Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to ensure that planned reforms to the Local Government Pension Scheme are compliant with not aiding or assisting serious breaches of international law.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local Government Pension Scheme administering authorities set the investment strategies for their funds, and must include how social, environmental and corporate governance and responsible investment considerations are taken into account. Authorities must have regard to their fiduciary duty to scheme members and employers when setting their investment strategy and must follow relevant legislation and guidance.
Administering authorities are legally required to comply with UK sanctions, including restrictions on dealings with designated individuals, entities, and countries.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities administering Local Government Pension Scheme funds to assist them in ensuring their investments are compliant with the UK’s duty not to aid or assist serious breaches of international law.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local Government Pension Scheme administering authorities set the investment strategies for their funds, and must include how social, environmental and corporate governance and responsible investment considerations are taken into account. Authorities must have regard to their fiduciary duty to scheme members and employers when setting their investment strategy and must follow relevant legislation and guidance.
Administering authorities are legally required to comply with UK sanctions, including restrictions on dealings with designated individuals, entities, and countries.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
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 provides guidance to local authorities administering Local Government Pension Scheme on ensuring their investments are compliant with the UK’s duty (a) not to aid and (b) assist serious breaches of international law.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local Government Pension Scheme administering authorities set the investment strategies for their funds, and must include how social, environmental and corporate governance and responsible investment considerations are taken into account. Authorities must have regard to their fiduciary duty to scheme members and employers when setting their investment strategy and must follow relevant legislation and guidance.
Administering authorities are legally required to comply with UK sanctions, including restrictions on dealings with designated individuals, entities, and countries.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to ensure that Local Government Pension Scheme investments are compliant with the UK’s duty (a) not to aid and (b) assist serious breaches of international law.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local Government Pension Scheme administering authorities set the investment strategies for their funds, and must include how social, environmental and corporate governance and responsible investment considerations are taken into account. Authorities must have regard to their fiduciary duty to scheme members and employers when setting their investment strategy and must follow relevant legislation and guidance.
Administering authorities are legally required to comply with UK sanctions, including restrictions on dealings with designated individuals, entities, and countries.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his Department’s planned timeline is for responding to the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board's letter, dated 13 October 2025, requesting guidance on investments accused of being complicit in violations of international law.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department has received the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board's letter and will treat it in line with the Government’s usual approach to correspondence.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what additional resources she is making available to support councils with (a) asylum dispersal and (b) homelessness.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
The Home Office’s current accommodation funding arrangements to support local authorities are published on gov.uk here.
To support councils with homelessness, the Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million this year, taking the total for 2025/26 to £1 billion. The Spending Review has protected this record level of investment for homelessness until 2028/29 and provides £100 million, including from the Transformation Fund, to fund increased homelessness prevention activity by local authorities.