Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the principal causes of continued short-formed rail services; whether her Department has modelled rolling stock availability over the next five years; what assessment her Department has made of the impact of (a) infrastructure and (b) maintenance constraints on rolling stock availability; and whether she plans to publish her Department’s long-term fleet planning assumptions.

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

The Department does not collect information on the principal causes of short-formed rail services and has not undertaken separate modelling of rolling stock availability. Train operators are responsible for service delivery and are best placed to identify the immediate causes of short formations, which can arise for a range of operational reasons, including rolling stock availability and maintenance. In some circumstances, operating a short-formed service may be preferable to cancelling a service altogether to maintain service frequency.

DfT Operator Limited, the Government’s rail owning group for its public ownership programme, works closely with train operators and industry partners on future rolling stock requirements and their implications for capacity. The Government is developing a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy for the railway, which we expect to publish later this year. This will include Great British Railways' expected future rolling stock requirements.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the principal causes of failed residential property transactions; whether his Department has modelled the potential impact of the proposed reforms on fall-through rates; what estimate his Department has made of the potential financial savings to (a) buyers and (b) sellers; and whether his Department has completed regional modelling.

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

My Department closely monitors industry data relating to property transactions as part of the policymaking process, but it does not collect data on the reasons for residential property transaction failures.

I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 22 June 2026 (HCWS132).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department plans to take to implement the proposed home buying reforms; what estimate his Department has made of the potential costs of the reforms to (a) local authorities, (b) HM Land Registry, (c) conveyancers and (d) mortgage lenders; and whether his Department has prepared a programme risk register.

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

My Department closely monitors industry data relating to property transactions as part of the policymaking process, but it does not collect data on the reasons for residential property transaction failures.

I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 22 June 2026 (HCWS132).

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has established baseline data measuring compliance with the Victims’ Code; what performance indicators will be used to assess the revised Code; and whether any internal assessment has identified organisations at greatest risk of non-compliance.

Answered by Catherine Atkinson

The Government is committed to ensuring that victims can access the information and support they need. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 created a framework to monitor certain criminal justice agencies' compliance with the Victims' Code (“the Code”), including legislative duties for agencies to collect and share information on Code compliance.

Work is underway with criminal justice agencies on the underlying data that will support the development of the framework.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the revised Victims’ Code; what estimate he has made of additional staffing requirements across police forces, the Crown Prosecution Service and victim support services; whether implementation has been assessed by police force area; and if he will publish the implementation plan and associated costings.

Answered by Catherine Atkinson

The total present value cost of implementing the new Victims’ Code is estimated to be £11.9 million over a 10-year appraisal period. This includes costs that the police and HMPPS will incur associated with increased interaction with victims. This estimate is based on the draft new Code which we recently consulted on and a full breakdown of the cost benefit analysis can be found in the impact assessment published alongside that consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-new-victims-code.

We are now taking the time to consider nearly 200 responses we received in response to the consultation. We will issue a public response ahead of finalising and then implementing the new Code.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of additional environmental health officers and enforcement staff local authorities will require to exercise the new enforcement powers under the Renters’ Rights Act; what estimate his Department has made of associated funding requirements; and whether his Department has identified councils at greatest risk of insufficient enforcement capacity.

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

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 2020 on 27 May 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the number of civil penalties expected to be issued under the new Renters Rights enforcement regime during each of the next three years and (b) the revenue local authorities are expected to receive from those penalties; and whether his Department has taken steps to model landlord compliance rates.

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

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 2020 on 27 May 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs has completed an Equality Impact Assessment for proposed lower-value debt recovery powers; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those powers on (a) disabled people, (b) Universal Credit claimants and (c) other vulnerable taxpayers; what criteria HMRC plans to use when determining vulnerability; and how many vulnerable taxpayers will be within the scope of the proposals.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The Government is consulting on proposals to tackle lower value tax debts in a way that is fair, proportionate and effective. The proposals are intended to address a small minority of taxpayers who can afford to pay what they owe but repeatedly choose not to do so and fail to engage with HMRC despite numerous attempts to make contact.

The consultation seeks views on the design, scope and safeguards that should apply to any future measure. This includes protections for taxpayers who may be experiencing temporary financial difficulty or who may have extra support needs, where views are sought on how best to identify such needs where they have not been communicated to HMRC.

As the consultation remains open, no final decisions have been taken on the design of the proposed measure. Therefore, the Government has not made final assessments relating to the matters raised. A full impact assessment will be published if, and when, legislation is brought forward.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has received (a) legal advice on the compatibility of the proposed lower-value debt recovery powers with the European Convention on Human Rights, (b) a programme risk register, (c) advice on reputational risks arising from the proposals, (d) external legal advice on implementation and (e) contingency plans should recovery rates fall below forecast.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The Government is consulting on proposals to tackle lower value tax debts in a way that is fair, proportionate and effective. The proposals are intended to address a small minority of taxpayers who can afford to pay what they owe but repeatedly choose not to do so and fail to engage with HMRC despite numerous attempts to make contact.

