Asked by: Ashley Dalton (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of (a) reinstating and (b) replacing the New Homes Bonus and (c) increasing the S31 grant.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The New Homes Bonus (NHB) provides local authorities with an incentive to support new housing delivery. Since its introduction in 2011, over £10.6 billion has been paid through the NHB in respect of 2.7 million homes. Details of the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement will be set out shortly in the usual way.
Asked by: Ashley Dalton (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to extend the flexible use of capital receipts to include (a) pensions and (b) voluntary redundancies.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I am aware that the previous government consulted on options to extend freedoms for local authorities to use capital resources and borrowing to address budget pressures as well as other measures. This government will need to carefully consider the options available to support local authorities. The government is aware that current flexible use of capital receipts direction is due to end and intends to update the sector in due course. It is important that all decisions are consistent with putting the sector on an ongoing, sustainable financial footing.
Asked by: Ashley Dalton (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to introduce three year funding settlements for local authorities.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We will be publishing a policy statement in late November, where we will set out our intentions for reform of the local government finance system, including a multi-year settlement starting in 2026-27.
Asked by: Ashley Dalton (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make a comparative estimate of the cost to the public purse of holding a general election on (a) the same date as the local elections and (b) another date.
Answered by Simon Hoare
The cost of holding the next general election will be published in the relevant Charges Order in advance of the election to give Returning Officers certainty over the funding available to them for the conduct of the election.
In the instance that a Parliamentary election is held alongside another election, the Charges Order will include schedules detailing the funding allocations for both a combined poll and a fully standalone election.