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 publish the new assessment of the financial impact of estate management charges on homeowners, and when this assessment is expected to be completed.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the requirement for estate managers to produce an annual report containing financial and non‑financial information will come into force.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to improve data collection on the operation, costs, and performance of private estate management companies.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms for homeowners challenging estate management charges.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria he will use to determine when substitute managers may be appointed in cases of serious failure by estate management companies.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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 steps to reduce private estate management arrangements on new housing developments.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to make it mandatory for local authorities to adopt certain shared facilities on new housing estates.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to make resident‑controlled management the default model for new freehold estates.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of homeowners in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency at risk of (a) losing access to homes and (b) having a lease imposed due to unpaid estate rent charges.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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 introduce standardised information requirements for estate management charges.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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 on existing freehold homeowners of the time taken in commencing the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 relating to estate management charges.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he expects the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 relating to estate management charges for freehold homeowners to be commenced during the 2026 calendar year.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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 scale of unadopted infrastructure across new freehold estates.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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 make an estimate of the proportion of home purchasers who were first time buyers in each of the last five years.

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

My Department does not collect data on the number of first-time buyers.

The Office for National Statistics publishes data on first-time buyer mortgage sales by local authority in the UK. They can be found on its website here. Data covers the period between 2006 and 2024. Data for 2025 has not yet been published

On 28 November 2025, the government published the latest update on UK monthly property transactions, which includes the total number of home purchases. It 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, when he expects to lay before Parliament the secondary legislation required to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 relating to estate management charges.

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

I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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 reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation in Harlow constituency.

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

We must tackle the root causes of homelessness and move away from a crisis response towards preventing homelessness in the first place to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation.

That’s why our National Plan to End Homelessness sets out how we will build more homes, including for social rent, end Section 21 evictions and reduce poverty.

We’ve already made a record investment in prevention services with more than £1 billion funding for homelessness services in England this year, including £1.3 million for Harlow District Council.

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 Department's press release entitled Housing Sec pledges to 'go further than ever before' to hit 1.5 million homes, published on 16 December 2025, whether his reforms will support council house construction in (a) Thurrock and (b) Basildon.

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

The government is taking action to support all local authorities, including those in Thurrock and Basildon, to increase their levels of council housing construction.

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 those seeking election to local authorities are provided with support in advance of election day.

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

The Government does not provide direct support to individuals seeking election. The Electoral Commission is the independent regulatory body responsible for providing guidance and support to candidates on how to comply with electoral law.

This department funds the Local Government Association (LGA) to deliver a programme of sector support, including the LGA’s Be A Councillor Campaign which aims to raise awareness of the councillor role, help people to find out more about becoming a councillor and increase representation in local government of the communities it serves.

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 planned measures in chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 on preventing rental discrimination of people in receipt of welfare benefits, whether his Department has had discussions with (a) insurance companies and (b) the Financial Conduct Authority on the (i) availability and (ii) price of (A) landlord, (B) buildings and (C) contents insurance policies for properties rented to people claiming welfare benefits; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the home insurance market on the ability of people in receipt of welfare benefits to rent property in accordance with that Act.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 44561 on 22 April 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to increase awareness of tenants living in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation of their rights under Rent Repayment Orders.

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

My Department will publish guidance for tenants on how to use Rent Repayment Orders in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Health and Safety Executive's correspondence entitled Potential risks from transfer slabs in buildings, published on 19 December 2025, when he expects the independent research commissioned by the Building Safety Regulator to be completed and published.

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

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is working with industry experts and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to better understand the extent of the risk, and how the risk can be identified and managed proportionately in existing buildings.

BSR is currently working with sector partners to establish what further guidance is needed to help building owners manage this risk. We will be providing further advice to building owners on this.

BSR commissioned independent research in late 2024 relating to transfer slabs. This research is ongoing, and we will publish the outcomes of this research in due course. We will provide further updates via regular BSR bulletins and BSR campaign websites.

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 More homes and improved high streets for new mayoral areas through 30-year funding package, published on 4 December 2025, whether additional funding will be available for new mayoral areas outside the Devolution Priority Programme.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97367 on 11 December 2025. Decisions on future devolution areas beyond those in the Devolution Priority Programme, including Bedfordshire, have not yet been taken, but the Department will continue to engage with local authorities about possible future devolution agreements. All future funding decisions, including the 30-year investment fund, will form part of conversations with local areas. The government is committed to ensuring that all new Strategic Authorities are built on strong foundations and set up to succeed.

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 allocated funding for Mayoral strategic authorities which a) do not currently exist and b) are not in the priority programme across the Spending Review period.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97367 on 11 December 2025. Decisions on future devolution areas beyond those in the Devolution Priority Programme, including Bedfordshire, have not yet been taken, but the Department will continue to engage with local authorities about possible future devolution agreements. All future funding decisions, including the 30-year investment fund, will form part of conversations with local areas. The government is committed to ensuring that all new Strategic Authorities are built on strong foundations and set up to succeed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will set out the timeline for establishing a Mayoral Strategic Authority in Bedfordshire.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97367 on 11 December 2025. Decisions on future devolution areas beyond those in the Devolution Priority Programme, including Bedfordshire, have not yet been taken, but the Department will continue to engage with local authorities about possible future devolution agreements. All future funding decisions, including the 30-year investment fund, will form part of conversations with local areas. The government is committed to ensuring that all new Strategic Authorities are built on strong foundations and set up to succeed.

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 Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, whether his Department has made a comparative estimate of the cost of (a) elections in Greater Essex without a mayoral election and (b) both council and mayoral elections.

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

No assessment has been made. Spend on council elections is a matter for local authorities and spend on mayoral elections for strategic authorities is a matter for those bodies.

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 expected savings to each local authority in Essex from the deferment of the Greater Essex Mayoral Elections.

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

No assessment has been made. Spend on council elections is a matter for local authorities and spend on mayoral elections for strategic authorities is a matter for those bodies.

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 cost of elections for new Mayors during this Parliament.

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

No assessment has been made. Spend on council elections is a matter for local authorities and spend on mayoral elections for strategic authorities is a matter for those bodies.

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 cost to the public purse of the a) creation of and b) ongoing operation of Mayoral authorities during this Parliament.

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

In my statement to parliament on the 4 December 2025, I confirmed that Investment Funds for the six areas on the Devolution Priority Programme will amount to close to £200 million collectively per year for 30 years, once Mayors are in post. I also confirmed that each area will receive £3 million over the next three financial years in capacity funding to support the establishment of the new institutions.

The government does not, however, hold full estimates of future operating costs. The costs for operating Mayoral Strategic Authorities can vary depending on their size, the responsibilities they exercise, and local political and financial decisions. Financial information can be found in their published, annual budgets. Details of funding provided to Mayoral Strategic Authorities from central government is also published each year in annual devolution reports and can be accessed 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, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Housing Sec pledges to 'go further than ever before' to hit 1.5 million homes, published on 16 December 2025, whether housebuilding targets for Thurrock will be impacted.

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

The government has no plans to amend the Standard Method for assessing housing needs introduced in December 2024.

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 Department's press release entitled Housing Sec pledges to 'go further than ever before' to hit 1.5 million homes, published on 16 December 2025, whether housebuilding targets for Basildon will be impacted.

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

The government has no plans to amend the Standard Method for assessing housing needs introduced in December 2024.

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 make an assessment of the potential impact of his planning policies on nature.

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

The Environment Act 2021 requires Ministers to have 'due regard' to the policy statement on environmental principles when making policy. This is to ensure that environmental considerations are at the heart of policymaking across government.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that to protect and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity, local plans should identify, map and safeguard components of local wildlife rich habitats and wider ecological networks such as chalk streams. It is for local planning authorities to apply this policy when planning for new development.

