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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in which month she expects to lay the Private Parking Code of Practice.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Private Parking Code of Practice was laid before Parliament on 20 October 2026.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 8 April (HL15918), what progress they have since made in further improving HM Land Registry application processing times.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Improving speed of service remains the top priority for HM Land Registry (HMLR) and I’m pleased to report that good progress is being made.

Since the previous response on 8 April 2026, HMLR has continued to improve processing times by investing in its people and technology, increasing automation of simple application types and improving the information received from customers through further pre-submission validation checks. HMLR is also developing the use of artificial intelligence to undertake administrative tasks, allowing the expertise and experience of their skilled civil servants to be focused on applications that are more complex or require legal judgement.

The age of outstanding post-completion applications is now less than 9 months across all service lines. In the first six months of 2026/27, HMLR completed over 338,000 more applications than in the same period last year. Building on this progress, HMLR is finalising plans to tailor its services to better reflect the different needs of its customers.

HMLR processing times are publicly available on gov.uk here: HM Land Registry: processing times - GOV.UK.

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. So far this financial year, HMLR has processed around 1,700 expedited applications every day, and processed more than 95% of them as far as possible within 10 working days. This means that HMLR either ensured the property was fully registered, or requested information needed from other parties including on related previously received applications, before they could fully register the expedited application.

HMLR also prioritise time-critical pre-completion information services that are needed before a property transaction can take place. HMLR receive over 22 million of these each year with almost all completed within three working days, and over 90% delivered instantly.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of meetings held between Liverpool City Council planning department staff and members of the public and whether such meetings are recorded.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what oversight does the Chief Executive and planning committee members of Liverpool City Council have of complaints and FOI's about the planning department.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of FOI requests that Liverpool City Council have declined to respond to in the last two years relating to the planning department.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on how many FOIs have been submitted to Liverpool City Council specifically related to the planning department in the last two years.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many FOIs were submitted to Liverpool City council relating to the planning department were responded to within the legal time limit in the last two years.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

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 with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to convene the forthcoming National Wildfire Summit; and if she will provide an update on when the summit will take place.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Planning for the upcoming Wildfire summit is underway, and is being taken forward in collaboration with relevant departments and partners, including the Department for the Environment. Invites went out to partners and it is due to take place on Friday 23rd October in Merseyside.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to commence section 144 (new build home warranties) of the Building Safety Act 2022.

Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Section 144 of the Building Safety Act (2022) created a power to mandate a requirement for all new build homes to be sold with a new build warranty. No decision has been made by the government on commencement of this power and this position is being kept under review.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the command paper Protecting What Matters, published on 9 March 2026, whether they plan to publish the membership details of each Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education.

Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

In Protecting What Matters, we committed to promote the role of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (SACREs) by supporting improved analysis of their annual reports, to better understand the role they play in communities including in relation to cohesion.

The Education Act 1996 sets out the four representative groups required for the constitution of a SACRE, but does not require publication of the members of a SACRE. A council may also include co-opted members.

We do not intend to publish the membership details of each SACRE as a part of this work. Many Local Authorities publish the details of SACRE members on their website, and many SACREs publish details of their members in the appendices of their annual report.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in which mayoral combined authorities 100% business rate retention pilots are operating; from what date the pilots commenced; and what the tier split is between the combined authority and the local councils in each case.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has committed to giving mayors a share of business rates from April 2027, more will be set out in the fiscal devolution roadmap this autumn.

In 2026-27 the following 100% business rates (BR) retention pilots are operating - Cornwall Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority area, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority area, West Midlands Combined Authority area and the West of England Combined Authority area.

All of these 100% BR retention pilots commenced from 2017-18.

Details of how business rates are allocated across each region are included on pages 26 and 27 of the 2026-27 Local Government Finance, which is published here The Local Government Finance Report (England) 2026-27.

It should be noted that the precise calculation of business rates revenues retained locally will also be impacted by other parts of the business rates retention system such as top ups and tariffs, levy and safety net payments, and revenues from local pooling arrangements.

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 help reduce housefires in Lincolnshire.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s Fire Kills national advertising campaign provides clear, practical advice to help residents prevent fires in their homes and respond safely if a fire occurs. This year focuses on the need to have sufficient smoke alarms in the home. The campaign supports fire and rescue services, including Lincolnshire, to deliver their statutory duty to promote fire safety through local fire prevention activity.

MHCLG supports work with the National Fire Chiefs Council to provide a nationally consistent approach to Home Fire Safety Visits across services, tailoring each intervention to the individuals within a particular home. This is augmented with a free online home fire safety check tool, which provides people with fire safety advice tailored to their household and property.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government whether, whether Viva Midco Limited (parent company of Avant Homes) remains a member of the Responsible Actors Scheme.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Yes, Viva Midco Limited, parent company of Avant Homes, remains a member of the Responsible Actors Scheme. The names of Scheme members are listed 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, in relation to higher-risk buildings as defined by the Building Safety Act 2022, what assessment her Department has made to identify systemic hazards linked to the risk of structural failure and the potential impact on different structural typologies of higher-risk buildings.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a new regime for occupied higher-risk buildings, overseen by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Accountable Persons are required to assess, manage and report building safety risks, including those relating to structural failure.

The BSR, keeps the safety of buildings under review in accordance with its statutory duty set out in Section 5 of the Building Safety Act 2022. As part of this work, BSR assesses emerging evidence relating to potential structural safety risks. The BSR works with the sector to understand the extent and implications of these risks.

There is no comprehensive data set to inform assessment of severity of structural safety risks in buildings. The BSR is undertaking research to better understand how to strengthen the collection and use of structural safety data in the future. BSR is alert to the risk of deterioration in structural condition posed by our ageing building stock. The BSR and MHCLG are working together to determine if more needs to be done to ensure building structures are appropriately reviewed, maintained and managed throughout their lifecycle.

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 set a date by when she will issue the necessary Regulations under s.111 of the Building Safety Act 2022 and insert subsection 30E of s.112 into the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, to provide life-safety support to Directors of higher-risk buildings by allowing the appointment of a paid director for a building safety purpose.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has carefully considered the consultation responses on Building Safety Directors alongside experience of operating the new building safety regime. The Government's position on the commencement of the Building Safety Director provisions, including regulations under section 111 of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the related provisions under section 112, will be set out in the forthcoming response to the consultation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who is accountable if structural faults are identified in a newly built home following the new build's sign off.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

For buildings constructed in recent years, developers generally have a contractual responsibility for structural faults through warranty agreements. Most new build properties are sold with 10-year warranties, which are funded through developer premiums and usually require developers to directly fix any issues identified within 2 years of occupancy. Local authorities and the Building Safety Regulator can also take enforcement action against those who have contravened the building regulations.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to issue guidance encouraging local domestic abuse partnerships to engage formally with faith-based organisations and faith leaders as part of their local strategies for tackling violence against women and girls.

Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse as part of its ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Achieving this will require a whole of society approach, including from faith organisations, which play a vital role in supporting people and places to thrive.

Since 2021, Tier 1 local authorities in England have had a statutory duty to ensure that victims of domestic abuse and their children can access support in relevant safe accommodation when needed, backed by £499 million government funding over the period 2026-27 to 2028-29. Statutory guidance makes clear that in delivering the duty, local authorities should consider the needs of all victims; understand barriers to accessing support within relevant safe accommodation, including those linked to religion or belief; and ensure appropriate specialist support is available for victims with relevant protected characteristics, including religion or belief.

