Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107997 on Council tax, valuation, if he will list the DwellingHouse Codes that the Valuation Office Agency uses for council tax.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Dwelling house codes are used by the VOA internally to classify dwellings by Group and Type – there are therefore no plans to publish these.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2026, to Question 111133, on Housing: Sales, whether HMRC holds information on the number of sales of primary homes by local authority area in 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not hold the information requested.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions or correspondence her Department has had since July 2024 with the Mayor of London on wood burning stoves in domestic dwellings.

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

Officials from Defra maintain regular engagement with the Greater London Authority on all aspects of improving air quality.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who are the members of the Group Infrastructure Board; and has it has met.

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

The Defra Infrastructure Board formally launched, as recommended in the Corry review, in September 2025 and has been meeting regularly since. Membership consists of seniors across Defra Group and other Government departments, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she intends to ban wood-burning stoves in (a) domestic dwellings and (b) business hereditaments.

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

The Government is consulting on measures to reduce emissions from domestic combustion such as strengthened emission standards for new stoves, improved product labelling, and enhanced enforcement arrangements. Any future decisions will be based on the full range of evidence and consultation responses.

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 correspondence from his Department entitled Council tax information letter 2/2026: Carers disregard, local council tax support schemes and other matters, published on 18 February 2026, whether the higher income from the removal of the two child limit in Universal Credit and working-age Housing Benefit will be liable to reduce the amount of local council tax support for working age households.

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

Local authorities are responsible for designing and reviewing their council tax support schemes for working-age residents. This includes assessing income and eligibility. The referenced council tax information letter encourages local authorities to consider the interaction of their council tax support schemes with changes in the wider benefit system.

The government does not prescribe the requirements for working-age council tax support schemes. It is ultimately for local authorities to decide whether the higher income from the removal of the two-child limit in Universal Credit and working-age Housing Benefit will be liable to reduce the amount of local council tax support for working age households.

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 plans to require enhanced due diligence for political donations, whether there will be a safe harbour provision, for following advice from the regulator.

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

The Know Your Donor regime will introduce statutory guidance issued by the Electoral Commission, which will set out how recipients of donations may assess the relevant risk factors, the kinds of circumstances that may signal a heightened level of risk and the steps they may take to reduce that risk.

Following the Commission’s guidance will help recipients ensure they are conducting an appropriate level of risk assessment. Adhering to the guidance will therefore support parties and campaigners in demonstrating that they have taken reasonable steps when evaluating the permissibility and potential risk of donations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of local government reorganisation on the (a) services provided by, (b) responsibilities of and (c) parish precepts for council tax in (i) new and (ii) existing town and parish councils.

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

Town and parish councils are not in scope for local government reorganisation and will continue to operate as they do now.  The power to create and restructure town and parish councils is devolved to principal local authorities, which can review and make changes to local governance arrangements through Community Governance Reviews. In doing so, they are expected to take the views of local people into account.

The Government expects town and parish councils – including new councils – to carefully consider the burden placed on taxpayers when setting their precepts. Areas considering the establishment of new town and parish councils should also think carefully about how these might be funded to avoid putting further pressure on local authority finances and/or new burdens on the taxpayer.

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 unitary local government restructuring in Surrey on the (a) number of town and parish councils and (b) band D parish precept charged by those councils.

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

Town and parish councils are not in scope for local government reorganisation and will continue to operate as they do now.  The power to create and restructure town and parish councils is devolved to principal local authorities, which can review and make changes to local governance arrangements through Community Governance Reviews. In doing so, they are expected to take the views of local people into account.

The Government expects town and parish councils – including new councils – to carefully consider the burden placed on taxpayers when setting their precepts. Areas considering the establishment of new town and parish councils should also think carefully about how these might be funded to avoid putting further pressure on local authority finances and/or new burdens on the taxpayer.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the (a) National Insurance increase, (b) National Living Wage, (c) Increase in Beer excise duty, (d) the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and (e) the increase to business rates on the hospitality industry in (1) England and (2) other constituent nations.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the important contribution that businesses in the hospitality sector make to local communities, the high street and the wider economy across the UK. The potential impacts of changes on this sector are carefully considered as part of policy development.

Where changes are made, relevant impact notes and assessments are published at fiscal events and otherwise as necessary, in line with the Government’s usual practice. The Treasury also engages regularly with the hospitality sector to understand the challenges they face.

The Government continues to provide targeted support to the hospitality sector through the tax system and other policies and keeps all areas of the tax system under review, with future decisions taken at fiscal events under the normal process.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90226 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, if she will publish data for the number of hereditaments on the 2026 Rating List with a Rateable Value above £500,000 by Special Category code.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

You can find data related to the 2026 revaluation here: Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (draft list) - GOV.UK

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2026, to Question 109138, on business rates, whether the 2026 revaluation was subject to Collective Cabinet responsibility and agreement, or whether it was deemed part of a fiscal event.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The VOA is responsible for valuing non-domestic property for business rates purposes. They are required by law to compile and maintain up-to-date rating lists for non-domestic properties in England and Wales, impartially and independent of central government.

The Treasury worked closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government in the run up to Budget once the VOA shared the results of the changes in rateable values. That is why the Government introduced a support package at Budget worth £4.3 billion, to protect ratepayers seeing large bill increases.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105190 on Council tax: Valuation, whether a new computer system is being developed to undertake valuations for the new council tax surcharge.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 90225 on DWP: English language, whether his Department (a) had a budget for spending on English language support in 2024-25 and (b) holds information on suppliers used for English language support.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

There is no specific budget for English Language Support.

information on suppliers is available from https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/20879758-e64d-4486-a2cd-c234340afe49

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what number and proportion of planning appeals were decided through the Rosewell Inquiry Process in 2025.

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

In 2025, 167 planning appeals were decided through the Rosewell Inquiry Process. This represents 93% of the total planning appeals decided by inquiry.

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 20 October 2025 to Question 78185 on Glenigan, what assessment has Glenigan made of the reasons for sites with planning permission not being (a) started and (b) completed.

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

Glenigan gathers data from the websites of local planning authorities. They supplement this with additional research tracking expected start and completion dates for the construction phase of larger sites.

Glenigan undertakes no systematic labelling of reasons why individual sites have not yet started or completed construction, and my Department is not aware of their publishing any assessments in relation to this specific matter.

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 13 June 2025, to Question 58058, on Local Government Pension Scheme, and of 12 February 2026, to Question 111138, on Local Government: Redundancy Pay, whether any changes are being made to the Local Government Pension Scheme to reduce the cost of pension strain following unitary local government restructuring; and whether this department has made a wider estimate of the likely cost of unitary restructuring on council exit payments in 2026-27 onwards.

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

Council staff are expected to transfer to new unitary councils. The cost of any exit payments made by a council offered as part of a voluntary exit scheme or resulting from any compulsory redundancies implemented by a new unitary council, including payments under the Local Government Pension Scheme, will depend on local workforce decisions and the composition of the workforce. The Government cannot predetermine or form a view on the outcome of local decisions on the operational and staffing structure of new unitary councils, including the outcome of any consultation with affected staff and their representatives. Councils should work with relevant administering authorities on any implications for the Local Government Pension Scheme and it is for all councils concerned to determine their own policies on exit payments.

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 12 February 2025 to Question 26030 on Radicalism, when he plans to publish the minutes of the steering group.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The terms of reference for the Communities and Recovery Steering Group (Ministerial) were published on GOV.UK in March 2025.

As referenced in the answer given to Question UIN 33045 on 10 March 2025, in keeping with general practice, we do not currently intend to place minutes in the Library.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK Politics, Governance and Rights Centre provides guidance or assistance to foreign countries in relation to the practices of holding elections, and the frequency at which local elections should be held.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 December 2024 to Question 19695.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions has the department had with the Venice Commission on elections since July 2024.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 December 2024 to Question 19695.

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 the publication of the social cohesion strategy, and whether there will be a consultation or green paper.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We published Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive, and resilient United Kingdom on Monday 9 March 2026. This publication sets out this government’s vision for a fair, tolerant and decent country and the steps we are taking to tackle threats to social cohesion.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation's blog entitled OFSI and partners clamp down on the abuse of cryptoassets, of 28 January 2026, whether the OFSI will examine crypto donations being made to political organisations.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Since 2020, UK cryptoasset firms have been subject to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations, requiring strict supervision, customer checks and suspicious activity reporting. Since 2023, these firms have also been required to collect, verify and share information about the sender and receiver of transfers.

The Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) works alongside other government agencies to tackle the threats posed to sanctions by illicit cryptoasset activity. While OFSI does not comment on individual cases, it is fully prepared to investigate any sanctions offences, including those that may involve donations to political organisations.

The rules for donations in cryptoassets apply in the same way as they do for any other political donations. The Government announced in December 2025 that the independent Rycroft Review will assess current financial rules and safeguards that regulate political finance and political parties. The Review will specifically consider safeguards against illicit funding streams, including difficult-to-trace assets such as cryptoassets.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether (a) her Department and (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued guidance to political parties on candidate shortlists for elected office restricted on the basis of protected characteristics.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Guidance on what the Equality Act 2010 means for political parties, including candidate shortlists, is provided by the Equality and Human Rights Commission here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/guidance/equality-act-2010-guide-political-parties

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 108091 on MHCLG: Repairs and Maintenance, on what date the PFI contract for 2 Marsham Street expires; and which organisation will own the building on expiry.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The PFI expiry date is 2nd April 2031. It is anticipated an option will be called to allow the property to revert to His Majesty’s Government ownership from that date.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment has the Electoral Commission made of the capacity of local authority EROs to organise council elections in May 2026 in the areas which were initially cancelled by the Government but have now been re-scheduled for May 2026; and what estimate has it made of the increased administrative costs from the cancellation and re-scheduling.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission welcomed the certainty that all scheduled local elections will go ahead in May 2026. The Commission has contacted all affected local authorities to offer assistance and any additional support, working with them to address any immediate challenges.

Funding for the delivery of local elections is a matter for local authorities and Returning Officers, who would have made individual planning decisions regarding the funding to support the delivery of the polls.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether Scottish Limited Liability Partnerships are deemed to be companies for the purposes of its guidance on corporate donations.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Limited Liability Partnerships which carry on business in the UK are permissible donors. Scottish limited partnerships are not permissible company donors. Permissible company donors must be registered under the Companies Act 2006. Scottish limited partnerships are registered under the Limited Partnerships Act 1907.

The Commission has previously recommended that the law be amended to clarify that Scottish limited partnerships are permissible donors.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2026, para 5.8, if he will publish the representation to MHCLG from the Electoral Commission.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission’s correspondence to the Secretary of State is available on its website. In it the Commission makes clear its view that scheduled elections should go ahead as planned, and only be postponed in exceptional circumstances.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the risks of impermissible donations being made through high-volume repeated donations through cryptocurrency in a series of below £500 transactions.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Individual payments of £500 or less are not treated in law as a donation, so recipients are not required to identify the donor or check that they are a permissible source for donations.

The Commission has highlighted that there are some existing safeguards in law. Attempting to evade the restrictions on permissibility is a criminal offence, and the Commission advises parties to be vigilant to attempts to do so, such as repeated payments of £500 from the same source.

However, the Commission has raised the possibility of AI being used to facilitate split payments and conceal the source which would increase the risk from these smaller payments. The Commission is engaging with parties to seek information about their approach to these payments. It has recently published interim guidance on cryptocurrency donations, and will publish further guidance later this year.

The Commission has also published updated guidance on crowdfunding to ensure that parties understand how the law applies to donations raised through crowdfunding campaigns and can choose a platform that will support them to comply with the law.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what discussions has the Electoral Commission had with (a) the Metropolitan Police and (b) Defending Democracy Taskforce on whether police officers should be stationed by polling stations for the councillor and mayoral elections in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in May 2026.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission has regular conversations with the Metropolitan Police and the Defending Democracy Taskforce about electoral security.

It has met regularly with the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Enquiries Team ahead of elections in London in May 2026. It has discussed the stationing of police officers at polling stations, including in Tower Hamlets. It will continue to engage ahead of polling day.

The Presiding Officer is responsible for the security of the polling station. The Commission provides advice to polling station staff on how and when to engage with police on security or electoral integrity matters.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, further to the Interministerial Group for Elections and Registration Communique: 30 October 2025, 10 December 2025, what is the timetable for the Electoral Commission to complete its evaluation of the Welsh automatic registration pilots.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission published its evaluation of the Welsh automatic registration pilots on 15 December 2025.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the Restoration and Renewal Client Board, what assessment the Client Board has made of the potential impact of government regulations on the projected costs of the Restoration and Renewal of Parliament; and whether it has had discussions with the Building Safety Regulator on Restoration and Renewal.

Answered by Nick Smith

The Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Client Board’s recent report, Delivering restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster: the costed proposals (HC Paper 1576) sets out a recommended way forward for the R&R Programme, including the scope of the works and cost and timing estimates of different delivery options.

Design work for the R&R works was carried out to meet the requirements set out by the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 and a range of relevant UK regulations regarding building standards, health and safety, and consents. The outcome level assessment conducted by the R&R Programme Board also made specific reference to regulations and standards. A separate assessment of “the potential impact of government regulations” on the projected costs set out the R&R Client Board’s report has not been undertaken.

Officials from Parliament’s R&R Client Team have engaged recently with the Chair of the Building Safety Regulator. The R&R Delivery Authority plans engagement with the Building Safety Regulator and the Health and Safety Executive at the next stage of design.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107997 on Council tax, valuation, whether the new council tax surcharge will entail new value significant codes; and whether new codes were created for the council tax revaluation in Wales.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is developing its approach to the High Value Council Tax Surcharge and will set out more details in due course, alongside the government's consultation in 2026.

For the Council Tax revaluation in Wales, the VOA has not collected additional codes over and above those already used within England and Wales.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook report of November 2025, Table A.5, what analysis her Department has done of the causes for the rise in estimated business rates receipts from £38.8 billion in 2028-29 to £41.9 billion in 2029-30.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Business rates receipts are forecast independently by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Information on changes to the Business Rates receipts can be found in the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook report (paragraphs 4.38 to 4.40).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate has the Office for National Statistics made of the average house price of a (a) residential dwelling and (b) primary residence dwelling, in each (i) local authority area and (ii) Parliamentary constituency.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Rt Hon. gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 6th March is attached.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, further to the National Licensing Policy Framework published on November 2025, for what reason the guidance is non-statutory, and what consideration was given to issuing it as supplementary guidance under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 to give it the same weight as the current Section 182 licensing guidance.

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

The Licensing Act 2003 provides only for statutory guidance to be issued under section 182, which is limited to guidance on the exercise of functions within the Act and the promotion of the four licensing objectives. The National Licensing Policy Framework (NLPF) supports wider regeneration and wider economic objectives that sit outside the scope of section 182 guidance and do not override the statutory licensing framework.

The Government is keeping the effectiveness of the NLPF under review and is considering how best to strengthen its impact within the existing legislative framework, should it not have the desired effect.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of support provided to Hon Members in providing democratic representation to registered overseas electors, assigned to their constituency, through the duration of a Parliament.

Answered by Nick Smith

The Commission provides a range of services to Members to support them in their Parliamentary duties. It has not made a specific assessment of how these services support MPs in their representation of registered overseas electors.

It is for each individual MP to determine how best to perform their duties, including how they use services to support their representation of constituents.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answers of 28 April 2025 and 18 August 2025 to Questions 45662 and 68409, on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, whether (a) Government funding and (b) bespoke tax relief is being provided to (i) Universal Studios and (ii) the local council to support the deal.

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

The Government is following due process and will publish further information this year.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to Question 110389, on Muslim Council of Britain, and to the answer of 11 February 2026, to Question 110397, on Public Order and Hate Crime Legislation Review, what is the policy of (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Downing Street on engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Government’s policy of non-engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain has not changed.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, with reference to the Government Legal Service publication, “the Judge over your shoulder”, para 3.15, what supplementary advice or guidance have the Law Officers or GLS given on whether a reconsideration of a Ministerial decision requires a new Minister to take the fresh decision.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

With reference to the publication, JOYS: The Judge Over Your Shoulder, the Government Legal Department is not aware of any supplementary advice or guidance on whether a reconsideration of a Ministerial decision requires a new Minister to take the fresh decision.