The government is currently consulting on changes to the NPPF, including proposals to simplify and improve the approach to environmental protections and promote a stronger focus on green infrastructure and nature-based solutions. 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 assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of trends in the level of the dispersal of homeless families from local authorities in the South East and the Midlands to the North East.

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

Published data shows only small numbers moving from the South East or Midlands to the North East, with most placements made within the same region.

The Code of Guidance makes clear families should be placed locally first. That’s why we are improving data, raising expectations, and working with councils to reduce poor practice.

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 a recent assessment of the adequacy of service times at HM Land Registry.

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

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

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

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

HMLR processing times are publicly available on gov.uk here.

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

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 Department's press release entitled Housing Sec pledges to 'go further than ever before' to hit 1.5 million homes, published on 16 December 2025, whether he plans to bring forward measures ensuring that local people get the opportunity to buy homes first.

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

As set out in the government’s manifesto, we are committed to working with local authorities to give younger buyers the first chance to buy homes in their area. My Department will set out further details 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 plans to publish draft legislation to abolish leasehold.

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

Leasehold and commonhold reform are key priorities for this government and we remain determined to honour the commitments made in our manifesto and do what is necessary to finally bring the feudal leasehold system to an end.

As per my letter to the Chair of the Select Committee dated 18 December 2024, the government expect to be in a position to publish the draft Bill for scrutiny in the coming weeks.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to publish a consolidated evaluation of digital engagement pilots undertaken by local authorities as part of the PropTech Innovation Fund.

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

Through my Department’s PropTech Innovation Fund, the government is funding local planning authorities to use digital citizen engagement tools, including interactive maps and 3D models, alongside leveraging AI to summarise consultation responses. Our case studies on Local Digital (see here) and gov.uk (see here) demonstrate how these can increase the quantity and quality of community engagement in respect of local plans and new developments, including reaching younger residents.

My Department plans to launch a sixth round of the PropTech Innovation Fund in early 2026. The Fund is evaluated as a part of the Digital Planning Programme.

Local planning authorities take a hybrid approach to public consultation, combining digital tools with traditional methods like in-person engagement, to ensure consultations are accessible and inclusively incorporate the views of those unable to participate in digital consultations. We have published guidance on gov.uk (see here) and a Digital Citizen Engagement toolkit (see here) to support authorities to adopt and use digital tools. Our Planning Capacity and Capability programme continues to develop its means of supporting authorities to ensure they have the skills they need both now and in the future.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement. We will publish further guidance and provide further support to help local planning authorities engage with communities effectively under the new system.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has assessed the PropTech Innovation Fund pilots, including the Southampton City Council programme.

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

Through my Department’s PropTech Innovation Fund, the government is funding local planning authorities to use digital citizen engagement tools, including interactive maps and 3D models, alongside leveraging AI to summarise consultation responses. Our case studies on Local Digital (see here) and gov.uk (see here) demonstrate how these can increase the quantity and quality of community engagement in respect of local plans and new developments, including reaching younger residents.

My Department plans to launch a sixth round of the PropTech Innovation Fund in early 2026. The Fund is evaluated as a part of the Digital Planning Programme.

Local planning authorities take a hybrid approach to public consultation, combining digital tools with traditional methods like in-person engagement, to ensure consultations are accessible and inclusively incorporate the views of those unable to participate in digital consultations. We have published guidance on gov.uk (see here) and a Digital Citizen Engagement toolkit (see here) to support authorities to adopt and use digital tools. Our Planning Capacity and Capability programme continues to develop its means of supporting authorities to ensure they have the skills they need both now and in the future.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement. We will publish further guidance and provide further support to help local planning authorities engage with communities effectively under the new system.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to continue or expand the PropTech Innovation Fund to support digital transformation in planning authorities.

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

Through my Department’s PropTech Innovation Fund, the government is funding local planning authorities to use digital citizen engagement tools, including interactive maps and 3D models, alongside leveraging AI to summarise consultation responses. Our case studies on Local Digital (see here) and gov.uk (see here) demonstrate how these can increase the quantity and quality of community engagement in respect of local plans and new developments, including reaching younger residents.

My Department plans to launch a sixth round of the PropTech Innovation Fund in early 2026. The Fund is evaluated as a part of the Digital Planning Programme.

Local planning authorities take a hybrid approach to public consultation, combining digital tools with traditional methods like in-person engagement, to ensure consultations are accessible and inclusively incorporate the views of those unable to participate in digital consultations. We have published guidance on gov.uk (see here) and a Digital Citizen Engagement toolkit (see here) to support authorities to adopt and use digital tools. Our Planning Capacity and Capability programme continues to develop its means of supporting authorities to ensure they have the skills they need both now and in the future.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement. We will publish further guidance and provide further support to help local planning authorities engage with communities effectively under the new system.

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 Families to save hundreds of pounds in major homebuying overhaul, published on 5 October 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of that policy on the number of houses available for sale.

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

On 6 October, my Department published two consultations outlining reform proposals to transform home buying and selling. They can be found on gov.uk here and here.

Final policy decisions as well as a refined analysis of the impact of the proposals in question are subject to a review of the information received through the consultation process.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make his policy to publish the number of electors for each street.

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

The Government has no plans to make it its policy to publish the number of electors for each street.

Electoral registers are maintained by local authority Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph TR7 of the proposed revised version of the National Planning and Policy Framework, what criteria he is using to determine an acceptable environmental effect.

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

The reference to acceptable environmental effects in proposed policy TR7 is couched in general terms, but the consultation is clear that when using the Framework, the draft policies need to be read as a whole, including in this instance the more specific policies found elsewhere in the Framework for assessing certain environmental impacts.

The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026, and all responses received will be considered before finalising our policy proposals.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date were political parties (a) informed and (b) consulted on the 2026 local election pilots.

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

The government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors.

Local authorities were invited to apply to pilot a range of flexible voting methods at the May 2026 elections in England. We continue to engage with stakeholders on the development of the proposed pilots.

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 percentage of Local Authorities that have an up to date Local Plan and 5 Year Housing Land Supply.

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

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 102025 and 102035 on 12 January 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that executors are not held personally liable for council tax bills, including empty property premiums, on properties undergoing probate where Class F exemptions apply, particularly in cases where probate is delayed and executors have no access to estate funds.

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

When a property has been left empty following the death of its owner or occupant, it is exempt from council tax for as long as it remains unoccupied and until probate is granted. Where probate is delayed, the exemption will continue until probate is granted. Following a grant of probate (or the signing of letters of administration), a further six months exemption is possible, so long as the property remains unoccupied and has not been sold or transferred to someone else.

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 levels of council tax in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27 on the cost of living for (i) working households and (ii) pensioners.

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

Council tax levels are decided by local authorities, and the Department has not made specific assessments on the impact of council tax levels on the cost of living for working households and pensioners. For the vast majority of councils, the government intends to maintain a core 3% referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept and is consulting on this as part of the local government finance settlement. Councils are required to put in place council tax support schemes to support those on low incomes. The support for pensioner households is centrally prescribed and provides reductions of up to 100%.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the introduction of the council tax surcharge, whether he intends to revalue the main council tax system.

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

The Valuation Office will conduct a targeted valuation exercise to identify properties in scope of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge. Current Council Tax bands will not be revalued and will still apply. The Government will consult on the design of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge. The Government is committed to ensuring the council tax system is fair for taxpayers and local authorities and will continue to keep council tax under review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to reclassify crimes against churches as hate crimes.