Local authorities must appoint and consult a domestic abuse Local Partnership Board including a representative of local charities or voluntary organisations supporting domestic abuse victims, and are encouraged to appoint additional members where this reflects local circumstances and need.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on local authority homelessness and temporary accommodation costs of reducing Homes for Ukraine payments from 1 January 2027 and how many hosting arrangements they expect to end as a result; and whether councils will receive additional funding for any resulting increase in homelessness.

Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government considered the available evidence on homelessness, sponsorship sustainability, local authority impacts and affordability when deciding the future funding arrangements for Homes for Ukraine.

The scheme has evolved from an emergency response into an established programme, with the announced changes ensuring the scheme remains sustainable. Thank you payments will continue to be paid as a gesture of appreciation for those opening their homes - this does not represent a rent payment or a long-term funding arrangement. From 1 January 2027, thank you payments will be £100 per household each month. Sponsors and hosts may ask adult guests to contribute reasonably towards household expenses or consider a formal rental arrangement.

The local authority tariff will also reduce from £5,900 to £3,300 from 1 January but will remain un-ringfenced and can support rematching and homelessness prevention.

Current available data indicates that most Ukrainian households at risk of homelessness have had that risk prevented or relieved. Local authorities can continue to use the un-ringfenced Homes for Ukraine tariff flexibly to support rematching, homelessness prevention and sustainable housing options. The Department will continue to monitor homelessness data and work with local authorities.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support local authorities to work with faith-based organisations as trusted community institutions for women at risk of domestic abuse.

Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse as part of its ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Achieving this will require a whole of society approach, including from faith organisations, which play a vital role in supporting people and places to thrive.

Since 2021, Tier 1 local authorities in England have had a statutory duty to ensure that victims of domestic abuse and their children can access support in relevant safe accommodation when needed, backed by £499 million government funding over the period 2026-27 to 2028-29. Statutory guidance makes clear that in delivering the duty, local authorities should consider the needs of all victims; understand barriers to accessing support within relevant safe accommodation, including those linked to religion or belief; and ensure appropriate specialist support is available for victims with relevant protected characteristics, including religion or belief.

Local authorities must appoint and consult a domestic abuse Local Partnership Board including a representative of local charities or voluntary organisations supporting domestic abuse victims, and are encouraged to appoint additional members where this reflects local circumstances and need.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to integrate faith-based organisations into local domestic abuse referral pathways.

Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse as part of its ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Achieving this will require a whole of society approach, including from faith organisations, which play a vital role in supporting people and places to thrive.

Since 2021, Tier 1 local authorities in England have had a statutory duty to ensure that victims of domestic abuse and their children can access support in relevant safe accommodation when needed, backed by £499 million government funding over the period 2026-27 to 2028-29. Statutory guidance makes clear that in delivering the duty, local authorities should consider the needs of all victims; understand barriers to accessing support within relevant safe accommodation, including those linked to religion or belief; and ensure appropriate specialist support is available for victims with relevant protected characteristics, including religion or belief.

Local authorities must appoint and consult a domestic abuse Local Partnership Board including a representative of local charities or voluntary organisations supporting domestic abuse victims, and are encouraged to appoint additional members where this reflects local circumstances and need.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the evidence available to them in making their decision to reduce Homes for Ukraine payments, and (2) whether the reduced amount will be sufficient to encourage existing hosts to continue providing accommodation; and whether they intend to publish the business case and equality impact assessment relating to that decision.

Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government considered the available evidence on homelessness, sponsorship sustainability, local authority impacts and affordability when deciding the future funding arrangements for Homes for Ukraine.

The scheme has evolved from an emergency response into an established programme, with the announced changes ensuring the scheme remains sustainable. Thank you payments will continue to be paid as a gesture of appreciation for those opening their homes - this does not represent a rent payment or a long-term funding arrangement. From 1 January 2027, thank you payments will be £100 per household each month. Sponsors and hosts may ask adult guests to contribute reasonably towards household expenses or consider a formal rental arrangement.

The local authority tariff will also reduce from £5,900 to £3,300 from 1 January but will remain un-ringfenced and can support rematching and homelessness prevention.

Current available data indicates that most Ukrainian households at risk of homelessness have had that risk prevented or relieved. Local authorities can continue to use the un-ringfenced Homes for Ukraine tariff flexibly to support rematching, homelessness prevention and sustainable housing options. The Department will continue to monitor homelessness data and work with local 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 MHCLG annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026, HC484, 15 July 2026, page 86 (footnote 3) and page 88, whether the monetary value of the benefit in kind of the Ministerial residence in 2024-25 was reported to HMRC on time for that tax year.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG officials are responsible for reporting benefits in kind to HMRC as the Department is the employer. Due to an administrative error, this was done so after the usual reporting deadline, however all related personal tax issues were dealt with on time.

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 (a) the potential merits of providing fire services with a wider range of enforcement powers to police the use of campfires and barbecues when the prevailing conditions make them dangerous and (b) the potential impact of providing fire services with these powers on the number of wildfires.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers, including Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour. The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately local in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances.

A PSPO allows a local authority to address persistent anti-social behaviour in a public place through proportionate restrictions or requirements. Before making a PSPO, councils must consult the police, the Police and Crime Commissioner, landowners affected by the order and other appropriate community representatives, and must be satisfied that the statutory legal test is met. It is for individual councils to decide how and to what extent to use these powers.

To manage wildfire risk specifically, a temporary ban on disposable barbecues came into force on Friday 14 August 2026 along with an emergency alert issued to step up action to protect communities from the threat posed by wildfires.

The Government will consider the case for further restrictions and will consider what more we can do as part of the wildfire summit.

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 10 September 2026, to Question 20211, on INTERREG Programme, whether any financial corrections were applied by her Department.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No financial corrections have been applied by my Department in relation to the 2014-2020 Interreg Programmes.

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 Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman press release and report, "Ombudsman warns thousands may be missing free way to challenge council tax bills", 27 August 2026, what steps her department is taking to ensure local billing authorities correctly signpost the rights of taxpayers to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, and what steps have been taken in the last 12 months to publicise council taxpayers’ rights to council tax discounts and exemptions.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Billing authorities administer the council tax system and the government has no plans to intervene on this matter, however, it continues to keep the system under review. Legislation requires that council tax bills must explain the procedure to be followed when someone wishes to dispute their council tax liability. In addition, it is the government’s expectation that billing authorities will make taxpayers aware of their rights as part of their day-to-day administration of council tax.

The government makes available a Plain English Guide to Council Tax setting out the exemptions and discounts available in the system. This guide includes circumstances and timeframes for making appeals to the valuation tribunal.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she will lay the statutory instruments necessary to confirm the Protected Pension Age administrative arrangements for eligible Local Government Pension Scheme members; and what steps she is taking to help ensure administering authorities can provide members with certainty over their retirement age and pension entitlement before the increase in the Normal Minimum Pension Age takes effect in April 2028.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government aims to publish its response to the Local Government Pension Scheme Access and Protections consultation, including the proposed arrangements for the increase in the Normal Minimum Pension Age, by the end of this year. This will provide clarity to members. The necessary legislation will be brought forward 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 the revenue from the overnight visitor levy will be taken into account when determining (a) mayoral integrated settlements and (b) the Local Government Finance Settlement; and whether any assumptions will be made of assumed revenue in a similar manner to the new notional council tax assumptions.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 124781 on 20 April 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 overnight visitor levy will be applicable to scout camps organised by scouting units.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It will be for leaders of strategic authorities to decide, subject to consultation, whether to introduce levy. Strategic authorities will have the option to exempt certain types of accommodation in their areas, including dormitory-style accommodation like hostels, tent pitches, and touring caravan pitches.

