Asked by: Andrew Lewin (Labour - Welwyn Hatfield)
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 implement social rent convergence.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
At the Budget on 26 November 2025, the Chancellor restated the government’s commitment to implementing Social Rent convergence. We will announce a decision on how we will do so in January 2026, before the launch of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
Asked by: Andrew Murrison (Conservative - South West Wiltshire)
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 make an assessment of the potential merits of the New Zealand model of Integrated Retirement Communities in formulating the Housing Strategy.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
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 set out a timeline for bringing section 102 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 into force.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to UIN 69488 on 2 September 2025.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of approaches to bringing empty residential properties back into use.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80458 on 20 October 2025.
Asked by: Andrew Murrison (Conservative - South West Wiltshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Housing Strategy will include a plan for Integrated Retirement Communities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the level of the current Homes England grant rates on the delivery of new affordable housing in high-cost areas such as Elmbridge by housing associations.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 95055 on 5 December 2025.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to review grant funding levels provided through Homes England, in the context of changes in the level of construction costs and interest rates.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 95055 on 5 December 2025.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered introducing lower-interest borrowing facilities for housing associations.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771).
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many properties in the UK are currently unable to be sold because they are part of probate negotiations.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not hold the information requested.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on practices for the safe evacuation of high rise buildings in the event of fire as building heights increase to over 70 stories.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Responsibility for fire safety building regulations and evacuation both now sit within MHCLG policy responsibilities.
All new building work must meet the functional requirements of Building Regulations, including a means of warning and escape in case of fire to a place of safety outside the building that is capable of being safely and effectively used at all material times. In non-common building situations, which may include very tall buildings, a fire engineered solution may be necessary.
Government published Means of escape in residential buildings earlier this year; this analysis covers evacuation strategies in relation to high-rise residential buildings, taking into account building design, fire alarm systems and human behaviour.