Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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, what is the timetable for the statutory consultation on other two-tier areas not listed in the statement, other than Surrey.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Following the statutory invitations issued on 5 February 2025 to two-tier authorities and neighbouring small unitary authorities to develop proposals for unitary local government, the Government received final proposals from the remaining 14 invitation areas on 28 November 2025. I expect to launch statutory consultations on these proposals in the new year.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 24 October 2025 to Question 77559 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Aviation, what was the topic of the training course.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The topic of the course was risk management.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend electoral law to prevent British councillors standing for election in overseas countries.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 95058 on 4 December 2025 for councillors in England. Local government is devolved, and it is for devolved national governments to govern their own local government members.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 economic impact of the Fylingdales Moor fire on businesses that were (a) evacuated and (b) made inaccessible due to road closures; and what financial support will be made available to them.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Flood Recovery Framework is unique to flooding and only activated in exceptional circumstances. No assessment has been made of the merits of establishing a similar scheme for wildfire incidents. There are a range of potential support mechanisms from across Government for local areas following significant emergency response incidents that are being explored.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 merits of establishing a financial recovery framework for major wildfire incidents, equivalent to the Flood Recovery Framework, to provide (a) grants for affected businesses and (b) business rate relief.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Flood Recovery Framework is unique to flooding and only activated in exceptional circumstances. No assessment has been made of the merits of establishing a similar scheme for wildfire incidents. There are a range of potential support mechanisms from across Government for local areas following significant emergency response incidents that are being explored.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 Answer on 13 October 2025 to Question HL10731 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, when the property was vacated.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The former Deputy Prime Minister has vacated the property. The Government agreed the terms of vacation of Admiralty House with the former Deputy Prime Minister in the usual way.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, When he plans to respond to the letter of 16 September 2025 from the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton on Tower Hamlets and community assets.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
A response was sent to the hon. Member on 4 December 2025.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 November 2025, to Question 84947, on Public Spaces: Access, if he will make it his policy for his department to issue guidance to local authorities to advise that political parties, elected representatives and candidates for office should not be levied fees for authorised street stalls in public spaces.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The provision and administration of street trading and highways licences, including fees charged 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. Local authorities may decide when it is necessary to recover the costs of these services.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 10 October 2025 to Question 69291 on Members: Correspondence, if he will (a) assign the correspondence letter to an incumbent Minister and (b) provide a substantive reply.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The former Deputy Prime Minister is no longer in post. The questions raised in the hon. Member’s correspondence have already been addressed via parliamentary questions from the hon. Member and his colleagues. I specifically refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 52866 on 27 May 2025, 74185 on 2 September 2025, 84951 on 10 November 2025, 85494 on 5 November 2025, 85495 on 5 November 2025, 88674 on 17 November 2025, and HL10730 on 13 October 2025.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
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 para 3.1 of the Greater Essex devolution consultation, updated July 2025, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on whether levying a mayoral precept will be a requirement or expectation of the devolution agreement with the government.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We have not had discussions with Greater Essex on the requirement or expectation on the levying of a mayoral precept. As set out in paragraph 3.1 of the Greater Essex devolution consultation, the Greater Essex Mayoral Strategic Authority would have the ability to introduce a mayoral precept on council tax should it choose to do so.