theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve the provision of mental health services in the London Borough of Havering. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes transforming mental health services into 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres, improving access to Mental Health Support Teams, expanding talking therapies and giving patients better access to 24/7 support directly through the National Health Service App.

Nationally, the Government is investing an extra £688 million this year to transform mental health services.

We are also delivering on our commitment to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers for children and adults by the end of this Parliament. We are more than halfway towards this target, which will help to ease pressure on busy mental health services.

Responsibility for commissioning of mental health services sits with integrated care boards (ICBs). It is the role of local ICBs to consider what mental health services are needed for their populations and include the perspectives of healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups and local authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of providing additional funding for early mental health interventions for (a) children and (b) young people in (i) Surrey Heath constituency and (ii) Surrey on long-term costs to the public purse. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department recognises that, for children and young people in distress or struggling with their mental health, fast access to early, high-quality support is critical. By intervening earlier, common mental health conditions can be prevented from developing into more serious conditions in later life and which require more costly interventions.

That is why the 10-Year Health Plan sets out how we will work with schools and colleges to better identify and meet children's mental health needs by continuing to fund the roll out of mental health support teams in schools and colleges to reach full national coverage by 2030 and embedding support for young people’s mental health in the new Young Futures Hubs, to ensure there is no 'wrong front door' for people seeking help. At the end of March 2025, 44% of pupils and learners in the hon. Member’s constituency and 27% across the whole of Surrey were covered by a mental health support team.

Additionally, we are continuing to provide top-up funding of £7 million to 24 existing early support hubs in 2025-26 to expand their services and take part in an ongoing evaluation of these services. This funding will enable the supported hubs to deliver at least 10,000 additional mental health and wellbeing interventions, so that more children and young people are supported.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to specialist psychological support for parents following pregnancy or baby loss in each region; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all bereaved parents can access such support through the NHS regardless of where they live. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Government is determined to ensure all women and babies receive the high-quality care they deserve, regardless of their background, location or ethnicity. That is why the Secretary of State has set up a rapid, national, independent Investigation into National Health Service maternity and neonatal services to understand the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies and families experience unacceptable care.

The Investigation will deliver interim recommendations in December 2025, ahead of further findings in spring 2026. The Secretary of State will chair a Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce that will develop an action plan based on the Investigation recommendations and oversee implementation and improvement in outcomes.

Bereavement services that are available seven days a week are also being set up in every area in England to support women and families who experience pregnancy loss or neonatal death.  These services are in place in 115 out of 120 trusts with maternity services in England.

All NHS trusts in England are also signed up to the National Bereavement Care Pathway which is designed to improve the quality and consistency of bereavement care for parents and families experiencing pregnancy or baby loss.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of disparities between (a) regions and (b) urban and rural areas in the level of mental health among young people. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department routinely monitors mental health inequalities through robust population-based prevalence surveys. The National Health Service Mental Health of Children and Young People Survey (MHCYPS) provides critical insights into youth mental health prevalence and associated risk factors. The 2020 survey found significant regional variation in the prevalence of probable mental disorders in children aged between five and 16 in England, ranging from 10.0% in London to 20.5% in the West Midlands.

For adults, the 2023/24 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, which covers people aged 16 and over, also found regional differences in common mental health conditions. People in the North East (24.6%) and East Midlands (24.6%) were more likely to have a common mental health condition than those in the South East (16.3%) and South West (18.7%).

Narrowing mental health inequalities is a key commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan. We are piloting neighbourhood mental health centres around the country, in both rural and urban areas, and making it easier than ever before to receive mental health support via the NHS app.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing ongoing access to therapy for people with complex mental health needs. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: We recognise the importance of providing ongoing access to therapy for people with complex mental health needs. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service and the three big shifts needed in the system – analogue to digital, sickness to prevention and hospital to community.

As part of this, we are piloting neighbourhood mental health centres. These pilots aim to provide open access holistic care for anyone with a severe mental illness or complex mental health needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, bringing together a range of community mental health services and other forms of relevant support under one roof, including crisis services and short-stay beds.

