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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities in Surrey on a directly elected mayor for Surrey.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The introduction of a mayor for Surrey would depend on there being a combined authority across the area, i.e. more than one local authority. It will be for the new councils across the Surrey footprint to set out to the Government how they wish to take forward devolution.

The Government will set out next steps on new devolution agreements, including further mayoralties, in due course.

The Government recognises that Mayoral Strategic Authorities are most successful when they are built on a strong history of partnership and joint delivery. We want to see devolution that is built on strong foundations, with strong unitary structures in place before areas access mayoral devolution.

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 17 December 2025 to Question 99606 on Local Government: Essex, whether the existing Police and Crime Commissioners in the devolution priority areas will now serve their full terms until 2028; and in what year will the new combined authority mayors take up the policing powers currently undertaken by the Police and Crime Commissioners.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Home Office Ministers will announce in due course plans for the transfers of PCC functions in the Devolution Priority 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 15 December 2025 to Question 90716 on Asylum: Housing, which local government bodies the Government is currently working with.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working closely with the Home Office, local authorities and their national membership bodies in addition to devolved partners to develop and deliver a new, more sustainable model for asylum accommodation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date were political parties (a) informed and (b) consulted on the 2026 local election pilots.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors.

Local authorities were invited to apply to pilot a range of flexible voting methods at the May 2026 elections in England. We continue to engage with stakeholders on the development of the proposed pilots.

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 levels of council tax in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27 on the cost of living for (i) working households and (ii) pensioners.

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

Council tax levels are decided by local authorities, and the Department has not made specific assessments on the impact of council tax levels on the cost of living for working households and pensioners. For the vast majority of councils, the government intends to maintain a core 3% referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept and is consulting on this as part of the local government finance settlement. Councils are required to put in place council tax support schemes to support those on low incomes. The support for pensioner households is centrally prescribed and provides reductions of up to 100%.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the introduction of the council tax surcharge, whether he intends to revalue the main council tax system.

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

The Valuation Office will conduct a targeted valuation exercise to identify properties in scope of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge. Current Council Tax bands will not be revalued and will still apply. The Government will consult on the design of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge. The Government is committed to ensuring the council tax system is fair for taxpayers and local authorities and will continue to keep council tax under review.

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 draft Local Government Finance Settlement published on 17 December 2025, whether his department will consider requests for higher council tax referendum thresholds for other councils than the six councils mentioned.

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

The provisional settlement sets out the eligibility criteria for removing referendum principles for the last two years of the multi-year settlement period. We consider that only six authorities meet the criteria.

For the vast majority of councils, the government intends to maintain a core referendum threshold of 3%, and a 2%, adult social care precept over the multi-year Settlement. However, the government is under no illusions about the pressures councils are facing. Following precedent set by the previous government, we will consider requests for additional limited council tax flexibility from councils in extremely difficult financial situations on a case-by-case basis. All local authorities should continue to do all they can to manage their finances and protect vulnerable taxpayers.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to update his department's Plain English guide to the planning system, published in January 2015.

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

The government has no current plans to update the previous government’s ‘Plain English guide to the Planning System’.

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. These changes aim to ensure that national planning policy is accessible, understandable and provides clarity and certainty to all users of the system. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

The new plan-making system that we are shortly commencing is designed not only to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand but to improve community engagement.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether there will be an exemption for the council tax surcharge for dwellings occupied by a Church of England Minister of Religion.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) is a new charge on owners of residential property in England worth £2 million or more in 2026, taking effect in April 2028. Owners, not residents, will pay the surcharge. The government will consult on potential exemptions and reliefs in the spring.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government holds national data on which individual hereditaments claimed Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government does not hold national data on which individual hereditaments claimed Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

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, what discussions he and his Ministers have had with Unite on the Birmingham bin strike since his appointment.

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

Since being appointed in September 2025, the Secretary of State has met with Unite and urged the Trade Union to bring the dispute to a close for the benefit of Birmingham’s residents.

The waste dispute remains a local issue and is rightly being dealt with by Birmingham City Council.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the oral evidence by the Deputy Director, Local Government Accountability and Audit, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, at the Public Accounts Committee, Oral evidence: Whole of Government Accounts 2023-24, HC 1243, 11 December 2025, Question 25, and the objective to complete reorganisation by April 2028, on what date will elections be held for the new unitary councils other than Surrey.

