Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 119316 on Strategic Migration Partnerships: Finance, for what reason the amount of funding given to Strategic Migration Partnerships is deemed to be sensitive; and how this differs from funding given to local authorities on Prevent.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Secretary of State for Defence

Funding is allocated individually to each SMP and vary according to local operational pressures, delivery requirements, and regional arrangements. As these agreements are bespoke and subject to individual arrangements between the Home Office and the recipient organisation, details of specific funding allocations are not routinely shared beyond the individual recipient organisations.

In the majority of local authorities, Prevent is delivered through existing local authority budgets, however since 2015 the Home Office has provided additional funding to areas where the risk is highest to support them with Prevent delivery.

The Prevent statutory duty requires local authorities to demonstrate an understanding of the risk of radicalisation in their area; work in partnership with the police and other local institutions; and train staff to identify and support vulnerable/susceptible individuals.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 10 April 2026 to Question 122681 on Radicalism, if he will list the key partners who are assisting the review of the engagement principles.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Secretary of State for Defence

This review is ongoing. As publicly set out in Protecting What Matters, published on 9^th March 2026, we are consulting with other government departments and key partners relevant to counter-extremism work.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many places of worship are currently certified under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 according to records held by the Registrar General; whether there is breakdown the number of premises registered by organisation or denomination; and whether the information held includes the address of each registered premises.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

There are currently 29340 places certified as a Place of Religious Worship in England and Wales in the records held by the Registrar General.

The information held by the Registrar General is published on the government website and includes the denomination and address of each religious building.

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 has considered amending the exemptions on conference sponsorship using powers under PPERA.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) sets out a comprehensive framework governing political donations and controls on permissible sources of funding. This includes provisions relevant to sponsorship and other forms of support provided to political parties.

The Government keeps all aspects of political finance law under review to ensure the framework remains effective and proportionate.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 23 April 2026 to Question HL16234 on Housing: Valuation, if she will break down those figures by each individual value significant code.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN118189 on 13 March 2026.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 121321 on Charities: Radicalism, whether the Charity Commission will have any enhanced powers in relation to charities with links to hostile foreign regimes.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

DCMS will consult on measures to automatically ban individuals convicted of hate crimes from serving as charity trustees or senior managers. Further changes will require primary legislation and are subject to parliamentary timetables.

The Charity Commission has a range of powers at its disposal to take action against abuse of charitable status, including freezing bank accounts, directing trustees to take corrective action, or disqualifying trustees. DCMS keeps the Charity Commission’s powers and charity law under regular review and is actively seeking to strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers.

As set out by the Security Minister in Parliament on 4 March, under the counter-political interference and espionage plan, officials are developing a programme of work to engage with the UK’s think-tanks and non-profit sector to discuss the threats that they face from foreign interference.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 121321 on Charities: Radicalism, what the timetable is for the implementation of the new Charity Commission powers.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

DCMS will consult on measures to automatically ban individuals convicted of hate crimes from serving as charity trustees or senior managers. Further changes will require primary legislation and are subject to parliamentary timetables.

The Charity Commission has a range of powers at its disposal to take action against abuse of charitable status, including freezing bank accounts, directing trustees to take corrective action, or disqualifying trustees. DCMS keeps the Charity Commission’s powers and charity law under regular review and is actively seeking to strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers.

As set out by the Security Minister in Parliament on 4 March, under the counter-political interference and espionage plan, officials are developing a programme of work to engage with the UK’s think-tanks and non-profit sector to discuss the threats that they face from foreign interference.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 26 February 2026 to Question 113649 on Council tax: valuation, whether the HMRC Valuation Office plans to undertake site visits to assist with the valuations of the council tax surcharge.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The VO will draw on the best available information when valuing properties, combining a range of data sources with industry-standard techniques to produce accurate and consistent valuations. As with Council Tax, the VO may contact property owners to request confirmation or clarification of property details or to arrange a visit.

