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 7 March 2025 to Question 34283 on Freeports: Trade Unions, whether freeport boards members are subject to a similar fiduciary duty.

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

Freeport boards have a clear and specific remit for delivering the public policy objectives of the Freeports Programme and the resultant responsibilities of individual board members (both full members and observers) are defined in articles of association, where the Freeport is incorporated, or terms of reference for the board, where it is not.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the change in business rates from the valuation of a retail, hospitality and leisure hereditament moving from a Rateable Value of £499,999 to £500,001 from April 2026.

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

The Valuation Office Agency are currently completing the valuation process for the 2026 business rates list. As part of the usual process, the government will announce the multipliers at the Budget, having regard to the evidence of the valuation.

When the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, the Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier 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 the Plan for Neighbourhoods: prospectus, published on 4 March 2025, which of the 75 areas are (a) rural and (b) urban.

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

The Plan for Neighbourhoods was launched on 4 March. The 75 places across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were chosen via a selection methodology that has been published in the Plan for Neighbourhoods prospectus. Eligible places had to have a built-up area, according to the Office for National Statistics, with a population size of between 20,000 and 100,000, including places like Keighley, Spalding and Orkney.

All 75 places across the UK that were originally selected to receive Long-Term Plan for Towns by the previous Conservative administration will receive the Plan for Neighbourhoods package. We are making good on those unfunded commitments, giving each of the 75 places the certainty that they will receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade.

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 3 March 2025 to Question 33868 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Procurement, and with reference to the Procurement Policy Note 002: Social Value Model, published in February 2025, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of contract compliance requirements on (a) working conditions and (b) trade unions on regulatory costs to local government.

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

Procurement Policy Note 002: Taking account of Social Value in the award of contracts is not a mandatory policy for local government as stated within the scope of the procurement policy note. It is optional for local authorities to elect to apply 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 her Department's report Population size and local authority performance: final research report”, written in 2006.

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

The Government has no plans to publish the report Population size and local authority performance: final research report (2006) as it is already in the public domain.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she will make it her policy to introduce combined mayoral authorities only in areas where they have been approved through a local referendum.

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

There is an existing statutory process for establishing combined authorities, including the requirement for a public consultation. Government is currently carrying out such public consultations in the areas in the Devolution Priority Programme. The results of these consultations will inform decisions on whether the statutory tests have been met to proceed with the necessary secondary legislation to establish the combined authorities. The consultations are not a referendum, and these are not a requirement for devolution.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much (a) capital and (b) resource funding was allocated to the Community Ownership Fund in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26.

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

Under this government, we allocated over £33m in capital funding and almost £3m in resource funding to 85 projects in Round 4 Window 1 of the Community Ownership Fund (COF). This represents the largest ever window of COF to date, both in terms of funding awarded and number of projects.

On 23 December 2024, we announced that COF is now closed and that there will be no further application windows. We took this difficult decision due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous government.

Monies will continue to be paid to successful projects from previous windows in line with the conditions set out in their Grant Funding Agreement (GFA).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2025, to Question 22329, on Noise: Pollution Control, whether his Department has published guidance on established use in statutory nuisance complaints for (a) long-standing chiming clocks and (b) church bells.

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

The Statutory Nuisance Regime under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) is designed to provide protection from nuisances including noise, odour, smoke, fumes, artificial light, infestations and accumulations. Local authorities are responsible for investigating nuisance problems brought to their attention under the EPA.

If local authorities consider that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, they must serve an abatement notice (usually on the person responsible).

Further guidance on planning policy on noise, which includes advice on the agent of change’ principle, is published by MHCLG.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30440 on Housing: Construction, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling developers to meet biodiversity net gain through off-site credits.

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

The biodiversity gain hierarchy makes clear that a developer should first look to deliver their 10% BNG on-site. If they cannot achieve all or part of the 10% on-site, they must achieve the BNG off-site either on their own land, or by purchasing biodiversity units through the off-site market. If the type of units they need are unavailable in the market, they can purchase statutory biodiversity credits as a last resort.

Developers must follow this hierarchy as set out in legislation. The Government is working with stakeholders to monitor the implementation of BNG to make sure it is working as intended.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30643 on Nightclubs and Public Houses: Planning, what guidance his Department has issued on noise and statutory nuisance; and whether his Department has issued guidance on the agent of change principle.

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

The Statutory Nuisance Regime under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) is designed to provide protection from nuisances including noise, odour, smoke, fumes, artificial light, infestations and accumulations. Local authorities are responsible for investigating nuisance problems brought to their attention under the EPA.

If local authorities consider that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, they must serve an abatement notice (usually on the person responsible).

Further guidance on planning policy on noise, which includes advice on the agent of change’ principle, is published by MHCLG.

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 3 March 2025 on Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, HCWS487, to which Minister that group will report; and if the report will be laid before the House.

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

The Terms of Reference for the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group have now been published. The group will report to the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and provide advice to Ministers on appropriate and sensitive language to describe, understand and define unacceptable treatment, prejudice, discrimination and hate targeting Muslims or anyone who is perceived to be Muslim. Once the Government has reviewed this advice, it will consider its next steps.

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 7 March 2025 to Question 34284 on Empty Property: Shops, how many programmes in addition to the High Street Rental Auction fund are operating bidding schemes for local authorities to receive funding.

