Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities supports communities across the UK to thrive, making them great places to live and work.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Michael Gove
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Plaid Cymru
Ben Lake (PC - Ceredigion)
Shadow PC Spokesperson (Housing, Communities & Local Government)

Liberal Democrat
Baroness Pinnock (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Levelling Up, Communities and Local Government)
Baroness Thornhill (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Housing)

Labour
Lord Khan of Burnley (Lab - Life peer)
Shadow Spokesperson (Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Liberal Democrat
Helen Morgan (LD - North Shropshire)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Levelling up, Housing and Communities)

Labour
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab - Life peer)
Shadow Spokesperson (Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Scottish National Party
Anum Qaisar (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts)
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Levelling Up)

Labour
Angela Rayner (Lab - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities & Local Government
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Labour
Matthew Pennycook (Lab - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Florence Eshalomi (Lab - Vauxhall)
Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Mike Amesbury (Lab - Weaver Vale)
Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Jim McMahon (Lab - Oldham West and Royton)
Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Liz Twist (Lab - Blaydon)
Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Ministers of State
Lee Rowley (Con - North East Derbyshire)
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Felicity Buchan (Con - Kensington)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Jacob Young (Con - Redcar)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Simon Hoare (Con - North Dorset)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Baroness Swinburne (Con - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Scheduled Event
Tuesday 19th March 2024
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Orders and regulations - Main Chamber
Representation of the People (Variation of Election Expenses and Exclusions) Regulations 2024 and associated regret motion
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Scheduled Event
Monday 25th March 2024
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Orders and regulations - Main Chamber
Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
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Scheduled Event
Wednesday 27th March 2024
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Legislation - Main Chamber
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill – second reading
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Scheduled Event
Monday 22nd April 2024
14:30
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Oral questions - Main Chamber
22 Apr 2024, 2:30 p.m.
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (including Topical Questions)
Save to Calendar
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Select Committee Docs
Monday 18th March 2024
10:26
SHO0153 - Shared Ownership
Written Evidence
Select Committee Inquiry
Monday 13th November 2023
Children, young people and the built environment

This inquiry is looking at how better planning and building and urban design in England could enhance the health and …

Written Answers
Monday 18th March 2024
Homelessness: Burnley
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what (a) funding and (b) other support his …
Secondary Legislation
Thursday 14th March 2024
Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) (Amendment) Order 2024
This Order amends the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (Amendment) (England) Order 2022 (“2022 Order”) (S.I. 2022/521) which made temporary modifications …
Bills
Monday 27th November 2023
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill 2023-24
A bill to prohibit the grant or assignment of certain new long residential leases of houses, to amend the rights …

Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Mar. 04
Oral Questions
Sep. 14
Urgent Questions
Mar. 13
Westminster Hall
Feb. 22
Adjournment Debate
View All Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament


A Bill to make provision to prevent public bodies from being influenced by political or moral disapproval of foreign states when taking certain economic decisions, subject to certain exceptions; and for connected purposes.

Commons Completed
Lords - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Tuesday 20th February 2024
Next Event - Committee Stage
Wednesday 20th March 2024

A bill to prohibit the grant or assignment of certain new long residential leases of houses, to amend the rights of tenants under long residential leases to acquire the freeholds of their houses, to extend the leases of their houses or flats, and to collectively enfranchise or manage the buildings containing their flats, to give such tenants the right to reduce the rent payable under their leases to a peppercorn, to regulate the relationship between residential landlords and tenants, to regulate residential estate management, to regulate rentcharges and to amend the Building Safety Act 2022 in connection with the remediation of building defects and the insolvency of persons who have repairing obligations relating to certain kinds of buildings.

Commons Completed
Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 28th February 2024
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Wednesday 27th March 2024

A Bill to make provision for expenditure by the Secretary of State and the removal of restrictions in respect of certain land for or in connection with the construction of a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

Commons - 60%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Wednesday 8th November 2023

A Bill to make provision changing the law about rented homes, including provision abolishing fixed term assured tenancies and assured shorthold tenancies; imposing obligations on landlords and others in relation to rented homes and temporary and supported accommodation; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 60%

Last Event - Committee Stage
Tuesday 28th November 2023
(Read Debate)

