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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to allow for an above-inflation rise in the council tax referendum threshold for 2025-26 for the Greater London Authority to increase revenue for Transport for London.

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

Details of the proposed council tax referendum principles for 2025-26 will be set out in the local government finance policy statement in late November.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2024 to Question 10847 on Leisure Centres: Government Assistance, whether she plans to hold further rounds of the Swimming Pool Support Fund.

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

The Government recognises that sports facilities in communities up and down the country help to support more people to get active wherever they live.

The previous Swimming Pool Support Fund was a targeted, one-time, urgent package which has now closed, and further funding rounds were not built into the programme by the previous government.

The responsibility of providing access to public swimming pools lies at Local Authority level. The Government continues to encourage Local Authorities to support swimming facilities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have had meetings with representatives of the Chinese government since 4 July 2024.

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

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda.

An independent Planning Inspector will hold a public inquiry at which interested parties will be able to put forward evidence and representations. These will be taken into account when a final decision is made.

Following the inquiry, the Inspector’s report and recommendation will be sent to MHCLG, and Planning Ministers will then reach a decision on whether to grant planning permission.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many premises applied for a pavement licence under the Business and Planning Act 2020.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The department does not collect data on the number of pavement licences applied for. It is up to local authorities to determine pavement licencing applications.

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 report entitled Summary of responses and government’s response to the consultation on proposals to exempt categories of dwellings from the council tax premiums in England, published on 11 March 2024, whether the exclusions for properties that are actively marketed for sale and let, apply for up to (a) 12 and (b) 24 months after the property first became unoccupied; and whether the sale and let exclusion can be applied and stack after the probate exemption expires if a home that has exited probate is then marketed for sale or rent.

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

This Government has published guidance for councils and taxpayers on the application of council tax premiums and exceptions. This guidance is available here. The exception for properties actively marketed for sale or let will apply for up to 12 months from which the dwelling has first been marketed for sale or let. Exceptions can be applied in succession.

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 5 November 2024 to Question 11179 on Local Government: Equality, whether her Department holds copies of the Local Government Association’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion learning resources and tools.

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

The Local Government Association’s (LGAs) Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion learning resources and tools are available on the LGA website: https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/equalities-hub, which could have been easily found online without the need for a parliamentary question.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to postpone local government elections due to be held in 2025.

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

We have no plans to postpone local government elections due to be held in 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to reform the leasehold law on forfeiture.

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

Yes, the government is committed to removing the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture as a means of ensuring compliance with a lease agreement.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled CCC advises 81% reduction in emissions by 2035, published by the Climate Change Committee on 26 October 2024 and the letter from the Committee of that date to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the National Determined Contribution, what steps she is taking to remove planning barriers for (a) heat pumps and (b) electric vehicle chargers.

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

Nationally set permitted development rights enable the installation of air and ground source heat pumps and electric vehicle charge points without the need to submit a planning application. The rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations to protect local amenity.

The previous government consulted on proposed changes to these rights, and on 21 November we announced our intention to amend the existing permitted development right for air source heat pumps to allow more flexibility in installation and size of heat pumps. Further information is available at: Warm Homes Plan and heat pumps – MHCLG in the Media.

Further announcements on electric vehicle charge points will be made in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11493 on Buildings and Housing: Solar Power, whether she is taking planning-related steps to facilitate the fitting of solar panels in conservation areas.

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

To facilitate the take up of renewable energy, nationally set permitted development rights enable the installation of solar equipment on or within the curtilage of buildings, including in conservation areas, without the need to submit a planning application. The rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations to protect local amenity. Proposals which go beyond what is allowed under the rights will require a planning application. Any such applications will be considered on their individual merits. We will continue to keep permitted development rights under review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason an impact assessment for the Renters’ Rights Bill was not published at (a) First Reading and (b) Second Reading; and if she will make it her policy to ensure impact assessments for all future Bills are published at First Reading.

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

The government published its Impact Assessment for the Renters’ Rights Bill on 22 November 2024, following scrutiny from the Regulatory Policy Committee. The Impact Assessment received a ‘green’ rating, indicating it is ‘fit for purpose’. The Impact Assessment can be found on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the level of selective licensing fees charged by each local authority with such a scheme; and what the average fee is in England.

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

Local authorities set fees for their selective licensing schemes based on a number of factors including the set-up costs of the scheme, the cost of assessing applications and issuing licences, and the cost of inspecting properties where necessary.

