Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 with reference to DEP2025-0538/ MHCLG Flights July 5 2024- May 31 2025, deposited on 24 July 2025, for what reason his Department took flights from Manchester to London.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
A flight was taken from Manchester to London on 9 March 2025 by a member of staff to attend a mandatory training course on the following day.
The trains were on strike at the time of the booking attempt (14 February 2025), as a result, none of the Manchester-to-London routes were shown on the government booking platform.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many civil servants from his Department went on strike on 1 September 2025.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
431 individuals are recorded as having taken part in strike action on 1 September 2025.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to developers on the level of information required to satisfy Gateway 2 approval for an application to the Building Safety Regulator.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) handling time for each application is dependent on a range of factors, primarily the quality of the application and the additional information submitted by the applicant. As can be seen in the table below, the average handling time by hour varies.
Average Assessment Hours | Category A | Category B | Conversion from Non-HRB to HRB | New Build | Un-Categorised |
01/10/2024 to 01/09/2025 | 37 | 19 | 118 | 176 | 17 |
BSR officials have provided the table below which demonstrates the average number of days taken to approve a Gateway 2 (GW2) application.
Average of Decision (Days) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Month Beginning | Category A | Category B | Conversion from Non-HRB to HRB | New Build | Un-Categorised | Grand Total |
01/10/2024 | 132 | 132 |
| 152 |
| 134 |
01/11/2024 | 153 | 159 |
|
|
| 155 |
01/12/2024 | 157 | 123 | 76 | 127 |
| 150 |
01/01/2025 | 179 | 171 |
|
|
| 178 |
01/02/2025 | 165 | 147 |
| 204 | 358 | 181 |
01/03/2025 | 225 | 179 |
|
| 158 | 217 |
01/04/2025 | 229 | 239 | 211 |
| 114 | 223 |
01/05/2025 | 193 | 194 |
| 367 | 262 | 215 |
01/06/2025 | 213 | 236 |
| 353 | 258 | 236 |
01/07/2025 | 212 | 270 |
| 325 | 400 | 228 |
01/08/2025 | 195 | 122 |
| 273 | 348 | 209 |
01/09/2025 | 200 | 178 | 184 | 338 | 420 | 223 |
Grand Total | 193 | 174 | 173 | 284 | 272 | 202 |
Information on the length of documents submitted as part of applications is not something the BSR actively collects data for. The length and number of documents required to support a GW2 application varies, and there is no correlation between page length and achievement of a GW2 determination as the size and complexity of projects varies considerably.
The BSR is actively supporting the Construction Leadership Council to develop and publish a further suite of industry guidance on the statutory documents accompanying building control approval applications, staged approvals for single tower HRBs and construction phase and gateway three (completion certificate stage). This is expected in November.
The BSR has also published four new pieces of guidance, including:
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the average number of pages is that an applicant submits to achieve Gateway 2 clearance from the Building Safety Regulator.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) handling time for each application is dependent on a range of factors, primarily the quality of the application and the additional information submitted by the applicant. As can be seen in the table below, the average handling time by hour varies.
Average Assessment Hours | Category A | Category B | Conversion from Non-HRB to HRB | New Build | Un-Categorised |
01/10/2024 to 01/09/2025 | 37 | 19 | 118 | 176 | 17 |
BSR officials have provided the table below which demonstrates the average number of days taken to approve a Gateway 2 (GW2) application.
Average of Decision (Days) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Month Beginning | Category A | Category B | Conversion from Non-HRB to HRB | New Build | Un-Categorised | Grand Total |
01/10/2024 | 132 | 132 |
| 152 |
| 134 |
01/11/2024 | 153 | 159 |
|
|
| 155 |
01/12/2024 | 157 | 123 | 76 | 127 |
| 150 |
01/01/2025 | 179 | 171 |
|
|
| 178 |
01/02/2025 | 165 | 147 |
| 204 | 358 | 181 |
01/03/2025 | 225 | 179 |
|
| 158 | 217 |
01/04/2025 | 229 | 239 | 211 |
| 114 | 223 |
01/05/2025 | 193 | 194 |
| 367 | 262 | 215 |
01/06/2025 | 213 | 236 |
| 353 | 258 | 236 |
01/07/2025 | 212 | 270 |
| 325 | 400 | 228 |
01/08/2025 | 195 | 122 |
| 273 | 348 | 209 |
01/09/2025 | 200 | 178 | 184 | 338 | 420 | 223 |
Grand Total | 193 | 174 | 173 | 284 | 272 | 202 |
Information on the length of documents submitted as part of applications is not something the BSR actively collects data for. The length and number of documents required to support a GW2 application varies, and there is no correlation between page length and achievement of a GW2 determination as the size and complexity of projects varies considerably.