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 foundation strategic authorities and mayoral strategic authorities on a communications strategy which sets out the reasons for the introduction of an overnight visitor levy; and how the levy will support local growth.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government will provide non-statutory guidance to support foundation strategic authorities and mayoral strategic authorities that are considering introducing an overnight visitor levy. It will be for strategic authorities to decide whether to introduce a levy in their area, following consultation, and to set out how revenues would support local growth and other local priorities.

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 4 September 2026, to Question 19147, on Council tax: Valuation, and further to page 85 of the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Government Finance (Wales) Act 2024, whether the HMRC Valuation Office is forecasting a future appeal rate for the council tax surcharge in England (a) higher, (b) lower or (c) the same, as the average 3.15% rate, (min 2%, max 5%) assumed by the Valuation Office Agency and Valuation Tribunal for Wales for the council tax revaluation in Wales.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Wales Council Tax Revaluation and the introduction of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge are not directly comparable for the purposes of estimating appeal rates. The valuation to identify properties worth more than £2m will be done in a targeted way, without specific reference to existing council tax bands. The Welsh revaluation applies across all Council Tax bands in Wales.

Government recently consulted on the HVCTS challenge and appeal process and will publish its response shortly.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the legal advice she has received relating to local government reorganisation also pertains to Surrey.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Secretary of State’s statement on Monday 7 September did not concern Surrey. East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council have been established in law and will assume the full range of local authority functions on 1 April 2027. It is longstanding principle that the Government does not comment on or publish legal advice.

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 difference between revenue forgone by billing authorities as a result of mandatory business‑rate reliefs and the amount reimbursed to those authorities through Section 31 grant payments; and if she will publish the latest quantified assessment.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Annually the Department collects from local authorities an estimate at the start of the year and actual at the end year of their business rates data. The data includes the amount of revenue forgone by billing authorities as a result of mandatory business rate reliefs and the amount reimbursed to those authorities through Section 31 grant payments under the business rates retention system and is available here, including the most recent data collected for 2026-27.

Local authorities are compensated for those mandatory reliefs they award locally, given these reliefs reduce the business rates a local authority would otherwise have retained.

Since 2026-27, local authorities are compensated for all mandatory reliefs foregone fully via section 31. Before 2026-27 mandatory reliefs that were in existence when the business rates retention system was set up were funded via an adjustment to top-up and tariff funding allocations for each local authority and as new or amended mandatory reliefs were introduced they were compensated for via s.31 grant.

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 intends to specify in legislation a maximum percentage rate for the proposed overnight visitor levy; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of an uncapped levy on the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It will be for Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to introduce a visitor levy, as they best understand which investments can support local economic development, including the visitor economy. This may include passing on receipts to local authorities.

Our approach balances local flexibility with simplicity and consistency for business.

Local decisions on the levy rate, any local exemptions and spending priorities will be informed by consultations, and will need to balance local priorities, affordability, and certainty for businesses. The precise impacts will depend on these local decisions.

These decisions will be made within a national framework which includes that levies must be set as a percentage rate, meaning low-cost stays stay low cost. Government will also work with Strategic Authorities as they develop their plans to drive further consistency and simplicity for business.

Our approach to caps is set out in the consultation response: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/overnight-visitor-levy-in-england.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment the government has made of the accessibility of the process of applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Disabled Facilities Grant is administered by local authorities who determine their own application processes in line with their statutory duties.

Government collects Disabled Facilities Grant data from local authorities through a voluntary annual data collection. This includes information on average delivery times at key stages of the grant process. Nearly 97% of councils reported that their average time frame for approving valid applications was within the 6-month legal timeframe. Nearly 98% of councils reported that their average time to complete works was within the 12-month deadline.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the Disabled Facilities Grant application process is accessible and responsive to applicants’ needs. Government guidance encourages local authorities to meet faster best practice timelines and provides information on making the application process accessible and responsive.

The Government continues to work with local authorities and the national body for Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Improvement Agencies, currently Foundations, to support effective delivery of the Disabled Facilities Grant.

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 the review of the local government reorganisation programme announced on 7 September 2026 to conclude; how local communities and Councils will be able to engage; and when affected local authorities will receive a decision on the future of their reorganisation proposals.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We have committed to update Parliament on the review of the Local Government Reorganisation programme when Parliament returns in October. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible.

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 September 2026 to question 28897 on Fire and Rescue Services: Cambridgeshire, by when Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service will receive that range of new vehicles and equipment.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department, together with the National Resilience lead authority, is currently in the process of undertaking procurement for the replacement of the bulk of the HVP fleet. Once this is completed, we would work with the national resilience leads and the sector to establish a comprehensive delivery schedule for rollout of the replacement pumps to HVP-hosting services.

The £97 million New Dimensions 2 programme is a comprehensive capital asset replacement programme to review, refresh and upgrade the National Resilience assets used by fire and rescue authorities in response to the largest and most complex incidents.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service currently host an HVP capability and, accordingly, will be receiving a range of new vehicles and equipment which will replace and upgrade their current assets.

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 take legislative steps against council tax on unfinished, unsold and unoccupied homes.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Council tax becomes payable on a new dwelling when the local authority determines that it has been substantially completed, or will be substantially completed within three months. It will issue a Completion Notice to confirm its decision.

Once a dwelling becomes liable for council tax, the normal council tax rules apply. Whether a property has been sold does not in itself affect its council tax status. Council tax is due on all properties, and if the property is unoccupied liability will fall to the owner. Council tax liability may be affected by a range of discounts, exemptions or premiums. Whether these apply will depend on the particular circumstances.

The Government has no plans to change these arrangements, and it is for councils to administer the council tax system. The Government remains committed to keeping all taxes and elements of the local government finance system 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 new town and parish councils created following unitary local government restructuring will be subject to council tax referendum principles.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

To date, town and parish councils’ precepts have not been subject to referendum principles. This position applies to town and parish councils generally, including those established following local government restructuring. The Government determines referendum principles on an annual basis, considering relevant prevailing factors. No decisions have been taken in respect of future years.

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 8 September 2026, to Question 20294, on Recreation Spaces: Planning Permission, if she will place in the Library a copy of the survey sent to stakeholders on the review into recreational green spaces.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The survey formed part of targeted stakeholder engagement and was not a public consultation. The Government intends to place a copy of the survey in the Library of the House.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what role Ministers in the Office for Equality and Opportunity have in policy development and decisions on faith and belief; and whether Equalities Ministers attend MHCLG Ministerial meetings.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) leads the Government’s work to support and engage faith and belief groups, and coordinates the Government’s work to tackle religious hatred. While the Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith in MHCLG holds primary responsibility for faith and belief policy, they will work with other Ministers from across government who develop policy and make decisions that may impact faith and belief communities. For example, the Office for Equality and Opportunity is responsible for the Equality Act 2010, including its protections against discrimination and harassment on the basis of religion or belief.

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 it her policy to introduce new policies to allow councils to address the frustration of planning enforcement through the sub-division of land.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given Question UIN 80283 on 10 October 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 her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing lifetime carbon emissions reporting for buildings.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and recognises that embodied carbon can account for a significant portion of a building’s whole life carbon emissions. As steps to reduce operational carbon take effect, the share of whole life carbon emissions taken up by embodied carbon will increase.

