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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to take steps to support local authorities seeking to build social housing to access finance to purchase land being sold by NHS Trusts.

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

The government is not taking any specific action to support local authorities to purchase land being sold by NHS Trusts.

However, in January we announced that we would extend the ‘preferential’ borrowing rate for council housebuilding from the Public Works Loan Board for another year until the end of March 2027. This will provide councils with greater certainty to increase their supply plans, including through land-led development.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with Homes England about access to grant funding for small housing providers.

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

Small housing providers can bid for grant funding through the government’s new 10-year £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

Guidance to bidders from Homes England can be found on gov.uk here, and to bidders from the Greater London Authority here. The government’s policy statement to accompany this guidance can be found on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on introducing legislated protections for freeholders against uncapped service charges.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 4 July 2025 (HCWS780) and the answer given to Question UIN 103549 on 14 January 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding is available to faith-based organisations to help them support communities.

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

The Government works closely with faith and belief groups and organisations to support communities, and there are a wide range of potential sources of support available to them.

The Common Ground Resilience Fund is providing over £3m funding to local communities in England to insulate them against threats to local social cohesion and resilience. Through the Common Ground Award, which forms part of this Fund, we are supporting the voluntary and community sector organisations - including faith-based organisations, with capital investments into the infrastructure and equipment which enables them to serve communities.

The Government also supports interfaith activities through which faith and belief organisations work with their wider communities. The Government supported Inter Faith Week 2025 by providing £141,720 of funding to ensure the Week remains a key part of the national calendar for dialogue, learning, and connection between people of different faiths and beliefs.

MHCLG has allocated up to £515,000 for the current financial year to fund the Near Neighbours programme in England, which is delivered by the Church Urban Fund. This programme brings together communities from diverse backgrounds and faiths to build relationships of trust and work together on initiatives that improve their communities.

Faith‑based organisations across England are also eligible to apply to the annual Windrush Day Grant Scheme, funded by MHCLG. Since 2019, the scheme has funded 268 projects, awarding a total of £3.75 million. Faith‑linked groups may receive funding where proposals align with the scheme’s aims of raising awareness of the Windrush story and strengthening community cohesion.

Supporting faith and belief communities’ physical buildings may help them in their work with communities. A new £92 million fund called the Places of Worship Renewal Fund will replace the £23 million Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and bring these important buildings into line with other heritage assets. It will give them access to the same level of financial support from the Government as historic houses, monuments and other heritage sites.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of legal protections preventing leaseholders from being pursued for (a) service-charge and (b) balancing-charge debts relating to periods before they acquired their property.

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

The government recognises the importance of potential buyers having the information they need to decide whether a home is right for them.

There is already a requirement under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 that any information that would help a prospective homebuyer to make an informed decision must not be hidden or omitted.

We would strongly advise prospective buyers and their legal representative to check that all relevant information has been provided. If this information was not provided at the time of purchase, a legal representative could advise on possible options.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure affordable housing for young people.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 113747 on 2 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he plans to extend the Brownfield Land Release Fund.

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

The third round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund will launch this year. Design options are currently being explored by officials.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of putting the agent of change principle on a statutory footing on i) the speed of the planning process ii) the number of grassroots music venues iii) new housing starts iv) urban development.

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

The agent of change policy is given effect through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which makes clear that where the operation of an existing business or community facility could have a significant adverse effect on new development in its vicinity, the applicant (or ‘agent of change’) should be required to provide suitable mitigation before the development has been completed.

The government is currently consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes a proposed update to the agent of change policy which sets out in more detail the types of matters which should be considered. These include early engagement with existing uses to identify potential impacts; the use of planning conditions to secure agreed mitigation measures; and the need to consider both current and permitted levels of activity to reduce the risk of conflict.

The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he will provide guidance to developers on the role of the agent of change principle in pre-application engagement.

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

The agent of change policy is given effect through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which makes clear that where the operation of an existing business or community facility could have a significant adverse effect on new development in its vicinity, the applicant (or ‘agent of change’) should be required to provide suitable mitigation before the development has been completed.

The government is currently consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes a proposed update to the agent of change policy which sets out in more detail the types of matters which should be considered. These include early engagement with existing uses to identify potential impacts; the use of planning conditions to secure agreed mitigation measures; and the need to consider both current and permitted levels of activity to reduce the risk of conflict.

The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions the Department has had with Teignbridge District Council regarding the application of national environmental policy frameworks to the NA3 allocation affecting Wolborough Fen.

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

Due to the quasi-judicial role of MHCLG Ministers in the planning system, neither the Secretary of State nor I are able to comment on the details of specific planning proposals, including discussing them with the relevant local planning authority.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to support local authorities to fast-track planning applications that deliver 100% affordable housing.

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

The government has no specific plans to fast-track planning applications that deliver 100% affordable housing.

We have already taken a number of steps to streamline planning processes generally.

We are currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework, that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department will make it a requirement for developers of sites near rail stations to contribute to Section 106 monies to help deliver future accessibility improvements at those rail stations.

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

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 90834 on 21 November 2025, UIN 111724 on 2 March 2026, and UIN 26106 on 5 February 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 he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the report from Liverpool and Sheffield Hallam Universities on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission, published in June 2022.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97962 on 15 December 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the impact of the commission charge on the sale of park homes on park home owners.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97962 on 15 December 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to include a reference to noise levels in part 4 of the updated National Planning Policy Framework.

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

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should prevent new and existing development from contributing to, being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by, unacceptable levels of noise pollution.

The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), including a new chapter (17) on Pollution, Public Protection and Security. This sets out that development proposals should not result in levels of noise exposure which would have a significant observed adverse effect. This is defined as the level of noise exposure above which significant adverse effects on health and quality of life occur.

The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on ensuring infrastructure accompanies new housing delivery.

