Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether each person impacted by the Grenfell Tower fire has been permanently rehoused.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

200 of the 201 households from Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk have been permanently rehoused.

One household is currently living in a high quality temporary home within the borough.

We continue to work closely with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which is responsible for housing decisions in the borough and supporting each person impacted by the tragedy to settle into permanent homes.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to allow almshouses to access housing-related grants.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Almshouse charities can bid for grant funding from the Affordable Homes Programme if they are registered social housing providers, subject to oversight by the Regulator of Social Housing. 264 out of 1,600 almshouses charities have already taken this step.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department provides guidance on the (a) core principles and (b) culture expected of local development boards.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I would kindly ask the hon. Member to write to me with more details on ‘local development boards’, so my officials can look into this matter.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has received recent representations from (a) Birmingham City Council and (b) the Commissioner on the provision of additional public funds to settle their dispute with striking bin collection workers.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been working intensively with Birmingham City Council in relation to the ongoing disruption in its waste service. While the response is being locally led by the Council as is appropriate, at their request, we have deployed operational and logistical expertise to help address the backlog of waste on Birmingham’s streets.

This backlog presented real risks to public health, particularly for the most vulnerable. As a result of concerted and ongoing effort by Birmingham City Council, and with the support of other local authorities, we are pleased that the large accumulations of street waste in badly affected areas have been removed and that levels are approaching normal, and this is under daily review.

The residents of Birmingham need to see a fair and sustainable resolution to this dispute, and we continue to encourage both parties to come to a negotiated settlement that ensures a fit-for-purpose waste service and does not risk the important progress made on equal pay at BCC.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has provided additional (a) funding and (b) other resources to councils bordering Birmingham to help tackle additional fly-tipping resulting from bin strikes in Birmingham.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been working intensively with Birmingham City Council in relation to the ongoing disruption in its waste service. While the response is being locally led by the Council as is appropriate, at their request, we have deployed operational and logistical expertise to help address the backlog of waste on Birmingham’s streets.

This backlog presented real risks to public health, particularly for the most vulnerable. As a result of concerted and ongoing effort by Birmingham City Council, and with the support of other local authorities, we are pleased that the large accumulations of street waste in badly affected areas have been removed and that levels are approaching normal, and this is under daily review.

The residents of Birmingham need to see a fair and sustainable resolution to this dispute, and we continue to encourage both parties to come to a negotiated settlement that ensures a fit-for-purpose waste service and does not risk the important progress made on equal pay at BCC.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to take steps to help support Birmingham City Council to ensure the long-term (a) sustainability and (b) resilience of the city’s waste management services.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been working intensively with Birmingham City Council in relation to the ongoing disruption in its waste service. While the response is being locally led by the Council as is appropriate, at their request, we have deployed operational and logistical expertise to help address the backlog of waste on Birmingham’s streets.

This backlog presented real risks to public health, particularly for the most vulnerable. As a result of concerted and ongoing effort by Birmingham City Council, and with the support of other local authorities, we are pleased that the large accumulations of street waste in badly affected areas have been removed and that levels are approaching normal, and this is under daily review.

The residents of Birmingham need to see a fair and sustainable resolution to this dispute, and we continue to encourage both parties to come to a negotiated settlement that ensures a fit-for-purpose waste service and does not risk the important progress made on equal pay at BCC.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has provided additional (a) funding and (b) resources to Birmingham City Council to help tackle waste management issues resulting from the recent bin strikes.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been working intensively with Birmingham City Council in relation to the ongoing disruption in its waste service. While the response is being locally led by the Council as is appropriate, at their request, we have deployed operational and logistical expertise to help address the backlog of waste on Birmingham’s streets.

This backlog presented real risks to public health, particularly for the most vulnerable. As a result of concerted and ongoing effort by Birmingham City Council, and with the support of other local authorities, we are pleased that the large accumulations of street waste in badly affected areas have been removed and that levels are approaching normal, and this is under daily review.

The residents of Birmingham need to see a fair and sustainable resolution to this dispute, and we continue to encourage both parties to come to a negotiated settlement that ensures a fit-for-purpose waste service and does not risk the important progress made on equal pay at BCC.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Birmingham City Council on the potential impact of the bin strikes on (a) public health and (b) the environment in affected areas.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been working intensively with Birmingham City Council in relation to the ongoing disruption in its waste service. While the response is being locally led by the Council as is appropriate, at their request, we have deployed operational and logistical expertise to help address the backlog of waste on Birmingham’s streets.

This backlog presented real risks to public health, particularly for the most vulnerable. As a result of concerted and ongoing effort by Birmingham City Council, and with the support of other local authorities, we are pleased that the large accumulations of street waste in badly affected areas have been removed and that levels are approaching normal, and this is under daily review.

The residents of Birmingham need to see a fair and sustainable resolution to this dispute, and we continue to encourage both parties to come to a negotiated settlement that ensures a fit-for-purpose waste service and does not risk the important progress made on equal pay at BCC.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she is taking steps to help support (a) Birmingham City Council and (b) other local authorities to resolve disputes with bin collection workers.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been working intensively with Birmingham City Council in relation to the ongoing disruption in its waste service. While the response is being locally led by the Council as is appropriate, at their request, we have deployed operational and logistical expertise to help address the backlog of waste on Birmingham’s streets.

This backlog presented real risks to public health, particularly for the most vulnerable. As a result of concerted and ongoing effort by Birmingham City Council, and with the support of other local authorities, we are pleased that the large accumulations of street waste in badly affected areas have been removed and that levels are approaching normal, and this is under daily review.

The residents of Birmingham need to see a fair and sustainable resolution to this dispute, and we continue to encourage both parties to come to a negotiated settlement that ensures a fit-for-purpose waste service and does not risk the important progress made on equal pay at BCC.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to simplify the application process for the Disability Facilities Grant.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. This is why government awarded an £86 million in-year uplift to the DFG for 2024-25, bringing the total funding for 2024-25 to £711 million. Government has also confirmed £711 million for the DFG for 2025-26.

In March 2022 government published guidance for local authorities in England on the effective and efficient delivery of the grant, including best practice in setting out the application process. A link to the guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disabled-facilities-grant-dfg-delivery-guidance-for-local-authorities-in-england. It is for each local authority to decide its own application processes in line with the legislative requirements, but the guidance makes clear that local authorities should ensure the needs of applicants are at the heart of the grant application process.

Government continues to keep all aspects of the DFG under consideration. As part of this, the suitability of the current £30,000 upper limit is being reviewed. Government is also reviewing the allocations formula for the DFG to ensure the funding is aligned with local needs and will consult on a new approach during 2025. Any changes in policy that require additional funding would be subject to the Spending Review.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure that the specific needs of (a) Torbay and (b) other deprived areas are considered following mergers into larger sub-regional authorities as part of local government reorganisation.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 5 February I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area.

As set out in the published criteria, unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens, and proposals should show how councils in the area have sought to work together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views.

We expect local leaders to ensure there is wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents and businesses in working through options. This engagement should both inform the development of robust proposals and build a shared understanding of the improvements they expect to deliver through reorganisation.

Following submission of these proposals to government, we will consider proposals carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed. It would be inappropriate for me to comment or give a view on specific unitary proposals, or to pre-empt future decisions under the statutory process.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the minutes of her meeting with Birmingham City Council on 5 April 2025; and what the conclusions were of the meeting.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been in frequent dialogue with the leadership of the City Council to ensure the welfare of Birmingham residents and a swift resolution to the dispute. The 5 April meeting provided an update on the clean-up of the waste backlog and industrial relations negotiations. The government will continue to support the Council in creating the sustainable, fair and reliable waste service that its residents deserve. In line with normal practice, the minutes of the meeting will not be published.