The consultation seeks views on the design, scope and safeguards that should apply to any future measure. This includes protections for taxpayers who may be experiencing temporary financial difficulty or who may have extra support needs, where views are sought on how best to identify such needs where they have not been communicated to HMRC.

As the consultation remains open, no final decisions have been taken on the design of the proposed measure. Therefore, the Government has not made final assessments relating to the matters raised. A full impact assessment will be published if, and when, legislation is brought forward.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of (a) the additional number of closure orders expected each year, (b) the number of police officers and local authority staff required to administer proposed changes, (c) the cost to police forces and local authorities of implementation and (d) regional variations in expected use of the powers.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has not made estimates as to how many closure orders are expected each year, nor the number of police officers and local authority staff required to administer them and their related costs.

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, including the closure order, that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour. The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately local in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances. The Home Office does not currently collect data on the number of closure orders. However, through the Crime and Policing Act, we are introducing a data reporting duty which will require local authorities to provide information on uses of anti-social behaviour powers for the first time. This will include data on both closure notices and closure orders

The Home Office is currently considering increasing the duration of the closure order and has launched a targeted consultation on this specific issue which will close at the end of July.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of longer closure orders on (a) lawful businesses operating from shared premises, (b) residential occupants and(c) landlords and leaseholders; whether she has received legal advice on proportionality and human rights compatibility; and if she will publish any Equality Impact and human rights assessment prepared in relation to the proposals.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is currently consulting on increasing the duration of closure orders to strengthen the response to high street illegality. The proliferation of illicit businesses is undercutting legitimate businesses and in some cases, forcing them off the high street due to their inability to compete.

As part of the consultation, the Home Office is seeking views from a wide range of stakeholders on the potential impact of increasing the duration of closure orders.

The consultation will close at the end of July and the responses will inform all appropriate assessments ahead of the regulations being drafted and laid alongside the necessary supporting documents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate has been made of (a) the number of Lifetime ISA holders expected to be financially better off under the proposed reforms, (b) the number expected to be financially worse off, (c) the regional distribution of those impacted, (d) the impact by age group, and (e) whether a distributional analysis has been completed and will be published.

Answered by Rachel Blake

On 23 June the Government published a consultation on the implementation of the First-Time Buyer ISA (FTB ISA), further details of which can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/first-time-buyer-isa-consultation. The consultation sets out why we are looking to replace the Lifetime ISA (LISA), citing evidence from HMRC’s own publicly available figures and research as well as from the Treasury Select Committee’s report on the LISA.

The consultation also confirmed that until the new product is offered it will be possible to open a LISA, and that existing LISA holders will continue to be able to use their accounts in line with the existing rules.

Individuals will be able to hold both the new FTB ISA and an existing LISA, but will only be able to save into one in the same tax year. To ensure that current holders of the LISA do not lose out, LISA holders will be able to use any funds in their existing LISA and those in the new FTB ISA for the same purchase.

The property price cap, bonus level and subscription limit of the new First Time Buyer ISA will be set at a future fiscal event. Regardless of where the property price cap is set, the FTB ISA, LISA and Help to Buy ISA cap will be aligned so that no account holders will lose out.

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that the average price paid by first-time buyers remains below the Lifetime ISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except London, where the average price paid is affected by some boroughs with very high property values. This does not exclude prospective purchasers, who are still able to use the LISA on homes within the price cap. The Treasury Select Committee has said that the property price cap of £450,000 on the LISA ensures that the support goes to people who need it most.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of (a) the economic impact of the £450,000 property price cap for first-time buyers' Lifetime ISA and (b) the impact of regional affordability, particularly in London and the South East, on the effectiveness of the cap; and what estimate her Department has made of the number of prospective purchasers excluded by the current threshold.

Answered by Rachel Blake

On 23 June the Government published a consultation on the implementation of the First-Time Buyer ISA (FTB ISA), further details of which can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/first-time-buyer-isa-consultation. The consultation sets out why we are looking to replace the Lifetime ISA (LISA), citing evidence from HMRC’s own publicly available figures and research as well as from the Treasury Select Committee’s report on the LISA.

The consultation also confirmed that until the new product is offered it will be possible to open a LISA, and that existing LISA holders will continue to be able to use their accounts in line with the existing rules.

Individuals will be able to hold both the new FTB ISA and an existing LISA, but will only be able to save into one in the same tax year. To ensure that current holders of the LISA do not lose out, LISA holders will be able to use any funds in their existing LISA and those in the new FTB ISA for the same purchase.

The property price cap, bonus level and subscription limit of the new First Time Buyer ISA will be set at a future fiscal event. Regardless of where the property price cap is set, the FTB ISA, LISA and Help to Buy ISA cap will be aligned so that no account holders will lose out.

