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 May 2025 to Question 52273 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Aviation, what journeys comprise the (a) £33,025 and (b) £1,878 spending on domestic flights.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I will arrange for this information to be deposited in the House of Commons Library.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it a requirement for all documents published by her Department to be written in plain English.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

While there is no legal requirement for government documents to be published in plain English, the department always asks teams to use clear, understandable language in its publications.

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 July 2025 to Question 62598 on Right to Buy Scheme, what the monetary amount was of Right to Buy receipts allocated to local government in each year from 2012.

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

My Department does not publish the amount of Right to Buy receipts retained by local authorities in each financial year.

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 June 2025 to Question 52274 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Aviation, when she plans to deposit this information.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I will arrange for this information to be deposited in the House of Commons Library.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the new retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier from 2026-27 will be higher in (a) value and (b) scope than the 2025-26 RHL relief.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of these new multipliers being introduced, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.

Eligibility for the new RHL multipliers is intended to broadly reflect the scope of the existing RHL relief scheme, and will be set out in legislation later this year.

The rates of the RHL multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context.

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 July 2025 to Question 62262 on Special Educational Needs: Finance, whether her Department has provided guidance to local authorities on statutory override accounting for special educational needs and disabilities services deficits; and what estimate her Department has made of the aggregate level of such deficits in each local education authority in England.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As per the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62262 on Special Educational Needs: Finance, this government recognises the pressures local authorities are facing because of their Dedicated School Grant (DSG) deficits and that the extension to the DSG Statutory Override is part of a phased transition to a reformed Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. The DSG Statutory Override is an accounting treatment, first introduced in 2020, that allows local authorities to exclude DSG deficits from their main revenue budgets. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government engages regularly with local authorities and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy on the impact of these deficits and the extent to which they are expected to grow. The government will provide more detail by the end of the year on the plan for supporting authorities with both historic and accruing deficits. We will set out more detail at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the second homes council tax premium on trends in the level of quick-sale property companies; and whether those property companies are regulated.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 34286 on 7 March. The government does not make housing market assessments based on the premium.

Consumer protection laws apply to transactions made with quick sale sites.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with the London Borough of Brent on Brent’s proposal to twin with the city of the city of Nablus in the West Bank.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer my hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 67392 on 21 July 2025.

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 6 of the statutory guidance entitled Flexible use of capital receipts: direction, updated on 26 March 2025, which local authorities have informed her Department of using those flexibilities since July 2024; what the purpose of the expenditure capitalised was; and how much was capitalised.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in the gov.uk general direction and guidance, local authorities intending to use the flexible use of capital receipt (FUCR) discretionary freedom are required to provide the government details planned use of the flexibility. This is to support transparency in local decision making; local authorities remain responsible in ensuring that they meet the requirements of the direction and appropriately follow the guidance.

The government does not publish a list of authorities that have submitted plans or details that authorities have provided on the intended use of the flexibility – in some cases authorities may have chosen not to make this information public for reasons such as commercial sensitivity. However, the direction requires that the flexibility may only be used for costs incurred to generate ongoing revenue savings or reduce costs.

For financial year 2024/25, 55 local authorities provided plans to government in accordance with the FUCR direction and guidance between 1 July 2024 and 31 March 2025; for 2025/26, a further 60 authorities have so far provided plans. The total value of capitalised costs under the direction for 2024/25 will be available in the annual Revenue Outturn data provided to government – this data is expected to be published in September 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 63629 on Civil Servants: Training, what was the definition of Islamophobia used in the anti-Islamophobia training for civil servants; and whether (a) handouts and (b) documentation was provided as part of the training events.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not hold any materials used by the supplier for the event, including any definitions given. No handouts or documentation were provided as part of the events.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 63677 on Business Rates: Valuation, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in business rates on (a) the flexible workplace sector and (b) serviced offices as a result of the changes in valuation practices on such hereditaments; and how many such hereditaments have had their Rateable Values changed by the Valuation Office Agency.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The VOA must apply the law to the facts on a case-by-case basis. It does not hold data on business rates liabilities as billing and collection is the responsibility of local authorities.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of EPC requirements for commercial properties on trends in the level of empty office accommodation.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

EPC Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards play an important role in reducing bills for businesses, making them more competitive and protecting them from future energy price shocks, as well as encouraging better working places for the health and wellbeing of its occupiers.

The policy has a number of exemptions in place to mitigate against significant costs of compliance. Crucially, buildings will only need to reach the highest EPC band that a cost-effective package of measures can deliver, even if this means that they remain below the minimum standard. Consequently, the costs for building improvements are expected to make up a small proportion of typical commercial rents and are therefore unlikely to distort the office rental market on its own.

