Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Table 5.8 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much of the spending line Memo: Police Core Spending is made up of (a) government grant and (b) council tax receipts in each year.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As set out in the Spending Review 2025 document, published 11 June 2025, the Phase 2 settlement provides an average 1.7% real terms increase per year in police spending power. Over the SR period, police spending power is projected to increase by an average 2.3% per year in real terms.

Police core spending power includes projected spending from a mix of central government funding and local taxation through the police council tax precept. This 2.3% projection is therefore premised on the police being funded through increases to both. However, this remains subject to final decisions on precept levels and individual police and crime commissioner decisions. The government will set out spending plans for police forces in England and Wales, including the final precept level and core government funding, at the annual police funding settlement in the usual way.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 60473 on Defending Democracy Taskforce, if she will publish a redacted version of the findings.

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

The Written Ministerial Statement I issued on 14 May provided a transparent and comprehensive overview of the Review’s key findings and recommendations, while protecting sensitive national security information which could be of use to our adversaries.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58059 on Street Trading: Licensing, what guidance he has given to local authorities on the use of Public Space Protection Orders to ban street stalls by political campaigners engaging in lawful free speech.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The statutory framework for PSPOs sets out clear conditions for their use.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia informed her Department of potential conflicts of interest.

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

The group members completed declaration of interest forms which have been held by the Department. Their appointment was made on the basis that they had no conflicts of interest in taking up this role. Should any potential conflict of interest arise in future, the group must notify MHCLG in writing and be prepared to step aside from decisions on which they are conflicted.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to ensure the objectivity of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition.

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

The working group includes members from a cross-section of society and have been selected for their technical expertise and experience and ability to work to deliver the objectives of the group.

The Terms of Reference and full membership of the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Working Group were published on Monday 24 March. Per the Terms of Reference, the Group is an independent, non-statutory body. These also set a requirement for group members to immediately raise any potential conflicts of interest with MHCLG.

The group will make evidence-based recommendations for ministers to consider, informed by engagement with a wide cross section of individuals and organisations from across the sector.

A Call for Evidence was recently published on gov.uk to ensure that the advice provided to Government reflects the diverse experiences and opinions of our faith communities’ and beyond across the country.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) funding and (b) guidance has been given to (i) private contractors and (ii) local authorities on providing free (A) TV licences and (B) driving licences to asylum seekers.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

None.

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 commission research on the operation of shariah courts in England.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 50309 on 14 May 2025.

Sharia Courts are not part of the judicial system in England and Wales.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many affordable homes were delivered in (a) 2013-24 and (b) 2023-24.

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

The number of affordable homes delivered in each year since 1991-92 is published in Live Table 1000 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, with reference to paragraph 7.12 of her Department's publication, Local authority funding reform objectives and principles consultation: summary of responses published on 20 June 2025, whether she plans to set a higher council tax referendum threshold for councils with a Band D council tax below the notional council tax.

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

The government recognised in its response to the consultation a number of respondents had requested increased council tax flexibility to reflect funding reform. The Spending Review confirmed the government intends to maintain the 3% threshold with an additional 2% for the adult social care precept, in line with OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way.

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 23 June 2025 to Question 60129 on Local Government Finance, whether the LG DEL figures of (a) £15.0bn in 2025-26, (b) £15.4bn in 2026-27, (c) £15.6bn in 2027-28 and (d) £15.8bn in 2028-29 set out in Table 5.17 of CP1336 were used as the evidential basis for the core spending power calculations in the Spending Review 2025.

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

The Core Spending Power (CSP) figures in Table 5.17 of the Spending Review document do contain the uplift from the LG Resource DEL figures, although not all of LG DEL is distributed through CSP. However, the CSP figures also contain estimations for Council Tax revenue which reflect the referendum principles announced at the Spending Review. They also contain an adjustment reflecting the impact of MHCLG retaining grant funding from 2026-27 onwards that has been surrendered in previous years to offset the impacts of additional business rates retained in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, as outlined in footnote four of the table as well.

There is £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29, and individual local authority CSP figures will be confirmed at settlement in the usual way.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether county council elections which were postponed in May 2025 will take place in May 2026.

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

The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification. As set out to the House on 17 June, the government is now consulting on two proposals for unitary local government from councils in Surrey. If the Secretary of State decides to implement a proposal, secondary legislation, which will be subject to Parliamentary approval, will be required to abolish existing councils, establish new structures and make transitional arrangements. Those transitional arrangements, consistent with precedent, would include replacing scheduled local elections with elections for the new councils, which will operate initially as new unitary authorities. This follows standard practice during Local Government Reorganisation, as conducted by the last government in Northamptonshire in 2020 and in Cumbria and North Yorkshire in 2022.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 54290 on Chinese Embassy, whether the Bank of England has any role in relation to the cyber-security of financial institutions in and near the City of London.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the UK's technical authority for cyber security, including helping to protect the UK's critical infrastructure and services from cyber-attacks. The Bank of England, through the Prudential Regulation Authority and working closely with the NCSC, requires PRA-regulated financial institutions to have rigorous cyber-security frameworks in place and requires regular assessment of financial institutions’ cyber security measures.