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

The design of the High Street Rental Auction Fund was set by the previous administration. This Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed a partnership approach with local authorities and an intention to stabilise the funding system by providing multi-year funding settlements and ending competitive bidding.

We will set out a refreshed approach to local growth funding at the multi-year Spending Review in the Spring. An approach that includes more integrated settlements, over longer term, with less central direction, more local choice and no competitive bidding.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the population is of each local authority that has received exceptional financial support for the 2025-26 financial year.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 18th March is attached.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 September 2024 to Question 4992 on Greenpeace, whether his Department engages with (a) Just Stop Oil and (b) Extinction Rebellion.

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

The Department has not engaged with Just Stop Oil or Extinction Rebellion.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32146 on Public Houses: Business Rates and Employers’ Contributions, for what reason the median rateable value is used.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Transforming Business Rates consultation used the median RV of a pub (£16,800) to illustrate the amount the average pub is estimated to save in business rates liabilities (over £3,300) from RHL relief being extended at 40% for 2025-26 rather than being removed entirely. The median RV was used as it is less affected by the presence of a few large pubs than the mean RV. Therefore, the median is likely to be closer to the actual RV of a greater number of pubs than the mean would be.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 31955 on Private Education: Business Rates, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of liability for business rates on the commercial viability of nurseries located within the premises of an independent school.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As the Government confirmed at Autumn Budget 2024, schools that satisfy the definition of a private school will lose any entitlement to charitable rate relief entirely. This may include private schools with some nursery classes, which, despite the presence of some nursery provision will still be, by their nature, private schools.

Standalone nursery schools, where they have their own business rates assessments, are excluded from the legislation and, where applicable, retain their charitable rate relief. This approach best ensures consistency with the underlying policy intent.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many days each Minister in her Department has spent working at the Darlington Campus since 5 July 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Since 5th July 2024 the following working visits have taken place by HMT ministers at the DEC. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has spent 3 days at the DEC, on 11th July 2024, 12th December 2024 and 13th March 2025. Exchequer Secretary James Murray MP has spent 4 days at the DEC, on 31st July 2024, 17th August 2024, 5th December 2024 and 13th February 2025. Financial Secretary Lord Spencer Livermore has spent 1 day at the DEC, on 22nd August 2024. Chief Secretary Darren Jones MP has spent 1 day at the DEC on 13th March 2025.

The Darlington Economic Campus is central to the plans of HM Treasury and we are delighted to be nearing our target of 335 HMT roles based in Darlington, including a number of the most senior Treasury staff. The Chancellor and the broader Treasury ministerial team support DEC not only by regularly visiting, but also by ensuring that colleagues based in Darlington are welcomed to hybrid meetings and able to contribute fully to the work of the department, making their voices heard and shaping economic policy making for the country as a whole from the North East of England.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to para 144 of the UK Government Response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, CP1248, published in February 2025, what his planned timetable is for the publicly accessible record, and whether it will be hosted on gov.uk.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As confirmed in the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s recommendation 25, the government will establish a record on GOV.UK of all recommendations made by public inquiries since 2024, and will consider making this an enduring legal requirement. We will update parliament about this in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report: Government response, published on 26 February 2025, what her planned timetable is for the publicly available record of public inquiry recommendations.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As confirmed in the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s recommendation 25, the government will establish a record on GOV.UK of all recommendations made by public inquiries since 2024, and will consider making this an enduring legal requirement. We will update parliament about this 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, what assessment has been made of the indirect impact of local government restructuring on the appointment and boundaries of the High Sheriffs.

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

There is no intention that the priorities set out in the English Devolution White Paper will impact on the ceremonial counties or the important roles the High Sheriffs and Lord Lieutenants play as the Monarch’s representatives in those counties, and ceremonial counties will be retained. The Government recognises and values the work they do in relation to civic, business, social and community life in the ceremonial counties, and will ensure that the ceremonial rights and privileges of an area will be maintained after any reorganisation of local government.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to answer Question 26478 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Employers' Contributions, tabled on 27 January 2025.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 26478 on 17 March 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many dwellings there were in England in April (a) 2010 and (b) 2024; how many of those dwellings had (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five or more bedrooms; and how many of those dwellings had a garden.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Please see the response to UIN 32144. The Valuation Office Agency does not usually record whether a domestic property has a garden.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant of the Answer of 20 December 2024 to Question 19700 on Airports: Business Rates, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the rates revaluation in April 2026 and (b) the surcharge for hereditaments above £500,000 Rateable Value from April 2026 on (i) economic growth, (ii) international competitiveness and (iii) airfares.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises that in the post-COVID world, expected valuations for airports at the 2026 revaluation amount to significant increases. The aviation sector is in conversation with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) about their 2026 draft rateable values.

The Government is legally required to introduce transitional relief for ratepayers to support those seeing the biggest increases at revaluations. Once we understand the complete 2026 revaluation picture will the Government be in a position to make final decisions, at Autumn Budget 2025, on the transitional relief scheme.

On the new multiplier rates, the Government will confirm these at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.

Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions.  Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025 – to take effect in the 2026-27 billing year – HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29614 on Fire and Rescue Services: Police, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support (a) joint working between emergency services, (b) tri-service working between the three emergency services and (c) joint working between the police and fire service.

