Kemi Badenoch Portrait

Kemi Badenoch

Conservative - North West Essex

2,610 (4.8%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 8th June 2017

Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

(since July 2024)

Kemi Badenoch is not a member of any APPGs
4 Former APPG memberships
Blockchain, Challenger Banks and Building Societies, Innovation Corridor, Women in Parliament
Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities & Local Government
8th Jul 2024 - 9th Jul 2024
President of the Board of Trade
7th Feb 2023 - 5th Jul 2024
Minister for Women and Equalities
25th Oct 2022 - 5th Jul 2024
Secretary of State for Business and Trade
7th Feb 2023 - 5th Jul 2024
Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade
6th Sep 2022 - 7th Feb 2023
Minister for Equalities
14th Feb 2020 - 6th Jul 2022
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (jointly with Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
16th Sep 2021 - 6th Jul 2022
Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
4th Nov 2021 - 6th Jul 2022
Local Government (Disqualification) Bill
24th Nov 2021 - 1st Dec 2021
Public Accounts Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 30th Nov 2021
Elections Bill
22nd Sep 2021 - 26th Oct 2021
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
13th Feb 2020 - 15th Sep 2021
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
27th Jul 2019 - 13th Feb 2020
Standing Orders
1st Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Vice-Chair, Conservative Party
8th Jan 2018 - 27th Jul 2019
Justice Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 15th Jul 2019


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Kemi Badenoch has voted in 9 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Kemi Badenoch Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Angela Rayner (Labour)
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
(3 debate interactions)
Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op))
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(2 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Legislation Debates
Kemi Badenoch has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Kemi Badenoch's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Kemi Badenoch

2nd September 2024
Kemi Badenoch signed this EDM on Monday 9th September 2024

Social Security

Tabled by: Rishi Sunak (Conservative - Richmond and Northallerton)
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 (S.I., 2024, No. 869), dated 22 August 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22 August 2024, be annulled.
81 signatures
(Most recent: 10 Sep 2024)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 75
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Scottish National Party: 1
View All Kemi Badenoch's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Kemi Badenoch, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Kemi Badenoch has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Kemi Badenoch has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

4 Bills introduced by Kemi Badenoch


A Bill to make provision about the administration and conduct of elections, including provision designed to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process; about overseas electors; about voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens; about the designation of a strategy and policy statement for the Electoral Commission; about the membership of the Speaker's Committee; about the Electoral Commission's functions in relation to criminal proceedings; about financial information to be provided by a political party on applying for registration; for preventing a person being registered as a political party and being a recognised non-party campaigner at the same time; about regulation of expenditure for political purposes; about disqualification of offenders for holding elective offices; about information to be included in electronic campaigning material; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th April 2022 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to provide for the regulation of competition in digital markets; to amend the Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002 and to make other provision about competition law; to make provision relating to the protection of consumer rights and to confer further such rights; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 24th May 2024 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to provide for the quashing of convictions in England and Wales and Northern Ireland for certain offences alleged to have been committed while the Horizon system was in use by the Post Office; to make provision about the deletion of cautions given in England and Wales or Northern Ireland for such offences; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 24th May 2024 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to provide for the payment out of money provided by Parliament of expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State under, or in connection with, schemes or other arrangements to compensate persons affected by the Horizon system and in respect of other matters identified in legal proceedings relating to the Horizon system.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 25th January 2024 and was enacted into law.

1 Bill co-sponsored by Kemi Badenoch

Online News Platforms (Regulation) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Damien Moore (Con)


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
23rd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing minimum energy performance certificate requirements for owner occupied dwellings at (a) sale and (b) purchase.

The government is considering options to ensure a fair, proportionate and affordable approach to improving the energy performance of owner-occupied homes. The Warm Homes Plan will offer grants and low interest loans to support investment in insulation and other improvements.

We will also work with the private sector, including banks and building societies, to provide further private finance to accelerate energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
24th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the recommendations of the Mayor of London's London Climate Resilience Review to levy charges on households that pave their front gardens.

On 13 March 2024 the previous government published its response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s study into Reducing the risk of surface water flooding accepting four recommendations and partially accepting five.

This included the recommendation to undertake a review of the effectiveness of all available options to manage unplanned increases in impermeable (or hard) surfaces, and their costs and benefits. Defra, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and other key stakeholders will be taking this review forward in due course.

The Mayor of London's London Climate Resilience Review expanded on the impermeable surfaces review and recommended that “the government consider introducing stormwater charges for people who pave over gardens and incentives to remove paving”. We will consider whether to include this as part of the review during the scoping phase.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
25th Jul 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to (a) increase stamp duty for non-UK residents and (b) recruit additional planning officers.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) changes are typically announced upon implementation at fiscal event.

