Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 20414 on Religious Buildings: Registration, what is the change in the number of certified places of worship from (a) June 2024 to (b) the most recent period for which figures are available.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

On 12 October 2026 there were 29,324 buildings certified as a place of worship, compared with 29,400 on 30 June 2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2026 to Question 27853 on Islam: Radicalism, whether there is a consolidated list of the groups and individuals which are subject to a policy of non-engagement, where the Department has taken a decision that it is in the public interest to name them.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Home Office does not hold a list of organisations that are subject to a policy of non-engagement.

Decisions on engagement are taken on a case-by-case basis, informed by appropriate due diligence. If asked, we will advise and share information to help others inform their decisions.

In a small number of cases, the Government has made the decision to not engage with certain organisations whose actions or positions conflict with our fundamental values, lack sufficient transparency or meet the definition of extremism as set out on gov.uk.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding has been allocated to the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund in each year of the Spending Review period.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Exceptional Regional Growth Fund (eRGF) functions not as a standalone fund, but as a flexible ministerial mechanism to secure critical investments or mitigate economic shocks. Recent and ongoing interventions managed via this mechanism include part of the HMG funding to the Universal Studios project in Bedford.

The Exceptional Regional Growth fund was originally an element of the main Regional Growth Fund scheme, which closed in 2015/16. When the main scheme closed, Ministers chose to retain the eRGF element.

As such, funding is not explicitly set aside for the eRGF at the 2025 Spending Review; instead funding is drawn from agreed departmental settlements and allocated via the eRGF.

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 the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman press release and report, "Ombudsman warns thousands may be missing free way to challenge council tax bills", 27 August 2026, what steps her department is taking to ensure local billing authorities correctly signpost the rights of taxpayers to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, and what steps have been taken in the last 12 months to publicise council taxpayers’ rights to council tax discounts and exemptions.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Billing authorities administer the council tax system and the government has no plans to intervene on this matter, however, it continues to keep the system under review. Legislation requires that council tax bills must explain the procedure to be followed when someone wishes to dispute their council tax liability. In addition, it is the government’s expectation that billing authorities will make taxpayers aware of their rights as part of their day-to-day administration of council tax.

The government makes available a Plain English Guide to Council Tax setting out the exemptions and discounts available in the system. This guide includes circumstances and timeframes for making appeals to the valuation tribunal.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Whether the revenue from the overnight visitor levy will be taken into account when determining (a) mayoral integrated settlements and (b) the Local Government Finance Settlement; and whether any assumptions will be made of assumed revenue in a similar manner to the new notional council tax assumptions.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 124781 on 20 April 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 20402 on Business Rate: Valuation, if he will place the five data drop submissions in the Library.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

There are no plans to place the data drops in the library. The information contained within the data drops is subject to disclosure restrictions under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA). The compiled rating list was published on gov.uk on 1 April 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when she plans to respond to the correspondence of 21 April from the Hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, ref. DS37621.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I wrote to the Hon Member on 16 October 2026, and I apologise to him for the long delay in doing so.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20474, on MHCLG: Annual Reports, and further to the case of Woodhouse Investment Pte Ltd and West Cumbria Mining (Holdings) Limited v. United Kingdom (ICSID Case No. ARB/25/37) before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, what are the maximum level of damages that West Cumbria Mining and Woodhouse Investment Pte are seeking to obtain from HM Government as a consequence of the decision of the UK Government not to take forward permission for the Cumbria coal mine.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment, or expropriation without compensation.

The Government maintains that it has acted consistently with its domestic and international law obligations. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20294, on Recreation Spaces: Planning Permission, if she will place in the Library a copy of the survey sent to stakeholders on the review into recreational green spaces.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The survey formed part of targeted stakeholder engagement and was not a public consultation. The Government intends to place a copy of the survey in the Library of the House.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what role Ministers in the Office for Equality and Opportunity have in policy development and decisions on faith and belief; and whether Equalities Ministers attend MHCLG Ministerial meetings.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) leads the Government’s work to support and engage faith and belief groups, and coordinates the Government’s work to tackle religious hatred. While the Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith in MHCLG holds primary responsibility for faith and belief policy, they will work with other Ministers from across government who develop policy and make decisions that may impact faith and belief communities. For example, the Office for Equality and Opportunity is responsible for the Equality Act 2010, including its protections against discrimination and harassment on the basis of religion or belief.