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 24 June 2025 to Question 60136 on Affordable Housing: Finance, excluding the affordable housing programme, what is the average annual real growth in capital expenditure from 2025-26 to 2029-30.

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

Excluding our new Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP), my Department’s capital expenditure will decrease by an average of 2% per year from 2025-26 to 2029-30. This is equivalent to keeping capital investment other than the SAHP flat in cash terms on average across the period.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Charity Commission on the activities of (a) Dar Al-Hekma and (b) Abrar Islamic Foundation.

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

The Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth recently met with the Charity Commission to discuss a range of issues. The Charity Commission has live regulatory compliance cases open into the Abrar Islamic Foundation and the Dar Alhekma Trust and they will not hesitate to take regulatory action if necessary. Given the nature of the allegations, the Commission has also referred the serious allegations to the Metropolitan Police Service.

As the independent regulator, the Charity Commission has a wide range of powers to tackle misconduct or mismanagement in charities. It acts robustly to tackle those who abuse charities. We keep the Charity Commission's powers under regular review and are actively considering whether further powers are required.

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 paragraph 6.2.5 of the consultation entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of council tax increases on funding allocations to local authorities with average Band D council taxes below £2,000.

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

The government’s proposal is to make funding available in a way that enables all local authorities to provide the same level of service to their residents. We propose to do this by setting the notional Council Tax level at the average Band D level of Council Tax in England, which will fully equalise for a local authority’s ability to raise Council Tax.

The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles are to protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases. We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement in the usual way.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether revenues from selective licensing charges on private rented sector landlords (a) are ringfenced and (b) can be applied to the general revenue account; and whether councils can charge above cost recovery.

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

Selective licensing fees paid by landlords to local authorities should only be used to cover the costs of running schemes. Local authorities are not expected to profit from licensing, nor should they use licensing revenues to fund other local authority services.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Localis entitled Reorganisation, local government and the future of English Devolution, published on 25 June 2025; and what estimate her Department has made of the reduction in the number of councillors from local government reforms.

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

I would like to thank Professors Copus and Leach for their analysis of the short and long-term history of English local government reform, which my officials are considering. The department has not made an estimate of the reduction in the number of councillors from local government reforms. It is important that councils have the right number of members to achieve the strategic, decision-making and representative roles of the authority. As I set out in my answer to PQ 26697 on 4 February 2025, my department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) so that they are involved at the appropriate time to ensure fair electoral arrangements across the area of any new unitary local authorities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the bye-law powers in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL] will allow local authorities and the Greater London Authority to issue fixed penalty notices through private sector firms.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Under measures contained in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, local transport authorities, including in London, will be able to appoint individuals as “authorised persons” to enforce bus byelaws, and issue fixed penalty notices, where relevant. It will be for local transport authorities to determine who they appoint, and that could include employees of private sector businesses.

My department will be publishing guidance to support local transport authorities to implement this Bill measure.

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 publication entitled Count of Traveller Caravans, January 2025: England, published on 25 June 2025, what steps she is taking to help tackle the increase of (a) unauthorised traveller development on land they own and (b) unauthorised traveller encampments and trespass on land they do not own.

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

Whilst the number of caravans on unauthorised sites did increase between the 2024 and 2025 counts, local authorities have been encouraged to report excess numbers on authorised sites as unauthorised so the reported increase may reflect improved data quality, rather than a genuine increase in the number of caravans on this site type.

More widely, the number of caravans on unauthorised encampments is a very small proportion of the overall number of caravans reported (1%) and subject to more fluctuation than other site types.

In relation to local planning authority enforcement powers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46336 on 30 April 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether private sector landlords will be required to pay multiple fees to register under (a) selective licensing introduced by local authorities, (b) the Private Rented Sector Database and (c) to be regulated under landlord redress schemes; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of consolidating those fees.

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

Selective licensing schemes introduced by local authorities, the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, and the PRS Ombudsman are separate regimes and fees will be structured and set according to the relevant legislation.

My Department is exploring options for administrative alignment where possible; for example, aligning the registration process for the Ombudsman and Database.

We will provide guidance which will make clear what landlords need to do to meet their new responsibilities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question HL8020 on Embassies: Planning Permission, whether his Department holds such information.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not record such information.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will submit a copy of the China Audit to the designated Planning Minister who is now considering the called-in planning application for the Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint, London.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary will not be submitting a copy of the China Audit to the designated Planning Minister. However, on 14 January, the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary submitted written representations to the Planning Inspector to ensure national security concerns are fully considered. These representations are publicly available on the Tower Hamlets website and form part of the evidence that will be reviewed by the Planning Minister.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament will be given a full copy of the China Audit; whether it will be shared with HM Opposition on Privy Council terms; and if he will publish a security redacted version.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It is right that Parliament should have the opportunity to scrutinise the work of the Government, as its responsibility. There are mechanisms in place for certain parliamentarians to have access to classified Government material, such as parts of the Audit. It is not unusual that our China strategy - or that of any other country - remains internal. This is consistent with our Five Eyes partners.

