published information on the value of the relief in 2026-27 can be found at table 2 here.

The latest published data on the number of hereditaments in receipt of discretionary relief as at 31 December 2024 can be found in Table 4 here.

Data on hereditaments as at 31 December 2025 will be published 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, whether his Department has met with representatives of the (a) Dar Alhekma Trust, (b) Islamic Centre of England, (c) Abrar Islamic Foundation, and (d) Centre for Media Monitoring, since July 2024.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department has not met with representatives of the (a) Dar Alhekma Trust, (b) Islamic Centre of England, (c) Abrar Islamic Foundation, or (d) Centre for Media Monitoring.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to extend statutory leaseholder protections to residents in buildings under 11 metres where freeholders seek to pass on the cost of remediation or other major works.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Regarding cladding, the Department is committed to protecting residential leaseholders from bearing the costs of remediating historic fire safety-related defects as far as is proportionate and offering support to both residents and leaseholders.

The Remediation Acceleration Plan committed to funding for fire safety cladding remediation in multi-occupied residential buildings under 11 metres in England in exceptional cases where there are life critical fire safety risks and no alternative route to funding. Homes England now oversees cases for residential buildings under 11 metres.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the Government’s policy on the use of deepfake imagery, video or audio in elections.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government takes the threat posed by harmful deepfakes very seriously. The Government recognises that the huge opportunities offered by AI also come with risks, including potential challenges posed by AI-generated content for the online information environment and its potential impact on democratic processes.

The UK’s Online Safety Act has introduced duties on in scope services to tackle digital impersonation where it amounts to an existing offence, including false statements about a candidate's character or conduct ahead of or during an election.

Solutions that help to determine what media is real and what is AI-generated are key to tackling a range of AI risks. The government is undertaking work to explore the potential methods for detecting AI-generated content.

The UK also has strong data protection laws to help tackle the misuse of personal identity, through the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. These laws require that any personal data processing is lawful, fair and transparent.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support local authorities in the provision of adult social care.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Baroness Casey is leading an independent commission into adult social care to help shape the reforms needed to realise a National Care Service.

But councils can make a difference to improving care via their role as commissioners, and I am working with the minister for care to support local authorities in doing so.

This is backed by around £4.6 billion additional funding available for adult social care in 2028–29 compared to 2025–26. This includes £500 million for the first Fair Pay Agreement to improve adult social care worker pay and conditions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle the causes of homelessness in Sunderland Central constituency.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Our National Plan to End Homelessness sets out how we will tackle the root causes of homelessness across England, including a generational increase in new social and affordable homes backed by £39 billion investment and tackling poverty by scrapping the two-child limit to lift 450,000 children out of poverty.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on developing the Able Humber Ports site at Killingholme following the awarding of the Industrial Strategy Zone Site Accelerator Grant funding.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As one of the twenty-two Industrial Strategy Zones across the UK, Humber Freeport was awarded £490,000 of Site Accelerator Grant to progress vital work to unlock a new quay and offshore wind supply‑chain hub at Immingham.

Alongside the private sector investment at Killingholme – this will unlock wider benefits for the region that will create jobs, support decarbonisation, and deliver long‑term economic growth across the Humber.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for each of the past five years, what proportion of social housing evictions involved households with (a) no recourse to public funds, (b) pre‑settled status without a qualifying right to reside, (c) temporary visas, (d) refugee status, (e) humanitarian protection, or (f) indefinite leave to remain.

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

My Department does not hold the information requested.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for each of the past five years, how many households placed in the insanitary, unsatisfactory or overcrowded Reasonable Preference category on social housing registers were (a) UK nationals, (b) EU nationals, and (c) non‑EU nationals.