The government expects local authorities to make details of these fees, along with the rationale behind their determination to be transparent and readily accessible. Money raised through enforcement sanctions should be used to enforce high standards in private rented properties.

Selective licensing and the Private Rented Sector Database have different purposes. The database is not designed to replace selective licensing. Selective licensing schemes aim to target specific local issues by enabling more intensive proactive enforcement strategies. Selective licensing is a valuable tool enabling local authorities to drive better outcomes for local residents, tenants, and responsible landlords. We will continue to review the use of selective licensing as we develop the Private Rented Sector Database and will look to refine the way the two systems work together including through sharing data.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the new Property Portal requirements on the private rented sector will be in addition to selective licensing requirements, where such selective licensing requirement is in effect.

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

Local authorities set fees for their selective licensing schemes based on a number of factors including the set-up costs of the scheme, the cost of assessing applications and issuing licences, and the cost of inspecting properties where necessary.

The government expects local authorities to make details of these fees, along with the rationale behind their determination to be transparent and readily accessible. Money raised through enforcement sanctions should be used to enforce high standards in private rented properties.

Selective licensing and the Private Rented Sector Database have different purposes. The database is not designed to replace selective licensing. Selective licensing schemes aim to target specific local issues by enabling more intensive proactive enforcement strategies. Selective licensing is a valuable tool enabling local authorities to drive better outcomes for local residents, tenants, and responsible landlords. We will continue to review the use of selective licensing as we develop the Private Rented Sector Database and will look to refine the way the two systems work together including through sharing data.

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 footnote 2 of her Department's Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes, published on 1 November 2024, what steps she plans to take to prevent local authorities from disregarding the requirement to advertise in at least one newspaper circulating in its area.

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

The government’s published guidance clearly set out the responsibilities of councils when making a determination to charge a council tax premium. The time limited exceptions to council tax premiums can be applied in succession where the dwelling is eligible.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the (a) cost of preparing and (b) length of the environmental impact assessment for the Lower Thames Crossing development consent order application.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Due to the level of interdependency between the large number of different elements of the Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order (DCO) application, it is not possible to accurately attribute costs to the production of the individual documents within it. However, the total amount spent on the planning process is £295.1million.

The Environmental Impact Assessment information submitted in 2022 as part of the Lower Thames Crossing DCO application comprised of approximately 12,000 pages.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he intends to meet with the Advertising Standards Authority to discuss the advertising of part-copper broadband as fibre.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

I refer the right Hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton to the answer of 21 November to question UIN 14700.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to create an elected mayor in Cheshire.

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

The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution met with Leaders from Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington Councils on 3 September to discuss next steps for devolution in the area.

The government will continue to work closely with the area to agree a way forward to deliver an ambitious devolution agreement for Cheshire and Warrington.

This government believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined authorities supported by a mayor with a strategic role across a wider geography, working closely with council leaders.

The English Devolution White Paper will set an ambitious new framework for English devolution, moving power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best.

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 her speech at the Local Government Association Conference of 24 October 2024, what deliverable plans councils will need to put in place.

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

Councils under statutory intervention are directed to develop and implement clear, deliverable plans for reform and recovery that address their specific governance and financial challenges and protect local taxpayers. The six councils under statutory intervention are supported in driving progress by Commissioners or Panels appointed by the Secretary of State, who provide written updates on the latest position of each council. I refer the Hon Member to Written Ministerial Statements made on 20 November 2024 (HCWS235) and 22 October 2024 (HCWS155). Through this approach, we are committed to resetting the relationship between local and regional government to establish partnerships built on mutual respect, genuine collaboration and meaningful engagement.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the extent to which local authorities are meeting their obligations under the Local Government Transparency Code to publish up to date information.

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

The purpose of the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the Code) is to make it easier for the public to directly hold their councils to account, not as a means for central government to check up on local authorities. Therefore, the government does not monitor compliance with the Code.

If there were concerns about a local authorities’ compliance with the Code, a complaint could be made to the local authority’s Monitoring Officer, or via their complaints procedure. It is possible to make a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman where the usual complaints procedures have been exhausted, or to make a Freedom of Information request if local authorities continue to fail in fulfilling their duties under the Code.

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 her Department's Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes, published on 1 November 2024, which of the exclusions across Classes F to M can be applied cumulatively to other exclusions at the end of initial exclusion.

