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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what was the total cost to her Department of the legal action, including (a) legal advice, (b) legal fees and (c) claimant costs, in relation to the proposed cancellation of the May 2026 local elections and the subsequent decision not to cancel those elections.

The relevant payments associated with this matter have been recorded in the Department's published transparency data in accordance with the Government's transparency requirements.