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

My Department does not hold the information requested.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration his Department has given to strengthening regulatory interfaces, including the UK’s machinery and building‑safety frameworks, to ensure that lifts, doors, and other powered egress‑related systems allow for rapid evacuation of vulnerable residents during fire emergencies.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is reviewing the recommendation from the Grenfell Inquiry to mandate fire safety strategies for higher risk buildings. Such strategies would require a building’s responsible person to set out clear plans for what vulnerable people should do to evacuate in an emergency. Additionally, government has committed to review and update guidance to the Building Regulations set out in Approved Document B (Fire Safety). The Building Safety Regulator has launched a public consultation setting out proposals including new provisions for evacuation lifts in residential buildings over 18 metres to support safe evacuation of residents who may not be able to use stairs. The consultation closes on 17 June 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the cost-savings to residents of the requirement of new homes to be fitted with heat pumps.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) has now been published and will come into force on 24 March 2027. The Impact Assessment for the FHS does not isolate the savings attributable to heat pumps alone, as it considers the overall performance of homes built to the FHS rather than individual technologies in isolation. Compared to a typical existing home with an EPC rating of C, homes built to the FHS could save families up to £830 a year on their energy bills. These estimates reflect the combined impact of much higher fabric efficiency, low‑carbon heating such as heat pumps and, in most cases, on‑site renewable electricity generation such as solar PV.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are able to access social housing.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government will deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation, including through the new 10-year £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme. As set out in our National Plan to End Homelessness, we will work with partners to update statutory guidance on social housing allocations to ensure that allocations reflect local need and effectively support vulnerable households.

Where joint working is not operating effectively, we will consider levers to require social housing landlords to rehouse statutory homeless households referred by the council, including legislating if necessary.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what fiscal steps he is taking to support the community ownership of assets in Surrey.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This Government is empowering communities to protect and take ownership of valued local assets through the new Community Right to Buy. This will give communities the first opportunity to purchase a registered asset of community value when it is put up for sale by its owner.

In addition, our £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme is supporting 284 of the most in-need areas with funding to support a range of local activities, including restoring or taking ownership of assets they value. The Pride in Place Impact Fund will also provide up to £150 million of funding to 95 places to support the development of community spaces, public space and to revitalise local high streets.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help prevent children from sleeping rough.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 121467 on 24 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support and protect supported housing provision.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given the Question UIN 123120 on 26 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment of proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to remove the requirement for developers to provide social and affordable housing on medium-sized sites, including the effect on the number of homes delivered through section 106 planning obligations.

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

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The draft Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, retains a strong preference for, and commitment to, on-site delivery of social and affordable housing, reflecting the benefits this provides in terms of the delivery of mixed communities, controlled land prices, and secure cash flow for developers of all sizes.

However, for the reasons outlined in the consultation, the government decided to explore further the potential benefits and drawbacks of enabling developers to discharge social and affordable housing requirements through cash contributions in lieu of direct delivery in the category of “medium” sites. In its fullest form, this approach would mean it was entirely at the applicant’s discretion as to whether to provide social and affordable housing on-site or via a cash payment in lieu.

My Department has made no assessment of the impact that this approach would have on the overall number of social and affordable homes delivered through S106 agreements or on rates of housebuilding more generally.

However, the consultation makes clear that further consideration of this policy proposition would have to take into account its impact on the government’s manifesto commitments to strengthen the existing developer contributions system and to deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. It would also have to account for the need to ensure payments reflect an appropriate value, and the imperative that such payments could be spent effectively and quickly so as not to push social and affordable housing delivery timescales far into the future.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response 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, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to remove the requirement for developers to provide social and affordable housing on medium-sized sites on the delivery of housing in rural areas.

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

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The draft Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, retains a strong preference for, and commitment to, on-site delivery of social and affordable housing, reflecting the benefits this provides in terms of the delivery of mixed communities, controlled land prices, and secure cash flow for developers of all sizes.

However, for the reasons outlined in the consultation, the government decided to explore further the potential benefits and drawbacks of enabling developers to discharge social and affordable housing requirements through cash contributions in lieu of direct delivery in the category of “medium” sites. In its fullest form, this approach would mean it was entirely at the applicant’s discretion as to whether to provide social and affordable housing on-site or via a cash payment in lieu.