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

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.

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

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

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

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

The government is currently consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes policies designed to further strengthen support for proposals that provide new or improved community facilities and public service infrastructure.

The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendations on improving community cohesion in the Khan Review - Threats To Social Cohesion And Democratic Resilience: A New Strategic Approach, published in March 2024.

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

MHCLG is co-ordinating cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with local government, communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address the deep-seated issues. As part of this work officials have considered a wide range of evidence including from reviews such as the Khan Review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local government reorganisation processes in Gloucestershire will enable new unitary authority elections to take place in 2027.

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

The government remains committed to the indicative timetable published in July 2025, with elections to new councils in May 2027 with a go live date of April 2028.

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 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's report entitled Deprivation in Rural Areas, published in October 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the report's finding that 14 of the 20 most-deprived rural Lower Layer Super Output Areas are in former mining areas.

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

Our Pride in Place strategy sets out how we will deliver up to £5.8 billion over ten years to 284 neighbourhoods (Middle Super Output Areas) experiencing the highest levels of deprivation across the country. Many coalfield communities – including very deprived Lower Super Output Areas - are part of this programme: Bentilee and Ubberley, Peterlee East, Grassmoor & Holmewood, Platt Bridge & Spring View, amongst many others.

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 oral contribution by the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness on 23 February 2026, whether the removal of the pay-day loan premium will apply to the reorganised councils who will inherit the debt of areas such as Thurrock.

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

The previous government made a sustained recovery for councils even harder by charging a premium on borrowing for councils needing Exceptional Financial Support. In December 2024, the government confirmed that the additional 1% premium on Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) borrowing would not apply to any council borrowing or refinancing going forward.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the the potential merits of using the private rented sector to fulfil the statutory duty to homeless households.

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

High-quality accommodation in the private rented sector plays an important role in councils discharging their homelessness duties. In England in 2024/25, 52,870 households had their prevention or relief duty ended with accommodation secured in the private rented sector, and 4,070 households had their main duty ended having accepted a private rented sector offer.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it is his policy for Gloucestershire to be placed in a mayoral combined authority devolution deal with Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

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

On 12 February, the government wrote to all local authorities – including in Gloucestershire and its neighbours – that do not currently have a devolution agreement inviting them to come forward with to agree a non-mayoral, Foundation Strategic Authority across a sensible geography.

It is for councils to propose new devolution arrangements where local consensus has been reached with their neighbours, and we will consider any proposals brought forward, subject to it meeting the criteria set out in the English Devolution White Paper and the forthcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is his proposed timetable for Gloucestershire to join a mayoral combined authority.

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

On 12 February, the government wrote to all local authorities – including in Gloucestershire and its neighbours – that do not currently have a devolution agreement inviting them to come forward with to agree a non-mayoral, Foundation Strategic Authority across a sensible geography.

It is for councils to propose new devolution arrangements where local consensus has been reached with their neighbours, and we will consider any proposals brought forward, subject to it meeting the criteria set out in the English Devolution White Paper and the forthcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

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 oral contribution by the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness on 23 February 2026, how much less Thurrock council will need to repay each year following the removal of the pay-day loan premium.

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

The previous government made a sustained recovery for councils even harder by charging a premium on borrowing for councils needing Exceptional Financial Support. In December 2024, the government confirmed that the additional 1% premium on Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) borrowing would not apply to any council borrowing or refinancing going forward.

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 oral contribution by the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness on 23 February 2026, whether the removal of the pay-day loan premium will apply to councils not currently in receipt of Exceptional Financial Support.

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

The previous government made a sustained recovery for councils even harder by charging a premium on borrowing for councils needing Exceptional Financial Support. In December 2024, the government confirmed that the additional 1% premium on Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) borrowing would not apply to any council borrowing or refinancing going forward.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have forecast a structural budget deficit beyond 2026–27 at the same time as applying the maximum council tax increase; and what assessment he has made of the level of likelihood of further Section 114 notices.

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

The recent Local Government Finance Settlement is our most significant step yet to make English local government more sustainable. Our reforms are delivering a fairer Settlement which puts funding where it is needed most. Before our reforms, only around a third of councils were given the funding that broadly matched their assessed need. Our reforms bring that up to nine in ten councils by 2028-29.

However, delivering reform will take time, and the government recognises the challenging financial context for local authorities as they continue to deal with the legacy of the previous flawed system. That is why the government previously confirmed that there will continue to be a framework in place to support councils in the most difficult financial positions ahead of 2026-27, as councils start the transition to new funding allocations. On 23 February 2026 we wrote to a number of councils to confirm in-principle support through the Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) process. Details of these councils and the support provided have been published on GOV.UK.

Councils are responsible for their own financial management and under the relevant legislation the decision to issue a Section 114 notice is an entirely local one. It would not be appropriate for the government to speculate on these decisions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of council tax exemption and discount rules for families required to live away from their homes for extended periods due to a child undergoing prolonged hospital treatment.

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

Councils are responsible for administering the council tax system, including considering the circumstances applying to a household and its eligibility for a discount or exemption. As well as the mandatory 25% discount where a household only has one adult occupant, councils have discretion over the level of discount provided in respect of unoccupied or second homes, which may be relevant where a family or family member is temporarily absent for medical reasons. Councils are able to design their working age council tax reduction schemes to ensure that households continue to receive support during periods of absence. In addition, councils have discretionary powers to provide a discount to taxpayer for any reason where they consider this appropriate.

The government recently consulted on modernising and improving the administration council tax. This included seeking views on any other groups which should be considered for council tax disregard/discounts. The consultation has now closed, and we are currently reviewing all responses. The government will publish its response to this consultation in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for her policies of Australia's Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.

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

Tackling all forms of hatred is an issue of global significance. This government is committed to eradicating hated from our society, working to ensure that no individual should ever experience hatred or live in fear due to their race, religion, beliefs or the way they choose to live their lives.

