theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_49

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what her timetable is for the (a) publication and (b) passage of the English Devolution Bill; and whether she plans to consult on the provisions of the Bill before it is published. \p Jim McMahon: In the English Devolution White Paper, we committed to introducing the English Devolution Bill in this session, subject to parliamentary time. There is extensive engagement ongoing between my department, mayoral combined authorities, local authorities and other stakeholders on how we can best implement the policy set out in the White Paper. The Bill will deliver on the vision of the White Paper and will be published upon introduction to Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_50

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many council tax payers pay over 12 months. \p Jim McMahon: Council tax is usually paid in 10 instalments across the year. Households have a right to request to pay their council tax in 12 monthly instalments. The government has not collected data on how many households pay their council tax across 12 instalments to date.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with local authorities on parish and town councils, in the context of her Department's proposals to reorganise local government structures. \p Jim McMahon: The English Devolution White Paper was clear that “We know people value the role of governance at the community scale and that can be a concern when local government is reorganised. We will therefore want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level. We will also rewire the relationship between town and parish councils and principal Local Authorities, strengthening expectations on engagement and community voice”.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Midlands Engine Strategy on economic growth in the Midlands. \p Alex Norris: Pan regional partnerships have made a valuable contribution, supporting collaboration and taking forward a breadth of work on shared growth opportunities. Moving forward, the government intends to support Mayors in collaborating at pan-regional level and creating convening bodies whose purpose, priorities and membership are decided at a regional level, and working with existing regional organisations such as Sub-National Transport bodies.

At the Autumn Budget, the government confirmed that it would consult on its minded to decision to cease funding for pan-regional partnerships at the end of this financial year. The consultation sought to gather views from all interested parties on the impacts of this decision, should it be taken forward, and closed on 16 December. The Department is currently considering the responses received and will confirm a final decision shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_53

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to recover costs incurred by local authorities in maintaining the safety, security and environmental integrity of the property portfolio originating from the administration of the Carlauren Group ;and whether she has made an estimate as to the total cost to local authorities of this work since 2019. \p Jim McMahon: Local authorities have flexibility over the money they receive, enabling them to work with their residents to decide how best to spend it on local priorities. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are responsible for commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people to access quality care.

The responsibility for management of any of Carlauren Group’s former properties sits with the current freeholders, who would be responsible for any related costs. Local authorities can decide how to pursue recovery of any costs incurred in line with their broader financial responsibilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 22092 on Local Government: Reform, whether local council mergers will be required under the English Devolution White Paper. \p Jim McMahon: On 16 December, I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries alongside the English Devolution White Paper, to set out our plans. I intend to formally invite unitary proposals in January 2025 from all these councils and I will ask for interim plans in March. I am open to hearing from other councils who consider reorganisation will put them on a more sustainable footing. As set out in the White Paper, I will take a phased approach to delivery, taking into account where reorganisation can unlock devolution, where areas are keen to move quickly or where it can help address wider failings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her guidance entitled Explanatory note on the National Insurance Contribution compensation 2025 to 2026, published on 18 December 2024, on what methodological basis the figure of £515 million was reached to help local authorities mitigate the additional impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions; and what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's polices of representations from the Local Government Association on its estimate of (a) direct and (b) indirect costs for local government. \p Jim McMahon: The additional £515 million made available by the government to compensate local government in England as a whole for the impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs), has been determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff across the public sector. We will confirm final positions on the methodology and approach to allocations following the conclusion of the consultation on the provisional settlement currently underway. Final allocations will be provided at the latest as part of the final local government finance settlement in early 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question xx-xxxx-xxxx on New Towns, what discussions she has had with local authorities on participation in the New Towns programme. \p Matthew Pennycook: As per its Terms of Reference which can be found on gov.uk here, in developing recommendations to ministers, the New Towns Taskforce will engage with local stakeholders, including local authorities. The Taskforce will report in the summer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 16 December 2024, Official Report, HCWS316, on the Devolution White Paper, whether devolution by default will include the devolution of local taxation powers by default. \p Jim McMahon: We have published a new, enhanced devolution framework, expanding and deepening the powers available to Mayors and Strategic Authorities. Mayors of Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will, for the first time, have a right to request further devolution of specific functions and powers which the government will have to respond to. The government keeps all taxes under review and is focused on standardising existing tax powers which are currently uneven across Mayoral areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17829 on Combined Authorities, what guidance her Department has issued on whether a two-tier area currently with a county council and district councils will (a) form a combined authority for that county area or (b) be merged with another county area to form a combined authority. \p Jim McMahon: The English Devolution White Papper states that for areas with two tiers of local government, before moving to a single tier, the government will establish Combined County Authorities but not Combined Authorities. Also, that we will legislate to ensure that Strategic Authorities can change structure should local government reorganisation take place, for example, changing from a Combined County Authority to a Combined Authority when a two-tier area becomes single-tier.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16542 on Councillors: Data Protection, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using a Legislative Reform Order to remove the requirement for councillors home addresses to be published. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 16542 on 5 December 2024. We consider removal of the requirement for councillors’ home addresses to be published is best achieved by primary legislation and intend to legislate at the first available opportunity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_60