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 make it her policy to introduce new policies to allow councils to address the frustration of planning enforcement through the sub-division of land.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given Question UIN 80283 on 10 October 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2026, to Question 28983, on Council Tax: City of Westminster and Wandsworth, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Greater London Authority’s representation to the draft Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026-29.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government’s response to the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement Consultation is available on gov.uk here. This sets out a summary of the responses received. Individual consultation responses are not routinely published by the Department.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which organisations within the (i) public, (ii) private and (iii) voluntary sector her Department has (a) engaged with to date and (b) intends to engage with on the adoption of the new anti-Muslim hostility definition since the publication of the final definition.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government encourages organisations across the public, private and third sectors to consider how the definition may be applied in their own contexts in ways that are useful and lawful. As part of our next steps, we will work with sectors to consider practical, proportionate approaches to provide guidance and support effective implementation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 20159 on Council Tax, if she will make it her policy to provide additional financial flexibility and funding to the six councils in order to avoid increases in council tax above the council tax referendum thresholds set for the generality of councils.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to ensuring the local government funding system is fair for taxpayers across the country. We have removed referendum principles for six areas to provide the councils with flexibility to manage their financial position. It is for the councils to decide which level of council tax to set.

The six councils that will have referendum principles removed for two years currently have extremely low bills - band D taxpayers are paying £450-£1280 less than the average in England.

This policy has enabled the government to allocate over £250 million more funding to public services in places with higher need, rather than effectively subsidising low bills for 500,000 households in these areas.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the (a) Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and (b) the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team on the publication of her memoir; and whether any book advance has been (a) declared as a Ministerial Interest or (b) returned to the publisher.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

All relevant interests have been declared in the usual way.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the London Plan policy on Strategic Industrial Land on housebuilding in London.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department has not made a specific assessment of the London Plan policy on Strategic Industrial Land on housebuilding in the capital.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20159, on Council tax: City of Westminster and Wandsworth, and of 9 September 2026, to Question 20138, on council tax, what is the mathematical formula for the resource adjustment, in relation to the change in council funding as a consequence of a local authority’s Band D rate, excluding police, mayoral and parish precepts, being set below the national notional council tax.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The amount of grant a council receives is unaffected by the level of tax it charges. Instead, the government's approach via the resources adjustment better takes into account of the council tax raising ability of each authority, not the level of council tax set by each council, through the use of a measure of the council tax base. To account for differing council tax raising ability, we multiply each council’s tax base (the number and band of properties) by a notional level of council tax. The technical annex on the resources adjustment published at the final Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 sets out how the band D equivalent council tax base is calculated which can be found, here.

More detail on Fair Funding Allocations can be found here.

A council’s actual Band D level in 2025-2026 was the basis for calculating their Core Spending Power for 2026-27 to 2028-29, with the response to UIN 20159 setting out the methodology for the each of the six councils. The actual level of council tax remains a local decision for individual councils, taking into consideration a range of local factors including the impact on taxpayers.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2026, to Question 28983, on Council Tax: City of Westminster and Wandsworth, whether her Department has received representations from the Hon Members for the Parliamentary constituencies representing (a) Westminster and (b) Wandsworth, relating to the government funding for their respective councils in the three-year 2026-29 Local Government Finance Settlement.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department regularly engages with MPs on a range of local government finance matters, including the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Department does not routinely provide details of individual representations or discussions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any assessment has been undertaken of Russian influence in the Workers Party of Great Britain.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Russia has been specified on the enhanced tier of FIRS. Individuals or entities will need to register if they are carrying out activities in the UK at the direction of the Russian state.

The Government will be publishing an annual report on the operation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which will include, among other things, the number of registrations under both tiers, the number of information notices issued, and the number of persons charged with or convicted of offences under the scheme. The first report will be published later this year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20451, how many working class civil servants have been recruited under the scheme.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Civil Service (CS) Masterclasses received accreditation as a formal life chances scheme at the end of January 2025. The CS Masterclasses offers a 2-week face to face programme for individuals from areas of lower social mobility. The scheme is designed to recruit individuals who would typically face barriers when applying for Civil Service roles and focuses on enhancing social mobility for the Civil Service.