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

The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. This means that different decisions may be taken for different councils within the same local government reorganisation invitation area that have local elections scheduled, depending on the representations received.

As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 December (HCWS1215), I remain committed to the indicative timetable that was published in July, that sees elections to new councils in May 2027 and those councils going live in April 2028.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the written statement of 18 December 2025, HCSWS1215, on Local Government Reorganisation, in cases where an individual council makes a representation to cancel elections, whether (a) only the scheduled elections for that individual council will be cancelled or (b) all the scheduled unitary, district and county elections within that wider local government restructuring area will be cancelled.

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

The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. This means that different decisions may be taken for different councils within the same local government reorganisation invitation area that have local elections scheduled, depending on the representations received.

As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 December (HCWS1215), I remain committed to the indicative timetable that was published in July, that sees elections to new councils in May 2027 and those councils going live in April 2028.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data the Greater London Authority provides to his department on affordable housing starts and completions in London.

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

The Greater London Authority (GLA) publish a detailed breakdown of their affordable housing delivery by programme every quarter. It can be viewed on its website here.

The GLA shares a detailed extract matching their published statistics with my Department shortly after their publication. This extract also includes the number of new social and affordable housing units funded through Right to Buy recycled receipts and the number of sales through the Right to Acquire and Social HomeBuy schemes.

Additionally, the GLA provides my Department with monthly updates on their delivery towards their housing programmes.

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 44226 on Pest Control: Birmingham, whether his Department holds any information on the rat numbers in Birmingham.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The requested information is not held centrally. My department engages regularly with Councils under intervention and continues to monitor the disruption caused by the waste dispute and the associated impact to the residents of the city.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the contact email and postal address for representations to the Rycroft review into foreign financial interference in UK politics.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The contact email for representations to the Rycroft review into foreign financial interference in UK politics is reviewteam@rycroftreview.independent.gov.uk.

More information can be found here.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will itemise which Valuation Office Agency special category code hereditaments are eligible for the 2026-27 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure multipliers.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon member to the answer given on UIN 99861.

In addition, the relevant guidance and regulations set out here may be of interest:

• Business Rates Multipliers: Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure - GOV.UK
• The Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Hereditament) Regulations 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the timetable for business rate bills to be issued for 2026-27, and what is the timetable for appeals against the new draft valuations published on 25 November 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon member to the answer given to UIN99864.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's publication, VOA rating list downloads, whether the Unique Address Reference Number (UARN) matches individual hereditaments on the 2026 draft non-domestic rating list with their previous entry on the 2023 non-domestic rating list; and how are properties matched if they do not have an UARN.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon member to the answer given on UIN 99863.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether an Electric Vehicle chargepoint within the curtilage of a domestic dwelling is deemed to be a material consideration by the Valuation Office Agency when a property is valued or revalued for council tax, including the new surcharge.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon member to the answer given on UIN 99865.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax: practice notes, Basis of Valuation- Valuation Assumptions, Section 4.3: Tenure, what assessment has the Agency made of the typical difference between a sale price and a council tax valuation as a consequence of the assumptions on leasehold flats.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon member to the answer on UIN 99866.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the estimated annual cost of the retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier in 2026-27, and how many hereditaments will be eligible in England according to her Department’s estimates.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) multipliers being introduced from April are worth nearly £900 million per year, and they will benefit over 750,000 properties in England.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 4.38 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, and to the HMT document, Effects of the business rates retail, hospitality and leisure multipliers and high value multiplier of 26 November 2025, whether according to information held by HM Treasury, if she will break down the 10.2 per cent increase across the effects of (i) the new high-value surcharge, (ii) the rates revaluation and (iii) the higher multipliers.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government does not hold data on the breakdown of business rates revenue.

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 17 December 2025, to Question HL12631, on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, who is the designated Planning Minister for the Chinese Embassy called-in planning application decision.

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 62966 on 7 July 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 8 December 2025, to Question HL12352, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, for what policy reason a Section 321 direction was not issued in this instance.

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

My Department does not comment on live planning cases. The full reasons for the decision will be set out in the final decision letter.

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 list the third parties who have been consulted on the report provided by the Islamophobia/Anti-Muslim Hatred working group.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As is standard practice in government policy making, officials have undertaken some limited and focused informal engagement with relevant stakeholders as we consider the advice presented to government by the working group.