We also expect commercial landlords in the office sector will continue to hold valuable assets and evidence suggests cost-effective energy efficiency improvements will help increase the value of those assets

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the merits of banning vaping at outdoor bus stops.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Our health advice is clear that whilst vapes can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, children and adult non-smokers should never vape. The evidence on second-hand vaping is still developing and whilst the harm will be lower than smoking, the degree of harm is unlikely to be zero.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill gives the Government powers to make most public places and workplaces that are smoke-free also vape-free. Many places have already done this voluntarily. Exactly which settings should become vape-free will be a matter for secondary legislation and will be subject to a full consultation.

For the future regulations, we are considering including indoor settings which are currently subject to existing smoke-free legislation, such as pubs and restaurants, and outdoor spaces where high numbers of children and young people are present, for example, children’s playgrounds and schools. We are not specifically looking at banning vaping at outdoor bus stops and we have not conducted any assessments on this at this current moment in time.

We will follow the evidence and want to hear the views of the public, public health stakeholders, and businesses as part of our consultation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Public Health England guidance entitled Use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces, published in July 2016, whether it remains his policy to treat vaping differently from cigarette smoking when determining policies on (a) outdoor and (b) indoor consumption.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Our health advice is clear that whilst vapes can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, children and adult non-smokers should never vape. The evidence on second-hand vaping is still developing and whilst the harm will be lower than smoking, the degree of harm is unlikely to be zero.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill gives the Government powers to make most public places and workplaces that are smoke-free also vape-free. Many places have already done this voluntarily. Exactly which settings should become vape-free will be a matter for secondary legislation and will be subject to a full consultation.

For the future regulations, we are considering including indoor settings which are currently subject to existing smoke-free legislation, such as pubs and restaurants, and outdoor spaces where high numbers of children and young people are present, for example, children’s playgrounds and schools. We are not specifically looking at banning vaping at outdoor bus stops and we have not conducted any assessments on this at this current moment in time.

We will follow the evidence and want to hear the views of the public, public health stakeholders, and businesses as part of our consultation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Healthy food revolution to tackle obesity epidemic, published on 29 June 2025, whether he has had discussions with the hospitality sector on mandatory food reporting.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As we set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.

Businesses, including in the restaurant sector, have told us that they need the Government to help create a level playing field to make healthier choices more commercially viable. We will continue to work closely with industry, including the hospitality sector, and the Food Strategy Advisory Board, and will set out next steps shortly.

With measures like mandatory business targets, we are moving to a more strategic, outcomes-based approach focussing on reducing unhealthy food consumption whilst giving businesses freedom in how to achieve this.  This is consistent with our approach towards growth, while also helping us create a health service fit for the future through our Plan for Change.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 54908 on Fast Food, whether sandwiches for consumption off the premises are deemed to be fast food.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In February 2025, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities published data on fast food outlets per 100,000 population. In this analysis, fast food was described as “food that is energy dense and available quickly, usually via a counter service, and for consumption on or off the premises”. This definition covers a range of outlets selling foods, including, but not limited to:

• burgers;
• pizza;
• kebabs;
• chicken;
• Indian takeaway;
• Chinese takeaway; and
• fish and chips.

It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application, to consider whether, given the type of food and service to be provided at the location proposed, they consider the outlet to be either a hot food takeaway or a fast food outlet.

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 her Department's press release entitled Reforms to Building Safety Regulator to accelerate housebuilding, published on 30 June 2025, if she will set out how Building Safety Regulator processes will change under the Fast Track Process; and what steps she is taking to reform the Building Safety Regulator (a) to implement the Fast Track Process (b) more broadly.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The new Fast Track process established within the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will launch on 4 August and will initially focus on new-build applications before being broadened to include other application categories once the effectiveness of the process has been proven.

The Fast Track process will expedite the building control process by bringing in expertise in-house, whilst still assuring the delivery of safe, high-quality buildings. BSR has increased the level of feedback and two-way discussion with applicants and is also approving applications with requirements in appropriate circumstances thereby enabling work to commence whilst still ensuring building regulations compliance will be demonstrated.

BSR is now publishing regular data which sets out application volumes and processing times. These datasets can be found here: Building Safety Regulator building control approval application data October 2023 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to publish regular reports on the outcomes of the fast track process of the Building Safety Regulator.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The new Fast Track process established within the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will launch on 4 August and will initially focus on new-build applications before being broadened to include other application categories once the effectiveness of the process has been proven.

The Fast Track process will expedite the building control process by bringing in expertise in-house, whilst still assuring the delivery of safe, high-quality buildings. BSR has increased the level of feedback and two-way discussion with applicants and is also approving applications with requirements in appropriate circumstances thereby enabling work to commence whilst still ensuring building regulations compliance will be demonstrated.

BSR is now publishing regular data which sets out application volumes and processing times. These datasets can be found here: Building Safety Regulator building control approval application data October 2023 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria will be used to determine eligibility for the Building Safety Regulator's fast track process.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The new Fast Track process established within the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will launch on 4 August and will initially focus on new-build applications before being broadened to include other application categories once the effectiveness of the process has been proven.