Since then, we have run 15 cohorts; 10 in Liverpool City Region and 5 in Greater Manchester. ​

359 people who completed the CS Masterclass are now either in a Civil Service post (301) or currently being onboarded into the Civil Service (58). The departments who have recruited through this scheme are DBS, DWP, HMCTS, Home Office, and MHCLG.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026 to Question 22095 on Urban Areas: Planning Permission, what is the criteria that will be used to assess whether a business is making a positive contribution.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has announced it will review business rates reliefs for businesses not making a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops. Further details will be set out in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to her oral statement of 7 September 2026, Official Report, on local government reorganisation, what is the latest timetable for shadow unitary council elections to be held.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We want to pause and reflect on the local government reorganisation programme as a whole before implementing final decisions. We recognise the need for clarity; extended delay is in no-one’s interest. We will set out next steps as soon as possible.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the overnight visitor levy will apply to (a) commercial accommodation provided at music festivals and (b) private tents erected by individuals at such festivals.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The visitor levy will apply to short-term, commercially let overnight accommodation. Local leaders will decide whether a levy is the right choice for their area and, if so, how revenue should be invested to make their regions better for people to visit and enjoy. Strategic authorities will also have the option to exempt certain types of accommodation in their areas, such as tent pitches.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the policy of her Department on recognising the new name of a local authority if it changes its name by resolution after vesting.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local authorities can change their name under Section 74 of the Local Government Act 1972 if they conduct a council meeting specially convened for the purpose of deciding on the name and if no less than two-thirds of the members vote for it at said meeting. The legislation also sets out that notice of any change of name shall be sent to the relevant Minister at the Department, the Director General of the Ordnance Survey and to the Registrar General.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to her oral statement of 7 September 2026, Official Report, on local government reorganisation, whether she has a current policy on the recommended population size or population range of a new unitary council, and whether this will be part of the review.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The criteria set for Local Government Reorganisation took into account a range of important considerations which local leaders and government itself used to inform the process, including on population size. The programme allowed for councils to make the case for new unitary authorities either larger, or smaller than the 500,000-population guide, if they believed it was right for their area. The submissions received reflected this.

On the wider question of the review currently being undertaken, we want to pause and reflect on the local government reorganisation programme as a whole before implementing final decisions. We recognise the need for clarity; extended delay is in no-one’s interest. We will set out next steps as soon as possible.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 18483 on Recreation Spaces, whether the request for views on the public recreational green spaces review will be published on gov.uk; and what is the timetable for the contribution of views.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The review of existing protections of recreational green spaces will examine the fragmented and outdated nature of current legislative protections for public recreational green spaces. It is not a public consultation.

The survey has been distributed to stakeholders in the green spaces, local government and the development sectors. These organisations have been selected based on their expertise and have agreed to share the survey across their networks.

The survey and associated request for views will not be published. However, the final findings of the review will be published. It is expected that the findings will be published by Spring 2027. Details of how and where the findings will be made available, including whether they will be published on gov.uk, will be confirmed once the review has concluded.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to her oral statement of 7 September 2026, Official Report, on local government reorganisation, whether her Department has formally responded to the proposal from the leader of City of Lincoln council on basing council ward sizes according to the Index of Deprivation, and what is her policy on the issue.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is undertaking a review of the local government reorganisation programme. It has withdrawn the March 2026 decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and paused activity in the other 14 areas, including Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, while the review is undertaken. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible.

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 the Visitor Levy Consultation Government Response, of 10 September 2026, whether the levy will be charged (a) per room or (b) per person, per night; and what is the time of day or night at which accommodation will become liable for the charge in cases of where a hotel room is booked for use during the day.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The levy will be set as a percentage of the accommodation cost. The detailed design, scope and commencement arrangements, including administrative details, will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether campervans, caravan and motorhomes park pitches will be subject to the overnight visitor levy.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government published its response to the Overnight Visitor Levy consultation on 10 September 2026. The levy will apply to short-term, commercially let overnight accommodation. Strategic authorities will, however, be able to locally exempt accommodation types such as tent pitches, touring caravan pitches and dormitory-style accommodation like hostels in their areas.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 2039 on council tax, what was the assumed rate of housebuilding and net housing supply in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

I refer the Hon. Member to the OBR's forecast methodology for council tax, which can be found on their website.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 20392 on council tax, what was the assumed change in the unemployment rate from 2025-26 to 2026-27.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