My Department has made no assessment of the impact that this approach would have on the overall number of social and affordable homes delivered through S106 agreements or on rates of housebuilding more generally.

However, the consultation makes clear that further consideration of this policy proposition would have to take into account its impact on the government’s manifesto commitments to strengthen the existing developer contributions system and to deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. It would also have to account for the need to ensure payments reflect an appropriate value, and the imperative that such payments could be spent effectively and quickly so as not to push social and affordable housing delivery timescales far into the future.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response 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, what steps the Government is taking to increase the supply of one-bedroom social housing for young people in (a) Yeovil constituency (b) Somerset and (c) England.

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

My Department has held no recent discussions with local planning authorities regarding specific barriers to delivering one-bedroom social rented homes for young people.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 101227 on 7 January 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of the Government’s target to build 1.5 million new homes, will be one-bedroom social homes, suitable for young people.

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

My Department has held no recent discussions with local planning authorities regarding specific barriers to delivering one-bedroom social rented homes for young people.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 101227 on 7 January 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities in England on barriers to delivering one-bedroom social homes for young people.

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

My Department has held no recent discussions with local planning authorities regarding specific barriers to delivering one-bedroom social rented homes for young people.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 101227 on 7 January 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help support young people who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are taking action across government to provide targeted support to young people and their families at an earlier stage. The government is providing more than £3.6 billion funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years, which councils can use to meet the needs of people in their area including young people.

Through our National Plan to End Homelessness we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness by building more homes, tackling poverty and reforming renters’ rights. We have also committed to develop a national Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit and develop a dedicated chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people, to support councils to work collaboratively with other public services to prevent youth homelessness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to (a) understand and (b) tackle causes of youth homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are taking action across government to provide targeted support to young people and their families at an earlier stage. The government is providing more than £3.6 billion funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years, which councils can use to meet the needs of people in their area including young people.

Through our National Plan to End Homelessness we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness by building more homes, tackling poverty and reforming renters’ rights. We have also committed to develop a national Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit and develop a dedicated chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people, to support councils to work collaboratively with other public services to prevent youth homelessness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support local authorities to address youth homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are taking action across government to provide targeted support to young people and their families at an earlier stage. The government is providing more than £3.6 billion funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years, which councils can use to meet the needs of people in their area including young people.

Through our National Plan to End Homelessness we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness by building more homes, tackling poverty and reforming renters’ rights. We have also committed to develop a national Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit and develop a dedicated chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people, to support councils to work collaboratively with other public services to prevent youth homelessness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to prevent youth homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are taking action across government to provide targeted support to young people and their families at an earlier stage. The government is providing more than £3.6 billion funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years, which councils can use to meet the needs of people in their area including young people.

Through our National Plan to End Homelessness we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness by building more homes, tackling poverty and reforming renters’ rights. We have also committed to develop a national Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit and develop a dedicated chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people, to support councils to work collaboratively with other public services to prevent youth homelessness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what additional support she will provide rural local authorities, including Somerset Council, to help families in Yeovil constituency out of temporary accommodation.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is providing £3.6 billion funding for homelessness services from 2026/27 to 2028/29, including more than £2.2 billion for local authorities to prevent and address homelessness and rough sleeping through the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant, as well as £969 million for temporary accommodation within the Revenue Support Grant. You can find local authority level allocations on gov.uk here.

We published our national strategy, A National Plan to End Homelessness, in December 2025. You can find our plan to tackle homelessness 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, what additional support he will provide to rural local authorities, including Somerset Council, to manage the cost of temporary accommodation provision.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is providing £3.6 billion funding for homelessness services from 2026/27 to 2028/29, including more than £2.2 billion for local authorities to prevent and address homelessness and rough sleeping through the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant, as well as £969 million for temporary accommodation within the Revenue Support Grant. You can find local authority level allocations on gov.uk here.