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

The government’s published guidance clearly set out the responsibilities of councils when making a determination to charge a council tax premium. The time limited exceptions to council tax premiums can be applied in succession where the dwelling is eligible.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on whether councillors should declare ownership of property which is (a) rented out to their local authority at a commercial rate and (b) used by their local authority at a commercial rate via a third party.

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

Local authority members must register and disclose pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests with their authority.

This includes contracts where a member is providing a service to their local authority, as well as any land interests they may have in the local authority area.

The government guidance ‘Openness and transparency on personal interests: guidance for councillors’ provides practical information to councillors about how to be open and transparent about their personal interests.

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 her speech at the Local Government Association Conference of 24 October 2024, what the terms of reference of the Workforce Development Group are.

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

The Local Government Workforce Development Group will provide a central-local partnership on local government capacity and capability challenges. It will try to identify the priority cross-cutting issues impacting the local government workforce as a whole and seek creative solutions to address them.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in which local authority areas combined authority mayoral elections will take place in 2025.

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

There are two scheduled combined authority mayoral elections in 2025; the Mayor for West of England Combined Authority which includes the local authority areas of Bristol City, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and the Mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority which includes the local authority area of Peterborough City Council and the local authorities in Cambridgeshire. Subject to parliamentary approval to the legislation establishing a new Mayoral Combined Authority for Hull and East Yorkshire, their first mayoral election will also take place in 2025 including the local authority areas of Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to allow local authorities to impose local taxes on (a) hotel and (b) short-term let stays.

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

For the purposes of local taxation, all property is either domestic or non-domestic and is generally subject to either council tax or business rates. Whether any discounts or exemptions may apply will depend on the specific circumstances of each property.

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 make an estimate of the number of hereditaments that will qualify for retail, hospitality and leisure business rates relief in financial year 2024-25.

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

The latest local authority data on the number of hereditaments in receipt of reliefs is published here: National non-domestic rates collected by councils in England: forecast 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK. The supplementary data tables provide the relevant breakdown and show the number of hereditaments in receipt of reliefs as of 31 December 2023.

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 her speech at the Local Government Association Conference of 24 October 2024, whether she plans to end the allocation of funding to local government by bidding.

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

The government is committed to pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to return the local government sector to a sustainable position. This will be done in partnership with local government and on the principle of giving forward notice and certainty to allow time for councils to plan.

To further support the sector, we will end time-consuming competitive bidding processes and cut burdensome reporting requirements around government grants - allowing local authorities to focus on delivering services for their residents. We will also reduce the number of restrictive grants, and consolidate them into the Local Government Finance Settlement wherever possible.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her Department’s definition of a working person is for the purposes of policy development.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

A working person is someone who goes out to work and works for their income. The government has committed to not increase taxes on working people, protecting their payslips against higher taxes. This means no increase in the basic, higher or additional rates of Income Tax, Employee National Insurance contributions or VAT.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2024 to Question 10435 on Government Departments: Trade Unions, what the check-off arrangements in her Department are.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government honours the historic contractual rights of employees to pay subscriptions via a check off arrangement. Existing payroll mechanisms are in place to facilitate this.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to classify new measures in the Employment Rights Bill as a burden via the New burdens doctrine.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Our Impact Assessments provide an initial, indicative assessment of the impacts that could result from primary legislation. This represents the best estimate for the likely impacts given the current stage of policy development. We intend to refine our analysis and conduct further assessment as the Bill progresses, in line with Better Regulation requirements.

The New Burdens Doctrine does not apply to policies which apply the same rules to local authorities and to private sector bodies, such as employment legislation that applies to all organisations, unless these have a disproportionate effect on local government.

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 Written Statement of 28 October 2024 on Social and Affordable Housing: Next Steps, HCWS169, what the target date is for the 5,000 new homes to be (a) started and (b) completed.

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

At the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced a one year top up of £500 million to the Affordable Homes Programme. This is expected to deliver up to 5,000 additional homes under the programme. The delivery of the additional homes will follow the targets and parameters of the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 30 July 2024 (HCWS48), which announced flexibilities for affordable housing delivery in London including allowing some homes to complete by March 2030.

The deadline for housing starts on site for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme is March 2026. The deadlines for completions can vary. For homes outside London, completion dates are set out in Homes England’s guidance for applicants here.