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

The Government is committed to seeing more and better collaboration between emergency services to increase efficiency and public safety outcomes. The Policing and Crime Act 2017 sets out a statutory duty for ambulance trusts, fire and rescue bodies and police bodies in England to keep collaboration opportunities under review and, where it is in the interests of their efficiency or effectiveness, to put those collaboration opportunities into practice. It is for local fire and rescue services, working with emergency services counterparts, to decide what collaborative activities will be best to take forward.

The HMICFRS framework considers collaboration as part of its inspections, and we continue to work with the sector to learn more about good examples that can be shared.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 32153 on Airports: Business Rates, how airports will be valued in the 2026 business rates revaluation.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Civil Airports for the 2026 Revaluation are being valued using the ‘receipts and expenditure’ valuation method. This takes into account the business’ income and expenses in determining the rateable value.

As with other revaluations, the VOA are in discussions with representatives from the airport sector. The VOA have not changed the methodology they use to assess airports since the last revaluation.

The revaluation is not yet complete and the VOA expect to publish draft valuations by the end of 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what access rights asylum seekers with refugee status have to social housing; and whether homeless asylum seekers with refugee status are entitled to emergency housing.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 34617 on 10 March 2025 and Question UIN 11929 on 8 November 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 21 February 2025 to Question 30336 on Parking: Regulation, for what reason a further consultation is required.

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

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. The Act explains in Section 2 that the Secretary of State must consult relevant stakeholders prior to the Code’s publication. The consultation in 2021 related to a Code laid by the previous government which was later withdrawn.

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 February 2025 to Question 30632 on Admiralty House, whether any civil servants assisted her move into Admiralty House.

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

Professional removal and cleaning services were hired and paid for personally by the Deputy Prime Minister and at no cost to the Department. Some logistical support was provided by civil servants for the move into an official residence.

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 February 2025 to Question 29152 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Equality, which (a) contractors and (b) organisations that funding went to.

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

a) Funding in the aforementioned response procured learning services from the following suppliers:

• Ernst & Young LLP through the Government Learning Frameworks
• Inclusive Employers Ltd.

b) This funding was not provided to any other organisations.

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 February 2025 to Question 23917 on MHCLG: Public Consultation, what the reference number is of each response that was published in response to a (a) Freedom of Information and (b) Environmental Information Regulations in the last three years.

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

The Department has not published Freedom of Information or Environmental Information Regulations responses for the last three years. We are currently exploring options for routinely publishing this information in future.

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 February 2025 to Question 23920 on MHCLG: Minister’s Private Offices, if she will publish the invoices for these works.

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

It is not in our policy to publish individual invoices for works. However, we have previously provided costings for fittings in Ministers’ Private Offices in the answers to Question UIN 9072 on 3 December 2024 and Question UIN 23920 on 14 February 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 29073 on FCDO: Flags, what flags have been flown at ground level but visible from the public highway since 5 July 2024.

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

The bisexual flag was flown in September 2024 and the Union flag was flown in November 2024 on the internal Quad flag poles.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) terms of reference are and (b) timetable is of his Department’s resilience review.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster set out in his statement to the House on Friday 19 July, this government is committed to undertaking a comprehensive review of long-term resilience.

The resilience review is considering established practices and policies to improve UK resilience against the full spectrum of risks we face. It is evidence based and is identifying what should be kept, changed or improved to ensure we are best prepared now and into the future. It is considering recommendations from recent inquiries including the Covid-19 Module 1 report and the Grenfell Tower tragedy to ensure the needs of communities and individuals – in particular vulnerable people – are better addressed.

The review will conclude later this year.

Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8807 on Government Departments: Written Questions, whether her policy on Freedom of Information requests also applies to Environmental Information Regulation requests

Answered by Lucy Powell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

The Government’s policy on answers to Written Parliamentary Questions and Questions for Written Answer is set out in the Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work). The guidance contains no reference to Environmental Information Regulation requests. The Information Commissioner's Office provides guidance and resources for public authorities and the public about the Freedom of Information Act and the Environment Information Regulations, available online at ico.org.uk.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Warm Homes Plan will (a) rationalise the number of home energy efficiency funding schemes and (b) streamline application processes for those schemes.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. As a first step the Government launched the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) and Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. The WH:LG is a successor scheme replacing the HUG and LAD schemes simplifying the current landscape.

We will continue to evaluate the application processes as schemes are developed.

Further details will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan 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 she plans to ensure that Integrated Care Systems operate on areas that co-terminate with Mayoral Combined Authorities.

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

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government recognises the benefits that aligned geographical boundaries can have for improving coordination between public services. The English Devolution White Paper therefore set out government's long-term ambition to align public service boundaries, including job centres, police, probation, fire, health services and Strategic and Local Authorities.

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 assessment of the potential merits of a cap on Mayoral Combined Authorities precepts for 2025-26.

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

The government has not set referendum principles for Mayoral Combined Authorities for 2025-26. The government held a consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement, providing opportunity for the public and local authorities to share views on the proposed referendum principles. The government keeps referendum principles under review, and decisions are made at the local government finance settlement, with the next due in 2026.

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 March 2025 to Question 33487on Democracy and Elections, when she expects political parties to be consulted.

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

The government is currently in the process of consulting with various stakeholders, ahead of setting out our approach to elections and electoral reform for this Parliament.

