Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The proposals in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 are subject to consultation and decisions have yet to be taken that will determine final allocations and the design of transitional arrangements. These proposals will target central government grant where it is needed most and we expect that the vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement.

We are also inviting views on a package of transitional arrangements available over the multi-year Spending Review period. For those councils who would see their funding fall as a result of these changes, our intention is to protect the vast majority of these councils’ income through a ‘flat cash’ (or 0%) funding floor. The consultation is live until 15th August. We will publish further information in the consultation response in autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

The proposals in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 are subject to consultation and decisions have yet to be taken that will determine final allocations and the design of transitional arrangements. These proposals will target central government grant where it is needed most and we expect that the vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement.

We are also inviting views on a package of transitional arrangements available over the multi-year Spending Review period. For those councils who would see their funding fall as a result of these changes, our intention is to protect the vast majority of these councils’ income through a ‘flat cash’ (or 0%) funding floor. The consultation is live until 15th August. We will publish further information in the consultation response in autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

As outlined in the recently published ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’, the Government recognises the importance of taking a particularly careful approach to the handling of data of under 18s who are on the electoral register and our plans reflect this. We are working closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure appropriate safeguards are put in place to protect young peoples’ data. We will ensure UK GDPR conditions are complied with, including a Data Protection Impact Assessment and providing a policy document setting out compliance and retention policies and we will ensure that any privacy notices are suitable for this age group.

We will also remove the presumption that citizens will be added to the open register unless they opt out. Citizens will need to opt in if they wish to appear on the open register. In line with guidance from Information Commissioner’s Office, we consider that an opt in arrangement is a more effective form of consent than the existing opt out process. This will mean those aged between 16 and 17, alongside those aged 18 and over, will be able to make an informed decision and their data will only appear on the open register if they actively decide that they want to allow it.

This government is committed to ensuring that everyone who is entitled to register to vote is able to. The primary purposes of the annual canvass are to ensure our electoral registers are kept up to date and to ensure those entitled to register are identified and invited to do so. 16- and 17-year-olds are already canvassed in the same way as other electors due to their inclusion on the electoral register as attainers. In extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds, it is vital they are given the same opportunities to be accurately registered as any other elector.

Our approach balances the need for adequate safeguards within our electoral system, without disadvantaging young voters from being able to participate in it. This mirrors the approaches taken in Scotland and Wales, where the right to vote has already been extended to those aged 16 and 17.

The Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme made awards to Local Authorities in the 2024-25 financial year. There are no plans to run the Programme again in the 2025-26 financial year.

In 2025/26, up to £650,000 of funding is available to the British Muslim Trust to monitor hate targeting Muslims and facilitate support for victims. The government will provide the police with funding of £80,000 for True Vision, an online hate crime reporting portal, designed so that victims of hate crime do not have to visit a police station to report.

The Government regularly engages with representatives of foreign governments, including the United States government, to discuss a broad range of issues. The details of these discussions are not made public.

As noted in the Terms of Reference, the advice provided to government by the independent Working Group will be private. Once the Government has had time to review the advice, it will consider its next steps.

Legitimate electors should not be prevented from voting and we are committed to ensuring that everyone eligible is able and encouraged to do so. We believe it is appropriate to retain the requirement to show ID to protect our electors from the risk of personation, but the current rules are too restrictive.

Allowing the use of UK issued bank cards will improve the policy by increasing accessibility and ease for legitimate electors to prove their identity, while maintaining a proportionate and secure ID check. UK banks conduct a range of rigorous identity verification and anti-money laundering processes before opening bank accounts for their clients and issuing bank cards.

The government is committed to ensuring there is appropriate health and wellbeing support in schools for children, young people and the entire school population closely affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy, particularly as we prepare to carefully take down Grenfell Tower in the autumn.

We are working closely with the Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the NHS Integrated Care Board to discuss appropriate emotional and wellbeing support to local schools.

