Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of legal cases that have commenced related to the installation of 5G masts; and whether provisions within the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 are retrospective.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Legal cases relating to telecommunications installations can commence in either the County Court or the Lands Tribunal. The Department does not have comprehensive data, but is aware of an increase in applications to the courts relating to telecommunications infrastructure installation since 2017. Applications can cover a range of different situations. We do not know how many relate specifically to 5G masts. Most applications do not proceed to a full hearing, but are resolved consensually.
Sections 58,59 and 61 – 64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 have some limited retrospective effects. Other provisions are not considered retrospective.
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 3 January 2025 to Question 20827 on Religious Freedom, what steps the Government is taking to protect freedom of speech in relation to the expression of lawful statements which may be critical of organised religion.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This is a tolerant multi-faith country in which all faiths contribute towards creating a richer society. There are no blasphemy laws in this country and there are no plans to introduce blasphemy laws. This Government will always recognise British citizens’ unchanging right to freedom of speech and expression.
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, how many times the Communities and Recovery Steering Group has met; on what dates; in which locations; and whether minutes are taken.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Communities and Recovery Steering Group meets regularly and, as is standard practice, minutes are taken.
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 her Department’s policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, whether Biodiversity Net Gain expenditure can be scored against mitigation measures.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The proposals set out in the Development and Nature Recovery Planning Reform Working Paper would not be expected to have a direct impact on the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). They would, however, complement the implementation of BNG in securing better outcomes for nature. BNG incentivises nature positive choices on development sites, with a developing private marketplace for off-site biodiversity units which the government continues to support. Our proposals for a Nature Recovery Fund would apply specifically to protected habitats and species. As we continue to develop this new model, we will consider any opportunities which it may offer to support the ongoing implementation of BNG.
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 she will take steps to promote the English language other than through (a) schemes for people from Ukraine and Hong Kong and (b) English for Speakers of Other Languages training.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local authorities signpost new arrivals to English language provision as needed. Government also signposts to English language provision and resources for new arrivals in published guidance.
For Afghan arrivals, the Home Office provides local authorities with £850 for English language provision for adults requiring this support.
In addition to specific English language schemes, Government also provides tariff funding to local authorities to support Ukrainian and Afghan arrivals to integrate into their local communities, which includes supporting them to access English language training where needed. This includes integration tariff funding of up to £20,520 per person, over three years, for each Afghan household they move into settled accommodation in their area. For Ukrainian arrivals, local authorities continue to receive a tariff of £5,900 per Homes for Ukraine arrival in their area to support guests to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities.
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 draft Local Government Finance Settlement published on 18 December 2024, HCWS342, what her Department's estimated increase in council tax receipts is in 2025-26 compared to 2024-25; and what proportion of the increase in core spending power will be funded through higher council tax receipts.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available £69 billion for local government, which is a 3.5% real terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. An estimated 55% of the increase to CSP is a result of increased council tax income.
Further information on Core Spending Power, including council tax, is available at Core Spending Power table: provisional local government finance settlement 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK
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 page 64 of the Devolution White Paper (CP 1218), published on 16 December 2024, whether Spatial Development Strategies will (a) include targets and (b) propose sites for authorised traveller pitches by local planning authority.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, sets out that Spatial Development Strategies will guide development for the local planning authorities in any given area, and that local plans will need to be in general conformity with them. Spatial Development Strategies will identify the infrastructure that is needed and strategic locations for development. Further detail will be set out in legislation 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, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16948 on Planning Permission, what previous guidance has been provided by (a) her Department and (b) the Planning Inspectorate on whether representations made advocating a planning call-in or planning recovery must be publicly disclosed.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
No guidance exists which requires that representations advocating a planning call-in or planning recovery be published.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her definition of non-violent extremism is.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office published a definition of extremism in March 2024, under the previous government. There are no current plans to update this definition.
Further information can be found on gov.uk:
New definition of extremism (2024) - GOV.UK
Under this definition, extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to:
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 page 4 of her Department's College of Experts recruitment pack, published in December 2024, whether strengthening and consolidating employment rights is a formal Ministerial responsibility of her Department.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Strengthening employment rights is a key priority across Government. The Deputy Prime Minister is the Chair of the Future of Work Cabinet Committee, which is responsible for considering and taking decisions on matters related to the Make Work Pay package of reforms to the Employment Law framework. The Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with the Department for Business and Trade, and other government departments, to deliver the Employment Rights Bill. There has been no change to formal departmental responsibilities.