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Written Question
Local Government Finance: Greater London
Wednesday 22nd October 2025

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 changes to inner-London council's funding on (a) London and (b) the UK's economic growth.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been listening closely to the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other bodies on the proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation. No final decisions on the outcome of the review have yet been taken. However, the government’s proposals will target central government grant funding to where it is needed the most. Subject to consultation, the proposals set out mean that the most relatively deprived places, which on average have higher levels of child poverty, will have more income than the least deprived places. The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.


Written Question
Local Government Finance: Greater London
Wednesday 22nd October 2025

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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 inner-London councils following the Fair Funding Review 2.0.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been listening closely to the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other bodies on the proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation. No final decisions on the outcome of the review have yet been taken. However, the government’s proposals will target central government grant funding to where it is needed the most. Subject to consultation, the proposals set out mean that the most relatively deprived places, which on average have higher levels of child poverty, will have more income than the least deprived places. The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.


Written Question
Local Government Finance: Islington
Wednesday 22nd October 2025

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 on levels of child poverty in Islington.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has been listening closely to the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other bodies on the proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation. No final decisions on the outcome of the review have yet been taken. However, the government’s proposals will target central government grant funding to where it is needed the most. Subject to consultation, the proposals set out mean that the most relatively deprived places, which on average have higher levels of child poverty, will have more income than the least deprived places. The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.


Written Question
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution
Wednesday 8th January 2025

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many government procurement cards were held by staff within (a) her core Department and (b) executive agencies of her Department at the end of calendar years (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

As of 31 December 2022, 18 government procurement cards were held by staff within the core Department; 27 by staff at the Planning Inspectorate; 6 at the QEII Centre.

As of 31 December 2023, 25 government procurement cards were held by staff within the core Department; 28 by staff at the Planning Inspectorate; 6 at the QEII Centre.


Written Question
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Ministers' Private Offices
Tuesday 24th December 2024

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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 December 2024 to Question 9072 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Ministers' Private Offices, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Between 4th July 2022 and 4th July 2024, £12,128.11 was spent on new furniture and fittings in Ministerial Offices and a breakdown of costs is below:

Item/ Place

Cost (£)

Bookcase

£7,581.41

TV Installation

£607.23

Supply and install 2 x 2 seater sofa

£3,818.19

Supply and install gromet and cable tray

£121.28

Total

£12,128.11

There were no costs on the refurbishment of these Ministerial office during this period.


Written Question
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution
Wednesday 18th December 2024

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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 spent on government procurement card purchases (a) above and (b) below £500 net of refunded payments in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Details of the department spend on government procurement cards can be found here.


Written Question
Freeports: Annual Reports
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answers of 15 March 2024 to Questions 17337 and 17338 on Freeports: Foreign Investment in UK, when his Department plans to publish the UK Freeports Programme Annual Report 2023; and if he will include the information on foreign direct investment performance (a) at the level and (b) for the dates requested in Questions 17337 and 17338.

Answered by Jacob Young

Announcements will be set out in due course.


Written Question
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Precise Media Monitoring
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department's contract with Precise Media Monitoring Ltd of 24 January 2024, procurement reference CPD4124143, if he will publish the list of search words provided by his Department's press office to the supplier at the outset of that contract.

Answered by Simon Hoare

The information requested is not held centrally.


Written Question
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Ground Transport
Tuesday 16th January 2024

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2023 to Question 4980, which ministers used the vehicle provided under the terms of the Cabinet Office contract originally agreed with Ground Transport Ltd on 13 November 2020 (reference CCYZ20A06), novated to his Department from 14 January 2021 to 16 October 2022.

Answered by Simon Hoare

This service was available to departmental ministers. A more detailed breakdown could only be provided at disproportionate cost.


Written Question
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Aviation
Monday 15th January 2024

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to page 39 of his Department's annual report and accounts for 2022/23, HC 1478, published on 20 July 2023, what the distance travelled on domestic flights was that resulted in the emission totals of (a) 7 tCO2e in 2021/22 and (b) 14 tCO2e in 2022/23.

Answered by Simon Hoare

The department supports communities across the UK to thrive, making them great places to live and work. Our responsibility to maintain the strength of the Union necessitates travel to all corners of the nation as does our Levelling Up mission. The Covid-19 pandemic is responsible for the difference in miles travelled between 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The distance travelled on domestic flights that resulted in the emission totals of (a) 7 tCO2e in 2021/22 and (b) 14 tCO2e in 2022/23 were.

2021-22 Domestic flights – 53,859km travelled.

2022-23 – Domestic flights – 109,901km travelled.