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

All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, including that directed at Christians and Christian places of worship.

Churches occupy a valuable position in society through their access to citizens, their role within local communities and their good relationships with other faith groups and this Government is committed to protecting individuals' right to practise their religion freely at their chosen place of worship, and to making our streets and communities safer.

The Government has extended the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme for 2025/26, which gives grants towards VAT paid on repairs and renovations to the nation's listed sites of worship across the UK, which includes churches. Churches are also eligible for funded protective security measures through the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme. This scheme offers physical security enhancements, such as CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing.

Crimes against churches can already be recorded as hate crimes. Any religiously aggravated criminal damage is an offence under section 30 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, carrying a higher maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. An offence is considered religiously aggravated, if at or around the time of committing the offence, the offender demonstrates hostility towards a religious group, therefore, including any crimes against churches.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of specialist modern slavery coordinators within local authorities.

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

The Government recognises the vital work done by Moden Slavery Coordinators working within local authorities.

Local authorities are independent employers. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

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 draft Local Government Finance Settlement published on 17 December 2025, whether his department will consider requests for higher council tax referendum thresholds for other councils than the six councils mentioned.

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

The provisional settlement sets out the eligibility criteria for removing referendum principles for the last two years of the multi-year settlement period. We consider that only six authorities meet the criteria.

For the vast majority of councils, the government intends to maintain a core referendum threshold of 3%, and a 2%, adult social care precept over the multi-year Settlement. However, the government is under no illusions about the pressures councils are facing. Following precedent set by the previous government, we will consider requests for additional limited council tax flexibility from councils in extremely difficult financial situations on a case-by-case basis. All local authorities should continue to do all they can to manage their finances and protect vulnerable taxpayers.

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 allocating newly built council housing to asylum seekers on the availability of social housing for local residents on waiting lists.

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

Newly built social rented homes are not being allocated to asylum seekers. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

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 issued guidance to local authorities on prioritisation between asylum seekers and local households for access to newly constructed council housing.

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

Newly built social rented homes are not being allocated to asylum seekers. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

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 (a) the number of people with additional needs awaiting a Specialised Supported Housing home and (b) the estimated cost r of housing people with additional needs in unsuitable accommodation.

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

In November 2024, my department published independent research on supported housing supply, demand, funding and commissioning across Great Britain – which can be found here. The published research report included coverage of working-age adults with learning disabilities, autistic people, and people with mental health needs.

The research estimated that in 2023 there were 53,000 units of supported housing serving working-age adults with a learning disability and/or autism in England, and 19,000 units for working-age adults with mental health needs. The report noted that half of local commissioners surveyed who responded said that there was a lot of or some unmet demand for working-age adults with a learning disability and/or autism, and that almost two-thirds of commissioners thought there was some or a lot of unmet need for supported housing for working-age adults with mental health needs.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to update his department's Plain English guide to the planning system, published in January 2015.

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

The government has no current plans to update the previous government’s ‘Plain English guide to the Planning System’.

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. These changes aim to ensure that national planning policy is accessible, understandable and provides clarity and certainty to all users of the system. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement.

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 removing Sport England as a statutory consultee in the planning system on the protection of community playing fields; whether he plans to publish his Department's impact assessment on moving Sport England as a statutory consultee in the planning system; and what mechanisms he intends to put in place to safeguard community sports provision should the current statutory consultation arrangements be changed.

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

On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closes on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

No decision will be made on Sport England’s role until responses to the consultation have been fully analysed and considered.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to test digital transaction flows in the home-buying process from upfront information to settlement and title registration.

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

On 6 October, my Department published two consultations outlining reform proposals to transform home buying and selling. They can be found on gov.uk here and here.

As part of those consultations, we made clear our interest in ensuring digital data from trustworthy sources could be shared securely between professionals using data standards and trust frameworks.

The consultations closed on 29 December 2025. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response shortly including any plans for trials or testing with the sector.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support local authorities to deliver supported housing for young people.

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

Young people need the right support alongside housing to improve health, wellbeing and socio-economic outcomes, enabling them to access and retain housing and reducing their risk of homelessness and rough sleeping.

Funding for local housing support services is primarily through the Local Government Finance Settlement – commissioning of local housing-related support services is for local authorities to determine.

In December 2025, the government announced a £124m supported housing programme over 2026-29, working with targeted local areas, reaching over 2,500 people, both to prevent homelessness and to help people, including young people, off the streets and into more stable housing.

The Social and Affordable Homes Programme includes new flexibility on grant rates for accommodation where design and adaptation drive higher costs and calls on providers to produce ambitious bids for new supported housing – helping to increase the overall supply of supported housing, including options for vulnerable young people.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she expects to publish a response to the consultation seeking views on the implementation of measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, which closed on 15 May 2025.

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

The government remains absolutely committed to improving the quality of supported housing and implementing the measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.

The government will publish its response to the consultation as soon as possible, ahead of consulting on draft licensing regulations and guidance. We are also pressing forward with implementing other measures in the Act including the duty on local authorities to produce supported housing strategies, for which guidance will be published in February.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to establish accreditation for digital platforms in the property market that are capable of providing verified property data, secure settlement and automated registration of home sales and purchases.

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

On 6 October, my Department published two consultations outlining reform proposals to transform home buying and selling. They can be found on gov.uk here and here.

As part of those consultations, we made clear our interest in ensuring digital data from trustworthy sources could be shared securely between professionals using data standards and trust frameworks.

The consultations closed on 29 December 2025. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response shortly including any plans for trials or testing with the sector.

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 home buyers and sellers are protected through the expansion of digital conveyancing, particularly in terms of data verification, property information and the security of settlement funds.

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

On 6 October, my Department published two consultations outlining reform proposals to transform home buying and selling. They can be found on gov.uk here and here.

As part of those consultations, we made clear our interest in ensuring digital data from trustworthy sources could be shared securely between professionals using data standards and trust frameworks.

The consultations closed on 29 December 2025. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response shortly including any plans for trials or testing with the sector.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress HM Land Registry has made in digitising the land register.

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

The Title (Land) Register consists of information held in a variety of formats, including paper documents, scanned images, and digital images.

HM Land Registry (HMLR) is committed to digitising its data, while ensuring that data security, integrity and privacy remain paramount.

Work is underway in three key areas to transform HMLR's register information into a fully digitised format:

1. Digitising paper documents integral to the Register, such as Leases and Conveyances, making them accessible and easier to manage.
2. Converting existing computerised data into a machine-interpretable format, facilitating seamless integration with modern digital systems.
3. Converting spatial data into an open and shareable format, making spatial information more accessible and useful for HMLR's stakeholders.

HMLR's longer term plans will integrate all its digitised information into a geospatial and fully digital Land Register that allows vital property information to be shared as spatial data. HMLR's Strategy 2025+, which is available on gov.uk here, sets out further details around its plans to support the property market and beyond with its data.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to support (a) local resilience and (b) emergency planning arrangements in response to cold weather conditions in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

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

Surrey's Local Resilience Forum (LRF) is well versed in preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies including severe weather events. The LRF has plans in place to enable them to respond effectively to severe weather events including periods of cold weather, recognised as high-risk events in their 2025-2026 Community Risk Register. MHCLG support Surrey LRF through a Strategic Resilience Advisor who gives critical support and guidance to the LRFs core business.

Additionally, when UKHSA issue cold health alerts MHCLG encourages Local Authorities to initiate the policies and procedures associated with the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol. alongside MHCLG’s Night Shelter Operating Principles, for safe street night shelter provision.

