Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will set out the meetings his Department's special advisers have had with Labour Together since he was appointed.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Special Advisers are required to comply with the Special Adviser Code of Conduct at all times and are required to make declarations on meetings with senior media figures in line with published transparency guidance.
Where a Special Adviser accompanies their Minister to an official meeting with a senior media figure, the Special Adviser's attendance does not need to be separately recorded as the Minister will be the main attendee. Where an 'informal' lobbying approach is granted time or resource by Government, it should result in a diarised engagement and therefore be recorded.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the estimated lifetime cost to the public sector of financing infrastructure supporting new towns through private investment arrangements.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Between 23 March and 19 May 2026, we consulted on the Draft New Towns Programme. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, sought views on a range of issues, including in respect of financing the programme.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
The precise funding offer for each new town location will be confirmed once final decisions have been made on the programme.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the estimated profile of central government spending is for each year of the Social and Affordable Housing Programme 2026-2036.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to question UIN 60128 on 4 July 2025.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which estate agencies does his Department consult with regularly in large urban areas.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department engages regularly with stakeholders from across the home buying and selling sector, including estate agent membership organisations and individual estate agent businesses from across the country.
Asked by: Mohammad Yasin (Labour - Bedford)
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 address the continuing in perpetuity status of non-qualifying leases following the completion of building safety remediation works; what progress her Department has made in reviewing that status; and whether she plans to bring forward measures to remove barriers to the sale of affected properties.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government recognises the current rules aren’t working for many people and has been clear that leaseholders should not be left responsible for the creation of historic building safety defects.
We are working hard to develop options to further protect leaseholders from current and future building safety issues, especially those groups left out of existing protections and who are unable to sell because of the existing rules.
We hope to be able to provide a more detailed response shortly.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
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 his proposals to require candidates to provide identification to nominate, whether this will require the same identification requirements as needed to vote in person at a polling station.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Following Royal Assent for the Representation of the People Bill 2026, the Government will bring forward regulations in due course to set out the detailed provisions.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Letter dated 19/12/2025 from Steve Reed MP to Council Leaders in England regarding the four day week in local government, DEP2026-0220, whether he plans to take best value action against (a) Cambridge City Council and (b) South Cambridgeshire District Council.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Ministers take a range of factors into account when considering whether to exercise statutory powers in relation to a local authority and will only act where necessary to secure compliance with the Best Value duty, underpinned by robust evidence of widespread, systemic, corporate, or service failure. The Secretary of State's letter of 19 December 2025 makes clear that statutory guidance in relation to the 4 day week remains in force.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what evidence underpins the current proposal to remove insured tenancy deposit schemes from the reformed tenancy deposit protection system.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The proposed removal of the insured schemes is based on the objective of ensuring that tenant deposits are as safe as possible.
Under the custodial system, money is held by the Tenancy Deposit Protection provider as a neutral third party. Under the insured scheme, there is an inherent power imbalance against tenants given the landlords and letting agents hold the deposit.
The custodial scheme provides tenants with more confidence to challenge deposit deductions and use the Alternative Dispute Resolution service provided.
There is growing evidence that the insured model also carries a higher fraud risk, with incidents of exploiting insured registration being reported. When agents fail to maintain insurance or Client Money Protection cover, reimbursement for losses can also be delayed, leaving tenants exposed.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the supply of transitional accommodation for young people.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation can be found on gov.uk here. As part of this, we sought views on whether the planning system provides appropriate flexibility to support temporary accommodation affordable housing products, such as stepping stone housing, when considering matters such as space standards. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
I also refer the noble Baroness to the answer provided to Question UIN 1861 in the other place on 27 May 2026.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that environmental assessments are undertaken at an early stage in the planning process.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Environmental assessments are an iterative process undertaken throughout the planning process.
The initial screening process determines whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required to ensure that decision-makers can take account of any likely significant effects on the environment.
This process runs alongside assessment under the Habitats Regulations which ensures potential impacts on protected sites are considered at an early stage, with competent authorities required to ascertain that plans or projects will not adversely affect the integrity of those sites before permission can be granted.
As the government progresses with developing Environmental Outcomes Reports, we will ensure the value and rigour of environmental assessment is retained, while securing better environmental outcomes.