The government works closely with allies and international partners including Australia to achieve this. This exchanging of relevant and up-to-date policy information helps to inform and develop effective strategies for addressing the global rise of antisemitism both at home and abroad.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward regeneration funding for rural market towns.

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

In September 2025 we announced the Local Regeneration Fund, which brings together the Levelling Up Fund, Towns Deals and Pathfinder Pilots into a single, flexible capital pot, responding to Local Authority feedback for less bureaucratic oversight and more local autonomy.

This partnership approach empowers local authorities to allocate resources based on their own priorities, which will help rural councils. Decisions on how to manage these allocations rest with each authority’s Section 151 Officer or equivalent. In the small number of cases where projects are no longer viable, we expect projects to rescope their plans and use the funding for other initiatives in the same area that originally stood to benefit.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister confirmed that 40 further places will join the Pride in Place Programme. That means that nearly 300 communities will benefit from this transformational programme. Funding for the Pride in Place programme is going to communities with the greatest need: places that have been overlooked and stand to benefit most, including market towns.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure landlord and property rules to hold directors owners accountable.

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

Building owners are responsible for managing and addressing fire and structural safety risks in their buildings. They are required to apply for a Building Assessment Certificate (BAC), which includes an assessment by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) of whether they understand and are managing their building safety risks to an acceptable standard.

Where a BAC is rejected by the BSR, the building owner will be notified by the Regulator of the issues they need to fix, and the deadline they must fix them by. The BSR can also take further enforcement action for non-compliance. The building owner is often the principal accountable person. Where the principal accountable person is not meeting their duties, residents should raise a complaint to them directly. If the resident is not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint, they can contact the Building Safety Regulator.

One of the significant challenges local regulators (local authorities and fire and rescue authorities) can face in relation to building safety, is identifying who is practically responsible for each building. While determining the legal owner is usually straightforward, the identity of the parent company, which makes decisions and benefits financially, is often hidden behind layers of corporate ownership. This obfuscation makes it difficult to pinpoint where the real decision-making power lies.

To address this issue, the government is proposing legislation that will provide regulators with the powers to compel the disclosure of full ownership structures. This measure aims to enhance transparency and ensure that enforcement bodies can hold the appropriate parties accountable. This legislation will be brought forward in the Remediation Bill, when parliamentary time allows.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Tougher rules on political interference to keep UK elections secure, published on 12 February 2026, in which local authorities election pilots will take place in May 2026; and what type of pilot will take place in each.

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

The Government committed in its manifesto to encourage greater participation in democracy. To support this, the Government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors.

Orders designating the pilots for May 2026 have been signed and shared with participating local authorities and the Electoral Commission. I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made yesterday, which details participating local authorities and nature of each pilot.

No flexible voting pilots are due to be held in local authority areas where elections due to run in May 2026 were previously postponed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether election pilots will be held in the local authorities which had local elections cancelled, but which are being reinstated.

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

The Government committed in its manifesto to encourage greater participation in democracy. To support this, the Government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors.

Orders designating the pilots for May 2026 have been signed and shared with participating local authorities and the Electoral Commission. I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made yesterday, which details participating local authorities and nature of each pilot.

No flexible voting pilots are due to be held in local authority areas where elections due to run in May 2026 were previously postponed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will meet with the Social Housing Action Campaign to discuss their concerns around service charges.

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

Neither the Secretary of State nor I have any current plans to meet with the Social Housing Action Campaign.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how they are liaising with Westminster City Council to assist the homeless people found in the Westminster underground station and vicinity.

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

The government engages closely with councils across England to support them to help people experiencing and at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping in their areas including Westminster City Council. This year we have provided more than £1 billion for homelessness and rough sleeping services across England, including more than £26 million to Westminster City Council. My department’s team of homelessness and rough sleeping advisers meet with councils, including Westminster City Council, regularly to discuss challenges and share best practice.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support leaseholders in Poole constituency for remediation work to properties that is required following the Grenfell Tower fire.

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

Eight years on from the Grenfell tragedy, there is no justification for any building to remain unsafe. The Government has provided extensive funding and strong legal protections to shield leaseholders from historical building safety costs following Grenfell, including cladding remediation funds and strengthened leaseholder rights under the Building Safety Act.

In December 2024, Government launched the Remediation Acceleration Plan (RAP) to fix buildings faster, identify those still at risk, and support residents. An update in July 2025 outlined progress and further steps to remove barriers and strengthen accountability.

As of December 2025, there are 30 buildings identified with unsafe cladding above 11m in the Poole constituency, of which 25 buildings have started or completed remediation works.

The Government remains committed to considering how to strengthen protections for leaseholders from current and future building safety issues, outside the scope of the leaseholder protections regime.

Plans to launch a new long-term Waking Watch Replacement Fund were announced as part of the RAP update in July 2025, and we plan to launch the new fund shortly.

In the RAP, we announced we would work with the insurance industry to consider options for possible government support. We are currently engaging with industry and will provide an update in due course. Following a public consultation, we are also proceeding with legislation to ban insurance commissions being passed to freeholders, landlords and managing agents at leaseholders’ expense, and replace these with a fair and transparent permitted fee structure.

As soon as parliamentary time allows, we will bring forward a new Remediation Bill to push the remediation of historic unsafe cladding further.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) legal challenges and (b) judicial reviews his Department has (i) lost in court and (ii) conceded prior to the court hearing since July 2024.

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

The Department deals with a large variety of legal cases including judicial reviews, statutory challenges in planning cases, Information Tribunal cases and private law litigation. The number and outcome of legal challenges and judicial reviews since July 2024 is not held centrally in the format requested.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of Local Authorities contracting funeral services where those services fall outside of a Local Authority's obligations under Section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984.