My Department has commissioned research to build understanding of the impacts of measuring and reducing embodied carbon, summarise the data currently available, and to identify where any gaps or challenges lie. We have published the final report, Consideration of embodied carbon in new buildings, to share the insights with industry. The Government is considering its next steps on this matter carefully.

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 section 13 of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act 1865, which requires fire insurers in London to contribute towards the cost of fire and rescue services, and if she will consider extending a modernised version of that funding mechanism to fire and rescue services across the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has no current plans to review section 13 of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act 1865.

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 estimate of the funding gap for English councils in the financial year 2027/28 in UNISON's publication entitled Bridging the Gap, published on 14 September 2026.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department will continue to work closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific pressures facing local government ahead of the Budget and other fiscal events.

The Government is committed to returning the local government sector to a sustainable position. We are delivering fairer funding, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. By the end of the multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement, the government will have made available a 24.3% increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, worth £16.6 billion, since coming into power in 2024-25.

The government is investing in service areas with escalating costs. We have made over £4.6 billion of additional funding available to adult social care in 2028-29 compared to 2025-26, and invested investing £2.4 billion in children’s social care prevention and de-escalation.

Found: DAA0149 - Domestic Abuse Act 2021 MHCLG Written Evidence

Found: draft Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026 and Response from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Letter from the Interim Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: These organisati ons included the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG), which

Found: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Local Government Finance Policy Statement 2026

Found: Correspondence between the Chair and MHCLG regarding Statutory Instrument multiple errors Correspondence

Found: Correspondence between the Chair and MHCLG regarding Statutory Instrument multiple errors Correspondence

Found: That is why Defra and MHCLG will now work with farmers and industry representatives, including the NFU

Found: Working closely with MHCLG, the Cabinet Office has set out a structured engagement framework with external

Found: Scotland (SHS0024) Post Office Ltd (SHS0025) Booksellers Association (SHS0026) Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the cost and economic impact of Freeport tax reliefs.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The latest (2023-4) Freeport tax relief costs (excluding Business Rates) can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-reliefs/tax-relief-statistics-january-2026. MHCLG published Business Rates reliefs statistics and forecasts here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-non-domestic-rates-collected-by-councils-in-england-forecast-2026-to-2027/national-non-domestic-rates-collected-by-councils-in-england-forecast-for-2026-to-2027

The Government monitors Freeport performance through established governance and evaluation arrangements.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data her Department collects on enforcement action taken against non-compliant retail premises on high streets; and whether she plans to publish data on (a) inspections, (b) closure orders, (c) seizures and (d) prosecutions arising from the Government's high street enforcement programme.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

On 19 May, the Government announced a £30 million, three-year crackdown targeting cash-intensive businesses on our high streets, including activity to disrupt money laundering and illegal working.

Operational activity is being coordinated by the National Crime Agency, in conjunction with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, with partner agencies collecting data on enforcement outcomes including premises visited, arrests and seizures.

In parallel, the High Street Organised Crime Unit is developing a longer-term strategic response, including consideration of stronger powers and better coordination to prevent criminal activity. The Unit is working across Government, including with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Revenue and Customs, to support development of the High Street Strategy.

More broadly, we want local partners to take a joined-up, place-based approach to the problems that make high streets feel unsafe, bringing together policing, local authorities and other agencies to identify and tackle the premises, offenders and locations causing the greatest harm.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that measures in the Government's High Street Strategy are supported by effective enforcement against retail premises that breach trading standards, tax, immigration or other regulatory requirements.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

On 19 May, the Government announced a £30 million, three-year crackdown targeting cash-intensive businesses on our high streets, including activity to disrupt money laundering and illegal working.

Operational activity is being coordinated by the National Crime Agency, in conjunction with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, with partner agencies collecting data on enforcement outcomes including premises visited, arrests and seizures.

In parallel, the High Street Organised Crime Unit is developing a longer-term strategic response, including consideration of stronger powers and better coordination to prevent criminal activity. The Unit is working across Government, including with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Revenue and Customs, to support development of the High Street Strategy.

More broadly, we want local partners to take a joined-up, place-based approach to the problems that make high streets feel unsafe, bringing together policing, local authorities and other agencies to identify and tackle the premises, offenders and locations causing the greatest harm.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local antisocial behaviour and community safety plans address the potential impact of non-compliant retail premises on crime, antisocial behaviour and perceptions of safety on high streets.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

On 19 May, the Government announced a £30 million, three-year crackdown targeting cash-intensive businesses on our high streets, including activity to disrupt money laundering and illegal working.

Operational activity is being coordinated by the National Crime Agency, in conjunction with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, with partner agencies collecting data on enforcement outcomes including premises visited, arrests and seizures.

In parallel, the High Street Organised Crime Unit is developing a longer-term strategic response, including consideration of stronger powers and better coordination to prevent criminal activity. The Unit is working across Government, including with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Revenue and Customs, to support development of the High Street Strategy.

More broadly, we want local partners to take a joined-up, place-based approach to the problems that make high streets feel unsafe, bringing together policing, local authorities and other agencies to identify and tackle the premises, offenders and locations causing the greatest harm.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve coordination between police forces, local authorities, Trading Standards, Immigration Enforcement and HMRC in tackling persistent non-compliance by retail premises on high streets.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

On 19 May, the Government announced a £30 million, three-year crackdown targeting cash-intensive businesses on our high streets, including activity to disrupt money laundering and illegal working.

Operational activity is being coordinated by the National Crime Agency, in conjunction with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, with partner agencies collecting data on enforcement outcomes including premises visited, arrests and seizures.

In parallel, the High Street Organised Crime Unit is developing a longer-term strategic response, including consideration of stronger powers and better coordination to prevent criminal activity. The Unit is working across Government, including with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Revenue and Customs, to support development of the High Street Strategy.

More broadly, we want local partners to take a joined-up, place-based approach to the problems that make high streets feel unsafe, bringing together policing, local authorities and other agencies to identify and tackle the premises, offenders and locations causing the greatest harm.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department has produced modelling on the timing of Government responses to a) wildfires and b) flooding.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office works with other government departments, including MHCLG (lead government department for wildfires) and Defra (lead government department for flooding) to closely monitor emerging risks to enable the government to respond rapidly and proportionately as required. The Cabinet Office will continue to liaise with the relevant departments throughout any response required.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2026, to Question 18049, on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, and to the answer of 14 July 2026, to Question 14979, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, what was the average percentage attendance rate of assigned HMRC staff at Trinity Bridge House, 2 Dearmans Pl, Salford M3 5DS in the most recent working week for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace and in absolute terms.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not calculate office attendance as a weekly percentage. Employees are expected to spend at least 60% of their working time in an office or other workplace, regardless of location, which is monitored over a monthly period. This expectation may be adjusted, where appropriate, to accommodate individual circumstances, including health-related needs, agreed workplace adjustments or the requirements of a particular role. The latest validated data show that, in August 2026, 2,600 of 3,030 of colleagues assigned to Trinity Bridge House in Salford met their individual office attendance expectation representing 85.8% of assigned staff.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2026 to Question 18049, on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, and to the Answer of 14 July 2026 to Question 14979, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, what the average percentage attendance rate of assigned DCMS staff was at Bloc 17 Marble St in Manchester in the most recent working week for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace and in absolute terms.

