Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

As set out in the Government’s communication to the Court and the Secretary of State’s correspondence to the Rt. Hon. Member of 23 February, in order to ensure that the position was reconsidered afresh, and recognising the urgency created by the electoral timetable, the Minister of State for Housing and Planning was invited to review the matter.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 108610 on 4 February 2026.

The Government has considered a range of documents for use at the polling station, including Oyster ZIP cards. We recognise that the current Voter ID rules are overly restrictive – however we must take into account that expanding the list of documents accepted at the polling station could make the policy more challenging to administer for polling station staff and could lead to confusion among electors as to what is and is not accepted.

We believe that our proposed change to allow the use of bank cards will significantly expand the proportion of legitimate electors easily able to meet the VID requirements and have no plans to make any further additions to the list of accepted documents.

My department is working across Government to deliver our manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector, following the commitment to establish a Co-operatives Development Unit in the Pride in Place Strategy.

The government is committed to delivering a new Code of Practice to raise standards across the Private Parking Sector and protect motorists in accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

The government will publish an official consultation response and lay the Code of Practice before Parliament as soon as possible.

As part of this work, my department continues to engage with the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) and the CMA is aware that the government is committed to delivering the Code of Practice as soon as possible.

The Department has not had any recent conversations with the British Standards Institution on these matters.

The government is committed to delivering a new Code of Practice to raise standards across the Private Parking Sector and protect motorists in accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

The government will publish an official consultation response and lay the Code of Practice before Parliament as soon as possible.

As part of this work, my department continues to engage with the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) and the CMA is aware that the government is committed to delivering the Code of Practice as soon as possible.

The Department has not had any recent conversations with the British Standards Institution on these matters.

Local Growth Plans are a key pillar of our regional growth agenda, and government continues to work with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to co-agree regional growth priorities.

Mayoral Strategic Authority delivery, including on investment commitments and job creation, is monitored through relevant programme governance arrangements. For areas with an Integrated Settlement, delivery will be overseen via a single Outcomes Framework agreed with all relevant departments, HMT, and the Mayoral Strategic Authority. The outcome and targets that the Mayoral Strategic Authorities agree with central government may be different to reflect their priorities for local growth.

Progress on housing will also be measured through the number of net additional dwellings (published on an England-wide, regional and local authority basis) and we will update Parliament in the usual manner.

Mayoral Strategic Authorities are expected to follow the existing principles and processes described in the English Devolution Accountability Framework and Scrutiny Protocol, which sets out how Mayors will be held to account by central government, at local level and by the public. This includes a duty to ensure value for money. All relevant local bodies defined by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 are required to have their accounts independently audited.

My department has not issued any such guidance.

My Department has received proposals for a large-scale new community, Forest City 1, located to the east of Cambridge.

Officials will review this proposal in the usual way, including through a meeting with the promoters.

Details of meetings that special advisers have with external organisations are published on gov.uk in line with requirements set out in the relevant guidance which can be found here.

I had no meetings with Edaroth at Labour Party Annual Conference 2025 and shared no platforms with representatives of the company.

I participated in a number of advertised events at the conference, including a panel organised by Labour Housing Group, in which I set out the government’s overall approach to housing and planning. I did not discuss other Departmental business at any of these events.

My Department does not hold the requested data.

We are committed to implementing the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, which will make enfranchisement cheaper and easier. I refer the Noble Baroness to the response given in the House of Commons on 14 January 2026 UIN 103549 (attached) about these provisions.

I refer the Noble Baroness to the response given to UIN HL14534 (attached) on 25 February 2026.

I refer the Noble Baroness to the response given to UIN HL14534 (attached) on 25 February 2026.

This government is committed to ending the feudal leasehold system. We will reinvigorate the commonhold legal framework and ban the use of leasehold for new flats so commonhold can become the default tenure for the ownership of new flats, and we will implement measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to ban new leasehold houses.

Following consideration of responses to the ‘Moving to Commonhold’ consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, we will confirm commencement plans.

I refer the Noble Baroness to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 (HLWS1278) (attached).

I refer the Noble Baroness to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 (HLWS1278) (attached).

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

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

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has conducted a recent recruitment campaign to scale up its regulatory capacity.

The monthly Building Control Approval Application dataset January 2026 showed that the average approval timeframe for remediation projects in London was 30 weeks.