I refer the Hon. Member to the OBR's forecast methodology for council tax, which can be found on their website.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20114, on MHCLG: Cognizant, what were each of the indicators before they were updated.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to Question UIN 75449 on 15 September 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026, to Question 20093, on Eden Project: Morecambe, what assessment she has made of Lancaster City Council's capacity to act as the sole accountable body and financial guarantor for Eden Project Morecambe following the pausing of Lancashire's Local Government Reorganisation.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

An assessment of Lancaster City Council’s role as Accountable Body, alongside the wider funding arrangements and deliverability was undertaken as part of the approval of the project’s business case. The Government’s £50 million investment in Eden Project Morecambe is funded through the Local Regeneration Fund. This funding is unrelated to the current pause in the programme of Local Government Reorganisation. The Department continues to work closely with the council as project delivery progresses.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026, to Question 20093, on Eden Project: Morecambe, through which specific funding stream the remaining £50 million allocation for Eden Project Morecambe will be delivered now that transitional local government unitary structures have been paused.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

An assessment of Lancaster City Council’s role as Accountable Body, alongside the wider funding arrangements and deliverability was undertaken as part of the approval of the project’s business case. The Government’s £50 million investment in Eden Project Morecambe is funded through the Local Regeneration Fund. This funding is unrelated to the current pause in the programme of Local Government Reorganisation. The Department continues to work closely with the council as project delivery progresses.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Secretary of State’s Best Value Commissioners on Birmingham City Council were consulted on the Council's decision to undertake legal expenditure on an injunction to remove British flags from lampposts.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The detail of day-to-day operational activities of Commissioners and their engagement with the local authority in intervention is not routinely reported to ministers, including on matters of flags and what can and cannot be placed on lampposts.

You might find the 2021 published guidance "Flying flags: a plain English guide" helpful, it can be found on gov.uk here.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 20419 on JP Morgan: Business Rates, what is the estimated gross annual cost to the public purse of the additional business rate tax relief in the new JP Morgan business rates zone; and whether the gross cost will be borne by (a) central government and (b) local government.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Under the Memorandum of Understanding between HM Government, local authorities and JP Morgan, the total cost of the relief is capped to ensure that the programme would deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

In line with the confidentiality provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a copy of the MoU will not be placed in the library.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20419, on JP Morgan: Business Rates, if he will place a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding on the JP Morgan business rates zone in the Library.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Under the Memorandum of Understanding between HM Government, local authorities and JP Morgan, the total cost of the relief is capped to ensure that the programme would deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

In line with the confidentiality provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a copy of the MoU will not be placed in the library.

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 paragraphs 2 and 67 onwards of her Department's document entitled Representation of the People Bill ECHR Memorandum for the Bill as introduced in the House of Lords, published on 3 September 2026, and her Department's press release entitled Tough new rules to crackdown on foreign money in UK elections, published on 6 July 2026, whether an assessment was made of the compatibility of the proposed retrospective application of the overseas contributors donation cap UK residency test and the associated criminal offences with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the letter addressed to Representatives of Political Parties dated 6 July and published on gov.uk here, which sets out the retrospectivity of the overseas contributor cap, as well as the minimum residency period.

The Government is of the view that the provisions of the Representation of the People Bill, including clauses related to overseas contributors, are compatible with the Convention rights.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20159, on Council Tax, whether her department has made an estimate of the effective financial loss in funding for each of the six councils that have below-average levels of current council tax, specifically as a consequence of the national notional council tax level being applied in the Local Government Finance Settlement.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No such estimate has been made. The national notional council tax level is used to calculate resource adjustment, a measure which accounts for the different council tax raising ability between local authorities based on the number and band of properties. To fully account for ability to raise council tax, following consultation, the government set the notional level at the average level of council tax in England.

The council tax level assumed for each of the six councils in calculating their Core Spending Power for 2026-27 to 2028-29 is based on the actual Band D level for each council in 2025-26. The actual level of council tax remains a local decision for individual councils, taking into consideration a range of local factors including the impact on taxpayers.

