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 with how many and which media organisations they have shared the report of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition since December 2025.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ministers are taking the time to carefully consider the independent Working Group’s advice on a definition for anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia before confirming next steps in due course.
As per the Working Group’s Terms of Reference, advice provided by the Group was private for Ministers. As part of the Government’s careful consideration of the Working Group’s advice, officials have undertaken some limited and focused informal engagement with stakeholders, which did not include any media organisations.
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 whether they will publish the report of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition, completed in autumn 2025.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ministers are taking the time to carefully consider the independent Working Group’s advice on a definition for anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia before confirming next steps in due course.
As per the Working Group’s Terms of Reference, advice provided by the Group was private for Ministers. As part of the Government’s careful consideration of the Working Group’s advice, officials have undertaken some limited and focused informal engagement with stakeholders, which did not include any media organisations.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
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 the level of regulation of rented homes on landlords.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Impact Assessment for the Renters’ Rights Act can be found here.
The government’s policy statement, impact assessment, and response to the Decent Homes Standard consultation can be found on gov.uk here.
The government’s response to the 2025 consultation on Improving the Energy Performance of Privately Rented Homes in England and Wales, along with the accompanying impact assessment, can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
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 average service charges for leaseholders billed by management companies in (a) Slough and (b) Berkshire.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not hold data on average service charges in Slough and Berkshire.
On 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation, jointly with the Welsh Government, on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The consultation included proposals to reform the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure, increase transparency over service charges and enhance access to redress through the relevant provisions in the Act. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses with a view to bringing the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
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 include reforms to the criteria for voting in the Private Retirement Housing Code of Practice to increase the representation of eligible leaseholders as part of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The current edition of the Association of Retirement Housing Managers Code of Practice on Private Retirement Housing, approved in 2016 using powers under Section 87 of the Leasehold Reform and Urban Development Act 1993, may be used as evidence by the First-tier Tribunal or County Court in any decisions they make.
It is for the Association to decide what changes to the Code are necessary, including the voting criteria on how services and facilities are provided, which will then be put to the Secretary of State for consideration.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
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 reform the Private Retirement Housing Code of Practice.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The current edition of the Association of Retirement Housing Managers Code of Practice on Private Retirement Housing, approved in 2016 using powers under Section 87 of the Leasehold Reform and Urban Development Act 1993, may be used as evidence by the First-tier Tribunal or County Court in any decisions they make.
It is for the Association to decide what changes to the Code are necessary, including the voting criteria on how services and facilities are provided, which will then be put to the Secretary of State for consideration.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
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 emergency financial assistance available through the Bellwin scheme to local authorities impacted by Storm Chandra.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I am always willing to consider local authority requests for financial assistance under the Bellwin Scheme.
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 guidance has been provided by his Department to planning decision makers on rejecting applications due to (a) undue pressure and (b) unreasonable behaviour by applicants.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has issued no such specific guidance. By law, planning applications should be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the judgment in Gladman Developments Limited v Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government and Lancaster City Council [2026] EWHC 51 (Admin), which sets aside the sequential test allowing planning authorities to disapply the national standards for sustainable drainage systems published in June 2025.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Due to ministers' role in the planning system, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the details of a specific legal case.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is however clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or in the future). Where development is necessary in such areas, it should be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere.
The Government is committed to securing the delivery of high-quality sustainable drainage systems to help manage flood risk and adapt to the effects of climate change. The NPPF sets out that developments of all sizes are expected to make use of sustainable drainage techniques where the development could have drainage impacts.
We are consulting on a new framework that includes clearer, more ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making, designed to make planning policy easier to use and underpin the delivery of faster and simpler local plans. The consultation includes a dedicated chapter on planning for flood risk and a proposed new requirement for SuDS to be designed in accordance with the National Standards for SuDS published last year.
The consultation on changes to the NPPF is available (attached) here: National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system - GOV.UK and will remain open for responses until 10th March 2026.
Asked by: Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what security advice they received on the planning application for a new Chinese embassy.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Full reasons for the decision in this case are set out in a detailed decision letter and Inspector’s report published on gov.uk.
The decision letter was also deposited in the Library of both Houses.
Inquiry documents are available on the Tower Hamlets website, and post-inquiry representations are listed in the decision letter.