Acts of Parliament created in the 2019 Parliament


A Bill to make provision for the setting of levelling-up missions and reporting on progress in delivering them; about local democracy; about town and country planning; about Community Infrastructure Levy; about the imposition of Infrastructure Levy; about environmental outcome reports for certain consents and plans; about regeneration; about the compulsory purchase of land; about information and records relating to land, the environment or heritage; for the provision for pavement licences to be permanent; about governance of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; about vagrancy and begging; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 26th October 2023 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision about non-domestic rating.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 26th October 2023 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision about the regulation of social housing; about the terms of approved schemes for the investigation of housing complaints; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 20th July 2023 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision about the safety of people in or about buildings and the standard of buildings, to amend the Architects Act 1997, and to amend provision about complaints made to a housing ombudsman.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th April 2022 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision about the administration and conduct of elections, including provision designed to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process; about overseas electors; about voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens; about the designation of a strategy and policy statement for the Electoral Commission; about the membership of the Speaker's Committee; about the Electoral Commission's functions in relation to criminal proceedings; about financial information to be provided by a political party on applying for registration; for preventing a person being registered as a political party and being a recognised non-party campaigner at the same time; about regulation of expenditure for political purposes; about disqualification of offenders for holding elective offices; about information to be included in electronic campaigning material; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th April 2022 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision about the rent payable under long leases of dwellings; and for connected purposes

This Bill received Royal Assent on 8th February 2022 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision about matters attributable to coronavirus that may not be taken account of in making certain determinations for the purposes of non-domestic rating; and to make provision in connection with the disqualification of directors of companies that are dissolved without becoming insolvent.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 15th December 2021 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to confer relief from non-domestic rates for hereditaments in England and Wales

This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2021 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision to change the dates on which non-domestic rating lists must be compiled; and to change the dates by which proposed lists must be sent to billing authorities, the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 15th March 2021 and was enacted into law.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities - Secondary Legislation

This Order amends the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (Amendment) (England) Order 2022 (“2022 Order”) (S.I. 2022/521) which made temporary modifications to the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012 (“2012 Order”) (S.I. 2012/2601) and to the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2003 (“2003 Order”) (S.I. 2003/3326).
The Planning Act 2008 (c. 29) provides for the granting of development consent for certain types of nationally significant infrastructure projects.
View All Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
Petition Open
23,123 Signatures
(747 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
15,049 Signatures
(378 in the last 7 days)
Petitions with most signatures
Petition Open
23,123 Signatures
(747 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
15,049 Signatures
(378 in the last 7 days)
Petition Debates Contributed

Swifts have declined by over 50% in the UK. Adult swifts, known for site-fidelity, return to the same nests. We want swift bricks to be required in all new housing, to provide homes for these birds. Surveys show these are used by red-listed swifts, house martins, starlings and house sparrows.

During the coronavirus outbreak it is important that people have money for essentials such as utilities and food. The Government should require councils to suspend council tax payments, and directly fund local government operations, for the duration of the outbreak.

Mark Allen, aged 18, drowned after jumping into a freezing reservoir on a hot day in June 2018.

In May 2019 we watched whilst 3 throwlines were installed where he died.

Mark could have possibly been saved if they were in place beforehand.

