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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the comments of her predecessor on LBC of 14 October 2025, whether (a) her Department has and (b) the Best Value Ministerial Envoys have made an assessment of the sponsorship by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets of the Muslim Charity Run; and whether her Department has issued Best Value guidance to local authorities on supporting sex-segregated events which do not provide equal participation opportunities for both sexes.

Ministerial Envoys in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets are supporting the council to tackle Best Value failure, including in relation to its partnerships and community engagement. The Department receives regular reports from Envoys on progress and challenges. Envoys do not routinely report on operational matters considered as part of their day-to-day work.

The Department’s Best Value guidance makes clear our expectation for councils to promote social cohesion, and ensure services they deliver meet the needs of different groups in the community. This is in addition to councils’ statutory obligations to ensure equal opportunities for participation under the Equality Act 2010.