The Government recognises the need to recruit more planning officers and has committed to recruit 300 more over the course of the next five years. We are currently reviewing options for delivering this in a way that best supports housing delivery and growth. Parliament will be updated in the usual way.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many meetings Ministers in her Department have had with (a) Labour, (b) Liberal Democrat and (c) Conservative councillors since the general election.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on Gov.uk.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) she and (b) her special advisers have held discussions with representatives of (i) Sovereign Strategy and (ii) Pentland Communications since the general election.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on Gov.uk.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the Rt Hon. Member for North West Essex of 13 July 2024 on Parliamentary boundaries.

A response to the Rt Hon Member was issued by email on 29 August 2024.

Jim McMahon
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on build to rent; and what assessment she has made of the impact of her policies on private rented sector regulation on future investment in the build to rent sector.

This government is supportive of the Build to Rent sector and wants it to grow further. We do not expect our forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill to have a destabilising effect on the rental market and will continue to work with good landlords and their representative associations throughout implementation.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of affordable homes that are being delivered through the Affordable Homes Programme 2016-2023 in London; what the original targets were; and what assessment (a) her Department and (b) Homes England have made of the effectiveness of the Greater London Authority at completing new affordable housing under this programme.

The previous government set a target for the 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programme to deliver around 250,000 affordable homes, including at least 116,000 homes in London. Around 244,000 new housing starts had been delivered by the 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programme by March 2023. In August 2023, the GLA reported that 116,782 homes were started in London from April 2015 to March 2023.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written ministerial statement of 30 July 2024 entitled Building the homes we need, HCWS48, what changes have been made to the (a) estimated number of new affordable units, (b) the tenure, and (c) completion dates, relative to the original targets for the 2021-26 Affordable Housing Programme in London.

In 2020, the previous government announced that the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme would achieve “up to 180,000 homes, should economic conditions allow”. Upon taking office, this Government discovered than the 2021-26 AHP is now expected to deliver between 110,000 and 130,000 affordable homes, broken down as follows:

a. At least 40,000 social rent homes

b. 44,000 – 56,000 affordable homes for ownership

c. 5% of delivery for supported housing

d. 5% – 10% of Homes England delivery for rural housing

In July, we announced a year’s extension to the completions deadline of homes built in London through the programme, from March 2029 to March 2030.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will commence the street votes programme through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

The Government is still reviewing its policy inheritance from the last Government, including in relation to street votes.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to make the reuse and recycling of materials a material consideration in the granting of planning permission for a replacement building; and what her policy is on local authorities adopting such regulatory requirements.

The National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW), which is a material consideration in planning decisions, already includes policies on the reuse and recycling of materials when considering development proposals.

Paragraph 8 sets out that when determining planning applications for non-waste development, local planning authorities should, to the extent appropriate to their responsibilities, ensure that the handling of waste arising from the construction and operation of development maximises reuse and recovery opportunities, and minimises off-site disposal.

The planning practice guidance for waste include further advice on this matter.

In addition, chapter 17 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) outlines further policy to support the consideration and use of recycled materials.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of current building regulations on the feasibility of high density, new build, terraced housing in urban areas.

Building Regulations set out the standards to which new homes must be built. They do not prescribe density or form of housing.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's open consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 2 August 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of setting benchmark land values for greenbelt land on land prices.

We will carefully analyse responses to the consultation in question, which is open until 24 September 2024.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to update the guidance note published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, entitled Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance, updated on 10 September 2019.

The Government will continue to keep the ‘Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance’ under review.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to amend the guidance by her Department entitled Selective licensing in the private rented sector: a guide for local authorities, published on 20 June 2023.

The non-statutory guidance in question is currently up to date. The Government will update it should we decide to make any changes to the use of selective licensing.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of re-introducing (a) regional planning guidance and (b) regional spatial strategies.

The Government has not made a recent assessment of the potential merits of re-introducing regional planning guidance or regional spatial strategies.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will amend building regulations to allow new homes to be built with openable sash windows.

Whilst there could be some situations where, for safety reasons, designers may choose to restrict window opening, the Building Regulations do not preclude the inclusion of openable sash windows in new homes.

Rushanara Ali
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much was spent on (a) communications, (b) stationery and business cards, (c) IT and websites and (d) new signage when her Department changed its name to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by each item of spend; and whether her Department made an assessment of the potential merits of re-using previous MHCLG signage and materials.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer give to Question UIN 1329 on 31 July 2024.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which of her Department's closed consultations have not received a formal Government response.

