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, what recent steps his Department has taken to help ensure that local authorities under financial constraints prioritise essential services.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We are investing in local government. The government will provide over £5.6 billion of new grant funding towards local government services over the next three years. By the end of the multi-year Settlement (2028-29), the government will have provided a 15.5% increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, worth over £11.4 billion, compared to 2025-26. The government has also announced £4 billion investment over three years for new programmes to deliver improvements in SEND.
The government is introducing a fairer and evidence-based funding system. Our reforms ensure that this funding is allocated fairly, and that the places and services that need it most are supported. We are supporting all authorities to maintain services and manage their updated funding positions with transitional arrangements.
The government recognises that some councils remain in a challenging financial position as they continue to deal with the legacy of the previous system. Any council that has concerns about its financial sustainability should approach the department in the first instance where we will treat all discussions in confidence
The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.
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, what recent steps his Department has taken to support Havering Council in tackling its budget deficit.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
By 2028-29, this government will have made available a 24.3% increase in Core Spending Power, worth £16.6 billion since coming into power in 2024-25. For Havering, the Settlement makes available up to £329.7 million, which is an increase of 33.5% compared to 2024-25.
Our local government finance reforms get money to where it is needed, but we recognise the challenging context for councils as they continue to deal with the legacy of the previous system. The government has announced a further £77m of Exceptional Financial Support to enable the Council to set a balanced budget in 2026-27 and continues to work closely with the Council.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing educational scholarships for citizens of the British Overseas Territories.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Chevening Scholarships programme (established 1983) and the Commonwealth Scholarships programme (established 1959) are available to citizens from the Overseas Territories. Further information on the programmes including how to apply is available here: https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/ and https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/.
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, how many new Jewish places of worship have been granted planning permission by local authorities in (a) England and (b) greater London in every year since 1997.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not hold the requested information.
Although quarterly planning application statistics are collected and published on gov.uk here, separate figures on places of worship that have been granted planning permission are not collected.
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, how many new Christian places of worship have been granted planning permission by local authorities in (a) England and (b) greater London in every year since 1997.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not hold the requested information.
Although quarterly planning application statistics are collected and published on gov.uk here, separate figures on places of worship that have been granted planning permission are not collected.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government departments, agencies, non‑departmental public bodies and other public authorities have been instructed to implement the new “UK Government” brand identity; and if he will publish any guidance issued on timelines for implementation, exemptions permitted, and arrangements for oversight or enforcement.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
For information relating to the UK Government branding update, I refer the Hon. Member to Questions HL14450, HL14451 and HL14452.
For information relating to stakeholder engagement, I refer the Hon. Member to Question 112168.
Government communications use “UK Government” as the primary identity for public-facing communications. This is not an introduction of a new UK Government brand identity. The Government Communication Service routinely reviews its branding to ensure it remains effective, accessible and fit for purpose across all channels, including digital platforms.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has conducted any evaluations, stakeholder reviews or assessments of the public understanding, effectiveness or impact of the new UK Government brand identity since its introduction; and if he will publish any related correspondence or internal assessments.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
For information relating to the UK Government branding update, I refer the Hon. Member to Questions HL14450, HL14451 and HL14452.
For information relating to stakeholder engagement, I refer the Hon. Member to Question 112168.
Government communications use “UK Government” as the primary identity for public-facing communications. This is not an introduction of a new UK Government brand identity. The Government Communication Service routinely reviews its branding to ensure it remains effective, accessible and fit for purpose across all channels, including digital platforms.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to reported spending of £532,000 on the GOV.UK brand refresh, of which £421,750 was attributed to the Cabinet Office and £110,250 to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether any additional costs have been incurred or authorised in relation to the wider “UK Government” branding programme.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
For information relating to the UK Government branding update, I refer the Hon. Member to Questions HL14450, HL14451 and HL14452.
For information relating to stakeholder engagement, I refer the Hon. Member to Question 112168.
Government communications use “UK Government” as the primary identity for public-facing communications. This is not an introduction of a new UK Government brand identity. The Government Communication Service routinely reviews its branding to ensure it remains effective, accessible and fit for purpose across all channels, including digital platforms.
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, how many new Islamic places of worship have been granted planning permission by local authorities in (a) England and (b) greater London in each year since 1997.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not hold the requested information.
Although quarterly planning application statistics are collected and published on gov.uk here, separate figures on places of worship that have been granted planning permission are not collected.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a list of engagements for the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement Protocol Specialised Committee in 2025 and 2026.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement established six Specialised Committees to supervise the implementation of distinct elements of the agreement. Each committee is co-chaired by officials from the UK Government and the European Commission.
The list of meetings, agendas and joint statements of the Specialised Committees can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/withdrawal-agreement-joint-committee#meetings-of-the-withdrawal-agreement-joint-committee.