In addition, it is a longstanding convention that whether the Law Officers have advised or have not advised, and the content of their advice, must not be disclosed outside government without their authority

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 12 February 2026, to Question 110398, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Publicity, in what formats does his department hold data on expenditure on publishing content in foreign languages.

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

MHCLG holds information about suppliers that have undertaken translation activities for the Department. The information will not differentiate between whether the translatory service was undertaken to support published content or for any other reason, nor would it consistently differentiate between translation work undertaken into the Welsh language or other languages.

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 15 January 2026 to Question 103895 on Local Government: Working Hours, if he will publish that letter.

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

I will deposit the letter in the House of Commons Library shortly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion and amount of the (a) £18.3 billion police funding settlement and (b) the £746 million increase, is made up of council tax in England in 2026-27, according to the estimates made by the Home Office used to calculate the figures stated in the written statement of 28 January 2026, HCWS1285.

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

The final 2026-27 Police Funding Settlement confirmed funding to police forces in England and Wales of up to £18.4 billion, an increase of up to £796 million compared to the 2025-26 police funding settlement. Across England and Wales, this increase includes up to £364 million of additional funding from council tax precept.

In England specifically, up to £5.9 billion of funding will come from the police precept. This is an increase of up to £342 million compared to 2025-26.

As the police funding settlement precedes final decisions by policing bodies’ on their actual precept levels, published settlement figures are based on the referendum limit for policing bodies in England. The referendum limit determines the level of increase in Council Tax Band D bill levels above which a local referendum must be held. A £15 increase has been assumed for all policing bodies based on the referendum limits set out in MHCLG’s Local Government Finance Settlement. Published settlement figures are also based on tax base growth in line with the Autumn 2025 Office for Budget Responsibility forecast.

The tables accompanying the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 January 2026 provide a breakdown of precept funding for individual police forces. The overall precept funding, and increase compared to the 2025-26 settlement can also be calculated using these tables. The Written Ministerial Statement and accompanying tables can be found here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of aligning the legal age to become a magistrate with the lower voting age.

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

The Government has no current plans to review the minimum age to become a magistrate.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the structural integrity, water ingress and building condition of (a) Portcullis House and (b) its atrium.

Answered by Nick Smith

The Commission’s assessment of the structural integrity, water ingress and condition of Portcullis House and its atrium is informed by surveys and ongoing inspections as part of the routine management of the Parliamentary Estate.

(a) Portcullis House – The building structure currently shows no visible signs of distress. More detailed intrusive surveys are scheduled for completion by summer recess 2026 to provide a fuller assessment. The causes of water ingress to the main roof have been identified and are being addressed through short‑term mitigation works, with longer‑term repairs proposed through the Portcullis House roofs project. The general condition of the building is continuously monitored by the Asset Management and Maintenance teams, with routine maintenance carried out as required. Additional projects are due to begin shortly to replace components, such as heating and cooling equipment, that have reached the end of their serviceable life.

(b) Atrium – Assessments to date indicate that the timber and steel structure of the atrium roof is generally in reasonable condition. A programme of detailed and intrusive surveys will be completed by the summer to review the structure and the overall condition of the glazed roof. Temporary works to reduce water ingress are planned for completion by summer recess 2026, with longer‑term repairs or replacement works to follow once scope of works and the associated funding has been approved.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending the Aarhus Convention provisions on costs in planning cases.

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

The Government remains committed to upholding its obligations under the Aarhus Convention, including maintaining access to environmental justice that is not prohibitively expensive. We set up the Environmental Costs Protection Regime (ECPR) in 2013 to enable this, and in May 2025 we committed to a series of measures to strengthen the regime. We keep all policies under review and, importantly, judges already have the power to vary the costs caps upwards or downwards, taking into account the particular circumstances of a case.

Between September and December 2024, the Government ran a Call for Evidence on access to justice in relation to the Aarhus Convention. This Call for Evidence considered the recommendations of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee regarding whether changes are required to the ECPR. The Government intends to publish a response to this Call for Evidence in due course.