The £547 million committed through the Rough Sleeping Initiative to local authorities across England from April 2022 to March 2025 includes support for local area winter planning. A further £10 million was allocated to local authorities through the Rough Sleeping Winter Pressure funding for 2024/25. Allocations 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 recent discussions he has had with local authorities on taking steps to ensure that properties under their responsibility comply with Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

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

The Government has published guidance to support understanding and compliance with the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and has since updated this to ensure it meets the needs of users including social housing providers.

Officials have frequently presented at forums with local authorities and engage regularly at official level with those who are responsible for the Regulations to understand how these are working on the ground, alongside providing policy expertise and identifying where further or amended guidance is needed.

A 2023 survey indicated that understanding and compliance with the Regulations is positive. A review of the Regulations is being planned, and the Government will use any learning from this to address any questions or queries around the requirements of the Regulations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 April 2025, to Question 43564, on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, what discussions he and his Ministers have had with Unite on the Birmingham bin strike since his appointment.

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

Since being appointed in September 2025, the Secretary of State has met with Unite and urged the Trade Union to bring the dispute to a close for the benefit of Birmingham’s residents.

The waste dispute remains a local issue and is rightly being dealt with by Birmingham City Council.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his timetable is for the publication of a chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people.

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

Through our National Plan to End Homelessness the Government has set out its intention to develop a national Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit and develop a dedicated chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people. We will publish these documents 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, further to the oral evidence by the Deputy Director, Local Government Accountability and Audit, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, at the Public Accounts Committee, Oral evidence: Whole of Government Accounts 2023-24, HC 1243, 11 December 2025, Question 25, and the objective to complete reorganisation by April 2028, on what date will elections be held for the new unitary councils other than Surrey.

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

The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. This means that different decisions may be taken for different councils within the same local government reorganisation invitation area that have local elections scheduled, depending on the representations received.

As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 December (HCWS1215), I remain committed to the indicative timetable that was published in July, that sees elections to new councils in May 2027 and those councils going live in April 2028.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the written statement of 18 December 2025, HCSWS1215, on Local Government Reorganisation, in cases where an individual council makes a representation to cancel elections, whether (a) only the scheduled elections for that individual council will be cancelled or (b) all the scheduled unitary, district and county elections within that wider local government restructuring area will be cancelled.

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

The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. This means that different decisions may be taken for different councils within the same local government reorganisation invitation area that have local elections scheduled, depending on the representations received.

As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 December (HCWS1215), I remain committed to the indicative timetable that was published in July, that sees elections to new councils in May 2027 and those councils going live in April 2028.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data the Greater London Authority provides to his department on affordable housing starts and completions in London.

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

The Greater London Authority (GLA) publish a detailed breakdown of their affordable housing delivery by programme every quarter. It can be viewed on its website here.

The GLA shares a detailed extract matching their published statistics with my Department shortly after their publication. This extract also includes the number of new social and affordable housing units funded through Right to Buy recycled receipts and the number of sales through the Right to Acquire and Social HomeBuy schemes.

Additionally, the GLA provides my Department with monthly updates on their delivery towards their housing programmes.

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 a mechanism allowing councils to insist that property developers are registered with the New Homes Ombudsman to make development applications.

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

The government expects all housebuilders to deliver high-quality homes and to swiftly resolve issues if and when things go wrong. We have committed to working with the devolved administrations to implement a statutory UK-wide New Homes Ombudsman that developers will have to join and remain members of. This Ombudsman will investigate and resolve complaints and provide new home buyers with redress.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance he has issued to local planning authorities on enforcing land restoration following the removal of solar developments.

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

The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on renewable and low carbon energy sets out that solar farms are normally temporary structures and that planning conditions can be used to ensure that installations are removed when no longer in use and the land restored.

Local planning authorities have powers to take enforcement action against any breach of planning requirements. The PPG on renewable and low carbon energy can be viewed here and guidance on planning enforcement can be found on gov.uk here.

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes policy on the decommissioning of renewable and low carbon energy development and site restoration.

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 land previously used for solar farms is classified as brownfield following decommissioning.

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

Brownfield land, also known as previously developed land, is defined in the glossary of the National Planning Policy Framework which can be found on gov.uk here.

It is for those making decisions on specific planning proposals to determine whether a site constitutes brownfield land given the particular circumstances of the case, taking into account any requirements for site restoration.

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 make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring at least 10% of social housing stock to be let as furnished.

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

From 2 July to 12 September last year, we consulted on a reformed and modernised Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes.

As part of that consultation, we sought views on how guidance might be used to encourage and support landlords to go further in improving quality including in relation to the provision of furniture.

Over recent months we have been analysing the responses submitted and will set out our response in the near future.

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 build more social and affordable homes in Stroud.

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

Since coming into office the government has listened carefully to social and affordable housing providers, and we have responded positively to their calls for increased grant funding, for measures to improve their financial capacity, and for regulatory certainty and stability.

We now expect the sector to step up and prove they can deliver at scale and at pace so that we can put social and affordable housing delivery in Stroud and beyond back on track after years of neglect.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his decision for postpone the Mayoral election in Essex, if he will make an estimate of the cost to local authorities of the preparations for that election, including the (a) the actual disbursement of local authorities which cannot be reclaimed and (b) value of the time worked on preparations for those elections by local authority officers and employees.

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

No assessment has been made by central government. Spend on these elections is a matter for the relevant local authorities.

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 percentage of Local Authorities that had an up to date Local Plan and 5 Year Housing Land Supply prior to the 2024 changes to the Standard Method, but no longer do.

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

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 102025 and UIN 102035 on 12 January 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 April 2025 to Question 44226 on Pest Control: Birmingham, whether his Department holds any information on the rat numbers in Birmingham.

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

The requested information is not held centrally. My department engages regularly with Councils under intervention and continues to monitor the disruption caused by the waste dispute and the associated impact to the residents of the city.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to publish guidance for planning inspectors on how to approach local authorities which allocate housing sites later designated as new towns in emerging local plans.

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

In advance of the government confirming new town locations, local planning authorities for areas in which a new town may be located should continue with plan-making and continue to approach planning applications in these locations in a positive and proactive manner.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to support churches which have been damaged through criminal activity.

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

All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, including that directed at Christians and Christian places of worship.

Churches occupy a valuable position in society through their access to citizens, their role within local communities and their good relationships with other faith groups and this Government is committed to protecting individuals' right to practise their religion freely at their chosen place of worship, and to making our streets and communities safer.

The Government has extended the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme for 2025/26, which gives grants towards VAT paid on repairs and renovations to the nation's listed sites of worship across the UK, which includes churches. Churches are also eligible for funded protective security measures through the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme. This scheme offers physical security enhancements, such as CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing.

Crimes against churches can already be recorded as hate crimes. Any religiously aggravated criminal damage is an offence under section 30 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, carrying a higher maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. An offence is considered religiously aggravated, if at or around the time of committing the offence, the offender demonstrates hostility towards a religious group, therefore, including any crimes against churches.

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 Department's press release entitled Housing Sec pledges to 'go further than ever before' to hit 1.5 million homes, published on 16 December 2025, if he will set out the conflicting policies that his Department will over-ride.

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

The reference in question relates to the proposed transitional arrangements for implementing changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, on which the government is currently consulting.

Details of the proposed transitional arrangements are set out in Annex A of the draft text on which we are consulting.

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 he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential benefits of providing funding through councils' public health grants for public toilet provision.