No consultations issued by this department since the new government was formed have yet closed. We are committed to responding in a timely manner to all consultations, as a mark of respect to those who take the time to contribute to the development of policy in this way.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to promote integration, in the context of the public disorder in August 2024.

The Government and justice system have taken decisive steps to address the disgraceful violent disorder that was seen in a number of towns and cities in August and we have now seen 1,280 people arrested and over 570 appearances in court which has provided a strong deterrent and demonstrated our determination to keep people safe and restore order.

The Government is determined that we now support the recovery of the towns and cities affected, and also invest in community cohesion. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is leading cross-Government efforts to help places recover – working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address deep-seated issues. Alongside this the Home Secretary has ordered a rapid review of extremism to ensure the strongest possible response to ideologies that erode community cohesion and our democracy.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, whether increased demand due to the presence of travellers on an unauthorised traveller site would be counted as unmet need.

Without changing its purposes or general extent, the Government will take a more strategic approach to Green Belt land designation and release, so that we can build more homes in the right places. Land released in the Green Belt will be subject to new “golden rules” to ensure it delivers in the public interest.

The Government is currently consulting on a number of reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). These include proposals to release low-quality grey belt land within the Green Belt to meet housing and other development needs. We are seeking views on how the proposals under the NPPF would apply to traveller sites, particularly concerning the sequential test to guide release, the definition of grey belt and previously developed land, and proposals that are considered not to be inappropriate development.

The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites sets out that local authorities should produce their own assessment of need and plan to meet this need through their Local Plan.

Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development. Our proposals do not impact on these and we will keep the use of them under review.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, whether the absence of a five-year land supply for traveller sites would constitute grounds for traveller site development in the green belt in the context of (a) a local plan and (b) an individual planning decision.

Without changing its purposes or general extent, the Government will take a more strategic approach to Green Belt land designation and release, so that we can build more homes in the right places. Land released in the Green Belt will be subject to new “golden rules” to ensure it delivers in the public interest.

The Government is currently consulting on a number of reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). These include proposals to release low-quality grey belt land within the Green Belt to meet housing and other development needs. We are seeking views on how the proposals under the NPPF would apply to traveller sites, particularly concerning the sequential test to guide release, the definition of grey belt and previously developed land, and proposals that are considered not to be inappropriate development.

The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites sets out that local authorities should produce their own assessment of need and plan to meet this need through their Local Plan.

Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development. Our proposals do not impact on these and we will keep the use of them under review.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, whether unmet need for traveller sites would constitute grounds for traveller site development in (a) the green belt and (b) open countryside.

Without changing its purposes or general extent, the Government will take a more strategic approach to Green Belt land designation and release, so that we can build more homes in the right places. Land released in the Green Belt will be subject to new “golden rules” to ensure it delivers in the public interest.

The Government is currently consulting on a number of reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). These include proposals to release low-quality grey belt land within the Green Belt to meet housing and other development needs. We are seeking views on how the proposals under the NPPF would apply to traveller sites, particularly concerning the sequential test to guide release, the definition of grey belt and previously developed land, and proposals that are considered not to be inappropriate development.

The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites sets out that local authorities should produce their own assessment of need and plan to meet this need through their Local Plan.

Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development. Our proposals do not impact on these and we will keep the use of them under review.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, whether the proposed changes to traveller planning policy on decision making will be material consideration when a council considers a Temporary Stop Notice.

Without changing its purposes or general extent, the Government will take a more strategic approach to Green Belt land designation and release, so that we can build more homes in the right places. Land released in the Green Belt will be subject to new “golden rules” to ensure it delivers in the public interest.

The Government is currently consulting on a number of reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). These include proposals to release low-quality grey belt land within the Green Belt to meet housing and other development needs. We are seeking views on how the proposals under the NPPF would apply to traveller sites, particularly concerning the sequential test to guide release, the definition of grey belt and previously developed land, and proposals that are considered not to be inappropriate development.

The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites sets out that local authorities should produce their own assessment of need and plan to meet this need through their Local Plan.

Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development. Our proposals do not impact on these and we will keep the use of them under review.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, if the proposed changes to Green Belt policy on traveller sites will be a material consideration for decision-making for (a) planning applications and (b) planning enforcement appeals on unauthorised traveller sites.

Without changing its purposes or general extent, the Government will take a more strategic approach to Green Belt land designation and release, so that we can build more homes in the right places. Land released in the Green Belt will be subject to new “golden rules” to ensure it delivers in the public interest.

The Government is currently consulting on a number of reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). These include proposals to release low-quality grey belt land within the Green Belt to meet housing and other development needs. We are seeking views on how the proposals under the NPPF would apply to traveller sites, particularly concerning the sequential test to guide release, the definition of grey belt and previously developed land, and proposals that are considered not to be inappropriate development.