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

Local authorities are independent of central government. My department has made no estimate of the number of the number of local authorities contracting funeral services outside of their obligations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities and their partners on responding to rough sleeping in town centres, including engagement with local businesses, and on meeting safeguarding and homelessness prevention duties.

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

Through our National Plan to End Homelessness, the government has committed to developing an Outreach Toolkit, alongside a Single Homelessness and Complex Needs Toolkit. Together these will provide advice on designing and delivering services, including on effective outreach, accommodation pathways including the role of housing-led solutions, including Housing First, and enforcement.

These toolkits will build on the support available to local authorities through my Department’s team of expert advisers and guidance published through gov.uk here. This includes specific guidance on safeguarding, which you can find here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to council leaders on 16 February 2026, whether the additional capacity funding will be provided (a) to all local authorities and (b) only to local authorities that requested election postponements.

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

Up to £63 million new funding will be made available to help all local councils across the 21 reorganisation areas best deliver local government re-organisation and builds on the £7.6 million provided last year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to prevent commercial landlords from leaving premises empty for long periods; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using (a) business rates reform, (b) penalties for vacancy, (c) tenant incentives and (d) other measures to bring unused units back into active use.

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

This Government is taking action to tackle long-term commercial vacancy and to support vibrant high streets. To address business rates avoidance and evasion we recognise the importance of a system where everyone pays their fair share and are committed to taking necessary action.

Our forthcoming High Streets Strategy will explore a range of measures to support the high street and reduce the number of vacant premises. We have introduced High Street Rental Auctions which empower councils to require the letting of persistently vacant units where landlords fail to engage.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of expanding the eligibility criteria of the Shared Prosperity Fund to include extracurricular and volunteering organisations.

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

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has a light-touch delegated delivery model, empowering lead local authorities to make decisions on how funding is allocated in their area, including setting their own eligibility criteria.

Volunteering activities and organisations may be supported where this meets local need.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will instruct Local Authorities to disregard the compensation and pensions of veterans as a form of council income.

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

Councils tax support for working-age people is locally designed. Councils must review their schemes each year and make any changes in consultation with their residents. Support for pensioners is prescribed in regulations which are updated by the department each year in line with changes to the wider benefit system. For 2026-27, the regulations include new capital disregards for the Armed Forces LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme and the Miscarriage of Justice Compensation Scheme.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the role of pubs as community hubs in rural areas.

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

The Government recognises the vital role of pubs in rural areas, supporting local economies, providing spaces for people to come together, and offering essential services for local people.

Through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, we will introduce a new community right to buy to empower local people to bring valued assets such as pubs into community ownership and protect them for the benefit of the wider community. Our £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme will support investment in valued local assets. The selection methodology for the programme targets need across all communities, including rural areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will (a) confirm how many local council external auditors' annual reports identified serious financial sustainability issues, as well as the number of local authorities considered at serious threat of a Section 114 notice being issued, and (b) what steps he is taking to monitor the impact of central government financial awards to councils not complying with the requirements for statutory spending.

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

The department engages closely with local authorities, including in relation to any serious concerns raised through the external audit process. The issuing of a Section 114 notice is a local decision for a council’s statutory Section 151 officer and government has no role in the process. The government has been clear that any council that has concerns about its ability to set or maintain a balanced budget should approach the department in the first instance.

The government is delivering fairer funding for local government, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. However, delivering reform will take time, and the government recognises the challenging financial context for local authorities as they continue to deal with the legacy of the previous flawed system. There will continue to be a support framework in place to support councils in the most difficult positions ahead of 2026-27 as councils start the transition to new funding allocations. Details of Exceptional Financial Support were announced on 23 February 2026 and published on GOV.UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with Brighton and Hove City Council on the external auditor’s report findings on (a) the risk of a Section 114 notice being issued and (b) demand for statutory services.

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

In the multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement, the Government made available a Core Spending Power increase for Brighton of 14.2% between 2024-25 and 2028-29, worth £47.6m – coming good on our promise of reforming the funding system.

We know that recovering from the legacy of the local government finance system overseen by previous governments will take time. On 23 February, this government announced £15m of in-principle Exceptional Financial Support for Brighton and Hove City Council. The department continues to engage with the council on a confidential basis to support them to transform their services.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Future Homes Standard on the delivery of high-quality, future-proofed homes that reduce energy bills for residents; and whether the Standard will include requirements on the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on suitable new homes.

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

Homes built under the Future Homes Standard will be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and cutting consumer energy bills.

A full impact assessment will be published in due course.

Government have confirmed that the Future Homes Standard will include solar panels and that we expect them to be installed in the majority of new homes. Installing solar panels on new build homes could save families hundreds of pounds a year, while also strengthening energy security by reducing exposure to international gas markets.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce mechanisms for cases where unitary authority council areas disagree with the decision by a mayoral strategic authority to introduce a visitor's levy.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to ensure that local communities are included in decisions to introduce visitor levies by the mayoral strategic authority.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local authorities that introduce a visitor levy would be permitted to repeal it later on.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on (a) coastal areas and (b) rural communities.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing a visitor levy on the number of domestic tourists.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure revenue from a visitor levy is reinvested in local tourism infrastructure.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of revenue raised through a visitor levy will be retained locally.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the hotel and hospitality sector on the potential impact of a visitor levy on international competitiveness.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he is considering exemptions from a visitor levy for children, long-stay visitors and people travelling for medical purposes.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on attendance at major cultural and sporting events.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on school trips, business travel and major events.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing a visitor levy on visitor numbers to (a) England and (b) Essex.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on average visitor spending per trip.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information their Department holds on (a) the proportion of tyres procured that were re-tread tyres for (i) Department-operated and (ii) commercially contracted heavy vehicle fleets, including lorries, buses and refuse vehicles and (b) the volume of tyres procured for those fleets that were single-use imported tyres in the last 12 months; and whether such information is held centrally or by individual contractors.