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

In keeping with our commitment to funding simplification, the Government has no current plans to introduce a statutory duty or ringfenced funding relating to toilet provision.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing and managing toilet provision and are best placed to do so due to their ability to account for local needs. However, we recognise the importance of toilet provision and have taken steps to support local leaders. At the 2025 Spending Review, we committed over £5 billion in new grant funding over the next three years for essential local services such as toilets. In addition, we continue to provide 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets. No specific assessment on the level of provision of public toilets has been made.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the level of public toilets on the public.

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

In keeping with our commitment to funding simplification, the Government has no current plans to introduce a statutory duty or ringfenced funding relating to toilet provision.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing and managing toilet provision and are best placed to do so due to their ability to account for local needs. However, we recognise the importance of toilet provision and have taken steps to support local leaders. At the 2025 Spending Review, we committed over £5 billion in new grant funding over the next three years for essential local services such as toilets. In addition, we continue to provide 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets. No specific assessment on the level of provision of public toilets has been made.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to create and implement a duty on every council to develop a public toilet strategy.

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

In keeping with our commitment to funding simplification, the Government has no current plans to introduce a statutory duty or ringfenced funding relating to toilet provision.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing and managing toilet provision and are best placed to do so due to their ability to account for local needs. However, we recognise the importance of toilet provision and have taken steps to support local leaders. At the 2025 Spending Review, we committed over £5 billion in new grant funding over the next three years for essential local services such as toilets. In addition, we continue to provide 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets. No specific assessment on the level of provision of public toilets has been made.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has carried out an impact assessment for the decision to require 40% of new build homes to meet accessibility standards M4(2).

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

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes proposals for local planning authorities to set requirements for the delivery of M4(2) and M4(3) housing that will meet or exceed their locally assessed need for these types of housing.

In relation to M4(2) requirements, the government is proposing a national minimum that ensures at least 40% of new housing over the course of the plan period is delivered to M4(2) standards. This approach is intended to ensure that necessary levels of accessible housing are provided, while providing authorities with an appropriate degree of flexibility to maximise housebuilding overall.

Through the consultation we are seeking views on these proposals, including whether 40% is the right minimum proportion or whether an alternative requirement is preferable, and on the potential impacts of our proposals on protected groups under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

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, for what reason the number of new build homes that meet accessibility standards M4(2) has been reduced to 40%.

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

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes proposals for local planning authorities to set requirements for the delivery of M4(2) and M4(3) housing that will meet or exceed their locally assessed need for these types of housing.

In relation to M4(2) requirements, the government is proposing a national minimum that ensures at least 40% of new housing over the course of the plan period is delivered to M4(2) standards. This approach is intended to ensure that necessary levels of accessible housing are provided, while providing authorities with an appropriate degree of flexibility to maximise housebuilding overall.

Through the consultation we are seeking views on these proposals, including whether 40% is the right minimum proportion or whether an alternative requirement is preferable, and on the potential impacts of our proposals on protected groups under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

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 the scope and timetable are for the Law Commission’s project on the management of housing estates, and how homeowners will be consulted.

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

The government expect the Law Commission to report on this project in 2028.

Further information about the project, including its terms of reference, can be found on the Law Commission's website here.

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 make an assessment of the level of independence of the complaint review process within the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

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

The legal powers underpinning the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s investigations are invested in the Ombudsman themselves and they have personal authority in the investigation of complaints. I therefore have no remit to interfere with the Ombudsman’s investigatory work.

This independence rightly keeps central government at arm’s length from the service that the Ombudsman provides to members of the public; a service which is an important element of the overarching local government accountability system.

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 carried out an impact assessment for the decision not to set a minimum target for the proportion of wheelchair accessible new build homes.

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

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes proposals for local planning authorities to set requirements for the delivery of M4(2) and M4(3) housing that will meet or exceed their locally assessed need for these types of housing.

In relation to M4(2) requirements, the government is proposing a national minimum that ensures at least 40% of new housing over the course of the plan period is delivered to M4(2) standards. This approach is intended to ensure that necessary levels of accessible housing are provided, while providing authorities with an appropriate degree of flexibility to maximise housebuilding overall.

Through the consultation we are seeking views on these proposals, including whether 40% is the right minimum proportion or whether an alternative requirement is preferable, and on the potential impacts of our proposals on protected groups under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

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 each local authority’s target is for new build homes that meet the M4(2) standard.

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

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes proposals for local planning authorities to set requirements for the delivery of M4(2) and M4(3) housing that will meet or exceed their locally assessed need for these types of housing.

In relation to M4(2) requirements, the government is proposing a national minimum that ensures at least 40% of new housing over the course of the plan period is delivered to M4(2) standards. This approach is intended to ensure that necessary levels of accessible housing are provided, while providing authorities with an appropriate degree of flexibility to maximise housebuilding overall.

Through the consultation we are seeking views on these proposals, including whether 40% is the right minimum proportion or whether an alternative requirement is preferable, and on the potential impacts of our proposals on protected groups under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

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, if he will introduce a minimum target of 10% for the proportion of wheelchair accessible new build homes.

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

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes proposals for local planning authorities to set requirements for the delivery of M4(2) and M4(3) housing that will meet or exceed their locally assessed need for these types of housing.

In relation to M4(2) requirements, the government is proposing a national minimum that ensures at least 40% of new housing over the course of the plan period is delivered to M4(2) standards. This approach is intended to ensure that necessary levels of accessible housing are provided, while providing authorities with an appropriate degree of flexibility to maximise housebuilding overall.

Through the consultation we are seeking views on these proposals, including whether 40% is the right minimum proportion or whether an alternative requirement is preferable, and on the potential impacts of our proposals on protected groups under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

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 assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of Centrepoint’s call to build 40,000 one-bedroom homes per year to address record levels of youth homelessness.

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

Our National Plan to End Homelessness sets out how we will tackle the root causes of homelessness, including by building 1.5 million homes, including a generational increase in new social and affordable homes backed by £39 billion investment through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The new programme is designed to be flexible to support the greater diversity of supply needed, and we are asking providers to come forward with ambitious bids that reflect this diversity.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing (including Social Rent), and reflect this in their planning policies. The Government is consulting on changes to the Framework, including proposals relating to the delivery of social rent and affordable homes. The consultation document is available 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 steps his Department is taking following the publication of BDO’s audit report of Woking Borough Council’s accounts from 2019/20 to 2022/23, published on 8 December 2025.

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

Commissioners were appointed to Woking Borough Council in 2023 following historic commercial mismanagement and major governance failures. While Woking continues to undergo an extensive change programme to support the improvement of its financial position, Commissioners have reported significant improvements in the Council’s approach to financial management since 2023. As Commissioners set out in their Fifth Report, they continue to engage with Woking’s external auditors to rectify the Council’s historic issues with audit timeliness and support the rebuilding of assurance.

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 Centrepoint’s finding that local authorities face a £400 million funding shortfall in meeting their statutory duties to young people experiencing homelessness.

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

The government has provided more than £1 billion funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services this year. Councils should use this record investment to meet the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in their area, including young people.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how changes to the fair funding formula will affect the spending power of (a) Surrey County Council and (b) district and borough councils in Surrey.

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

This multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement is our most significant move yet to make English local government more sustainable. The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities. Our reforms will ensure that this funding is allocated fairly, and that the places and services which need it most are supported.

Since coming into power, this government will have made available a 23.6% cash-terms increase in Core Spending Power in 2028-29 compared to 2024-25, worth over £16 billion. By the end of the provisional multi-year Settlement (2028/29), Surrey’s Core Spending Power will have increased by £82m (7%) since 2024/25. We will support local authorities to manage their updated funding positions by phasing in changes over the multi-year Settlement and protecting councils’ income, including locally retained business rates growth.