The BSR is actively supporting the Construction Leadership Council to develop and publish a further suite of industry guidance on the statutory documents accompanying building control approval applications, staged approvals for single tower HRBs and construction phase and gateway three (completion certificate stage). This is expected in November.
The BSR has also published four new pieces of guidance, including:
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on clearing the backlog caused by the Building Safety Regulator since 30 June 2025.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We recognise that delays to the assessment of applications have been unacceptable, which is why we announced reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) on 30 June, including plans to establish the BSR as a separate body.
The BSR is already making operational and policy changes to speed up decision making, particularly on building control approval, including through the introduction of an Innovation Unit. Early signs are positive with all applications in the Innovation Unit so far on track to exceed or meet the 12-week SLA as they progress through the application process.
To support transparency and accountability, the BSR published performance data on 16 October and will continue to do so monthly to track progress against this commitment.
Gateway 2 decisions in July-September 2025 doubled to over 500 compared to around 250 in January-March 2025. In addition, the backlog of new-build applications has reduced from 134 on 30th June 2025 to 102 on 15th October 2025.
The BSR has provided the sum of residential units that were without a decision covering these timeframes as of the 1st of each month spanning over 6 months:
| May -25 | Jun- 25 | Jul-25 | Aug-25 | Sep-25 | Oct-25 |
12-25 weeks | 3,417 | 2,231 | 2,412 | 2,011 | 1,221 | 0 |
26-51 weeks | 4,603 | 3,909 | 3,693 | 2,923 | 2,915 | 2,010 |
52+ weeks | 308 | 648 | 483 | 606 | 606 | 0 |
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many homes would have been delivered in buildings waiting for Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator for (a) over 12 weeks, (b) over 26 weeks, (c) over 52 weeks and (d) in total in each of the last six months.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We recognise that delays to the assessment of applications have been unacceptable, which is why we announced reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) on 30 June, including plans to establish the BSR as a separate body.
The BSR is already making operational and policy changes to speed up decision making, particularly on building control approval, including through the introduction of an Innovation Unit. Early signs are positive with all applications in the Innovation Unit so far on track to exceed or meet the 12-week SLA as they progress through the application process.
To support transparency and accountability, the BSR published performance data on 16 October and will continue to do so monthly to track progress against this commitment.
Gateway 2 decisions in July-September 2025 doubled to over 500 compared to around 250 in January-March 2025. In addition, the backlog of new-build applications has reduced from 134 on 30th June 2025 to 102 on 15th October 2025.
The BSR has provided the sum of residential units that were without a decision covering these timeframes as of the 1st of each month spanning over 6 months:
| May -25 | Jun- 25 | Jul-25 | Aug-25 | Sep-25 | Oct-25 |
12-25 weeks | 3,417 | 2,231 | 2,412 | 2,011 | 1,221 | 0 |
26-51 weeks | 4,603 | 3,909 | 3,693 | 2,923 | 2,915 | 2,010 |
52+ weeks | 308 | 648 | 483 | 606 | 606 | 0 |
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on average how many hours are spent reviewing (a) a successful and (b) an unsuccessful application for Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) handling time for each application is dependent on a range of factors, primarily the quality of the application and the additional information submitted by the applicant. As can be seen in the table below, the average handling time by hour varies.
Average Assessment Hours | Category A | Category B | Conversion from Non-HRB to HRB | New Build | Un-Categorised |
01/10/2024 to 01/09/2025 | 37 | 19 | 118 | 176 | 17 |
BSR officials have provided the table below which demonstrates the average number of days taken to approve a Gateway 2 (GW2) application.