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

The Department does not own or have commercially contracted heavy vehicles. It has not procured any tyres of any type for that class of vehicle within the past 12 months.

The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994, set out requirements for re-treaded tyres, as well as brand new tyres. Consumers can be confident in the safety of any tyre that complies with these requirements.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it remains his policy to have elections for the shadow unitary authority in Suffolk in May 2027.

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

The Government remains committed to the indicative timetable published in July, with elections to new councils in May 2027. This is with the exception of Surrey, where we have already announced two new councils with elections expected in May 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to announce the unitary council model to be adopted in Suffolk.

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

The Government remains committed to the indicative timetable published in July, with elections to new councils in May 2027. This is with the exception of Surrey, where we have already announced two new councils with elections expected in May 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of of a visitor levy on the competitiveness of English destinations compared with European cities including Paris, Barcelona and Rome.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of implementing a visitor levy on the displacement of tourism activity to neighbouring areas without such a levy.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the hospitality sector.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the administrative costs to accommodation providers of implementing and collecting a visitor levy.

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

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government’s letter to Social housing landlords, dated 12 February 2026, what proportion of social housing landlords who currently refuse to allow tenants to keep pets does his Department anticipate will reverse this policy as a result of the letter and the changes to legislation.

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

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.

On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.

We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.

The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

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 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government’s letter to Social housing landlords, dated 12 February 2026, what steps he is taking to encourage social housing landlords to publish clear and accessible pet policies in tenancy agreements and on their websites.

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

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.

On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.

We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.

The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to have pets.

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

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.

On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.

We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.

The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to publish the long-term housing strategy by March 2026.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 112714 on 2 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will ensure that policies applying to local government members apply to Ministers in his Department.

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

Ministers are expected to maintain high standards of behaviour and to behave in a way that upholds the highest standards of propriety. The Ministerial Code provides guidance to ministers on how they should act and arrange their affairs in order to uphold these standards. Ministers are responsible for their own behaviour, and are ultimately accountable to the Prime Minister for their conduct under the Ministerial Code

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 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government’s letter to Social housing landlords, dated 12 February 2026, how long the proposed standard timeframe would be within which social housing landlords should respond to tenant requests to keep pets.

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

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.

On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.

We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.

The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

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 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government’s letter to Social housing landlords, dated 12 February 2026, what mechanisms will be available to social housing tenants to challenge a landlord’s refusal of a request to keep a pet.

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

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.

On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.

We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.

The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on factors social landlords should consider when assessing the suitability of a property for a tenant’s pet, including property size, shared access arrangements and communal areas.

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

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.

On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.

We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.

The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, a) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the 18-month rule under Section 20B of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 in protecting leaseholders from being billed for historic service-charge liabilities issued outside the statutory deadline, and b) whether his Department has considered the potential merits of improving enforcement mechanisms where managing agents fail to comply with that requirement.

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

The government has not made a specific assessment of the effectiveness of Section 20B. Under Section 20B of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 a landlord must notify leaseholders of service charge costs being incurred or demanded within 18 months of when the costs were incurred. If landlords miss this deadline, leaseholders are not liable to pay these costs unless the landlord sends a written notice within this period about the costs and their future responsibility to contribute. Leaseholders who consider that they received such a demand outside the time limit and without notification should seek advice, for example from the Leasehold Advisory Service. Leaseholders may challenge unreasonable charges at the First-tier Tribunal.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is able to provide the conveyancing sector to digitise the property transaction process.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103007 on 13 January 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking any steps to assist the digitisation of the conveyancing process.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103007 on 13 January 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with local authorities to improve the quality of local housing stock.

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

Everyone deserves to live in a decent, warm, and comfortable home.

The government recently consulted on both the content and implementation of a new, modernised Decent Homes Standard. The consultation outcome can be found on gov.uk here and the impact assessment on gov.uk here.

We also consulted on new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for both the social rented and private rented sectors. The social rented sector consultation outcome can be found on gov.uk here and the private rented sector consultation outcome here.

The first phase of Awaab’s Law came into force for the social rented sector on 27 October. Awaab’s Law is vital legislation that will empower social tenants to hold their landlords to account using the full force of the law if they fail to investigate and fix hazards within their homes within set timescales. It will also allow tenants to access the Housing Ombudsman if their landlord does not adhere to strict timelines for action.

The government has also committed itself to bring forward new regulations this summer to bring the conclusions of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) review into force. The HHSRS is the cornerstone of housing standards, and the forthcoming regulations will make it more efficient and accessible for experts to use, and easier to understand for landlords and tenants.

We are also acting to ensure private tenants have safe, warm, and decent homes including strengthening local authority enforcement in respect of unremedied hazards and applying Awaab’s Law Act to the PRS through the relevant provisions in the Renters’ Rights Act.

The government is also supporting improvements to existing homes through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, which has allocated £1.29 billion over 2025-28 to support social landlords to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes.

Over £1 billion of building safety funding will also be available between 2026/27 and 2029/30 to accelerate remediation of social housing. These targeted funds are in addition to the 10-year social housing rent settlement that will improve providers’ financial capacity to invest in new and existing homes.

The government is also supporting estate regeneration schemes to transform neighbourhoods and deliver well designed housing and a better quality of life for tenants. The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme will also support regeneration schemes that provide a net increase in affordable homes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the impact of Planning Inspectorate decisions overruling local councils in respect of development on land designated as green belt; how many such decisions have been taken since July 2024; what proportion of those decisions relied on the application of “grey belt” or similar reclassification; what guidance has been issued to inspectors on the evidential threshold required to justify such reclassification; and if he will publish all correspondence, internal guidance and ministerial submissions relating to the interpretation and use of “grey belt” in decision-making.