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 24 March 2025, to Question 38621, on Combined Authorities, and with reference to the publication of the report by Professor Alice Sullivan, Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, published in March 2025, if she will ensure that questions about the sex of a respondent ask for their sex.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 38621 on 24 March 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what meetings (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have had to discuss the potential spread of leptospirosis, in the context of the bin strikes in Birmingham.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has been supporting Birmingham City Council (BCC) in its efforts to address the backlog of waste that had been building up on the city’s streets. MHCLG has worked with a number of key Government Departments to provide support to BCC including engagement with both DHSC and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). UKHSA has been monitoring any potential health impacts and BCC have undertaken regular public health assessments lead by BCC’s Director of Public Health.

UKHSA undertakes routine surveillance for leptospirosis infections in humans and publishes a quarterly report on the common animal-associated infections - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-animal-associated-infections-2024/common-animal-associated-infections-england-second-quarter-2024#leptospirosis

The Council have reported that all on street waste and fly tipping waste has been cleared, waste estimated to be held at properties is now back to near normal levels. Around 100 to 120 Council waste collection vehicles are out daily collecting around 1,300 tonnes of waste. This is near normal levels of waste collection and normal household collection for all Birmingham residents has resumed.

BCC will continue to assess levels of rubbish and their potential impact on the local area, and the government continues to monitor the situation on a daily basis.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of uncollected rubbish on the risk of fire in Birmingham.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has been supporting Birmingham City Council (BCC) in its efforts to address the backlog of waste that had been building up on the city’s streets. MHCLG has worked with a number of key Government Departments to provide support to BCC including engagement with both DHSC and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). UKHSA has been monitoring any potential health impacts and BCC have undertaken regular public health assessments lead by BCC’s Director of Public Health.

UKHSA undertakes routine surveillance for leptospirosis infections in humans and publishes a quarterly report on the common animal-associated infections - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-animal-associated-infections-2024/common-animal-associated-infections-england-second-quarter-2024#leptospirosis

The Council have reported that all on street waste and fly tipping waste has been cleared, waste estimated to be held at properties is now back to near normal levels. Around 100 to 120 Council waste collection vehicles are out daily collecting around 1,300 tonnes of waste. This is near normal levels of waste collection and normal household collection for all Birmingham residents has resumed.

BCC will continue to assess levels of rubbish and their potential impact on the local area, and the government continues to monitor the situation on a daily basis.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many hectares of land were designated as green belt in each year since 1997.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department publishes an annual release entitled 'Local authority green belt statistics for England', which includes information on hectares of land designated as Green Belt in England, as well as by local authority.

An accompanying live table entitled 'Area since 1997' describes the hectares of land in England designated as Green Belt since 1997, and is available here. Figures for the last year will be published in due course.

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 14 April 2025 to Question 43564 on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, if she will publish the minutes of the meeting with Unite.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In line with normal practice, the minutes of the meeting will not be published.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to bring forward brownfield land for housing development in areas where flooding presents a significant barrier to delivery.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework expects proposals for homes and other identified needs to be approved where they would use suitable brownfield land, unless substantial harm would be caused.

At the same time, the Framework recognises the importance of minimising the risk of flooding, and so it steers development away from areas of relatively high flood risk, while recognising that some land where significant flood risk exists will be unsuitable for housing.

Where development is, exceptionally, found to be justified in areas at risk of flooding, the Framework requires that it be appropriately flood resistant and resilient, and safe for its lifetime.

This may apply to some brownfield land but would need to be considered on a site-by-site basis taking into consideration information on flood risk and opportunities for mitigation and ensuring safety.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of using a Special Development Order in order to speed up delivery of the new Universal Studios Theme Park in Bedfordshire.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No proposal has been submitted to the Secretary of State. Should the Secretary of State receive such a proposal then she will consider the case on its individual merits.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Town Deal Board model will be used as a foundation for the development of Plan for Neighbourhoods Board;, and what changes to (a) structure and (b) governance would be required to achieve this.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Neighbourhood Boards should bring together residents, local businesses, grassroots campaigners, workplace representatives, faith, and community leaders and those with a deep connection to their area to work with the local authority to develop their Regeneration Plan. The governance and boundary guidance provides information specific to the strategic objectives and governance of the Neighbourhood Board. The parameters for these are different to those for Town Deal Boards, but pre-existing boards can be built on, or altered, to meet the new guidance.

All 75 boards have been asked to confirm their proposed chair, membership and boundary by 22^nd April.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for local authorities for the 2025-26 financial year.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25.

Taken together, the additional funding announced by the Chancellor at the Autumn Budget and through the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement will provide over £5 billion of new funding for local services over and above local council tax. This includes: an additional £2 billion of grant through the Settlement; a guarantee that local authorities in England will receive at least £1.1 billion in total in 2025-26 from the new Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) scheme; and a further £233 million of additional funding for homelessness services.

We are also taking immediate action to begin addressing the significant challenges facing local government by ensuring that funding goes to the places that need it most in 2025-26.

The Ministry works closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing local government on an ongoing basis.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether HM Land Registry has offered apprenticeships since 2010.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.

HM Land Registry has offered 800 apprenticeships across England and Wales since 2014.

Those apprenticeships have ranged from Level 2 to Level 7 to support personal development and increase organisational capability while also supporting apprentices to join Government Professions such as Digital, Data & Technology, Legal, HR and Finance.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to grant additional powers to Plan for Neighbourhoods Boards beyond those of Town Deal Boards.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government set out a comprehensive, non-exhaustive list of the existing powers available to boards and local authorities in England in the published ‘policy toolkit’. The toolkit gives communities the tools and information they need to make informed decisions, empowering local people to have ownership over the future of their neighbourhood and local area. Similar toolkits for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be published shortly.

The Plan for Neighbourhoods programme focuses on three long-term aims - building thriving places, strengthening communities and empowering people to taking back control instead of sticking plaster policies. In addition to the list of powers available to boards, we have doubled the number of interventions on which communities can spend the money, compared to the previous government’s programme, to ensure areas can deliver on the objectives of the programme.

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 20 March to Question 37889 on High Rise Flats: Insulation, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increased insurance premiums due to cladding on the finances of leaseholders in buildings under 11 metres in height.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We do not hold information on insurance premiums for buildings under 11 metres in height. However, insurers should offer affordable premiums in line with risk, where life safety fire risk is generally proportional to the height of buildings. The department has been examining buildings under 11 metres on a case-by-case basis. To date, we have only identified a small number of under 11 metre buildings that require cladding remediation works. In the rare cases where remediation work is required, the department has engaged the relevant developers in conversations about funding these works so that leaseholders do not pay. Regardless of the height of the building, the responsibility for the costs of fixing such defects should rest with building owners, and not leaseholders.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on whether board members of local development boards should have (a) full access to and (b) summaries of (i) tenders and (ii) business plans.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I would kindly ask the hon. Member to write to me with more details on ‘local development boards’, so my officials can look into this matter.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to introduce a statutory exemption from the long-term empty homes council tax premium for properties that have been inherited and are being marketed for sale.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

When a property has been left empty following the death of its owner or occupant, it is exempt from council tax for as long as it remains unoccupied and until probate is granted. Following a grant of probate (or the signing of letters of administration), a further six months exemption is possible, so long as the property remains unoccupied and has not been sold or transferred to someone else.