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 2 January 2026 to Question 99204 on Local Government Finance ,whether the allocation of the £200 million will be delayed as a result of the delays in combined authority mayoral elections.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The six Mayoral Strategic Authorities on the Devolution Priority Programme will receive close to £200 million collectively per year for 30 years through their Investment Funds. Before Mayors are elected, and with the consent of the constituent councils the institutions are established, government will provide each area with a proportion of their investment funds to ensure they can start delivering on key local priorities and deliver the benefits of devolution on the ground.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the cash terms cap for an individual hereditament on Supporting Small Business Relief in (a) 2027-28 and (b) 2028-29; and whether the £800 amount will increase by inflation.

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

Supporting Small Business Relief (SSBR) limits the increase in the bills of those ratepayers whose business rates liability will increase as a result of the 2026 revaluation. SSBR ensures that any increase is limited to £800 per year, or the relevant caps within Transitional Relief, whichever is higher. This is the case for all years between 2026 and the next revaluation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the New Towns Taskforce has undertaken a consultation on the proposed Adlington New Town.

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

In developing its recommendations, the New Towns Taskforce engaged with local leaders from across the country and delivered a series of targeted engagement events.

As set out in the government’s initial response to the New Towns Taskforce final report, which can be found on gov.uk here, we will publish the draft proposals and final SEA for consultation 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 2 January 2026, to Question 98813, on Travellers: Caravan Sites, whether such charging for traveller transit sites could be in potential statutory scope of local authority powers to charge the new overnight visitor levy.

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

On 26 November 2025, the government published a consultation on the introduction of a new overnight visitor levy power which seeks views on the design of the power. The government is proposing to exempt stays in registered Gypsy and Traveller sites where the accommodation is a primary residence. The consultation will run until 18 February 2026 and following this, the government will bring forward legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Warwick District Council sought advice from his Department prior to introducing its second home council tax premium.

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

The Government does not provide advice to councils on the application of the council tax premiums. The Government has published guidance on the administration of premiums. Councils must make their own decisions on whether to charge a premium based on the legislation and their own local circumstances. Councils administer council tax independently of central government. Where necessary, councils should seek their own independent legal advice on the interpretation of legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the latest possible date is for him to make a decision to cancel scheduled council elections in May 2026.

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

The deadline for representations on the postponement of local elections in May 2026 is 15 January. After this, the Secretary of State will consider all views provided, together with any other representations received, before decisions are made. If the Secretary of State decides to postpone an election, legislation will be brought forward as soon as practicable and the House will be updated.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the figures on local authority, fire and police core spending power include or exclude the grant funding to compensate local public bodies for the increase in National Insurance contributions for employees.

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

As set out at the 2026/27 provisional local government finance settlement, the £502 million Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant from 2025/26 will be consolidated into the Revenue Support Grant. As outlined in the explanatory note on Mayoral Strategic Authority funding existing Strategic Authorities will receive the Mayoral Capacity Fund in 2026/27, which takes account of their allocation from Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant from 2025/26.

Police authorities received funding for the increase in employee National Insurance Contributions separately.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the business rates transitional relief cap in (a) 2027-28 and (b) 2028-29 financial years will be based on the maximum percentage change relative to the (i) 2025-26 actual bill and (ii) previous year’s actual bill.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Transitional relief limits the extent to which a business can see their bills increase in a given year. Details of transitional relief and the maximum change per year can be found at: Business rates relief: Transitional relief - GOV.UK

This is part of the generous support package worth £4.3 billion over the next 3 years to help ratepayers to transition to their new bill.

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 draft National Planning Policy Framework of 16 December 2025, and the plans for the re-introduction of maximum parking standards, whether the Government intends to provide guidance on the specific maximum numeric levels of parking spaces allowed per new build unit.

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

The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes policies relating to sustainable transport and updated policy on parking standards. It proposes that maximum parking standards should be set where they will support efforts to encourage the use of sustainable transport modes, optimise the density of development in well-connected locations, or where they are necessary for managing the local road network.

As is the case now, it will be for local planning authorities to determine appropriate parking standards for their area through the plan-making process.

The consultation is open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

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 21 November 2025 to Question 88657, on Renters’ Rights Act 2025, if he will publish the terms of reference and project specification for the study commissioned from Verian; and what the timetable is for it to report.

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

As is usual practice, my Department will publish relevant information on the Verian study on the evaluation registry in due course. This will include the rationale and methods of the evaluation, alongside publication dates. The report findings will be published two and five years after the Renters’ Rights Act implementation date of 1 May 2026.