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 20 June 2025 on Fair Funding Review 2.0 and Modernising and Improving the Administration of Council Tax, HCWS724, how much was allocated to the New Homes Bonus including legacy payments by tier of local government in England in 2024-25.

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

New Homes Bonus allocations are published online, and the amounts awarded in 2024-25 can be found gov.uk here. The then government ended new legacy payments in 2020-21, with final payments made in 2022-23.

The totals allocated by tier in 2024-25 are as follows:

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what dates Ministers in her Department have met with (a) Dominic Grieve and (b) the members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia to discuss (i) that working group and (ii) the definition of Islamophobia.

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

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement has had monthly meetings with the Chair of the Working Group. He has met with members of the Working Group on several occasions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance Companies House has provided on whether political parties may be incorporated as (a) unlimited and (b) limited companies.

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

Companies House has not issued general guidance on whether political parties may be incorporated as (a) unlimited and (b) limited companies.

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 paragraph 12.3 of the consultation outcome entitled Local authority funding reform objectives and principles consultation: summary of responses, published on 20 June 2025, what the fees named in the 65 consultation responses were.

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

Responses to the December funding reform consultation highlighted several fees and charges where local authorities felt they were unable to recover the cost of the service. These included alcohol licensing, planning and building control.

Through the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is now consulting on proposals to review local authority fees and charges and consider where there is a case for reform. We welcome views on this, including the scope of proposed reforms.

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 paragraph 2.1.1 of the publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, whether the transitional arrangements will be subject to downward phasing.

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

In the Fair Funding Review 2.0 We are inviting views on a package of transitional arrangements to support local authorities to their new allocations in a sustainable way. While we will confirm the specific arrangements after the consultation closes, we expect the vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Spending Review period.

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 June 2025 to Question 61518 on MHCLG: Civil Servants, what is the FTE headcount number of a 10% reduction in the number of civil servants; and whether it will involve (a) compulsory and (b) voluntary redundancies.

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

The department is aiming to reduce the FTE headcount of its Civil Servant workforce from 3,790 as at March 2025 to 3,350 by March 2030. This will be achieved through utilising natural workforce turnover and the already publicised voluntary exit scheme for staff this year. There are no plans to implement either a compulsory or a voluntary redundancy programme to support this aim.

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 paragraph 10.4.2 of the document entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0 of 20 June 2025, what (a) fees and (b) charges levied by local authorities are in scope of the consultation.

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

Responses to the December funding reform consultation highlighted several fees and charges where local authorities felt they were unable to recover the cost of the service. These included alcohol licensing, planning and building control.

Through the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is now consulting on proposals to review local authority fees and charges and consider where there is a case for reform. We welcome views on this, including the scope of proposed reforms.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has she made of the potential risk of cultural exchanges of embassies of hostile states being used as a base for espionage in the United Kingdom.

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

We continually assess potential threats to the UK and take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and the security of our information extremely seriously.

Anyone seeking to conduct hostile acts against the UK, steal our information for commercial advantage, or interfere in our society covertly is liable to prosecution under the National Security Act 2023.

More broadly, diplomatic activity in the UK is governed through the principles of the Vienna Conventions which allows for legitimate diplomatic activity. Where we find evidence of any activity that goes beyond what is accredited for, this could invalidate the accreditation, and the UK would take appropriate action.

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 paragraph 9.4.7 of the publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what the assumed net growth is in the number of dwellings in each year of the multi-year settlement.

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

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is inviting views and evidence on projecting Council Tax base growth in the context of supporting the government’s objective to build 1.5 million new homes.

There are several options for how we could project Council Tax base growth, two of which are outlined in paragraph 9.4.8 of the publication.

The consultation is open until 15th August. We will publish our response in the autumn, followed by the provisional multi-year Settlement.

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 page 10, footnote 2 of the publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what the estimated averages in council tax are for all local authorities in each year from 2026-27.

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

The Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation is open from 20th June – 15th August. We are seeking views on the government’s proposed approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities and fire and rescue authorities, building on the local authority funding reform: objectives and principles consultation.

The estimated averages in council tax across the multi-year Settlement reflect the government’s intention to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, as set out in the Spending Review. These principles are in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. The Department will publish updated estimates as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) 2026-27, including the specific core spending power figures for each local authority.

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 paragraph 9.4.6 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what the assumed increase is in the notional Band D council tax in each year of the multi-year settlement.

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

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. In 2025-26, data published by MHCLG shows that councils expect to generate £653.6m from the use of the ASC Precept in 2025-26, which adds £34 to average band D bills. The data is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680a37fc7a11df940be1aaa2/Table_10_2025-26.ods.

For 2026-27 to 2028-29, the Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement each year, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way. The government is inviting views and supporting evidence on projecting a notional Council Tax level, to ensure places less able to raise tax locally are not left behind. The consultation is open until 15^th August.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the projected (a) size on average Band D council tax and (b) total receipts of the social care precept is from each year from 2025-26 to 2028-29.