Furthermore, the government has regulated to introduce an exception, to council tax premiums, for up to 12 months following a grant of probate. A further 12-month exception is available for dwellings actively marketed for sale or let. Exceptions to premiums may apply concurrently where the dwelling qualifies for both.

The government does not collect data on the number of properties which are empty due to probate. However, we do collect data on the number of dwellings which are exempt from council tax due to the death of the occupant. As of the latest available data, 132,883 dwellings were receiving this exemption.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that local government reorganisation will not undermine progress made in improving healthcare outcomes in (a) Torbay and (b) other areas.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer, and spend less time in ill health, regardless of where they are born or their financial circumstances.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, government recognises the benefits that aligned geographical boundaries can have for improving co-ordination between public services. Within Integrated Care Systems, collaboration between local government and health partners is crucial to the delivery of high quality and efficient services for communities and patients.

On 5 February 2025 I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries, including Torbay Council. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. As set out in the published statutory guidance, unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens, and the views of other public sector providers will be crucial to understanding the best way to structure local government.

Following submission of proposals to government, we will consider proposals carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed. Ministers regularly have meetings with colleagues across government.

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 3 April 2025 to Question 44062 on Members: correspondence, if she will meet with the hon. Member for Torbay to discuss the potential impact of local government reorganisation on (a) Torbay and (b) the South West.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are happy to meet with the member on local government reorganisation and will be in touch to arrange this.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the exceptional financial support regime for local authorities.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is under no illusion about the fragile state of the sector and the pressures that some councils are facing to deliver for residents. We also recognise the potential for continued instability as we work to fix the foundations of local government. That is why we confirmed in the autumn that we will continue to have a framework in place to support councils in the most difficult financial positions.

However, this government has been clear that we will take a different approach to supporting councils in financial difficulty, to ensure it is effective, collaborative and delivers value for money – while still protecting the interests of taxpayers. For example, we have been clear that we do not believe in punishing councils and have removed the punitive approach of making borrowing more expensive where a council seeking additional financial support has no other choice.

On council tax flexibility for areas seeking exceptional financial support, we have put taxpayers at the forefront by avoiding excessively high increases and only agreeing increases where councils have comparatively low existing levels of tax and plans to protect the lowest income residents.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department monitors the number of households charged the council tax premium on long-term empty homes following (a) bereavement and (b) inheritance.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

When a property has been left empty following the death of its owner or occupant, it is exempt from council tax for as long as it remains unoccupied and until probate is granted. Following a grant of probate (or the signing of letters of administration), a further six months exemption is possible, so long as the property remains unoccupied and has not been sold or transferred to someone else.

Furthermore, the government has regulated to introduce an exception, to council tax premiums, for up to 12 months following a grant of probate. A further 12-month exception is available for dwellings actively marketed for sale or let. Exceptions to premiums may apply concurrently where the dwelling qualifies for both.

The government does not collect data on the number of properties which are empty due to probate. However, we do collect data on the number of dwellings which are exempt from council tax due to the death of the occupant. As of the latest available data, 132,883 dwellings were receiving this exemption.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of sanctions available to local government standards committees for the actions of town and parish councillors.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In December the Government launched a consultation seeking views on a range of measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework that applies to all types and tiers of local authorities in England. The proposals consulted upon included a requirement for all principal authorities to convene formal standards committees to make decisions on code of conduct breaches, and the introduction of suspension of members for serious misconduct. We are now in the process of analysing the responses to the consultation to ensure we are taking full account of sector views on all of the measures proposed, and the Government Response will be issued in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to commission research on the potential impact of the (a) second homes and (b) higher empty homes premium on (i) house prices, (ii) housing markets, (iii) the local economy and (iv) tourism.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It is for councils to decide whether it is appropriate or effective to use the premium. The government collects data on the use of premiums and the number of empty and second homes, which is published in the government’s council taxbase statistics. However the data does not make any other assessment based on the use of the premiums.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many homes are empty due to probate.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government does not collect data on the number of properties which are empty due to probate. However, we do collect data on the number of dwellings which are exempt from council tax due to the death of the occupant. As of the latest available data, 132,883 dwellings were receiving this exemption.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she is having with the Secretary of Health and Social Care to ensure that successful integrated care organisations (a) in Torbay and (b) in England are (i) preserved and (ii) not disrupted by local government restructuring.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer, and spend less time in ill health, regardless of where they are born or their financial circumstances.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, government recognises the benefits that aligned geographical boundaries can have for improving co-ordination between public services. Within Integrated Care Systems, collaboration between local government and health partners is crucial to the delivery of high quality and efficient services for communities and patients.

On 5 February 2025 I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries, including Torbay Council. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. As set out in the published statutory guidance, unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens, and the views of other public sector providers will be crucial to understanding the best way to structure local government.

Following submission of proposals to government, we will consider proposals carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed. Ministers regularly have meetings with colleagues across government.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has recused herself from discussions on the Birmingham City Council bin strike.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Secretary of State, the department, and I have been in regular contact with Birmingham City Council since 31 March to support the Council’s efforts to clear the backlog of waste on the streets. However, any talks to settle the equal pay dispute are solely between the employer (Birmingham City Council) and trade union (Unite). The Government has rightly not been involved in these negotiations.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what percentage of the new 1,500,000 homes will be (a) social housing and (b) affordable housing.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has not set an affordable housing target to date, but we are committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549).

The investment made at Spring statement follows the £800 million in new in-year funding which has been made available for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme and that will support the delivery of up to 7,800 new homes, with more than half of them being Social Rent homes.

We will set out set details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent.

The government has also announced the £450m third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund, followed by an uplift of £50m, enabling councils to grow their housing stock.

We also confirmed a range of new flexibilities for councils and housing associations, both within the Affordable Homes Programme and in relation to how councils can use their Right to Buy receipts. Having reduced Right to Buy discounts to their pre-2012 regional levels, we have allowed councils to retain 100% of the receipts generated by Right to Buy sales.

The government recognise that Registered Providers need support to build their capacity and make a greater contribution to affordable housing supply. Between 30 October 2024 and 23 December 2024, the government consulted on a new 5-year social housing rent settlement, to give Registered Providers the certainty they need to invest in new social and affordable housing.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a number of changes that make the planning system more supportive of affordable housing, in particular Social Rent homes. These include new Golden Rules for development on the Green Belt. Prior to development plan policies for affordable housing being updated in accordance with the revised NPPF, the affordable housing contribution required to satisfy the ‘Golden Rules’ is 15 percentage points above the highest existing affordable housing requirement that would otherwise apply to the development, subject to a cap of 50%. We estimate that under this model, the median Green Belt local planning authority affordable housing requirement will be 50%.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there was a cost to the public purse for the hire of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club for the roundtable event she attended on 4 April 2025.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There was no cost to the public purse.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Ministerial residence in Admiralty House pays council tax as a (a) sole or main residence, (b) single person discount or (c) second home.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The council tax arrangements for Admiralty House are as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers occupying it as an official residence. The Deputy Prime Minister’s council tax responsibility is properly discharged.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department engages with Palestine Action.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

No, my department has not engaged with Palestine Action. The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many social sector homes are empty in England.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The number of empty social sector homes in England as at 31 March 2024 can be calculated using published statistics for vacant dwellings owned by local authorities and private registered providers of social housing.

• There were 33,904 vacant dwellings owned by local authorities in England on 31 March 2024 (see MHCLG Live Table 615).