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 publication entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2026", on 26 May 2026, for what reason funding for flexible voting pilots was given to (a) Plymouth City Council, (b) Stevenage Borough Council and (c) Tamworth Borough Council; and whether this was the totality of funding to councils for May 2026 election pilots.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Funding provided to Plymouth City Council, Stevenage Borough Council and Tamworth Borough Council relates to costs incurred in preparation for a flexible voting pilot activity prior to the withdrawal of their applications. The amounts provided reflect the sunk costs sustained by each authority for work undertaken up to that point, including relevant digital service development work that we anticipate supporting any future piloting schemes and potential roll-out.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received on the provisions of political finance laws on declarations of political gifts, sponsorship and donations to (a) hon. Members in the 12 month period before they are elected and (b) regulated donees who do not hold the status of an elected representative.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review, which made recommendations on strengthening the political finance framework, including in relation to donations made to individuals before they become Members of Parliament, these issues have been considered as part of wider public and parliamentary scrutiny.

There has also been debate on political donations and transparency during the passage of the Representation of the People Bill, during which a range of views have been expressed on the scope and application of the political finance framework, including in relation to regulated donees.

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 has received written representations from London Assembly member Zack Polanski, since July 2024.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Following a search of our correspondence system, we have not identified any correspondence from Zack Polanski AM.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether political parties and regulated donees will be able to accept political donations from companies which have been trading less than three years.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 6029 on 2 June 2026.

Companies that have been trading for less than three years will not be excluded from making political donations, provided they meet the relevant eligibility criteria, including demonstrating sufficient revenue.

The reference to a three-year period is intended to provide a timeframe within which a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue, rather than operating as an age-based restriction.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the proposed retrospective ban on cryptocurrency donations will apply to unreportable donations below (a) £500 under the Political Parties Elections Act 2000 and (b) £50 under the Representation of the People Act.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As announced by the Secretary of State on 25 March 2026, the Government will introduce a moratorium on the acceptance of political donations made using cryptoassets. This moratorium will apply to cryptoasset donations of any value, including those valued under existing donation thresholds in law of £500 for parties and £50 for candidates.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the cap on overseas donations over £100,000 will apply to donations from Ireland to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 6035 on 10 June 2026, which sets out the position on the interaction between the overseas electors cap and donations relating to Northern Ireland.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 119316 on Strategic Migration Partnerships: Finance, what was the total spending on Strategic Migration Partnerships in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 in England.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not publish the amounts due to the sensitive nature of the grant scheme.

Previous years funding can be found here Government Grants Data and Statistics Government grants data and statistics - GOV.UK.

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 his department’s Freedom of Information Act response, of 22 April 2026, Internal Review Ref: IR2026/08860, who was the qualified person.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness.

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 does the ban on councils adopting the Committee system of governance take effect, and whether councils will be required to phase out existing use of the Committee system.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

All councils currently operating the committee system, unless they are protected, must adopt the Leader and Cabinet model within the period of one year after commencement of relevant provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act. Those provisions will commence two months after Royal Assent of the Act, on 29 June. Protected councils will be permitted to retain their committee systems until the end of their current moratorium periods, before undertaking a review into their governance arrangements.

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 timetable for legislation on creating a new standards body for local government.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government Response to the ‘Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England’ consultation, published on 11 November 2025, states our intention to legislate for whole system reform of the local government standards regime.

We remain committed to these reforms and will legislate as soon as parliamentary time allow.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether West Surrey Council will receive exceptional support funding given its inherited debt and legacy debt payments.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We have committed to significant and unprecedented debt repayment support for Woking Borough Council, recognising that the council holds unsupported debt that they can never fully repay locally. We will repay in-principle £500m of Woking’s debt in 2026-27 as a first tranche of support, and we will explore what further support is required.

As I set out in my letter to the Leaders Elect of East and West Surrey councils, published on gov.uk here, we are committed to providing West Surrey Council with interim financial and/or commercial support until a final decision is made. Any support must consider value for money for local and national taxpayers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 443 on Home Office: Greenpeace, whether her Department has had a policy of non-engagement with Greenpeace since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government does not comment on specific individuals or groups.

As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication on the 9th March, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles and responsibility for decisions and due diligence around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas. It is for individual government departments to decide to use these principles, or their own due diligence processes around engagement. If asked, we will advise and share information to help inform their decisions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Ministerial Envoys were consulted over the mayoral and councillor allowance increases in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The detail of day-to-day discussions between ministerial appointees and their local authority is not routinely reported to ministers, and I am not in a position to comment on those conversations.