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

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. In 2025-26, data published by MHCLG shows that councils expect to generate £653.6m from the use of the ASC Precept in 2025-26, which adds £34 to average band D bills. The data is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680a37fc7a11df940be1aaa2/Table_10_2025-26.ods.

For 2026-27 to 2028-29, the Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement each year, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way. The government is inviting views and supporting evidence on projecting a notional Council Tax level, to ensure places less able to raise tax locally are not left behind. The consultation is open until 15^th August.

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 paragraph 5.1 of the report of the Ministerial Envoys to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to Ministers, published on 9 July 2025, what assessment the Ministerial Envoys have made of the potential impact of the council not renewing long-term leases for community groups in relation to (a) The Old Ship pub in Limehouse, (b) the Bethnal Green Boxing Club, (c) Millwall Rugby Club, (d) Mudchute Farm, (e) Stifford Centre, (f) Glamis Hall and (g) the Attlee Centre on community relations.

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

The statutory intervention in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets put in place a team of Ministerial Envoys to work comprehensively within the Council to oversee and support its work to improve. This includes supporting the Council’s work to improve the openness and transparency of its decision making.

The Ministerial Envoys do not take or assess the impact of decisions relating to specific cases; the responsibility for which remains with the Council.

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 paragraph 9.3.3 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, whether councils at the 0% funding floor which do not charge the highest council tax increases permitted without a referendum will have a cash terms reduction in funding.

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

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, the government is inviting views on using some grant for a funding floor, to ensure that local authorities’ income is protected by a specified amount across the multi-year Settlement. We propose continuing the existing policy that any protection offered through a funding floor assumes local authorities use their full council tax flexibility.

The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases.

We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the Settlement in the usual way.

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 paragraph 2.3.1 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of lower funding allocations to local authorities with stronger council taxbases on levels of council tax.

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

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, the government is inviting views on using some grant for a funding floor, to ensure that local authorities’ income is protected by a specified amount across the multi-year Settlement. We propose continuing the existing policy that any protection offered through a funding floor assumes local authorities use their full council tax flexibility.

The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases.

We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the Settlement in the usual way.

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 paragraph 5.1 of the report of the Ministerial Envoys to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to Ministers, published on 9 July 2025, if she will make it her policy to ask the Mayor to renew the long-term lease for Mudchute Farm.

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

The statutory intervention in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets put in place a team of Ministerial Envoys to work comprehensively within the Council to oversee and support its work to improve. This includes supporting the Council’s work to improve the openness and transparency of its decision making.

The Ministerial Envoys do not take or assess the impact of decisions relating to specific cases; the responsibility for which remains with the Council.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to increase £500,000 threshold for the new surcharge on business rates in line with the increase in aggregate rateable values from the 2026 business rates revaluation.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce a higher business rates multiplier for all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 or above in April 2026 to fund permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with RVs below £500,000.

The final details of the higher multiplier will be announced at Autumn Budget 2025 in light of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation, which is currently ongoing.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the Deputy Prime Minister has chaired Cabinet in the absence of the Prime Minister.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Deputy Prime Minister chaired Cabinet on 17 June 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on stationary since 5 July 2025.

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

MHCLG has spent £149 on stationery since 5 July 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many approvals for the disposal of allotments she has made under section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 since 4 July 2024; and what the (a) location and (b) reference number of each disposal is.

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

Since 4 July 2024, the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government has issued 8 approvals for the disposal of allotments under the Allotments Act 1925. See the available data on locations and LPA reference numbers below:

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 paragraph 9.3.3 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what estimate she has made of the number of local authorities at the 0% funding floor.

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

The vast majority of upper-tier authorities will see their income increase in real terms over the next three years.

For those councils who would see their funding fall as a result of these changes, our intention to protect the vast majority of these councils’ income through a flat cash funding floor.

We will engage directly with a small number of councils whose new share of funding is furthest from where they are currently, to support them to manage larger losses. Many of these councils have prepared for long overdue reforms which the previous government consulted on, including by setting aside reserves.

Our proposed transitional arrangements are subject to consultation and we will set out the detail of them in the autumn. We will then publish allocations at the provisional multi-year Settlement later this year.

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 paragraph 9.4.8 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what estimate she has made of the level of council tax receipts in England in each year of the multi-year settlement.

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

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. The Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. The final set of referendum principles will be set out each year as part of the local government final settlement each year, subject the approval of the House of Commons, in the usual way.

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 23 June 2025 to Question 60129 on Local Government Finance, what the assumed level of council tax receipts in England is in each of those years set out in Table 5.17.

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

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. The Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. The final set of referendum principles will be set out each year as part of the local government final settlement each year, subject the approval of the House of Commons, in the usual way.

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 paragraph 6.2.5 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, whether the £2,000 Band D figure includes (a) police precepts, (b) parish precepts, (c) social care precepts, (d) Greater London Authority precept, (e) combined authority mayor precepts and (f) fire precepts.

