Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 106871 on 28 January 2026.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department will make a decision on the funding of the ACM cladding remediation project at Northpoint Bromley.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
MHCLG funded the cladding remediation project at Northpoint Bromley, including work required to remove the unsafe ACM, completed in 2024.
Our delivery partner, the Greater London Authority, has since submitted a funding variation request related to the defects liability period. This is progressing this through the Department’s funding governance processes and a decision will be made in due course.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
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 English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, when the working group jointly sponsored by his Department and the Greater London Authority will publish its conclusions.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Greater London Authority (GLA) is an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) and will be formally made as such via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the Bill’). As with other EMSAs, the Bill will grant the GLA the ‘right to request’, allowing them to request additions to the devolution framework to help deliver their areas of competence. Requests could be for further powers, funding or place-based pilots. Requests will be considered by Government and responded to within 6 months. This will be the primary way the powers of all Strategic Authorities will be amended going forward; however the Bill delivers on our commitment to devolve responsibility for the disposal of TfL operational land to the Mayor of London.
It is my Department’s expectation that some of the GLA’s requests for future devolved functions will be informed by an analysis of the powers and policy approaches of any global cities which can provide valuable lessons for London. As such, there is no defined list of global city authorities with which the Department plans to compare to London.
The working group jointly sponsored by my Department and the GLA has met a total of three times since November 2024. It has provided a forum to discuss potential priorities for the GLA’s ‘right to request’ informed by global city comparisons. The group has also worked to ensure the Bill's provisions align with the GLA's unique devolution settlement. Work has also been ongoing to agree an Integrated Settlement for London, as was announced at the Spending Review in June 2025. The working group is intended to provide a forum for engagement with the GLA on an ongoing basis, as such the Department does not plan to publish final conclusions.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
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 English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether he plans to amend the Greater London Authority's powers.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Greater London Authority (GLA) is an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) and will be formally made as such via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the Bill’). As with other EMSAs, the Bill will grant the GLA the ‘right to request’, allowing them to request additions to the devolution framework to help deliver their areas of competence. Requests could be for further powers, funding or place-based pilots. Requests will be considered by Government and responded to within 6 months. This will be the primary way the powers of all Strategic Authorities will be amended going forward; however the Bill delivers on our commitment to devolve responsibility for the disposal of TfL operational land to the Mayor of London.
It is my Department’s expectation that some of the GLA’s requests for future devolved functions will be informed by an analysis of the powers and policy approaches of any global cities which can provide valuable lessons for London. As such, there is no defined list of global city authorities with which the Department plans to compare to London.
The working group jointly sponsored by my Department and the GLA has met a total of three times since November 2024. It has provided a forum to discuss potential priorities for the GLA’s ‘right to request’ informed by global city comparisons. The group has also worked to ensure the Bill's provisions align with the GLA's unique devolution settlement. Work has also been ongoing to agree an Integrated Settlement for London, as was announced at the Spending Review in June 2025. The working group is intended to provide a forum for engagement with the GLA on an ongoing basis, as such the Department does not plan to publish final conclusions.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
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 English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, which global city authorities his Department plans to consider.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Greater London Authority (GLA) is an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) and will be formally made as such via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the Bill’). As with other EMSAs, the Bill will grant the GLA the ‘right to request’, allowing them to request additions to the devolution framework to help deliver their areas of competence. Requests could be for further powers, funding or place-based pilots. Requests will be considered by Government and responded to within 6 months. This will be the primary way the powers of all Strategic Authorities will be amended going forward; however the Bill delivers on our commitment to devolve responsibility for the disposal of TfL operational land to the Mayor of London.
It is my Department’s expectation that some of the GLA’s requests for future devolved functions will be informed by an analysis of the powers and policy approaches of any global cities which can provide valuable lessons for London. As such, there is no defined list of global city authorities with which the Department plans to compare to London.
The working group jointly sponsored by my Department and the GLA has met a total of three times since November 2024. It has provided a forum to discuss potential priorities for the GLA’s ‘right to request’ informed by global city comparisons. The group has also worked to ensure the Bill's provisions align with the GLA's unique devolution settlement. Work has also been ongoing to agree an Integrated Settlement for London, as was announced at the Spending Review in June 2025. The working group is intended to provide a forum for engagement with the GLA on an ongoing basis, as such the Department does not plan to publish final conclusions.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
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 English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, how many times the new working group sponsored jointly by her Department and the Greater London Authority has met.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Greater London Authority (GLA) is an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) and will be formally made as such via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the Bill’). As with other EMSAs, the Bill will grant the GLA the ‘right to request’, allowing them to request additions to the devolution framework to help deliver their areas of competence. Requests could be for further powers, funding or place-based pilots. Requests will be considered by Government and responded to within 6 months. This will be the primary way the powers of all Strategic Authorities will be amended going forward; however the Bill delivers on our commitment to devolve responsibility for the disposal of TfL operational land to the Mayor of London.
It is my Department’s expectation that some of the GLA’s requests for future devolved functions will be informed by an analysis of the powers and policy approaches of any global cities which can provide valuable lessons for London. As such, there is no defined list of global city authorities with which the Department plans to compare to London.
The working group jointly sponsored by my Department and the GLA has met a total of three times since November 2024. It has provided a forum to discuss potential priorities for the GLA’s ‘right to request’ informed by global city comparisons. The group has also worked to ensure the Bill's provisions align with the GLA's unique devolution settlement. Work has also been ongoing to agree an Integrated Settlement for London, as was announced at the Spending Review in June 2025. The working group is intended to provide a forum for engagement with the GLA on an ongoing basis, as such the Department does not plan to publish final conclusions.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his plans are for the future of Business Improvement Districts.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises the important role Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) can play in regeneration and place making. We encourage BIDs to work in partnership with their local authority to deliver growth in their local area. We made a commitment to strengthen BIDs and raise standards in the English Devolution White Paper in December 2024 and we are considering options for reform.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
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 take steps to protect family homes from being converted into houses in multiple occupation.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
National permitted development rights allow a C3 dwellinghouse to change use to a C4 House in Multiple Occupation for up to six people sharing facilities without the need for a planning application.
Larger Houses in Multiple Occupation require a planning application which the local authority will determine in-line with the local plan and in consultation with neighbours.
Local authorities can remove the permitted development right for HMOs of up to 6 people to protect local amenity or wellbeing of the area by introducing an ‘Article 4’ direction.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to build more family homes in London and the South East.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament.
Through bold reform of the planning system; significant investment in land, infrastructure, and social and affordable housing; and a range of other measures, we will deliver the homes working families need across the country, including in London and the South-East.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing simple majority voting in the London Assembly.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The London Assembly is a unique institution in the English Devolution landscape, responsible for scrutiny rather than executive decision-making. It has successfully served the people of London for the last 25 years and will continue to act as the body responsible for scrutinising the Mayor of London.
The government will engage with both the Mayor of London and the London Assembly on proposals for improving accountability and scrutiny as set out in the English Devolution White Paper. However, the government has no plans to change voting arrangements in the London Assembly.