The tenure mix will depend on the bids from local authorities and housing associations, to be assessed by Homes England and the Greater London Authority, and I have asked those organisations to prioritise Social Rent homes with this extra funding.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the average grant subsidy per unit to build an average affordable dwelling under the (a) social rent, (b) affordable rent and (c) affordable home ownership tenures was in the 2015-18 Affordable Homes Programme.

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

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government delegates delivery of the government’s Affordable Homes Programme to Homes England (outside London) and to the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London.

The government agrees budgets and targets with both agencies to deliver the programme’s overall targets for additional homes and specific types of tenure.

In awarding contracts under the programme Homes England and the GLA assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis.

In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

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 average grant awarded per unit for (a) London Living Rent and (b) London affordable rent under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021 to 2026.

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

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government delegates delivery of the government’s Affordable Homes Programme to Homes England (outside London) and to the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London.

The government agrees budgets and targets with both agencies to deliver the programme’s overall targets for additional homes and specific types of tenure.

In awarding contracts under the programme Homes England and the GLA assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis.

In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the affordable housing grant funding rates are per unit in London under the Accelerated Funding Route by type of affordable housing tenure.

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

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government delegates delivery of the government’s Affordable Homes Programme to Homes England (outside London) and to the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London.

The government agrees budgets and targets with both agencies to deliver the programme’s overall targets for additional homes and specific types of tenure.

In awarding contracts under the programme Homes England and the GLA assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis.

In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

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 Written Statement of 28 October 2024 on Social and Affordable Housing: Next Steps, HCWS169, if she will make an estimate of the (a) number of Right to Buy sales and (b) associated funding for replacement dwellings in each of the next four years.

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

The Review of the Increased Right to Buy Discounts introduced in 2012 includes figures on the impact of the new reduced maximum discounts.

We estimate that an average of 1,700 sales will take place annually which will generate, on average, approximately £250 million of net receipts every year.

Annex A of the Review outlines the assumptions about future sales and receipts on which the Right to Buy reforms are based.

As confirmed at Budget, the government is allowing councils to retain the full capital receipt generated by a Right to Buy sale to support the delivery of replacement dwellings.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information (a) her Department and (b) Homes England holds on the average grant awarded per unit for new (i) affordable and (ii) social rent dwellings in (A) England, (B) London and (C) England outside London under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 to date.

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

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government delegates delivery of the government’s Affordable Homes Programme to Homes England (outside London) and to the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London.

The government agrees budgets and targets with both agencies to deliver the programme’s overall targets for additional homes and specific types of tenure.

In awarding contracts under the programme Homes England and the GLA assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis.

In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information (a) her Department and (b) Homes England hold on the average grant awarded per unit for new affordable dwellings for homeownership in (A) England, (B) London and (C) England outside London under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 to date.

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

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government delegates delivery of the government’s Affordable Homes Programme to Homes England (outside London) and to the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London.

The government agrees budgets and targets with both agencies to deliver the programme’s overall targets for additional homes and specific types of tenure.

In awarding contracts under the programme Homes England and the GLA assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis.

In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

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 Written Statement of 28 October 2024 on Social and Affordable Housing: Next Steps, HCWS169, what the tenure mix will be for the 5,000 new social and affordable homes.

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

At the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced a one year top up of £500 million to the Affordable Homes Programme. This is expected to deliver up to 5,000 additional homes under the programme. The delivery of the additional homes will follow the targets and parameters of the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 30 July 2024 (HCWS48), which announced flexibilities for affordable housing delivery in London including allowing some homes to complete by March 2030.

The deadline for housing starts on site for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme is March 2026. The deadlines for completions can vary. For homes outside London, completion dates are set out in Homes England’s guidance for applicants here.

The tenure mix will depend on the bids from local authorities and housing associations, to be assessed by Homes England and the Greater London Authority, and I have asked those organisations to prioritise Social Rent homes with this extra funding.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has received representations from trade unions on introducing a four-day working week for civil servants working in her Department.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The department is aware of a campaign by members of the Public and Commercial Services trade union (PCS) on the introduction of a four-day week. No formal representations have been made to the department.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) interests and (b) political activities Mo Baines declared when she was appointed as Lead Non-Executive Director.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Relevant information will be published in due course as part of the annual publication of board members' interests.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has received representations on the call for a boycott of Israel’s book industry and Israeli cultural institutions.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No records of such representations have been located.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many civil servants other than special advisers from his Department attended this year’s Labour Party Conference.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Guidance on Party Conferences is published on gov.uk and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-servants-and-party-conferences-guidance(opens in a new tab).