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that the average price paid by first-time buyers remains below the Lifetime ISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except London, where the average price paid is affected by some boroughs with very high property values. This does not exclude prospective purchasers, who are still able to use the LISA on homes within the price cap. The Treasury Select Committee has said that the property price cap of £450,000 on the LISA ensures that the support goes to people who need it most.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what evidential basis informed the conclusion that the Lifetime ISA was not effective; whether external research, behavioural analysis and consumer testing informed that conclusion; whether an evidence review has been completed; and if she will publish the evidence underpinning the proposed First Time Buyer ISA.

Answered by Rachel Blake

On 23 June the Government published a consultation on the implementation of the First-Time Buyer ISA (FTB ISA), further details of which can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/first-time-buyer-isa-consultation. The consultation sets out why we are looking to replace the Lifetime ISA (LISA), citing evidence from HMRC’s own publicly available figures and research as well as from the Treasury Select Committee’s report on the LISA.

The consultation also confirmed that until the new product is offered it will be possible to open a LISA, and that existing LISA holders will continue to be able to use their accounts in line with the existing rules.

Individuals will be able to hold both the new FTB ISA and an existing LISA, but will only be able to save into one in the same tax year. To ensure that current holders of the LISA do not lose out, LISA holders will be able to use any funds in their existing LISA and those in the new FTB ISA for the same purchase.

The property price cap, bonus level and subscription limit of the new First Time Buyer ISA will be set at a future fiscal event. Regardless of where the property price cap is set, the FTB ISA, LISA and Help to Buy ISA cap will be aligned so that no account holders will lose out.

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that the average price paid by first-time buyers remains below the Lifetime ISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except London, where the average price paid is affected by some boroughs with very high property values. This does not exclude prospective purchasers, who are still able to use the LISA on homes within the price cap. The Treasury Select Committee has said that the property price cap of £450,000 on the LISA ensures that the support goes to people who need it most.

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 Best Value Inspection of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, a) when do Ministers expect to receive the report, and b) whether the report will be made publicly available.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

I received the report into the Best Value Inspection of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority on 11 June 2026. I am currently considering the report's findings and recommendations. No decision has yet been taken on publication. Any announcement on publication or next steps will be made in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the prevalence of the sale and misuse of nitrous oxide canisters since the introduction of the ban under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; and if she will publish data on enforcement activity by police force area.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) arrests, (b) charges, (c) cautions and (d) convictions relating to the unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide have been recorded since the substance became a Class C drug, broken down by police force area.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to require developers of new housing developments to incorporate passive cooling measures, including external shading, increased tree cover and enhanced natural ventilation, into the design of new homes.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Part O of the Building Regulations came into force in June 2022 and requires new residential buildings to be built to mitigate the risk of overheating. Part O encourages passive design measures, such as limiting solar gain and enabling heat to be removed by natural ventilation, before relying on mechanical systems. The government also recently consulted on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, including proposing to set out clearly that the design of developments should minimise risks from climate change, including overheating, as well as promoting street trees to help provide external shade. We will publish our response to that consultation in due course.

The government is committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament. Increasing housing delivery and improving the safety and quality of new homes are not mutually exclusive. With good planning and smart design, we can build the high-quality homes we need while making sure they are prepared for a changing climate.

The government keeps the Building Regulations under review. The Building Safety Regulator is currently undertaking a technical review of Part O to consider whether changes are necessary to ensure it is effective and proportionate.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether delivering 1.5 million new homes will require changes to overheating standards within Building Regulations.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Part O of the Building Regulations came into force in June 2022 and requires new residential buildings to be built to mitigate the risk of overheating. Part O encourages passive design measures, such as limiting solar gain and enabling heat to be removed by natural ventilation, before relying on mechanical systems. The government also recently consulted on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, including proposing to set out clearly that the design of developments should minimise risks from climate change, including overheating, as well as promoting street trees to help provide external shade. We will publish our response to that consultation in due course.

The government is committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament. Increasing housing delivery and improving the safety and quality of new homes are not mutually exclusive. With good planning and smart design, we can build the high-quality homes we need while making sure they are prepared for a changing climate.

The government keeps the Building Regulations under review. The Building Safety Regulator is currently undertaking a technical review of Part O to consider whether changes are necessary to ensure it is effective and proportionate.

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 adequacy of current Building Regulations in ensuring that new homes remain safe and habitable during periods of extreme heat.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Part O of the Building Regulations came into force in June 2022 and requires new residential buildings to be built to mitigate the risk of overheating. Part O encourages passive design measures, such as limiting solar gain and enabling heat to be removed by natural ventilation, before relying on mechanical systems. The government also recently consulted on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, including proposing to set out clearly that the design of developments should minimise risks from climate change, including overheating, as well as promoting street trees to help provide external shade. We will publish our response to that consultation in due course.

The government is committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament. Increasing housing delivery and improving the safety and quality of new homes are not mutually exclusive. With good planning and smart design, we can build the high-quality homes we need while making sure they are prepared for a changing climate.

