Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what activities does the grant funding to the Strategic Migration Partnerships support.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Home Office funds each Strategic Migration Partnership (SMP) to deliver outcomes set out in the Grant Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding, including Asylum, Resettlement, the National Transfer Scheme (NTS), ESOL, and Adult Mental Health Support.

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 126741, on Strategic Migration Partnerships: Finance, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Grant Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding for each of the Strategic Migration Partnerships.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Home Office has Grant Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs) across the 12 UK regions and nations. SMPs provide regional leadership and coordination for asylum and resettlement activities on behalf of the Home Office, with each agreement tailored to the relevant region or nation and jointly held by the Home Office and the recipient SMP.

Each SMP receives funding to deliver the outcomes set out in its Grant Agreement and MoU. Funding allocations are agreed individually and are not shared between SMPs, as amounts vary by region and form part of bilateral agreements between the Home Office and the recipient. Due to the sensitive nature of the grant scheme, current funding allocations are not published. Information on previous years' funding is available through the Government Grants Data and Statistics publication.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on local authorities asking householders to remove air conditioning units as a condition of the (a) extension and (b) re-development of the dwelling.

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

My Department does not hold any such information.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 8253 on Strategic Migration Partnerships: Finance, if she will list the other government departments that fund Strategic Migration Partnerships; and whether her Department holds copies of the grant agreement with each partnership.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Home Office has Grant Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs) across the 12 UK regions and nations. SMPs may also receive funding from other government departments, including MHCLG, MOD and DfE, to deliver additional workstreams.

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 23 June 2026 to Question 9582 on social rented housing: asylum, what assessment has been made of whether data sharing on former asylum seekers within two days will increase the provision of temporary accommodation by councils to such groups.

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

Earlier data sharing aims to prevent homelessness in the first place. Providing local authorities with information on newly recognised refugees enables them to intervene at the earliest opportunity during the 42-day move-on period. This gives councils and individuals more time to explore appropriate housing options, including in the private rented sector, before an individual becomes homeless.

These measures do not change local authorities’ statutory homelessness duties or individuals’ entitlement to assistance.

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 Count of Traveller Caravans, January 2026: England, published 2 July 2026, what assessment has been made of the reasons for the increase in caravans on unauthorised sites in the last 12 months.

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

My Department does not systematically collect or hold information on the precise reasons for increases in figures of each site type, although some information may be provided by local planning authorities in order to assist with quality assuring the relevant statistics.

Local planning authorities are best placed to provide information on reasons for increases in their area.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to Collection rates for Council Tax and non-domestic rates in England, 2025 to 2026, published on 24 June 2026, what analysis he has undertaken into the reasons for the (a) fall in council tax collection rates, (b) fall in business rate collection rates, (c) rise in council tax arrears and (d) rise in business rate arrears.

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

Collection rates for both council tax and business rates remain high. Collection rates in England were at 95.6% for council tax and 96.8% for business rates in the 2025-2026 financial year. Small fluctuations in collection rates for council tax and business rates are not uncommon and could be affected by many different reasons.

These taxes are important in helping fund local services and local authorities have a range of tools available to recover unpaid taxes. It is ultimately the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage the collection of both business rates and council tax.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 102392 on Local Government: Reorganisation, what guidance has been given by the Local Government Boundary Commission to local authorities, in relation to the unitary restructuring, on whether existing ward or division boundaries for the new unitaries should be amended or redrawn by local authorities, prior to a formal electoral review by the Local Government Boundary Commission after the new unitaries have been vested.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have set out that the interim electoral arrangements - which will be used at the first elections to the new unitary authorities established under local government reorganisation - can be created using any combination of existing boundaries, whether that be parish, district, county or unitary wards or divisions.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has provided advice and guidance to local authorities to support them in their work to develop interim electoral arrangements. This has included making available its electoral review guidance which sets out the criteria that it takes into account in determining ward boundaries during a normal review.

The Commission has made clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, have regard to the criteria that would inform an electoral review - electoral equality, community identity and interests, and effective and convenient local government – in developing their interim electoral arrangements.

The Commission will undertake a full electoral review of all newly-formed authorities before their subsequent elections.

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 30 June 2026 to Question 12687 on Council Tax: Greater London, whether a public sector equality duty assessment has been undertaken in relation to decisions on the six upper-tier authorities with the lowest council tax levels.

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

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 117748 on 11 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance has his Department given on whether the provision of accommodation to asylum seekers can be included in the definition of affordable housing provided under the National Planning Policy Framework.

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

Asylum accommodation is provided under sections 4, 95 and 98 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and is defined by the purpose for which it is provided and its adequacy.

The definition of affordable housing is set out in the glossary of the National Planning Policy Framework and does not include asylum accommodation.

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 30 June 2026 to Question 11417 on Independent Review into Civil Unrest in Leicester, what is the timetable for establishing the membership of the advisory group on community tensions; and if he will set out the proposed selection process.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

The Advisory Board, including membership, is currently under development. Advice to Ministers will follow 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, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2026, to Question 11655, on Recreation Spaces: Planning Permission, if he will publish the engagement request to stakeholders.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

The Department will survey a wide range of stakeholders and publish findings in spring 2027. We do not intend to publish an engagement request.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2026, to Question 6411, on Radicalism, whether the revised guidance will be published on gov.uk, and whether it will be provided to local government, or only apply to central government.