I appreciate how pressing this matter is and the department continues to work closely with local headteachers, health partners and RBKC to ensure we support children and young people throughout this sensitive period.

Estimates vary as to the scale of delivery that is required to meet housing need, however, there is a broad consensus that to address the housing emergency we must deliver well above projections of population growth to deal with decades of undersupply. Increasing housing supply beyond current levels is integral to providing for population growth, moderating the rate of house price growth, and tackling affordability pressures. That is why we have committed to delivering 1.5m homes over this parliament.

The Future Homes Standard (FHS), to be introduced through the Building Regulations in autumn this year, will effectively preclude the use of gas boilers in new homes. A consultation setting out detailed technical proposals for the FHS was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. Hybrid and hydrogen-ready boilers would not meet the standards proposed in the consultation. We are carefully considering the feedback we received to the consultation and intend to publish the government response confirming our final position in due course.

An independent Inspector held a public inquiry into the proposals in question, at which interested parties were able to put forward evidence and representations.

All material planning considerations will be taken into account in reaching a decision on this case.

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces. It is the duty of local authorities to comply with all relevant employment and equalities legislation and there is no role for central government intervening in this, except where specific provision has been made in legislation.

Like all service providers and those exercising public functions, local authorities are under a duty to make reasonable adjustments for their customers, under the Equality Act 2010. This includes providing information about disabled access and facilities as well as the actual facilities. Local authorities are also within the scope of the Public Sector Equality Duty, which requires public bodies to consider how their policies and actions might affect people with particular protected characteristics, such as disability.

On 17 July, I announced my final decision, following consideration of representations received and all relevant information, to exercise powers of direction under section 15(5) and 15(6) of the Local Government Act 1999 and appointed Commissioners to ensure London Borough of Croydon’s compliance with the Best Value Duty. Details of the representations can be found in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Directions, copies of which were deposited in the House library and are also available on gov.uk.

We have recently published research to improve understanding of embodied carbon in new buildings and the data currently available. The aim of publishing is for this research is to help inform discussions about potential impacts, including on the viability of new developments. We continue to assess the evidence and engage with industry as we consider the best way forward for measuring and reducing embodied carbon emissions. The government remains committed to supporting progress in this area in a way that is both practical and sustainable.

Under the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 regulations, residents with disabilities or impairments in high-rise and certain medium rise buildings will be entitled to a person-centred fire risk assessment to identify equipment and adjustments to aid their fire safety and evacuation. Where costs arise, these may fall to the building owner, all residents or the individual resident. Where the cost of an identified mitigation would fall to the resident, the resident can decline to pay for it, in which case that mitigation may not be put in place. The Government has committed funding this year (2025/26) supporting social housing providers to deliver RPEEPs for their renters. Future years funding will be considered through the Spending Review process.

Residents can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant from their local council which can help cover the capital costs of adaptations so they can live safely and independently at home.

Local housing authorities have a statutory duty to provide adaptations for disabled people following a needs assessment, means test, eligibility criteria and subject to any permissions required from a landlord. They also have powers to provide financial assistance for adaptations for those that do not qualify for funding under the duty, and in some cases to waive the means test.

Local authorities are responsible for setting council tax levels. The Spending Review set out government’s intention to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept to protect taxpayers from excessive increases. These principles are in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement each year, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way.

Our proposals are subject to consultation and decisions have yet to be taken that will determine final allocations and the design of transitional arrangements. Subject to consultation, the proposals set out mean that the most relatively deprived places will on balance see larger increases in income than the least deprived places. We will publish further information in the consultation response by early October, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

My Department has not stipulated the use of British-made glass in developments funded through housebuilding programmes.

Sutton Coldfield is receiving up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade through the Plan for Neighbourhoods. This initiative aims to transform the area by unleashing its full potential, investing in improved community services such as education, health, and employment, and tackling local issues like crime. The transformation will be holistic, long-term, and sustainable, delivering meaningful change in the day-to-day lives of local people, led by a Neighbourhood Board made up of local people and independently chaired.

