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 press release on new towns, published on 31 July 2024, at what time the press release was issued by her Department under embargo to the media; and for what reason the announcement was made online and not to Parliament.

It has always been the Government’s intention to provide an update to the House on the New Towns Taskforce. However, the House was not sitting on 31 July. We will provide an update in the usual manner in due course.