The Envoys are continuing to work comprehensively within the Council, acting as advisers, mentors and monitors to oversee the Council’s improvement journey and ensure compliance with its Best Value Duty.

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 canal boats which are rented out on a short-term basis.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are empowering Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation, to drive economic growth in their region. including through support for the local visitor economy. Following the public consultation, decisions on the scope of the levy are still under consideration. The government will respond to the consultation in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department's tender, Provision of Asylum Support and Accommodation Services, Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-016078, is open to local authorities.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Yes, the Provision of Asylum Support and Accommodation Services (Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-016078) is open to local authorities to express an interest, in accordance with the instructions set out in the Prior Market Engagement Notice (PMEN). An assessment of suppliers’ capability to deliver these services will be undertaken as part of the formal tender process.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Government’s initial response to the Rycroft Review, whether trade unions’ political funds will be able to accept payments via cryptocurrencies.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government has accepted the recommendation of the independent Rycroft Review for a moratorium on the use of crypto assets as political donations to safeguard the integrity of our political finance system from foreign interference.

Payments into trade union political funds are administered by trade unions in accordance with their own rules and are subject to separate statutory requirements under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Donations to political parties and other regulated recipients from a trade union via their political fund, are regulated in the same way as other political donations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve co-ordination between local authorities and the police in relation to (a) unauthorised traveller encampments and (b) unauthorised traveller development.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government expects police and local planning authorities to work proactively and collaboratively to respond to unauthorised encampments and unauthorised developments. Decisions on operational coordination and enforcement are a matter for the police and local authorities, who are best placed to determine the most appropriate response.

Home Office statutory guidance on unauthorised encampments encourages police forces to work closely with local authorities when considering enforcement powers.

The Home Office continues to engage with policing partners and other government departments on matters related to unauthorised encampments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026, to Question 124784, on Housing: Asylum, whether council participation in the pilots requires approval of councillors.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

We have committed to closing every asylum hotel, and work is well underway, with more suitable sites, including military bases, being brought forward to ease pressure on communities. The Home Office are working with MHCLG to explore a model of asylum accommodation that achieves value for money and supports asylum system reform. Further detail will be provided in due course. However, further information on responses or guidance given to interested local authorities on the new accommodation model is considered commercially sensitive.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026, to Question 124784, on Housing: Asylum, how many local authorities replied to the expression of interest on the new asylum accommodation models.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

We have committed to closing every asylum hotel, and work is well underway, with more suitable sites, including military bases, being brought forward to ease pressure on communities. The Home Office are working with MHCLG to explore a model of asylum accommodation that achieves value for money and supports asylum system reform. Further detail will be provided in due course. However, further information on responses or guidance given to interested local authorities on the new accommodation model is considered commercially sensitive.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 10 April 2026 to Question 123202 on Asylum: Housing, if she will set out the timetable for selecting the local authorities to take place in the council-led asylum accommodation pilots.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

We have committed to closing every asylum hotel, and work is well underway, with more suitable sites, including military bases, being brought forward to ease pressure on communities. The Home Office are working with MHCLG to explore a model of asylum accommodation that achieves value for money and supports asylum system reform. Further detail will be provided in due course. However, further information on responses or guidance given to interested local authorities on the new accommodation model is considered commercially sensitive.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026, to Question 124784, on Housing: Asylum, whether funding for the pilots has now been (a) allocated or (b) provided to specific local authorities.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

We have committed to closing every asylum hotel, and work is well underway, with more suitable sites, including military bases, being brought forward to ease pressure on communities. The Home Office are working with MHCLG to explore a model of asylum accommodation that achieves value for money and supports asylum system reform. Further detail will be provided in due course. However, further information on responses or guidance given to interested local authorities on the new accommodation model is considered commercially sensitive.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 124784 on Housing: Asylum, if he will place a copy of the expression of interest document in the Library.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