The government keeps the Building Regulations under review. The Building Safety Regulator is currently undertaking a technical review of Part O to consider whether changes are necessary to ensure it is effective and proportionate.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of extreme summer temperatures on the safety and resilience of Battery Energy Storage Systems; and what discussions has he had with industry stakeholders and local communities on associated risks and mitigation measures.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The regulatory framework governing grid-scale battery safety is overseen by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and requires developers to keep batteries within their safe operating range throughout their lifetimes.

In April 2024, the Government published health and safety guidance which said that consideration should be given to the impacts of climate change and the possibility of extreme heatwaves in this regard.

DESNZ engages regularly with the HSE and industry through the battery Health and Safety Governance Group, which monitors the regulatory framework to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of extreme summer temperatures on the safety and resilience of Battery Energy Storage Systems; and what discussions has he had with industry stakeholders and local communities on any associated risks and mitigation measures.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The regulatory framework governing grid-scale battery safety is overseen by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and requires developers to keep batteries within their safe operating range throughout their lifetimes.

In April 2024, the Government published health and safety guidance which said that consideration should be given to the impacts of climate change and the possibility of extreme heatwaves in this regard.

DESNZ engages regularly with the HSE and industry through the battery Health and Safety Governance Group, which monitors the regulatory framework to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have requested (a) Exceptional Financial Support, (b) capitalisation directions and (c) other forms of financial assistance during 2026–27; what estimate his Department has made of the value of those requests; how many remain under consideration; and whether the Department has made an assessment of the cumulative funding gap facing those authorities.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Information on councils in receipt of Exceptional Financial Support for 2026/27 has been published on an annual basis here – including the amounts and type of support issued.

The department undertakes regular engagement with local councils, including on their financial positions – and we treat all ongoing discussions in confidence.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of criminal trials which will be vacated because of judicial, courtroom and prosecutorial capacity constraints during 2026; whether his Department maintains internal data on the principal causes of trial adjournments; and whether regional league tables are produced.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice does not model or estimate the number of future criminal trials that will be vacated due to judicial, courtroom or prosecutorial capacity restraints. However, the Ministry of Justice does hold information on past trial effectiveness, including vacated trials, which is published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly and can be accessed through the ‘Trial effectiveness at the criminal courts Tool’: Criminal court statistics - GOV.UK.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold information on the principal causes of trial adjournments. However, the Ministry does publish information on ineffective trials, which are trials that do not proceed on the scheduled trial date and require a new listing to be scheduled. This can be due to action or inaction by one or more of the prosecution, the defence or the court.

Data on ineffective trials is published in the ‘Trial effectiveness at the criminal courts tool’, including the reasons for postponement and geographical breakdowns: Criminal court statistics - GOV.UK.

Following from Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, the Government is taking action to modernise the criminal court system, reduce the Crown Court caseload and deliver swifter justice for all.

The reforms introduced in the Courts and Tribunals Bill are intended to modernise and improve the system, to build a criminal courts system that is resilient, flexible, better equipped to manage the types and characteristics of today’s crimes and to enable a more proportionate allocation of resources across the criminal courts.

Alongside structural reform, the Deputy Prime Minister has announced several measures we are taking forward to drive efficiency – including rolling out case coordinators in every Crown Court centre, exploring the use of new AI technologies and supporting the Lady Chief Justice to set up the first ever National Listing Framework, which has now been published. Sir Brian’s conclusion was clear that structural reform, efficiencies, and investment are all critical to turn the tide on the Crown Court backlog and deliver swifter justice for all. That is why we are also delivering record financial investment, including uncapped Crown Court sitting days, additional funding for criminal legal aid, and £287 million to improve court buildings and digital infrastructure. We are considering the remainder of Sir Brian’s recommendations and will publish our full response 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 guidance has been issued to police forces and local authorities following repeal of the Vagrancy Act; whether additional funding has been allocated to support implementation; and whether Ministers received advice on potential operational risks or unintended consequences.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The government has introduced targeted replacement measures alongside repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824 to ensure there are no gaps in powers available to protect community safety. The Home Office has issued information on the commencement of those measures and will update statutory guidance on the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to provide greater clarity on how relevant powers can be used in different circumstances. On the question of funding, I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 14018 on 7 July 2026.

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 impact of the repeal of the Vagrancy Act on levels of rough sleeping, anti-social behaviour and street begging; whether police forces, local authorities and homelessness charities provided differing assessments during consultation; whether regional impact modelling has been undertaken; and if he will publish the evidence informing the Government’s approach.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As we work to deliver the National Plan to End Homelessness, one principle must be clear – no one should be criminalised for simply rough sleeping. That is why we have repealed the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824. The legislation did nothing to target the root causes of homelessness.

The government has instead shifted the focus towards prevention, support and earlier intervention to better support people away from the streets. Alongside repeal, targeted replacement measures have been introduced to ensure there are no gaps in powers available to protect community safety, including measures relating to facilitating begging for gain and trespass with intent to commit a crime. The government's rationale for repeal and the accompanying replacement measures was set out in my Statement to the House on 29 June 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has prepared updated prison population projections; what modelling he has undertaken on prison occupancy under high, central and low demand scenarios; whether contingency plans exist for exceeding operational capacity; and if he will publish the latest internal modelling.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes annual prison population projections for England and Wales in the Prison Capacity Annual Statement. The 2025 Annual Statement is available here: Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: 2025 - GOV.UK. The next Statement is scheduled for publication this winter.

