Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for a Government response to the Petition of more than 32,000 signatures delivered to 10 Downing Street by the New Forest Together campaign on 7 September 2026.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government remains committed to local government reorganisation and to delivering simpler, more sustainable local government. The petition has been received and the Government will provide a response following consideration of the issues raised.
Since the petition was presented, the previous decision for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton has been withdrawn and all proposals for the area remain under consideration. We will provide a further update by Christmas, and every area will have an outcome by early 2027.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she will take to protect council staff from bullying; whether sanctions against such misconduct will be specified in legislation to strengthen the standards and conduct regime for local authorities, and when such legislation will be introduced.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government Response to the ‘Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England’ consultation, published on 11 November 2025, set out our intention to legislate for whole-system reform of the local government standards regime. The reforms include the introduction of a mandatory code covering issues such as discrimination, bullying and harassment, and social media use, as well as strengthened sanctions of suspension and withholding allowances for serious misconduct.
Government will bring forward the necessary legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take in response to the petition, signed by 30,000 people and delivered to 10 Downing Street on 7 September, on the issue of splitting the local government of the Waterside from that of the New Forest.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises the New Forest’s distinct identity and the importance of its cultural, economic and historic ties, including with the Waterside. Ministers regularly visit local areas to engage with communities and stakeholders and would be happy to consider a future visit at an appropriate time.
With regard to local government reorganisation, the Government has withdrawn the decision in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton and is undertaking a rapid review of the programme, including the withdrawn decision. The Government will set out next steps as soon as possible.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to next visit the New Forest and Waterside to assess their (a) societal, (b) cultural, (c) economic and (d) historical ties and interdependence.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises the New Forest’s distinct identity and the importance of its cultural, economic and historic ties, including with the Waterside. Ministers regularly visit local areas to engage with communities and stakeholders and would be happy to consider a future visit at an appropriate time.
With regard to local government reorganisation, the Government has withdrawn the decision in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton and is undertaking a rapid review of the programme, including the withdrawn decision. The Government will set out next steps as soon as possible.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Government’s response to its 2025 public consultation on (a) strengthening local government standards and (b) addressing misconduct and bullying by town and parish councillors will be published.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government published its response to the consultation “Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England” in November 2025. The response sets out the Government’s intention to introduce measures including a mandatory Code of Conduct for councillors and strengthened oversight of the local government standards regime.
We intend to legislate on local government standards reforms when parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
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 require property management companies to need a licence to operate which can be withdrawn in the event of (a) abusive, (b) negligent and (c) financially exploitative behaviour.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77534 on 17 October 2025.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
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 October 2025 to Question 77959 on Landscapes Review, if he will make it his policy to maintain the Protected Landscapes duty as enacted through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, in the context of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has no plans to repeal the Protected Landscapes duty.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps with her international counterparts to include Commoners of the New Forest as a national minority according to the criteria for such a designation under the terms of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities laid down by the Council of Europe.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The UK Government is committed to support minority communities and uphold our obligations under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities - to create a society in which all citizens feel acknowledged, safe and able to achieve their full potential. The flexibility provided in the Convention means that we can take a broad approach and consider the experience and specific needs of all minority communities in the UK, to ensure that they receive the support they require. As such, we have no plans for the New Forest Commoners to be formally recognised.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
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 proposed local government reorganisation in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, what protection will be given to the (a) culture and (b) interests of the New Forest Commoners when considering any proposal to subdivide the area currently administered by New Forest District Council by separating Totton and the Waterside from the perambulation of the Forest.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local government reorganisation will lead to better outcomes for residents, save significant money which can be reinvested in public services, and improve accountability.
The government has been clear with councils on the importance of local engagement in developing their proposals for unitary government. This should include residents, community groups, public service providers, workforces and their representatives, Members of Parliament and businesses.
Boundary changes are possible, and as a starting point existing district areas should be considered the building blocks for proposals. Where there is a strong justification, including having regard to local identity, then more complex boundary changes will be considered.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to increase protection of town and parish council clerks against bullying by elected councillors.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In December the Government launched a consultation seeking views on proposed measures to strengthen the local government standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England. The response to the consultation will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.
We are committed to empowering local authorities of all types and tiers, including town and parish councils, to deal with member misconduct where it arises.