The Fast Track process will expedite the building control process by bringing in expertise in-house, whilst still assuring the delivery of safe, high-quality buildings. BSR has increased the level of feedback and two-way discussion with applicants and is also approving applications with requirements in appropriate circumstances thereby enabling work to commence whilst still ensuring building regulations compliance will be demonstrated.

BSR is now publishing regular data which sets out application volumes and processing times. These datasets can be found here: Building Safety Regulator building control approval application data October 2023 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

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 7 July 2025 to Question 64088 on Civil Servants: London Allowance, what her Department's policy is on paying London weighting to staff living in Hertfordshire.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG has separate National pay ranges and London pay ranges. Whether an individual is paid via the National or London pay range is based on the office they are formally assigned to. The MHCLG London pay range is only applicable to colleagues formally assigned to 2 Marsham St and MHCLG’s Hemel Hempstead office.

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 11 June 2025 to Question 56832 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, if she will make it her policy to reinstate the (a) SME data and (b) voluntary and community sector spending data.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG publishes its monthly spend data in line with Cabinet Office guidance including all mandatory fields specified in that guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of the contract with the Belong Network; if she will publish the (a) contract and (b) terms of reference; and whether the contract was subject to a public tender process.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG does not have any contracts with the Belong Network.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what restrictions exist on installing air conditioning under the (a) planning regime and (b) building regulations regime in new build dwellings.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Building Regulations are set in performance terms, to provide developers with the flexibility to select the most appropriate solutions for their developments. Part O of the regulations ensures that new residential buildings are built to mitigate the risk of overheating. Mechanical cooling can be used to meet regulations, however, given the Government’s net zero commitment, our preferred means of mitigating overheating is through passive means. Developers must demonstrate that all possible passive means of cooling a dwelling have been implemented before adopting mechanical cooling,

As part of the Future Homes and Buildings Standard consultation, which closed in March 2024, we sought evidence on whether current overheating standards are appropriate or require amendment. The Government will set out the evidence it received on Part O during this consultation and its response to this in Autumn 2025, when the Future Homes and Buildings Standard consultation response will be published.

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 July 2025 to Question 64086, on Local Government: Cost Effectiveness, what formal and informal representations have been received on escalating the intervention.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 17 July, I announced my final decision, following consideration of representations received and all relevant information, to exercise powers of direction under section 15(5) and 15(6) of the Local Government Act 1999 and appointed Commissioners to ensure London Borough of Croydon’s compliance with the Best Value Duty. Details of the representations can be found in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Directions, copies of which were deposited in the House library and are also available on gov.uk.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of requiring consideration of embodied carbon in new buildings on the viability of new build development.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We have recently published research to improve understanding of embodied carbon in new buildings and the data currently available. The aim of publishing is for this research is to help inform discussions about potential impacts, including on the viability of new developments. We continue to assess the evidence and engage with industry as we consider the best way forward for measuring and reducing embodied carbon emissions. The government remains committed to supporting progress in this area in a way that is both practical and sustainable.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 63624 on Admiralty House: Energy Performance Certificates, if he will place the three EPCs for the Admiralty House flats in the Library.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Where a building has an EPC the information on EPC ratings can be found at https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate/Admiralty-House.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the budget is of the Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme in the 2025-26 financial year; what its terms of reference are; and whether local authorities will be required to bid for funding.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme made awards to Local Authorities in the 2024-25 financial year. There are no plans to run the Programme again in the 2025-26 financial year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to publish reports by the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred and Islamophobia.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As noted in the Terms of Reference, the advice provided to government by the independent Working Group will be private. Once the Government has had time to review the advice, it will consider its next steps.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any special advisers attended the Prime Minister's visit to Doncaster on 10 April 2025.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Special advisers routinely travel with the Prime Minister and did so on 10 April, including so as to provide support in the conduct of any official duties, which can arise at any time.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 53071 on Youth Mobility Scheme: EU Countries, whether he plans to make further bilateral agreements.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We have existing bilateral agreements with Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Luxembourg, which were negotiated by the previous government. The UK is open to further, fully reciprocal bilateral voting agreements but these would be subject to the detail of future negotiations.

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 Fair Funding Review 2.0 proposals on levels of (a) council tax and (b) funding of local authorities in (i) London and (ii) other areas.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local authorities are responsible for setting council tax levels. The Spending Review set out government’s intention to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept to protect taxpayers from excessive increases. These principles are in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement each year, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way.

Our proposals are subject to consultation and decisions have yet to be taken that will determine final allocations and the design of transitional arrangements. Subject to consultation, the proposals set out mean that the most relatively deprived places will on balance see larger increases in income than the least deprived places. We will publish further information in the consultation response by early October, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

Found: Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy From 06 Sep 2022 To 25 Oct 2022 Kevin Hollinrake