We continually monitor the prison population and use a range of planning assumptions to monitor future demand of prison places. Our published and have established contingency arrangements should acute capacity pressures arise.

The Government has taken decisive action to put the prison system on a sustainable footing, including through the largest prison expansion programme since the Victorian era, and the landmark reforms in the Sentencing Act 2026, which ensure we will never again have more prisoners than prison places.

As set out in the annual statement, when the estimated impact of the Sentencing Act measures are factored in, supply is expected to keep pace with demand for the total adult estate.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has received advice on emergency prison capacity measures; what operational thresholds would trigger additional contingency arrangements; and whether programme risk registers identify capacity as a critical risk.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes annual prison population projections for England and Wales in the Prison Capacity Annual Statement. The 2025 Annual Statement is available here: Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: 2025 - GOV.UK. The next Statement is scheduled for publication this winter.

We continually monitor the prison population and use a range of planning assumptions to monitor future demand of prison places. Our published and have established contingency arrangements should acute capacity pressures arise.

The Government has taken decisive action to put the prison system on a sustainable footing, including through the largest prison expansion programme since the Victorian era, and the landmark reforms in the Sentencing Act 2026, which ensure we will never again have more prisoners than prison places.

As set out in the annual statement, when the estimated impact of the Sentencing Act measures are factored in, supply is expected to keep pace with demand for the total adult estate.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has been made of the impact of mandatory Direct Debit payments on (a) businesses without access to mainstream banking services, (b) rural businesses and (c) financially excluded businesses; and whether her Department has consulted (i) the Financial Conduct Authority and (ii) banking providers.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The government is consulting on proposals to require payment of VAT and PAYE return liabilities by Direct Debit.

No decisions have been taken on the design of any future compliance or enforcement framework. The consultation seeks views on a range of issues, including possible incentives and sanctions to encourage compliance.

The consultation also considers whether exemptions or alternative arrangements may be required for particular taxpayers, and any practical barriers to using Direct Debit. This includes seeking evidence on circumstances where businesses may face challenges in making payments by Direct Debit and welcomes responses from all interested parties, including charities, representative bodies and other organisations, including the financial sector.

The consultation is intended to inform the detailed design of any future policy and implementation framework. As part of this process, the government is seeking evidence on operational impacts, implementation costs and potential exceptions, and stakeholders are encouraged to provide relevant information through the consultation. No final decisions have been taken, and the government will consider consultation responses before determining next steps.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of (a) the number of businesses currently unable to pay VAT by Direct Debit, (b) the number of VAT-registered businesses which do not maintain a UK bank account capable of supporting Direct Debit payments, (c) the implementation costs to businesses, (d) the implementation costs to HM Revenue and Customs; and whether an impact assessment has been completed.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The government is consulting on proposals to require payment of VAT and PAYE return liabilities by Direct Debit.

No decisions have been taken on the design of any future compliance or enforcement framework. The consultation seeks views on a range of issues, including possible incentives and sanctions to encourage compliance.

The consultation also considers whether exemptions or alternative arrangements may be required for particular taxpayers, and any practical barriers to using Direct Debit. This includes seeking evidence on circumstances where businesses may face challenges in making payments by Direct Debit and welcomes responses from all interested parties, including charities, representative bodies and other organisations, including the financial sector.

The consultation is intended to inform the detailed design of any future policy and implementation framework. As part of this process, the government is seeking evidence on operational impacts, implementation costs and potential exceptions, and stakeholders are encouraged to provide relevant information through the consultation. No final decisions have been taken, and the government will consider consultation responses before determining next steps.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what enforcement mechanisms are being considered for businesses that do not pay PAYE and VAT by Direct Debit; whether penalties have been modelled for non-compliance; whether exemptions have been assessed by sector, including charities; and whether an options appraisal has been undertaken.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The government is consulting on proposals to require payment of VAT and PAYE return liabilities by Direct Debit.

No decisions have been taken on the design of any future compliance or enforcement framework. The consultation seeks views on a range of issues, including possible incentives and sanctions to encourage compliance.

The consultation also considers whether exemptions or alternative arrangements may be required for particular taxpayers, and any practical barriers to using Direct Debit. This includes seeking evidence on circumstances where businesses may face challenges in making payments by Direct Debit and welcomes responses from all interested parties, including charities, representative bodies and other organisations, including the financial sector.