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 February 2025 to Question 30633 on Democracy and Elections, if she will consult with political parties.

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

The government is currently in the process of consulting with various stakeholders, ahead of setting out our approach to elections and electoral reform for this Parliament.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 26035 on Housing: Asylum, what information her Department holds on the average annual cost to local authorities for looking after (a) unaccompanied asylum seeking children who arrive in their area and (b) are transferred there under the National Transfer Scheme; and what funding her Department provides to local authorities for these.

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

The Home Office does not hold the specific data requested in a readily reportable form, but the funding policy can be found online here: Unaccompanied asylum seeking children and leaving care: funding instructions - GOV.UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) long-term vacant and (b) derelict homes returned to use count towards local housing targets.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the government response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation (Question 15) which can be found on gov.uk here.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in levels of fixed penalty notices for Public Spaces Protection Orders that are issued by private enforcement companies outsourced from local government; and whether guidance has been provided on such contacts which (a) reward companies for increasing numbers of fines and (b) profit share revenue from fines.

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

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour (ASB), including the Public Spaces Protection Order.

The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.

Contracting enforcement to third parties is a common arrangement and it is for the local authority to ensure use of powers remains just and proportionate. Contractors are bound by the same legal obligations, and the same safeguards in legislation, as councils themselves. Local authorities are also obliged to follow the rules set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 in appointment of such companies.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 14 February 2025 to Question (a) 29078 and (b) 29080 on Property Development: Air Pollution, whether air quality assessments for developments subject to an Environment Impact Assessment are a statutory requirement.

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

The degree to which air quality is assessed depends on the likely significant effects of the development on the environment.

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 March 2025 to Question 34860 on MHCLG: Greenpeace, and of 11 March 2025 to Question HL5100 on Community Relations, whether her Department’s decision not to engage with (a) Greenpeace, (b) XR and (c) Just Stop Oil is due to (i) her Department’s engagement principles or (b) other reasons.

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

Decisions concerning who we engage with are carefully considered by government departments on a case by case basis. The government will only engage with organisations when it is in the public interest.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much Homes England has spent on consultants since 5 July 2024.

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

Since 5 July 2024 to present Homes England has spent £2,240,319.90 (excluding VAT) on consultants to provide external advice and support on a number of key projects to improve the operations of the agency.

For transparency, all Agency consultancy spend over £250 is published on Homes England’s website.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 11 March 2025, whether she has made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced.

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

My Department has had a constructive engagement with the sector regarding our proposals for mandatory training for planning committee members and we will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders in respect of the details of the proposed training and how this will be delivered.

We have not made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced. We will, however, consult on the right level to set the size of planning committees to reflect best practice.

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 clause 45 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 11 March 2025, what training on planning matters councillors will receive.

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

My Department has had a constructive engagement with the sector regarding our proposals for mandatory training for planning committee members and we will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders in respect of the details of the proposed training and how this will be delivered.

We have not made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced. We will, however, consult on the right level to set the size of planning committees to reflect best practice.

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 clause 45 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 11 March 2025, who will deliver planning training for councillors.

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

My Department has had a constructive engagement with the sector regarding our proposals for mandatory training for planning committee members and we will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders in respect of the details of the proposed training and how this will be delivered.

We have not made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced. We will, however, consult on the right level to set the size of planning committees to reflect best practice.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what will happen to adopted local plans within local authorities abolished in local government re-organisation.

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

The legal status of local development plans is not impacted by local government reorganisation. Where reorganisation occurs, new unitary authorities are expected to promptly prepare a local plan covering the whole of their area. Until that new plan is adopted, existing constituent local plans remain in force as part of the development plan for their area. New unitary authorities have the discretion to progress any emerging constituent local plans.

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 7 March 2025 to Question 34616 on Voting Rights: Foreign Nationals, what checks are undertaken to ensure that Commonwealth citizens seeking to sign up to an electoral roll are qualifying Commonwealth citizens.

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

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers. EROs hold legal powers which allow them to request documentary evidence to confirm an applicant’s nationality, if they are not satisfied as to any applicant's nationality.

The application form to register to vote is clear about the possibility of applicants being required to provide additional evidence about their nationality, and that their nationality or immigration status may be checked against government records. The Electoral Commission has also published guidance for EROs on the types of evidence they may request, and advice on how to check immigration records held by the Home Office.

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 assessment of the potential impact of the non-regression principle in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on her Department's ability to introduce deregulatory measures to increase housebuilding.

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

The government is committed to unlocking and accelerating the building of new homes without reducing relevant protections. For example, the new Nature Restoration Fund provided for by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will enable developers to fund restoration more efficiently whilst securing improved outcomes for the environment. As such, the Bill would not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection of existing environmental law and the Secretary of State has confirmed as much via a statement under section 20(3) of the Environment Act.

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 January 2025 to Question 25268 on Political Parties: Finance, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent (a) Iranian, (b) Russian and (c) Chinese citizens who are resident in (i) Wales and (ii) Scotland donating to UK (A) political parties and (B) regulated donees.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question UIN 25690 on 30 January 2025.

Question

To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of the potential impact of the Law Commission's consultation on burial and cremation, published on 3 October 2024, on the finances of local authorities taking over the maintenance of closed churchyards.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

The National Institutions of the Church of England submitted a response to the Law Commission’s consultation on burial and cremation. That response supported the introduction of a statutory code of practice for local authorities’ maintenance of burial grounds, including closed churchyards.