View All Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


11 Members of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
Clive Betts Portrait
Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Chair since 27th January 2020
Mohammad Yasin Portrait
Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Mary Robinson Portrait
Mary Robinson (Conservative - Cheadle)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Ben Everitt Portrait
Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Ian Byrne Portrait
Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Bob Blackman Portrait
Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Andrew Lewer Portrait
Andrew Lewer (Conservative - Northampton South)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 22nd February 2021
Kate Hollern Portrait
Kate Hollern (Labour - Blackburn)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 8th February 2022
Natalie Elphicke Portrait
Natalie Elphicke (Conservative - Dover)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 25th October 2022
Nadia Whittome Portrait
Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 29th November 2022
Tom Hunt Portrait
Tom Hunt (Conservative - Ipswich)
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee Member since 11th December 2023
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee: Previous Inquiries
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Annual Report & Accounts 2019-20 Local government and the path to net zero Long-term delivery of social and affordable rented housing Progress on devolution in England Local Authorities and Commissioners inquiry Local Plans Expert Group recommendations inquiry Capacity in the homebuilding industry inquiry Public parks inquiry Adult social care inquiry Pre-appointment hearing: Chair of the Homes and Communities Agency Housing Ombudsman one-off evidence session Business rates inquiry Consultation on National Planning Policy inquiry Homelessness inquiry Pre-appointment hearing: Local Government Ombudsman Work of DCLG 2016 inquiry Homelessness Reduction Bill inquiry Work of DCLG Housing for older people inquiry Overview and scrutiny in local government Private Rented Sector inquiry Brexit and Local Government inquiry Housing need and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Business rates retention inquiry Department for Communities and Local Government Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17 Homelessness Reduction Act Independent review of building regulations Draft Tenant Fees Bill inquiry DCLG Annual Report and Accounts 2016 Integration Review one-off evidence session Housing for older people inquiry Overview and scrutiny in local government inquiry Government draft Public Service Ombudsman Bill inquiry Housing White Paper and business rates inquiry Land value capture inquiry Planning guidance on fracking inquiry Housing Ombudsman Pre-appointment Hearing inquiry MHCLG Housing priorities Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper Pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Non-Domestic Rating (Property in Common Occupation) Bill inquiry High streets and town centres in 2030 inquiry Local authority support for Grenfell Tower survivors inquiry Priorities for the Secretary of State inquiry Leasehold reform inquiry Social Housing Green Paper inquiry Funding of local authorities’ children’s services inquiry MHCLG Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18 inquiry Modern Methods of Construction inquiry Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman review session inquiry Local Government Finance and the 2019 Spending Review inquiry Implications of the Waste Strategy for Local Authorities inquiry Homelessness Reduction Act - One Year On inquiry Work of the Secretary of State 2019 inquiry Progress on devolution in England inquiry Long-term delivery of social and affordable rented housing inquiry Litter Jay Report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham Community Rights Operation of the National Planning Policy Framework Local Government finance settlement 2014/15 Local government chief officers' remuneration Devolution in England: the case for local government Building Regulations certification of domestic electrical work Further review of the work of the Local Government Ombudsman Housing and Planning Bill one-off evidence session DCLG Annual Report 2014-15 inquiry Financial Settlement one-off evidence session Interim Chair of the Homes and Communities Agency Board one-off evidence session The Government's Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill inquiry The housing association sector and the Right to Buy inquiry Planning and productivity one-off evidence session DCLG priorities in the 2015 Parliament one-off evidence session Local Council bank loans inquiry Performance of the DCLG 2013-14 Work of the Communities and Local Government Committee Appointment of the Housing Ombudsman Private Rented Sector Local Government Procurement High Streets and Town Centres Performance of the DCLG 2012-13 Regulation Committee of the Homes and Communities Agency Planning issues Abolition of regional spatial strategies Localism Audit and inspection of local authorities Regeneration National Planning Policy Framework Taking forward Community Budgets Performance of the Department 2011-12 Building Regulations Localisation issues in welfare reform Proposed Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity Local Government Ombudsman Mutual and co-operative approaches to delivering local services The role of local authorities in health issues The role of the Housing Ombudsman The Government’s Review of Planning Practice Guidance Greater London Authority Act 2007 and the London Assembly Park Homes Planning, housing and growth Councillors and the community Financing of new housing supply European Regional Development Fund Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser Sustainable Communities Act 2007 Community Budgets Decentralisation and codifying the relationship between central and local government Work of the Department Impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on homelessness and the private rented sector Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill Reforming the Private Rented Sector Draft Strategy and Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission Funding for Levelling Up Electoral Registration Reforms to national planning policy The Spending Review and Local Government Finance Financial Reporting and Audit in Local Authorities The finances and sustainability of the social housing sector Shared Ownership Fire Safety Disabled people in the housing sector The Office for Local Government Local authorities in financial distress Children, young people and the built environment Cladding: progress on remediation Hazardous Substances (Planning) Common Framework Local Authority Financial Sustainability and the Section 114 Regime

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his plans are for determining the membership of the east-west business council.

Since the Council was announced in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, UK Government officials have been engaging with The Executive Office to establish the first meeting of the Council. The Secretary of State will be setting out further details about the Council soon.

Felicity Buchan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to section 1 of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, what progress his Department has made on establishing the Supported Housing Advisory Panel.

The Secretary of State is establishing The Supported Housing Advisory Panel in accordance with the duty set out in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. The primary focus of the Panel will be delivering better outcomes for people, and a fairer, more just approach to supported housing for the most vulnerable, as the measures in the Act are developed and implemented.

We will be recruiting the members through open competition and the advert will be open shortly.

Felicity Buchan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of laboratory space in the UK since 15 March 2023.

It is for local planning authorities to determine the type of employment land that is needed in their area, and local plans should make sufficient provision for employment and other commercial development. Local policies are expected to be supported by a robust evidence base to understand existing business needs, reflecting local circumstances and market conditions.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what information his Department holds on the number of prosecutions for ill-fitting Personal Protective Equipment provided to women workers initiated by local authorities in the last five years.

The department does not hold the information requested.

Simon Hoare
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what (a) funding and (b) other support his Department has provided to Burnley Borough Council to tackle (i) homelessness and (ii) rough sleeping since December 2019.

The Government is supporting local authorities to reduce homelessness and rough sleeping through, for example, the Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG) and the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI). Allocations of Government funding are published on gov.uk.

DLUHC’s dedicated team of homelessness and rough sleeping advisers also work regularly with local authorities to provide expert support in tackling homelessness and rough sleeping in their area.

Felicity Buchan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department held discussions with relevant stakeholders prior to the announcement of funding for local authorities to install chess tables in public spaces.

85 local authorities that received Levelling Up Parks Fund funding were invited to apply for the chess tables funding. In total, 55 local authorities applied for the funding. We have provided funding to those 55 local authorities to install 99 chess tables across England.