This is applied appropriately and robustly in MHCLG. There is no record of any breach of this policy.

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 publish all correspondence between her Department and the Commissioner for Public Appointments in relation to the appointment of the MHCLG Lead Non-Executive Director on 21 October 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I will place a copy of the department’s letter to the Commissioner for Public Appointments in the Library of the House in the coming days. The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments also publishes an annual list of direct appointments that the Commissioner has been consulted on.

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 18 October 2024 to Question 8190 on Social Services: Finance, for what reason a decision on council tax (a) referendums and (b) associated thresholds will not be taken until the spending review, in the context of earlier timetabling requirements for the 2025-26 local government finance settlement.

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

The government has published the local government finance policy statement setting out referendum thresholds for 2025-26. This is available here.

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 set council tax referendum thresholds for 2025-26.

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

The government has published the local government finance policy statement setting out referendum thresholds for 2025-26. This is available here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the early release of prisoners on levels of homelessness.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Prisons, probation and local authorities worked closely together to mitigate the risk of homelessness during the standard determinate sentence (SDS40) release scheme. MHCLG is working closely with the MoJ to build on lessons learned through SDS40.

The MoJ is currently collating data relating to the September and October SDS release dates and this will be published.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, by what dates her Department is required to (a) publish and (b) ratify the local government finance settlement for 2025-26; and what the deadlines are for local authorities to publish their (i) budget and (ii) council tax requirements for 2025-26.

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

Precepting authorities must set their council tax by 1 March each year and billing authorities must set their council tax by 11 March. Within 21 days of setting their council tax, billing authorities are required to publish details of the total council tax charges in their area. There are no set dates by which the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) must be published.

To allow councils to set their budgets in good time, ahead of the 1 March deadline for setting council tax bills, the Department should publish and put before Parliament the final Local Government Finance Settlement 2025/26 before the end of February 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which consultations launched in her Department by the previous Government have closed but have not yet received a substantive Government response, in the context of the Cabinet Office's publication entitled Consultation principles: guidance, last updated in March 2018.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is committed to using consultations and other forms of public engagement to support effective decision-making and delivery. We will respond to all consultations in a timely manner, in line with agreed deadlines.

Within MHCLG, responsibility for managing consultations primarily sits with the relevant individual policy team. No staff are therefore specifically employed to work on consultations.

Information relating to consultations under the previous administration cannot be provided, as it is not held centrally and collating it would result in a disproportionate cost to the department.

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 11 October 2024 to Question 5412 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Consultation, how many officials in her Department are employed to work specifically on consultations.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is committed to using consultations and other forms of public engagement to support effective decision-making and delivery. We will respond to all consultations in a timely manner, in line with agreed deadlines.

Within MHCLG, responsibility for managing consultations primarily sits with the relevant individual policy team. No staff are therefore specifically employed to work on consultations.

Information relating to consultations under the previous administration cannot be provided, as it is not held centrally and collating it would result in a disproportionate cost to the department.

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 16 October 2024 to Question 7823 on Local Government: Productivity, if she will publish that letter.

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

As noted in my answer to Question 7823 on 16 October 2024, I wrote to all councils to acknowledge the productivity plans submitted after the election, and to thank them for developing innovative efficiency solutions. I was clear that I will not micromanage councils going forward and I am committed to working together to explore how we can make better use of existing resources.

The department does not routinely publish letters issued to local authorities and we will not be publishing the letter in this instance.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to (a) employer National Insurance contributions and (b) business rate relief on community pubs.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

To repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.

The Government recognises the need to protect the smallest employers which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year.

A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 November and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-class-1-national-insurance-contributions-secondary-threshold-the-secondary-class-1-national-insurance-contributions-rate-and-the-empl/changes-to-the-class-1-national-insurance-contributions-secondary-threshold-the-secondary-class-1-national-insurance-contributions-rate-and-the-empl

Without any Government intervention, Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) business rates relief would have ended entirely in April 2025, creating a cliff-edge for businesses. Instead, the Government has decided to offer a 40 per cent discount to RHL properties up to a cash cap of £110,0000 per business in 2025-26 and frozen the small business multiplier.

By tapering RHL relief to 40%, rather than removing it entirely, the Government has saved the average pub, with a rateable value (RV) of £16,800, over £3,300 in 2025.