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

As set out in paragraph 6.2.5 of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is proposing to set the notional Council Tax level at the average Band D level of Council Tax in England for authorities in scope of these reforms (circa £2000 in 2026-27). This includes the social care precept and the fire precept (including the fire element of mayoral precepts), but does not include police or parish precepts.

For each multi-tier area, the government is proposing to apply a uniform split to the measure of Council Tax in the resources adjustment based on the average split for all multi tier areas in 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 paragraph 6.2.5 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, how the £2,000 Band D figure is split in two-tier areas where districts and counties set different council tax precepts.

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

As set out in paragraph 6.2.5 of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is proposing to set the notional Council Tax level at the average Band D level of Council Tax in England for authorities in scope of these reforms (circa £2000 in 2026-27). This includes the social care precept and the fire precept (including the fire element of mayoral precepts), but does not include police or parish precepts.

For each multi-tier area, the government is proposing to apply a uniform split to the measure of Council Tax in the resources adjustment based on the average split for all multi tier areas in England.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 54918 on Written Questions, how many and what proportion of those carded written parliamentary questions (a) were tabled after amendment, (b) were withdrawn by hon. Members and (c) remain carded.

Answered by Nick Smith

The figures supplied in my earlier answer were obtained by establishing how many card e-mails were generated by the eQM question management system during the period in question. It is not possible to track individual questions in this way, so I am unable to say what proportion of carded questions were subsequently tabled or withdrawn.

Of the 60,136 questions tabled during the period in question, some 2,814 remain carded. Some 3,003 have been withdrawn by hon. Members, including questions that were withdrawn without being carded. It is not possible to establish what proportion of carded questions were subsequently withdrawn.

The Table Office cards questions which do not comply with the House’s rules of order. Most card queries are resolved quickly when the hon. Member who has tabled the question contacts the Table Office to discuss it. Where a question remains carded for a long period of time it is often because the hon. Member concerned has not responded to the card query.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52867 on Written Questions, what proportion of written parliamentary questions submitted to the Table Office were carded in each session of the last Parliament.

Answered by Nick Smith

The information requested is set out in the table below, together with the equivalent figures for the current Session to date.

*The 58th Parliament of the United Kingdom ran from 17 December 2019–30 May 2024, comprising four sessions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 58975 on Civil Service: Offices, for what reason offices outside London have a lower office attendance expectation.

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

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has commenced a project to secure new and additional space in some of our offices outside London which supports the demand for office space we anticipate from completing the Places for Growth programme and increasing the proportion of our workforce outside London. Until that new and additional space is secured, it has and will be necessary to ensure attendance comes within statutory building safety limits. In some cases this may mean that individual office capacities will offer lower attendance ratios than others.

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 19 June 2025 to Question 54905 on MHCLG: Public Expenditure, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of raising the thresholds for the publication of transparency data on (a) transparency and (c) accountability.

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

MHCLG publishes its spend data in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance. There is no requirement for departments to undertake impact assessments of the nature specified when implementing changes to meet central guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what expenditure the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred has undertaken in relation to external (a) research, (b) engagement and (c) contractors.

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

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Working Group is supported by a secretariat based within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and group members are able to claim expenses for travel and/or costs incurred whilst carrying out their role. No other costs have been incurred.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations her Department received from the Local Government Association on housing asylum seekers in in the context of (a) the Spending Review 2025 and (b) the Affordable Homes Programme.

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

The department engages closely on asylum and resettlement matters with the Local Government Association (LGA) alongside the Home Office. This includes a quarterly ministerial and local government forum with both MHCLG and Home Office ministers, and regular working level meetings. MHCLG and Home Office ministers also recently attended the LGA’s annual conference to discuss asylum and resettlement.

The government is committed to working with local government to test-locally led models and ending the reliance on hotel use for asylum accommodation. We will continue to engage closely with the Home Office and the LGA as this work progresses.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 58975 on Civil Service: Offices, what the exceptions are that allow for office attendance to be less than 50 percent.

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

There are a number of reasons individuals may need to discuss and agree an exception with their manager. Exceptions can be long-term if the reason is enduring, for example a disability related matter, or short-term, for example an unexpected issue or need but all must be subject to review and none represent contractual employment changes under this policy.

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 Islamophobia Working Group definition, whether the policy intention is that the definition will be adopted by (a) the police, (b) schools, (c) universities, (d) the Crown Prosecution Service and (e) councils.

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

The Working Group is an independent, non-statutory body which will provide advice to ministers on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred/islamophobia. Ministers will consider the advice that the independent working group provides.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many full time equivalent staff are assigned to the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia secretariat.

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

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Group is supported by a small secretariat function based within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with Senior Civil Servant-level oversight provided in the usual manner.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 53573 on Oxford Growth Commission: Public Appointments, what the level of remuneration is for the Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission.