The consultation is intended to inform the detailed design of any future policy and implementation framework. As part of this process, the government is seeking evidence on operational impacts, implementation costs and potential exceptions, and stakeholders are encouraged to provide relevant information through the consultation. No final decisions have been taken, and the government will consider consultation responses before determining next steps.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what evidence the Department considered in concluding that existing premises closure order powers are insufficient; what estimate has been made of the number of cases in which current maximum closure periods were considered inadequate; whether police forces have been asked to provide evidence supporting legislative change; whether an impact assessment or post-implementation review of the existing regime has been completed; and whether she will publish the evidence underpinning the consultation.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Since the High Street Organised Crime Unit was launched earlier this year, the Unit has been engaging the full range of stakeholders to understand the challenges faced by local responders in tackling high street illegality and the actions required to address them. Stakeholders, including from Trading Standards and law enforcement have repeatedly advised on the need for closure orders to be increased to bring about long-term disruption against those behind high street illegality. The Unit drew on reports such as that of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute which provided statistics on the scale of the problem, and included a number of recommendations, including in relation to closure powers hidden-in-plain-sight-tackling-crime-on-the-uks-high-streets.pdf

The matter was also raised in Parliament during the passage of the Crime and Policing Act, which led to a concessionary Government amendment, giving the Government the power to extend the maximum duration of closure orders via regulations, subject to the Government consulting those persons the Secretary of State considered appropriate. The issue has since been raised in Westminster Hall debates with calls for closure powers to be strengthened.

As part of the targeted consultation the Home Office launched on 19 June, views are being sought on increasing the duration of closure orders from those involved in the response, including the police and Trading Standards, as well as businesses and business associations themselves. The consultation will close at the end of July. The Home Office will then collate and analyse the responses. A Written Ministerial Statement be laid before Parliament.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate has been made of (a) the total capital cost of the Workplace Transformation programme, (b) expected annual savings arising from the programme, (c) the payback period, (d) consultancy expenditure associated with implementation, (e) whether programme risk registers have identified significant delivery risks; and if he will publish that analysis.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Information in relation to the Workplace Transformation Programmes financial and risk position are outlined in the Accounting Officer Assessment published on Gov.uk here: DWP accounting officer assessments for the Government Major Projects Portfolio - GOV.UK. This information was last updated on 16 May 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what modelling he has undertaken of the potential impact of his Department’s AI planning tools on planning determination times, staffing requirements, planning costs and housing delivery; whether pilot evaluations have been completed; whether any local planning authorities have been identified as presenting implementation risks; and if he will publish any underlying evaluation.

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

My Department is evaluating the performance and impact of AI planning tools to ensure they deliver benefits for local planning authorities and the communities they serve.

Our Digital Planning Programme is developing an AI planning prototype in partnership with Google and Faculty. The tool analyses householder applications to help planning officers make faster and more consistent decisions. It aims to halve processing times, freeing up officers to focus on more complex applications.

We are testing the tool with a small number of local planning authorities. Performance measures, milestones, and success criteria have been put in place. The contract is outcomes-based, with built in reviews at each stage of development, and we will only progress to full national rollout if key milestones are met.

Implementation risks are being managed through phased testing with partner local planning authorities and decisions on publishing evaluation findings will be taken as the project progresses. Any decision on wider rollout will be informed by evidence and robust evaluation.

My Department is also supporting other AI-enabled planning tools, including the in-house Extract tool, which converts planning documents into structured data and thereby reduces manual processing, and PlanAI, which helps local planning authorities analyse and summarise consultation responses more efficiently. These tools are helping reduce administrative burdens and improve productivity within local planning authorities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has established baseline performance measures against which the success of AI planning tools will be assessed; what key performance indicators will be monitored; and whether expected productivity improvements have been modelled by planning authority.

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

My Department is evaluating the performance and impact of AI planning tools to ensure they deliver benefits for local planning authorities and the communities they serve.

Our Digital Planning Programme is developing an AI planning prototype in partnership with Google and Faculty. The tool analyses householder applications to help planning officers make faster and more consistent decisions. It aims to halve processing times, freeing up officers to focus on more complex applications.

We are testing the tool with a small number of local planning authorities. Performance measures, milestones, and success criteria have been put in place. The contract is outcomes-based, with built in reviews at each stage of development, and we will only progress to full national rollout if key milestones are met.

Implementation risks are being managed through phased testing with partner local planning authorities and decisions on publishing evaluation findings will be taken as the project progresses. Any decision on wider rollout will be informed by evidence and robust evaluation.

My Department is also supporting other AI-enabled planning tools, including the in-house Extract tool, which converts planning documents into structured data and thereby reduces manual processing, and PlanAI, which helps local planning authorities analyse and summarise consultation responses more efficiently. These tools are helping reduce administrative burdens and improve productivity within local planning authorities.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what modelling he has undertaken of the Crown Court backlog under (a) current funding levels and (b) alternative funding scenarios; when the backlog will return to pre-pandemic levels; and whether regional projections have been prepared.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Department publishes Crown Court open caseload projections annually. The current release (from December 2025) is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-population-projections-2025-to-2030. We do not have equivalent projections at a regional level.

The Courts and Tribunals Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 25 February 2026. That week, we also announced that there will be no financial limit to the amount of work the Crown Court can take on for the next financial year – in 2026-27, we are enabling the Crown Court to work at full judicial and court system capacity.

