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 paragraph 4.39 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, if she will set out the methodology used to select the 350 deprived communities for intervention funding.

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

The government has announced communities funding for up to 350 places, including the 75 places named in the Plan for Neighbourhoods in March 2025 and the 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods that will receive up to £20 million over the next decade. We will share further details on the methodology for how places were selected 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, with reference to paragraph 4.39 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, what her planned timetable is for completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund; and whether the new local growth fund will be devolved in full or partially.

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

UKSPF was committed for a further transition year in 2025-26. From 2026-27, the government is providing targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This includes establishing a new local growth fund, including a 10-year capital settlement from 2026-27 to 2035-36 for specific mayoral city regions in the North and Midlands with the highest productivity catch-up and agglomeration potential.

Further detail on the fund and how it will operate will be set out in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 4.15 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, if she will list the congestion improvement measures her Department will fund; and whether these will include (a) Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, (b) traffic filters, (c) congestion charging and (d) workplace parking taxes.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Section 16 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 places a Network Management Duty on all traffic authorities in England to manage their road networks as efficiently as possible for the benefit of all traffic (including pedestrians), with a view to reducing congestion.

Local authorities have a wide range of traffic management measures available to them, and it is for them to determine what measures may be required to help meet this duty.

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 Spending Review 2025, CP1336, of 11 June 2025, Table 5.17, what the average annual (a) cash and (b) real terms increase is in the central government grant to local government across the spending review period.

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

This Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. The £3.4 billion, when taken together with a 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept, results in an average overall real terms increase in local authority core spending power of 2.6% per year over the next multi-year settlement (2026-27 to 2028-29).

The additional £3.4billion on Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) budget means the estimated average annual real terms increase in grant funding between 2023-24 and 2028-29 will be 5.2%. Between 2025-26 and 2028-29, it will be 1.1% in real terms. This is set out in Table 5.17 of CP1336.

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 Spending Review 2025, CP1336, of 11 June 2025, Table 5.17, what the assumed increase is in the Greater London Authority precept over the spending review period.

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

Projected overall local government spending from additional income is set out at table 5.17 of the Spending Review document. This includes estimated funding from council tax. However, this remains subject to final decisions on the referendum principles set by government with the approval of the House of Commons, and the council tax levels set by individual authorities. In the case of the GLA the council tax charge includes an additional element for the Metropolitan Police which will have its own principle. Referendum principles will be set out as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement in the usual way.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, what is the estimated increase in (a) council tax revenue raised in cash terms for and (b) the increase in the average Band D rate of the police precept over the Spending Review period.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As set out in the Spending Review 2025 document, published 11 June 2025, police core spending power includes projected spending from additional income, including estimated funding from the police council tax precept. The final police precept level and core government funding will be set out in the annual police funding settlement in the usual way.

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 table B.3 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, whether her Department's average annual real growth in capital expenditure during 2025-26 to 2029-30 includes the Affordable Housing Programme.

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

The calculations showing MHCLG’s average annual real growth in capital expenditure during 2025-26 to 2029-30 in table B.3 of the HM Treasury’s Spending Review 2025 publication includes the funding allocated to the Affordable Housing Programme.

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 paragraph 4.19 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, what her Department's target is for the (a) total number and (b) proportion by tenure type of additional new build homes funded by the Affordable Housing Programme.

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

The new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme that was announced at the Spending Review will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent. We will confirm further details 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 her policy is on the Affordable Housing Programme funding the purchase by social housing providers of affordable homes already obligated by developers under Section 106 during the Spending Review period.

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

The Affordable Homes Programme supports the delivery of social and affordable homes additional to those that developers have committed to delivering through Section 106 agreement. We have no plans to change these arrangements.

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 her Department's policy paper entitled Government announces 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods to receive long-term investment - details, published on 11 June 2025, what the evidential basis was for the selection of the trailblazer areas.

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

We have announced 25 trailblazer areas that will benefit from funding. These 25 areas were selected through a robust metric-based methodology which assessed the most in need communities across the UK, further details 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, with reference to paragraph 2.59 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025: departmental efficiency delivery plans, published on 11 June 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of insourcing services on levels of efficiency in her Department.

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

The department is committed to improving efficiency by reducing reliance on external suppliers and consultants, having already achieved a 50% reduction in consultancy use since 2023/24. Consultants are only engaged for time-limited, specific needs where internal expertise is not available, ensuring that costs remain tightly controlled. As part of our ongoing invest-to-save initiative, we are actively replacing contractors and professional services with permanent civil servants. This approach has already delivered substantial savings and is expected to generate further annual efficiencies. By building in-house capability, the department is not only reducing costs but also enhancing the skills and sustainability of the civil service workforce, which in turn supports more effective and efficient delivery of our objectives.

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 core spending power budget line in table B.2 of HM Treasury's document entitled, Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, what is the estimated total revenue from council tax in each year from 2024-25 to 2028-29 in England.

