Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, notwithstanding the delay to local government reorganisation announced on 7 September, if she will meet with Hertfordshire local government leaders to discuss accelerating devolution.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Our ambition remains to ensure every area in England has, or is in the process of establishing, a strategic authority by the end of 2027, with strategic authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028, and I want to work with Hertfordshire on how best to achieve that over the coming months.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the (a) evidence, (b) analysis and (c) financial modelling underpinning the decision to create four unitary authorities in Hertfordshire.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The proposals and supporting evidence submitted by councils formed the primary basis for assessment, alongside official analysis. Officials drew on sector benchmarking data, evidence from previous reorganisations, Government appraisal guidance and departmental modelling based on published sources. The former Secretary of State considered this material in the round, having regard to all the criteria set out in the invitation and all other relevant information available when reaching his decision on local government reorganisation in Hertfordshire. The Government does not intend to publish the advice and analysis provided to Ministers as part of the decision-making process.
On local government reorganisation more broadly, I refer the Hon. Lady to the Secretary of State’s oral statement on 7 September.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 announce the decision on the number of unitary authorities to be created in Hertfordshire as a result of Local Government Re-organisation before the Summer Recess.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As per our published timetable, a decision is expected on which proposals will be implemented before the summer recess.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if they will announce their decision on the number of unitary authorities to be created in Hertfordshire.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As per our published timetable, a decision is expected on which proposals will be implemented before the summer recess.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 (a) Vistry Group plc, (b) Aviva Investors and (c) FirstPort Residential Property Management on the progress of fire safety remediation work for Serra House, Charrington Place in St Albans.
Answered by Samantha Dixon
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has not discussed Serra House with Vistry Group plc, Aviva Investors or FirstPort Residential Property Management. MHCLG officials meet regularly with Vistry Group plc to discuss the progress that Vistry Group plc is making to fulfil its obligations under the Developer Remediation Contract to identify, assess and remediate life-critical fire safety defects in relevant buildings, including Serra House.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date a decision will be made on a devolution settlement for Hertfordshire.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan
Following the call for expressions of interest for new Foundation Strategic Authorities on 12 February 2026, the Government is considering the proposals received. The Government will set out next steps soon and will continue to work closely with local leaders, including in Hertfordshire.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date he plans to implement the abolition of marriage value for lease extensions.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 103549 on 14 January 2026 and the King's Speech 2026 background briefing notes which can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 merits of permitting shared ownership staircasing valuations to be (a) appealed and (b) negotiated by shared owners using evidence of significant local variations between (i) RICS valuations and (ii) actual sale prices of (1) similar and (2) identical properties.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 71108 on 15 September 2025.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 51 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, when he will lay regulations to delegate the power to set fees for planning applications to local planning authorities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Between 23 March and 18 May 2026, the government consulted on establishing a new national default fee schedule and the key principles behind local fee setting. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here.
Subject to the outcome of that consultation, we intend to lay the necessary regulations this year.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 review the adequacy of fire risk assessment requirements for retail premises which stock (a) vapes and (b) other small electricals containing lithium-ion batteries.
Answered by Samantha Dixon
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a range of legal duties on Responsible Persons (the person in control of a premises which can include building owners, landlords and employers), chief among which is the need to undertake a fire risk assessment. This is to identify any general fire safety precautions that need to be taken to make sure that the premises, and people within it, are safe from fire, and put those precautions in place.
To help Responsible Persons discharge their duties, MHCLG makes available a suite of guidance which it is currently reviewing and updating, including the offices and shops guide, so it better reflects current legislation, practice and emerging risks. This update will give consideration to the risks arising from products such as vapes and other small electrical items containing lithium-ion batteries.