We have asked local authorities to consider how the location they choose creates new opportunities, helps to strengthen relationships, builds local social cohesion and provides opportunities for people to come together in a joint activity.

Prior to the announcement of funding, we engaged stakeholders across Government, as well as local authorities and the English Chess Federation.

Local authorities know their communities best and are best placed to manage the use and assess the effects of the chess tables locally, if they choose to do so.

Any decisions to provide chess sets are for local authorities to take.

Further announcements will be set out in the usual way.

Jacob Young
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Major investment to transform future of English chess announced, published on 22 August 2023, whether he plans to assess the impact of funding chess tables on (a) levels of loneliness and (b) people's problem solving skills.

85 local authorities that received Levelling Up Parks Fund funding were invited to apply for the chess tables funding. In total, 55 local authorities applied for the funding. We have provided funding to those 55 local authorities to install 99 chess tables across England.

We have asked local authorities to consider how the location they choose creates new opportunities, helps to strengthen relationships, builds local social cohesion and provides opportunities for people to come together in a joint activity.

Prior to the announcement of funding, we engaged stakeholders across Government, as well as local authorities and the English Chess Federation.

Local authorities know their communities best and are best placed to manage the use and assess the effects of the chess tables locally, if they choose to do so.

Any decisions to provide chess sets are for local authorities to take.

Further announcements will be set out in the usual way.

Jacob Young
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to ensure that newly-installed chess tables funded by his Department are used for their intended purpose.

85 local authorities that received Levelling Up Parks Fund funding were invited to apply for the chess tables funding. In total, 55 local authorities applied for the funding. We have provided funding to those 55 local authorities to install 99 chess tables across England.

We have asked local authorities to consider how the location they choose creates new opportunities, helps to strengthen relationships, builds local social cohesion and provides opportunities for people to come together in a joint activity.

Prior to the announcement of funding, we engaged stakeholders across Government, as well as local authorities and the English Chess Federation.

Local authorities know their communities best and are best placed to manage the use and assess the effects of the chess tables locally, if they choose to do so.

Any decisions to provide chess sets are for local authorities to take.

Further announcements will be set out in the usual way.

Jacob Young
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Installing chess tables in parks and public spaces: prospectus, published on 1 September 2023, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding to local authorities for chess pieces to accompany the chess tables.

85 local authorities that received Levelling Up Parks Fund funding were invited to apply for the chess tables funding. In total, 55 local authorities applied for the funding. We have provided funding to those 55 local authorities to install 99 chess tables across England.

We have asked local authorities to consider how the location they choose creates new opportunities, helps to strengthen relationships, builds local social cohesion and provides opportunities for people to come together in a joint activity.

Prior to the announcement of funding, we engaged stakeholders across Government, as well as local authorities and the English Chess Federation.

Local authorities know their communities best and are best placed to manage the use and assess the effects of the chess tables locally, if they choose to do so.

Any decisions to provide chess sets are for local authorities to take.

Further announcements will be set out in the usual way.

Jacob Young
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much and what proportion of Levelling Up funding was provided to cultural activities in the 2022-23 financial year; and how much and what proportion of planned funding for cultural activities was unallocated in the same period.

The Culture Top Slice of the Levelling Up Fund has now been allocated. Details were set out at Budget. Further announcements will be set out in the usual way.

Jacob Young
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending planning rules to make it easier to install bicycle sheds in front gardens.

We are currently consulting on changes to the householder permitted development rights to allow bin and bike stores in front gardens without the need for a planning application.

The consultation is open until 9 April 2024 and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-various-permitted-development-rights-consultation.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking with local authorities to improve the time taken to process planning applications.

We are taking action to speed up determinations for planning applications in a number of ways. Reforms in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act seek to streamline the development management process and support decisions which are timely, transparent, and of high quality.

The Government has also recently increased planning fees and provided a range of new funding streams through the Government’s capacity and capability programme, including the £29 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund to provide local planning authorities with additional resources needed to deliver a high quality and timely planning service.

In addition to this, on 6 March the Government launched an Accelerated Planning Service consultation. This sets out measures to offer a new application route with accelerated decision dates for major commercial applications and fee refunds wherever these are not met. It also includes measures to more closely monitor the performance of local planning authorities in making decisions within statutory periods rather than using extension of time agreements.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many homes have been built in Oldham in the last year.

The department’s most comprehensive measure of housing supply is our annual release entitled ‘Housing supply: net additional dwellings, England’. This includes estimates of new homes added in each local authority, but does not show figures at the constituency level.

You can find data for Oldham Council here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-net-supply-of-housing.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many and what proportion of households have transitioned to full ownership under (a) Shared Ownership and (b) Rent to Buy schemes funded by Homes England.

