Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

As set out in legislation, the next Parliamentary Boundary Review must be completed and reported by 1 October 2031. The review will be based on the electoral registers as they stand on 1 December 2028.

The independent Electoral Commission is responsible for issuing guidance to Returning Officers, including on the appropriateness of the flying of flags in and around polling stations.

The UK Government takes attempts by any country to intervene in democratic processes very seriously. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral processes. The Government has renewed the mandate of the Defending Democracy Taskforce (DDTF), which brings together Government Ministers, representatives from law enforcement and the intelligence community, to coordinate work to protect our democratic institutions and processes from threats, including foreign interference.

In April 2023, DDTF created the Joint Election Security and Preparedness (JESP) Unit, which sits jointly between Cabinet Office and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as a permanent function dedicated to protecting UK elections and referendums and coordinating work across government to respond to issues of protective security, cyber threats and mis and disinformation, including foreign interference.

In December 2025, the Secretary of State commissioned former permanent secretary Philip Rycroft to lead an independent review into foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. The review was published on 25 March 2026 and can be found here.

My department has engaged with the CQC throughout the development of the reforms to address poor quality supported housing and will continue to do so. The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act and published a response to the consultation on the measures in the Act on 16 April.

My department has engaged with the CQC throughout the development of the reforms to address poor quality supported housing and will continue to do so. The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act and published a response to the consultation on the measures in the Act on 16 April.

Our National Plan to End Homelessness makes clear that councils should consider the specific needs and barriers experienced by women in accessing services.

We are developing resources to support councils to consider the needs of women who are homeless, rough sleeping or experiencing domestic abuse. Our Outreach toolkit and Single Homelessness and Complex Needs toolkit will include advice on identifying and engaging women sleeping rough, and we are piloting an Ending Rough Sleeping Risk Assessment Tool which considers the experiences of women. Our Homelessness Prevention and Support toolkit will support councils in preventing homelessness where domestic abuse is a contributing factor.

We encourage councils to carry out a women’s rough sleeping census. Last year, we introduced new data on gender in the Rough Sleeping Data Framework, which can be found here.

We continue to work with a range of organisations to gain insight into the challenges faced by women.

Our National Plan to End Homelessness makes clear that councils should consider the specific needs and barriers experienced by women in accessing services.

We are developing resources to support councils to consider the needs of women who are homeless, rough sleeping or experiencing domestic abuse. Our Outreach toolkit and Single Homelessness and Complex Needs toolkit will include advice on identifying and engaging women sleeping rough, and we are piloting an Ending Rough Sleeping Risk Assessment Tool which considers the experiences of women. Our Homelessness Prevention and Support toolkit will support councils in preventing homelessness where domestic abuse is a contributing factor.

We encourage councils to carry out a women’s rough sleeping census. Last year, we introduced new data on gender in the Rough Sleeping Data Framework, which can be found here.

We continue to work with a range of organisations to gain insight into the challenges faced by women.

Our National Plan to End Homelessness makes clear that councils should consider the specific needs and barriers experienced by women in accessing services.

We are developing resources to support councils to consider the needs of women who are homeless, rough sleeping or experiencing domestic abuse. Our Outreach toolkit and Single Homelessness and Complex Needs toolkit will include advice on identifying and engaging women sleeping rough, and we are piloting an Ending Rough Sleeping Risk Assessment Tool which considers the experiences of women. Our Homelessness Prevention and Support toolkit will support councils in preventing homelessness where domestic abuse is a contributing factor.

We encourage councils to carry out a women’s rough sleeping census. Last year, we introduced new data on gender in the Rough Sleeping Data Framework, which can be found here.

We continue to work with a range of organisations to gain insight into the challenges faced by women.

Our National Plan to End Homelessness makes clear that councils should consider the specific needs and barriers experienced by women in accessing services.

We are developing resources to support councils to consider the needs of women who are homeless, rough sleeping or experiencing domestic abuse. Our Outreach toolkit and Single Homelessness and Complex Needs toolkit will include advice on identifying and engaging women sleeping rough, and we are piloting an Ending Rough Sleeping Risk Assessment Tool which considers the experiences of women. Our Homelessness Prevention and Support toolkit will support councils in preventing homelessness where domestic abuse is a contributing factor.

We encourage councils to carry out a women’s rough sleeping census. Last year, we introduced new data on gender in the Rough Sleeping Data Framework, which can be found here.

