Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that houses built as part of their 1.5 million homes target are high quality, in an appropriate location, and provided with essential infrastructure, including GP surgeries, schools and community centres.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This government is committed to delivering 1.5 million new safe and decent homes this Parliament. In supporting that aim, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
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 draft policies which support sustainable patterns of development and promote the creation of healthy and inclusive places and support the provision of appropriate public services. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Thornhill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of local authority staff in England available to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
My Department is undertaking an assessment of the new burdens falling on local authorities as a result of their additional enforcement responsibilities under the Renters’ Rights Act. We are committed to funding the net additional costs arising. We anticipate that additional costs will principally be additional staff costs.
In relation to the number of staff currently in Iocal authority private rented sector enforcement teams, I refer the noble Baroness to my answer given to Question UN HL13226 on 14 January 2026
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of labour shortages, planning and regulatory rules, and any viability challenges, on the delivery of their target to build 1.5 million homes.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is committed to a whole system approach to unlock housing growth.
We have already committed £625 million for construction skills, reformed the planning system through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and updated National Planning Policy Framework, and unlocked over 125,000 homes through our New Homes Accelerator.
Asked by: Baroness Thornhill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) landlords, and (2) letting agents are currently listed on the database of rogue landlords and property agents.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Database of Rogue Landlords and Property Agents has 51 active entries. The database does not distinguish between landlord and property agent entries.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures are being developed to support voters who may be susceptible to domestic or cultural pressure regarding their vote, particularly women and those with limited English proficiency.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Family voting is illegal under the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.
While the vast majority of people vote lawfully, any instance of coercion is unacceptable and undermines confidence in our democratic process. We will continue to work with electoral administrators and the Electoral Commission to ensure our polls are run smoothly, fairly, and securely. We will also continue to work with the Commission and Crimestoppers on the annual ‘Your Vote is Yours Alone’ campaign, which raises awareness among the electorate of the risks of voter fraud, and how to recognise and tackle it.
Independent Returning Officers are responsible for the conduct of elections and the Electoral Commission provides them with extensive guidance on the administration of elections. This includes guidance on how polling staff should respond if they suspect offences are being committed. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers. The Commission’s performance standards specifically include ensuring polling stations are set up and staff are trained to support voters to vote independently and in secret.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance or training is being provided to polling station staff to ensure they can confidently intervene when they observe instances of family voting in polling stations.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Family voting is illegal under the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.
While the vast majority of people vote lawfully, any instance of coercion is unacceptable and undermines confidence in our democratic process. We will continue to work with electoral administrators and the Electoral Commission to ensure our polls are run smoothly, fairly, and securely. We will also continue to work with the Commission and Crimestoppers on the annual ‘Your Vote is Yours Alone’ campaign, which raises awareness among the electorate of the risks of voter fraud, and how to recognise and tackle it.
Independent Returning Officers are responsible for the conduct of elections and the Electoral Commission provides them with extensive guidance on the administration of elections. This includes guidance on how polling staff should respond if they suspect offences are being committed. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers. The Commission’s performance standards specifically include ensuring polling stations are set up and staff are trained to support voters to vote independently and in secret.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address family voting in (1) general elections, and (2) other elections.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Family voting is illegal under the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.
While the vast majority of people vote lawfully, any instance of coercion is unacceptable and undermines confidence in our democratic process. We will continue to work with electoral administrators and the Electoral Commission to ensure our polls are run smoothly, fairly, and securely. We will also continue to work with the Commission and Crimestoppers on the annual ‘Your Vote is Yours Alone’ campaign, which raises awareness among the electorate of the risks of voter fraud, and how to recognise and tackle it.
Independent Returning Officers are responsible for the conduct of elections and the Electoral Commission provides them with extensive guidance on the administration of elections. This includes guidance on how polling staff should respond if they suspect offences are being committed. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers. The Commission’s performance standards specifically include ensuring polling stations are set up and staff are trained to support voters to vote independently and in secret.
Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government why there is a lower total spending limit set by section 94(3)(a)(ai) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 than the individual constituency limit set by section 94(3)(a)(ii).
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Elections Act 2022 inserted section 94(3)(a)(ai) into PPERA, and in doing so introduced the £10,000 threshold for registering with the Electoral Commission for campaign expenditure during a UK Parliamentary general election or general election to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Third‑party campaigners spending above £10,000 across the UK must register with the Electoral Commission, after which the limits in Schedule 10 PPERA and the constituency limit set by section 93(3)(a)(ii) apply.
Full guidance on spending rules for third-party campaigners is available on the Electoral Commission’s website here.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
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 13 June 2025, to Question 58058, on Local Government Pension Scheme, and of 12 February 2026, to Question 111138, on Local Government: Redundancy Pay, whether any changes are being made to the Local Government Pension Scheme to reduce the cost of pension strain following unitary local government restructuring; and whether this department has made a wider estimate of the likely cost of unitary restructuring on council exit payments in 2026-27 onwards.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Council staff are expected to transfer to new unitary councils. The cost of any exit payments made by a council offered as part of a voluntary exit scheme or resulting from any compulsory redundancies implemented by a new unitary council, including payments under the Local Government Pension Scheme, will depend on local workforce decisions and the composition of the workforce. The Government cannot predetermine or form a view on the outcome of local decisions on the operational and staffing structure of new unitary councils, including the outcome of any consultation with affected staff and their representatives. Councils should work with relevant administering authorities on any implications for the Local Government Pension Scheme and it is for all councils concerned to determine their own policies on exit payments.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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 HMOs in Grantham on levels of social cohesion.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Responsibility for assessing and managing the local impacts of HMOs sits primarily with local authorities. Councils are responsible for HMO licensing, regulation and oversight, and for understanding how housing pressures affect local communities, including impacts on cohesion. They are best placed to monitor community tensions and to respond through local housing, planning, community safety and partnership arrangements.
The Department works closely with local authorities, such as Grantham, to provide advice and offer support where issues arise.