We recognise that processing times need to improve, and we will be bringing forward a Building Safety Regulator remediation improvement plan in the coming weeks detailing how we intend to work with the sector to achieve improvements.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No such guidance has been issued. Local authorities are best placed to determine requirements for their own area.

Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society, which is why we’re taking a strong lead in tackling it in all its forms, wherever it manifests.

We work closely with partners to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities throughout the UK.

This includes working together with the Jewish community to monitor levels of religiously motivated hatred.

On 17 December 2026, the government published a paper setting out recent actions to combat antisemitism. Further information is available here. This is just the start. We are continuing to work, at pace, across government to combat antisemitism in all corners of our society.

No specific discussions have been held. The government welcomes representations from Basildon Borough Council as we develop our new High Streets Strategy, backed by at least £150 million.

No specific discussions have been held. The government welcomes representations from Basildon Borough Council as we develop our new High Streets Strategy, backed by at least £150 million.

This Settlement strengthens the relationship between deprivation and funding need. By 2028-29, the top 10% most deprived areas will receive 45% more funding per head than the least deprived.

We recognised that maintaining the Recovery Grant would not be enough for some councils to deliver visible service improvements over the next three years. The government announced an additional £440 million uplift to the Recovery Grant over the multi-year Settlement, specifically aimed at upper tier councils that would otherwise receive less than a 17% funding increase over the period. This will take the total funding allocated via the Recovery Grant and Recovery Grant Guarantee to £2.6 billion over the multi-year Settlement.

This Settlement strengthens the relationship between deprivation and funding need. By 2028-29, the top 10% most deprived areas will receive 45% more funding per head than the least deprived.

We recognised that maintaining the Recovery Grant would not be enough for some councils to deliver visible service improvements over the next three years. The government announced an additional £440 million uplift to the Recovery Grant over the multi-year Settlement, specifically aimed at upper tier councils that would otherwise receive less than a 17% funding increase over the period. This will take the total funding allocated via the Recovery Grant and Recovery Grant Guarantee to £2.6 billion over the multi-year Settlement.

All supported accommodation providers must comply with their existing legal duties, including meeting the relevant standards for the quality of accommodation.

The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 introduces new National Supported Housing Standards for the support provided, and a locally led licensing framework.

The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Act and will publish its response to the consultation as soon as possible.

All supported accommodation providers must comply with their existing legal duties, including meeting the relevant standards for the quality of accommodation.

The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 introduces new National Supported Housing Standards for the support provided, and a locally led licensing framework.

The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Act and will publish its response to the consultation as soon as possible.

All supported accommodation providers must comply with their existing legal duties, including meeting the relevant standards for the quality of accommodation.

The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 introduces new National Supported Housing Standards for the support provided, and a locally led licensing framework.

The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Act and will publish its response to the consultation as soon as possible.

All supported accommodation providers must comply with their existing legal duties, including meeting the relevant standards for the quality of accommodation.

The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 introduces new National Supported Housing Standards for the support provided, and a locally led licensing framework.

The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Act and will publish its response to the consultation as soon as possible.

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

However, delivering reform will take time, and the government recognises the challenging financial context for local authorities as they continue to deal with the legacy of the previous flawed system. On 23 February government published details of Exceptional Financial Support provided to a number of councils to help them set balanced budgets for 2026-27. In line with approaches taken by previous governments, this support is provided through in-principle agreement to capitalisation directions. These provide councils with flexibility to manage some budgetary pressures either using capital receipts or using contributions from the revenue budget over time, supported by borrowing where necessary.

Councils are responsible for their own financial management, including funding any expenditure under the Exceptional Financial Support framework. When agreeing support, government has been clear that councils should aim to avoid or minimise additional borrowing by looking to use capital receipts to fund capitalised expenditure where possible, subject to appropriate value for money considerations and protection of community and heritage assets.

Government has also been clear that any support provided should be a time-limited and temporary measure, and local authorities should have clear plans to deliver the improvements and service transformation required to help them to return to financial stability over the multi-year Settlement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 114248 on 2 March 2026.

This Government is committed to supporting high streets across the country, including those in Beeston, Stapleford and Eastwood. The Department is working closely with Broxtowe Borough Council as an early adopter of High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA) by providing direct support and funding to bring long‑term vacant properties back into use to boost local trade and growth.

Government will bring forward a High Streets Strategy this year to support high streets.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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