It also agreed with the Law Commission’s proposal that the Secretary of State should have the power to reopen closed burial grounds and that where a churchyard is reopened, the local authority should continue to have responsibility for its maintenance.

Local authority finance itself is not an area within the remit of the Church of England.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much (a) Network North and (b) repurposed High Speed 2 funding was given to local highways authorities in 2024-25; and whether she plans to continue that funding in 2025-26.

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

In 2024/25 the previous Government allocated £150 million of additional highway maintenance funding to local highway authorities as part of its Network North plan, all of which was repurposed High Speed 2 funding. This Government has allocated £500 million of additional highway maintenance funding to local highway authorities for 2025/26. Funding beyond 2025/26 is a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.

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 10 February 2025 to Question 26476 to Community Development: Radicalism, whether her Department’s policy of non-engagement applies to (a) representations received on planning applications and appeals, (b) Freedom of Information Act requests, (c) Subject Access requests and (d) consultation responses.

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

Statutory requests for information, under laws like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), or the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UKGDPR) allow anyone to request information held by the Department, as long as they meet the requirements set out in the relevant legislation. The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas.

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 February 2025 to Question 23916 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Legal Costs, whether her policy on naming organisations or groups as extremist affects her policy on not engaging with extremist organisations.

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

The community engagement principles were a policy launched by the previous administration – they provided a set of standards and guidance on how Government should consider which partners to engage with. Guidance was published in March 2024, but the principles were never implemented by the last government. The naming of extremist groups was also part of the Counter-Extremism policy by the previous administration. The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of (a) 3 March 2025 to Question 33047 and (b) 23 January 2025 to Question 24244 on Government Departments: Sanitation, what the terms are of the policy review; and what plans he has for previously installed gender-neutral toilets.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the hon. member to the answer given in response to PQ24244 on 23 January.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 33046 on Prime Minister, how 10 Downing Street determines whether an organisation (a) should and (b) should not be engaged with.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Engagement with organisations is considered on a case-by-case basis.

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 private office has spent through departmental Government Procurement Cards since 4 July 2024.

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

MHCLG publishes details of spending using an electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS) on a monthly basis, which can be found on gov.uk here.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 33485 on Public Appointments: Political Activities, through what process a declaration of previous political activity within the last five years is made public.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Declarations of previous political activity within the last five years made by successful candidates in the Public Appointments process are published on the announcements page of the Public Appointments website. This can be found using the following link: https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/announcements

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) individuals and (b) organisations were invited to the Downing Street preview of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on 11 March 2025.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Ministerial meetings with external organisations will be published in the usual way on gov.uk

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32543 on Sewers, whether the implementation of SuDS will be (a) subject to the 10 unit threshold previously proposed and (b) not apply to permitted development, including change of use.

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

The Government published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on 12 December 2024.

This update expanded the requirement for applicants to take a more holistic approach so that it is clear that developments of all sizes are expected to make use of sustainable drainage techniques where they could have drainage impacts and take the opportunities which this offers to provide a range of benefits, but in a way which is proportionate to the nature and scale of the scheme.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of non-departmental public bodies that (a) were operating and (b) scheduled to operate on 13 March 2025.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As of March 2025 there are currently 249 non-departmental public bodies operating.

Whether an ALB will become an NDPB, or another type of body is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to the Cabinet Office and Treasury approval process.

The Prime Minister has announced that the Government is committed to cutting bureaucracy across the state, in order to focus government on the priorities of working people and shift money to the frontline. As part of this, the Prime Minister announced the abolition of the arms-length body NHS England.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she consulted with external organisations on the content of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill before it was published.

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

Various government departments, including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, have engaged with external organisations during the development of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Furthermore, specific measures have been subject to dedicated public consultation and calls for evidence. These include, but are not limited to, local fee reforms, compulsory purchase order reforms, and judicial review reforms.

Stakeholder feedback was also sought through a series of published working papers concerning planning committees, nature recovery, and critical infrastructure reforms, alongside the English Devolution White Paper and the Clean Power Action Plan.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether measures included in Environmental Delivery Plans are funded through (a) her Department or (b) income from the Nature Restoration Fund.

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

The Nature Restoration Fund will operate on a full cost recovery basis.

The government may in some instances provide upfront funding to Natural England to commence actions identified in Environmental Delivery Plans in advance of levy payments, with costs recovered over time as development comes forward.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 33046 on Prime Minister, how his Department records its policy of non-engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Our policy on engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain has not changed.

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 publication of Environmental Delivery Plans; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that timetable on developments paused due to nutrient neutrality.

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

The government will work with Natural England to put the first Environmental Delivery Plans in place as soon as possible following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Given the impact nutrient neutrality has had on development in some locations, we will be looking to use Environmental Delivery Plans to quickly unlock growth in these areas.

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 March 2025 to Question 33490 on Tower Hamlets Council, if she will take steps to ensure that the Conservative group is represented on the Board.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 33490 on 5 March 2025 and UIN 30642 on 19 February 2025.