Areas will need to agree how to divide available funding locally in a sustainable way during the local government reorganisation implementation period. This will provide areas with greater flexibility.

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 2026–27 local government finance settlement on councils in Surrey.

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

This multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement is our most significant move yet to make English local government more sustainable. The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities. Our reforms will ensure that this funding is allocated fairly, and that the places and services which need it most are supported.

Since coming into power, this government will have made available a 23.6% cash-terms increase in Core Spending Power in 2028-29 compared to 2024-25, worth over £16 billion. By the end of the provisional multi-year Settlement (2028/29), Surrey’s Core Spending Power will have increased by £82m (7%) since 2024/25. We will support local authorities to manage their updated funding positions by phasing in changes over the multi-year Settlement and protecting councils’ income, including locally retained business rates growth.

Areas will need to agree how to divide available funding locally in a sustainable way during the local government reorganisation implementation period. This will provide areas with greater flexibility.

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 completed housing developments in England where roads remain unadopted for more than three years after first occupation; and what steps he is taking to improve levels of adoption.

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

My Department does not hold the requested data.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what baseline data his Department holds on the number of roads and sewers not adopted by (a) Buckinghamshire Council and (b) Milton Keynes City Council.

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

My Department does not hold the requested data.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the minutes for any meetings held on Greater Essex's shadow elections scheduled for 2027.

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

The Government received four reorganisation proposals from Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock councils on 26 September 2025. On 19 November 2025, we launched a consultation on these proposals which will run for seven weeks until 11 January 2026.

A decision, on which, if any, proposal to implement will follow the closure of the consultation

The Government will work with areas to hold elections for new unitary councils as soon as possible as is the usual arrangement for local government reorganisation. Our desire is that elections will be held to new councils in May 2027 ahead of “go live” for the new structures in 2028.

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 confirm the timeline for the boundary review for the 2027 Greater Essex shadow elections.

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

The Government received four reorganisation proposals from Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock councils on 26 September 2025. On 19 November 2025, we launched a consultation on these proposals which will run for seven weeks until 11 January 2026.

A decision, on which, if any, proposal to implement will follow the closure of the consultation

The Government will work with areas to hold elections for new unitary councils as soon as possible as is the usual arrangement for local government reorganisation. Our desire is that elections will be held to new councils in May 2027 ahead of “go live” for the new structures in 2028.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether shadow elections for Greater Essex will proceed as previously planned for 2027.

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

The Government received four reorganisation proposals from Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock councils on 26 September 2025. On 19 November 2025, we launched a consultation on these proposals which will run for seven weeks until 11 January 2026.

A decision, on which, if any, proposal to implement will follow the closure of the consultation

The Government will work with areas to hold elections for new unitary councils as soon as possible as is the usual arrangement for local government reorganisation. Our desire is that elections will be held to new councils in May 2027 ahead of “go live” for the new structures in 2028.

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 consult with communities on the use of Pride in Place funding in Corby and East Northamptonshire constituency.

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

The community will decide how to invest £20m of Pride in Place funding in Corby Kingswood. A Neighbourhood Board made up of local people will come up with an investment plan for the future of their area.

This plan must evidence how they have consulted the wider community and we are bringing forward £150,000 of funding so they can get started now.

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 had with disabled people’s organisations on the reduction of the number of new build homes that meet accessibility standards M4(2).

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

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes proposals for local planning authorities to set requirements for the delivery of M4(2) and M4(3) housing that will meet or exceed their locally assessed need for these types of housing.

In relation to M4(2) requirements, the government is proposing a national minimum that ensures at least 40% of new housing over the course of the plan period is delivered to M4(2) standards. This approach is intended to ensure that necessary levels of accessible housing are provided, while providing authorities with an appropriate degree of flexibility to maximise housebuilding overall.

Through the consultation we are seeking views on these proposals, including whether 40% is the right minimum proportion or whether an alternative requirement is preferable, and on the potential impacts of our proposals on protected groups under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

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 assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of running hybrid engagement processes for local plan consultations on councils.

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

Through my Department’s PropTech Innovation Fund, the government is funding local planning authorities to use digital citizen engagement tools, including interactive maps and 3D models, alongside leveraging AI to summarise consultation responses. Our case studies on Local Digital (see here) and gov.uk (see here) demonstrate how these can increase the quantity and quality of community engagement in respect of local plans and new developments, including reaching younger residents.

My Department plans to launch a sixth round of the PropTech Innovation Fund in early 2026. The Fund is evaluated as a part of the Digital Planning Programme.

Local planning authorities take a hybrid approach to public consultation, combining digital tools with traditional methods like in-person engagement, to ensure consultations are accessible and inclusively incorporate the views of those unable to participate in digital consultations. We have published guidance on gov.uk (see here) and a Digital Citizen Engagement toolkit (see here) to support authorities to adopt and use digital tools. Our Planning Capacity and Capability programme continues to develop its means of supporting authorities to ensure they have the skills they need both now and in the future.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement. We will publish further guidance and provide further support to help local planning authorities engage with communities effectively under the new system.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to issue guidance to local planning authorities on the appropriate use of 3D modelling in local plan and masterplanning processes.

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

Through my Department’s PropTech Innovation Fund, the government is funding local planning authorities to use digital citizen engagement tools, including interactive maps and 3D models, alongside leveraging AI to summarise consultation responses. Our case studies on Local Digital (see here) and gov.uk (see here) demonstrate how these can increase the quantity and quality of community engagement in respect of local plans and new developments, including reaching younger residents.

My Department plans to launch a sixth round of the PropTech Innovation Fund in early 2026. The Fund is evaluated as a part of the Digital Planning Programme.

Local planning authorities take a hybrid approach to public consultation, combining digital tools with traditional methods like in-person engagement, to ensure consultations are accessible and inclusively incorporate the views of those unable to participate in digital consultations. We have published guidance on gov.uk (see here) and a Digital Citizen Engagement toolkit (see here) to support authorities to adopt and use digital tools. Our Planning Capacity and Capability programme continues to develop its means of supporting authorities to ensure they have the skills they need both now and in the future.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement. We will publish further guidance and provide further support to help local planning authorities engage with communities effectively under the new system.

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 support councils in delivering hybrid consultation models combining digital tools with in‑person engagement.

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

Through my Department’s PropTech Innovation Fund, the government is funding local planning authorities to use digital citizen engagement tools, including interactive maps and 3D models, alongside leveraging AI to summarise consultation responses. Our case studies on Local Digital (see here) and gov.uk (see here) demonstrate how these can increase the quantity and quality of community engagement in respect of local plans and new developments, including reaching younger residents.

My Department plans to launch a sixth round of the PropTech Innovation Fund in early 2026. The Fund is evaluated as a part of the Digital Planning Programme.

Local planning authorities take a hybrid approach to public consultation, combining digital tools with traditional methods like in-person engagement, to ensure consultations are accessible and inclusively incorporate the views of those unable to participate in digital consultations. We have published guidance on gov.uk (see here) and a Digital Citizen Engagement toolkit (see here) to support authorities to adopt and use digital tools. Our Planning Capacity and Capability programme continues to develop its means of supporting authorities to ensure they have the skills they need both now and in the future.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement. We will publish further guidance and provide further support to help local planning authorities engage with communities effectively under the new system.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the amount of public money recovered through Rent Repayment Orders for which the latest data is available.

