Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
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 10 November 2025, to Question 86656, on Hate Crime: Internet, if he will place a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding in the Library.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In keeping with general practice, we do not currently intend to place the Memorandum of Understanding in the library.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
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 12 November 2025 to Question 86657 on Elections and Political Parties, whether each of those parties were (a) consulted and (b) engaged before the publication of the strategy in July; if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the Parliamentary Parties Panel held after the strategy was published; and what consultation he intends to hold with political parties on the proposals on (i) political finance and (ii) election law.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government’s Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections outlines how we will deliver on Labour’s manifesto commitment to strengthen the rules governing political donations. Our proposals draw on long‑standing, well‑established recommendations from expert bodies across the electoral sector.
Views of stakeholders have been key to the development of these reforms. Regarding the Electoral Commission’s Parliamentary Parties Panel, the Commission convenes these panels and publishes the minutes of meetings on its website.
We will continue to engage with stakeholders, including political parties, as we work to finalise and implement these reforms.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 47 of The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023, how many regularisation certificate applications were (a) received and (b) approved by the Building Safety Regulator in 2025; and what was the average time taken by the regulator to approve these applications.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) can confirm that in 2025 there were 159 Regularisation Applications received with 47 approvals being delivered. The average time in which an approval was made was 33 weeks.
In 2025 BSR received 2335 Completion Certificate Applications, granting 664 approvals. The average time in which an approval has been made was 28 weeks.
The BSR can confirm that in 2025 there were 514 Change Control requests received with 148 of these marked as complete. The average time taken by the BSR to approve the applications cannot be determined as the Change Requests do not have a definitive outcome date.
Last June, MHCLG announced a new phase for the BSR, including strengthened leadership, steps to address operational challenges to speed up decision making, and plans for a new body for the BSR.
Enhanced operating models are delivering significant progress. A new Innovation Unit has dramatically reduced processing time for new build applications, with the highest quality applications approved within the 12-week target, whilst the BSR continues to make strong headway tackling cases already in the system.
BSR continue publish performance data monthly to support transparency and accountability.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 40 of The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023, how many completion certificate applications were (a) received and (b) approved in 2025 by the Building Safety Regulator; and what was the average time taken by the regulator to approve these applications.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) can confirm that in 2025 there were 159 Regularisation Applications received with 47 approvals being delivered. The average time in which an approval was made was 33 weeks.
In 2025 BSR received 2335 Completion Certificate Applications, granting 664 approvals. The average time in which an approval has been made was 28 weeks.
The BSR can confirm that in 2025 there were 514 Change Control requests received with 148 of these marked as complete. The average time taken by the BSR to approve the applications cannot be determined as the Change Requests do not have a definitive outcome date.
Last June, MHCLG announced a new phase for the BSR, including strengthened leadership, steps to address operational challenges to speed up decision making, and plans for a new body for the BSR.
Enhanced operating models are delivering significant progress. A new Innovation Unit has dramatically reduced processing time for new build applications, with the highest quality applications approved within the 12-week target, whilst the BSR continues to make strong headway tackling cases already in the system.
BSR continue publish performance data monthly to support transparency and accountability.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 21 of The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023, how many change control applications were (a) received and (b) approved in 2025 by the Building Safety Regulator; and what was the average time taken by the regulator to approve the applications.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) can confirm that in 2025 there were 159 Regularisation Applications received with 47 approvals being delivered. The average time in which an approval was made was 33 weeks.
In 2025 BSR received 2335 Completion Certificate Applications, granting 664 approvals. The average time in which an approval has been made was 28 weeks.
The BSR can confirm that in 2025 there were 514 Change Control requests received with 148 of these marked as complete. The average time taken by the BSR to approve the applications cannot be determined as the Change Requests do not have a definitive outcome date.
Last June, MHCLG announced a new phase for the BSR, including strengthened leadership, steps to address operational challenges to speed up decision making, and plans for a new body for the BSR.
Enhanced operating models are delivering significant progress. A new Innovation Unit has dramatically reduced processing time for new build applications, with the highest quality applications approved within the 12-week target, whilst the BSR continues to make strong headway tackling cases already in the system.
BSR continue publish performance data monthly to support transparency and accountability.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many residential and mixed‑use buildings in (a) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency and (b) England contain reinforced concrete transfer slabs constructed using unsafe historic design methods.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) only holds information related to Higher-Risk Buildings with at least two residential units and cannot provide a response to questions related to commercial premises.
For Higher-Risk Buildings, the BSR does not hold specific Key Building Information in relation to reinforced concrete transfer slabs which includes those constructed using prior design methods.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many commercial buildings contain reinforced concrete transfer slabs constructed using unsafe historic design methods in South Basildon & East Thurrock constituency.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) only holds information related to Higher-Risk Buildings with at least two residential units and cannot provide a response to questions related to commercial premises.
For Higher-Risk Buildings, the BSR does not hold specific Key Building Information in relation to reinforced concrete transfer slabs which includes those constructed using prior design methods.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
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 list each planning application that has been called in since 4 July 2024, including (a) planning reference number, (b) local authority, (c) the proposed development, and the result of each decision to date.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Since 4 July 2024, the Secretary of State has called in the following planning applications:
Cases called in 04/07/24 to 14/01/26
Location | LPA | LPA Ref | Call in Date | Development Description | Outcome |
Northfleet Harbourside, land surrounding Ebbsfleet Football Club, Northfleet, Kent | Gravesham Borough Council | 20221064 | 07/02/25 | Mixed-use redevelopment including new homes, commercial space and supporting infrastructure. | Inquiry closed Nov 25 – Inspector’s Report awaited |
Heath Business & Technical Park & land north of Heath Rd, Runcorn, Cheshire | Halton Borough Council | 22/00569/OUT | 19/09/25 | Mixed-use scheme including up to 545 homes and supporting community and employment facilities. | With MHCLG – target date for decision 13 Mar 2026 |
Land south of Frome Somerset | Somerset Council | 2021/1675/EOUT | 03/02/25 | Up to 1,700 homes with a local centre, employment land, greenspace and associated infrastructure. | Inquiry closed Sept 25 – Inspector's report awaited |
Land south of Sittingbourne, Kent | Swale Borough Council | 21/503914/EIOUT | 07/11/24 | Major mixed‑use development including up to 7,150 homes, employment space, schools, community facilities and major highways works. | Inquiry closed Oct 25 – Inspector's report awaited |
Beehive Centre, Coldhams Lane, Cambridge | Cambridge City Council | 23/03204/OUT | 11/02/25 | Redevelopment of the site to provide a new local centre, employment floorspace, open space and associated infrastructure | Planning permission Granted 9 Dec 25 |
Royal Mint Court, London | London Borough Tower Hamlets | PA/24/01229/A1 | 14/10/24 | Redevelopment of the site to provide a new embassy, including works to listed buildings, public realm improvements and associated infrastructure. . | Decision issued on 20 Jan 26 |
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 he has made of the impact of immigration on housing availability.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 62663 on 22 July 2025 and to Question UIN 51990 on 19 May 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 14 January (HL13090), whether they will now answer the question put; namely, whether they plan to publish examples of practices and biases within institutions that they consider to be relevant conduct under their definition of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ministers are still in the process of carefully considering the independent Working Group’s advice regarding a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia. Government will confirm next steps in due course.