We published an impact factsheet alongside the Bill, assessing how the Government’s financial commitments on sitting days could affect the Crown Court open caseload under different scenarios. This can be found at: Courts and Tribunals Bill - GOV.UK. Only by pulling every lever we have – investment, efficiency and structural reform – can we turn the tide on the open caseload.

For data on the latest backlog volume, see the ‘Crown Court Receipts, Disposals and Open cases tool’ in the Criminal Court Statistics quarterly release: Criminal court statistics quarterly: January to March 2026 - GOV.UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on (a) household costs through higher retail prices, (b) food price inflation and (c) business costs for (i) small and medium-sized enterprises and (ii) larger producers; and what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the retail, food manufacturing and packaging sectors on those impacts.

Answered by Mary Creagh

The 2024 final impact assessment for Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) estimated it could result in a one-off increase in CPI inflation of 0.07 percentage points, or an increase to average weekly household expenditure of £0.91. It did not provide a separate estimate of food price inflation. For the average producer, the assessment estimated pEPR costs at less than 1% of turnover. Businesses that do not meet both the £2 million turnover and 50-tonne packaging thresholds are not liable for disposal fees or recycling obligations.

Defra ministers and officials regularly engage with stakeholders on the operation of the scheme.

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 impact of the Government’s target to deliver 1.5 million new homes on long-term water demand in England.

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

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 6660 on 10 June 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring water companies to demonstrate that sufficient water resources are available before large-scale housing developments proceed.

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

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 6660 on 10 June 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the proportion of expenditure under the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan that will be spent with UK-based companies; whether he plans to introduce minimum UK content requirements for major defence contracts; and whether he plans to publish a breakdown of the expected regional economic impact of defence spending.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Defence Investment Plan is backed by £298 billion of investment over the next four years. It reaffirms the Government's commitment to strengthening the UK's defence industrial base, supporting economic growth and delivering the capabilities required by our Armed Forces. The Plan includes substantial investment in sovereign capabilities, such as shipbuilding, submarines, munitions production, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing. It also supports jobs and prosperity across all nations and regions of the United Kingdom.

Defence procurement is conducted in accordance with the relevant legislative and commercial frameworks. Decisions on individual contracts are based on capability requirements, national security considerations, operational advantage, value for money and wider economic benefits.

The Government wants to see more of a growing defence budget spent with British firms. Defence is an engine for growth, and we support the mission of the Prime Minister to reindustrialise and believe Defence can play a key part in doing so.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the Government’s target of 1.5 million new homes that will be delivered on (a) previously developed land, (b) greenfield land within settlements, (c) greenfield land outside settlements, (d) Green Belt land released through local plans and (e) Grey Belt land.

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

My Department does not hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance he has issued on accountability where planning decisions are delegated to officers; whether planning officers will be required to publish written reasons for delegated decisions in all cases; what right (a) applicants, (b) ward councillors and (c) members of the public will have to request elected member consideration; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of democratic oversight in the new arrangements.

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

My Department has published statutory guidance setting out how the national scheme of delegation will operate, including the arrangements for referral to planning committees and transparency and reporting requirements. This can be found on gov.uk here.

An updated impact assessment was reviewed by the Regulatory Policy Committee and published alongside the final Regulations (The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026). This can be found on gov.uk here.

My Department already publishes data on applications which are delegated to planning officers. Once the Regulations in question come into force on 31st October 2026, we will collect data on applications referred to planning committees. This information will be published alongside other national planning statistics on gov.uk here.

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 impact of the draft National Planning Policy Framework on the amount of development expected to take place on (a) greenfield land and (b) land outside defined settlement boundaries; whether his Department has modelled the effect of Policy S5 on the volume of speculative planning applications for unallocated sites; and if he will publish that assessment.

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

By law, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The National Planning Policy Framework must be taken into account in preparing the development plan, and is a material consideration in planning decisions.

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 impact of the draft National Planning Policy Framework on the capacity of local planning authorities to refuse planning applications that conflict with locally adopted planning policies; whether he expects National Decision-Making Policies to take precedence over locally adopted development management policies in practice; and if he will publish that assessment.

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

By law, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The National Planning Policy Framework must be taken into account in preparing the development plan, and is a material consideration in planning decisions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of planning applications in England that will be determined by (a) elected planning committees and (b) planning officers following the introduction of the National Scheme of Delegation; what assessment he has made of the impact of those changes on local democratic accountability; and whether he plans to publish annual statistics on the proportion of planning applications determined by officers and by elected members.

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

My Department has published statutory guidance setting out how the national scheme of delegation will operate, including the arrangements for referral to planning committees and transparency and reporting requirements. This can be found on gov.uk here.

An updated impact assessment was reviewed by the Regulatory Policy Committee and published alongside the final Regulations (The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026). This can be found on gov.uk here.

My Department already publishes data on applications which are delegated to planning officers. Once the Regulations in question come into force on 31st October 2026, we will collect data on applications referred to planning committees. This information will be published alongside other national planning statistics on gov.uk here.