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

No such estimate can currently be made. My Department is in the process of implementing a new mandatory collection of private rented sector enforcement data from local housing authorities, which will include the number of Rent Repayment Orders (RROs) applied for by the council, the value of Universal Credit/Housing Benefit recovered following a rent repayment order, and the number of tenants supported in making an application.

My Department has made no specific assessment of the potential impact of Rent Repayment Orders on housing conditions in the private rented sector.

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 Section 51 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, when he will lay regulations to delegate the power to set fees for planning applications to local planning authorities.

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

The Planning and Infrastructure Act provides the Secretary of State with the power to delegate the setting of planning fees to local planning authorities.

The process for local fee setting will be set out in regulations this year. We will shortly also be consulting on a national default fee, which will be the baseline from which local planning authorities can vary and set their own fees.

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 will receive powers to set planning fees locally for the 2026/27 financial year.

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

The Planning and Infrastructure Act provides the Secretary of State with the power to delegate the setting of planning fees to local planning authorities.

The process for local fee setting will be set out in regulations this year. We will shortly also be consulting on a national default fee, which will be the baseline from which local planning authorities can vary and set their own fees.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Rent Repayment Orders on housing conditions in the private rented sector.

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

No such estimate can currently be made. My Department is in the process of implementing a new mandatory collection of private rented sector enforcement data from local housing authorities, which will include the number of Rent Repayment Orders (RROs) applied for by the council, the value of Universal Credit/Housing Benefit recovered following a rent repayment order, and the number of tenants supported in making an application.

My Department has made no specific assessment of the potential impact of Rent Repayment Orders on housing conditions in the private rented sector.

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 merits of natural language processing and AI‑assisted tagging to reduce consultation processing times for local planning authorities.

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

Through my Department’s PropTech Innovation Fund, the government is funding local planning authorities to use digital citizen engagement tools, including interactive maps and 3D models, alongside leveraging AI to summarise consultation responses. Our case studies on Local Digital (see here) and gov.uk (see here) demonstrate how these can increase the quantity and quality of community engagement in respect of local plans and new developments, including reaching younger residents.

My Department plans to launch a sixth round of the PropTech Innovation Fund in early 2026. The Fund is evaluated as a part of the Digital Planning Programme.

Local planning authorities take a hybrid approach to public consultation, combining digital tools with traditional methods like in-person engagement, to ensure consultations are accessible and inclusively incorporate the views of those unable to participate in digital consultations. We have published guidance on gov.uk (see here) and a Digital Citizen Engagement toolkit (see here) to support authorities to adopt and use digital tools. Our Planning Capacity and Capability programme continues to develop its means of supporting authorities to ensure they have the skills they need both now and in the future.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement. We will publish further guidance and provide further support to help local planning authorities engage with communities effectively under the new system.

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 effectiveness of digital‑led consultation tools in increasing participation across communities; and what steps he is taking to support councils to adopt those tools.

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

Through my Department’s PropTech Innovation Fund, the government is funding local planning authorities to use digital citizen engagement tools, including interactive maps and 3D models, alongside leveraging AI to summarise consultation responses. Our case studies on Local Digital (see here) and gov.uk (see here) demonstrate how these can increase the quantity and quality of community engagement in respect of local plans and new developments, including reaching younger residents.

My Department plans to launch a sixth round of the PropTech Innovation Fund in early 2026. The Fund is evaluated as a part of the Digital Planning Programme.

Local planning authorities take a hybrid approach to public consultation, combining digital tools with traditional methods like in-person engagement, to ensure consultations are accessible and inclusively incorporate the views of those unable to participate in digital consultations. We have published guidance on gov.uk (see here) and a Digital Citizen Engagement toolkit (see here) to support authorities to adopt and use digital tools. Our Planning Capacity and Capability programme continues to develop its means of supporting authorities to ensure they have the skills they need both now and in the future.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement. We will publish further guidance and provide further support to help local planning authorities engage with communities effectively under the new system.

Found: Cambridge Water Demand Reduction Scheme Project summary MOSL is supporting the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: This point was previously acknowledged by the UK government with MHCLG funding English local authorities

Found: published HSTF Findings Report and Technical Data Report (both signed off by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: also ensure that high street and town centres in Scotland benefit from the recent announcement from MHCLG

Found: SHS0027 - The future of Scotland’s high streets Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: (MHCLG) that informed us about a £9.276m revenue funding allocation for 2026-27

Found: Will future allocations of levelling -up style funding be determined by the Exec utive rather than MHCLG

Found: Despite overwhelming evidence and repeated warnings, the NIO and MHCLG appear determined to proceed

Found: Alan, I wish to raise with you my concerns about the slow response of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: aligns the objectives of HM Treasury, Department for Business and Trade, and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: aligns the objectives of HM Treasury, Department for Business and Trade, and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is responsible for devolution policy

Found: for Transport, the Department for Work and Pensions, Skills England and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: While engagement with DSIT, DBT and MHCLG has improved, that ability to have a structured, long-term

Found: public libraries has decreased from £1.5bn in 2009/10 to £673m in 2022/23 (Institute for Government / MHCLG

Found: pounds worth of taxpayers’ money, spread across a whole host of Departments—the MoD, the Home Office, MHCLG

Found: For MHCLG, the challenges on planning are very clear for me to see.

Found: Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Home Office, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Home Office, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: a) six Mayoral Strategic Authorities receiving LABG as part of their Integrated Settlement with MHCLG

Found: Forty-sixth report: Improving local areas through developer funding 18 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Forty-sixth report: Improving local areas through developer funding 18 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Forty-sixth report: Improving local areas through developer funding 18 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Forty-sixth report: Improving local areas through developer funding 18 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Forty-sixth report: Improving local areas through developer funding 18 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: a) six Mayoral Strategic Authorities receiving LABG as part of their Integrated Settlement with MHCLG

Found: a) six Mayoral Strategic Authorities receiving LABG as part of their Integrated Settlement with MHCLG

Found: a) six Mayoral Strategic Authorities receiving LABG as part of their Integrated Settlement with MHCLG

Found: a) six Mayoral Strategic Authorities receiving LABG as part of their Integrated Settlement with MHCLG

Found: a) six Mayoral Strategic Authorities receiving LABG as part of their Integrated Settlement with MHCLG

Found: a) six Mayoral Strategic Authorities receiving LABG as part of their Integrated Settlement with MHCLG

Found: Forty-sixth report: Improving local areas through developer funding 18 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: planning permission.37 The Department told us that it is working with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government

Found: be the Secretary of State with policy responsibility , so primarily Defra in most instances , but MHCLG

Found: We consider it essential that DEFRA and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government ensure

Found: Before that, I held roles in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department

Found: .  Strengthen cross-departmental collaboration (e.g., DfT, DEFRA, DESNZ, MHCLG, DfE).  Invest in regional

Found: While powers exist to digitalise spatial plans and planning data10, which MHCLG is applying at pace

Found: should operate across government, with collaboration between DfT and the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government

Found: The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) already incorporates deprivation indices

Found: success of place-based business cases will be contingent on the full buy-in from not just DfT, HMT and MHCLG

Found: sub-policies flow in a coherent framework, incorporating such relevant Government departments as DfT, HMT, MHCLG

Found: for Transport, and furthermore that other departments, particularly the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Practice, 67, 366–380. 13 Department of Environment Circular 82/73, 1973. 14 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: and its agencies, as well cross-departmental siloes, particularly with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: The Northern Ireland Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and NI

Found: To pick up on your point about funding, that was funded by MHCLG, and that allowed us to take this concept—young

Found: We have regular meetings with ministers and civil servants in DBT, Treasury, DWP, DEFRA and MHCLG.