We continue to work with a range of organisations to gain insight into the challenges faced by women.

Our National Plan to End Homelessness makes clear that councils should consider the specific needs and barriers experienced by women in accessing services.

We are developing resources to support councils to consider the needs of women who are homeless, rough sleeping or experiencing domestic abuse. Our Outreach toolkit and Single Homelessness and Complex Needs toolkit will include advice on identifying and engaging women sleeping rough, and we are piloting an Ending Rough Sleeping Risk Assessment Tool which considers the experiences of women. Our Homelessness Prevention and Support toolkit will support councils in preventing homelessness where domestic abuse is a contributing factor.

We encourage councils to carry out a women’s rough sleeping census. Last year, we introduced new data on gender in the Rough Sleeping Data Framework, which can be found here.

We continue to work with a range of organisations to gain insight into the challenges faced by women.

Our National Plan to End Homelessness makes clear that councils should consider the specific needs and barriers experienced by women in accessing services.

We are developing resources to support councils to consider the needs of women who are homeless, rough sleeping or experiencing domestic abuse. Our Outreach toolkit and Single Homelessness and Complex Needs toolkit will include advice on identifying and engaging women sleeping rough, and we are piloting an Ending Rough Sleeping Risk Assessment Tool which considers the experiences of women. Our Homelessness Prevention and Support toolkit will support councils in preventing homelessness where domestic abuse is a contributing factor.

We encourage councils to carry out a women’s rough sleeping census. Last year, we introduced new data on gender in the Rough Sleeping Data Framework, which can be found here.

We continue to work with a range of organisations to gain insight into the challenges faced by women.

The government tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them.

On 28 September 2025, the government published the independent New Towns Taskforce report as well as its initial response to that report. Both can be found on gov.uk here.

On 23 March 2026, the government launched a public consultation on the proposed New Towns Programme and its environmental implications. This can be found on gov.uk here.

The consultation makes clear that the government intend to take forward seven locations as part of the Programme, including a site at Crews Hill and Chase Park.

Following the consultation and completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessments, the government intends to publish final proposals and confirm the new towns locations later in the Summer. We will publish a full government response to the recommendations of the New Towns Taskforce, including more detail on how our confirmed locations will be delivered in line with our ambition for the programme.

The government tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them.

On 28 September 2025, the government published the independent New Towns Taskforce report as well as its initial response to that report. Both can be found on gov.uk here.

On 23 March 2026, the government launched a public consultation on the proposed New Towns Programme and its environmental implications. This can be found on gov.uk here.

The consultation makes clear that the government intend to take forward seven locations as part of the Programme, including a site at Crews Hill and Chase Park.

Following the consultation and completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessments, the government intends to publish final proposals and confirm the new towns locations later in the Summer. We will publish a full government response to the recommendations of the New Towns Taskforce, including more detail on how our confirmed locations will be delivered in line with our ambition for the programme.

The government tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them.

On 28 September 2025, the government published the independent New Towns Taskforce report as well as its initial response to that report. Both can be found on gov.uk here.

On 23 March 2026, the government launched a public consultation on the proposed New Towns Programme and its environmental implications. This can be found on gov.uk here.

The consultation makes clear that the government intend to take forward seven locations as part of the Programme, including a site at Crews Hill and Chase Park.

Following the consultation and completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessments, the government intends to publish final proposals and confirm the new towns locations later in the Summer. We will publish a full government response to the recommendations of the New Towns Taskforce, including more detail on how our confirmed locations will be delivered in line with our ambition for the programme.

The government’s Green Belt policies as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) make reference to large built-up areas, as well as towns and historic towns. These are established terms with the Framework.

We have not introduced prescriptive definitions of these terms, and their interpretation remains a matter for planning judgement informed by national policy and associated guidance.

Our updated Green Belt guidance, published on 27 February 2025, sets out detailed considerations to ensure a consistent approach to the identification of grey belt land.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on changes to the NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included questions on Green Belt policy. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

My Department engages regularly with the Department for Transport on a range of issues.

Alongside highways contributions and the Community Infrastructure Levy, Section 106 agreements are a well-established mechanism for making development acceptable in planning terms.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals to support development in sustainable locations, including around train stations, and to increase certainty in respect of planning obligations. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 122315 on 1 April 2026.

The procedure for Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to make an Article 4 direction is laid out in Schedule 3 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, which is available on gov.uk here.