Further, the Government published its response to the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce’s Review on Friday 13 March 2026. The Government recognises the concerns raised by the Taskforce regarding delays caused by a small number of unmeritorious legal challenges against nuclear developments and other major infrastructure projects, which could jeopardise our goal of reaching net zero by 2050. That is why we have accepted the Taskforce’s proposals in recommendation 20 to adjust the costs caps.

These adjustments will be undertaken with a view to prioritising genuine legal challenges, whilst supporting the Government’s growth mission by supporting us to build the necessary infrastructure essential for energy security, economic growth, and net zero. We will therefore invite the Civil Procedure Rule Committee to adjust the ECPR with this aim in mind.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church of England had made representations to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on (a) restrictions on ground rents and (b) leasehold reform in the last year.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

Since 2021, the Church Commissioners have routinely made formal representations to the Government on proposed reforms to leasehold and ground rents. These have included written submissions, correspondence with Ministers, participation in relevant Law Commission consultations and debates in the House of Lords.

Throughout the development of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA), the Church Commissioners have consistently highlighted the risk that the loss of marriage value would diminish the Charity's ability to support its beneficiaries, particularly those most in need.

The Church Commissioners await the Government's consultation on deferment rates to assess the full impact of LAFRA, noting that the proposals would result in a one off transfer of value from the Charity to individual leaseholders, in some cases amounting to significant sums.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church of England has made an assessment of the cost to the Church of England of the new council tax surcharge on residential dwellings occupied by serving or retired Anglican clergy and owned by the Church.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

The National Church Institutions of the Church of England (NCIs) have not conducted a formal assessment because the management of council tax levied on vicarages is handled at a diocesan level, and retired clergy are responsible for their own council tax on their retirement properties.

A broad, high-level assessment was conducted shortly after the Government's initial budget announcement in November 2025. It indicated that the proposed changes to council tax would mainly impact dioceses in regions with vicarages in higher property bands, especially the London Diocese. Any extra council tax payable would be borne by dioceses for housing parish clergy, archdeacons, and suffragan bishops; by cathedral chapters for housing cathedral clergy; and by the Church Commissioners for diocesan bishops' housing.

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 identified local authority areas of higher risk of electoral fraud in the May 2026 elections.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission reviews a range of information across all local authorities to help assess the risk of electoral fraud, including police data on allegations of electoral fraud and areas where concerns have previously been raised. This information is used to inform how and where the Commission targets additional support.

It is working closely with the electoral community, including local authorities and the police, to prevent, detect and act against electoral fraud ahead of the May 2026 elections.

Since 2018, the Commission has run a public awareness campaign “Your Vote is Yours Alone” in partnership with Crimestoppers. The campaign highlights what constitutes electoral fraud and empowers people to protect their vote and report any concerns. It targets specific areas based on a series of factors, including allegations of electoral fraud reported to the police.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will review its guidance in the Polling Station Handbook on providing official notices in written languages other than English, Welsh and Braille.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission's handbook states that the Returning Officer can provide written instructions in alternative languages or formats for use in the polling station depending on requirements within the community.

The Commission reviews its guidance regularly and makes updates in light of evidence from its post poll research, engagement with the electoral community and legislative change.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Valuation Office Agency document entitled, Valuation of public houses, published on 10 March 2026, if she will publish the guidance for the valuation of public houses used for the 2026 Rating List.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The 2026 Rating List comes into effect on 1 April 2026, and the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish valuation guidance including for the valuation of public houses on or around this date.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2025 to Question 92263 on Low Alcohol Drinks: Children, whether he made an assessment of the potential impact of 16 and 17 year olds visiting licenced premises on drinking patterns in later life.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The existing legal position set out in Section 150(4) of the Licensing Act 2003 seeks to achieve a balance that allows parents to introduce their children to alcohol in a controlled, measured, and responsible way, if they wish to do so, whilst upholding the licensing objective to protect children from harm. The legislation also requires licensed premises to have a robust age verification policy in place, and there are a large number of offences that the police can use to tackle under-age drinking where necessary.