Information on the number of shared owners who have staircased to full ownership is publicly available from our live tables on social housing sales.

The department collects information on the number of households living in Shared Ownership homes via the English Housing Survey.

It is not possible to distinguish between Rent to Buy – Shared Ownership and other Shared Ownership products in these datasets.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to home ownership schemes funded through Homes England, whether his Department collects data on the (a) number of households in shared ownership or rent to buy properties, (b) income of tenants, (c) number of tenants that have transitioned to full ownership under shared ownership and rent to buy and (d) number of years tenants rented their homes for before purchase.

Information on the number of shared owners who have staircased to full ownership is publicly available from our live tables on social housing sales.

The department collects information on the number of households living in Shared Ownership homes via the English Housing Survey.

It is not possible to distinguish between Rent to Buy – Shared Ownership and other Shared Ownership products in these datasets.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking through the planning system to increase the availability of laboratory space.

We have committed to strengthening national planning policy so that it better supports the needs of Research and Development, and will consult on these changes in due course.

We are also working to make investment in this sector more attractive. This includes working with local planning authorities to encourage the use of proactive planning tools, such as Local Development Orders, to make it easier to bring forward development.

To support this, the Autumn Statement announced £5 million of funding to help local planning authorities prepare Local Development Orders for commercial development.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2024 to Question 16911 on Planning Permission: Reform, with reference to the revisions made to the National Planning Policy Framework on 19 December 2023, for what reason the words as a minimum were omitted from paragraph 35(a).

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 16908 on 11 March 2024.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2024 to Question 16908 on Green Belt: Planning Permission and with reference to the revisions made to the National Planning Policy Framework on 19 December 2023 and the Written Ministerial Statement of 19 December 2023 on The Next Stage in Our Long Term Plan for Housing Update, HCWS161, if he will publish specific guidance clarifying whether local authorities being located wholly within the green belt can represent an exceptional circumstance to justify an alternative approach to using the standard method calculation when assessing housing need for the purposes of making a local plan.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 16908 on 11 March 2024.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2024 to Question 16912 on Planning Permission: Reform and with reference to the consultation entitled Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy, published on 22 December 2022, and paragraph 35(a) of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2023, if he will publish the justification for omitting from that paragraph the words ‘so far as possible, taking into account the policies of’ in that Framework.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 16908 on 11 March 2024.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2024 to Question 16913 on Planning Permission: Reform and with reference to the consultation entitled Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy, published on 22 December 2022, and paragraph 35(a) of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2023, if he will publish the justification for retaining 'and is informed by agreements with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development' in that Framework.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 16908 on 11 March 2024.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2024 to Question 16914 on Green Belt: Planning Permission and with reference to the consultation entitled Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy, published on 22 December 2022, and paragraph 35(a) of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2023, if he will publish the justification for not incorporating the words 'Green Belt boundaries are not required to be reviewed and altered if this would be the only means of meeting the objectively assessed need for housing over the plan period' in that Framework.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 16908 on 11 March 2024.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to paragraph 5.59, page 74 of the Spring Budget 2024, what his Department's (a) selection criteria and (b) rationale were for identifying Canary Wharf as the recipient hub of investment over other life sciences hubs.

As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England is tasked with accelerating house building and regeneration in all areas of the country. The brownfield regeneration scheme being supported at Canary Wharf includes over 500 homes in an area of high demand, responding to significant local need.

The Home Building Fund – Infrastructure Loans (HBF-IL) programme which supports this scheme provides infrastructure loans for mixed-use developments throughout England. Details of selection criteria can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/home-building-fund-infrastructure-loans.

Jacob Young
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department expects remediation work to have begun on buildings over 11m with ACM cladding where the developer or builder has accepted liability and accordingly no application was made to the BSF; and if he will take steps to enforce this deadline.

We expect developers that signed the developer remediation contract with Government to meet their obligation to remediate the buildings for which they are responsible as quickly as reasonably practicable.

The length of time it may reasonably take to remediate a building will vary depending on factors such as the scale of works required, cooperation of third parties in finalising a works contract, and risk-based prioritisation by the developer of the buildings which the developer is responsible for remediating.

Developers are obliged to send regular progress reports to the department. The latest progress report is available on gov.uk and the next report will be published this month. The department monitors progress closely. Any developer that fails to comply with its obligations will face consequence.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2024 to Question 11923 on Levelling Up Fund: Tamworth Borough Council, if any officials from his Department were involved in the drafting of the press release relating to this visit entitled Levelling Up Minister visits Tamworth to mark High Street development progress with Eddie Hughes MP.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 16976 on 7 March 2024.

I wish to be clear with the Hon Member once more. My visit to Tamworth was a political visit. It was arranged through political channels.

I notified the Hon Member ahead of visiting her constituency as per parliamentary protocols.