Additional guidance can be found in the “When is permission required?” Planning Practice Guidance, which is available on gov.uk here.

My Department engages with LPAs in respect of Article 4 directions on an ongoing basis.

Since 1 January 2023, 45 local planning authorities have notified the Secretary of State of ‘Article 4’ Directions removing permitted development rights in relation to Houses in Multiple Occupation.

HM Land Registry publishes a Registered Leases dataset which is updated monthly. It can be found on gov.uk here. The dataset provides information on land and property in England and Wales with registered leases, including lease start dates and durations.

Under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, Tier 1 local authorities in England are required to assess local need for, and commission, support for victims of domestic abuse and their children within safe accommodation. To support delivery of the duty, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has provided £499m to local authorities over the next three years.

Statutory guidance sets out how local authorities should carry out their functions and which they are expected to consider when making commissioning decisions: Delivery of support to victims of domestic abuse in domestic abuse safe accommodation services - GOV.UK

MHCLG monitors delivery through mandatory annual data returns and publishes this data. The most recent data is available here: Support in domestic abuse safe accommodation: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK.

The Department continues to work closely with local authorities, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and sector partners to support delivery and promote best practice.

The government does not hold a breakdown of the number of disputes and appeals relating to private parking charges for each of the last five years.

Some baseline information on private parking appeals includes information already in the public domain such as the trade associations’ annual reports and these may be accessed via the IAS and POPLA sites.

Any other relevant information will be published in the government response when the Code is laid in autumn 2026.

Our £5.8bn Pride in Place programme is supporting 284 communities across the UK with up to £20m in funding to address the local issues that matter most to them. Funding can be spent on a wide range of local priorities, including supporting families in poverty.

The Working Group launched a Call for Evidence which closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence. The government does not routinely publish the details of individual respondents to calls for evidence.

While the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) ended in March 2026, funding for 2025-26 can still be used to support investment in activities up to 30 September 2026, to allow local authorities and partners time to maximise spend of their existing allocations.

The Government’s new approach emphasises more stable, longer-term funding and clearer planning horizons through the Local Government Finance Settlement, alongside targeted interventions that support growth and strengthen communities, including the Local Growth Fund and the Pride in Place Programme.

Part P of the Building Regulations 2010 and Approved Document P make clear that electrical installations in dwellings should be designed and installed in such a way to protect people from electric shock and fire hazards. The Building Safety Act 2022 requires the Building Safety Regulator to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review. As new evidence emerges, updating of Building Regulations or statutory guidance in Approved Documents can then be considered; this includes the electrical safety requirements in Part P of the Building Regulations. Approved Document P refers to the electrical installation standards in BS7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations as the way of showing compliance with Part P requirements. Building owners remain responsible for managing building safety and performance risks of all kinds in a proportionate, risk-based and evidence backed manner.

The community will decide how to invest £20m of Pride in Place Funding allocated to Bradeley and Chell Heath. A Neighbourhood Board led by an Independent Chair, made up of local people, will come up with a plan for this investment. The programme’s Prospectus sets out that all Boards must work with their wider community through deep and meaningful engagement and demonstrate this in plans, otherwise progress will be delayed. We have brought forward £150,000 of funding for all neighbourhoods in Phase Two of the programme, so engagement can begin immediately.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a range of legal duties on Responsible Persons (the person in control of a premises which can include building owners, landlords and employers), chief among which is the need to undertake a fire risk assessment. This is to identify any general fire safety precautions that need to be taken to make sure that the premises, and people within it, are safe from fire, and put those precautions in place.

To help Responsible Persons discharge their duties, MHCLG makes available a suite of guidance which it is currently reviewing and updating, including the offices and shops guide, so it better reflects current legislation, practice and emerging risks. This update will give consideration to the risks arising from products such as vapes and other small electrical items containing lithium-ion batteries.

Within the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) measure, three domains from seven incorporate measures of welfare or benefit take-up. The Income Deprivation Domain carries a weight of 22.5% and the Employment Deprivation Domain carries a weight of 22.5%. The Comparative Illness and Disability Ratio, which is drawn from similar sources, has a weighting of 0.294 in the overall Health Deprivation and Disability Domain, which contributes 13.5% to the IMD.