Found: knowledge, the local resilience forum does not have a seat at the table, but the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Office, the Migration Impacts Forum answered to both the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: If we need to work with MHCLG and with councils to understand the challenges of administration, and

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

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

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2025, to Question 70484, on Government Departments: Training, who was on the evaluation panel for Project 7114, whether it included officials who had previously worked with Public Digital Ltd; and if he will publish the conflict-of-interest declarations made in connection with that procurement.

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

The Test, Learn & Grow programme is being delivered jointly by the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and local authority partners, complemented by a support partner, the Test, Learn & Grow Partnership.

Due to the nature of personal data, we are precluded from publishing information on the evaluation panel. The procurement followed standard best practice in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15), and the contract is being managed proactively with use of benchmarking and performance data.

Two quarterly statements of work have been agreed under the Work Order. Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot publish the statements nor can we disclose the key performance indicators.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2025, to Question 70484, on Government Departments: Training, how many quarterly Statements of Work have been agreed to date under the Work Order for Project 7114; and if he will publish those statements.

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

The Test, Learn & Grow programme is being delivered jointly by the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and local authority partners, complemented by a support partner, the Test, Learn & Grow Partnership.

Due to the nature of personal data, we are precluded from publishing information on the evaluation panel. The procurement followed standard best practice in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15), and the contract is being managed proactively with use of benchmarking and performance data.

Two quarterly statements of work have been agreed under the Work Order. Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot publish the statements nor can we disclose the key performance indicators.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what key performance indicators have been set for the Public Sector Reform Test, Learn and Grow Strategic Delivery Partner contract; and whether financial penalties apply for non-performance.

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

The Test, Learn & Grow programme is being delivered jointly by the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and local authority partners, complemented by a support partner, the Test, Learn & Grow Partnership.

Due to the nature of personal data, we are precluded from publishing information on the evaluation panel. The procurement followed standard best practice in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15), and the contract is being managed proactively with use of benchmarking and performance data.

Two quarterly statements of work have been agreed under the Work Order. Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot publish the statements nor can we disclose the key performance indicators.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of tokenised deposits and smart contracts on the mortgage market, including use in conveyancing, remortgaging and the reduction of intermediaries and transaction delays.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Decisions on the use of tokenised deposits and smart contracts in the mortgage market are independent commercial matters for lenders and property firms, within the regulatory framework overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority, including the Consumer Duty and relevant mortgage conduct rules. However, the Government is regularly in contact with mortgage lenders on all aspects of their business, including the evolution and integration of new technologies and their potential impact on the industry.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is currently undertaking a review of home buying and selling, which will consider how digital tools and emerging technologies could be used to improve property transaction processes. The Government has made clear its objectives that reform should support faster, more reliable transactions and reduced fall throughs and risks.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make additional funding available to open GP surgeries in areas designated for New Towns.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In May, we announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (UMF) to deliver upgrades to a thousand general practice (GP) surgeries across England this financial year. Building on this, the Government has committed £426 million of UMF funding over the next four years to continue upgrading the GP estate and to support refurbishing the existing estate to deliver neighbourhood health centres over this Parliament as part of the 10-Year Health Plan commitment.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning, including planning, securing, and monitoring GP services, within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services, including GPs, in each local area. It should take account of population growth and demographic changes.

Whilst we have big ambitions to further boost house building, we recognise the challenges that significant housing and population growth can place on primary care infrastructure. The Department of Health and Social Care is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how developer contributions from new housing developments can be better used towards local health services and infrastructure, including for new towns.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on (a) formally notifying and (b) engaging with Members of Parliament during significant environmental or public safety incidents affecting their constituencies.

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

The government issues a range of guidance on the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, its associated regulations and wider non-statutory arrangements for civil protection. This supports local responders, which includes Local Authorities, to understand how to fulfil their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies taking place in the UK, including environmental and public safety incidents.

Cabinet Office guidance, including the ‘Emergency Response and Recovery’ guidance and ‘National Resilience Standards for Local Resilience Forums’ guidance, provides information on protocols that local responders should have for ensuring appropriate political involvement in the management of emergencies, particularly in the recovery phase. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also issued ‘Local authorities’ preparedness for civil emergencies: a good practice guide for chief executives’ guidance which provides assistance to chief executives of local authorities to make sure they are well-prepared to respond and recover from emergencies. This includes the need to provide clear information to politicians on what is happening during an emergency.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many hectares of the English countryside have been burnt by wildfires in the last twelve months; and what the cost was in terms of (a) fighting the fires, (b) loss of economic activity, (c) restoring the landscape and (d) NHS treatment of the effects of smoke pollution as a result of those wildfires.

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

Defra does not hold details on how many hectares of the English countryside have been burnt by wildfires in the last twelve months.

MHCLG is responsible for fire policy and operations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the asylum accommodation pilot involving the construction of new council housing.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which local authorities are participating in the asylum accommodation pilot involving the construction of new council housing.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the value for money of constructing new council housing for asylum seekers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to respond to the consultation on changes to the Water Efficiency Standard in the Building Regulations 2010, Part G; and whether she plans to implement new water-use standards for new homes in water-stressed areas.

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

Defra is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to explore whether Building Regulations could be amended to tighten water efficiency standards and enable consumers to use less water and save on their water and energy bills. Policy options on amendments to the Building Regulations have been tested with the public through a consultation that was published on 23 September 2025, this included proposed amendments to water efficiency standards in water stressed areas. This consultation closed on 16 December 2025.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation she has undertaken with local residents in areas selected for the construction of council housing for asylum seekers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to expand the asylum accommodation pilot involving new council housing beyond participating local authorities.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria she used to select local authorities to participate in the asylum accommodation pilot involving new council housing.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the asylum accommodation pilot funding will be from (a) the Government and (b) local authorities.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.

MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to help support people affected by the poor performance of specialist conveyancing businesses which are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The regulation of legal services in England and Wales operates independently of government and is underpinned by the Legal Services Act (LSA) 2007. The Act establishes a framework under which certain activities, known as reserved legal activities, may only be carried out by authorised persons regulated by an approved regulator (or persons otherwise exempt from authorisations). Conveyancing is a reserved legal activity when it involves legal tasks such as preparing instruments like transfer deeds, charges, and applications for land registration.

Reserved conveyancing services are regulated by approved regulators under the LSA 2007, for example the Solicitors Regulation Authority where they are provided by solicitors or solicitor-led firms, and by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) where they are provided by licensed conveyancers or CLC-authorised firms. In both cases, authorised providers are subject to professional standards for entry to the profession, ongoing regulatory oversight which includes ensuring adherence to a wide range of published codes of conduct, mandatory Professional Indemnity Insurance, and clear and transparent complaints arrangements. Consumers may pursue redress through internal complaints procedures and then through the Legal Ombudsman if the response from the provider is not satisfactory.

The Government recognises the impact that poor performance by conveyancing providers can have on consumers. The home buying and selling process is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who recently consulted on proposals to drive improvements. This has involved extensive engagement with the wider industry, including conveyancing regulators, to ensure it takes maximum advantage of the opportunities of technology to improve the functioning of the housing market in the consumer and public interest, and support growth. The Ministry of Justice keeps the overall framework for legal services regulation and associated consumer protections under review to ensure it remains proportionate and effective, but has no current plans to introduce additional measures.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with regulators and industry on modernising the financial infrastructure related to property transactions.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government regularly engages with lenders and regulators to discuss the housing market, including lenders’ mortgage lending practices which support property transactions.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is currently consulting on reforms to the home buying and selling process. The Government has made clear its objectives that reform should support faster, more reliable transactions and reduced fall throughs and risks.

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