The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites sets out that local authorities should produce their own assessment of need and plan to meet this need through their Local Plan.

Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development. Our proposals do not impact on these and we will keep the use of them under review.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written ministerial statement of 30 July 2024 entitled Building the homes we need, HCWS48, if she will publish a list of the numerical reduction in the local housing target over this Parliament as a result of the abolition of the urban uplift in each relevant local authority area.

The proposed changes to local housing need figures for each local authority are set out in the ‘Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system’ consultation documents. These can be found at gov.uk.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on promoting the use of Local Development Orders by local planning authorities.

Local development orders are an important tool to enable local planning authorities to proactively grant planning permission for specific developments or classes of development.

The National Planning Policy Framework encourages local planning authorities to use local development orders for particular areas or categories of development where the impacts would be acceptable, and in particular where this development would promote economic, social or environmental gains for the area.

The Planning Advisory Service has also published best practice guidance on the use of local development orders and we encourage local planning authorities to take advantage of this guidance.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release on new towns, published on 31 July 2024, at what time the press release was issued by her Department under embargo to the media; and for what reason the announcement was made online and not to Parliament.

It has always been the Government’s intention to provide an update to the House on the New Towns Taskforce. However, the House was not sitting on 31 July. We will provide an update in the usual manner in due course.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to bring forward secondary legislation on street naming under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing people to vote on changes to the name of their street.

Section 81 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 replaced the previously inconsistent arrangements for the renaming of streets. It enables local authorities to make changes to street names if they determine they command ‘sufficient local support’ and sets an expectation of local engagement prior to any change. The Government intends to monitor the operation of these arrangements with a view to assessing the case for secondary legislation.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 August 2023 to Question 1758, on Social Rented Housing, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of restricting access to social housing for people connected with (a) terrorism and (b) criminality.

The Government published a response to the consultation on reforms to social housing allocations on 2 September. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-response-to-the-consultation-on-changes-to-social-housing-allocation-tests

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2023 to Question 1758 on Social Rented Housing, what assessment she made of the potential merits of implementing the proposed changes on requiring a (a) local and (b) UK connection for social housing.

The Government published a response to the consultation on reforms to social housing allocations on 2 September. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-response-to-the-consultation-on-changes-to-social-housing-allocation-tests

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the number of new homes that were built in London in the last five years.

Overall housing delivery in London is currently averaging 37,200 net additions a year (2019-2023).

This is below existing London Plan targets of 52k per year. Under the Government’s proposed new method for calculating housing need, London would have a target of delivering 80,693 homes a year (an increase of 117%).

The Government is committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, boroughs, and the sector to significantly increase housing delivery in the capital.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page eight of HM Treasury's technical note entitled Applying VAT to Private School Fees and Removing the Business Rates Charitable Rates Relief for Private Schools, what provisions will be included in the Local Government Finance Bill.

The business rates policy change will be legislated for through a Local Government Finance Bill led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which will be introduced following the Budget and is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary process. As set out in the technical note, the VAT policy change will be legislated for in the Finance Bill, which will be introduced following the Budget.

Jim McMahon
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the status is of the (a) Suffolk and (b) Norfolk devolution deal; and what type of local elections will take place in those local authorities in May 2025.

English devolution underpins this government’s national mission to deliver economic growth for everyone, everywhere, raising living standards across the UK. We are determined to push power out of Whitehall and into the hands of local people who have skin in the game. Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council agreed outline devolution deals with the previous government, which were put on hold over the general election. My department is reviewing existing programmes of work, including the Norfolk and Suffolk devolution deals, and will work closely with local stakeholders.

Jim McMahon
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to tackle extremism.

Countering extremism in all its forms is important for preserving our democratic values and protecting our society and communities. It is a cross-government endeavour and MHCLG will continue tackle the harms it causes to individuals and in communities.

As we saw following the violent incidents in Southport on July 29, extremism poses a threat to community integration and safety. We have been clear that criminal behaviour masked as protest will not be tolerated. Comprehensive multi-agency support is being coordinated for affected families in Southport, focusing on long-term recovery and community cohesion.

The Home Secretary has commissioned a rapid review of extremism policy to understand the threat of extremism and the response required, with a pledge to take urgent action to address any issues.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to tackle islamophobia.

Islamophobia, and all forms of religious and racial hatred, have absolutely no place in our society. No one should be targeted because of the colour of their skin, or their faith. This Government is clear that perpetrators of such hate crimes will face the full force of the law.