• There were 37,231 vacant low cost rental general needs dwellings and 17,744 vacant low cost rental supported housing dwellings owned by large private registered providers of social housing (those owning at least 1,000 dwellings) in England on 31 March 2024 (see Regulator of Social Housing’s Private Registered Providers Additional Tables 3.8 and 3.10).

• There were 5,078 vacant low cost rental dwellings owned by small private registered providers of social housing (those owning fewer than 1,000 dwellings) in England on 31 March 2024 (see “SDR24_Small_PRP_Rents Vacancies” table of the Regulator of Social Housing’s Private Registered Providers Data Release).

Therefore, there were a total of 93,957 empty social sector homes in England on 31 March 2024, including homes earmarked for sale or demolition, or awaiting or undergoing major repairs.

This may include a small number of units owned by English private registered providers which are situated outside of England. Low-cost home ownership stock owned by English private registered providers are excluded.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential contribution of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to Local Growth Plans in former coalfields areas with capital funding from government.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local leadership is at the heart of our mission to achieve higher growth - harnessing the expertise that exists in devolved institutions and local communities. National government will work in partnership with local stakeholders, such as the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT), to empower places to deliver improved outcomes.

Mayoral Local Growth Plans are the cornerstone of this place-based approach. These will articulate a ten-year vision for growth, setting out their region’s unique strengths, identifying shared priorities of national importance to be taken forwardly jointly with the UK Government, and highlighting the most attractive opportunities for private sector investment. Several plans – including for the North East Combined Authority and the West Midlands Combined Authority – will serve coalfield communities.

The Government will consider the request for funding from the CRT at HM Treasury’s 2025 multi-year spending review. I am pleased to be meeting with Andy Lock to discuss the work of the CRT.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending council tax legislation so new owners bringing previously empty properties back into use are not required to pay a council tax premium while renovating the property for a period of time.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognises there may be circumstances where it would not be appropriate for a council tax premium to apply. That is why this government introduced a number of exceptions to council tax premiums which came into effect from 1 April 2025. This includes an exception for up to 12-months for empty dwellings undergoing major repairs. The government has published guidance setting out when premiums and exceptions may apply. This is available here - Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes - GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the merits of introducing a separate needs formula for homelessness.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The previous government committed to improving and updating the way in which local authorities are funded through the “fair funding review” - but this was not delivered. We will make good on this commitment and implement long-awaited reforms through a multi-year settlement in 2026-27.

We invited views from the local government sector through the “local authority funding reform objectives and principles consultation”, which was open from 18 December 2024 to 12 February 2025. It sought views on the approach to local authority funding reform to be implemented via the Local Government Finance Settlement from 2026-27.

We will be consulting on more detailed proposals, including our proposed relative needs formulae, following the Spending Review in June.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to increase the delegation rate for planning applications.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a regulation-making power to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation.

The government intend to formally consult on proposals relating to the delegation of planning decisions in England alongside the Bill’s passage.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide a multi-year funding settlement for early intervention services in local government.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 40059 on 27 March 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many dwellings were built on green belt land in each year since 1997.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not collect or publish the requested dataabsolute numbers of dwellings built on Green Belt land.

The proportions of new residential addresses that were created on Green Belt land in each year from 2013-14 to 2021-22 are published here. Figures for 1989 to 2011 are published here. Figures for 2022-23 and more recent years will be published in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of reliability of the Index of Multiple Deprivation to accurately reflect levels of deprivation and need.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The English Indices for Deprivation are a designated National Statistic. They have demonstrated, through assessment, that they meet the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value, set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics by the Office for Statistics Regulation.

Building on the measures in the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, the Government is committed to introducing an improved and updated approach to funding local authorities from 2026-27.

We sought views on our principles and objectives for funding reform through a consultation which ran from 18 December 2024 - 12 February 2025. This consultation and engagement will inform the development of our detailed proposals, which will follow the multi-year Spending Review concluding later this year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to account for housing costs when measuring deprivation as part of local government funding reform.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The English Indices for Deprivation are a designated National Statistic. They have demonstrated, through assessment, that they meet the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value, set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics by the Office for Statistics Regulation.

Building on the measures in the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, the Government is committed to introducing an improved and updated approach to funding local authorities from 2026-27.

We sought views on our principles and objectives for funding reform through a consultation which ran from 18 December 2024 - 12 February 2025. This consultation and engagement will inform the development of our detailed proposals, which will follow the multi-year Spending Review concluding later this year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled £2 billion new investment to support biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, published on 25 March 2025, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) social and (b) affordable homes that will be built in Bedfordshire in the 2026-27 financial year.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44049 on 22 April 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether funding allocated to Torbay to help tackle deprivation will be (a) protected and (b) ringfenced following local government reorganisation.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We remain committed to supporting the 75 places announced as part of the Plan for Neighbourhoods, including Torbay, throughout the reorganisation of local government.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ground rent costs on the ability of long-term leaseholders to sell their leased properties.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, Eighteenth Report, 2024-25, HL Paper 84, para 32, what steps her Department is taking to to improve (a) consultation and (b) engagement with local residents.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 5 February, the Government issued invitations to councils in two-tier areas in England and neighbouring unitary councils to prepare proposals for local government reorganisation.

The invitation is clear on the importance of local engagement, and asks councils to ensure there is wide engagement with local residents as well as other public service providers, workforce and their representatives, Members of Parliament and businesses as they prepare their proposals for strong, stable unitary councils that are fit for the future. The guidance is clear that the final proposals put forward should include evidence of local engagement, an explanation of the views that have been put forward and how concerns will be addressed.

Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the Government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute.

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 24 March 2025 to Question 38372 on MHCLG: Cost Effectiveness, if she will list each of those individual media campaigns which were halted; and the previously estimated cost of each.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

A number of 24/25 campaigns were halted or postponed following the election. The campaigns and estimated cost of each (excluding VAT) were:

• Levelling Up – up to £3.15m
• Leasehold Reforms campaign (planned but didn’t run) - £1m
• Private Rented Sector Reform campaign (planned but didn’t run) - £750,000

No costs were incurred for these campaigns.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons she has yet to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on (a) providing a comprehensive rights of redress to homeowners on (i) private and (ii) mixed tenure estates and (b) the ability to appeal the reasonableness of those charges.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons she has yet to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on (a) providing freeholders with equivalent rights to leaseholders on estate charges transparency and (b) allowing leaseholders to takeover the management of their property.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to implement the secondary legislation enabling the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to fully come into force.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of standardising the contribution that Housing Associations make to estate service management fees.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the implications of standardising the contribution that Housing Associations make to estate management fees.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to next publish an updated version of the Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate enforcement register, published on 26 April 2023.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Crown Premises’ Fire Safety Inspectorate’s enforcement register will be updated again by 31^st May 2025

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to reopen the Community Ownership Fund.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 23 December 2024, we announced that the Community Ownership Fund (COF) is now closed and that there will be no further application windows. We took this difficult decision due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous government.

COF’s purpose is to bring assets that are at risk of closure into sustainable community ownership. Funding was awarded to projects to secure the long-term future of their local asset. Monies will continue to be paid to successful projects from previous windows in line with the conditions set out in their Grant Funding Agreement (GFA).

This Government remains committed to the communities’ sector and to community empowerment. The Devolution White Paper, which was published on 16 December 2024, set out plans which demonstrate our commitment. There will be further announcements relating to communities this year, including on the community ownership of assets.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much has been spent on flights by her Department since 5 July 2025.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department has spent no money on flights since 5 July 2025 because that date is in the future.