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

The Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission’s (OGC) remuneration is commensurate with the seniority of the role and in line with current policy on senior pay levels. We understand that the Chair has written to Kevin Hollinrake to disclose his level of renumeration.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60137 on Council tax and Police: Finance, what her Department's assumption is of the amount that will be raised in council tax from police precepts in England only in each year of the Spending Review period.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As set out in the Spending Review (SR) 2025 document, published 11 June 2025, the Phase 2 settlement provides an average 1.7% real terms increase per year in police spending power. Over the SR period, police spending power is projected to increase by an average 2.3% per year in real terms.

Police spending power includes projected spending from additional income, including estimated funding from the police council tax precept.

However, this remains subject to final decision on precept levels and individual police and crime commissioner decisions. The final police precept level and core government funding will be set out in the annual police funding settlement in the usual way.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether a Senior Responsible Owner has been appointed to the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia secretariat.

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

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Group is supported by a small secretariat function based within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with Senior Civil Servant-level oversight provided in the usual manner.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62602 on Police: Employer’s Contribution, what the monetary value is of the additional National Insurance compensatory amount of funding given to a (a) police force and (b) fire and rescue authority for one additional member of full-time staff.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The police funding settlement provided territorial policing in England and Wales with additional funding of £230.3 million in 2025/26 to support forces with the cost of the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions set out in the Autumn Budget. Allocations were based on forces’ share of the total national workforce headcount as at 31 March 2024, which was 245,765.

Separately, in recognition of the decision to increase employer National Insurance Contributions, MHCLG provided £515 million to local authorities in England. This includes standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities, as well as Fire and Rescue Authorities that are part of a county council. Allocations are based on local authorities’ net current expenditure.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Valuation Office Agency: May 2025 transparency data, published on 30 June 2025, what the spending on consultancy by (a) Eunoia Consulting Ltd and (b) Posterity Milestone Consortium was for.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Details of these contracts are available on Contracts Finder at the following links:

• Supply of Professional Services in support of VOA's Digital Transformation & Policy Reform Programme - Contracts Finder

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate the Valuation Office Agency has made of the (a) percentage and (b) cash terms monetary change in average private sector rents for dwellings in (i) London and (ii) England since July 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) publishes this information monthly, based on information collected by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The latest publication was released on 18 June 2025 at: Private rent and house prices, UK - Office for National Statistics and includes the 12 months leading up to May 2025.

As of May 2025:

• Average rents increased to £1,394 or by 7.1% in England
• Average rents in London increased to £2,249 or by 7.7%

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 26 June 2025 to Question 60843 on Civil Service: Equality, whether the diversity trainers have provided guidance or training in relation to the Supreme Court judgment in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.

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

The diversity trainers set out in the answer of 26 June 2025 to Question UIN 60843 on Civil Service equality did not provide guidance or training in relation to the Supreme Court judgment in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 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 26 June 2025 to Question 60843 on Civil Service: Equality, for what reason the external spending on Diversify World Ltd was not listed in Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025.

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

The external spending on Diversify World Ltd is listed as Black History Month events here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 59355 on Local Government: Israel, whether the powers of the (a) Local Government Ombudsman, (b) Local Auditor and (c) Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman would extend to considering complaints from (i) local residents and (ii) local firms as a result of their local authority initiating (A) boycotts and (B) divestment relating to Israel.

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

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman may only consider complaints where the complainant claims to have suffered personal injustice. Whether they could investigate complaints relating to procurement matters would depend on the specific circumstances of the individual complaint.

Where matters of procurement policy are raised with local auditors, the auditor would need to determine whether the matters raised are directly related to the local authority’s accounts and/or would justify issuing a report in the public interest.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is not able to investigate the actions of local authorities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 60486 on Chinese Embassy, whether her discussions with the Chinese during her visit included that of the proposed Chinese Embassy in London.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

As stated in my Answer of 25 June, the Chancellor discussed a range of economic and financial issues during her visit to China for the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue. The Chancellor published a written ministerial statement about her visit on the morning of Monday 13 January (found here) and delivered an oral statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday 14 January (found here).

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 54918 on Written Questions, how many and what proportion of written parliamentary questions were carded in the first year of the last Parliament.

Answered by Nick Smith

The information requested, covering the period from 17 December 2019 to 16 December 2020, is as follows:

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of independent schools closing in each (a) Council and (b) Mayoral Combined Authority in England.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

His Majesty’s Treasury published a tax information and impact note concerning the introduction of VAT on private school fees and school closures. That assessment can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees/applying-vat-to-private-school-fees.

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 abolish directly elected council mayors once directly elected strategic authority mayors are introduced in localities.

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

As part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, subject to Parliamentary agreement, we will legislate to prevent the creation of any new local authority directly elected Mayors. However, to prevent any further disruption, we accept the continuation of the 13 legacy directly elected Mayors currently in post.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on (a) graffiti and (b) vandalism on the London Underground.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Department for Transport Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London on a range of issues, including London Underground maintenance requirements. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL who are responsible for the operation and maintenance of London Underground.

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 introduce legislation to establish local versions of the Public Accounts Committee.

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

The government remains committed to enhancing accountability and scrutiny of local public spending in Strategic Authorities.

