Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the abolition of (a) the New Homes Bonus and (b) payments for bringing empty homes back into use on the number of empty homes.
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 73762 on 9 September 2025.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help enable people living in social rented housing to own pets.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government wants to ensure more tenants can experience the benefits of pet ownership.
Many social landlords set out their pet policies in their tenancy agreements and will allow tenants to keep pets where it is appropriate to do so. Consideration is given to whether the pets can be well looked after and any adverse effects on the lives of neighbours and those living nearby.
We encourage all social landlords to adopt similar policies.
The circumstances in which pets may be kept is, however, for social landlords to determine locally, taking account of the views of their tenants.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of higher levels of regulation in the private rented sector on the number of people who are unable to rent privately and in need of local authority temporary accommodation.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
An Impact Assessment (IA) for the Renters’ Rights Bill was published in November 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here.
The IA makes clear that the reduction in forced evictions could result in a reduced number of households at risk of becoming homeless, with section 21 evictions currently the second leading cause of homelessness. This will in turn reduce the costs to the public purse and wider society of temporary accommodation.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68060 on Islamophobia, whether the responses to the Islamophobia definition call for evidence from organisations which are subject to his department’s policy of non-engagement would be considered and given material weight.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Working Group is an independent, non-statutory body which will provide advice to ministers on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred/islamophobia. Ministers will consider the advice that the independent working group provides.
Any proposed definition by the independent Working Group should comprehensively reflect multiple perspectives and implications for different communities. The Working Group launched a Call for Evidence to build on the extensive consultation they’ve already undertaken. The Call for Evidence closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was welcome to submit evidence.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of estate agents who are not members of a redress scheme.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has made no such estimate.
The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT), operated by Powys County Council, approve the bodies that administer government-sanctioned estate agent redress schemes.
In instances where NTSEAT or the agent redress schemes are made aware of an agent potentially operating without redress scheme membership, cases are referred to the relevant local authority for further investigation.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars, published on 26 July 2025, who will decide (a) where the new dedicated hospitality zones will be introduced and (b) what their boundaries will be; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of these proposals on the (i) licensing hours and (ii) wider operation of (A) new and (B) existing (1) pubs, (2) clubs and (3) restaurants that are not in designated hospitality zones.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government wants to ensure we have a licensing system that not only addresses crime and protects communities but supports businesses and promotes growth. Councils already use designated zones to preserve hospitality, leisure, and cultural areas, and we are keen to work collaboratively to understand how these approaches are working and explore whether Councils have the tools they need to create and maintain designated zones effectively. Businesses within and outside designated zones will benefit from a more balanced licensing regime. We will issue a Call for Evidence to gather insights and inform policy discussions shortly.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars, published on 26 July 2025, whether hospitality zones can be designated in cumulative impact areas.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Designating zones and cumulative impact policies are a matter for local authorities, and the two are not mutually exclusive. The Government’s considers that both designating zones and implementing cumulative impact policies should be fully considered, clearly evidenced, monitored, and subject to review to ensure they remain effective and proportionate.
We are committed to working with councils, businesses and local partners to understand how these approaches are being applied and to ensure councils have the tools they need to create and maintain designated zones effectively. We will issue a Call for Evidence to gather insights and inform policy discussions shortly.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 59 of the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC1062, published on 22 July 2025, what the business case was for the increase in the total cost of trade union facility time between 2023-24 and 2024-25; and whether Ministers authorised the increase.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Trade union representatives have a legal right to be given time off to undertake their duties. Facility time is granted in line with Cabinet Office guidance and remains within 1% of our overall paybill.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 83 of his Department's policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2025, whether the code of conduct will include Islamophobia.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is clear that all forms of harassment, intimidation and abuse are unacceptable and have no place in our democracy. As set out in the Restoring Trust in our Democracy strategy, we will work with the Speaker’s Conference and the Electoral Commission to develop a code of conduct for campaigning which is fit for purpose. This code will aim to reduce harassment and intimidation of all forms, improve the tone of campaigning, and promote a safer and more inclusive democratic environment.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued on whether (a) nutrient credits, (b) biodiversity net gain payments, (c) Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space payments and (d) mitigation payments under the Habitats Regulations are required for development which is covered by permitted development rights that have not been removed by Article 4 directions.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Permitted development rights (PDRs) are subject to national conditions and limitations and therefore do not remove the need to comply with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
Where a development that benefits from PDR is likely to have a significant effect on a habitats site, a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) must be carried out, and mitigation may be required. Where appropriate this could be delivered through nutrients credits or through payments which contribute towards the delivery of Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space.
Further advice is available at Habitats regulations assessments: protecting a European site and via Planning Practice Guidance: When is permission required? - GOV.UK.
Government guidance confirms Biodiversity net gain (BNG) does not apply to development granted permission by General Permitted Development Order. See: Understanding biodiversity net gain - GOV.UK.