We have committed to closing every asylum hotel, and work is well underway, with more suitable sites, including military bases, being brought forward to ease pressure on communities. The Home Office are working with MHCLG to explore a model of asylum accommodation that achieves value for money and supports asylum system reform. Further detail will be provided in due course. However, further information on responses or guidance given to interested local authorities on the new accommodation model is considered commercially sensitive.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any local authorities are currently participating in the local authority asylum accommodation pilot scheme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

We have committed to closing every asylum hotel, and work is well underway, with more suitable sites, including military bases, being brought forward to ease pressure on communities. The Home Office are working with MHCLG to explore a model of asylum accommodation that achieves value for money and supports asylum system reform. Further detail will be provided in due course. However, further information on responses or guidance given to interested local authorities on the new accommodation model is considered commercially sensitive.

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 departmental blog entitled Biodiversity Net Gain: what's changing and what it means for you, published 20 April 2026, for what reason the existing exemption for small scale self-build and custom-build development is being removed.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Government consulted on removing the exemption for small scale self-build and custom build development in the 2025 consultation on Improving the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain for minor, medium and brownfield development.

Most respondents supported its removal due to implementation challenges and the burden it places on local planning authorities. Removing it also simplifies the BNG framework for developers.

Government expects that most small scale, single dwellings will be covered by the new 0.2 hectare area based exemption, being introduced in the coming months.

Further detail on the full package of BNG reforms is set out in the Government consultation response published on 15 April: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-implementation-of-biodiversity-net-gain-for-minor-medium-and-brownfield-development/outcome/government-response-and-summary-of-responses.

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 21 May 2026, to Question 199, whether the National Crime Agency will be adopting the anti-Muslim hostility definition.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government encourages the adoption of the definition across the public, private and third sectors, and them to consider how this definition applies in their contexts.

The government will refer to the definition when developing and revising relevant policy. We encourage relevant organisations, employers and sectors to do the same – with the definition designed for organisations to use in ways that they consider to be useful and lawful.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Home Office press release, 15 April 2026, on Asylum hotels close as government scales up use of large sites, what recent statistics her department has collated and now holds on (a) the number of asylum hotels and (b) the number of asylum seekers in each individual hotel.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly. We have already reduced the number of asylum seekers in asylum hotels by 35% in the past year (to the end of March 2026) and overall asylum support costs by 15% in the last financial year (to the end of March 2025).

The number of hotels currently in use as asylum accommodation, fewer than 190, remains significantly below hotel usage at its peak under the previous government in summer 2023, when more than 400 hotels were in use.

The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated including numbers accommodated in hotels. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average number of asylum seekers accommodated in an asylum hotel in each year from 2020.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated including numbers accommodated in hotels. These statistics can be found in at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets, year ending March 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2026 to Question 441 on Asylum: Hillingdon, how much funding is being allocated to Hillingdon for 2026-27.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Cabinet Office publish annual grant funding data (Government Grants Data and Statistics) where you can find details of grant levels by local authority area broken down per year once available. The Home Office does not publish any additional information.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Home Secretary's speech on immigration, published on 5 March 2026, if she will publish the (a) evidential basis and (b) breakdown of the costs of the £10 billion estimate for the cost of low-skilled workers and their dependents that will qualify for settlement.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The methodology behind the figures cited in the Home Secretaries speech were published 5 March 2026, see here: Estimated lifetime net fiscal costs for care workers and their adult dependants - GOV.UK.

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

The responses to the consultation are being reviewed and analysed. Implementation of the final earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which will be published in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 16 April 2026, to Question 125400, on Asylum: Finance, and the statement that the grant is not intended to meet full costs, whether an assessment has been made of what average proportion of the full costs are funded by the Asylum Dispersal Grant.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Dispersal Grant supports local authorities with a contribution to the costs and pressures of accommodating asylum seekers across all eligible accommodation types in their area. The grant is not intended to meet full costs, but to provide a contribution towards costs incurred by councils, consistent with affordability, value for money and the Local Government Funding Doctrine.