In general terms, data on minister’s overseas travel and on senior civil servant’s business expenses is published on a quarterly basis.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to (a) limit and (b) prohibit the use of joint and several liability contracts in student housing.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government does not intend to restrict or prohibit the use of joint and several liability contracts in the student housing market. This is a well-established practice in the sector, allowing groups of students to choose to live together with their friends.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing legislation to require local authorities to allocate social housing with flooring installed.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There is currently no legislation requiring social housing landlords, including local authorities, to provide floor coverings. This is discretionary and landlords are not required to remove floor coverings when a home is let to new tenants.

My Department engages actively with stakeholders on issues facing social housing tenants, such as the provision of floor coverings, and has engaged with End Furniture Poverty to understand their research on this issue.

We will be consulting this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard.

People currently living without floor coverings may be able to get support from their local authorities via the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the London Borough of Havering on supporting highstreets to provide a broad range of (a) shops, (b) amenities and (c) services.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government wishes to promote thriving, mixed use high streets across the country, and through the Plan for Change, is fostering the conditions for economic growth upon which the health of high streets depends.

Local leaders also have a vital role in supporting high streets and my department engages with local authorities and other partners regularly. The Mayor of London and London councils have published a growth plan to boost jobs and prosperity. Boroughs like Havering are obliged to promote the health of town centres through the planning system, and the Government has introduced new High Street Rental Auction powers enabling all councils to tackle persistent vacancy on high streets.

More widely, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) like the London Riverside BID and Romford Town Centre BID in Havering can also play a role in attracting investment and improving trade.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to University of Central Lancashire's report entitled Minimising firefighters’ exposure to toxic fire effluents, published in November 2020, what steps she is taking to protect firefighters.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The University of Central Lancashire’s report was helpful in highlighting this particular issue. This must be considered alongside other relevant academic research and study in this area.

We are continuing to review the evidence around risks to firefighters posed by contaminants and will determine a policy position.

Responsibility for firefighters’ health and safety sits with fire and rescue authorities, This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, ensuring that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents that they attend.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the closing of the Community Ownership Fund on local assets that previously received funding.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 23 December 2024, we announced that the Community Ownership Fund (COF) is now closed and that there will be no further application windows. We took this difficult decision due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous government.

COF’s purpose is to bring assets that are at risk of closure into sustainable community ownership. Funding was awarded to projects to secure the long-term future of their local asset. Monies will continue to be paid to successful projects from previous windows in line with the conditions set out in their Grant Funding Agreement (GFA).

This Government remains committed to the communities’ sector and to community empowerment. The Devolution White Paper, which was published on 16 December 2024, set out plans which demonstrate our commitment. There will be further announcements relating to communities this year, including on the community ownership of assets.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of local licensing fees for outdoor seating on small hospitality businesses.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 made caps to the fees charged for pavement licences permanent. These caps were designed to allow administration costs borne by local authorities to be recovered whilst ensuring the cost to business is proportionate. They also grant local authorities discretion to align costs to local needs.

The Government supports a thriving hospitality sector. In April, we announced the formation of a licensing policy taskforce which aims to create a more enabling and agile approach to licensing with a greater focus on growth. The Government will consider the recommendations of the taskforce and announce any decisions in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for its policies of recommendation 4 of the report by the Older People’s Housing Taskforce entitled Our future homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population, published on 26 November 2024.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce and are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market. We will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring developers to include Blue Badge parking spaces in new residential housing developments.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that in assessing sites that may be allocated for development in plans, or specific applications for development, it should be ensured that safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users. Within this context, applications for development should address the needs of people with disabilities and reduced mobility in relation to all modes of transport.

Responsibility for traffic management and enforcement of all parking regulations, including the provision of disabled parking spaces, is the responsibility of local authorities. It is for individual authorities to decide on the nature and scope of these policies and to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local business and those who work in and visit their areas. Where car parks are on private land and owned, for example, by a supermarket or retail park, it is for the landowner to determine the terms and conditions for how that land may be used, and how parking spaces may be allocated.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure the provision of suitable housing for people with disabilities.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Hon. member to my previous answer UIN 12990 provided on 25 November 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory duty for fire and rescue services in England to respond to flooding.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. In Autumn 2024, as the Minister previously responsible for fire, the Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson asked officials to undertake further work alongside Defra and other relevant partners to understand in more detail if there are gaps in the fire and rescue services flooding response and resilience system.

Fire and Rescue Authorities have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) to prepare for emergencies, including major flooding. Fire Rescue Authorities also have discretionary powers to respond to incidents under their core functions in the Fire and Rescue Services Act (2004) and in response to the risks set out in their Community Risk Management Plans prepared under the National Framework. At this time, a clear rationale for introducing a statutory duty has not been determined.

However, MHCLG officials and representatives of fire and rescue services will continue to work with Defra, as the lead government department for flooding, and its partners to understand the challenges that fire and rescue services face and consider how best to ensure that all partners involved in flood response have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on funding safe houses for victims of domestic abuse.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Matters related to domestic abuse, including provision of safe accommodation, are devolved in Northern Ireland and managed by the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Northern Ireland Executive received £18.2 billion from the UK Government for 2025-26, the largest financial settlement in real terms in the history of devolution. It is for the Executive to decide how it utilises this funding.

UK Government ministers talk regularly to counterparts in Northern Ireland across the full range of government business, including at the Interministerial Group for Housing, Local Governments and Communities which is next meeting in summer.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question HL6432 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Contracts, whether her Department has had requests from suppliers for rates to be reviewed.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

To date no requests have been made to MHCLG Commercial Directorate to review contracted rates due to the recent changes in National Insurance contribution rates. Any changes to contracts held by MHCLG require approval from Commercial Directorate.

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 3 April 2025 to Question 41458 on Admiralty House, what the nature was of the logistical support provided by civil servants.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 41458 on 3 April 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to ensure that ground surveys are effectively carried out by housing developers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) is clear that planning proposals and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination, and that adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent per-son, is available to inform these assessments. Planning Practice Guidance sets out that if land stability could be an issue, developers should seek appropriate technical and environmental expert advice to assess the likely consequences of proposed developments on sites where subsidence, landslides and ground compres-sion is known or suspected.

Developers must demonstrate to a Building Control Body that they meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations. Part A of the Building Regulations refers to loading, collapse and ground movement. Ground movement caused by swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, land-slip or subsidence, as far as can be reasonably foreseen, ought not to impair the stability of the building. Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to require housing developers when assessing the suitability of sites to take into account the potential occurrence of (a) sink and (b) swell holes.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) is clear that planning proposals and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination, and that adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent per-son, is available to inform these assessments. Planning Practice Guidance sets out that if land stability could be an issue, developers should seek appropriate technical and environmental expert advice to assess the likely consequences of proposed developments on sites where subsidence, landslides and ground compres-sion is known or suspected.

Developers must demonstrate to a Building Control Body that they meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations. Part A of the Building Regulations refers to loading, collapse and ground movement. Ground movement caused by swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, land-slip or subsidence, as far as can be reasonably foreseen, ought not to impair the stability of the building. Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the effectiveness of structural surveys undertaken by developers for potential locations for newbuild homes.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) is clear that planning proposals and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination, and that adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent per-son, is available to inform these assessments. Planning Practice Guidance sets out that if land stability could be an issue, developers should seek appropriate technical and environmental expert advice to assess the likely consequences of proposed developments on sites where subsidence, landslides and ground compres-sion is known or suspected.