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 publish the Social and Affordable Homes Programme business case.

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

The Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) is expected to be onboarded onto the Government Major Programmes Portfolio (GMPP).

In line with the HM Treasury guidance for GMPP programmes, the SAHP intends to publish a summary of its Programme Business Case (PBC) within four months of HM Treasury’s formal approval of the PBC.

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 revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 16 December 2025, what assessment has been made of the effect of that Framework on planning applications and planning enforcement for traveller sites.

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

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The draft Framework incorporates policies relating to traveller sites, currently set out in Planning Policy For Traveller Sites, within relevant chapters.

The government recognises that there are particular concerns about the ability of local planning authorities to deal with intentional unauthorised development. The consultation on the revised NPPF seeks views on strengthening the policy on intentional unauthorised development.

The consultation is open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

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 revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 16 December 2025, page 100, for what reason he has repealed the written ministerial statement and associated planning policy on community pubs of 26 January 2015, Official Report, HCWS221.

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

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes a list of Written Ministerial Statements and other documents where the planning policy stated within them is reflected in the proposed NPPF policies on which we are consulting, or which no longer represents government policy. The changes would not affect other content in the Written Ministerial Statements concerned.

The consultation includes policy designed to facilitate and safeguard the provision of community facilities such as public houses.

The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

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 12 December 2025, to Question 97317, on Local Government: Reorganisation, and to the answer of 16 December 2025, to Question 95327, on councillors, if he will place a copy in the Library of the full calculations on which the £120 million statistic was based, including the assumptions of councillor allowances and election costs.

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

I refer the Rt. hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97317 on 12 December 2025.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 on (a) the instances and duration of industrial action in local authorities and (b) disorder on municipal picket lines.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In October 2024 the government published impact assessments on the relevant trade union-related measures now in the Employment Rights Act 2025. The impact assessment covering the Act’s repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 included an assessment of the expected impact on industrial action.

Local Authorities are independent employers responsible for managing industrial relations and industrial action risks.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on funding for (i) remedial works to Grenfell Tower and (ii) the regeneration of the Lancaster West Estate.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to supporting the community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy for the long term, and to working with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea so the vision of a 21st century estate for the residents of the Lancaster West Estate can be realised.

The Leader of the Council has corresponded with the Building Safety Minister about the Lancaster West Estate. My officials have been engaging with the council, who lead on the refurbishment of the Estate, to fully understand their plans for delivery.

The Government took ownership of the Grenfell Tower site in 2019 and has been responsible for making operational decisions, including on the security and safety of the site, since then. The Government made the decision in February 2025 that the Tower should be carefully taken down, and communicated this to the Grenfell community.

Work to carefully take down Grenfell Tower is progressing, and we continue to engage and share information with bereaved, survivors and the immediate community during this sensitive period.

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 visit by Lord Khan to Pakistan from 13 April to 17 April 2025, for what reason no meetings are listed for the four day period in the transparency document entitled MHCLG: ministerial meetings, April to June 2025.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 84924 on 20 November 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 staff have been given permission to run for election in the (a) May 2025 and (b) May 2026 local elections.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The department does not hold a central record of all permissions granted. Request numbers are small and are considered on a case-by-case basis in line with policy.

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 2 January to Question 99197, on Council tax, what the deadline is for a local authority to make a representation to him on a higher council tax referendum threshold in 2026-27.

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

As set out in the provisional settlement, we will continue to have a framework to support councils and have set the process out in communication with the sector. Councils should engage with the department as soon as they have concerns about their ability to set or maintain a balanced budget or if they are considering submitting a request to be considered for higher council tax referendum thresholds in 2026-27. All discussions will be treated in confidence, but we will publish details of any support provided, including bespoke referendum principles at the Local Government Financial Settlement.

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 9 December 2025 to Question 96074 on Kent County Council: Best Value, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a Best Value intervention in relation to the current Administration of Kent County Council.

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

My department monitors individual councils, including Kent, through a wide range of data and direct engagement. We continually review local authority governance, financial management, and sustainability, including through examining national data metrics, local authority documents, reports from auditors and inspectorates, and letters from residents. Where we become aware of early indications of best value failure, we consider a range of ways to closely monitor an authority’s progress. We will continue to monitor risk in individual councils, and we will act where necessary to ensure that councils meet their best value duty and are transparent and accountable to their residents.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 88672, on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, whether any impact assessment has been undertaken of the effect of the £1.1 billion in business rates from the reduction in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

The total change in business rates revenue is set out in the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

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 Department’s press release entitled Councils offered flexibility to complete reorganisation, published on 18 December 2025, what evidence his Department used to determine that local elections could divert substantial time and resources away from delivering local government reorganisation, including those county councils without responsibility for administering elections.