The Chancellor also announced a duty cut on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This represents an overall reduction in duty bills of over £85m a year and is equivalent to a 1p duty reduction on a typical pint. This reduction increased the relief available on draught products to 13.9%.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's practice is on ministerial attendance at (a) meetings and (b) conferences (i) sponsored and (ii) connected to firms associated with the Grenfell Tower fire.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has written to firms associated with the failing identified by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, as the first step to stopping them being awarded government contracts. While this process continues, Ministers within my department will avoid meetings and events associated with firms identified as contributing to these horrific failings through their systematic dishonesty and manipulative practices.

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 11 October 2024 to Question 5412 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Consultation, if she will list the consultation documents that closed between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024 that have not yet received a formal response.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is committed to using consultations and other forms of public engagement to support effective decision-making and delivery. We will respond to all consultations in a timely manner, in line with agreed deadlines.

Within MHCLG, responsibility for managing consultations primarily sits with the relevant individual policy team. No staff are therefore specifically employed to work on consultations.

Information relating to consultations under the previous administration cannot be provided, as it is not held centrally and collating it would result in a disproportionate cost to the department.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on facilitating the use of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre by Parliament during its Restoration and Renewal Programme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There is no policy or agreement in place with the Houses of Parliament on using the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre during the Restoration and Renewal Programme. However, the Government continues to work with Parliament on the Restoration and Renewal Programme ahead of proposals coming to the House in 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 8688 on Affordable Housing: Construction, if she will make a comparative assessment of the (a) spending profile and (b) contractual commitment profile of the 2021-26 programme with the (i) 2011-15 and (ii) 2015-18 programme.

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

The National Audit Office’s report into the Affordable Homes Programme since 2015, which can be found here, assessed the programme’s management and whether it achieved the intended benefits. The report captured a range of helpful data and made a number of key findings.

As we confirmed in July, the previous government agreed but did not publish a reduction in the 2021-26 programme's delivery targets from “up to 180,000 homes should economic conditions allow” to between 110,000-130,000.

This government will seek to learn lessons from earlier affordable housing programmes as we work to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to commission further rounds of the (a) Build to Rent fund and (b) Private Rented Sector Guarantee scheme.

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

The government provides development finance for Build to Rent schemes alongside institutional investors through our Levelling Up Home Building Fund, delivered by Homes England.

Building on the announcement in the last Budget, we will be reopening the Private Rented Sector Guarantee Scheme (PRSGS) for another three years to new applicants, and just under £2 billion of guarantee capacity will be available to Build-to-Rent developers to support housebuilding.

We have also modernised the scheme rules to reflect the current state of the market, meaning that more housebuilders will be able to access lending.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question HL1722 on Housing: Regeneration, whether the 1.5 million new homes target will count residential dwellings resulting from a change of use from non-residential hereditaments.

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

As confirmed in my recent evidence to the select committee, net additional dwellings will be the main measure of the commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes over this Parliament.

This statistic includes residential dwellings resulting from a change of use from non-residential hereditaments.

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 14 October 2024 to Question 7872 on Local Government: Elections, if she will update the list of years in which each council’s elections will be held with the (a) council and (b) combined authority mayoral elections expected to take place in (i) 2025 and (ii) 2026.

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

The Government will update the list of local authority elections in England - which can be found here - to include elections for mayors for combined authorities and combined county authorities. The list already includes elections for councils and is easily found through an internet search without the need to submit a parliamentary question.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2820 on Private Education: Business Rates, whether a (a) sports playing field and (b) playground is a positive material consideration by the Valuation Office Agency when calculating the rateable value of an independent school for business rates.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

All intrinsic physical characteristics of the school are taken into consideration, and both sports playing fields and playgrounds are material considerations which positively impact the calculated rateable value.

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 11 October 2014 to Question 5416 on Civil Dignitaries and Members: Age, for what reason the Government deems 16 and 17 year olds to be old enough to vote in (a) local and (b) Parliamentary elections but not stand in those elections.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2024, to Question 5416, the introduction of Votes at 16 is about building long lasting engagement with our democracy among young people. By engaging voters early, when they are young, we will build the foundations for their long-term participation in our electoral processes.

That is why this government is rightly focused on delivering on the manifesto which it was elected on and the commitment to lower the voting age for all UK elections. As set out in the previous answer, the government has no plans to change the eligibility criteria of candidacy age for local and parliamentary elections.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been provided to local authorities from Right to Buy receipts to fund new housing in each year since 2009-10.