Furthermore, she should note that the cost of answering a written ministerial question has previously been estimated to be in region of £150. I have so far answered multiple questions on this subject.

To put it in perspective, the train ticket I purchased to visit Tamworth (at no cost to the taxpayer) cost £5.60.

If the honourable lady would like to meet me to discuss any of these matters further, at a far cheaper cost to the taxpayer, I am happy to facilitate such a meeting.

But I would prefer to discuss how this Government can level up all parts of this great country, including of course Tamworth.

Jacob Young
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure the preparedness of the electoral registration services for a potential general election in May.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 14293 on 26 February 2024.

Simon Hoare
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance his Department has issued on the minimum (a) number and (b) proportion of leasehold flats that a freeholder must own in a building in order to render all other leaseholders of the building ineligible for leaseholder protections under Section 117(3)(c) of the Building Safety Act 2022.

Current leaseholder protection guidance published 21 July 2022 on gov.uk sets out that leaseholder-owned buildings includes:

(a) collectively enfranchised buildings – where some, or all, of the qualifying leaseholders have bought the building’s freehold;

(b) any building where leaseholders directly own the freehold, including through a company, where there is no separate freeholder; and,

(c) other circumstances where the freehold is owned 100% by one or more leaseholders.

The effective date in relation to the leaseholder protections under the Building Safety Act 2022 is 14 February 2022.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing regulations to specify the minimum number of leasehold flats that a freeholder must own in a building in order to render all other leaseholders of the building ineligible for leaseholder protections under Section 117(3)(c) of the Building Safety Act 2022.

Current leaseholder protection guidance published 21 July 2022 on gov.uk sets out that leaseholder-owned buildings includes:

(a) collectively enfranchised buildings – where some, or all, of the qualifying leaseholders have bought the building’s freehold;

(b) any building where leaseholders directly own the freehold, including through a company, where there is no separate freeholder; and,

(c) other circumstances where the freehold is owned 100% by one or more leaseholders.

The effective date in relation to the leaseholder protections under the Building Safety Act 2022 is 14 February 2022.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether an effective date applies to the definition of a relevant building in relation to the leaseholder protections under the Building Safety Act 2022.

Current leaseholder protection guidance published 21 July 2022 on gov.uk sets out that leaseholder-owned buildings includes:

(a) collectively enfranchised buildings – where some, or all, of the qualifying leaseholders have bought the building’s freehold;

(b) any building where leaseholders directly own the freehold, including through a company, where there is no separate freeholder; and,

(c) other circumstances where the freehold is owned 100% by one or more leaseholders.

The effective date in relation to the leaseholder protections under the Building Safety Act 2022 is 14 February 2022.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the number of building inspectors and any risk to construction due to declines in their numbers.

I refer the Noble Lady to the answer given to Question UIN 16272 on 5 March 2024.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to paragraphs 7.16 and 7.17 of the Ministerial Code, on how many occasions Ministers in his Department have informed the Law Officers that they are the defendants in a libel action in (a) their personal capacity, (b) their official position and (c) both since 19 December 2019.

I refer the Hon Member to paragraph 2.13 of the Ministerial Code which states: “The fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised and the content of their advice must not be disclosed outside Government without their authority”.

Simon Hoare
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to the development of more cooperative housing schemes.

The Government is committed to supporting housing co-operatives and other providers of community-led housing. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the Government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied, and was most recently revised in December 2023. The National Planning Policy Framework now includes several measures that will support the diversification of the housing market, including the growth of the community-led housing sector. These new measures include:

  • A new community-led housing exception sites policy to encourage local authorities to support the development of community-led sites that deliver affordable housing to meet local need;
  • encouragement to local planning authorities to seek opportunities to support small sites to come forward for community-led development for housing;
  • greater emphasis on the role that community-led development can have in supporting the provision of housing in rural areas; and
  • a definition of “community-led developments”, which will help planning authorities provide support for local proposals for community-led housing development;

Community-based groups (or their partner organisations) who are registered as providers of social housing may apply for capital grant through the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).

In addition, in 2023, we provided £3 million to support a social finance fund to provide equity and loan finance for community-led housing schemes across England. This fund is expected to support the delivery of 1587 homes over ten years.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to publish a national policy statement on visitor attractions.

The Government has committed to updating a number of National Policy Statements which will support the Government’s long-term ambitions to improve infrastructure, productivity and energy generation across the country.

Whilst we do not have current plans to introduce a National Policy Statement for visitor attractions, we would be happy to receive further representations on this issue.

Certain business and commercial projects, which could include projects relating to leisure and tourism, can, on request, be directed into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting regime, provided the Secretary of State is satisfied that such projects are ones of national significance.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of holding the general election in May 2024 on (a) local elections and (b) voter (i) engagement and (ii) turnout.

