Asked by: Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral statement by the Prime Minister of 1 September 2026 on Direction of Government, Official Report, column 28, whether (a) Cornwall and (b) other local authorities will have the same level of funding and power if they adopt a strategic authority restructure without a mayor, relative to those with a mayor.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Strategic authorities without a mayor will have access to many of the same powers as mayoral strategic authorities, including the power to establish an Overnight Visitor Levy. However, a number of functions will continue to be reserved for mayoral strategic authorities in recognition of the enhanced governance and accountability that this structure provides. Full details of the new functions to be devolved to mayoral and non-mayoral strategic authorities will be set out in a White Paper this autumn.
Asked by: Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 18188 on Devolution, if she will summarise the 43 requests; and what the response was for each of those requests.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As detailed in the answer to Question UIN 18188 on 17 July 2026 on the shadow Right to Request round, the requests submitted by Mayors, and the responses sent to Mayors, have not been published. Ministers wrote to Mayors in May to confirm the Government’s response to each request. It is for Mayors to decide whether they wish to share the contents of their letters.
Asked by: Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
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 6 July 2026 to Question 13628, on Empty Property: Council Tax, and with reference to her Department's document entitled Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes, May 2026, what advice or guidance has (a) her Department and (b) Valuation Tribunal Service provided on whether an empty dwelling that has claimed the empty homes premium Class I exception for 12 months following a grant of probate, and then claimed the Class F council tax exemption due to the death of the owner and probate, can then claim an additional 12 month Class G or H premium exception in succession after that initial 12 months if the dwelling is then being marketed for sale or rent; or whether the 12 month Class F and G exception can only be claimed if the dwelling was not marketed for sale or rent during the Class I exception period.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
It is for individual councils to decide whether it is appropriate to introduce a premium in their area. As the hon. Member has noted, the government has published guidance on the implementation of council tax premiums and exceptions. The Valuation Tribunal Service does not provide guidance on Council Tax premiums.
The council tax class F exemption for properties undergoing probate will apply until probate has been granted (or letters of administration have been signed) and up to 6 months where the property remains empty after probate. The class I exception from the premium would apply for up to 12-months following probate and will run until the property has changed owner by being sold. This exception may run concurrently with the class F exemption where both are applicable.
Dwellings, which for less than 12 months, have been marketed for sale or let may be excepted from the premium. Any period during which the dwelling was marketed while qualifying for the class I exception would count towards that 12-month period.
In addition to mandatory exceptions, councils have the power to set local exceptions or provide discretionary discounts where they consider it appropriate.
Asked by: Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the (a) change in amount and number of council tax arrears since 2024-25 and (b) number of arrears referred for enforcement.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is working to fix the foundations of local government so that it is fit, legal and decent. We will work with local authorities to ensure that the administration of council tax is efficient for councils and fair to taxpayers.
At 31 March 2026, the total amount of council tax still outstanding amounted to £7.4 billion. This is an increase of £782 million over the figure at the end of 2024-25. The Department does not collect data on the number of individual council tax arrears cases. Collection and enforcement of council tax is a matter for local authorities and the government has not historically collected data on the number of arrears referred for enforcement.
The government has consulted on Modernising and Improving the Administration of Council Tax, to ensure that residents have appropriate time and support to manage arrears. For instance, this government will extend the time before households lose the right to pay in instalments to at least 63 days and ensure these households receive at least 2 notices of this. We will also regularise 12-month billing to smooth monthly payments so it reflects most household bills and lessens the individual monthly payment to aid household budgeting.
The government annually publishes the Collection rates for Council Tax which includes data on arrears outstanding at the end of each financial year. The 2025-26 data can be found here.
Asked by: Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 11667 on MHCLG: Remote Working, whether office attendance data for staff in the London HQ is collated in the same manner and shown in a centralised dashboard.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Attendance data for MHCLG staff based in the London HQ is collated through the same centralised system used for wider attendance reporting. While the data is collated through the same centralised system, the London HQ attendance information is not displayed within the published dashboard.
Asked by: Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 11404 on MHCLG: Departmental Responsibilities, whether the commitments for each of the programmes for the years outside the Spending Review 2025 period up to 2057-58 are funded.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 9587 on 23 June 2026.
Asked by: Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
Question to the HM Treasury:
|To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the joint consultation document entitled High Value Council Tax Surcharge, published on 19 May 2026, if he will make it her policy to include a single person discount for the proposed High Value Council Tax Surcharge.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government has consulted on the design of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge and will publish its response in due course.
Asked by: Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the Valuation Tribunal Service decision, Amazon UK Services Ltd and Karen Giles (Valuation Officer), Ref: Case No: CHG100896364, 27 July 2026, on the business rate liability of (a) distribution warehouses and (b) Generation 10 multi-story robotic distribution warehouses.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Valuation Office (VO) will reflect the Valuation Tribunal decision. The impact of the ‘Amazon’ decision will be limited to other similar Generation 10 multi-story robotic distribution warehouses, which will be reviewed, as part of the VO’s ongoing casework. The decision is unlikely to impact the wider class of distribution warehouses
Asked by: Katie Lam (Conservative - Weald of Kent)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 18195 on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, if he will list each organisation which is subject both to (a) a Home Office policy of non-engagement and (b) a Home Office policy of publicly confirming that the organisation is subject to a policy of non-engagement, other than (i) CAGE, (ii) MEND, (iii) the Muslim Council of Britain and (iv) the Muslim Association of Britain.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Home Office does not publish a comprehensive list of organisations that are subject to a policy of non-engagement.
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.
Decisions on engagement are taken on a case-by-case basis, informed by appropriate due diligence. If asked, we will advise and share information to help others inform their decisions.