We published our national strategy, A National Plan to End Homelessness, in December 2025. You can find our plan to tackle homelessness 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, what assessment he has made of the financial pressure placed on local authorities by the rising cost of temporary accommodation provision.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is providing £3.6 billion funding for homelessness services from 2026/27 to 2028/29, including more than £2.2 billion for local authorities to prevent and address homelessness and rough sleeping through the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant, as well as £969 million for temporary accommodation within the Revenue Support Grant. You can find local authority level allocations on gov.uk here.

We published our national strategy, A National Plan to End Homelessness, in December 2025. You can find our plan to tackle homelessness 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, what steps he is taking to reduce homelessness in West Berkshire.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is providing £3.6 billion funding for homelessness services from 2026/27 to 2028/29, including more than £2.2 billion for local authorities to prevent and address homelessness and rough sleeping through the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant, as well as £969 million for temporary accommodation within the Revenue Support Grant. You can find local authority level allocations on gov.uk here.

We published our national strategy, A National Plan to End Homelessness, in December 2025. You can find our plan to tackle homelessness 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, what steps he is taking to help tackle youth homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are taking action across government to provide targeted support to young people and their families at an earlier stage. The government is providing more than £3.6 billion funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years, which councils can use to meet the needs of people in their area including young people.

Through our National Plan to End Homelessness we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness by building more homes, tackling poverty and reforming renters’ rights. We have also committed to develop a national Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit and develop a dedicated chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people, to support councils to work collaboratively with other public services to prevent youth homelessness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help improve community cohesion.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 9^th March, MHCLG published Protecting What Matters. This is a cross-Government action plan that sets out the initial steps government will take to improve social cohesion. The publication aims to create confident, cohesive, and resilient communities. Protecting What Matters contains policy aimed at building bridges, bringing people together and combatting those seeking to radicalise and create division.

This is in addition to the government’s Pride in Place Strategy which aims to build stronger communities across the UK. Neighbourhoods in Derry-Londonderry and Coleraine are part of the transformational £5.8bn Pride in Place programme which will bring people together and restore a of local pride. We will continue to work with the devolved governments to align priorities across governments and support social cohesion in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of delays in determining discretionary business rates relief applications on the financial sustainability of grassroots sports clubs in England.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The administration of business rates, including billing, enforcement and decisions on the award of relief is the responsibility of local government, having regard to the relevant legislation or, where applicable, guidance published by central government.

Local authorities are responsible for deciding any application process for the locally funded discretionary rate relief schemes they administer.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the administrative burden placed on volunteer-led sports clubs and community sports facilities by annual reapplication requirements for discretionary business rates relief.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The administration of business rates, including billing, enforcement and decisions on the award of relief is the responsibility of local government, having regard to the relevant legislation or, where applicable, guidance published by central government.

Local authorities are responsible for deciding any application process for the locally funded discretionary rate relief schemes they administer.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of local authority budget pressures on decisions to award discretionary business rates relief to sports clubs and community sports facilities.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The administration of business rates, including billing, enforcement and decisions on the award of relief is the responsibility of local government, having regard to the relevant legislation or, where applicable, guidance published by central government.

Local authorities are responsible for deciding any application process for the locally funded discretionary rate relief schemes they administer.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will place the substantive Environment Principal Assessment documents disclosed under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 – EIR2026/00658 response of 3 March 2026 in the Library of the House.

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

I will deposit a copy of the relevant documents in the House of Commons Library.

The hon. Member should note that there are some redactions to the assessment for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-2036 that fall within the exception to disclosure at regulation 12(4)(e) and 12(4)(d) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the Environmental Principles Assessment for the (a) December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework and (b) 2026 to 2036 Affordable Housing Programme.

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

I will deposit a copy of the relevant documents in the House of Commons Library.