I refer the Hon member to the answer given to Question UIN 14293 on 26 February 2024.

Simon Hoare
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent any negative impact on this year's local elections as a result of fake news being disseminated through (1) artificial intelligence, and (2) other means.

The Government is committed to safeguarding the UK’s elections and already has established systems and processes in place, to protect the democratic integrity of the UK.

The Government has established the Defending Democracy Taskforce, which has a mandate to safeguard our democratic institutions and processes from the full range of threats, including digitally manipulated content. The Taskforce is an enduring government function which is ensuring we have a robust system in place to rapidly respond to any threats during election periods, including novel threats from artificial intelligence (AI).

The new digital imprints regime, introduced by the Elections Act 2022, will increase the transparency of digital political advertising, including AI-generated material.

Additionally, it is already an election offence for a person to make a false statement about a candidate which provides a reasonable check and balance against malicious smear campaigns.

The threat to democracy from artificial intelligence was discussed at the AI Safety Summit in November 2023, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to international collaboration on this shared challenge.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
1st Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what regulatory powers they have to ensure leaseholders are protected from unreasonable charges or inadequate services property management agents.

By law all variable service charges must be reasonable and, where costs relate to works or services, the works or services must be of a reasonable standard and leaseholders may challenge them at the property tribunal. It is also a legal requirement for managing and letting agents in England to belong to one of the two Government approved redress schemes.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill will make it easier for leaseholders to scrutinise costs and challenge the services provided by both landlords and property managing agents. The Bill includes measures to require landlords to provide further information to leaseholders upfront and increase the transparency of their service charges and administration charges, as well as providing more information to leaseholders when requested.

For those homeowners on private and mixed tenure freehold estates, the Bill will also give them rights to challenge costs at the tribunal and improved rights of transparency of costs and services.

The Government intends to work closely with stakeholders to determine the detail of how the measures will work to protect leaseholders, which will be set out in secondary legislation.

These measures, alongside existing protections and work undertaken by industry, will make property managing agents more accountable to the leaseholders and homeowners on freehold estates that pay for their services, and we will keep under review the need for further regulation in the sector.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
1st Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the transparency of ownership structures of freehold property management agents.

By law all variable service charges must be reasonable and, where costs relate to works or services, the works or services must be of a reasonable standard and leaseholders may challenge them at the property tribunal. It is also a legal requirement for managing and letting agents in England to belong to one of the two Government approved redress schemes.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill will make it easier for leaseholders to scrutinise costs and challenge the services provided by both landlords and property managing agents. The Bill includes measures to require landlords to provide further information to leaseholders upfront and increase the transparency of their service charges and administration charges, as well as providing more information to leaseholders when requested.

For those homeowners on private and mixed tenure freehold estates, the Bill will also give them rights to challenge costs at the tribunal and improved rights of transparency of costs and services.

The Government intends to work closely with stakeholders to determine the detail of how the measures will work to protect leaseholders, which will be set out in secondary legislation.

These measures, alongside existing protections and work undertaken by industry, will make property managing agents more accountable to the leaseholders and homeowners on freehold estates that pay for their services, and we will keep under review the need for further regulation in the sector.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
1st Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to launch a consultation about the experiences of leaseholders in relation to service charges.

By law all variable service charges must be reasonable and, where costs relate to works or services, the works or services must be of a reasonable standard and leaseholders may challenge them at the property tribunal. It is also a legal requirement for managing and letting agents in England to belong to one of the two Government approved redress schemes.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill will make it easier for leaseholders to scrutinise costs and challenge the services provided by both landlords and property managing agents. The Bill includes measures to require landlords to provide further information to leaseholders upfront and increase the transparency of their service charges and administration charges, as well as providing more information to leaseholders when requested.

For those homeowners on private and mixed tenure freehold estates, the Bill will also give them rights to challenge costs at the tribunal and improved rights of transparency of costs and services.

The Government intends to work closely with stakeholders to determine the detail of how the measures will work to protect leaseholders, which will be set out in secondary legislation.

These measures, alongside existing protections and work undertaken by industry, will make property managing agents more accountable to the leaseholders and homeowners on freehold estates that pay for their services, and we will keep under review the need for further regulation in the sector.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
4th Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support people at risk of homelessness due to 'no fault' evictions.

The Government is investing over £1.2 billion in the Homelessness Prevention Grant over three years, including a £109 million top-up for 2024/25, which gives councils the funding they need to prevent homelessness and support those at risk.

Local authorities can use the funding flexibly to work with landlords to prevent evictions.

Through our Renters (Reform) Bill, we will abolish ‘no fault’ evictions (Section 21), giving tenants greater security of tenure and thus reducing the risk of homelessness.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
1st Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on (1) local government finances in England, and (2) the equality of taxation of council tax bands in England being based on property valuations from April 1991.