MHCLG does not have any contracts with the Belong Network.

MHCLG publishes its monthly spend data in line with Cabinet Office guidance including all mandatory fields specified in that guidance.

The Building Regulations are set in performance terms, to provide developers with the flexibility to select the most appropriate solutions for their developments. Part O of the regulations ensures that new residential buildings are built to mitigate the risk of overheating. Mechanical cooling can be used to meet regulations, however, given the Government’s net zero commitment, our preferred means of mitigating overheating is through passive means. Developers must demonstrate that all possible passive means of cooling a dwelling have been implemented before adopting mechanical cooling,

As part of the Future Homes and Buildings Standard consultation, which closed in March 2024, we sought evidence on whether current overheating standards are appropriate or require amendment. The Government will set out the evidence it received on Part O during this consultation and its response to this in Autumn 2025, when the Future Homes and Buildings Standard consultation response will be published.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that when determining planning applications, local planning authorities should apply the principle that if significant harm to biodiversity resulting from a development cannot be avoided, adequately mitigated, or, as a last resort, compensated for, then planning permission should be refused.

Any mitigation or compensation would be set out in planning conditions and obligations associated with the relevant planning permission, enabling local planning authorities to monitor the development's implementation and, if necessary, take enforcement action.

More widely, the government is clear that the current approach to discharging environmental obligations is too often delaying and deterring development and placing unnecessary burdens on housebuilders and local authorities. It requires housebuilders to pay for localised and often costly mitigation measures, only to maintain the environmental status quo. By not taking a holistic view across larger geographies, mitigation measures often fail to secure the best outcomes for the environment.

The Nature Restoration Fund provided for by Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will end this sub-optimal arrangement. By facilitating a more strategic approach to the discharge of environmental obligations, in order to address the impact of development and improve the conservation status of the relevant environmental feature, it will streamline the delivery of new homes and infrastructure and result in improved environmental outcomes being delivered more efficiently.

In establishing an alternative to the existing system, the Nature Restoration Fund intentionally provides flexibility to diverge from a restrictive application of the mitigation hierarchy. We believe this flexibility should apply where, in Natural England's expert judgement, this would be appropriate and in line with the overarching objective of delivering better outcomes for the relevant environmental feature over the course of the EDP - including conservative measures being delivered at a different site to where the development impacts are being felt.

There will be a continued role for the mitigation hierarchy in the design of Environmental Delivery Plans, ensuring that local conservation measures are preferred unless there is a clearly articulated environmental basis to look further afield.

My Department has not issued guidance in relation to this matter.

MHCLG has separate National pay ranges and London pay ranges. Whether an individual is paid via the National or London pay range is based on the office they are formally assigned to. The MHCLG London pay range is only applicable to colleagues formally assigned to 2 Marsham St and MHCLG’s Hemel Hempstead office.

The new Fast Track process established within the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will launch on 4 August and will initially focus on new-build applications before being broadened to include other application categories once the effectiveness of the process has been proven.

The Fast Track process will expedite the building control process by bringing in expertise in-house, whilst still assuring the delivery of safe, high-quality buildings. BSR has increased the level of feedback and two-way discussion with applicants and is also approving applications with requirements in appropriate circumstances thereby enabling work to commence whilst still ensuring building regulations compliance will be demonstrated.

BSR is now publishing regular data which sets out application volumes and processing times. These datasets can be found here: Building Safety Regulator building control approval application data October 2023 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

The new Fast Track process established within the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will launch on 4 August and will initially focus on new-build applications before being broadened to include other application categories once the effectiveness of the process has been proven.

The Fast Track process will expedite the building control process by bringing in expertise in-house, whilst still assuring the delivery of safe, high-quality buildings. BSR has increased the level of feedback and two-way discussion with applicants and is also approving applications with requirements in appropriate circumstances thereby enabling work to commence whilst still ensuring building regulations compliance will be demonstrated.