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

We do not hold the information to enable us to answer the average percentage attendance rate of assigned DCMS staff at Bloc 17 Marble Street in Manchester. In the most recent working week for which figures are available, there were on average 96 staff visits per day from a total assigned workforce of 320 colleagues based in Manchester.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answers of 13 July 2026 to Question 18049 on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, and 14 July 2026 to Question 14979 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, what was the average percentage attendance rate of assigned NHS England staff at 3 Piccadilly Place 3 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 3BN in the most recent working week for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace and in absolute terms.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Further to the answer provided on 12 October in response to Question 29641, I can confirm that: (i) the Care Quality Commission has no staff based at 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester; (ii) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence does not collect data in a way that allows the average percentage attendance rate for the Manchester office to be determined; and (iii) NHS England does not collect the relevant attendance data.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answers of 13 July 2026 to Question 18049 on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, and 14 July 2026 to Question 14979 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, what was the average percentage attendance rate of assigned NICE staff at 3 Piccadilly Place 3 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 3BN in the most recent working week for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace and in absolute terms.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Further to the answer provided on 12 October in response to Question 29641, I can confirm that: (i) the Care Quality Commission has no staff based at 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester; (ii) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence does not collect data in a way that allows the average percentage attendance rate for the Manchester office to be determined; and (iii) NHS England does not collect the relevant attendance data.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answers of 13 July 2026 to Question 18049 on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, and 14 July 2026 to Question 14979 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, what was the average percentage attendance rate of assigned CQC staff at 3 Piccadilly Place 3 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 3BN in the most recent working week for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace and in absolute terms.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Further to the answer provided on 12 October in response to Question 29641, I can confirm that: (i) the Care Quality Commission has no staff based at 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester; (ii) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence does not collect data in a way that allows the average percentage attendance rate for the Manchester office to be determined; and (iii) NHS England does not collect the relevant attendance data.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20474, on MHCLG: Annual Reports, and further to the case of Woodhouse Investment Pte Ltd and West Cumbria Mining (Holdings) Limited v. United Kingdom (ICSID Case No. ARB/25/37) before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, what are the maximum level of damages that West Cumbria Mining and Woodhouse Investment Pte are seeking to obtain from HM Government as a consequence of the decision of the UK Government not to take forward permission for the Cumbria coal mine.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment, or expropriation without compensation.

The Government maintains that it has acted consistently with its domestic and international law obligations. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the Answers of 13 July 2026 to Question 18049 on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, and 14 July 2026 to Question 14979 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, what was the average percentage attendance rate of assigned EITA staff at 3 Piccadilly Place 3 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 3BN in the most recent working week for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace and in absolute terms.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The department does not collect data in a way that enables us to determine the percentage of assigned staff attending Piccadilly Place, Manchester. The office attendance expectation is that employees attend a departmental office, or undertake qualifying off-site work, for 60% of their working time (Senior Civil Servants) and 40% (delegated grades), subject to any agreed workplace adjustments or flexible working arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Armed Forces are taking to prepare for an increase in requests for military support during (a) floods, (b) wildfires and (c) other extreme weather events.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Wildfire response is the responsibility of local Fire and Rescue Services. In England, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is the lead government department for fire and rescue policy, while responsibility in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sits with the devolved governments. Together, these organisations are responsible for assessing wildfire risk, maintaining appropriate levels of capability and readiness at the local level and managing the response to incidents.

Defence continues to assess its own ability to support any wildfire response in line with affordability and overall effectiveness. Defence has a range of capabilities that may be made available through Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA), subject to operational availability and competing Defence commitments. These include personnel, engineering and logistics support, command and control, reconnaissance and specialist capabilities. However, these capabilities are primarily maintained for Defence tasks and not all are held at readiness specifically for domestic wildfire response.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the levels of capability and readiness of the Armed Forces and civil emergency services to respond to wildfires.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Wildfire response is the responsibility of local Fire and Rescue Services. In England, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is the lead government department for fire and rescue policy, while responsibility in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sits with the devolved governments. Together, these organisations are responsible for assessing wildfire risk, maintaining appropriate levels of capability and readiness at the local level and managing the response to incidents.

Defence continues to assess its own ability to support any wildfire response in line with affordability and overall effectiveness. Defence has a range of capabilities that may be made available through Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA), subject to operational availability and competing Defence commitments. These include personnel, engineering and logistics support, command and control, reconnaissance and specialist capabilities. However, these capabilities are primarily maintained for Defence tasks and not all are held at readiness specifically for domestic wildfire response.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of considering GP availability in the planning stages of housing developments.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.

The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department has taken to ensure adequate access to GP surgeries in areas with new housing developments.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.

The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she (a) has reviewed and (b) plans to review the (i) provision and (ii) location of (A) inpatient and (B) outpatient health services in South Hertfordshire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise the challenges significant housing and population growth can place on primary care health infrastructure. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, shifting care from hospitals into communities and bringing more integrated, preventative care closer to people’s homes. The 10 Year Capital Plan, published in July, sets out how we will support delivery of that vision through capital investment.

The Government is investing over approximately £200 million of Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding to tackle historic underinvestment into the primary care estate. This funding continues to support upgrades to existing general practice surgeries, allowing practices to offer more appointments.

A further £200 million will support upgrading the existing estate to deliver approximately 50 neighbourhood health centres through upgrades. We announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre upgrade schemes in March 2026, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home. We are also assessing proposals for a pipeline of new build neighbourhood health centres.

Proposals for future waves of neighbourhood health centres are currently being assessed against published criteria, as set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre Guidance, with final decisions on future schemes yet to be confirmed. Further information on the criteria is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neighbourhood-health-centres/

Projects that meet the criteria will be invited to develop detailed business cases before any final funding decisions are taken. Rollout for neighbourhood health centres will start in the areas of greatest need, with investment prioritised where it can have the greatest impact and address material gaps in community and neighbourhood health infrastructure.

Integrated care boards (ICBs), like the Central East ICB which covers the South Hertfordshire area, are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.

The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance and timetable her Department has provided to Integrated Care Boards regarding the allocation of General Practice capital funding for primary care infrastructure developments.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise the challenges significant housing and population growth can place on primary care health infrastructure. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, shifting care from hospitals into communities and bringing more integrated, preventative care closer to people’s homes. The 10 Year Capital Plan, published in July, sets out how we will support delivery of that vision through capital investment.

The Government is investing over approximately £200 million of Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding to tackle historic underinvestment into the primary care estate. This funding continues to support upgrades to existing general practice surgeries, allowing practices to offer more appointments.

A further £200 million will support upgrading the existing estate to deliver approximately 50 neighbourhood health centres through upgrades. We announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre upgrade schemes in March 2026, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home. We are also assessing proposals for a pipeline of new build neighbourhood health centres.

Proposals for future waves of neighbourhood health centres are currently being assessed against published criteria, as set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre Guidance, with final decisions on future schemes yet to be confirmed. Further information on the criteria is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neighbourhood-health-centres/

Projects that meet the criteria will be invited to develop detailed business cases before any final funding decisions are taken. Rollout for neighbourhood health centres will start in the areas of greatest need, with investment prioritised where it can have the greatest impact and address material gaps in community and neighbourhood health infrastructure.

Integrated care boards (ICBs), like the Central East ICB which covers the South Hertfordshire area, are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.