Average of Decision (Days) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Month Beginning | Category A | Category B | Conversion from Non-HRB to HRB | New Build | Un-Categorised | Grand Total |
01/10/2024 | 132 | 132 |
| 152 |
| 134 |
01/11/2024 | 153 | 159 |
|
|
| 155 |
01/12/2024 | 157 | 123 | 76 | 127 |
| 150 |
01/01/2025 | 179 | 171 |
|
|
| 178 |
01/02/2025 | 165 | 147 |
| 204 | 358 | 181 |
01/03/2025 | 225 | 179 |
|
| 158 | 217 |
01/04/2025 | 229 | 239 | 211 |
| 114 | 223 |
01/05/2025 | 193 | 194 |
| 367 | 262 | 215 |
01/06/2025 | 213 | 236 |
| 353 | 258 | 236 |
01/07/2025 | 212 | 270 |
| 325 | 400 | 228 |
01/08/2025 | 195 | 122 |
| 273 | 348 | 209 |
01/09/2025 | 200 | 178 | 184 | 338 | 420 | 223 |
Grand Total | 193 | 174 | 173 | 284 | 272 | 202 |
Information on the length of documents submitted as part of applications is not something the BSR actively collects data for. The length and number of documents required to support a GW2 application varies, and there is no correlation between page length and achievement of a GW2 determination as the size and complexity of projects varies considerably.
The BSR is actively supporting the Construction Leadership Council to develop and publish a further suite of industry guidance on the statutory documents accompanying building control approval applications, staged approvals for single tower HRBs and construction phase and gateway three (completion certificate stage). This is expected in November.
The BSR has also published four new pieces of guidance, including:
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on average how many days it takes for the Building Safety Regulator to approve a successful Gateway 2 application.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) handling time for each application is dependent on a range of factors, primarily the quality of the application and the additional information submitted by the applicant. As can be seen in the table below, the average handling time by hour varies.
Average Assessment Hours | Category A | Category B | Conversion from Non-HRB to HRB | New Build | Un-Categorised |
01/10/2024 to 01/09/2025 | 37 | 19 | 118 | 176 | 17 |
BSR officials have provided the table below which demonstrates the average number of days taken to approve a Gateway 2 (GW2) application.
Average of Decision (Days) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Month Beginning | Category A | Category B | Conversion from Non-HRB to HRB | New Build | Un-Categorised | Grand Total |
01/10/2024 | 132 | 132 |
| 152 |
| 134 |
01/11/2024 | 153 | 159 |
|
|
| 155 |
01/12/2024 | 157 | 123 | 76 | 127 |
| 150 |
01/01/2025 | 179 | 171 |
|
|
| 178 |
01/02/2025 | 165 | 147 |
| 204 | 358 | 181 |
01/03/2025 | 225 | 179 |
|
| 158 | 217 |
01/04/2025 | 229 | 239 | 211 |
| 114 | 223 |
01/05/2025 | 193 | 194 |
| 367 | 262 | 215 |
01/06/2025 | 213 | 236 |
| 353 | 258 | 236 |
01/07/2025 | 212 | 270 |
| 325 | 400 | 228 |
01/08/2025 | 195 | 122 |
| 273 | 348 | 209 |
01/09/2025 | 200 | 178 | 184 | 338 | 420 | 223 |
Grand Total | 193 | 174 | 173 | 284 | 272 | 202 |
Information on the length of documents submitted as part of applications is not something the BSR actively collects data for. The length and number of documents required to support a GW2 application varies, and there is no correlation between page length and achievement of a GW2 determination as the size and complexity of projects varies considerably.
The BSR is actively supporting the Construction Leadership Council to develop and publish a further suite of industry guidance on the statutory documents accompanying building control approval applications, staged approvals for single tower HRBs and construction phase and gateway three (completion certificate stage). This is expected in November.
The BSR has also published four new pieces of guidance, including:
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 73832 on Special Advisers: Political Parties, whether special advisers have been asked to undertake opposition research.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
As has been the case under successive governments, special advisers are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers at all times.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much council tax was paid by his Department on the Deputy Prime Minister’s flat in Admiralty House in each month since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The council tax charges levied by Westminster City Council are available online on their website at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-bands-and-charges
Following the introduction of the second homes premium, this has been applied and paid in full in a one-off full payment in August 2025.