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

Since 2012, councils have been able to retain a portion of the capital receipts generated from Right to Buy sales to use towards new affordable housing.

Prior to 2012, around 75% of receipts were returned to the Treasury and the remaining 25% was retained by the council for any capital purpose.

Since 2012, councils have retained on average £446.8 million per year for replacement social housing.

Between 2012-13 and 2021-22 councils were required to return a portion of the capital receipt to HMT representing approximately £183 million per annum.

As announced at Budget, the government is allowing councils to retain the share of the receipts that was previously returned to HMT so support the delivery of replacement homes.

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 14 October 2024 to Question 6395 MHCLG: departmental responsibilities, what work the Deputy Prime Minister's Policy and Strategy Unit does for her remit as Deputy Prime Minister.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Deputy Prime Minister's Policy and Strategy Unit supports delivery of priorities across both her remit as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Deputy Prime Minister. The policy and strategy unit performs a similar role to equivalent units established under previous administrations.

The Policy and Strategy Unit is comprised of two Deputy Directors, supported by policy advisors (at grade HEO/SEO) and senior policy advisors (at grade 7/6). The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration.

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 14 October 2024 to Question 6395 on MHCLG: departmental responsibilities, what the headcount number of staff is for the Policy and Strategy Unit by civil service grade.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Deputy Prime Minister's Policy and Strategy Unit supports delivery of priorities across both her remit as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Deputy Prime Minister. The policy and strategy unit performs a similar role to equivalent units established under previous administrations.

The Policy and Strategy Unit is comprised of two Deputy Directors, supported by policy advisors (at grade HEO/SEO) and senior policy advisors (at grade 7/6). The approach to recruitment and staffing levels is in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason the Minister for Homelessness and Democracy is no longer responsible for the Grenfell brief.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Trusted relationships between ministers and the Grenfell community are essential for this Department. Before I became a Minister, I called for the French delegation of the Franco-British Colloque to cut ties with Saint Gobain. But I understand that perception matters and I therefore concluded that the building safety portfolio would be best transferred to another minister.

Updated ministerial responsibilities were published in October.

Our goals of making buildings safe and preventing another tragedy continue to be very important issues for me, and the Deputy Prime Minister and the rest of the ministerial team have my full support in delivering on this work.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides on the processes to be followed by other Government departments making representations on the potential call-in or recovery of a planning application or appeal.

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

There is no separate guidance provided to other government departments regarding making representations on the potential call-in or recovery of a planning application or appeal. Processes are laid out in the House of Commons Library research briefing ‘Call-in of planning applications (England)’ (2024). Advice on these matters may also be requested from this department’s Planning Casework Unit.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding from the Spring Budget 2022 for the purchase of new electric vans via the plug-in vehicle grant remains available.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Over the last two financial years since Spring 2022, the Plug in Van Grant has supported the purchase over 30,000 zero emission vans.

The Government continues to recognise the importance of grants, providing £120 million for next financial year to incentivise the uptake of zero emission vans and wheelchair accessible electric vehicles. All grants remain under review to ensure best value for money for 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 the (a) substantive information requested and (b) decision was for each (i) Freedom of Information Act and (ii) Environmental Information Regulation request received by her Department since the general election; and what exemption was used to (A) refuse and (B) part-refuse each request.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Cabinet Office has responsibility for Freedom of Information policy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and publishes information on the handling of requests at this link: Freedom of Information statistics - GOV.UK.

Statistics for the period requested are attached. We have annexed the information you requested to this response.

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 Answers of 8 October 2024 to Questions 5762 and 5607 on Devolution: Norfolk and Devolution: Suffolk, what the evidential basis is for the Government's policy that a single local authority model of devolution would risk the optimal delivery of services.

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

This government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined authorities or combined county authorities over sensible economic geographies and supported by a directly elected mayor. These institutions and mayors, with their regional economic competencies and status as members of the Council of Nations and Regions add the capacity and focus required to get the best from new devolved powers and funding. We have therefore decided that mayoral devolution will only be available to areas that come together to establish such institutions over a wider geography.

The Government is committed to bringing meaningful devolution to Norfolk and Suffolk and stands ready to work with partners across the region on progressing a more ambitious devolution settlement, in a way that delivers the best outcomes possible the people of Norfolk and Suffolk, and which sees the right powers in the right places. We are pleased that discussions remain positive and look forward to making progress on devolution.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 2635 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, if she will state how her department has changed the previous Government’s approach to extremism to facilitate the efficiency saving of £5 million that was included in the MHCLG savings listed in HM Treasury's document entitled, Fixing the foundations: Public spending audit 2024-25, published on 29 July 2024.