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 21478 on Local Government: Correspondence and with reference to the letter of 16 December 2024 to council leaders from the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, for what reason local elections in May 2025 may be delayed before the conclusions of the statutory consultation on specific unitary proposals. \p Jim McMahon: As set out in in my letter of 16 December, I have heard from some areas that the timing of elections affects their planning for devolution, particularly alongside reorganisation, and to help manage these demands, I will consider requests made by 10 January to delay elections. I also set out that these requests would only be considered where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. This is a high bar to reach and it is not expected that all councils who have applied to be on the priority programme will go forward as a result.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_61

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question HL3294 on Parish and Town Councils: Employers’ contributions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the increase in the rate of employers' National Insurance contributions on (a) parish councils and (b) parish precepts. \p Jim McMahon: The government recognises the important role town and parish councils have in improving the quality of life and wellbeing of their communities. We recognise that the increase in the rate of employers’ National Insurance Contributions will lead to increased costs for some parish councils, which may require them to increase their precept. We recognise that decisions to increase precepts are not taken lightly by parish councils.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_62

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Flood Recovery Framework has been activated in each of the last 10 years; which local authorities were eligible for support on each occasion; and how much was paid to each local authority area on each occasion. \p Alex Norris: The Flood Recovery Framework (the Framework) has been activated on four separate occasions in the last 10 years. The Framework was activated in November 2019, February 2020, following Storm Babet in October 2023 and Storm Henk in January 2024.

For each activation of the Framework, the following tables lists the names of the local authorities eligible to receive flood recovery relief from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government sponsored schemes and the amounts awarded to date. The Ministry will be making final payments to those local authorities impacted by Storms Babet and Henk that incurred costs up to 31 March 2025, after which both recovery schemes will close.

For other associated Flood Recovery Framework grants schemes, the Ministry does not hold information about awards made in relation to the Department for Business and Trade’s Business Recovery Grant scheme, and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Property Flood Resilience scheme.

Flood Recovery Framework Activation (docx, 49.6KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 6 January 2025, HCWS353, on Community Ownership Fund Round 4, how will the funds previously allocated to the Fund be utilised elsewhere. \p Alex Norris: The Community Ownership Fund has awarded a total of over £135 million to 409 projects across the United Kingdom. A further £8.5 million has been used to provide pre and post application support to projects via our development support provider, to allocate small revenue grants to projects ahead of applying to support them to procure professional services, to fund the evaluation of the effectiveness of the fund and on other administrative costs.

The £6.5 million in unallocated funding and any funding returned by projects that have had to withdraw will be used to fund other key government priorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on how the proposed Community Right to Buy will (a) operate and (b) differ from the community rights provisions of the Localism Act 2011. \p Alex Norris: Community Right to Buy will be introduced in the English Devolution Bill, providing stronger powers for local people who wish to purchase valued community spaces. We are considering what changes need to be made to the Localism Act 2011 to better support community ownership, while respecting the rights of asset owners. We will provide more details on the planned measures in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to encourage developers establishing new buildings to have (a) solar panels, (b) batteries and (c) heat pumps fitted; and what support is available to those developers. \p Alex Norris: The Government is committed to ensuring that the 1.5 million homes we will build over the course of this parliament will be high quality, well designed and sustainable. Renewable and low carbon technologies, such as solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, are a key part of our strategy to get to net zero via a decarbonised electricity grid. We must therefore take the opportunity, where appropriate, to encourage their adoption in new buildings.

In 2021 the Government introduce an uplift in energy efficiency standards. New buildings are now required to produce significantly less CO2 emissions compared to those built to previous standards. Already we have seen many homes being built with solar panels and heat pumps.

Future standards, to be introduced later this year, will set new buildings on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuels, ensuring they are fit for a net zero future. These buildings will be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. No further energy efficiency retrofit work will be necessary to enable them to become zero-carbon over time as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise.

A consultation setting out proposals for what the new standards should entail was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. We are carefully considering the feedback received and will publish the Government response, setting our more detail on the content of the standards, in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to support energy efficiency in domestic dwellings through the replacement of single glazed windows with double or triple glazing; and in what circumstances is planning permission required for such replacements. \p Alex Norris: Forthcoming changes to the energy performance model underpinning Energy Performance Certificates will ensure that fabric improvements made by consumers, such as installing double or triple glazing, are suitably recognised and rewarded by the model.

In most cases the replacement of windows of similar appearance can be undertaken without the need for a planning application. However, there may be some local exceptions, and other consents such as listed building consent may be required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support her Department provides to local authorities for English language tuition for (a) British National (Overseas) visa holders and (b) their families. \p Alex Norris: As part of MHCLG's Hong Kong British National (Overseas) [BN(O)] Welcome Programme, we fund local authorities in England up to £850 per adult BN(O) visa holder to support access to English language classes. This funding aims to help BN(O) visa holders and their dependents to improve their English language skills, facilitating better integration into their communities. The funding is demand-led, meaning it is based on current estimates of need. Local authorities are encouraged to collaborate with existing community groups and English language providers to build upon the existing local English language infrastructure. This approach helps to maximize the effectiveness of the support provided.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2024 to Question 10482 on Flats: Fire Prevention, when the Department's previous contract with PRP Group expired for the independent audit of Fire Risk Appraisals of the External Walls for under 11 metre buildings; and what estimate she has made of when the procurement of a new contract will be complete. \p Alex Norris: The Department’s previous contract with PRP Group expired in July 2024. Estimated timings for the completion of a new contract is March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question HL3240 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, which (a) local authorities and (b) public bodies have submitted representations to the planning inquiry. \p Matthew Pennycook: Representations have been submitted to the planning inquiry by The London Borough of Tower Hamlets. No representations have been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by public bodies. Some public bodies have submitted representations direct to the Local Planning Authority. Representations can be viewed in the inquiry library which can be found here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Regulator of Social Housing has provided guidance to registered providers of social housing on translation of guidance into foreign languages. \p Matthew Pennycook: All registered providers of social housing are required to deliver the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing. In particular, under the Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard, all registered providers must ensure that communication with and information for tenants is clear, accessible and appropriate to the diverse needs of their tenants.

The regulator’s consumer standards Code of Practice states that providers should make tenants aware of the different ways in which services are tailored to meet their needs. It provides examples of ways in which providers could achieve this, including by informing tenants that information can be supplied in different languages on request.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18959 on Planning Authorities: Staff, whether she plans to provide funding for the ongoing salary costs of the 300 new planning officers in the 2026-27 financial year. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to supporting local planning authorities. Any budgets and associated salary costs beyond 2025-2026 will be determined in the forthcoming Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the supply of adapted housing for (a) adults and (b) children with disabilities in South Holland and the Deepings constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The English Housing Survey includes data on adaptations within the home at a national level. Data is not held at constituency level.

The right housing arrangements are crucial in supporting people to live independently and well. The National Planning Policy Framework outlines that it is for local planning authorities to assess the housing needed for different groups in their area, including disabled people, and reflect this in their local plan.

Local housing authorities also have a statutory duty to provide Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding for home adaptations to disabled people of all ages and tenures subject to a means test, eligibility criteria and a needs assessment.

Government provided funding of £842,476 to South Holland District Council and £1,063,807 to South Kesteven District Council for the DFG for 2024–2025. As announced by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 3 January 2025, an in-year uplift to the DFG budget, totalling £86 million, will be paid to local authorities as soon as possible. South Holland District Council will receive £115,925 and South Kesteven District Council will receive £146,380 in additional funding.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) protect and (b) enhance green spaces in (i) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (ii) Lincolnshire. \p Matthew Pennycook: The designation of land as Local Green Space through local and neighbourhood plans allows communities to identify and protect green areas of particular importance to them. Designating land as Local Green Space should be consistent with the local planning of sustainable development and complement investment in sufficient homes, jobs, and other essential services.

The National Planning Policy Framework includes strong protections to prevent development on existing open space, including playing fields and formal play spaces, in recognition of its important role in supporting the health and well-being of communities, its wider benefits for nature and efforts to address climate change.

The government is committed to creating better access to parks and green spaces for everyone. The MHCLG-owned Green Flag Award scheme sets the national standard for parks and green spaces that are welcoming, safe, well-maintained and promote biodiversity and community participation, promoting best practice across the sector.  We have seen many green spaces across Lincolnshire afforded this prestigious accolade, including Boultham Park, Lincoln Arboretum, Queen Elizabeth Park and Central Park Scunthorpe.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Satvir Kaur:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of changes in the numbers of Permitted Development Rights. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government acknowledge the concerns that exist about the quality of residential units created through permitted development rights, particularly office-to-residential conversions. We will continue to keep permitted development rights under review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what dates the public hearings will be held for the Planning Inspectorate's inquiry into the Chinese Embassy planning application; and which planning inspector will be chairing the inquiry. \p Matthew Pennycook: The desired information can be found here on the Appeals Casework Portal reference APP/E5900/V/24/3353754.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to protect areas of natural beauty from (a) new infrastructure and (b) housing projects. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to ensuring that our most important and cherished landscapes are appropriately protected so they can be enjoyed by future generations.

Planning policy is clear that planning policies and decisions should recognise the character and beauty of the countryside, and local authorities are expected to protect heritage assets which can include landscape and setting of listed buildings.

The National Planning Policy Framework states that great weight should be given to conserving and enhancing landscape and scenic beauty in National Landscapes, and that the scale and extent of any development in these areas should be limited.

Relevant authorities must also make sure that any proposals seek to further the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the National Landscape.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Bill on levels of inflation in (a) the next six months and (b) the six months following the commencement of the Bill's provisions. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government published a Renters’ Rights Bill Impact Assessment on 22 November 2024, which indicated that a landlords’ ability to increase rents is highly variable and depends on supply and demand as well as wider market conditions, including the quality of their property compared to others in the local area. The evidence also shows that landlords value good tenants – and are therefore less likely to raise rents for sitting tenants.

In addition, for landlords that already provide decent homes and a prompt repair service to their tenants, the costs of our reforms are estimated to be just £22 per rented property annually – only 0.2% of mean annual rents.

We have set out how we are developing our monitoring and evaluation approach for the reforms in the Renters’ Rights Bill Impact Assessment. We will continue to monitor trends across the private rented sector to understand how it is responding to our reforms.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will list the programmes launched since 5 July 2024 requiring local authorities to bid for funding. \p Jim McMahon: The government is committed to pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to return the local government sector to a sustainable position. This will be done in partnership with local government. We are inviting views on our objectives and principles for local government funding reform via a consultation that is open until the 12 February.

In regard to Local Growth funding, this Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed a partnership approach with local authorities and an intention to stabilise the funding system by providing multi-year funding settlements and ending competitive bidding which was the requirement for funds such as Future High Streets Fund, Town Deals and the Levelling Up Fund.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the frequency at which local authorities can issue local newspapers. \p Jim McMahon: The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity provides guidance to local authorities on the appropriate use of publicity. This includes the frequency of newsletters, newssheets or similar communications which seek to emulate commercial newspapers in style or content. Councils should not issue such communications more frequently than quarterly, apart from parish councils which should issue them no more frequently than monthly.

Local authorities are required to have regard to this guidance in coming to any decision on publicity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the allowances of combined authority mayors will be determined. \p Jim McMahon: Decisions on allowances for Combined Authority mayors is a matter for each individual Combined Authority. The process to follow is set out in regulation 20 of the of the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003. This requires them to consider a report from an independent remuneration panel established by the Combined Authority or by one or more of their constituent councils.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17835 on Local Government Pension Scheme, and with reference to the consultation paper entitled Local Government Pension Scheme (England and Wales): Fit for the future, published on 14 November 2024, on what (a) geographical areas or (b) local government tiers will the new asset pools be based. \p Jim McMahon: The Government has asked the existing Local Government Pension Scheme asset pools to submit proposals as to how they will meet the minimum requirements set out in the consultation. The Government is not proposing to require changes to the areas covered by the pools in order to align with regions, strategic authorities or other geographic or local government areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19363 on INTERREG Programme, whether any of the Interreg programmes are still operational. \p Alex Norris: All projects funded by 2014-20 INTERREG programmes had to complete delivery by December 2023. The ongoing work by MHCLG officials covered in the answer to Question 19363 is focused on closure of these programmes. The INTERREG PEACEPLUS programme continues to operate between communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but MHCLG does not have a role in this programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities to provide public conveniences. \p Alex Norris: Adequate provision of public conveniences is an important issue which local authorities are best suited to manage, given their firm understanding of the needs of their communities.

Our English Devolution White Paper, published before Christmas, sets out how we will unleash power from Whitehall back into communities, with local government having a much greater ability to make decisions based on local priorities. Similarly, the Local Government Finance Settlement 2025 to 2026 published in November 2024 outlines how councils will have more financial certainty and flexibility when making decisions for their areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Provisional local government finance settlement: England, 2025 to 2026, published on 18 December 2024, what estimate she has made of the expected increase in average Band D council tax in England in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms between 2024-25 and 2025-26 when calculating the core spending power increase. \p Jim McMahon: Growth in council tax revenue is calculated using two factors, growth in the size of the tax base, and levels of taxation. Council tax levels are assumed to increase in line with the principles set out at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement. More detail on the methodology including assumptions about the growth in the size of the tax base is available here.

The methodology used to calculate the expected increase in average Band D council tax in England is available in the Explanatory Note on Core Spending Power for the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2025-26.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of assessing council tax value based on the number of bedrooms within a property. \p Jim McMahon: The Valuation Office Agency considers a range of factors in determining a dwelling’s council tax band, including the size, layout, location and character of the dwelling. The government has no plans to change how dwellings are assessed for council tax.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15001 on Local Government Finance and with reference to the Provisional local government finance settlement: England, 2025 to 2026, published on 18 December 2024, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) value of locally retained business rates in 2025-26 and (b) the proportion of core spending power comprised by those rates. \p Jim McMahon: Local authorities have not yet submitted their estimates of business rates income for 2025-26. The Department will publish local authority estimates of locally retained business rates for 2025-26 on 19th February.

Core Spending Power, published alongside the settlement, includes Settlement Funding Assessment which is comprised of Revenue Support Grant and a component linked to business rates - Baseline Funding Levels. Baseline Funding Levels represent an authority’s need that is funded via business rates and will increase to £16.1 billion for 2025-26. In addition, Core Spending Power includes an adjustment for compensation for under-indexing the business rates multipliers of £2.7 billion. In total, business rates elements make up £18.8 billion, or 27% of core spending power.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that importers comply with the ban on disposable vapes from June 2025. \p Mary Creagh: Single-use vapes are extremely wasteful and blight the streets of our towns and cities.

Banning these vapes will stop them from being thrown into bins with general waste, where they typically end up in landfill or being incinerated, posing a fire risk due to their lithium-ion batteries and can cause poor air quality. Furthermore, it will stop plastic, lead, and mercury from leaching into the environment, which can cause waterways to be contaminated and poison our wildlife.