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

The engagement standards and refreshed guidance will be published on gov.uk. It will apply to Ministerial departments in England but will be shared with frontline partners.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2026, published on 30 June 2026, what the reason was for the receipt from the Greater London Authority, Ref: 3700024963.

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

The funding in question was returned to MHCLG by the Greater London Authority under the Local Authority Housing Fund. Returned funding is reallocated to local authorities in England to deliver council owned accommodation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the profile is of Homes England grant allocations under the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 10163 on 24 June 2026.

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 24 June 2026 to Question 10162 on Housing: Greater Manchester, if he will publish the Facility Agreement.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 68785 on 24 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 22 June 2026, to Question 8767, on Flags: Palestine, whether (a) the Progress flag and (b) the variant of the Progress Flag with the Palestinian flag incorporated, have deemed consent.

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

Flag advertisements which benefit from deemed consent are set out in Class 7 of Schedule 3 to The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) (England) Regulations 2007. Guidance on the planning rules for flags can be found 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, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities in relation to cake sheds and local authority enforcement.

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

Trading Standards are provided by local authorities who operate independently from central government, so local authorities make decisions according to their individual needs.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) publishes the Food Law Code of Practice, associated Food Law Practice Guidance and a range of supporting guidance to establish a framework for local authority delivery of food controls. These documents collectively set the expectation for, and support delivery of, a consistent, effective and appropriate approach to how local authorities ensure all food businesses meet their regulatory obligations to produce food that is compliant and safe.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to ensure that the overnight visitor levy cannot be levied on top of any Business Improvement District levy which is currently charged on overnight accommodation.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to UIN 94194 on 3 December 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 19 June 2026 to Question 8561 on Air Conditioning, what are the timetable and terms of reference for the Building Safety Regulator's review into Part O of building regulations; and whether it will explicitly include consideration of regulations on the cooling of dwellings.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

The Building Safety Regulator's technical review of Part O of the Building Regulations is underway. The review is considering the guidance relevant to all aspects of the Part O requirement, including both: 1(a) limiting unwanted solar gains in summer; and 1(b) providing an adequate means to remove heat from buildings.

The review will also consider issues raised by stakeholders through the 2023 call for evidence - this includes concerns about how the relationship between passive and active cooling measures is considered in the guidance.

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, "Mayors meet in York as “devolution revolution” delivers", of 5 June 2026, if he will list each individual Right to Request made to date, and which (a) have been accepted, (b) have been rejected and (c) remain under consideration.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

The government recently ran a shadow Right to Request process, ahead of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act securing Royal Assent. Mayors submitted 43 requests for further devolution through this process. Ministers wrote to Mayors in May to confirm the Government’s response to each request.

The government has already announced detail on several requests which were accepted as part of the first round. This includes decisions which will apply across England – including the devolution of Transport and Works Act Order approvals to all Mayors, and the devolution of Local Innovation Partnerships Funding from the next SR. The 5 June press release referred to in the Honourable Member’s question also lists a number of requests which the Government is taking forward with individual Mayors, to test new approaches in one place before deciding whether to extend these arrangements to other mayoral areas.

The requests submitted by Mayors, and the responses sent to Mayors, have not been published for this shadow round of the process. It is for Mayors to decide whether they wish to share the contents of their letters.

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, "Cheers! Football fans to raise a glass for the World Cup", published 8 June 2026, how the proposed changes to the duration to a pavement licence will change from the current two year period; what role will councils play in determining the specific length under the new regime; and what consideration has been given to making the duration of unlimited length.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

The government is committed to making it easier for hospitality businesses to make use of outdoor space by extending the current maximum duration of pavement licences beyond the current standard two-year period, and consulting on the case for a minimum term length.

The details of these reforms will be developed in collaboration with local government and industry and further detail will be set out in due course.

Local licensing authorities are often best placed to make licensing decisions based on their local knowledge and we encourage local authorities to set them appropriately for their area. They will continue to play a central role in the pavement licensing system, including determining the duration of individual licences.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2026 to Question 6857 on Islamophobia, whether the Home Office has adopted the definition of anti-Muslim hostility.

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

The Government has adopted its definition of anti-Muslim hostility across all central government departments who will use the definition to guide relevant policy development and delivery.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with metro mayors on the potential impact of a referendum on council tax thresholds on council tax precepts.

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

Decisions relating to referendum principles are consulted on through the annual Local Government Finance Settlement and subject to approval by the House of Commons.

The Government expects mayors to set council tax precepts at a level that is affordable for taxpayers and proportionate to local service needs, taking account of other sources of income.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2026 to Question 11673 on Holiday Accommodation: Greater London, in what locations the short-term letting registration user testing scheme is taking place; and how the user testing has occurred.