BSR is now publishing regular data which sets out application volumes and processing times. These datasets can be found here: Building Safety Regulator building control approval application data October 2023 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

The new Fast Track process established within the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will launch on 4 August and will initially focus on new-build applications before being broadened to include other application categories once the effectiveness of the process has been proven.

The Fast Track process will expedite the building control process by bringing in expertise in-house, whilst still assuring the delivery of safe, high-quality buildings. BSR has increased the level of feedback and two-way discussion with applicants and is also approving applications with requirements in appropriate circumstances thereby enabling work to commence whilst still ensuring building regulations compliance will be demonstrated.

BSR is now publishing regular data which sets out application volumes and processing times. These datasets can be found here: Building Safety Regulator building control approval application data October 2023 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

The government continues to be updated on the recovery plan following the incident via the Recovery Coordinating Group (RCG) which includes representatives from Hertfordshire County Council, St Albans District Council and the fire and rescue service.

An independent fire investigation, requested by Hertfordshire County Council, will be shared in due course, and we will carefully consider any findings.

The government is committed to promoting economic growth in all parts of the country including coastal communities. It has introduced a new, targeted approach to support regional growth, tackle deprivation, and restore pride to communities. These new programmes are just one component of the government’s strategy, which also includes the publishing of the Industrial Strategy; and the expansion of devolution.

MHCLG Area Teams will continue to work with local stakeholders to understand challenges and opportunities from across all communities, reflecting these into the relevant government departments and policy teams.

On 19 May, Defra launched the “Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund” that will invest £360 million over the next 12 years to help support the UK fishing industry and revitalise coastal communities. Defra will be engaging with stakeholders to understand how to target this funding where it matters most.

MHCLG will continue to work with Cornwall Council and its partners to encourage the further development of Cornish culture and heritage. This will follow up work including the funding of £500,000 for Cornish language and culture as part of Cornwall’s Devolution Deal in 2023.

The building safety levy has built in measures to minimise impact on housing while balancing the need to raise the revenue required to make homes safe. Measures to achieve this include:

1. Variable levy rates at local authority level.
2. A 50% discount on developments on previously developed land reflecting the often additional costs of building on these sites.
3. Exemptions from the levy including Affordable Housing.

The Building Safety Levy is an industry contribution towards building safety remediation. Revenue is raised from new, non-exempt, residential development which principally occurs in and around urban areas. Expenditure is directed at buildings over 11m in height which are principally located in urban areas.

By designating Local Green Spaces and setting expectations for development in their area, neighbourhood plans can ensure development is environmentally acceptable and preserves access to nature.

Local planning authorities, in consultation with their communities and any neighbourhood planning bodies, decide whether land should be designated as green belt in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The Framework permits neighbourhood plans to amend green belt boundaries where strategic policies set out in a local development plan or spatial development strategy justify changes.

The Government recognises the important role Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) can play in improving the local trading environment and attracting investment to their area. We frequently engage with local authorities and BID membership bodies such as, British BIDs and Association of Town & City Management, to keep informed about the performance of BIDs, including the investment they attract external to the levy.

We are keen for BIDs to continue to be leaders in the regeneration of their area and we encourage BIDs to work in partnership with their local authority to deliver growth in their local area.

The second homes council tax premiums is not a mandatory requirement, and it is for individual councils to decide whether to make use of a premium. However, where councils apply a premium, they are required to implement this in line with the relevant regulations. Furthermore, the government has published guidance for councils on the implementation of premiums and exceptions. Councils must have due regard for this guidance when considering application of the premium.

Where a household believes their council has incorrectly applied the premium, they may be able to appeal this to the Valuation Tribunal in certain circumstances.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 34286 on 7 March. The government does not make housing market assessments based on the premium.

Consumer protection laws apply to transactions made with quick sale sites.

I refer my hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 67392 on 21 July 2025.