The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 11 September 2026 to question 26735 on Local Government: Cambridgeshire, what discussions his department has held with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regarding the impact of Local Government Reorganisation on business in Cambridgeshire.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Local Government Reorganisation is the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade engages regularly with colleagues across government to support businesses and economic growth across the UK, including in Cambridgeshire.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to support primary care networks in increasing patient capacity and reducing waiting times for GP appointments in towns which are increasing in population.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise the challenges significant housing and population growth can place on primary care health infrastructure. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, shifting care from hospitals into communities and bringing more integrated, preventative care closer to people’s homes. The 10 Year Capital Plan, published in July, sets out how we will support delivery of that vision through capital investment.

The Government is investing over approximately £200 million of Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding to tackle historic underinvestment into the primary care estate. This funding continues to support upgrades to existing general practice surgeries, allowing practices to offer more appointments.

A further £200 million will support upgrading the existing estate to deliver approximately 50 neighbourhood health centres through upgrades. We announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre upgrade schemes in March 2026, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home. We are also assessing proposals for a pipeline of new build neighbourhood health centres.

Proposals for future waves of neighbourhood health centres are currently being assessed against published criteria, as set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre Guidance, with final decisions on future schemes yet to be confirmed. Further information on the criteria is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neighbourhood-health-centres/

Projects that meet the criteria will be invited to develop detailed business cases before any final funding decisions are taken. Rollout for neighbourhood health centres will start in the areas of greatest need, with investment prioritised where it can have the greatest impact and address material gaps in community and neighbourhood health infrastructure.

Integrated care boards (ICBs), like the Central East ICB which covers the South Hertfordshire area, are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.

The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria her Department will use to select locations for new Neighbourhood Health Centres, and in what way priority will be given to areas with limited primary care capacity.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise the challenges significant housing and population growth can place on primary care health infrastructure. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, shifting care from hospitals into communities and bringing more integrated, preventative care closer to people’s homes. The 10 Year Capital Plan, published in July, sets out how we will support delivery of that vision through capital investment.

The Government is investing over approximately £200 million of Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding to tackle historic underinvestment into the primary care estate. This funding continues to support upgrades to existing general practice surgeries, allowing practices to offer more appointments.

A further £200 million will support upgrading the existing estate to deliver approximately 50 neighbourhood health centres through upgrades. We announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre upgrade schemes in March 2026, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home. We are also assessing proposals for a pipeline of new build neighbourhood health centres.

Proposals for future waves of neighbourhood health centres are currently being assessed against published criteria, as set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre Guidance, with final decisions on future schemes yet to be confirmed. Further information on the criteria is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neighbourhood-health-centres/

Projects that meet the criteria will be invited to develop detailed business cases before any final funding decisions are taken. Rollout for neighbourhood health centres will start in the areas of greatest need, with investment prioritised where it can have the greatest impact and address material gaps in community and neighbourhood health infrastructure.

Integrated care boards (ICBs), like the Central East ICB which covers the South Hertfordshire area, are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.

The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure Integrated Care Boards receive adequate capital funding to upgrade and replace primary care facilities in high-growth communities.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise the challenges significant housing and population growth can place on primary care health infrastructure. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to create a Neighbourhood Health Service, shifting care from hospitals into communities and bringing more integrated, preventative care closer to people’s homes. The 10 Year Capital Plan, published in July, sets out how we will support delivery of that vision through capital investment.

The Government is investing over approximately £200 million of Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding to tackle historic underinvestment into the primary care estate. This funding continues to support upgrades to existing general practice surgeries, allowing practices to offer more appointments.

A further £200 million will support upgrading the existing estate to deliver approximately 50 neighbourhood health centres through upgrades. We announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre upgrade schemes in March 2026, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home. We are also assessing proposals for a pipeline of new build neighbourhood health centres.

Proposals for future waves of neighbourhood health centres are currently being assessed against published criteria, as set out in the Neighbourhood Health Centre Guidance, with final decisions on future schemes yet to be confirmed. Further information on the criteria is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/neighbourhood-health-centres/

Projects that meet the criteria will be invited to develop detailed business cases before any final funding decisions are taken. Rollout for neighbourhood health centres will start in the areas of greatest need, with investment prioritised where it can have the greatest impact and address material gaps in community and neighbourhood health infrastructure.

Integrated care boards (ICBs), like the Central East ICB which covers the South Hertfordshire area, are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring, services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including general practice, in each local area. ICBs should evaluate the needs of the populations for which they are responsible and plan service provision as required.

The Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how the developer contributions system can be strengthened and improved to support the planning and delivery of the required social infrastructure in areas of population growth.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2026, to Question 18049, on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, and to the answer of 14 July 2026, to Question 14979, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, what was the average percentage attendance rate of assigned GIAA staff at Piccadilly Gate 26 Store St, Manchester M1 2WD in the most recent working week for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace and in absolute terms.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The Government Internal Audit Agency does not currently record desk and office utilisation data and are therefore unable to provide the information requested.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve strategic decision-making to help prevent and manage wildfire risks.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The scale and severity of this summer’s wildfires has demonstrated that strategic decision making across Government departments and public bodies is critical on wildfire. Wildfire risk is increasing due to climate change, which is why it is already part of the shared National Risk Register.

The Government is preparing for future wildfire seasons by strengthening coordination across Government, working closely with fire and rescue services, land managers and local authorities, and improving our understanding of risk. Defra is working closely with MHCLG to inform cross Government action.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answers of 13 July 2026 to Question 18049 on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, and 14 July 2026 to Question 14979 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, what was the average percentage attendance rate of assigned Salix staff at 3 Piccadilly Place 3 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 3BN in the most recent working week for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace and in absolute terms.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department does not hold information on the workplace attendance of employees of Salix Finance Ltd. While sponsored by the Department, Salix is an operationally independent non-departmental public body and is responsible for its own workforce management and any associated attendance records. The Department therefore cannot provide the average percentage attendance rate of Salix staff assigned to 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester in the period requested.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the link between homelessness and reoffending.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Stable accommodation is key to reducing reoffending. Offenders without accommodation on release have a reoffending rate of almost double that of those in settled accommodation. Ending rough sleeping is a key priority of the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Justice is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to deliver the National Plan to End Homelessness, including a commitment to halve prison leaver homelessness and increase the number of prison leavers in settled accommodation by the end of this Parliament.

We are taking action through our Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS3), which provides up to 84 nights of temporary accommodation for prison leavers at risk of homelessness. Alongside this, 50 prison-based Strategic Housing Specialists work with probation and local authorities across England and Wales to secure accommodation before release and strengthen pre-release planning.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what preventative services his department is offering to individuals in custody to stop re-offending.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

We are guided by the evidence of what works to reduce reoffending and are working with partners across Government and at a local level to address the underlying drivers of offending behaviour and improve outcomes for people in custody and on release through better access to treatment and recovery services, prison education, employment support and stable accommodation.

To support recovery from drug and alcohol misuse, we are improving access to mutual aid in prisons. We have also funded Incentivised Substance Free Living units in 88 prisons, where prisoners agree to regular drug testing and can access enhanced opportunities, and will expand these units to a further 12 prisons, bringing the total to 100 across the estate. We have also invested in technology to enable virtual appointments with community treatment providers to support continuity of care on release.

We are also modernising prison education, creating a joined-up system that supports progression from basic literacy and numeracy into skills training and work placements, while widening access to higher education. Alongside this, key employment roles are in place across every resettlement prison to prepare prisoners for work on release, while Regional Employment Councils bring employers together with prisons, probation and DWP to support prison leavers into work.