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 the Government amendment at Commons Report Stage to the Representation of the People Bill, on Postal vote re-applications: moving from 3- to 5-year cycle, what consultation of (a) political parties and (b) the Parliamentary Parties Panel was there on the proposal before it was tabled.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government discussed this amendment with the Parliamentary Parties Panel ahead of it being debated at Commons Report stage.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Homes England, Homes England Nature Positive Plan, 26 August 2026, whether the allowable Biodiversity Net Gain exemptions for exempted sites have been applied to Homes England's policy on its new build sites.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The statutory Biodiversity Net Gain exemptions apply to Homes England developments where the relevant exemption criteria are met. Homes England prepares planning applications in accordance with the statutory framework and the relevant local plan and planning policies.

The Homes England Nature Positive Plan does not override statutory exemptions or require mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain to be delivered where a development is exempt. However, the Plan sets out wider goals to support nature recovery across Homes England’s activities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on liability for (a) second home and (b) empty homes council tax premium for a homeowner where it is not their primary residence, the dwelling is furnished, but there is a contractual provision on retirement home, assisted living or sheltered accommodation that prevents the owner from occupying the property due to their age.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has published guidance on the administration and application of the council tax premiums and exceptions.

However, the council tax premiums are not a mandatory requirement, and it is for local authorities to determine where the premiums will apply, taking into account local circumstances.

While the government has introduced a range of mandatory exceptions where the premiums will not apply, local authorities have considerable discretion to introduce further exceptions where they think appropriate to do so.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an estimate of the highest council tax bill that will be levied in England on a Band H home with the top tier council tax surcharge for a (a) primary home and (b) second home.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government annually publishes statistics on the council tax levels set by different local authorities. This is available here. It is for individual councils to decide their level of council tax and whether they apply a council tax on second homes in their area.

The valuation of properties for the High Value Council Tax Surcharge will be done in a targeted way, without specific reference to existing council tax bands. This will apply to properties worth over £2m, with rates ranging from £2,500 for properties worth over £2m, to £7,500 for properties worth over £5m.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is her department’s policy on candidates standing for election to (a) local government and (b) the UK Parliament on being resident in the United Kingdom; and what is her policy on residency requirements for those who are elected, over and above the provisions of Section 41 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010; and what is her policy on registered overseas electors participating in elections.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Section 79 of the Local Government Act 1972 sets out that to qualify for election to local government the candidate must demonstrate connection to the area either by being registered as a local government elector, residing, working or occupying land as an owner or tenant in their local authority area.

The Representation of the People Act 1983 Schedule 1 (2) requires that a candidate for a UK Parliamentary election not be disqualified from standing by the Representation of the People Act 1981 or by virtue of an order under section 30 of the Elections Act 2022. There is no requirement that they be resident in the UK.

Once elected, MPs are not required to reside in any specific location and are ultimately accountable to their constituents, who give MPs their mandate at each general election.

Registered overseas electors are not subject to any special candidacy requirements and are subject to the same requirements as UK residents.

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 the written statement, 9 September 2026, HCWS322, on Driving Opportunity in Every Postcode, whether the socio-economic duty will apply to decisions on the Local Government Finance Settlement.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Socio-Economic Duty will not apply to decisions until such time when it has been commenced. A full list of public bodies subject to the SED will be published upon commencement.

We are currently working towards commencement, which includes drafting statutory guidance that will clarify how the duty can be applied effectively.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that transfers of monies and assets between limited companies owned by political parties are not caught by the profit test proposed in the Representation of the People Bill.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to ensuring that the new company donation rules operate effectively in practice across the wide range of company structures that exist. In developing and implementing these reforms, we will continue to consider the position of all companies, including those with historic or operational links to political parties.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 11 February 2026, to Question 110385, on Asylum: English Language, if she will make it her policy to make it mandatory for asylum seekers to learn English as a condition of (a) their residency in the United Kingdom and (b) the awarding of leave to remain.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Asylum decision makers carefully consider each claimant’s protection needs by assessing all the evidence provided by the claimant in light of published country information guidance. Protection is normally granted where a claimant has a well-founded fear of persecution under the Refugee Convention or a claimant faces a real risk of serious harm. Adults and accompanied children who have claimed asylum since 2 March 2026 and qualify are normally granted 30 months limited leave and have access to the labour market and welfare support. Those found not to need protection are refused. We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they have a well-founded fear or persecution or are at risk of serious harm.

We are clear that the ability to use and understand our shared language should be a fundamental basis for participating in society and an expectation of those who wish to call the UK home.

To support this, we are reviewing English language provision to identify best practice, and explore how innovation, including digital delivery, can increase the numbers of individuals able to speak English.