The Home Office does not hold a single estimate of the total costs incurred by councils in delivering the services outlined in the Asylum Dispersal Grant Funding Instruction, as costs vary significantly by local authority. Each local authority is free to determine how best to utilise the funding but for monitoring and evaluation purposes must be able to demonstrate that they have fulfilled the eligibility conditions in supporting Asylum Seekers in their area.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 16 April 2026 to Question 125400, on Asylum: Finance, whether it is her Department's policy that some of the costs of asylum seekers should be met from council taxpayers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Dispersal Grant supports local authorities with a contribution to the costs and pressures of accommodating asylum seekers across all eligible accommodation types in their area. The grant is not intended to meet full costs, but to provide a contribution towards costs incurred by councils, consistent with affordability, value for money and the Local Government Funding Doctrine.

The Home Office does not hold a single estimate of the total costs incurred by councils in delivering the services outlined in the Asylum Dispersal Grant Funding Instruction, as costs vary significantly by local authority. Each local authority is free to determine how best to utilise the funding but for monitoring and evaluation purposes must be able to demonstrate that they have fulfilled the eligibility conditions in supporting Asylum Seekers in their area.

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 answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 124787 on Forestry Commission: Appeals, on how many instances appeal panels have recommended against upholding a Restocking Notice issued by the Forestry Commission in each of the last two years.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Reference Committees have recommended the Restocking Notice should be withdrawn in five cases in 2025, and in one case to date in 2026.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has provided guidance to electoral registration officers on whether British citizens who have a dwelling in the UK which they periodically occupy and an overseas dwelling which they also occupy can register on the UK electoral roll as a domestic, non-overseas elector.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission’s guidance for Electoral Registration Officers in England, Scotland and Wales sets out eligibility requirements.

A person must be resident at the address at which they want to be registered. Residence has a particular meaning in electoral law and is not equivalent to residence for other purposes. Normally, a person is resident at an address for electoral purposes if it is their permanent home address.

When making a determination on someone’s residence, Electoral Registration Officers will need to consider the circumstances of the applicant, including the purpose they are present at a particular address.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance or advice the Electoral Commission has given to local authorities on whether employees of a district or county council can serve as a councillor of a shadow unitary authority for that area.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission outlines the disqualification criteria at each relevant election in its guidance for candidates and agents. Due to the complexity of the rules, it does not provide direct advice on whether someone is qualified or disqualified from standing. Instead it recommends that candidates seek their own legal advice if in doubt about their eligibility.

In its role supporting Returning Officers to deliver well-run elections, it has advised them to raise any queries about the matter with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has made an assessment of the average cost to a local authority of holding and administering a (a) Parliamentary, (b) combined authority mayoral and (c) local council ward by-election.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission has not made an assessment on the average cost of holding and administering elections, as it is not responsible for funding elections. The UK Government, through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, provides funding for the administration of parliamentary by-elections. The Combined authority and local authority will fund the cost of running their own by-elections respectively.

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 list each Strategic Migration Partnerships Grant Payment made in 2025-26by recipient and amount.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is one of a number of Departments who fund Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs).

These grant agreements are bespoke and agreed between the Department and each recipient organisation, depending on delivery requirements and regional arrangements. Details of specific funding allocations are not routinely shared beyond the individual recipient organisations.

Information on the Department’s previous funding can be found in the Government Grants Data and Statistics database on gov.uk here.

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 of 2 June 2026, HCWS81, on Pride in Place – High Streets Update, whether the Business Improvement Districts rule book will involve changes to primary or secondary legislation, and what changes are being made to voting procedures and thresholds for business improvement district levies on business rates.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In the Pride in Place Strategy, published in September 2025, we committed to a range of measures to expand and improve Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) including enabling property owners to form BIDs outside of London. This package is subject to consultation and we will then legislate as soon as parliamentary time allows.

BID levies are set locally through ballot‑approved proposals and are not automatically affected by national revaluation or multipliers. Any decision on thresholds is therefore a matter for the individual BID under its governing arrangements.

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 27 May 2026, to Question 2007, on Hospitality Industries: Pedestrian Areas, whether the Government plans to introduce national easements in this regard during the football World Cup.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government brought forward licensing easements for the World Cup by extending pubs opening hours until 1am for England or Scotland matches in the knockout stages that kick off between 5pm to 9pm and until 2am for kick-offs between 9pm to 10pm. The Secretary of State has also called for local leaders to support Temporary Event Notices and review reasonable applications for pubs to open later, hold special screenings and events in beer gardens.