MHCLG is committed to thorough performance management and has in place robust processes to ensure that those who fall below the expected standards are supported to improve in a timely manner. To this end, there have been:

70 employees who have been placed on a Development Support Plan between 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2024, 110 between 1^st April 2024 to 31^st March 2025, and 61 between 1^st April 2025- 31^st March 2026.

Those who cannot improve their performance, despite this additional support, may be dismissed.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 119480 on 17 March 2026.

The Government has included powers in the Representation of the People Bill to enable the testing and introduction of new methods of registration. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will continue to consult with a range of relevant stakeholders to ensure that any changes to the registration process are based on robust evidence, user research and thorough testing.

During the development of this work, the Government has worked closely with the Electoral Commission, the Association of Electoral Administrators, local authorities, devolved governments and civil society organisations. We will also continue to offer engagement with political parties.

Buildings in the CSS in Slough are making progress on their remediation, and in cases outside of the timeframe expected by CSS, action has been taken to bring progress back on track.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published its Small and Medium sized Enterprises Action Plan 2025 to 2028 on 24 March 2026, the same day as the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury published their cross government Small and Medium sized Enterprises Action Plan.

The Action Plan is publicly available on gov.uk here.

The government continues to engage with local government and the communities sector to ensure that we understand best practice. We will lay regulations and in due course.

The Joint Election Security and Preparedness Unit (JESP), led by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Cabinet Office is an enduring election security function, dedicated to coordinating a collective effort across Government to safeguard our elections against the range of threats we face.

Before an election takes place, an ‘Election Cell’ is set up by the Joint Election Security and Preparedness Unit (JESP). This brings together government departments, the police, the intelligence agencies, the Devolved Governments, and external partners to monitor and respond to any emerging issues across candidate, cyber and information security. MHCLG's Community Cohesion Unit is also a core part of JESP’s Election Cell; the Community Cohesion Unit works closely during election campaigns with local partners, including the police and local councils to monitor and address issues related to cohesion.

Harassment and intimidation of voters, electoral staff, candidates and campaigners, both online and in person, is totally unacceptable, whatever the driving cause, and has a profoundly detrimental impact on our democratic process.

Government is also working closely with the Electoral Commission to develop an updated Code of Conduct for campaigning to set clear expectations for behaviour during election campaigns. Ahead of the updated Code of Conduct, the Electoral Commission has recently published a set of principles for campaigning respectfully and safely, which are welcomed by this Government.

The Representation of the People Bill makes clear the new tests that will apply in respect of political donations made by companies.

The company must be majority owned or controlled by registered UK electors, or UK citizens usually resident in the UK.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 119518 on 18 March 2026.

The Government does not hold data on the number of qualifying EU citizens who are eligible to register to vote in England or Northern Ireland following the implementation of the Elections Act 2022.

As set out in the answer to Question UIN 120066 on 18 March 2026, the Office for National Statistics has not produced updated estimates of EU citizens eligible to vote following the changes to voting rights implemented through the Elections Act 2022.

There are no official statistics on the number of qualifying Commonwealth citizens living in the UK who are eligible to register to vote, either in England or across the United Kingdom.

As set out in the answer to Question UIN 120063 on 18 March 2026, the Electoral Commission has previously estimated that around 66% of qualifying Commonwealth citizens may be registered to vote (as at 2023). The Commission’s estimate is based on their survey data and provides an indication of the proportion registered; however no corresponding estimate exists for the total number eligible to register.

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the Government wrote to political party representatives to set out the immediate steps being taken to strengthen the UK’s political finance framework to address the risk of foreign financial interference.

The Government announced its intention to introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets. Further policy detail will be set out as we bring forward these policies as amendments to the Representation of the People Bill.

Part P of the Building Regulations 2010 and Approved Document P make clear electrical installations in dwellings should be designed and installed in such a way to protect people from electric shock and fire hazards. Approved Document P refers to the electrical installation standards in BS7671 as the way of showing compliance with Building Regulations. In domestic situations, if electrical work is notifiable, competent electricians can self-certify that their work is compliant with Part P of the Building Regulations. All electricians who have been authorised by a government approved Competent Person Scheme are listed on the Registered Competent Person Electrical Register All other functional requirements of Building Regulations, beyond electrical safety, must also be met.

The Department does not routinely publish details of its Information Tribunal cases as these are listed both by the Tribunals Judiciary (here) and by The National Archives when determined (here).

The department does hold data on workplace and staff attendance including in regional offices.