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

This government takes democracy very seriously. In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges.

On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation and will consider all the representations we receive by the deadline of 15th January. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received.

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 Electoral Commission statement entitled Electoral Commission responds to potential election postponements, published on 19 December 2025, what is the Government's evidence base that capacity constraints justify delaying scheduled elections.

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

This government takes democracy very seriously. In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges.

On 18 December I invited councils undergoing local government reorganisation with local elections in May 2026 to set out their views on the postponement of their local election and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver local government reorganisation and will consider all the representations we receive by the deadline of 15th January. The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received.

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 written statement on 19 November 2025, HCWS1071, on Local Government Reorganisation, on what date will the shadow unitary authorities be elected; on what date would the new unitaries be vested; and whether it will vary by local authority.

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

On 5 February 2025, the Government issued invitations to councils in two-tier areas in England and neighbouring unitary councils to prepare proposals for local government reorganisation.

The Government will work with these areas to hold elections for new unitary councils as soon as possible. The exact timings and details will depend on the decisions taken on which proposal, if any, to implement. On the most ambitious timelines, elections to new unitary councils could take place in May 2027, ahead of "go live” date of 1 April 2028.

Surrey is operating on an accelerated timeline and we anticipate elections to the new unitary authorities will take place on May 2026, ahead of a vesting date of 1 April 2027.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what policy reason the transitional relief threshold for the 2026 revaluation cycle falls from 30% to 25% plus inflation for large firms, but rises from 5% to 25% plus inflation for small firms; and whether the inflation is the change in inflation that year, or the change in inflation since the base liability year.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. RVs are re-assessed every three years. The most recent revaluation took effect from 1 April 2023 and was based on values as of 1 April 2021. The next revaluation will take effect from 1 April 2026 based on values of 1 April 2024.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties, including those in the hospitality sector as they recover from the pandemic.

To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

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 undertook a public sector equality duty assessment on the decision to cancel the mayoral elections.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government intends to establish Mayoral Strategic Authorities via secondary legislation for all the Devolution Priority Programme areas as soon as possible, subject to the councils’ consent. Devolution is strongest when it is built on strong foundations, and this extra time will allow these four areas to establish strong institutions ahead of their Mayors taking office in 2028. The decision to hold the mayoral elections at a later date does not necessitate a Public Sector Equality Duty assessment, as an assessment will be produced for the establishment legislation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 98781 on Radicalism, what is her Department's policy on naming specific organisations which are (a) regarded as extremists and (b) subject to a policy of non-engagement.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Although The Home Office cannot comment on specific groups or individual cases, I would like to reassure you that we are committed to addressing the full range of threats that we currently face as a country and tackling anyone who spreads views that promote violence and hatred against individuals and communities.

We have robust safeguards to tackle those who sow hatred and division in our communities and we make no apology for this.

The government’s focus is to reduce and disrupt the influence of high-harm groups and individuals and the spread of extremist ideologies that can lead to community division and to radicalisation into terrorism. Where there is evidence of purposeful actions that are potentially radicalising others into terrorism or violence, proportionate legislative action will be considered.

The Home Office is continually building our knowledge of potential threats, including information exchange and cooperation with partners on shared issues of concern. Each department must consider their own due diligence when choosing to engage with any organisation or individual and, if asked, we will advise and share information to help inform their decisions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding his Department or Homes England for the Lancaster West Estate refurbishment; and what assessment he has made of the estimated £85 million shortfall in funding identified the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to supporting the community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy for the long term.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government agreed to provide c£25m towards the refurbishment of the Lancaster West estate on the assumption that this funding was to be matched by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and that no further funding would be required from Government.

My officials have been engaging with RBKC, who lead on the refurbishment of the estate, to fully understand the cause of the shortfall and the Council’s plans for delivery.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government's new plans to change business rate liability for pubs will apply to hereditaments with a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 which are categorised by the Valuation Office Agency as (a) nightclubs, (b) restaurants, (c) hotels, (d) pubs with hotel rooms under VOA special category code 227, and (e) private members' clubs and working men’s clubs.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2025, to Question 90236, on Traveller: Caravan Sites, what information her Department holds on whether any police forces have been able to use the powers following the court’s declaration of incompatibility.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

In May 2024 the High Court made a declaration of incompatibility directed to sections 60C(3), 61(4ZA)(a), 62(1A)(a) and 62B(2) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, in so far as they identify a 12-month no-return period to an unauthorised site after being directed to leave.