The Government has also committed to increasing the maximum term length for pavement licenses and consulting on a minimum term length.

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 27 May 2026, to Question 2007, on Hospitality Industries: Pedestrian Areas, what are the proposed changes on pavement licences that the Government intends to take forward to implement.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government brought forward licensing easements for the World Cup by extending pubs opening hours until 1am for England or Scotland matches in the knockout stages that kick off between 5pm to 9pm and until 2am for kick-offs between 9pm to 10pm. The Secretary of State has also called for local leaders to support Temporary Event Notices and review reasonable applications for pubs to open later, hold special screenings and events in beer gardens.

The Government has also committed to increasing the maximum term length for pavement licenses and consulting on a minimum term length.

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 22 May 2026, to Question 442, on Local Government Finance: West Surrey, if he will publish equivalent figures for the absolute monetary amount of core spending power, (1) including and (2) excluding council tax receipts, for the new unitaries of (a) West Surrey and (b) East Surrey in (i) 2027-28 and (ii) 2028-29, in light of the abolition of Surrey County Council in April 2027.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Funding allocations for all councils covering 2026-27 to 2028-29, including those which have been invited to undergo reorganisation, were set out in the final Local Government Finance Settlement in February. Where an area reorganises into multiple unitary councils, the area will need to assess an appropriate division of this Settlement grant funding between new unitary councils. It is important that areas determine allocations locally because local authorities hold the information needed to assess the level of need and resources at a sub-local authority level. We are working closely with Surrey Councils to support them through this transition.

In line with the approach taken in previous reorganisations, the 2027-28 and 2028-29 Local Government Finance Settlements will set out allocations for the new unitary authorities, based on the information provided by them.

Areas should make every effort to come to local agreements. If areas are unable to reach an agreement, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government will make a determination on the share of Settlement allocations due to the new authorities. This backstop is a last resort.

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 29 May 2026 to Question 2008 on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, what discussions he has had with the Best Value Commissioners on the status of the bin collection industrial dispute, following the local elections.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My department continues to engage with Commissioners in line with standard practice for statutory interventions. The industrial dispute in the Council’s waste service is a local issue that requires a local solution. We therefore continue to urge the Council and Unite to find a sustainable solution to end the strike in the interest of residents.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list each of the organisations that have been added to the Home Office's skilled worker register of sponsors since July 2024.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We do not publish the date when a sponsor is granted their licence.

However, the sponsorship transparency data, which can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK, provides data on the number of new sponsor applications made in each route and the number of sponsoring organisations registered to sponsor an overseas national in skilled worker and temporary worker routes. This demonstrates the rate at which the register has grown since 2024.

The published register displays which businesses currently have a valid sponsor licence: Register of licensed sponsors: workers - GOV.UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Ministers in her Department have received written representations from the Mayor of Greater Manchester since July 2024.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

All Mayoral Strategic Authorities are encouraged to make formal representations to HM Treasury around fiscal events – the majority of MSAs provided submissions ahead of Autumn Budget 2025, including Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

More widely, HMT ministers regularly correspond and meet with Mayors on a range of issues, including at quarterly Mayoral Council meetings and around fiscal events.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the Tribunal Service to handle the number of rent reviews following recent legislative reforms.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice has and continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) has the capacity to handle the number of rent appeals following commencement of the Renters’ Rights Act on 1 May 2026.

Additional staff have been recruited and an existing HMCTS site has been expanded so that all new rent appeal cases can be administered nationally from a single centralised location to improve efficiency and operational processes.

We are maintaining investment in the annual recruitment of around 1,000 judges and tribunal members across all courts and tribunals, with specific recruitment ongoing for the First-tier Tribunal Property Chamber.

To ensure long-term sustainability, we have concluded that there is a case for the use of a non-judicial alternative body or mechanism to make initial rent determinations, subject to completing a full viability assessment of this. We are working with partners across government to develop this rent determination function as quickly as possible.

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 list the names of the organisations that have (a) had his department’s Civil Servants seconded to them since July 2024, and (b) seconded their staff to the department.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Organisations of secondments both in and out of the department that have commenced since July 2024 are included in the tables below.

