Asked by: Michelle Welsh (Labour - Sherwood Forest)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what provision is being made to ensure that 14 – 16 year olds are being equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions when they vote.
Answered by Samantha Dixon
The Government is delivering its commitment to extend the right to vote to 16-and-17-year-olds through the Representation of the People Bill. The Bill was introduced on 12 February 2026 and is scheduled for Report Stage in the Commons on 14 July 2026. The Government intends for the franchise change to take effect ahead of scheduled polls in May 2028, subject to parliamentary passage.
Alongside legislating for the change, the Government recognises the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to participate in democratic life. We want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote. By engaging voters early, we will build the foundations for long-lasting participation in our democracy.
To support this, the Government will look for the earliest opportunity to make citizenship compulsory at key stages 1 and 2, with a focus on democracy and government, as well as media literacy.
The secondary curriculum will build on that foundation, ensuring all pupils receive an essential grounding in democracy, government and law.
The Government is also working with the Electoral Commission, the devolved governments and civil society to consider what additional measures can support schools, colleges, and youth groups to deliver practical voter and civic education.
Asked by: Michelle Welsh (Labour - Sherwood Forest)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress is being made on introduction of votes at 16.
Answered by Samantha Dixon
The Government is delivering its commitment to extend the right to vote to 16-and-17-year-olds through the Representation of the People Bill. The Bill was introduced on 12 February 2026 and is scheduled for Report Stage in the Commons on 14 July 2026. The Government intends for the franchise change to take effect ahead of scheduled polls in May 2028, subject to parliamentary passage.
Alongside legislating for the change, the Government recognises the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to participate in democratic life. We want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote. By engaging voters early, we will build the foundations for long-lasting participation in our democracy.
To support this, the Government will look for the earliest opportunity to make citizenship compulsory at key stages 1 and 2, with a focus on democracy and government, as well as media literacy.
The secondary curriculum will build on that foundation, ensuring all pupils receive an essential grounding in democracy, government and law.
The Government is also working with the Electoral Commission, the devolved governments and civil society to consider what additional measures can support schools, colleges, and youth groups to deliver practical voter and civic education.
Asked by: Michelle Welsh (Labour - Sherwood Forest)
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 plans to amend Part 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 to ensure that ecology surveys have to be completed on land prior to any temporary permitted development.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department has no such plans.
The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
Asked by: Michelle Welsh (Labour - Sherwood Forest)
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 plans to allocate additional funding to improve accessibility at (a) playgrounds, (b) parks and (c) recreational facilities.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Parks and recreational facilities are an essential part of local social infrastructure. They provide places for social connection, support health and wellbeing and increase community engagement. At Budget, the Chancellor announced £18 million of investment over two years to refurbish up to 200 playgrounds across England, helping to renew communities and advance the government’s Pride in Place commitment. We will announce how this funding will be allocated in due course.
Local authorities support adults and children to lead more active lives through access to public leisure services, green space, parks and playground spaces. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities and that procurement is up to the discretion of Local authorities rather than the government
In addition to this, the National Model Design Code provides a toolkit for planners in councils to produce local design codes that pay particular attention to inclusive design when developing places. This includes a specific reference to making play areas accessible and inclusive for all.
Asked by: Michelle Welsh (Labour - Sherwood Forest)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many young people are (a) classified homeless and (b) in emergency accommodation in Sherwood Forest constituency.
Answered by Rushanara Ali
The annual homelessness statistics includes age of applicants in temporary accommodation by local authority as of 31 March 2024. This information is available at table TA5 - Additional_temporary_accommodation_breakdowns__31_March_2024.ods.
Asked by: Michelle Welsh (Labour - Sherwood Forest)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure that new housing developments are supported by adequate local infrastructure.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.
Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. This will remain the case irrespective of whether any proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework or wider national planning policy are taken forward.
When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.
The government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through the Housing Infrastructure Fund.
The changes proposed as part of our recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework are intended to support the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.
The consultation closed on the 24 September and officials in my department are currently analysing responses with a view to publishing a government response before the end of the year.
The government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure that new developments provide appropriate affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.