As per the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62262 on Special Educational Needs: Finance, this government recognises the pressures local authorities are facing because of their Dedicated School Grant (DSG) deficits and that the extension to the DSG Statutory Override is part of a phased transition to a reformed Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. The DSG Statutory Override is an accounting treatment, first introduced in 2020, that allows local authorities to exclude DSG deficits from their main revenue budgets. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government engages regularly with local authorities and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy on the impact of these deficits and the extent to which they are expected to grow. The government will provide more detail by the end of the year on the plan for supporting authorities with both historic and accruing deficits. We will set out more detail at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.

The ‘openness and transparency on personal interests: guidance for councillors’ is clear that a councillor’s disclosable pecuniary interests must be declared to their local authority. This is in line with requirements set out in regulations under the Localism Act 2011.

The legislation and guidance are clear that a councillor in receipt of sponsorships must declare them. This would include any payment or provision of any other financial benefit, other than from their council or authority, made or provided in respect of any expenses incurred by a councillor carrying out duties as a member, or towards their election expenses.

As set out in the gov.uk general direction and guidance, local authorities intending to use the flexible use of capital receipt (FUCR) discretionary freedom are required to provide the government details planned use of the flexibility. This is to support transparency in local decision making; local authorities remain responsible in ensuring that they meet the requirements of the direction and appropriately follow the guidance.

The government does not publish a list of authorities that have submitted plans or details that authorities have provided on the intended use of the flexibility – in some cases authorities may have chosen not to make this information public for reasons such as commercial sensitivity. However, the direction requires that the flexibility may only be used for costs incurred to generate ongoing revenue savings or reduce costs.

For financial year 2024/25, 55 local authorities provided plans to government in accordance with the FUCR direction and guidance between 1 July 2024 and 31 March 2025; for 2025/26, a further 60 authorities have so far provided plans. The total value of capitalised costs under the direction for 2024/25 will be available in the annual Revenue Outturn data provided to government – this data is expected to be published in September 2025.

We will consult later this year on a suite of new national policies for decision-making. Further details will be set out in due course.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear about the importance of conserving and enhancing the natural and environment

Planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures and incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats, and hedgehogs.

The revised Framework published on 12 December 2024 makes clear that ‘Golden Rules’ should apply to major development including the provision of housing on land released from the Green Belt through plan preparation or review, or on sites in the Green Belt subject to a planning application. These ‘Golden Rules’ include necessary improvements to local or national infrastructure.

It is for local planning authorities to apply national policy when preparing local development plans or determining planning applications, including in relation to the Green Belt.

Alongside delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding a generation, the government is committed to driving a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of homes.

Registered providers of social housing are required to deliver the outcomes of the standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). The Regulator conducts routine inspections of large registered providers to assess whether they are delivering the outcomes set by the standards. The Regulator has a series of powers at its disposal when it identifies serious failings.

On 2 July 2025, we launched consultations on an updated and modernised Decent Homes Standard and on a new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard. These new standards would be binding on registered providers of social housing.

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

New requirements relating to electrical safety will also require social landlords to carry out electrical safety checks at least every five years, as well as mandatory appliance inspections on all electrical appliances that are provided by the landlord.

In respect of new build homes, all building works must meet the safety and performance requirements set out in the Building Regulations 2010. The building regulations set minimum legal performance standards for new building work including when a building is being designed, constructed, or subject to major re-design. The building regulations are enforced through the building control process. Building control conduct checks to assure compliance with the building regulations.

In October 2024, this government committed to establish a statutory New Homes Ombudsman which will give homeowners improved access to redress. The government will set out further details in due course.

It is unacceptable for estate agents to withhold referral fee information from customers before they decide whether to commission services from the agent's recommended supplier.

Agents who fail to disclose such fees may face sanctions and it is essential that any misconduct related to referral fee transparency is reported.

The government is committed to ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents. We will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.