Developers must demonstrate to a Building Control Body that they meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations. Part A of the Building Regulations refers to loading, collapse and ground movement. Ground movement caused by swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, land-slip or subsidence, as far as can be reasonably foreseen, ought not to impair the stability of the building. Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has any plans to require housing developers to take into account the risk of structural changes when constructing new homes.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) is clear that planning proposals and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination, and that adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent per-son, is available to inform these assessments. Planning Practice Guidance sets out that if land stability could be an issue, developers should seek appropriate technical and environmental expert advice to assess the likely consequences of proposed developments on sites where subsidence, landslides and ground compres-sion is known or suspected.

Developers must demonstrate to a Building Control Body that they meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations. Part A of the Building Regulations refers to loading, collapse and ground movement. Ground movement caused by swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, land-slip or subsidence, as far as can be reasonably foreseen, ought not to impair the stability of the building. Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of funding to the Western Gateway partnership on the future economy of (a) South Wales and (b) Western England.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department held a four-week public consultation on ending core funding for pan-regional partnerships in 2024. Following the consultation, the Government confirmed its decision not to extend core funding for Western Gateway and other pan-regional partnerships. We are now moving to a different model of economic collaboration, where we are keen to support new models driven by mayors and their partners.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much Government funding was allocated to Knutsford Town Council in each of the last three years.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Knutsford Town Council was awarded a £560,000 grant in September 2023 through the Community Ownership Fund help fund the refurbishment of the Market Hall.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce additional fire safety-related grant funding for fire and rescue services to meet changes in regulatory requirements.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are providing £10 million Protection Uplift Grant to Fire and Rescue Services for 2025/26, with £5 million allocated for the first six months and a further £5 million to be confirmed later in the year. The Protection Uplift grant is ringfenced to fire protection and is used to bolster capability and capacity in protection departments.

Decisions on future funding to Fire and Rescue Services to support the work of the Building Safety Regulator are under consideration and yet to be confirmed.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to implement a statutory code of conduct for parking operators.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 42709 on 7 April 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) increasing protections for sellers in conveyancing processes, in the context of levels of protections in (i) Scotland and (ii) Australia where bids to buy houses are binding once accepted and (b) requiring sellers to provide a full legal pack.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Hon Member to (a) the answer given to Question UIN PQ 32038 on 28 February 2025, and (b) the answer given to Question UIN PQ 18947 on 20 December 2024.

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 4 April 2025 to Question 41460 on MHCLG: Equality, if she will publish the associated training materials for the Inclusion Allies training; who signed off the expenditure on the Inclusion Allies training; and what the cost was of the Inclusion Allies training.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Expenditure of £4,184 was approved by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 29 October 2024 in line with Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance.

This training equipped 26 staff within the Department to provide support for marginalised or vulnerable colleagues. The training consisted of webinars, group learning, and hands-on exercises.

Materials associated with this training are the intellectual property of the provider, and cannot be published by the Department for contractual reasons.

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 4 April 2025 to Question 41460 on MHCLG: Equality, what was included within the Inclusion Allies training.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Expenditure of £4,184 was approved by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 29 October 2024 in line with Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance.

This training equipped 26 staff within the Department to provide support for marginalised or vulnerable colleagues. The training consisted of webinars, group learning, and hands-on exercises.

Materials associated with this training are the intellectual property of the provider, and cannot be published by the Department for contractual reasons.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to bring forward proposals to (a) support and (b) incentivise the resale of retirement or sheltered housing units.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 40972 on 1 April 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department engages with Client Earth.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The responsibility for decisions around who officials within MHCLG engage with sits with those policy teams.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) amended and (b) new planning practice guidance requires a (i) public sector equality duty and (ii) environmental principles assessment.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Secretary of State keeps her duties under the Environment Act 2021 and Equality Act 2010 under consideration regarding any guidance updates. Relevant assessments are undertaken as required.

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 7 April 2025 to Question 42243 on Recreation Spaces, whether SANGS payments will still be required in addition to contributions to (a) the Nature Restoration Fund and (b) Biodiversity Net Gain, in the context of development near Habitats Sites.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Where an Environmental Delivery Plan is in place to address the negative effects of recreation on Habitats Sites, payment of the Nature Restoration Levy would offer an alternative option to applicants to discharge their environmental obligations. Applicants would therefore be able to choose to pay the levy as an alternative to making a SANGs payment.

Where no Environmental Delivery Plan is in place, the current environmental assessment system would remain in place, and any required SANGs payments would continue to apply.

Biodiversity Net Gain is an additional requirement separate from obligations related to impacts to Habitats Sites and will run concurrently with the Nature Restoration Fund. The requirement to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain would remain regardless of whether an Environmental Delivery Plan is in place.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Biggest building boom in a generation through planning reforms, published on 11 March 2025, what steps she plans to take to help ensure that proposed requirements for Environmental Delivery Plans do not increase the cost of developments.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 39021 on 18 March 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many gender neutral toilets there are in her Department's offices in (a) Marsham Street, (b) Wolverhampton and (c) Darlington Economic Campus.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG occupies five floors of Fry Building at Marsham Street. There are no gender-neutral toilets in Fry Building.

There are no toilets designated as gender-neutral at either the Darlington or Wolverhampton offices. At Darlington, however, there are five single-person toilet rooms and Wolverhampton four single-person toilet rooms.

MHCLG is a minor tenant in all the buildings it occupies. It is for the landlord or lead tenant to decide on which toilets are provided.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The following table includes the number of lost department-issued devices by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government since 5 July 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on consultancy services from McKinsey since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As part of a wider suite of support arrangements MHCLG has a zero commitment call off contract with McKinsey, which started on 6 January 2025. There have been neither any commissions nor spend to date.

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 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, whether the funding formula has been adjusted to take into account (a) new housing developments, (b) new major roads, (c) battery storage for large scale solar farms and (d) other large scale infrastructure developments since the 2013-14 financial year.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Government funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) in the form of revenue support grant (RSG) and retained business rates.

The 2025/26 LGFS was published on 3 February and sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue. Standalone fire and rescue authorities will see an increase in core spending power of £65.5m in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. In 2025/26, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have core spending power of £40.3 million; an increase of £1.8 million (4.7 per cent) on 2024/25.

The amount of funding that fire and rescue services receive is determined and distributed using an outdated formula. This formula is currently being reviewed as part of Local Government funding reform and a public consultation on this ran from 18 December 2024 to 12 February 2025.

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 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of population (a) density and (b) sparsity on fire and rescue services funding.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Government funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) in the form of revenue support grant (RSG) and retained business rates.

The 2025/26 LGFS was published on 3 February and sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue. Standalone fire and rescue authorities will see an increase in core spending power of £65.5m in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. In 2025/26, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have core spending power of £40.3 million; an increase of £1.8 million (4.7 per cent) on 2024/25.

The amount of funding that fire and rescue services receive is determined and distributed using an outdated formula. This formula is currently being reviewed as part of Local Government funding reform and a public consultation on this ran from 18 December 2024 to 12 February 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the per capita funding was for fire and rescue services (a) nationally and (b) in Cambridgeshire in each financial year since 2013-14.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Government funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) in the form of revenue support grant (RSG) and retained business rates.

The 2025/26 LGFS was published on 3 February and sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue. Standalone fire and rescue authorities will see an increase in core spending power of £65.5m in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. In 2025/26, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have core spending power of £40.3 million; an increase of £1.8 million (4.7 per cent) on 2024/25.