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 28 April 2026, to Question HL16533, on Treaties: Parliamentary Scrutiny, whether any Memorandums of Understanding and other non-legally binding agreements, that do not have the status of a Treaty, have been agreed by the department or its Arm’s Length Bodies with (a) foreign governments, (b) local, regional or state-level government tiers of foreign countries or (c) supranational organisations, since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many headcount staff are assigned to work in his London departmental HQ building.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

At 31^st May 2026 there were 2041 (1991.6FTE) payroll active employees assigned to our 2 Marsham street office in London.

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 council tax surcharge on (a) housebuilding and (b) house prices.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government expects a minimal effect on properties subject to the new charge and very little impact on properties below the threshold. House prices are affected by a range of factors, the Surcharge is targeted at fewer than 1% of the highest value properties. The Government is committed to delivering 1.5 million homes this Parliament.

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 interaction of the provisions of the Representation of the People Bill on corporate donations with the proposed draft guidance by the Electoral Commission on conference sponsorship, and if he will make it his policy to update the Impact Assessment produced for the Bill in light of the Electoral Commission’s proposed changes.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) sets out a comprehensive framework governing political donations and controls on permissible sources of funding. This includes provisions relevant to sponsorship and other forms of support provided to political parties.

Conference-related activity, including sponsorship arrangements, forms part of this broader regulatory framework. Political parties are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to verify the source of funds and ensuring compliance with Electoral Commission guidance.

The Government keeps all aspects of political finance law under review to ensure the framework remains effective and proportionate and will consider changes to legislation where appropriate.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 119311 on Public Order and Hate Crime Legislation Review, what information her Department holds on the number of Government-commissioned independent reviews which have engaged with individuals or organisations subject to the Government's non-engagement policy because they are deemed extremist since July 2024.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

It is up to each department to carry out due diligence when choosing to engage with any organisation or individual and, if asked, we will advise and share information to help others inform their decisions. As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication 0n 9 March 2026, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.

We will also publish an annual ‘State of Extremism’ report which will arm frontline, public sector workers with the information they need to identify and confront extremism in the UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations his Department has received from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority or its mayor on (a) Supplementary Vote and (b) Proportional Representation since July 2024.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We have not received any representations from Greater Manchester Combined Authority or its mayor on Supplementary Vote or Proportional Representation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy of on considering written representations to its consultations or calls for evidence from an individual or organisation subject to a policy of non-engagement under the 2024 engagement principles.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

It is up to each department to carry out due diligence when choosing to engage with any organisation or individual and, if asked, we will advise and share information to help others inform their decisions. As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication 0n 9 March 2026, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.

We will also publish an annual ‘State of Extremism’ report which will arm frontline, public sector workers with the information they need to identify and confront extremism in the UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff were recorded as entering his London departmental HQ building on Friday 29 May 2026 based on (a) pass or (b) Wifi access data.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Based on Wi-Fi access data, 295 individuals were recorded working from our 2 Marsham Street office on Friday 29 May 2026. This figure is slightly lower than typical levels, reflecting reduced attendance during the half-term period.

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 22 May 2026 to Question 442 on Local Government Finance: West Surrey, what are the (a) amounts, (b) length of borrowing and (c) prevailing interest rates on the Public Works Loan Board debt that the new West Surrey unitary council will inherit.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Government does not publish individual local authority loans and interest rates , however, data on loans issued from the Public Works Loan Board is published as Historical Data. Further, authorities are required to report their financial position in their Annual Statement of Accounts. Authorities are required, however, to report their financial position in their Annual Statement of Accounts. Local authorities also provide the Government with data on their borrowing, including source of borrowing. The data can be found on gov.uk here.

The government has committed to unprecedented debt repayment support for Woking Borough Council ahead of their inclusion in the new West Surrey Council, given the significant and exceptional unsupported debt at the council linked to historic capital practices. Further to this unprecedented commitment to repay in-principle an initial £500m of Woking Borough Council’s debt in 2026-27, we are committed to providing interim financial support to the new council until a final decision is made. It is crucial that any debt support must consider value for money for local and national taxpayers.