The Government has not yet taken decisions on the final earned settlement model or on any transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. We are currently reviewing and analysing the responses received to the recently conducted settlement consultation. We are reviewing the feedback and will provide a response soon on matters such as mandatory requirements.

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 the oral contribution of the Captain of the King’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and Deputy Chief Whip during the proceedings of the Grand Committee on the Voter Identification (Amendment of List of Specified Documents) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026 in the House of Lords on 14 September 2026 , Official Report, column 367GC, for what reason the Representation of the People Bill's provisions on allowing non-photographic bank cards for voter identification in polling stations will apply to Great Britain only; and what assessment her Department has made of the relative level of electoral fraud in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Electoral policy for Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and a separate regime for voter ID exists there.

There has been a requirement to show photographic voter ID in Northern Ireland since 2003. This was introduced to address historic electoral fraud in Northern Ireland.

The Voter ID system in Northern Ireland is long established and the Electoral Commission agrees that it is well understood and trusted. The Government has no plans to change the requirement for photographic voter ID in Northern Ireland at this time.

The Electoral Commission publishes annual data on allegations of electoral fraud reported by police forces across the United Kingdom. Its most recent published data found low levels of proven electoral fraud and no evidence of large-scale electoral fraud.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20199, on Political Parties: Finance, whether her department has had any discussions with representatives of the House of Commons (a) on alignment of the House Commons Code of Conduct with the new political finance regime for MPs in the Representation of the People Bill and (b) to avoid creating dual reporting requirements.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The changes to the political finance regime in the Representation of the People Bill concern electoral law and do not alter the House of Commons Code of Conduct or the rules on the registration and declaration of Members’ interests, which are matters for the House.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the political finance regime operates coherently alongside the House’s rules and does not create unnecessary duplication. The Department will engage with the relevant House authorities and the Electoral Commission as implementation arrangements and statutory guidance are developed.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Written Statement of 2 September 2026, HCWS302, on Restoring Pride in High Streets, whether a wider assessment has been made of the effect of the deregulatory provisions in the Gambling Act 2005.

Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Since the Gambling Act 2005 was implemented, the Government and the Gambling Commission have continually reviewed the provisions contained within it, such as through the 2023 White Paper. The white paper led to major reforms such as the introduction of the Statutory Gambling Levy in April 2025 and Gambling Impact Assessments this year.

The Written Statement of 2 September 2026, sets out the Government's intention to remove the ‘aim to permit’ principle in gambling licensing. This proposal builds on our introduction of Gambling Impact Assessments and will empower local authorities to make evidence-based decisions on the makeup of their high streets, in line with local priorities.

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 the press release, Review of local government reorganisation launched, of 7 September 2026, if she will place in the Library a copy of all of the documentation from local authorities relating to the judicial reviews on local government reorganisation.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It is a longstanding principle that the Government does not publish or comment on legal advice.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2026 to Question 20231 on Students: Community Relations, what assessment has been made of whether the NUS is continuing to campaign against the Government’s Prevent programme, including its Students Not Suspects campaign.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department is partnering with NUS and the University of Salford to develop a national community cohesion framework for students at colleges, universities and in student unions.

Higher education providers remain subject to their statutory Prevent duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which is important to safeguard students from radicalisation, and no changes to the Prevent duty are planned.

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 her Department's press release entitled Historic council housebuilding comeback to help families into secure homes, published on 24 August 2026, what is the profile of the first wave funding in each financial year.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60128 on 4 July 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20124, on Political Parties: Finance, if she will make it her policy to engage with political parties on such matters before they are announced by the Government, through (a) the Parliamentary Parties Panel, (b) direct consultation, (c) Usual Channels or (d) Inter-Party Talks.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government values the views of stakeholders and will continue to engage with political parties as we develop and implement reforms to electoral law and political finance. We have maintained ongoing engagement with political parties through the Electoral Commission’s Parliamentary Parties Panel.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission publication, “how different levels of donation caps could affect political parties: sensitivity analysis”, July 2026, what methodological assumptions did the Commission make on whether the cap on donations would apply to trade union affiliation fees.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission’s analysis of the impact of introducing donation caps assumed that all other aspects of electoral law would remain the same. The analysis treated donations from trade unions as subject to the different caps in the same way as donations from individuals and other organisations.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission was consulted on the uprating of election expenses contained within the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Uprating Election Expenses) Order 2026.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Yes, the Commission was consulted.