The amount of funding that fire and rescue services receive is determined and distributed using an outdated formula. This formula is currently being reviewed as part of Local Government funding reform and a public consultation on this ran from 18 December 2024 to 12 February 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing local authorities with the ability to use automatic number-plate recognition in car parks to help (a) increase the efficiency of payment collection, (b) improve enforcement and (c) reduce risks to civil enforcement officers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 17350 on 12 December 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of trends in the level the cost of homelessness support on local government.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This Government has inherited record levels of homelessness, and we recognise the cost pressures this has put on councils. That’s why we have increased funding for homelessness services in 2025/26 by £233 million to nearly £1 billion, alongside a local government finance settlement for 2025/26 which makes available over £69bn for local government, a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024/25.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what housing targets they have set for each London borough under the National Policy Planning Framework; whether these targets are mandatory; and whether they plan for them to remain in place for each borough if the overall target for London is met.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The responsibility for the overall distribution of housing need in London lies with the Mayor, who considers an overall strategy for London's growth and development capacity through the statutory London Plan. Local authorities must assess and plan how to meet their local housing targets over the plan period, justified by evidence on land availability and constraints on development.

The National Planning Policy Framework expects strategic policy-making authorities, like the Greater London Authority, to take account of the national standard method when assessing local housing need, which incorporates a baseline of local housing stock adjusted upwards to reflect local affordability pressures. The local housing need for each London borough as calculated through the national standard method can be found here on GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of giving local authorities the power to act against short-term lets in London which cause problems, and of requiring short-term lets to obtain planning permission before going on the market.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Primary legislation provides that homes in London that are liable for council tax may be let for temporary sleeping accommodation for up to 90-nights in a calendar year. Planning permission is required to let for more than this number of nights. We have committed to introduce a register of short term lets which will help local authorities to apply and enforce these rules. We understand the challenges presented by short term lets and continue to consider further action.

Found: MHCLG is developing proposals to give effect to this commitment”. 9 12.

Found: MHCLG is developing proposals to give effect to this commitment”.5 12.

Found: (2024) Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 1: Process Evaluation Report, p.102-104. 7 MHCLG

Found:  We also work closely with a number of government departments, such as MHCLG and the BSR to ensure

Found: The Department for Business and Trade, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and

Found: published (11th September 2024), the Housing Minister told LBC Radio that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: This is funded by MHCLG for councils, and officials in the Department are increasingly using it themselves

Found: MHCLG is doing work on community cohesion around this issue.

Found: Alexander: Routinely, I have discussions with colleagues in DESNZ, with the Energy Secretary, and with MHCLG

Found: Since the riots, MHCLG had put in a certain amount of funding towards community cohesion, and this was

Found: Professor Tony Travers: This is going to be an MHCLG priority, but the whole of government is behind

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21687 on Home Office: Sanitation, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the updated building regulation published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government entitled Toilet accommodation: Approved Document T, published on 1 October 2024, on the provision of gender-neutral toilets in her Department’s buildings.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

I have made no assessment.

The Hon Member may think the job of the Policing Minister is to make assessments of the Home Office’s toilets, but I believe it is to restore neighbourhood policing in our country, tackle antisocial behaviour, and deliver this Government’s unprecedented mission to halve knife crime over the next decade.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of freezing levels of Local Housing Allowance on future levels of homelessness, in the context of her membership of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex; they interact dynamically making it very difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. We work closely with other departments, including MHCLG, to ensure the impacts of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) on homelessness and local government, are considered.

This included consideration in last year’s Autumn Budget not to increase LHA rates for 2025/26. Rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, rate increases in April 2024, and the wider fiscal context were all considered. The April 2024 one-year LHA increase cost an additional £1.2bn in 2024/25 and approximately £7bn over 5 years.

At last year’s Budget, funding for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) were maintained. These are available from local authorities and can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. The Autumn Budget also announced an increase in 2025/26 by £233 million compared to last year (FY2024-25) to grant funding for homelessness services. This increased spending will help prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help prevent rough sleeping. This brings total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025-26.

The government will also invest £2bn in social and affordable housing in 2026-27, to deliver up to 18,000 new homes. This will immediately allow housing associations and local councils to bring bids forward for new developments in every part of the country.

We continue to work across government, including on the development of MHCLG’s Long Term Housing and Homelessness and Rough-sleeping strategies to ensure that interactions and impacts between departments are considered. The Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough-sleeping, for example, brings together ministers from across Government to drive progress on the strategy development and get back on track to ending homelessness.

Any future decisions on LHA policy will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing, including as part of the strategies mentioned above, and considered for prioritisation within the challenging fiscal context.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of freezing Local Housing Allowance on other areas of public expenditure.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex; they interact dynamically making it very difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. We work closely with other departments, including MHCLG, to ensure the impacts of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) on homelessness and local government, are considered.

This included consideration in last year’s Autumn Budget not to increase LHA rates for 2025/26. Rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, rate increases in April 2024, and the wider fiscal context were all considered. The April 2024 one-year LHA increase cost an additional £1.2bn in 2024/25 and approximately £7bn over 5 years.

At last year’s Budget, funding for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) were maintained. These are available from local authorities and can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. The Autumn Budget also announced an increase in 2025/26 by £233 million compared to last year (FY2024-25) to grant funding for homelessness services. This increased spending will help prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help prevent rough sleeping. This brings total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025-26.

The government will also invest £2bn in social and affordable housing in 2026-27, to deliver up to 18,000 new homes. This will immediately allow housing associations and local councils to bring bids forward for new developments in every part of the country.

We continue to work across government, including on the development of MHCLG’s Long Term Housing and Homelessness and Rough-sleeping strategies to ensure that interactions and impacts between departments are considered. The Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough-sleeping, for example, brings together ministers from across Government to drive progress on the strategy development and get back on track to ending homelessness.

Any future decisions on LHA policy will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing, including as part of the strategies mentioned above, and considered for prioritisation within the challenging fiscal context.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what steps he is taking to encourage the development of surplus military land.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with Local Authorities to secure alternative development for sites post military use, this includes securing allocations in Local Plans, public consultation as part of master planning, and where appropriate working with development partners. the MOD is also working in partnership with Homes England to accelerate the release of public land.

The Government has set out its ambitions to unlock thousands of new homes on surplus defence land, including via the creation of a new taskforce between MOD, HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS's 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance, published on 30 January 2025, what steps his Department is taking to include health infrastructure planning decisions in the scope of the commitment to streamline planning.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future. This means we need to see world class NHS infrastructure across the entire NHS estate. Beyond hospitals, we know we need the right infrastructure in the right place to deliver a true Neighbourhood Health Service and to ensure that patients receive the care they deserve.

The Department of Health and Social Care is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government on how to extend our collective interactions in the planning process, from local plan making to negotiating developer contributions, through updates to national guidance. This is alongside our support for the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government’s efforts to streamline the planning process, by extensively feeding into the ways in which health infrastructure plans can facilitate this.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of aligning building regulations in England with those in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of matters. I also recently met with the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant MS, to discuss the Welsh Government’s plans for legislation on building safety in Wales.