Consumption of alcohol by children and young people can be harmful, with health risks including acute alcohol poisoning, an increased risk of becoming involved in violence, and damage to the developing brain and liver. Evidence shows that early age of drinking onset is associated with an increased likelihood of developing alcohol abuse or dependence in adolescence and adulthood.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question 90224, on Electronic Cigarettes: Retail Trade, whether the policy intent is that the licensing scheme controls on location and density would apply to (a) new promises and (b) existing premises.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Our call for evidence, which closed in December 2025, invited feedback on whether licence applications for existing businesses should be treated differently to those for new businesses established after the implementation of the scheme, and whether factors such as the location and density of retailers should have a role when granting licences.

We are carefully considering the responses to the call for evidence and will launch a subsequent consultation on our policy proposals before bringing forward secondary legislation.

The purpose of the licensing scheme is to support law-abiding retailers, while tackling those who break the law and pose a risk to public health. We want to ensure we are taking a proportionate approach, particularly to the many existing businesses who currently operate fairly and responsibly.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on the economic viability of (a) pubs, (b) nightclubs, (c) bars and (d) other parts of the hospitality sector.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill Impact Assessment, published in November 2024, which was given a ‘green’ rating by the Regulatory Policy Committee, assesses the expected impact of policies on the face of the bill, including any impacts on the hospitality industry. The impact on the hospitality industry of any regulations implemented using powers in the bill will be assessed in separate impact assessments when these regulations are developed. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill Impact Assessment is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6985eeb7cfe7ccf77efbc74e/tobacco-and-vapes-bill-impact-assessment.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2025 to Question 68412 on Fast Food, whether a sausage roll sold from a counter service falls within that definition.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In February 2025, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities published data on fast food outlets per 100,000 population. In this analysis, fast food was described as “food that is energy dense and available quickly, usually via a counter service, and for consumption on or off the premises”. This definition covers a range of outlets selling foods, including, but not limited to:

- burgers;

- pizza;

- kebabs;

- chicken;

- Indian takeaway;

- Chinese takeaway; and

- fish and chips.

It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application, to consider whether, given the type of food and service to be provided at the location proposed, they consider the outlet to be either a hot food takeaway or a fast-food outlet.

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 trends in the level of council tax since July 2024 on the cost of living.

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

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 110405 on 11 February 2026.

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 command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 38, if he will make it his policy to publish the organisations that are subject to a policy of non-engagement.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government does not comment on specific groups. It is up to each department to carry out due diligence when choosing to engage with, or fund, 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 last week, 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 will support public sector staff to tackle extremism. This will include information on what extremism looks like today in the UK – groups, narratives and ideologies, including Islamist and Extreme Right – as well as the action this government is taking to disrupt these extremist threats. The first iteration of this will be published by the end of 2026.

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 hold discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) challenging and (b) tackling antisemitic attacks against retail branches of Gail’s.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Antisemitism is abhorrent and has no place in our society. The government remains committed to tackling all forms of hatred and ensuring that everyone in the UK can live free from fear of discrimination or violence. Work is ongoing across government on tackling antisemitism in all its forms, and as set out in our recent Protecting What Matters publication. To deliver this, we will continue to work with the Antisemitism Working Group and ministers are in regular discussions on antisemitism and antisemitic attacks.

Where incidents involve criminal behaviour, this is an operational matter for the police.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department and its agencies have issued guidance to local planning authorities and planning applicants on development (a) on and (b) near land previously used as a foot and mouth burial pit.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra does not issue guidance on development on, or near land, previously used as a FMD pit.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether guidance has been given to (a) developers and (b) local planning authorities on development exclusion zones around former foot and mouth burial pits.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra does not issue guidance on development on, or near land, previously used as a FMD pit.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, further to the written ministerial statement of 29 January 2024, HCWS218, on Election Finance Regulation, whether they intend to align the £1,500 donation threshold in the House of Commons Code of Conduct with the £2,230 donation threshold now in electoral law.

Answered by Nick Smith

The Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules are the responsibility of the Committee on Standards. The Code and Guide are regularly reviewed by the Committee with advice provided by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, and I expect Members will have an opportunity to contribute to any such review.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026 to Question 111691 on Valuation Office Agency: Conference, what the cost was of Valuation Office Agency attendance at each of those international conferences.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The VOA attends a small number of overseas conferences which are an important part of sharing expertise, innovation and best practice.