The English Devolution White Paper outlines the government’s ambition to go further in this area, including exploring a Local Public Accounts Committee model. It remains our ambition to do this. We are developing policy options on this, working with Mayoral Combined Authorities to test our thinking. The Government will confirm its policy approach and any supporting legislation that may be required to advance these 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, whether her Department has had discussions with local authorities on twinning with locations in the Occupied Territories.

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

Local authority twinning arrangements are matters for those authorities. The department does not routinely discuss such arrangements with local authorities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has met with (a) Dominic Grieve and (b) the members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia to discuss the working group and the definition of Islamophobia.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The work he refers to is being overseen by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

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 made an estimate of the number of empty homes owned by (a) local authorities, (b) the Government Property Agency and (c) other parts of central government.

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

The number of local authority owned homes that are empty in each local authority in England can be found in Live Table 615 here on vacant dwellings in England at local authority district level. Figures in this table show vacant dwellings owned by local authorities within each local authority area in England.

The latest published statistics refer to vacant dwellings owned by local authorities in England on 31 March 2024, including homes earmarked for sale or demolition, or awaiting or undergoing major repairs.

My Department does not hold figures specifically for homes owned by the Government Property Agency or other parts of central government.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether water companies are permitted to fund social tariffs by passing costs to other residential customers.

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

Social Tariffs are voluntary schemes designed and administered by water companies to provide a discounted water bill to qualifying customers who are unable to pay their water bill in full.

These schemes are permitted to be funded through cross subsidies from customers under s44 Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to retain Small Business Rates Relief at its current level for the duration of this Parliament.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property with a rateable value (RV) below the threshold of £15,000. If a business expands to a second property, it retains SBRR on the first property for 12 months. Following that, the business is not eligible for SBRR unless additional properties have an RV below £2,899 and their total property portfolio has an RV below £20,000 (£28,000 in London). Currently, over a third of properties (more than 700,000) pay no business rates as they receive 100 per cent SBRR, with an additional c.60,000 benefiting from reduced bills as this relief tapers.

The Government is committed to retaining SBRR, which is a permanent relief set down in legislation. As highlighted in the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper published at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government is interested in hearing stakeholders’ views on the extent to which the current system acts as a barrier to investment and specifically, whether the current eligibility criteria for SBRR impacts businesses' incentives to invest and expand into a second property.

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 18 June 2025 on National Housing Bank and new capital grant funding, HCWS712, over what period the £5 billion of new capital grant funding applies; and how much equivalent funding was provided in the last Parliament.

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

The government will launch the National Housing Delivery Fund in 2026/27. Its c.£5bn of capital grant funding will be available across the four financial years from 2026/27 to 2029/30.

In the last Spending Review period (2022/23 to 2024/25), the previous government delivered grant funding for infrastructure and land across the Home Building Fund , Brownfield Housing Fund, Brownfield Infrastructure and Land Fund, Housing Infrastructure Fund, Land Assembly Programme, Single Land Programme, City Deals, Brownfield Land Release Fund, Bristol Temple Quarter and Ancoats, Estate Regeneration and Ebbsfleet. In total these programmes spent £2.935bn across that Spending Review period.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which local authorities have notified her Department since July 2024 that they intend to (a) introduce and (b) extend selective licensing schemes on private rented sector (PRS) dwellings; and if she will publish (i) the location of each scheme, (ii) the (A) number and (B) percentage of PRS properties as a proportion of total housing stock within the designation, (iii) the proportion of each local authority’s PRS stock which will be covered by licensing once the scheme is in place, (iv) the criteria under which each designation has been made, (v) the levels of relevant licensing fees and (f) the total value of licensing fees for each local authority.

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

There is no requirement for local authorities to notify the Department of their intention to introduce or extend selective licensing schemes.

The General Approval issued in December 2024, removed the requirement for the Secretary of State to approve schemes covering more than 20% of a local authority’s private rented properties or geographical area.

We expect local authorities to make information regarding their scheme readily available.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the evidential basis is that the affordable housing programme will deliver the largest increase in affordable homes in a generation.

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

The £39 billion announced at the Spending Review for the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme for 2026-27 to 2035-36 is the biggest long-term investment in social and affordable housing in recent memory.

Our ambition is to deliver up around 300,000 social and affordable homes over the programme’s lifetime.

If we achieve this ambition and our target of at least 60% of the homes being for Social Rent, the new programme will deliver around 180,000 homes for Social Rent – approximately a sixfold increase on the number of grant-funded Social Rent homes delivered in the decade up to 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 24 June 2025 to Question 60935 on Affordable Housing: Finance, what is the monetary value of (a) resource and (b) capital funding for the 2026-2036 Affordable Homes Programme in each year of the 10 year programme.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 62129 on 14 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 20 June 2025 to Question 59354 on Planning Permissions: Carbon Emissions, how she plans to update the climate change guidance to provide additional advice on taking carbon emissions into account.

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

The updated guidance will be published 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 19 May 2025 to Question 51399 on Embassies: China, whether (a) MI5, (b) GCHQ or (c) MI6 have made any direct representations to (i) the planning inspector and (ii) her Department on the proposed Chinese Embassy.

