Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether households charged second home council tax premiums under processes later found to be procedurally defective are entitled to refunds.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Each billing authorities is responsible for the administration of council tax in its area including making any relevant determinations or calculations in accordance with the law. Whether any refunds may be necessary would depend on the specific circumstances of each case. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on individual cases or offer legal advice.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
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 allow areas that do not have a mayor to introduce a visitor levy.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 105024 on 19 January 2026.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on the Code of Practice consultation.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I wish to assure the hon. Member that this government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.
A consultation document outlining proposals to raise standard across the private parking industry was published on 11 July 2025.
All responses are now being analysed and the government will publish a response in due course.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation entitled Strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services, which closed on 26 September 2025.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The consultation in question closed on 26 September 2025. We are analysing responses and will bring the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
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 amend the the National Planning Policy Framework to define a fast food outlet.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making.
Through the consultation, we are seeking feedback on the application of the term ‘fast food outlets’ in planning decisions, and whether any further clarity could be provided on the types of establishments this policy should apply to.
The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local planning authorities are required to inform him when making an Article 4 direction in relation to restricting permitted development rights.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local planning authorities are required to send a copy of all Article 4 directions made to the Secretary of State, as set out in Schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he will estimate how many local Council offer their employees the opportunity to join a credit union by offering a payroll deduction service.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces, including setting their own terms and conditions and employment packages.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for implementing the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103549 on 14 January 2026.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he holds data on (1) the aggregate number of hereditaments which claimed Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26, (2) the average Rateable Value of such hereditaments, (3) the distribution of Special Category Code of such hereditaments and (4) any such data by local authority.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The number of hereditaments receiving the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief as at 31 December 2024 can be found in Table 4 on gov.uk here.
This is based on a snapshot taken by local authorities on or as close to the 31 December 2024.
The snapshot as at 31 December 2025 is currently being collected and will be published by the end of March.
The Department does not collect data on the rateable value or the Special Category code of the hereditaments that received this relief.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Muslim Council of Britain is eligible to apply for funding through the Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2026.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government does not engage with the Muslim Council of Britain.
The Windrush Day Grant Scheme assesses all applications in line with the published eligibility criteria: Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2026 - GOV.UK. Organisations do not need to be Windrush‑specific, but they must show that their project will genuinely involve and benefit the Windrush community. All applications are considered on this basis.
Meeting the eligibility criteria does not in itself imply that funding will be awarded; applications are considered holistically against the aims and requirements of the scheme.