The hon. Member should note that there are some redactions to the assessment for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-2036 that fall within the exception to disclosure at regulation 12(4)(e) and 12(4)(d) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

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Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when her (a) Ministers and (b) Officials last met with representatives from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to discuss using planning reform to boost mobile connectivity.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Responsibility for national planning policy in England, including permitted development rights, sits with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is responsible for digital infrastructure policy.

We engage regularly with MHCLG on the role of the planning system in supporting mobile connectivity. As part of this work, the government launched a call for evidence, led jointly by DSIT and MHCLG, to assess whether changes to existing permitted development rights could better support digital infrastructure deployment.

The call for evidence closed on Thursday, 26 February, and subject to the evidence received, the government will determine next steps, which may include consulting on proposed measures and, where appropriate, bringing forward legislation.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the use of planning reform to boost mobile connectivity is a formal responsibility of her Department.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Responsibility for national planning policy in England, including permitted development rights, sits with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is responsible for digital infrastructure policy.

We engage regularly with MHCLG on the role of the planning system in supporting mobile connectivity. As part of this work, the government launched a call for evidence, led jointly by DSIT and MHCLG, to assess whether changes to existing permitted development rights could better support digital infrastructure deployment.

The call for evidence closed on Thursday, 26 February, and subject to the evidence received, the government will determine next steps, which may include consulting on proposed measures and, where appropriate, bringing forward legislation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have issued guidance to local authorities in England about special school expansion and historical special educational needs and disability deficits; and if so, whether they will publish it.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The department has issued guidance relevant to special school expansion in high needs provision capital allocations. This sets out how councils should assess need, plan delivery routes for new capacity, and, where appropriate, expand or refurbish existing special schools, while also strengthening mainstream inclusion through inclusion bases.

Guidance on Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits has also been published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The explanatory note confirms that High Needs Stability Grant payments, covering up to ninety per cent of high needs related DSG deficits accrued up to the end of the 2025/26 financial year, will only be released once a Local Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Reform Plan has been approved. This requirement was reiterated in the material circulated alongside the Local SEND Reform Plan commission.

All documents are available on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is a national standard or equivalent for defibrillator provision in emergency vehicles; and if so, whether they will publish that standard.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There is no national standard for defibrillator provision in all emergency vehicles, and the Government has not considered centralised procurement arrangements. There are no current plans to make legislative changes to mandate the provision of defibrillators in all emergency vehicles. For National Health Service ambulance services, all NHS ambulances carry defibrillators.

The Home Office has advised that Fire Services and police forces are operationally independent from the Government, and therefore decisions on the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) would be an operational matter for them.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed there are already local models of joint working between emergency services, for example where firefighters are trained to respond alongside ambulance services, including basic life support and AED use. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government supports effective collaboration that strengthens public safety.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Defibrillators that all emergency service vehicles, including newly acquired emergency vehicles, be legally required to carry defibrillators.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There is no national standard for defibrillator provision in all emergency vehicles, and the Government has not considered centralised procurement arrangements. There are no current plans to make legislative changes to mandate the provision of defibrillators in all emergency vehicles. For National Health Service ambulance services, all NHS ambulances carry defibrillators.

The Home Office has advised that Fire Services and police forces are operationally independent from the Government, and therefore decisions on the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) would be an operational matter for them.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed there are already local models of joint working between emergency services, for example where firefighters are trained to respond alongside ambulance services, including basic life support and AED use. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government supports effective collaboration that strengthens public safety.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given, if any, to centralised procurement arrangements to equip emergency vehicle fleets with defibrillators at scale.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There is no national standard for defibrillator provision in all emergency vehicles, and the Government has not considered centralised procurement arrangements. There are no current plans to make legislative changes to mandate the provision of defibrillators in all emergency vehicles. For National Health Service ambulance services, all NHS ambulances carry defibrillators.

The Home Office has advised that Fire Services and police forces are operationally independent from the Government, and therefore decisions on the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) would be an operational matter for them.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed there are already local models of joint working between emergency services, for example where firefighters are trained to respond alongside ambulance services, including basic life support and AED use. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government supports effective collaboration that strengthens public safety.

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