The Deputy Prime Minister has set clear expectations for local opposition party involvement in Tower Hamlets Council’s Transformation and Assurance Board but does not intend to dictate its membership. In the spirit of partnership, the Board’s membership is a matter for the Council to agree locally rather than for Ministers to direct. We expect the Transformation and Assurance Board to play a critical role in the Council’s recovery by providing robust external assurance on its compliance with the Best Value Duty and to have strong local buy-in.

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 7 March 2025 to Question 34874 on Combined Authorities, for what reason that consultation asks respondents for their gender rather than their sex; and what her Department's policy is on the use of the phrase gender, as opposed to the phrase sex.

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

Collecting demographic information as part of conducting consultations helps us to understand whether the responses we receive are representative of those who live and work in the areas involved in the consultations. This will also help MHCLG conduct an equality impact assessment to ensure compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. We are not asking for information that identifies individuals in consultation responses, and the demographic information provided is anonymous. We followed agreed guidance on how demographic questions are phrased, as laid down by the GOV.UK Design System for all government consultations.

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 97 of the National Planning Policy Framework, last updated on 7 February 2025, whether her Department categorises (a) Greggs, (b) Pret a Manager and (c) Subway as a fast food outlet.

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

It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application from any of the providers named in the question, to consider whether, given the type of food and service to be provided at the location proposed, they consider the outlet to be either a hot food takeaway or a fast food outlet.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 33369 on Roads: Hampshire, whether the change to local highways allocations for 2025-26 (a) is in addition to or (b) replaces the funding for highways from (i) Network North and (ii) repurposed HS2 funding announced on 4 October 2023.

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

The highway maintenance funding uplift of £500 million for 2025/26, which was announced by the Chancellor in October 2024, comes on top of the increase of £150 million in 2024/25 that was announced by the previous Government as part of the Network North plan. The 2024 Budget document makes clear that the £150 million Network North funding increase has, in effect, become part of the highway maintenance funding baseline. The Government will say more on future years’ funding after the Spending Review.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of hereditaments in England with a Rateable Value above £500,000 are internet retail warehouses.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Valuation Office Agency published official statistics detailing the number of non-domestic properties in England with a rateable value over £500,000, broken down by sector, sub-sector, special category and region here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000.

There is no special category code for ‘internet retail warehouses’. You may find the data for ‘retail warehouses and food stores’, and ‘large distribution warehouses’ helpful.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the number of adults resident in the UK unable to (a) read and (b) write in English.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 12th March is attached.

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 trends in the level of service charges for (a) unadopted roads and (b) community spaces in (i) new build housing and (ii) private estate developments.

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

My Department does not hold data on the level of estate management charges for specific services.

Data was, however, provided by the Competition and Markets Authority as part of their recent housebuilding market study which can be found on gov.uk here.

The government is determined to end the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ entirely and we will consult this year on legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements, which are the root cause of the problems experienced by many residential freeholders. This consultation will help gather further data on this matter.

The government remain committed to protecting residential freeholders on private and mixed-tenure housing estates from unfair charges. This year we will consult on implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s new consumer protection provisions for the up to 1.75m homes that are subject to these charges, and bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager.

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 is taking steps to (a) reduce the level and (b) increase the transparency of service charges on (i) private estates and (ii) new build developments.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).

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 impact of the (a) abolition of ground rents and (b) creation of commonhold tenure on the purchase price of new build flats.

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

As set out in the Commonhold White Paper published on 3 March 2025, the government are continuing to develop proposals and consulting with experts on the best way to achieve our aim of a more accessible route to conversion. It is our intention to set out further detail on the approved proposals for conversions in the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill later this year, alongside the reforms for commonhold and new supply.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.

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 convert existing leasehold flats to commonhold tenure; and whether conversion will be voluntary.

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

As set out in the Commonhold White Paper published on 3 March 2025, the government are continuing to develop proposals and consulting with experts on the best way to achieve our aim of a more accessible route to conversion. It is our intention to set out further detail on the approved proposals for conversions in the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill later this year, alongside the reforms for commonhold and new supply.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.

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 assessment of the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 on types of tenure used in new build development.

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

As set out in the Commonhold White Paper published on 3 March 2025, the government are continuing to develop proposals and consulting with experts on the best way to achieve our aim of a more accessible route to conversion. It is our intention to set out further detail on the approved proposals for conversions in the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Bill later this year, alongside the reforms for commonhold and new supply.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.

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 2.2.5 of the Devolution White Paper, published in December 2025, CP 1218, whether the Integrated Settlement for London will entail devolution of funding to (a) London Boroughs, (b) the pan-London organisation of London Councils and (c) the Greater London Authority; and whether she plans to transfer power from London Boroughs to the Greater London Authority.

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

At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government committed to exploring how the Integrated Settlement policy could be applied for the Greater London Authority from the 2026-27 financial year onwards, taking into account the capital’s unique devolution arrangements. This work is currently taking place and the Government plans to announce further details following the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Spending Review 2025.

In the English Devolution White Paper, the Government committed to working with the Greater London Authority to ensure the capital city benefits from new powers and funding being made available to other Strategic Authorities, while retaining pre-existing bespoke London arrangements. This work is currently taking in place in preparation for the English Devolution Bill.

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 make changes to the cost of (a) Lawful Development Certificate and (b) householder planning consent application in relation to making changes to the windows of an existing dwelling.