The cost of Valuation Office Agency attendance at the five international conferences is set out in the table below. This includes the cost of tickets, flights, accommodation and other travel expenses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 38 of the policy paper entitled Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, published on 9 March 2026, when the first annual State of Extremism report will be published.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Our annual ‘State of Extremism’ report will support public sector staff to tackle extremism.

This will include information on what extremism looks like today in the UK – groups, narratives and ideologies, including Islamist and Extreme Right – as well as the action this government is taking to disrupt these extremist threats.

The first iteration of this will be published by the end of 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the National Wealth Fund will allocate funding to affordable housing.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The National Housing Bank is the public financial institution focused on homebuilding.

The National Housing Bank will work with other Public Financial Institutions, including the National Wealth Fund, to support its objectives.

The government has published a guide to the Public Financial Institutions here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-introduction-to-the-uk-public-investment-landscape

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 February 2026 to Question 111129, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Pakistan, when the summary of the former Minister’s schedule will be placed in the Library of the House.

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

The summary has now been placed in the Library of the House.

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 undertaken an Impact Assessment analysis of its own proposal that a company’s profit should be used as the measure of its UK earnings, rather than revenue; and whether the Electoral Commission has assessed whether specific political parties would be adversely affected by such a change to political finance law.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 121726.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, whether the Electoral Commission will ensure that all polling stations in the May 2026 local elections display visible posters on the secrecy of the ballot and the associated offences under the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 121725.

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 10 February 2026 to Question 109259 on Local Government: Elections, which local authorities submitted applications for an election pilot in May 2026 and subsequently made a request to postpone their May 2026 elections.

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

In August 2025, local authorities were invited to apply to pilot a range of flexible voting methods at the May 2026 elections in England, with a deadline of 22 September 2025.

In December 2025, council leaders in local government reorganisation areas were invited to make representations on the potential postponement of local elections and whether this would release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation, with a deadline of 15 January 2026.

Three local authorities that had submitted applications to pilot flexible voting methods for the May 2026 elections subsequently requested that their May 2026 polls be postponed. These authorities were Tamworth Borough Council, Stevenage Borough Council, and Redditch Borough Council. These three authorities are not taking part in the pilot scheme in May 2026.

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 command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 38, whether he plans to update the 2024 engagement principles.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication last week, 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.

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, Understanding the Representation of the People Bill, updated March 2026, whether the Electoral Commission has made an assessment of the potential impact of its proposal that a company’s profit should be used as the measure of its earnings on political parties.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission has long called for reforms that ensure that only companies that make enough money in the UK can donate to political parties. It has recommended using profit as the measure that would more effectively prevent foreign money from entering the system, by providing the strongest guarantee that donations by a company can only be from money made in the UK.

In developing its recommendation, the Commission considered the potential impact on the integrity and sustainability of political party funding, as well as the impact on the ability of legitimate companies to participate in the UK's democratic processes.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will ensure that polling stations in the May 2026 local elections display visible posters on the secrecy of the ballot and associated offences under the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Electoral law prescribes which official notices must be displayed in polling stations. This includes the ‘guidance for voters’ notice which explains that voting is secret and voters should not let anyone see how they have voted. The Commission’s guidance for electoral administrators and polling station handbook explain where and how these notices must be displayed.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will issue guidance to the police on uniformed police officers being photographed holding the flags of foreign countries.

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

The Government has no plans to issue guidance on this matter.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2026 to Question 110396 on Strategic Migration Partnership: Finance, for what reason her Department does not currently publish funding levels to Strategic Migration Partnerships.

Answered by Sarah Jones - 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 HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026, to Question 111693, on Business Rates: Valuation, if he will number of times that forecasts or estimates were given by the Valuation Office Agency to Ministers from 1 April 2024 to the publication of the draft Rating List.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) provided valuation data and analysis on the non-domestic property market to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury throughout the preparation stages of the 2026 revaluation.

The VOA provided five data drops from 1 April 2024 to the publication of the draft Rating List.