Asked by: Beccy Cooper (Labour - Worthing West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that new homes promote positive health outcomes for residents.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government is committed to delivering 1.5 million quality homes over this Parliament, to ensure people have access to the high-quality housing they need.
The Building Regulations are intended to protect people’s safety, health, and welfare. Building Regulations set minimum performance standards for new building work, including when a building is being designed, constructed, or subject to major re-design. The Building Safety Act 2022 also requires the Building Safety Regulator to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review, which includes advising government on updates on Approved Documents.
In December 2021, the previous government introduced an uplift in energy efficiency and ventilation standards for new homes and buildings, which came into force in June 2022. These changes will help to ensure that new homes and buildings are warm and comfortable, with high indoor air quality. As part of the 2021 uplift, the previous government also introduced a new overheating requirement to reduce the risk of overheating in new residential buildings.
The Government plans to publish the Future Homes Standard in autumn this year. Homes built to the Future Homes Standard will be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. This will contribute to ensuring that new homes are both warm and comfortable.
To further reinforce standards, we remain committed to introducing a statutory New Homes Ombudsman scheme that developers will have to join, with an accompanying Code of Practice about the standards of conduct and standards of quality of work expected of members.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the planned transition period for moving from the fire door safety testing standard BS 476-22 to standard EN 1634-1 on timber fire door manufacturers.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government recognised the potential economic impact that could result from the withdrawal of testing standard BS 476-22 and the transition to the European Standard (BS EN 13501), including on timber fire door manufacturers, through the consultation response impact analysis.
In response, an extended five-year transition period was introduced for fire resistance classifications, running from 2 September 2024 to 2 September 2029. This extended period was developed in consultation with industry to allow sufficient time for retesting and certification under the new standard.
While concerns have been raised about the timing of the transition, we remain committed to the planned timeline. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will continue to monitor the impact of the change and support industry through the transition. BSR will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standard of building under review in England.
Asked by: Beccy Cooper (Labour - Worthing West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support local authorities to improve high streets.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government is committed to rejuvenating our high streets. At Spending Review, it announced 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods that will each receive up to £20 million over the next decade as part of a new fund. This forms part of communities funding for up to 350 places announced at the Spending Review, including the 75 places already named in the £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods in March.
We have introduced High Street Rental Auctions, powers for local authorities in England to auction the leases of persistently vacant commercial properties; through the English Devolution Bill we will introduce a community ‘right to buy’.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 June 2025 to Question 55308 on Council Tax: Second Homes, what the reference numbers are for each of the Valuation Tribunal cases relating to (a) council tax liability, (b) the second homes council tax premium and (c) other issues relating to second homes.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Valuation Tribunal Service offer an online search engine which the hon Member may use to search any appeals relating to council tax liability, the second homes premium or second homes more broadly. This is available on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with the Electoral Commission on potential provisions for the planned elections bill.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has engaged with, and continues to engage with, various stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission, ahead of the publication of the Government's Strategy for Elections. As the independent regulator, the Electoral Commission offers valuable insight, and its contributions are helping to inform policy development in a number of areas.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
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 increase the impact of (a) Britain in Bloom and (b) regional in bloom contests on communities.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Britain in Bloom has a huge impact upon our local environments and communities, inspiring thousands to get involved in their community. It is one of many excellent initiatives to create better access to green spaces for all sections of society.
Whilst we are not taking direct steps to increase the scope of Britain in Bloom specifically, the government’s own Green Flag Award sets the standard for green spaces across the UK. In 2024 a record 2,227 Green Flag Awards were awarded. To increase the impact of the green flag award, we have modernised the Award, adjusting its aims and deliverables to focus on community engagement, increased access and usage of parks and to address local health and environmental priorities.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect community gardens.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Community gardens make a great contribution to the health, wellbeing and spirit of communities.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
The NPPF also provides for the designation of land as Local Green Space through local and neighbourhood plans, allowing communities to identify and protect green areas of particular importance to them.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 consultation on Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, published in December 2024, whether political parties will receive representation on the national body to consider appeals on standards matters.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The consultation to which the Honourable Member refers sought views from across the local government sector on the appropriateness of creating a national body to consider appeals, alongside a range of other proposed measures to strengthen the local government standards framework. The Government Response will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 offer Level 7 Apprenticeships.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
MHCLG does not hold this data. Local authorities are independent employers and are responsible for managing the apprenticeships they offer to their workforce.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will set out the role (a) seagrasses and (b) marine nature-based solutions will have in his Department's net zero plans.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has set out a clear mission to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower and accelerate progress towards Net Zero. Achieving this ambition within Defra sectors requires enhanced decarbonisation efforts alongside strengthened nature-based solutions.
The Net Zero pathway for Carbon Budgets 4-6 includes nature-based measures aimed at protecting existing ecosystems, restoring degraded landscapes, and creating or sustainably managing new ecosystems. Defra is actively exploring the role of marine nature-based solutions, such as seagrass and saltmarsh restoration, to deliver both carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits.
Through the UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership (UKBCEP) Defra is working with Devolved Governments and DESNZ to address key blue carbon research questions, including assessing their carbon storage potential. The UKBCEP has established a working group and earlier this year Defra published a roadmap to help to address the evidence gaps preventing the inclusion of coastal wetlands in the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory.