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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to undertake a review of the statutory duties on local government, including statutory duties to consult.

We have engaged with the local government sector and other government departments to understand whether the duties placed on councils could be removed, simplified or improved, while retaining the critical services that communities expect. We are reviewing responses and further updates will be provided in due course.