Through the National Plan to End Homelessness, we are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to halve the proportion of people released from prison homeless and increase the proportion in settled accommodation three months after release by the end of this Parliament.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answers of 13 July 2026 to Question 18049 on Government Departments: Greater Manchester, and 14 July 2026 to Question 14979 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, what was the average percentage attendance rate of assigned DESNZ staff at Trinity Bridge House, 2 Dearmans Pl, Salford M3 5DS in the most recent working week for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace and in absolute terms.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We do not receive attendance/pass swipe data in Trinity Bridge House.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce regional variations of women released from prison into homelessness.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises that women leaving prison can face distinct and interconnected barriers to securing accommodation, including experiences of domestic abuse and trauma, mental health or substance misuse needs, financial insecurity and caring responsibilities. These factors can make safe, appropriate and sustainable accommodation particularly important to women’s resettlement. Stable accommodation supports effective resettlement and reduces the risk of re-offending.

A minimum of 10% of places across the Community Accommodation Service are allocated to women, in women-only properties. Strategic Housing Specialists also work across the women’s estate with probation teams, Homelessness Prevention Teams and local authorities to identify needs early and improve access to appropriate accommodation before release.

Through the National Plan to End Homelessness, the Government has made a commitment to halving the proportion of prison leavers under probation supervision released with no fixed abode by the end of this Parliament. Regional and local data are published to support action to improve consistency and address geographical variation.

We will continue to invest in integrating digital community accommodation services, to make it easier to identify and match individuals to the right housing support and accommodation at the right time. We will also continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other Government Departments, to develop a strong foundation from which we can work together to end homelessness.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of women released from prison into homelessness.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises that women leaving prison can face distinct and interconnected barriers to securing accommodation, including experiences of domestic abuse and trauma, mental health or substance misuse needs, financial insecurity and caring responsibilities. These factors can make safe, appropriate and sustainable accommodation particularly important to women’s resettlement. Stable accommodation supports effective resettlement and reduces the risk of re-offending.

A minimum of 10% of places across the Community Accommodation Service are allocated to women, in women-only properties. Strategic Housing Specialists also work across the women’s estate with probation teams, Homelessness Prevention Teams and local authorities to identify needs early and improve access to appropriate accommodation before release.

Through the National Plan to End Homelessness, the Government has made a commitment to halving the proportion of prison leavers under probation supervision released with no fixed abode by the end of this Parliament. Regional and local data are published to support action to improve consistency and address geographical variation.

We will continue to invest in integrating digital community accommodation services, to make it easier to identify and match individuals to the right housing support and accommodation at the right time. We will also continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other Government Departments, to develop a strong foundation from which we can work together to end homelessness.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the particular risk for women leaving prison homeless.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises that women leaving prison can face distinct and interconnected barriers to securing accommodation, including experiences of domestic abuse and trauma, mental health or substance misuse needs, financial insecurity and caring responsibilities. These factors can make safe, appropriate and sustainable accommodation particularly important to women’s resettlement. Stable accommodation supports effective resettlement and reduces the risk of re-offending.

A minimum of 10% of places across the Community Accommodation Service are allocated to women, in women-only properties. Strategic Housing Specialists also work across the women’s estate with probation teams, Homelessness Prevention Teams and local authorities to identify needs early and improve access to appropriate accommodation before release.

Through the National Plan to End Homelessness, the Government has made a commitment to halving the proportion of prison leavers under probation supervision released with no fixed abode by the end of this Parliament. Regional and local data are published to support action to improve consistency and address geographical variation.

We will continue to invest in integrating digital community accommodation services, to make it easier to identify and match individuals to the right housing support and accommodation at the right time. We will also continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other Government Departments, to develop a strong foundation from which we can work together to end homelessness.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has assessed the extent to which differences in local licensing arrangements affect the ability of agencies to identify potential victims of modern slavery in massage parlours.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is a truly horrific crime, including where exploitation has taken place under the guise of legitimate businesses, such as massage parlours. We are determined to safeguard victims and to bring the ruthless perpetrators of this crime to justice.

In December 2025, the Government committed within the “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, to address many aspects of prostitution and sexual exploitation within England and Wales. Commitments include reviewing legislation, raising awareness among frontline agencies of what constitutes adult sexual exploitation, and strengthening police disruption of sexual exploitation. Further details on each of these commitments will be announced in due course.

The Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through operational activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats, and targeting prolific perpetrators.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council have developed a new framework for investigating modern slavery and includes a suite of products to guide forces to identify and tackle sexual exploitation. The framework provides a nationally consistent investigative framework to sustain progress and support forces in delivering a strong, evidence-based response to modern slavery, including sexual exploitation. This will further equip officers with practical tools for navigating modern slavery crimes and fill critical gaps in frontline knowledge to drive performance and support greater accountability.

We will work closely with the new National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Modern Slavery and police forces across England and Wales to support a strong, coordinated approach to ensuring that modern slavery is effectively identified, disrupted, and tackled.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for licensing arrangements for local authorities, and it would be for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to determine whether those powers are adequate. We will continue to work closely across government to ensure there is a coordinated response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on devolving additional powers to local authorities to regulate massage parlours.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is a truly horrific crime, including where exploitation has taken place under the guise of legitimate businesses, such as massage parlours. We are determined to safeguard victims and to bring the ruthless perpetrators of this crime to justice.

In December 2025, the Government committed within the “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, to address many aspects of prostitution and sexual exploitation within England and Wales. Commitments include reviewing legislation, raising awareness among frontline agencies of what constitutes adult sexual exploitation, and strengthening police disruption of sexual exploitation. Further details on each of these commitments will be announced in due course.

The Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through operational activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats, and targeting prolific perpetrators.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council have developed a new framework for investigating modern slavery and includes a suite of products to guide forces to identify and tackle sexual exploitation. The framework provides a nationally consistent investigative framework to sustain progress and support forces in delivering a strong, evidence-based response to modern slavery, including sexual exploitation. This will further equip officers with practical tools for navigating modern slavery crimes and fill critical gaps in frontline knowledge to drive performance and support greater accountability.

We will work closely with the new National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Modern Slavery and police forces across England and Wales to support a strong, coordinated approach to ensuring that modern slavery is effectively identified, disrupted, and tackled.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for licensing arrangements for local authorities, and it would be for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to determine whether those powers are adequate. We will continue to work closely across government to ensure there is a coordinated response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department provides to police forces and local authorities on partnership working to identify and safeguard people being exploited in massage parlours.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is a truly horrific crime, including where exploitation has taken place under the guise of legitimate businesses, such as massage parlours. We are determined to safeguard victims and to bring the ruthless perpetrators of this crime to justice.

In December 2025, the Government committed within the “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, to address many aspects of prostitution and sexual exploitation within England and Wales. Commitments include reviewing legislation, raising awareness among frontline agencies of what constitutes adult sexual exploitation, and strengthening police disruption of sexual exploitation. Further details on each of these commitments will be announced in due course.

The Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through operational activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats, and targeting prolific perpetrators.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council have developed a new framework for investigating modern slavery and includes a suite of products to guide forces to identify and tackle sexual exploitation. The framework provides a nationally consistent investigative framework to sustain progress and support forces in delivering a strong, evidence-based response to modern slavery, including sexual exploitation. This will further equip officers with practical tools for navigating modern slavery crimes and fill critical gaps in frontline knowledge to drive performance and support greater accountability.