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

Representations on planning applications are dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions which can be found on gov.uk here

All Inquiry documents including representations to the Inquiry are publicly available on Tower Hamlets website here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the (a) completion of the remaining stages and (b) implementation of the provisions of the Renters Rights Bill.

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

The Renters’ Rights Bill is currently progressing through the House of Lords. Report stage concluded on 15 July. Third Reading is scheduled for 21 July and the dates for the remaining stages of the Bill will be announced in due course.

Upon the commencement date, the new tenancy system provided for by the Bill will apply to all private tenancies - existing tenancies will become periodic, and any new tenancies will be governed by the new rules.

We will provide sufficient notice and will work closely with tenants groups and the landlord and lettings sector ahead of implementation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the estimated cash increase in business rate revenue in England is in 2025-26 as a consequence of the reduction in retail, hospitality and leisure rate relief.

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

Local authority forecasts of the cost of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief are published on gov.uk here.

The change in the value of relief is an indicator of the increased revenue from the reduction of the relief rate.

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 25 June 2025 to Question 60597 on Neighbourhood Plans, for what reason her Department is unable to commission new neighbourhood planning support services for 2025 onwards.

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

Following the Spending Review, my Department announced that it is unable to commission new neighbourhood planning support services for 2025 onwards.

After more than a decade of taxpayer support, we believe that support for neighbourhood planning groups should be possible without further government funding.

Parish and Town Councils have access to their own resources which they can choose to use for neighbourhood planning if they wish.

With the end to the national structure for support, planning consultants should be able to innovate and offer groups lower cost support more targeted at their particular ambitions and needs.

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 24 June 2025 to Question 60044 on Cities and Local Growth Unit; why the unit was closed; and whether for what policy reason the joint unit has its functions have been reassigned.

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

The decision to close the Cities and Local Growth Unit was taken jointly by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government and Department for Business and Trade to focus resources on the ambitious agendas of both Departments. The Departments continue to work closely on all matters of shared interest.

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 her Department's response to the Environmental Information Regulations request reference IR2025/10529, of 2 April 2025.

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

The Department's response has already been provided to the applicant who requested the information in question. The government does not routinely publish responses to information requests.

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 26 June 2025 to Question 60843 on Civil Service: Equality, if she will place in the Library a copy of the (a) training and (b) support materials provided to civil servants for the training events held by (i) Inclusive Employers and (ii) Diversify World.

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

Materials associated with the Inclusive Employers training are the intellectual property of the provider and cannot be published by the Department for contractual reasons.

The Diversify World Black History Month event was a presentation without support materials.

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 publication MHCLG: spending over £25,000, May 2025, published on 30 June 2025, what the purpose was of the ZenCity Polling; and which policy areas it related to.

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

MHCLG is utilising ZenCity’s tools to conduct pulse surveys across the 75 communities that are part of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme.

Polling data will be used to help Plan for Neighbourhood Boards understand local priorities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the (a) Local Government Association and (b) Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London statutory joint committee is subject to the (a) Freedom of Information Act 2000 and (b) Environmental Information Regulations.

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

My understanding is that both the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London statutory joint committee (PATROL) are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

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 24 June 2025 to Question 60132 on Affordable Housing: Finance, and with reference to her Department's publication Delivering a decade of renewal for social affordable housing published on 2 July 2025, what her policy is on the 2026-2036 Social and Affordable Homes Programme being used to help purchase Section 106 affordable units from housing developers; and what the policy was in the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme.

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

The government’s new Social and Affordable Homes Programme for 2026/27 to 2035/36, like the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme, will support the delivery of social and affordable homes additional to those that developers have committed to delivering through Section 106 agreement. We have no plans to change these arrangements.

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 publication, Delivering a decade of renewal for social affordable housing, published on 2 July 2025, what estimate she has made of the number of additional affordable homes to be provided in each year under the 2026-2036 Affordable Housing Programme.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60128.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking through the planning system to support the (a) provision, (b) conversion and (c) construction of family annexes to dwellings.

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

The planning system already supports the creation of family annexes which are incidental to a dwelling, including their conversion and construction, through permitted development rights.

Where the proposed development is outside the scope of the PDR, a planning application would be required.

The government continues 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, with reference to the publication MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2025, published on 28 April 2025, if she will publish the full specification of the research commissioned from TPXimpact Limited on Research Services.

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

The spend relates to the build of new technical capability (MS Azure cloud platform) for data science, engineering & analytics work.

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 transparency data, MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2025 published on 28 April 2025, what was the full specification of the research undertaken by the Faith & Belief Forum on on inter faith.

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

The Department provided funding to the Faith & Belief Forum to lead a national consultation and analysis exercise on Inter Faith Week 2024 and the wider inter faith landscape, to inform the development of future policy and delivery.

I will arrange for the full research specification to be deposited in the House of Commons Library.

Found: At the time, the postal affairs minister, Kevin Hollinrake MP, said there was “a resourcing issue”

Found: In my area, we have been lucky to have had Kevin Hollinrake MP active, but the main point has been the