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

From 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2025, the Planning Inspectorate overturned the 849 Local Planning Authoritiy decisions on cases concerning the Green Belt. 811 of these are Planning and 38 are Enforcement. 2523 decided cases were identified as within Green Belt, over that time period.

No Ministerial correspondence or guidance has been provided to the Planning Inspectorate on the evidential threshold required to justify reclassification on Green Belt. Inspectors deal with appeals on a case-by-case basis having regard to relevant development plan policies, national planning policy and guidance, and any relevant material considerations.

I otherwise refer the Rt. hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 111723 on 24 February 2026 and Question UIN 36396 on 12 March 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many affordable homes recorded as started by the Greater London Authority under the 2016 to 2023 Affordable Homes Programme remained uncompleted at the end of the most recent reporting period; and of those, how many had recorded no further construction activity in that period.

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

Published statistics on new affordable housing supply in England, which can be found on gov.uk here, are broken down into starts and completions.

Individual units are not tracked from start-on-site to completion. This is because the data provided directly by local planning authorities is collected on an aggregate basis to reduce burden while providing sufficient detail for use.

The integrity of the data is maintained through thorough quality assurance checks, including cross checking with other data sources, while consistency and comparability are ensured through the detailed published guidance for each question.

The affordable housing supply statistics have been assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation and at the last assessment their continued Accredited Official Statistics status was confirmed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, under what circumstances affordable homes recorded by the Greater London Authority as started under the 2016 to 2023 Affordable Homes Programme may be reclassified, adjusted, or removed from official affordable housing starts statistics; and whether any such cases have occurred to date.

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

Published statistics on new affordable housing supply in England, which can be found on gov.uk here, are broken down into starts and completions.

Individual units are not tracked from start-on-site to completion. This is because the data provided directly by local planning authorities is collected on an aggregate basis to reduce burden while providing sufficient detail for use.

The integrity of the data is maintained through thorough quality assurance checks, including cross checking with other data sources, while consistency and comparability are ensured through the detailed published guidance for each question.

The affordable housing supply statistics have been assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation and at the last assessment their continued Accredited Official Statistics status was confirmed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there is a maximum period for which an affordable housing start may remain uncompleted while continuing to be treated as a valid start for statistical purposes; and if there is no such limit, how the integrity of the affordable housing starts series is maintained.

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

Published statistics on new affordable housing supply in England, which can be found on gov.uk here, are broken down into starts and completions.

Individual units are not tracked from start-on-site to completion. This is because the data provided directly by local planning authorities is collected on an aggregate basis to reduce burden while providing sufficient detail for use.

The integrity of the data is maintained through thorough quality assurance checks, including cross checking with other data sources, while consistency and comparability are ensured through the detailed published guidance for each question.

The affordable housing supply statistics have been assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation and at the last assessment their continued Accredited Official Statistics status was confirmed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the total value of affordable housing grant funding allocated to homes recorded as started by the Greater London Authority under the 2016 to 2023 Affordable Homes Programme but not yet completed is; and how much of that funding has been (a) drawn down and (b) remains unspent.

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

Published statistics on new affordable housing supply in England, which can be found on gov.uk here, are broken down into starts and completions.

Individual units are not tracked from start-on-site to completion. This is because the data provided directly by local planning authorities is collected on an aggregate basis to reduce burden while providing sufficient detail for use.

The integrity of the data is maintained through thorough quality assurance checks, including cross checking with other data sources, while consistency and comparability are ensured through the detailed published guidance for each question.

The affordable housing supply statistics have been assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation and at the last assessment their continued Accredited Official Statistics status was confirmed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what powers his Department has to recover, suspend, or reallocate affordable housing grant funding where homes recorded as started under the Greater London Authority’s 2016 to 2023 Affordable Homes Programme are not progressed to completion.

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

Published statistics on new affordable housing supply in England, which can be found on gov.uk here, are broken down into starts and completions.

Individual units are not tracked from start-on-site to completion. This is because the data provided directly by local planning authorities is collected on an aggregate basis to reduce burden while providing sufficient detail for use.

The integrity of the data is maintained through thorough quality assurance checks, including cross checking with other data sources, while consistency and comparability are ensured through the detailed published guidance for each question.

The affordable housing supply statistics have been assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation and at the last assessment their continued Accredited Official Statistics status was confirmed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether affordable housing starts that remain uncompleted for multiple years are included in published figures cited as evidence of housing delivery; and whether official publications distinguish starts from completed homes when reporting delivery outcomes.

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

Published statistics on new affordable housing supply in England, which can be found on gov.uk here, are broken down into starts and completions.

Individual units are not tracked from start-on-site to completion. This is because the data provided directly by local planning authorities is collected on an aggregate basis to reduce burden while providing sufficient detail for use.

The integrity of the data is maintained through thorough quality assurance checks, including cross checking with other data sources, while consistency and comparability are ensured through the detailed published guidance for each question.

The affordable housing supply statistics have been assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation and at the last assessment their continued Accredited Official Statistics status was confirmed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he consulted (a) Cabinet and (b) the Prime Minister prior to the decision to (i) postpone the 2026 local elections and (ii) reverse that postponement.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice.

Councils are being supported to deliver elections. The administration and cost of running local elections remain matters for local authorities, with wider costs handled in the usual way.

We are also making available up to £63 million in new capacity funding for areas undergoing reorganisation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he sought legal advice prior to the decision to postpone the scheduled 2026 local elections.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice.

Councils are being supported to deliver elections. The administration and cost of running local elections remain matters for local authorities, with wider costs handled in the usual way.

We are also making available up to £63 million in new capacity funding for areas undergoing reorganisation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had recent discussions with Royal Mail on the timely delivery of postal votes for the May 2026 local elections.