The Government has no plans to reform the council tax system in this Parliament. A council tax revaluation would be expensive to undertake and could result in increases in bills for many households as well as disrupting the operation of the local government funding system. Council Tax levels are set by local authorities who are required to put in place council tax reduction schemes to help those in financial hardship. When setting out the resources available to local authorities, the annual Local Government Finance Settlement takes account of their differing abilities to generate income through council tax.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
28th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report from the Local Government Information Unit, The State of Local Government Finance in England 2024, published on 28 February, which suggests that half the councils in England will face bankruptcy within the next Parliament.

I refer the Noble Lord to the written statement made by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities HCWS241 and by the Minister for Local Government HCWS300 on 5 February.

The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 makes available up to £64.7 billion, an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £4.5 billion or 7.5% in cash terms on 2023-24 – an above inflation increase. This Settlement includes additional measures worth £600 million announced on 24 January.

On the 29 February, the Government published details of financial flexibilities agreed with a small number of other councils that requested financial support on an exceptional basis, due to specific local issues that they are unable to manage themselves. Nearly three quarters of the support announced relates to six councils where there has been severe local failure, forcing the government to step in and take action through statutory intervention.

As a result of this action by Government, we anticipate that all councils will be able to set a balanced budget and continue to deliver vital services for their communities.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
28th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government how many councils have indicated that they are in financial distress and may have to issue a section 114 notice within the next two years.

Individual councils are responsible for managing their budgets, and any decision to issue a Section 114 report is made locally. We stand ready to speak to any council that has concerns about its ability to manage its finances or faces pressures it has not planned for.

The Government monitors the financial health of local authorities on a regular basis using a wide range of data as well as through extensive direct engagement with councils.

The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 makes available up to £64.7 billion, an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £4.5 billion or 7.5% in cash terms on 2023-24 – an above inflation increase. This Settlement includes additional measures worth £600 million announced on 24 January.

On the 29 February, the Government published details of financial flexibilities agreed with a small number of other councils that requested financial support on an exceptional basis, due to specific local issues that they are unable to manage themselves.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
28th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the National Housing Federation report The economic impact of building social housing, published in February, what assessment they have made of the economic benefits gained by investing in social housing.

Government’s £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) for 2021-26 funds the construction of tens of thousands of homes across the country. These include homes for rent, for low-cost home ownership, and specialist and supported housing. It offers strong value for money. The National Audit Offices estimates that for every £1 the programme spent, the programme provides £2.70 in economic and societal benefits.

Since 2010, Government has delivered over 696,100 new affordable homes, including over 482,000 affordable homes for rent, of which over 172,600 were homes for social rent.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government how many arms-length management organisations there are in England.

We do not collect this information centrally. However, the National Federation of ALMOs’ latest publicity suggests that there are currently 19 arms-length management organisations in England: https://www.almos.org.uk/about-us/our-members/.

Baroness Swinburne
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate his Department has made of the number of residential properties constructed in South Holland and the Deepings constituency since 2015.

The department’s most comprehensive measure of housing supply is our annual release entitled ‘Housing supply: net additional dwellings, England’. This includes estimates of new homes added in each local authority, but does not show figures at the constituency level. You can find data for South Holland District Council here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-net-supply-of-housing.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the status is of the third round of the Levelling Up Fund in Northern Ireland.

The information requested is set out on gov.uk here and here.

Jacob Young
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much levelling-up funding (a) has been transferred and (b) he plans to transfer to the Northern Ireland Executive as part of the financial settlement with that devolved Administration.

The information requested is set out on gov.uk here and here.

Jacob Young
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the consultation on a direction to the Regulator of Social Housing to set a Competence and Conduct Standard for social housing, published on 6 February 2024, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending competency and mandatory qualification standards to residential property managers who are responsible for (a) tall and high-risk and (b) other residential buildings.

We are currently consulting on a direction to the Regulator of Social Housing to set a Competence and Conduct Standard for social housing, which closes on 2nd April. We will analyse responses and respond in due course.

PAS 8673 (Competence requirements for the management of safety in residential buildings) already sets out a competence framework for people involved in managing residential buildings. This includes support for accountable persons and others in managing building safety risks in higher risk buildings, and for those managing non higher-risk residential buildings.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a statutory regulator to improve the quality of new-build housing developments.

The Government legislated in the Building Safety Act 2022 to establish a statutory New Homes Ombudsman. They will provide dispute resolution for, and determine complaints by, buyers of new build homes against developments.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what progress he has made on putting the New Homes Ombudsman on a statutory footing.

The Government legislated in the Building Safety Act 2022 to establish a statutory New Homes Ombudsman. They will provide dispute resolution for, and determine complaints by, buyers of new build homes against developments.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)