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

The Home Secretary commissioned the counter extremism sprint to identify gaps in current policy approaches and to recommend a new approach to tackling radicalisation that can draw people to hateful ideologies, both online and offline. The aim was to develop objectives and the foundations for a new strategy and recommend a coherent and sustainable approach to counter extremism across His Majesty's Government. The sprint was conducted over the summer and has now concluded.

Departmental budgets are currently under review and will be announced by His Majesty’s Treasury in due course. The Home Office intends for all projects to deliver value for money and remain in line with budgetary capabilities.

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 Written Statement of 28 November 2024 on Local Government Finance, HCWS265, and to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 15204, if he will publish the council tax referendum principles for (a) the Greater London Authority and (b) Transport for London for the financial year 2025-26.

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

The local government finance policy statement 2025 to 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-finance-policy-statement-2025-to-2026/local-government-finance-policy-statement-2025-to-2026), set out a proposed referendum principle of 3% for the Greater London Authority’s non police precept and a £14 flexibility for the police element. There is no separate council tax precept charged by Transport for London.

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 9 September 2024 to Question 2820 on Private Education: Business Rates, whether business rates will be levied on (a) nurseries and (b) pre-school premises affiliated with an independent school.

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

The Non Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill will remove the eligibility for charitable rate relief from private schools that are charities in England. Standalone private nursery schools with their own rates bills are outside of the scope of the Bill and, where charities, will retain their relief. Private schools that provide education for pupils of compulsory school age but also have nursery classes within the school will lose their rate relief entirely unless the nursery classes are on separate premises with their own rates bill.

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 Homes England press release of 15 October 2024, entitled Homes England invests in Schroders Capital’s Real Estate Impact Fund, whether the £50 million of funding is (a) capital spending, (b) revenue spending and (c) a financial transaction.

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

The Homes England investment into Schroders Capital’s Real Estate Impact Fund was announced following the government’s International Investment Summit. The investment of £50 million was a Financial Transaction from Capital Spending budgets (CDEL- FT) and sits alongside other capital from private sector investors with the aim of generating a financial return for shareholders. The commitment from Homes England will increase the ability of the fund to secure further allocations whilst also enabling the provision of new social and affordable homes and supporting town centre regeneration, key objectives of Homes England.

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 her Department's press release of 15 October 2024 entitled Thousands of new homes to be built as government unlocks brownfield sites, what the target date is to complete the delivery of 5,200 homes; and whether 5,200 homes is the target for the whole of the 2022-25 Brownfield Land Release Fund 2.

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

Round three Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 land release milestones are set for 31 March 2028. Housing is then delivered up to three years after the land release milestone. The 5,200 homes forecast applies only to the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2, round three. The whole of the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 is forecast to release land for 14,100 homes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any planning applications for national significant infrastructure development consent have been delayed from the original statutory deadline since 4 July 2024.

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

There has been a total of seven planning applications delayed from the original statutory deadline since 4 July 2024.

They are as follows:

• Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant;
• Heckington Fen Solar;
• Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange;
• Luton Airport;
• Lower Thames Crossing;
• North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park; and
• West Burton Solar.

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 Prime Minister's speech entitled PM International Investment Summit Speech: 14 October 2024, whether she plans to remove (a) nutrient neutrality rules, (b) Environmental Information Assessments and (c) Strategic Environmental Assessments.

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

I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 556 on 26 July 2024 and Question 1315 on 26 July 2024.

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 14 October 2024 to Question 6386 on Affordable Housing, whether the social rent homes target in the 2021-26 Affordable Housing Programme has increased since 9 September 2024.

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

As set out in the Deputy Prime Minister’s statement made on 30 July 2024 (HCSW48), we have asked Homes England and the Greater London Authority to maximise the number of Social Rent homes in allocating the remaining Affordable Homes Programme funding. The programme targets for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme remain as set out in our update on 30 July.

At the Budget the Chancellor announced an immediate injection of £500 million into this Programme. This will support delivery of up to 5,000 additional homes and bidding is already open to local authorities and other social landlords. I have asked Homes England and the GLA to prioritise social rent homes in assessing those bids and allocating this funding.

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