This legislation remains in force until it is amended or repealed by the government. It is an operational matter for individual police forces to determine whether and how to enforce the legislation and the Home Office does not collect this information.

The government is working on a response to the Court’s judgment. In the Crime and Policing Bill Committee stage debate on 17 November, Home Office Minister Lord Hanson committed to set out the Government’s response to the judgment ahead of the Report stage of the Bill.

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 17 November 2025 to Question 87319, and to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58975, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Remote Working, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the number of desks for civil servants working in Darlington on their ability to attend the office for 60 per cent of the working week.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Darlington Economic Campus is an integrated shared facility between several Government Departments. Currently, due to the available capacity, MHCLG staff are expected to attend the office for 40% of their time.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance has his department given to local authorities on political restrictions on local authority staff running as candidates for election in other local authorities.

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

The Local Government Officers (Political Restrictions) Regulations 1990 continues to set out the specific restrictions that apply to holders of politically restricted posts in Local Authorities. As independent employers, Local authorities are responsible for complying with legislation.

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 18 December 2025, to Question 96897, on MHCLG: Public Appointments, when he plans to publish this data.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We will publish data on MHCLG’s Direct Ministerial Appointments in line with recent guidance 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, further to the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 16 December 2025, what assessment has been made of the potential effect of the proposed changes on the number and size of residential gardens in suburban neighbourhoods.

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

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making.

The consultation includes policies that will support development within residential curtilages, including gardens. The relevant policies make clear that new development within residential curtilages should not occupy more than twice the footprint of the existing building on the site and should retain at least half of the non-developed area within the building’s curtilage. These policies would safeguard residential gardens from being lost and prevent inappropriate development which would be out of scale with the existing dwelling(s) taking place, while also allowing gentle increases in density in suitable locations.

Individual development decisions would be made by landowners/homeowners.

The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance has the (a) Government and (b) Planning Inspectorate given to local planning authorities and inspectors on the implications of the Equality Act 2010 for planning policy.

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

My Department does not provide guidance on the implications of the Equality Act 2010 for planning policy to either local planning authorities or inspectors.

The Government Equalities Office publishes guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duty for public bodies, which can be found on gov.uk here.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what datasets the Office for National Statistics collates and holds of the size of the population, and population growth, by religion, faith or belief, other than from the Census.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Rt. hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 7th January is attached.

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 make it his policy to use his Best Value powers to stop local authorities boycotting or divesting in companies based in, or which trade with, Israel.

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

Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note 01/16 remains in force which prohibits procurement boycotts by public authorities against Israeli firms and firms which trade with Israel, unless formal government sanctions are in place Under the Local Government Act 1999, local authorities have a statutory Best Value duty to secure continuous improvement in how they exercise their functions, having regard to economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. The Secretary of State may intervene where there is significant, systemic, and extensive failure to meet this duty, based on a holistic assessment of all relevant information. The government has published guidance for local authorities on meeting the Best Value duty and on intervention.

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 18 November 2025 to Question 88720 on Second Homes: Council tax, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of council tax evasion from the second homes council tax premium by residents not telling their local billing authority that the dwelling is occupied as a second home.

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

The Department does not collect data on avoidance or evasion of the second homes premium. As noted in my response to Question 88720, it is for local authorities to manage and address any potential cases of fraud in the council tax system.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the guidance entitled National Fraud Initiative: public-sector data specifications, updated on 11 November 2025, whether the council tax data matching will include the second homes council tax premium, where single person discount is not being claimed.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI), as part of the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA), works closely with local authorities to help them identify and prevent fraud.

As part of this, the NFI is currently collaborating with local authorities to understand the fraud risks related to council tax second home premiums.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2025, to Question 84476, on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, what the wider policy and guidance from the Cabinet Office is on whether departments should consider written consultation responses from individuals or organisations who are subject to a policy of non-engagement.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Cabinet Office has published consultation principles which set out how consultations should be conducted.

They are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 95883, on Visitor Levy, whether the Office for National Statistics intends to classify the overnight visitor levy as a tax for statistical purposes.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Rt. hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 7th January is attached.