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

The fee for the enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse will increase to £528 from 1 April 2025. The fee for lawful development certificates will vary depending on the type of development involved.

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 February 2025 to Question 30226 on Children’s Play: Business Rates, whether children’s soft play centres are entitled to retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief; and what Special Category Code the Valuation Office Agency uses to categorise such hereditaments.

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

The administration of business rates, including billing, enforcement and decisions on the award of relief, including for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme is the responsibility of local councils. They do so having regard to the guidance published by the government.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for valuation matters. Soft play centres occupy a range of different types of building from retail premises to warehouse units and leisure centres. There is no specific VOA special category code that covers all soft play centres, they are attributed a special category code dependant on the type of premises in which they are 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 days each of her departmental Ministers has spent working at the Darlington Campus since 5 July 2024.

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

The Deputy Prime Minister and ministerial team work from a number of locations and offices across the country. The Deputy Prime Minister does not regularly work from the Wolverhampton office or Darlington Campus.

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 Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report: Government response, published on 26 February 2025, what her planned timetable is for (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation on (i) fire and (ii) building safety.

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

The government has accepted all the findings of the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report, and we will take forward all of the recommendations. We are committed to fixing all of the problems highlighted by the recommendations, including those we have accepted in principle. We will make sure that we achieve the best outcomes for the public where the implementation of a recommendation requires further consideration, such as through public consultation.

Where the delivery of recommendations or wider commitments we have made in the response document require legislation, we will deliver these measures as soon as parliamentary time allows.

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 Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report: Government response, published on 26 February 2025, whether she plans to implement recommendations accepted in principle in full.

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

The government has accepted all the findings of the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report, and we will take forward all of the recommendations. We are committed to fixing all of the problems highlighted by the recommendations, including those we have accepted in principle. We will make sure that we achieve the best outcomes for the public where the implementation of a recommendation requires further consideration, such as through public consultation.

Where the delivery of recommendations or wider commitments we have made in the response document require legislation, we will deliver these measures as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31951 on Local Government Boundary Commission for England, whether the Local Government Boundary Commission for England has told the Speaker's Committee that it requires resources for formal structural reviews of local authority (i) wards and (ii) boundaries.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Speaker's Committee plans to hold a public evidence session with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) on 19 March 2025 to consider its draft supply estimate for 2025/26. This session will be made available on Parliament Live.

Following the meeting, the Speaker's Committee is expected to publish the explanatory memorandum produced by the Commission explaining the content of its Estimate and justifying proposed funding requests. The Committee is also expected to consider the Commission's new five year corporate plan which outlines the LGBCE's objectives and expenditure plans over the next five years.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission issues fines to political parties that narrowly miss a reporting deadline.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission takes enforcement action, including using investigatory powers and sanctions, where it is satisfied that it is necessary and proportionate to do so. Where it is satisfied it can resolve a matter without enforcement action, it will do so. It issues fines for missed reporting deadlines where it is not satisfied it can achieve its regulatory aims though other means.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, for what reason the Electoral Commission briefing entitled Parliamentary briefing: Political finance rules, sent to hon. Members on 4 March 2025, states that unincorporated associations are not required to check that those who donate to them are permissible.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Political Parties, Election and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) sets out the permissibility rules for political donations.

Unincorporated associations who donate to political parties are required to be permissable donors. However, those who give money to an unincorporated association are not required to be. Unincorporated associations are therefore not required to check that those who donate to them are permissable.

The Commission has recommended a change to the law to require unincorporated associations to ensure that any political donations come from permissable donors. This would strengthen the political finance system and provide transparency for voters.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to section 94 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, whether the Electoral Commission has been granted enhanced powers to access Companies House information.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, Companies House has powers to share information with individuals and public authorities, including the Electoral Commission, as long as the disclosure aligns with the functions of the receiving public authority and is not in breach of data protection legislation.

The Commission has not received information using these powers since the law received Royal Assent in 2023.

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 27 January 2025 to Question 22777 on HM Land Registry: Buildings, and with reference to the Public and Commercial Services Union press release entitled Land Registry Action Short of a Strike begins, dated 22 January 2025, what the status is of the industrial action at HM Land Registry as of March 2025; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that industrial action on office attendance requirements at HM Land Registry; and what steps she is taking to help resolve that dispute.

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

The action short of a strike (as per the Public and Commercial Services Union press release of 22 January 2025) is continuing as are talks with PCS to conclude the dispute.

The industrial action in question does not alter the expectation that HM Land Registry staff comply with the government’s 60% office attendance requirement.

HM Land Registry has been monitoring office attendance of staff during the action short of a strike, and there has been no discernible impact.

MHCLG is in regular contact with HM Land Registry management and supports their attempts to resolve the dispute.

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 para 129 of the UK Government Response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, CP1248, published in February 2025, whether the extension of the Freedom of Information Act to Tenant Management Organisations (a) is limited to matters relating to social housing and (b) covers all information held by the organisation; and what her planned timetable is for secondary legislation on the issue.

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

The government is committed to increasing transparency in the social rented sector, including by enabling residents of Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs) to request access to information about the management of their homes in the same way as other social tenants.