Although buildings policy is a devolved matter, officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Building Safety Regulator and the Welsh Government maintain close working relationships. Representatives from all devolved nations attend the Building Advisory Committee Working Group on Fire Safety, which provides an authoritative view to the Building Safety Regulator how the functional requirements of Part B of the Building Regulations are implemented.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 December 2024 to Question 19000 on Social Services, when the report on the adult social care relative needs formula will be made available on the Adult Social Care Policy Research Unit Website.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department of Health and Social Care is still considering this research as part of its ongoing policy work. We are working closely the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the role of a specific adult social care funding formula was considered within the consultation Local authority funding reform: objectives and principles, published on 18 December 2024 and closed on 12 February 2025. We will update further in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of EPC rating requirements for industrial buildings; and what steps he is taking to support small manufacturers in meeting future energy efficiency standards.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations consider the energy efficiency of buildings to ensure they are futureproofed for any usage, irrespective of the occupant. MHCLG also recently published a consultation on EPC reform to ensure they are a more effective tool for understanding a buildings energy performance in future.

Non-domestic MEES regulations currently only require buildings, including industrial buildings, below EPC E to improve their energy efficiency. We consulted on strengthening this to EPC B by 2030, and plan to publish our government response in the first half of 2025.

In regard to support for small manufacturers, government publishes various schemes on gov.uk, both local and national, that help with the costs of energy efficiency measures. This includes the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund which has offered up to £500 million. Our Business Energy Advice Service Pilot operates in the West Midlands also provides energy demand reduction and decarbonisation recommendations for SMEs with the provision of free match-funded grants available to support implementation. We also encourage SMEs to visit the UK Business Climate Hub, which provides information and advice on how to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 38671 on Means-tested Benefits: Veterans, whether her Department has considered requiring local authorities to disregard payments from the (a) Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, (b) Service Invalidity Pension, (c) Service Attributable Pension and (d) War Pension when assessing entitlement to (i) Housing Benefit, (ii) Council Tax Support, (iii) Discretionary Housing Payments and (iv) Disabled Facilities Grants.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Housing Benefit regulations permit local authorities to disregard beyond the standard disregard of £10 a week the whole or part of any war disablement pensions, war widow’s pensions, war widower’s pensions and guaranteed income payments under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme.

(a) Armed Forces Compensation Scheme £10 disregard with local discretion

(b) Service Invalidity Pension no disregard is applied and it is treated as income

(c) Service Attributable Pension is treated the same as a War Pension so subject to the £10 disregard and local discretion.

(d) War Pension - £10 disregard with local discretion

There are no plans to make changes to the discretionary scheme.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the devolved administrations are responsible for Council Tax Support and Disabled Facilities Grants policy.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) can be paid to veterans entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Local authorities administer the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme as they are best placed to make informed judgements about relative priorities and needs in their area to ensure that the most vulnerable are supported and the funds are targeted effectively. There are no prescribed resources tests; local authorities simply have to be satisfied that the person concerned needs further financial assistance towards housing costs. The payments are entirely at local authority discretion, including the amount and duration of any award.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways will consider housing growth in capacity planning.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

An integrated, affordable and sustainable transport network plays a vital role in unlocking homes and providing access to jobs and essential services.

Great British Railways (GBR) will work closely with the Department for Transport, MHCLG and other government departments to align housebuilding with future transport infrastructure strategy and investment.  This will include considering housing growth as part of future capacity planning to help us deliver 1.5 million homes over the next 5 years.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the cap on the amount councils can claim to meet temporary accommodation costs on local authority finances.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We continue to keep the rates used for Housing Benefit subsidy under review and are working closely with MHCLG and the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping to explore the impacts of subsidy rates on local authorities.

Any future decisions on subsidy rates will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing and the current challenging financial environment at the appropriate fiscal event.

We recognise the financial pressures which local authorities are experiencing. MHCLG is increasing funding for homelessness services this year by an extra £233 million compared to last year (2024/25).

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of freezing Local Housing Allowance rates on levels of homelessness.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex, they interact dynamically making it very difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. We do however work closely with other departments, including MHCLG, to ensure the impacts of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) on homelessness are considered.

This included consideration in last year’s Autumn Budget not to increase LHA rates for 2025/26. Rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, the fact that rates were increased in April 2024, and the wider fiscal context were all considered. The April 2024 one-year LHA increase cost an additional £1.2bn in 2024/25 and approximately £7bn over 5 years.

We continue to work across Government on the development of the Homelessness and Rough-sleeping strategy. Any future decisions on LHA policy will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing and the fiscal context.

For those who need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

On other areas of public expenditure, we have announced the government will invest £2bn in social and affordable housing in 2026-27, to deliver up to 18,000 new homes. This will immediately allow housing associations and local councils to bring bids forward for new affordable housing developments in every part of the country.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision to freeze Local Housing Allowance on other areas of public expenditure.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex, they interact dynamically making it very difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. We do however work closely with other departments, including MHCLG, to ensure the impacts of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) on homelessness are considered.

This included consideration in last year’s Autumn Budget not to increase LHA rates for 2025/26. Rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, the fact that rates were increased in April 2024, and the wider fiscal context were all considered. The April 2024 one-year LHA increase cost an additional £1.2bn in 2024/25 and approximately £7bn over 5 years.

We continue to work across Government on the development of the Homelessness and Rough-sleeping strategy. Any future decisions on LHA policy will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing and the fiscal context.

For those who need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

On other areas of public expenditure, we have announced the government will invest £2bn in social and affordable housing in 2026-27, to deliver up to 18,000 new homes. This will immediately allow housing associations and local councils to bring bids forward for new affordable housing developments in every part of the country.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of freezing the Local Housing Allowance on other areas of public expenditure.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex, they interact dynamically making it very difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. We do however work closely with other departments, including MHCLG, to ensure the impacts of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) on homelessness are considered.

This included consideration in last year’s Autumn Budget not to increase LHA rates for 2025/26. Rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, the fact that rates were increased in April 2024, and the wider fiscal context were all considered. The April 2024 one-year LHA increase cost an additional £1.2bn in 2024/25 and approximately £7bn over 5 years.

We continue to work across Government on the development of the Homelessness and Rough-sleeping strategy. Any future decisions on LHA policy will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing and the fiscal context.

For those who need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

On other areas of public expenditure, we have announced the government will invest £2bn in social and affordable housing in 2026-27, to deliver up to 18,000 new homes. This will immediately allow housing associations and local councils to bring bids forward for new affordable housing developments in every part of the country.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 5 February 2025, HCWS417 on the Flood Investment Announcement, whether he plans to provide additional support to local authorities impacted by increases to Internal Drainage Board special levies.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The government supports the important work internal drainage boards (IDBs) do in managing water and flood risk, benefiting communities, businesses and the environment.

The government announced as part of the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, that it will provide £5 million in funding for the local authorities most impacted by IDB levies.

On 31st March 2025 the government also announced an additional £16 million boost to the IDB Fund to support greater flood resilience for farmers and rural communities. The Fund has increased from £75 million to £91 million to provide opportunities to modernise and upgrade assets and this will help reduce future cost increases. Defra has also committed to work with the IDB sector and MHCLG to review IDBs’ current funding and costs.

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Found: considered “economic transfers” in the Green Book3, rather than an additional cost or benefit. 2 MHCLG

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Found: In the event of an emergency, MHCLG will immediately take steps to support the local level emergency

Found: In the event of an emergency, MHCLG will immediately take steps to support the local level emergency

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Found: (MHCLG) shows the reasons why families were unable to be supported

Found: From: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Department for Levelling Up, Housing

Found: MHCLG expects developers to provide updates as often as reasonably necessary (and not less than twice

Found: Crown Development Applications for urgent Crown Development are made to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Home Office are data controllers

Found: of Westminster and into our communities with an English Devolution Bill (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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Found: occupational pension benefits without the prior approval of the Department and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government