Sadly, we have seen how Muslim communities and other minorities have been targeted in the deplorable acts of violence following the recent tragic events in Southport. This Government will make sure that criminals intent on causing violence and unrest on our streets will be stopped in their tracks and brought to justice thanks to the new National Violent Disorder Programme. We are also providing rapid additional support to mosques through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme to protect Muslim communities, which comes on top of the £29.4 million already made available to fund security at mosques and Muslim faith schools this year.

British Muslims are a crucial part of Britain’s history and British life today. This Government will not tolerate Islamophobia in any form and has committed to a more cohesive and integrated approach to ensure that all forms of hatred are stamped out of our communities.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of simplifying the process for creating new Combined County Authorities.

We are committed to ensuring that every part of England can rapidly benefit from devolution, moving power out of Westminster back to those who know their areas best. The English Devolution Bill will establish a more ambitious standardised framework and make it easier to provide devolved powers quickly to more areas through establishing a simpler process for creating new Combined and Combined County Authorities.

Ahead of this we invite councils wishing to explore enhanced devolution to their areas to engage with the department.

Jim McMahon
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure local planning authorities without an up to date local plan get their plans up to date.

This Government has inherited a planning system in which only 31% of local planning authorities have adopted plans in the last five years. We are determined to drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible, to progress towards our ambition of achieving universal plan coverage and ensure plans contribute positively to our ambition of delivering 1.5 million homes.

The Planning Inspectorate monitors the progress of local plans and publishes a list of the overall position for each local planning authority. The list of local plans can be found at the following link.

The Government has set out changes to how we plan for the homes we need as part of the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, launched on 30 July. Funding will be made available to support authorities at advanced stages of plan-making required to undertake additional work to take account of the updated NPPF once this is published.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a list of local planning authorities which (a) have and (b) do not have up to date local plans.

This Government has inherited a planning system in which only 31% of local planning authorities have adopted plans in the last five years. We are determined to drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible, to progress towards our ambition of achieving universal plan coverage and ensure plans contribute positively to our ambition of delivering 1.5 million homes.

The Planning Inspectorate monitors the progress of local plans and publishes a list of the overall position for each local planning authority. The list of local plans can be found at the following link.

The Government has set out changes to how we plan for the homes we need as part of the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, launched on 30 July. Funding will be made available to support authorities at advanced stages of plan-making required to undertake additional work to take account of the updated NPPF once this is published.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she took account of net migration in setting the target for new homes in this Parliament.

Immigration is one of a number of factors that impacts assessments of housing demand and future housing supply. The Government's commitment to build 1.5 million homes over the course of the Parliament is intended to provide the homes the country needs.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her department is taking to help reduce cases of anti-Semitism.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 1927 on 6 August 2024.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to help ensure Jewish communities feel safe.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 1927 on 6 August 2024.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to help ensure landlords do not leave the rental market.

The Government values the contribution made by responsible landlords who provide quality homes to their tenants and believes they must enjoy robust grounds for possession where there is good reason to take their property back.

However, we are determined to level decisively the playing field between landlords and private tenants by providing the latter with greater security, rights and protections and cracking down on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against renters.

We do not expect our forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill to have a destabilising effect on the rental market and will continue to work with good landlords and their representative associations throughout implementation.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department takes to help ensure that new homes are in keeping with existing communities.

A clear framework exists through policy and guidance to support local planning authorities deliver well-designed places and to enable them to work together with the communities they serve to ensure the development of new homes responds to the positive or distinctive characteristics of an area.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to review local planning authorities that are in special measures.

The Secretary of State will aim to decide whether any designations should be lifted, usually in the first quarter of each calendar year. Exceptionally, de-designations may be made at other times.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
25th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether money allocated through the Levelling Up Fund will be given to local authorities to spend.

This Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed a partnership approach with local authorities and an intention to stabilise the funding system, moving away from wasteful competition. Projects continue to receive funding where agreements are in place. Local places will rightly be seeking clarity on previous commitments of funding. The Government is giving full consideration to this matter, including the hard work undertaken on projects to date, and will continue to work with local authorities on projects in their area.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
25th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many submitted planning permission applications are unable to progress due to nutrient neutrality rules.

The department does not hold data on the specific number of planning permissions that are unable to progress due to nutrient neutrality rules. 7.9% of new addresses created in England from 2015/16 to 2018/19 were created in areas affected by nutrient neutrality. This represents an expected additional housing supply of 16,500 dwellings per year.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
25th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to amend nutrient neutrality rules.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 556 on 26 July 2024.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
25th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to cap council tax rises.

Future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement in which we are engaged.

Jim McMahon
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)