We will work closely with TMOs, local authorities and residents of homes managed by TMOs to consider how best to implement the requirements. Our priority will be to ensure tenants can access as much information as possible on their housing services. We will set out next steps in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2025 to Question 30146 on Business Rates, what estimate she has made of the change in overall cost of the retail, hospitality and leisure relief scheme without a cash cap.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Without any Government intervention, retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) 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.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026-27, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000. Whereas RHL relief currently limits support to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, the Government intends to have no such limit on the new multipliers in order to better ensure more widespread support for the high street.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.

Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new, permanently lower tax rates are set at Budget 2025, the Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

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 February 2025 to Question 31491 on Housing: Windows, whether her Department holds records of which local authorities have issued Article 4 directions for removing permitted development rights.

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

A local planning authority must, as soon as practicable after confirming an article 4 direction, inform the Secretary of State. Records of Article 4 Directions made by local authorities dating back to April 2018 are held.

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 February 2025 to Question 30144 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Inspectorate, if she will (a) list the representations that were received after the deadline, but which have been accepted by the Inspector and (b) state how many representations were submitted late but not accepted.

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

The representations which were received after the deadline that were accepted by the Inspector can be viewed in the inquiry library here.

The number of representations submitted after the deadline and not accepted by the Inspector stands at 33 as of 12 March 2025.

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 BRE group will continue to certify (a) cladding, (b) insulation and (c) other products.

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

The BRE is a conformity assessment body accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS). Following the criticisms of BRE in the Grenfell Inquiry, UKAS has conducted additional assessments of the BRE, and we are working closely with UKAS to understand how BRE intends to address the identified failings.

Government has published a construction product reform green paper which includes proposals on the capacity, competence and oversight of conformity assessment bodies. We are addressing these criticisms through the government response to recommendations as set out in the green paper published on 26 February 2025, as part of measures for system wide reform. Our proposals include new requirements and obligations on conformity assessment bodies, including that they must obtain a licence from the national regulator, and be subject to a statutory code. This will improve confidence in the rigour and competency of conformity assessment bodies. Following this consultation, we will set out the government’s initial response and our next steps for long term reform.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29081 on Waste Disposal: Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of gate fees on local authorities' collection of household residual waste.

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

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) publishes an annual gate fees report UK Gate Fees report 2023-24 | WRAP.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29081 on Waste Disposal: Local Government, whether state taxes, charges or levies are placed on municipal incineration of household waste.

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

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) publishes an annual gate fees report, including those for Energy from Waste (EfW).

No taxes, charges or levies are placed on municipal incineration of household waste.

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 17 January 2025 to Question 22929 on Treasury: Employers' Contributions, whether she has received any requests for pricing reviews, in the context of changes to employers' National Insurance contributions.

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

The information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost as it would require collating information from individual contract managers from across the department.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Powers for landlords to collect rent from benefit payments to be re-examined, published on 25 January 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of ending landlord deductions on (a) landlords' rent arrears, (b) evictions and (c) the supply of property in that part of the private rented sector.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

No assessment has been made as there are no plans to end landlord deductions from benefit payments.

The Press release was in relation to the Nathan Roberts judgement, and the Department is considering the actions required carefully with regards to implementing it.

A key point is that payment of ongoing rent and deductions for rent arrears to landlords were not deemed as unlawful, and the judgement was around operational delivery. In the customer’s personal circumstances, it is worth pointing out that whenever a decision is made to apply a deduction to a Universal Credit (UC) award, in respect of rent arrears, UC customers have always had the opportunity to seek a review of the decision by requesting a mandatory reconsideration (MR). If the MR results in the decision remaining unchanged, the UC customer has the right to appeal the decision via the Courts and Tribunal Service.

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 27 February 2025 to Question 32152 on Unitary councils, what the estimated population per councillor is under the new proposed unitaries with 500,000 populations.

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

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is responsible for conducting Electoral Reviews of local government, which examine a council’s electoral arrangements including determining the total number of members to be elected to the council (council size) and the optimum number of electors per councillor. Local authorities are able to make a submission on council size to the LGBCE when undertaking an Electoral Review, to set out options for the number of councillors and reflecting on the number of councillors required for the local authority.

The LGBCE’s guidance states that in calculating the appropriate total number of members per council, they are seeking to propose a council size which is appropriate for the individual characteristics of the local authority in question, and will consider the following factors:

• governance arrangements of the council, how it takes decisions across the broad range of its responsibilities, and whether there are any planned changes to those arrangements;
• the council’s scrutiny functions relating to its own decision-making and the council’s responsibilities to outside bodies, and whether any changes to them are being considered; and
• the representational role of councillors in the local community and how they engage with people, conduct casework and represent the council on local partner organisations.

The LGBCE decision on council size marks the start of the formal review process for warding patterns (the number, names and boundaries of individual wards), with final electoral arrangements for the number of members implemented by an Order of Parliament.

The Electoral Review process is subject to a local consultation.

Found: OUT0017 - Outside employment and interests Kevin Hollinrake MP (Member of Parliament at House of Commons

Found: starting a new chapter and decisively delivering a better Britain for working people.52 Kevin Hollinrake

Found: Members present: Jim McMahon, in the Chair Bobby Dean Kate Dearden Mark Ferguson Kevin Hollinrake

Found: Ramsay Siân Berry Iqbal Mohamed Ayoub Khan Yasmin Qureshi David Smith Christine Jardine Kevin Hollinrake

Found: starting a new chapter and decisively delivering a better Britain for working people.52 Kevin Hollinrake