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

Projected overall local government Core Spending Power within Resource Departmental Expenditure Limits is set out at table B.2 of the Spending Review document. This includes estimated funding from council tax. However, this remains subject to final decisions on the referendum principles set by government with the approval of the House of Commons, and the council tax levels set by individual authorities. Referendum principles will be set out as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement in the usual way.

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 Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, CP 1336, whether the £39 billion for a new 10‑year Affordable Homes Programme is (a) in cash terms and (b) takes into account inflation.

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

As under the existing Affordable Homes Programme, registered providers will need to bid for the grant funding announced at the Spending Review. The government will confirm further details, including the timing and process for bids to the new fund, in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what is the required evidential base behind funding from the Growth Mission Fund.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is establishing a Growth Mission Fund to directly support local economic growth. This fund will invest £240 million of capital from 2026/27 to 2029/30 in projects that enable local job creation and the economic regeneration of local communities. Further detail on this fund and the criteria that will be applied for project selection will be set out in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of closing all asylum hotels in this Parliament on local authorities.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of Parliament.

Current accommodation funding arrangements are published on GOV.UK: Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, whether her Department has received representations from local authorities on the potential impact of closing all asylum hotels in this Parliament on local authorities.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of Parliament.

Current accommodation funding arrangements are published on GOV.UK: Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much funding her Department plans to provide to local authorities to help support the closure of all asylum hotels in this Parliament.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of Parliament.

Current accommodation funding arrangements are published on GOV.UK: Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, whether she has had recent discussions with the Home Secretary on the closure of all asylum hotels in this Parliament.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of Parliament.

Current accommodation funding arrangements are published on GOV.UK: Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction - 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 her Department has provided guidance to (a) elected representatives, (b) political parties and (c) community groups on obtaining a (i) street trading and (ii) highways licence for a street stall in a public place.

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

The provision and administration of street trading and highways licences are the responsibility of Local Authorities under either the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 or the London Local Authorities Act 1990, depending on their location. The Government has not issued guidance on how to apply. However, signposting to local authority guidance is provided via gov.uk.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the allocation of funds from the Growth Mission Fund.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Growth Mission Fund will invest £240 million of capital from 2026/27 to 2029/30 in projects that enable local job creation and the economic regeneration of local communities. Further detail on this fund and the criteria that will be applied for project selection will be set out in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what financial support her Department will provide to local authorities to mitigate the impact of closing asylum hotels.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver upon its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of this Parliament.

Current accommodation funding arrangements are published on GOV.UK: Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction Asylum Dispersal Grant: funding instruction - GOV.UK.

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 Spending Review 2025, CP1336, of 11 June 2025, how much (a) capital and (b) revenue funding is being allocated to the Affordable Housing Programme, in each of the 10 years of that programme.

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

The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on the Social and Affordable Homes Programme will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.

Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance.

We have announced the overall funding commitment for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme and will continue to publish departmental capital spend figures on an annual basis.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 on faith groups.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2022, introduced by the previous Government, made permanent the temporary provisions allowing civil marriage and civil partnership ceremonies to take place outdoors in the grounds of approved premises in England and Wales. These changes did not extend to permitting outdoor religious marriages in the grounds of places of worship, for those religious groups who are currently unable to conduct legal weddings outdoors. The previous Government ran a consultation which considered a range of views and potential impacts.

The Law Commission’s 2022 report on weddings law highlighted a number of issues within the current legal framework, including inconsistencies affecting faith groups. Given the points raised by the Law Commission, it is right that we take the time to consider these issues. We will set out our position on weddings reform in the coming months.

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 28 May 2025 to Question 53568 on Land: Greater London, what the planning status is of Metropolitan Open Land designated by the Mayor of London in the London Plan; and whether it has the status of Green Belt for the purposes of the references in the Framework.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 53920 on 6 June 2025.

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 articles 35 and 40 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, whether (a) the Chinese government and (b) its agents have submitted sensitive information on the Chinese Embassy planning application that has been kept separate from the main register.

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

All Inquiry documents for this case are publicly available on Tower Hamlets website here.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the official statistics entitled Wider Determinants of Health: statistical commentary on the location of fast food outlets, February 2025, published on 10 February 2025, whether (a) Greggs, (b) Subway and (c) Pret a Manger were considered fast food outlets; and whether they were included under Indicator ID 94124 in his Department's data set on Wider Determinants of Health.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Fast food is considered to be food that is energy dense and available quickly, usually via a counter service, for consumption on or off the premise. Neither the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities nor its predecessor, Public Health England, have a formally agreed definition of a fast food outlet, and a list of fast food outlets is not held centrally.

Data from the Food Standards Agency’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) was used to populate the fast food outlets per 100,000 population indicator, which was published in the Wider Determinants of Health: statistical commentary on the location of fast food outlets, from February 2025. The statistical commentary is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/wider-determinants-of-health-february-2025-update/wider-determinants-of-health-statistical-commentary-february-2025

The FHRS’ data categorises food premises into business types only. Therefore, criteria were developed to select food premises from the FHRS data that best fit the definition of fast food. In addition, all premises from the ‘takeaway/sandwich shop’ business type have been included. All outlets which meet these criteria are included in the indicator. The names of individual outlets are not published.

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