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 the answer of 15 May 2025, to Question HL7178, on Political Parties: Finance, if she will make it her policy to amend UK-wide electoral law to prohibit foreign citizens, who are eligible to vote in local and devolved elections in Scotland and Wales, who would not otherwise be eligible to donate under reserved electoral law, from donating to political parties and regulated donees across the United Kingdom.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Further to the answer to Question UIN HL7178 on 15 May 2025, the Government's position remains that individuals who are legally resident and registered to vote in devolved and local elections in Scotland and Wales are permissible donors under the existing political finance framework

The franchise for local and devolved elections in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru respectively.

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 the debate and the commitment made by then then Government during the National Security Bill of 4 July 2024, Official Report, House of Lords, Column 1125, and to the answer of 29 January 2025, to Question 23153, on Local Government: Information Sharing, what steps are being taken to facilitate the sharing of confidential or sensitive information, that may originate from (a) the security services and (b) the National Crime Agency and (c) the Special Enquiries Team of the Metropolitan Police, with political parties, that may relate to parties’ risk assessments and due diligence on political donations, including risks of foreign financial interference.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government recognises the importance of political parties having access to timely and authoritative information on the threat landscape, including risks relating to foreign financial interference. The Electoral Commission has an important convening role to play in supporting this work. We will continue to work closely with the Electoral Commission, working collaboratively to develop a forum through which parties which will receive annual security briefings.

The Government will build on these arrangements by continuing development on mechanisms for routine engagement with political parties and improving the clarity of guidance and threat briefings. We will also continue to explore whether further enhancements are needed to ensure that information flows are coherent.

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 make it her policy to work with the (a) Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) Electoral Commission to ensure that police officers are stationed within the curtilage of polling stations in elections where incidents of (a) so-called family voting and (b) intimidation outside polling stations have been recorded in the past five years.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Existing electoral law provides protections against undue influence, intimidation and interference with the secrecy of the ballot, including measures strengthened by the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023 to address so-called ‘family voting’. Returning Officers regularly work with the police to assess known risks at individual polling stations and make appropriate arrangements. Decisions on the deployment of police officers are operational matters for individual police forces.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2026, to Question 7841, on Electoral Register, whether the Electoral Commission has made an assessment of whether an individual domestic elector who has a permanent residence both in (a) the UK and (b) abroad, would be deemed to be a (i) UK resident or (ii) overseas contributor, for the purposes of the new residency requirement as part of the overseas contributors donations cap as framed in the Representation of the People Bill, HL Bill 47 (as brought from the Commons).

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission has not made such an assessment. The Commission will update its guidance for political parties, candidates and other regulated individuals and organisations to reflect any changes to the law when it has been approved by Parliament.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans her department has to collate statistics on land designated as Grey Belt.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It is for individual local planning authorities to undertake the necessary assessments to identify if land is grey belt, either through plan making or through considering specific applications that come forward.

The government does not hold data on how much land has been formally identified as grey belt land by local planning authorities.

The government monitors and publishes annual statistics showing the extent of land designated as Green Belt in England, including changes resulting from land being released from, or added to, the Green Belt. The 2024-25 statistics are available on gov.uk here and those for 2025-26 are due to be published late in October.

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 her Oral Statement of 7 September 2026 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report, columns 667-669, how much has been budgeted to pay costs and damages to the councils which initiated legal action; and how much her Department has spent on legal advice and representation to date.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It is a longstanding principle that the government does not publish or comment on legal advice. Any costs resulting from the judicial review proceedings will be determined in the usual way.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 22 April 2026, to Question 126744, on Electoral Register: Commonwealth, what estimate has the Home Office made of the proportion of the one million Commonwealth nationals living in the UK who have a form or type of permission to enter or stay, whether indefinite, time limited or conditional.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Statistics regarding the UK population are a matter for the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS). However, ONS population statistics are not broken down by immigration status, and the Home Office does not hold the information requested.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 8998 on Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections, when she plans to lay the secondary legislation on Police and Crime Commissioners.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We intend to bring forward the secondary legislation needed to change the voting system for Police and Crime Commissioner elections to the Supplementary Vote system as soon as possible.

Found: DRE0018 - Dunkelflaute and the risks of electricity intermittency David Simmonds Written Evidence