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

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for the delivery of the short-term let registration scheme. The register is national and will be accessed online. The department has carried out multiple rounds of testing with potential users across England including hosts and management agents to ensure the registration service is accessible, user-friendly and reliable. User testing is ongoing.

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 meeting on the housing market between the Minister for Housing and Planning and Global Counsel on 19 January 2026 in his Department's publication, MHCLG: ministerial meetings, January to March 2026, published on 25 June 2026, whether Global Counsel was representing a commercial client; and what aspects of the housing market were discussed.

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

Global Counsel were not representing a commercial client during the meeting in question. I met with Marley Miller, a former civil servant at MHCLG who now works on housing policy at Global Counsel. The topic of discussion was social and affordable housing.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the London Plan policy on Accessibility (D7) on the ability to construct mansion blocks with walk-up steps in London.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

I have not made a specific assessment of this London Plan policy. The current London Plan was published in 2021 and was the subject of public consultation in 2018, an Examination in Public in 2019 and Secretary of State consideration in 2020, where the policy would have been considered.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many meetings officials in his Department have had with (a) Edaroth and (b) AtkinsRéalis since 1 September 2025; and what the purpose of each meeting was.

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

Details of Ministers’ and senior officials’ meetings are published on gov.uk on a quarterly basis.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what Public Works Loan Board borrowing has been given to the London Borough of Barnet since July 2024, and on what terms and purposes.

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

Government does not publish individual local authority’s loans and interest rates, however, data on loans issued from the Public Works Loan Board is published at Historical Data. Further, authorities are required 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 Live tables on local government finance - GOV.UK.

Local authorities are responsible for setting their own capital strategies, as they are best placed to make local decisions that reflect the needs of their communities. In making those decisions, however, local authorities must comply with their legal duties and have regard to statutory guidance designed to ensure decisions are prudent, affordable, and sustainable. The Public Works Loan Board lending facility is a non-discretionary lender: it does not ask the purpose of a loan, as this would duplicate the decision-making structures of the individual local authorities.

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 MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2026, published on 30 June 2026, what was the nature and purpose of the two payments to TPXimpact Limited on Digital New Towns Alpha.

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

TPXImpact were paid to explore how the programme’s digital capabilities, and those of delivery vehicles such as development corporations, might be developed, including through the use of technologies such as PropTech.

The output of their work is being used to inform policy development and implementation planning.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what was the evidence base for changes in the draft National Planning Policy Framework on off-street maximum parking standards.

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

Through the consultation on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that took place between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we sought views on local parking standards.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response 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, with reference to the answer of 24 April 2026 to Question 124786 on Affordable Housing: Greater London, whether his Department has made an assessment of the accuracy of data provided by the Greater London Authority in relation to starts stalling or being abandoned.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 124786 on 24 April 2026.

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 1 July 2026, to Question 11653, on Edaroth, which officials and special advisers accompanied the Minister of State on his visit to the Edaroth factory on 17 September 2025, at whose invitation the visit took place, whether official government business was discussed, and what follow up actions were agreed.

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

I was accompanied on the visit in question by one of my Private Secretaries as well as members of my Department’s visits team.

The visit to Edaroth’s Bradford facility took place at the company’s invitation.

During the visit, a general discussion took place about modern methods of construction (MMC) and the barriers to wider adoption.

No follow up actions were agreed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Edaroth and (b) AtkinsRéalis has (i) bid for and (ii) received funding from (A) his Department or (B) Homes England since July 2024.

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

Information about contracts awarded by my Department that are valued above £12,000 (inc VAT) are published either on Contracts Finder, which can be found on gov.uk here, or Find a Tender, which can be found on gov.uk here. This includes information regarding contract value and awarded suppliers.

We do not hold information centrally in a format we are able to report on about opportunities that may have been bid for by specific suppliers but not awarded.

Edaroth have not bid for, nor received, funding from Homes England since July 2024.

AtkinsRéalis have bid and received funding from Homes England since July 2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 7457 on Anti-muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, for what reason MEND, CAGE, the Muslim Association of Britain and the Muslim Council of Britain are specifically named as groups that the Department does not engage with.

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

Although the Government has a policy of not commenting about groups or individuals, there are cases where it is in the public interest to do so. The Government has previously made the decision to not engage with organisations that have taken positions that contradict our fundamental values and have not explicitly retracted these positions.

The Government is committed to engaging with a broad range of leaders and organisations across many different communities and civil society groups. Engagement with communities can strengthen our democracy, our policymaking and our society.

As highlighted in the Government's social cohesion action plan, Protecting What Matters, the Home Office is updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles to assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.

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 latest assessment of the number of homes that have been (a) started and (b) completed in the Old Oak Common site in West London since July 2024, and what steps are (i) his department and (ii) Homes England taking to support housebuilding in that area in this Parliament.

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

Data on starts and completions at the Old Oak Opportunity area in West London are not centrally collected.

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) is a Mayoral Development Corporation established by the Mayor of London to regenerate the Old Oak opportunity area.

My Department will continue to work with the Mayor and OPDC to deliver up to 9,000 new homes, as set out in the Old Oak Masterplan Framework, and ensure the best use of public sector land to bring forward new housing and regeneration.