We are working to ensure that businesses are aware of the obligations that they will have under the single-use vapes supply ban. We are advising that businesses should not be purchasing further single-use vapes and have made this clear in the business guidance we have published which can be viewed here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 18950 on Planning Permission: Air Pollution, if he will make an estimate of the average additional cost resulting from that interim guidance for a new building dwelling in areas with poor air quality. \p Emma Hardy: The interim planning guidance applies to developments which would normally require an air quality assessment, regardless of location and is expected to have minimal impact on the cost of new developments. As this is interim guidance an assessment of cost is not required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on meeting the UK's obligations under the (a) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 10 and (b) Paris Agreement. \p Emma Hardy: The 2015 Paris Agreement, Article 7 established the global goal on adaptation. At COP28, the UK adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience and agreed to launch a two-year work programme on indicators related to those targets. Defra is working to meet these targets alongside other Government departments.

The UK has a Paris Agreement aligned, ambitious and credible Nationally Determined Contribution target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels, excluding international aviation and shipping emissions.

The UK submitted its first UNFCCC Biennial Transparency Report in December 2024, detailing the UK’s mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and support for developing countries to tackle climate change.

The UK over-achieved against the first, second and third carbon budgets. We will deliver an updated Plan in due course out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 with full detail of policy packages for all sectors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Liam Conlon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to the natural environment. \p Mary Creagh: The Government recognises the vital role access to the natural environment plays in supporting people’s health and wellbeing and is committed to ensuring opportunities to enjoy the outdoors are both safe and appropriate. To this end, we have set out ambitious manifesto commitments, including the creation of nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England, which will significantly expand access to the great outdoors.

Key initiatives are already underway to improve access to nature, including The King Charles III England Coast Path, which will be the longest waymarked and maintained coastal walking route in the world, spanning approximately 2,700 miles. The project will also create 250,000 hectares of new open access land within the coastal margin.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to increase funding available to national landscape teams. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to empowering Protected Landscapes to become greener, wilder, and more accessible to all. We understand the uncertainty around resourcing remains a challenge for National Landscapes teams. Defra business planning is ongoing, and we will communicate the outcomes of this as soon as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of frequent flooding on the (a) economy and (b) social cohesion of areas impacted. \p Emma Hardy: Flood defences are critical to the protection of life and property and the effective functioning of the economy. Resilience and adaptation to the changing climate provide economic resilience and are key to supporting the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.

The Environment Agency gathers data on how flooding affects the economy. The economic losses from the winter 2019 to 2020 flooding are estimated to be about £333 million. However, the economic damage avoided because of the protection provided is at least 14 times greater, at around £4.6 billion to £9.3 billion.

Around 36% of the damages caused by floods are to publicly owned infrastructure like roads, railways, schools and hospitals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to open the Property Resilience Repair Grant Scheme in the context of the floods in Oxfordshire on 22-24 November 2024. \p Emma Hardy: The Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant scheme can provide up to £5000 for eligible households and businesses to install PFR measures. The PFR grant scheme is typically activated alongside the Flood Recovery Framework (FRF) coordinated by MHCLG and only activated where there is large scale and widespread flooding. With localised flooding incidents, we expect Local Authorities to have well established contingency arrangements in place and to be able to respond and support their local communities within existing budgets. Below that local authorities provide support as needed. The flooding in November was not at the scale where we would expect to open FRF and PFR schemes.

To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, we will invest £2.4 billion in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience, by building, maintaining, and repairing flood defences.

Included in this programme, the Environment Agency is working proactively with local authorities to deliver Property Flood Resilience (PFR) projects, where it is cost beneficial to do so, in areas where PFR is the best solution for reducing flood risk. The EA’s PFR programme is focused on reducing risk to those households and businesses at the highest risk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which legislation created the requirement for individuals to obtain permission from every riparian property owner to pass through their land while using a waterway; and whether he plans to (a) clarify and (b) amend existing guidance on public access to rivers. \p Emma Hardy: Determining access rights onto rivers is complex. There is no general waterway access right and the matter has not been tested in the courts. It is not government’s role to offer legal advice, and at present those seeking to navigate inland rivers for recreational purposes where there is no navigation authority should establish that they have a legal right to do so, either through voluntary agreement with riparian landowners or otherwise.

The Government is considering the approach to improving access to nature and is committed to working with stakeholders as this develops. A further update will be provided in due course.