We will work closely with the new National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Modern Slavery and police forces across England and Wales to support a strong, coordinated approach to ensuring that modern slavery is effectively identified, disrupted, and tackled.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for licensing arrangements for local authorities, and it would be for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to determine whether those powers are adequate. We will continue to work closely across government to ensure there is a coordinated response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to review the powers available to local authorities to regulate and inspect massage parlours.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is a truly horrific crime, including where exploitation has taken place under the guise of legitimate businesses, such as massage parlours. We are determined to safeguard victims and to bring the ruthless perpetrators of this crime to justice.

In December 2025, the Government committed within the “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, to address many aspects of prostitution and sexual exploitation within England and Wales. Commitments include reviewing legislation, raising awareness among frontline agencies of what constitutes adult sexual exploitation, and strengthening police disruption of sexual exploitation. Further details on each of these commitments will be announced in due course.

The Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through operational activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats, and targeting prolific perpetrators.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council have developed a new framework for investigating modern slavery and includes a suite of products to guide forces to identify and tackle sexual exploitation. The framework provides a nationally consistent investigative framework to sustain progress and support forces in delivering a strong, evidence-based response to modern slavery, including sexual exploitation. This will further equip officers with practical tools for navigating modern slavery crimes and fill critical gaps in frontline knowledge to drive performance and support greater accountability.

We will work closely with the new National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Modern Slavery and police forces across England and Wales to support a strong, coordinated approach to ensuring that modern slavery is effectively identified, disrupted, and tackled.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for licensing arrangements for local authorities, and it would be for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to determine whether those powers are adequate. We will continue to work closely across government to ensure there is a coordinated response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to prevent premises presented as massage parlours from being used to facilitate modern slavery, human trafficking, prostitution or money laundering.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is a truly horrific crime, including where exploitation has taken place under the guise of legitimate businesses, such as massage parlours. We are determined to safeguard victims and to bring the ruthless perpetrators of this crime to justice.

In December 2025, the Government committed within the “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, to address many aspects of prostitution and sexual exploitation within England and Wales. Commitments include reviewing legislation, raising awareness among frontline agencies of what constitutes adult sexual exploitation, and strengthening police disruption of sexual exploitation. Further details on each of these commitments will be announced in due course.

The Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through operational activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats, and targeting prolific perpetrators.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council have developed a new framework for investigating modern slavery and includes a suite of products to guide forces to identify and tackle sexual exploitation. The framework provides a nationally consistent investigative framework to sustain progress and support forces in delivering a strong, evidence-based response to modern slavery, including sexual exploitation. This will further equip officers with practical tools for navigating modern slavery crimes and fill critical gaps in frontline knowledge to drive performance and support greater accountability.

We will work closely with the new National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Modern Slavery and police forces across England and Wales to support a strong, coordinated approach to ensuring that modern slavery is effectively identified, disrupted, and tackled.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for licensing arrangements for local authorities, and it would be for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to determine whether those powers are adequate. We will continue to work closely across government to ensure there is a coordinated response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with local authorities and police forces on the use of massage parlours by organised criminal groups.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is a truly horrific crime, including where exploitation has taken place under the guise of legitimate businesses, such as massage parlours. We are determined to safeguard victims and to bring the ruthless perpetrators of this crime to justice.

In December 2025, the Government committed within the “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, to address many aspects of prostitution and sexual exploitation within England and Wales. Commitments include reviewing legislation, raising awareness among frontline agencies of what constitutes adult sexual exploitation, and strengthening police disruption of sexual exploitation. Further details on each of these commitments will be announced in due course.

The Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through operational activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats, and targeting prolific perpetrators.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council have developed a new framework for investigating modern slavery and includes a suite of products to guide forces to identify and tackle sexual exploitation. The framework provides a nationally consistent investigative framework to sustain progress and support forces in delivering a strong, evidence-based response to modern slavery, including sexual exploitation. This will further equip officers with practical tools for navigating modern slavery crimes and fill critical gaps in frontline knowledge to drive performance and support greater accountability.

We will work closely with the new National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Modern Slavery and police forces across England and Wales to support a strong, coordinated approach to ensuring that modern slavery is effectively identified, disrupted, and tackled.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for licensing arrangements for local authorities, and it would be for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to determine whether those powers are adequate. We will continue to work closely across government to ensure there is a coordinated response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of existing legislation governing massage parlours in preventing modern slavery, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is a truly horrific crime, including where exploitation has taken place under the guise of legitimate businesses, such as massage parlours. We are determined to safeguard victims and to bring the ruthless perpetrators of this crime to justice.

In December 2025, the Government committed within the “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, to address many aspects of prostitution and sexual exploitation within England and Wales. Commitments include reviewing legislation, raising awareness among frontline agencies of what constitutes adult sexual exploitation, and strengthening police disruption of sexual exploitation. Further details on each of these commitments will be announced in due course.

The Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through operational activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats, and targeting prolific perpetrators.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council have developed a new framework for investigating modern slavery and includes a suite of products to guide forces to identify and tackle sexual exploitation. The framework provides a nationally consistent investigative framework to sustain progress and support forces in delivering a strong, evidence-based response to modern slavery, including sexual exploitation. This will further equip officers with practical tools for navigating modern slavery crimes and fill critical gaps in frontline knowledge to drive performance and support greater accountability.

We will work closely with the new National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Modern Slavery and police forces across England and Wales to support a strong, coordinated approach to ensuring that modern slavery is effectively identified, disrupted, and tackled.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for licensing arrangements for local authorities, and it would be for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to determine whether those powers are adequate. We will continue to work closely across government to ensure there is a coordinated response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

Found: Financial position in 2025-26: MHCLG incurred total net spend of £51.1 billion in 2025‑26.

Found: 4 How MHCLG is structured 7 Where MHCLG spends its money 8 MHCLG spending patterns 9 MHCLG financial

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Found: and Coastguard Agency MCAA Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 MCZ Marine Conservation Zone MHCLG

Found: Education, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Education, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: MHCLG will publish a long-term strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations

Found: ACTION 13: As part of its reform programme, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: ACTION 13: As part of its reform programme, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Office 51 HM Treasury 54 Home Office 59 Ministry of Defence 62 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) would offer support and guidance to

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Found: infrastructure can help a number of local development goals, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: has an impressive track record at the Home Office, the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Education, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Education, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: the immediate establishment of an Alternative Delivery Model to deliver SEND services, only for MHCLG

Found: The data in RDC0310 breaks down information collected in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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Found: DESNZ 2.8% 0 50 DEFRA 9.4% 54 379 DBT 3.5% 23 41 HMT 3.4% 12 1 CO 14.8% 61 62 FCDO 4.7% 64 36 MHCLG

Found: their purpose: – The Office for Equality and Opportunity will move to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: their purpose: – The Office for Equality and Opportunity will move to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: their purpose: – The Office for Equality and Opportunity will move to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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Found: Supporting research publications BSR, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG

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

Found: The Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency, sponsored by the 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 Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: The Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: The Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: The Regulator would like to consider extending a previously published report (MHCLG, 2025) to include

Found: NHS England and DHSC continue to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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Found: Overview  The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), working with planning sector

Found: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed that reorganisation

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Found: Slough Borough Council has been under Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Best

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Found: Sarah Healey, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was due