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 impact of (a) the National Scheme of Delegation on progress towards the Government’s target of delivering 1.5 million homes and (b) a reduction in the number of planning applications determined by elected planning committees on local democratic input into housing development.

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

My Department has published statutory guidance setting out how the national scheme of delegation will operate, including the arrangements for referral to planning committees and transparency and reporting requirements. This can be found on gov.uk here.

An updated impact assessment was reviewed by the Regulatory Policy Committee and published alongside the final Regulations (The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026). This can be found on gov.uk here.

My Department already publishes data on applications which are delegated to planning officers. Once the Regulations in question come into force on 31st October 2026, we will collect data on applications referred to planning committees. This information will be published alongside other national planning statistics on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what circumstances will permit an application that would otherwise be delegated to a planning officer to be referred to a planning committee; what role ward councillors will have in requesting such referrals; and what assessment he has made of the consistency of those arrangements across local planning authorities.

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

My Department has published statutory guidance setting out how the national scheme of delegation will operate, including the arrangements for referral to planning committees and transparency and reporting requirements. This can be found on gov.uk here.

An updated impact assessment was reviewed by the Regulatory Policy Committee and published alongside the final Regulations (The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026). This can be found on gov.uk here.

My Department already publishes data on applications which are delegated to planning officers. Once the Regulations in question come into force on 31st October 2026, we will collect data on applications referred to planning committees. This information will be published alongside other national planning statistics on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the reduction in the number of planning applications considered by elected planning committees as a result of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this on the role of elected councillors in determining planning applications.

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

My Department has published statutory guidance setting out how the national scheme of delegation will operate, including the arrangements for referral to planning committees and transparency and reporting requirements. This can be found on gov.uk here.

An updated impact assessment was reviewed by the Regulatory Policy Committee and published alongside the final Regulations (The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026). This can be found on gov.uk here.

My Department already publishes data on applications which are delegated to planning officers. Once the Regulations in question come into force on 31st October 2026, we will collect data on applications referred to planning committees. This information will be published alongside other national planning statistics on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local planning authorities will be required to publish data on (a) the number of applications determined by officers, (b) the number determined by planning committees, (c) applications referred to committee but refused permission to do so and (d) the reasons why applications were not considered by elected members.

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

My Department has published statutory guidance setting out how the national scheme of delegation will operate, including the arrangements for referral to planning committees and transparency and reporting requirements. This can be found on gov.uk here.

An updated impact assessment was reviewed by the Regulatory Policy Committee and published alongside the final Regulations (The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026). This can be found on gov.uk here.

My Department already publishes data on applications which are delegated to planning officers. Once the Regulations in question come into force on 31st October 2026, we will collect data on applications referred to planning committees. This information will be published alongside other national planning statistics on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of local planning authorities which will meet the housing requirements generated by the revised standard method; what estimate he has made of the number of authorities which will meet the Housing Delivery Test or five-year housing land supply requirements; and whether he has assessed the impact this would have on the number of speculative planning applications determined under the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

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

The standard method identifies a minimum annual housing need figure and ensures that plan-making is informed by an unconstrained assessment of the number of homes needed in an area. It does not produce a housing requirement figure. Once local housing need has been assessed, authorities should then make an assessment of the amount of new homes that can be provided in their area. This should be justified by evidence on land availability, constraints on development and any other relevant matters.

Local planning authorities with up-to-date plans are assessed against their adopted plan housing requirement for the purposes of the Housing Delivery Test (HDT) and five-year housing land supply (5YHLS). Where an authority does not have an up-to-date plan, local housing need (calculated using the standard method) is used.

The current HDT results are the 2023 measurement, published on 12 December 2024. These results continue to apply until a subsequent Housing Delivery Test measurement is published. We remain committed to publishing the 2024 and 2025 HDT results as soon as possible. The Department does not formally collect 5YHLS data. The 5YHLS position of any given authority is often in flux and typically determined through planning appeals. As such, there are challenges in capturing comprehensive and robust data at any given time.

My Department has made no specific assessment of the impact of the revised standard method published on 12 December 2024 on the number of speculative planning applications determined under the presumption in favour of sustainable development. While failing against either HDT or 5YHLS is a strong indicator of housing need in an area not being sufficiently met, it does not mean that planning permission for housing will be automatically granted, and local planning authorities must consider a range of factors when determining planning applications.

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 whether the revised National Planning Policy Framework will increase the number of planning permissions granted before supporting infrastructure is delivered; what assessment he has made of the likely impact on (a) GP surgeries, (b) school places, (c) highways capacity and (d) water infrastructure; and whether he intends to require infrastructure to be delivered before the occupation of new housing developments.

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

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in December 2024 makes clear that local planning authorities should plan positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities, transport and other infrastructure to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments, taking into account local strategies to improve health, social and cultural wellbeing for all sections of the community.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to community facilities and public service infrastructure.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Richard Pengelly

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