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

Officials in the Ministry of Housing and Communities and Local Government meet regularly with the Royal Mail to discuss matters relating to elections including capacity, capability and contingency planning.

As part of the usual engagement ahead of the significant electoral events, Ministers and senior government officials have met with the Chief Executive and other senior representatives from Royal Mail and it is intended to do so again ahead of the May elections.

Found: Its core membership includes representation from: Defra, MHCLG, OxCam, EA, Ofwat, DWI, NE, NISTA, DBT

Found: DPP0077 - Drought Preparedness Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Written Evidence

Found: o The LRF does not exist as a formal organisation, and although we compile reports for MHCLG, there

Found: conjunction with NHS patient data and other sources such as the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) (MHCLG

Found: The MHCLG consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)1 presents a significant

Found: time: ancient and native woodland and trees policy in England - GOV.UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Q178 Bobby Dean: Can I put to you something that came up at a joint Committee session with MHCLG?

Found: Concessionary fares funding sits in MHCLG so is not represented in the DfT Supply Estimates.

Found: We recommend that MHCLG, in consultation with DCMS, examines options to better align the two regimes

Found: Only yesterday, the MHCLG published Protecting What Matters.

Found: MHCLG assures us that the formula reflects rural and urban differences, for example, by basing funding

Found: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published its Strategy for Modern and

Found: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published its Strategy for Modern and

Found: , Home Office, Rushanara Ali MP, Minister for Homelessness and Democracy, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Government efforts to strengthen community cohesion, including work led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published its Strategy for Modern and

Found: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published its Strategy for Modern and

Found: Security and Net Zero, and before that I was the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Security and Net Zero, and before that I was the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Authorities, the MOD is co-developing a new burdens assessment, alongside Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: With MHCLG shortly to be subject to the duty, we would seek their engagement in looking at best practice

Found: the following: Your question has been queried because basis is required - do you have basis that MHCLG

Found: Can we ask: • Have there been conversations from MHCLG, NIO and The Executive to support the community

Found: respectfully ask that the NI Affairs Committee, make representation to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Who makes the decision—I have spoken to the Secretary of State for MHCLG, who says that responsibility

Found: It is not for this Bill, but we have been working with MHCLG to create a new designation of military

Found: The Committee remains concerned that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG

Found: Additionally, we and many organisations raised significant concerns at the proposals in the recent MHCLG

Found: 2025Budget Cover Transfer (CO) relating to 2025/26 Special Advisors -0.355-0.355Budget Cover Transfer (MHCLG

Found: Government funding in relation to housing is generally provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: We are currently consulting on planning reforms around farming, which is obviously an MHCLG lead.

Found: Local Government 0 0 0 BCT Out to Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG

Found: We have worked hard with MHCLG and others to try and get that framed in the right way.

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 to encourage farmers to develop detailed fire plans, as recommended by the NFU Mutual's Farm Fires Report 2025.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) are the lead Department for wildfire. Defra work closely with MHCLG and support Natural England (NE) in delivering their responsibilities. This includes the recently published EIP commitment that by 2030 NE will conduct research on increasing the natural resilience of habitats to wildfires. This will develop our understanding of actions that can be taken to naturally reduce the risk of wildfires.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of funding for domestic abuse services.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy committed to invest more than £1 billion over the next three years to support victims, including:

• £550 million for victims’ services from the Ministry of Justice;
• £499 million for safe accommodation from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

This sits alongside wider investments, across government, to support victims.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to help tackle homelessness among veterans in Gloucester constituency.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

This Government is fully committed to ensuring that veterans in Gloucester and across the UK have access to the support they need on housing. That is why we have committed an additional £12 million to ensure the continuation of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme. Op FORTITUDE has also been extended, putting the service that has already supported over 1,000 veterans on a sustainable footing. These programmes will deliver three years of support services across the UK for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

In December last year, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published A National Plan to End Homelessness. The Ministry of Defence contributed to this strategy including committing to ensuring that all councils are aware of service provision in their area to support veterans at risk of homelessness.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she can list the (a) Ministerial responsibilities and (b) the responsibilities and reporting arrangements of any relevant cross-departmental units in relation to drugs policy.

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

The Joint Combating Drugs Unit (JCDU) is responsible for driving and co-ordinating efforts across Government to tackle drugs, working in close partnership with six departments – the Home Office, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Education. JCDU comprises full-time civil servants who are seconded from key government departments.

Each department is responsible for delivery of their programmes and projects. Progress is overseen by the lead departmental ministers but also reported to me as the lead drugs Minister, while a lead Permanent Secretary fulfils the role of senior responsible owner at official level.

Illicit drug use affects the whole of society, and this Government is taking a collective response to deliver safer streets, improve health outcomes and contribute to opportunities and growth through reducing crime and saving lives.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy that integrated care board boundaries should match mayoral combined authority boundaries.

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

It remains the Government’s ambition for integrated care boards (ICBs) to be coterminous with one or more strategic authorities wherever feasible, a commitment made in the English devolution white paper and reaffirmed in our 10-Year Health Plan.

This summer as local government reform progresses, the Department of Health and Social Care will work closely with NHS England and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to decide any further ICB mergers and boundary changes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether a decision has been made on the proposal to raise the threshold for consulting Active Travel England on residential developments from 150 to 250 units; and if she will publish the outcome of the consultation.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The proposal to amend Active Travel England's consultation criteria for new planning applications forms part of a wider consultation undertaken by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

As the department responsible for the planning system, MHCLG is leading on the formal response to the consultation. Any decision on whether to raise the threshold for consulting Active Travel England on residential developments from 150 to 250 units, and the publication of the consultation outcome, will be announced by MHCLG in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of local government reorganisation on the (a) implementation of transport infrastructure projects and (b) strategic planning.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the lead department for the planning system, and the Department for Transport works with it closely on the impacts of local government reorganisation.

