Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 87776 on Private Rented Housing: Energy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the costs of new energy efficiency measures on the level of open market rents.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector, including proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030. We have engaged with landlord and tenant groups in developing this policy and set out several proposals to help landlords reach the new standard. Our proposed changes should not require landlords to increase rents. Instead, they will help tenants cut their energy bills by delivering more energy efficient homes.
The consultation has now closed and we are analysing responses and reviewing evidence on the potential impact of these proposals. A government response will be published in due course.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will list each planning application that has been called in since 4 July 2024, including (a) planning reference number, (b) local authority, (c) the proposed development, and the result of each decision to date.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Since 4 July 2024, the Secretary of State has called in the following planning applications:
Cases called in 04/07/24 to 14/01/26
Location | LPA | LPA Ref | Call in Date | Development Description | Outcome |
Northfleet Harbourside, land surrounding Ebbsfleet Football Club, Northfleet, Kent | Gravesham Borough Council | 20221064 | 07/02/25 | Mixed-use redevelopment including new homes, commercial space and supporting infrastructure. | Inquiry closed Nov 25 – Inspector’s Report awaited |
Heath Business & Technical Park & land north of Heath Rd, Runcorn, Cheshire | Halton Borough Council | 22/00569/OUT | 19/09/25 | Mixed-use scheme including up to 545 homes and supporting community and employment facilities. | With MHCLG – target date for decision 13 Mar 2026 |
Land south of Frome Somerset | Somerset Council | 2021/1675/EOUT | 03/02/25 | Up to 1,700 homes with a local centre, employment land, greenspace and associated infrastructure. | Inquiry closed Sept 25 – Inspector's report awaited |
Land south of Sittingbourne, Kent | Swale Borough Council | 21/503914/EIOUT | 07/11/24 | Major mixed‑use development including up to 7,150 homes, employment space, schools, community facilities and major highways works. | Inquiry closed Oct 25 – Inspector's report awaited |
Beehive Centre, Coldhams Lane, Cambridge | Cambridge City Council | 23/03204/OUT | 11/02/25 | Redevelopment of the site to provide a new local centre, employment floorspace, open space and associated infrastructure | Planning permission Granted 9 Dec 25 |
Royal Mint Court, London | London Borough Tower Hamlets | PA/24/01229/A1 | 14/10/24 | Redevelopment of the site to provide a new embassy, including works to listed buildings, public realm improvements and associated infrastructure. . | Decision issued on 20 Jan 26 |
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
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 12 November 2025 to Question 86657 on Elections and Political Parties, whether each of those parties were (a) consulted and (b) engaged before the publication of the strategy in July; if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the Parliamentary Parties Panel held after the strategy was published; and what consultation he intends to hold with political parties on the proposals on (i) political finance and (ii) election law.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government’s Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections outlines how we will deliver on Labour’s manifesto commitment to strengthen the rules governing political donations. Our proposals draw on long‑standing, well‑established recommendations from expert bodies across the electoral sector.
Views of stakeholders have been key to the development of these reforms. Regarding the Electoral Commission’s Parliamentary Parties Panel, the Commission convenes these panels and publishes the minutes of meetings on its website.
We will continue to engage with stakeholders, including political parties, as we work to finalise and implement these reforms.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
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 November 2025, to Question 86656, on Hate Crime: Internet, if he will place a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding in the Library.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In keeping with general practice, we do not currently intend to place the Memorandum of Understanding in the library.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
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 November 2025 to Question 87317 on Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections, which Mayors were consulted; and on what dates.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 78213 on 10 October 2025.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, What guidance has been given to the Planning Inspectorate on the use of (a) gender-neutral language and (b) pronouns.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Planning Inspectorate operates in line with relevant legislation such as the Equality Act 2010.
My Department has not provided further specific advice to the Planning Inspectorate regarding gender neutral language or pronouns.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether changes to the National Planning Policy Framework since December 2024 apply to retrospective planning applications for unauthorised traveller sites.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Retrospective planning applications must be determined in accordance with the local development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
The government is consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making.
The consultation includes a proposed policy on retrospective planning applications and unauthorised development which sets out that if it is concluded, based on evidence, that the unauthorised development was intentional, that fact should be given substantial weight in considering whether to grant planning permission.
The consultation on changes to the NPPF is available on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, If he will place in the Library a copy of the equality impact assessment produced in relation to the revised National Planning Policy Framework, published on 16 December 2025.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.
The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.
Duty assessments alongside such consultations. We are seeking views through the consultation on how the proposed policies could affect protected characteristics, and the views we receive will inform our final assessment and the government’s response to the consultation.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 16 December 2025, HCWS1186, on Electoral Resilience, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of political donations to APPGs by foreign donors on democracy.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The registration of APPGs, as well as their compliance with the 'Guide to the Rules on All-Party Parliamentary Groups', is a matter for Parliament. The Government believes it is right that there are strict rules for APPGs regarding benefits from foreign governments and supports the prohibition on foreign governments providing or funding APPG secretariats. Ultimately, MPs must conduct the appropriate due diligence and are responsible for following not only the rules for APPGs, but the House of Commons Code of Conduct as well, which is clear on the requirements for MPs with regards to lobbying and foreign governments.
In October, the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) launched specific guidance to help Members of Parliament, councillors, mayors, and their staff better understand and protect themselves from threats like espionage and foreign interference. This guidance provides simple, effective steps to safeguard individuals, their teams, and the integrity of democratic processes.
The Government takes any attempts to intervene in democratic processes very seriously. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral processes, including from foreign interference.
On the 16th of December, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics to provide an in-depth assessment of the current financial rules and safeguards that regulate political parties and political finance and make recommendations. The terms of reference for the review can be found here.
Given the review’s independence, we cannot pre-empt specifics of the ground it will cover, nor the recommendations it will make. It is right that the review is independent of Government and independent of any political party.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's statistics entitled Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation, published on 26 November 2025, for what reason the average Rateable Values of Royal Palaces have increased by 201%.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Royal Palaces are valued in the same way as any other class of non-domestic property; through applying the statutory and common law principles that apply across non-domestic rating.
An increase in RV does not mean that business rates liability will increase by the same percentage.