Existing district councils have responsibilities for taxi licencing and spatial planning, but transport infrastructure is generally delivered by county and unitary authorities. New unitary authorities formed by local government reorganisation should have appropriate scale to effectively deliver transport infrastructure projects and, outside of Strategic Authorities, to undertake their local transport authority responsibilities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Voluntary Code of Practice for Food on the Go in reducing litter; and whether she made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) reviewing and (b) strengthening the Code, including through statutory measures.

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

No assessment has been made of the code of practice.

Councils and others have powers to tackle persistent, unreasonable behaviour that is having a negative effect on a community’s quality of life. They can issue Community Protection Notices which can be used to require the owner of premises, such as fast-food outlets, to take certain actions to tackle litter created by their activities.

To support local councils to make good use of their powers for littering and related offences we have laid new Statutory Guidance: Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them in Parliament. Local authorities will need to have regard to this guidance when using their powers.

Guidance published by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government clarifies the powers available to councils to ensure new hot food takeaways do not increase the impact of litter on local communities. The guidance gives councils advice on what rules they can enforce when new takeaways open, such as ensuring they install more bins and anti-litter signs around shops or have staff members pick up litter regularly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the risk to public safety arising from the publication of sensitive information relating to the physical security of properties on local authority planning registers.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 106884 on 27 January 2026 by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the document entitled Government’s Principles of Engagement, published on 14 March 2024, remains active; and whether those principles should guide engagement with stakeholders and the public during government consultations.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government Principles of Engagement was published under the 2022 to 2024 Conservative government. Responsibility for decisions and due diligence around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas.

It is for individual government departments to decide to use these principles, or their own due diligence processes around engagement.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Chines Government made representation to her Department, outside of the planning process, on permissions for the proposed Chinese Embassy.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As the Hon Member knows, the decision on the planning application was made by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government independent from the rest of Government in line with his quasi-judicial role.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the position paper by the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities entitled The challenges around the increasing residential use of waterways.

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

Navigation authorities are not housing authorities. Defra will consider the matters raised in the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities position paper about the residential use of inland waterways, and will engage with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the housing-related and other issues that fall within its policy responsibilities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of food supply chain resilience in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK has a resilient food supply chain underpinned by diverse sources, robust domestic production and reliable import routes. Defra works with industry and across Government, including Cabinet Office, to monitor risks to food supply chain resilience that may arise.

This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. At the local level Defra engages with local resilience forums, with support from MHCLG, to build additional resilience to supply chain shocks and emergencies.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conversations she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on streamlining Fire and Rescue Authority powers with statutory PCC powers in local mayors.

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

The Police Reform White Paper, published on 26 January 2026, committed to abolish the Police and Crime Commissioner model and transfer policing functions to Strategic Authority Mayors or Policing and Crime Boards. This involves Police, Fire and Commissioners.

Separately, the Government continues to implement the proposals set in the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, which committed, where geographies align with Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authorities, Mayors will, by default, be responsible for those services.

Home Office and MHCLG officials meet regularly to consider future arrangements for both police and fire governance to meet the direction set by the two White Papers.

Found: /58-03/0169/LevellingUpandRegenerationBillImpactAssessment.pdf or from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: /58-03/0169/LevellingUpandRegenerationBillImpactAssessment.pdf or from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: /58-03/0169/LevellingUpandRegenerationBillImpactAssessment.pdf or from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Hard copies can be obtained free of charge by writing to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: override A ‘statutory override’ for SEND-related deficits was introduced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) funds the commission’s work and provides

Found: DfT has also been working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG); Transport

Found: DfT has also been working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG); Transport

Found: DfT has also been working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG); Transport

Found: (MHCLG) at the earliest possible stage to discuss the procedures to be followed

Found: greenhouse gas statistics 1990 to 2022. 2 DESNZ (2024) UK greenhouse gas statistics 1990 to 2022. 3 MHCLG

Found: 0.163763066202091 1 0.00348432055749129 317 23 0.0725552050473186 1 0.00315457413249211 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: 0.163763066202091 1 0.00348432055749129 317 23 0.0725552050473186 1 0.00315457413249211 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: our estimate at the time of the March 2025 forecast.13 Provisional monthly Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: On 9 February 2026 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed the value

Found: provided through the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) which is delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG): MHCLG supports local authorities in managing

Found: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG): MHCLG supports local authorities in managing

Found: complex needs and/or disability. 3.6 The department is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: complex needs and/or disability. 3.6 The department is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: viewed  exhibitions and ate together at a Ramadan event (4 March), held by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: may constitute associated development for the purpose of the Act in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: For products that were already in the market, OPSS worked with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: notice on the NROSH+ site for more details.1 We now have a data sharing agreement in place with MHCLG

Found: notice on the NROSH+ site for more details.3 We now have a data sharing agreement in place with MHCLG

Found: returns you may be required to make, for example to the Housing Ombudsman or to the CORE survey to the MHCLG

Found: She has also collaborated closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and

Found: the Q&A session.About the Planning Inspectorate • Executive agency of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: (MHCLG), other government departments and agencies relating to planning policy

Found: Guidance and resources   MHCLG has also published a roadmap for the Create or Update a Local Plan guidance

Found: Guidance and resources  MHCLG has also published a roadmap for the Create or Update a Local Plan guidance

Found: a joint programme between DfT, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Last year, MHCLG published an independent research study examining the impacts to business of carrying

Found: establishment of the Windsor Framework, my officials have worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Officials across my department, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department

Found: Revenue £m Capital £m Capital FT £m Supplementary Estimates 2025-26 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: were fully absorbed into the budget of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG

Found: the government bring responsibility for the functions relating to fire safety currently exercised by MHCLG