NHS England is also developing a Modern Service Framework which will focus on services for people with severe and enduring mental illness and services for people with complex emotional needs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

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Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has held discussions on the development of a National Eye Care Framework in England; and whether patients and sector experts will be consulted as part of that process. \p Stephen Kinnock: The 10-Year Health Plan supports more locally developed and integrated neighbourhood care rather than a top-down, one-size-fits-all solution. Integrated care boards will want to take different approaches to commissioning primary and secondary eye care services, depending on the skills and resources available to them.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

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Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the use of the optometry workforce in (a) early intervention and (b) prevention of avoidable sight loss. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.

ICBs already commission National Health Service sight testing services through high street optical practices. Regular sight tests, whether provided by the NHS or privately, play a vital role in the early detection of sight threatening eye conditions.

ICBs can also commission enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices, including minor and urgent eye care services and glaucoma referral refinement services. These services further support the identification and management of eye conditions to prevent avoidable sight loss.
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Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with stakeholders in the optometry sector on the future delivery of primary eye care services in the last 12 months. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them.

Over the last 12 months I have met with a number of representatives across the eye care sector including The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee, The Eyes Have It Partnership, as well as members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual impairment, which included the Hon. Member for Leicester South, to discuss primary eye care services. Officials in the Department also regularly meet with optometry stakeholders.
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Catherine West:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps his Department has taken with community organisations to help tackle (a) anti-Semitism and (b) anti-Muslim hatred. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: In response to the concerning rise in both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, the Government is absolutely committed to rooting out these forms of hatred. We are working across government on security, education and working alongside local government.

An Antisemitism Working Group has been established to advise the Government on effective strategies to tackle hate against Jewish communities and will explore how the Government should engage with Jewish communities in relation to international, national, and local events that impact British Jews. In addition, the government continues to work with the independent advisor Lord Mann in combating antisemitism through meaningful engagement with diverse communities.

Regarding tackling anti-Muslim hatred, the Government established an independent working group to advise on a non-statutory definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia. The working group have engaged widely to ensure their proposed definition accounts for the variety of backgrounds and experiences of communities across the United Kingdom.

The government also funds the British Muslim Trust to deliver a comprehensive service to monitor anti-Muslim hatred and provide support to victims, and True Vision, an online hate crime reporting portal, designed so that victims of hate crime do not have to visit a police station to report to the police.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms will evaluate the Pride in Place programme at the local level. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: This government is committed to taking a comprehensive approach to evaluating the Pride in Place Programme, including the impacts felt by funded communities. We will publish an Outcomes and Evaluation strategy in due course, which will set out more detail on what the evaluation will include.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to review the criteria for designating Assets of Community Value to consider environmental benefit as a qualifying factor. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The new community right to buy, which we are introducing through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, will give communities stronger powers to take ownership of assets that are important to them and save them for future community use.

Communities will be able to nominate any asset that furthers the social or economic wellbeing of the community, which will include a range of environmental assets, and purchase these if they are put up for sale.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what further steps he plans take to help tackle (a) Islamophobic and (b) antisemitic hate crime in London. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will encourage the Building Safety Regulator to provide a timeline for decision on the 338 social homes intended for the former Bermondsey Biscuit Factory development site. \p Samantha Dixon: The Building Safety Regulator has received three Building Control Applications for new higher risk buildings to be built on the Biscuit Factory site. Progress on each application is set out in the following table. Please note that assessment of applications is a dynamic process, and timetables can change dependent on the information provided by the applicant:

Application Name

Application Number

Current status

Number of homes

When decision is expected

Block OPQ

BCA03545Z1N7

Statutory fire consultation has completed.  Final stages of assessment underway

187 over 14 floors

November 2025

Block W

BCA04254L1T8

Assessment is continuing. Statutory fire consultation will start once all fire matters within the application have been resolved

69 over 18 floors

January 2026

Block V

BCA05762F2G7

Assessment is continuing. Statutory fire consultation will start once all fire matters within the application have been resolved

82 over 10 floors

January 2026
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking with the (a) financial sector and (b) regulators to help ensure that mortgage lenders provide loans to leaseholders affected by building safety issues in the period after the Grenfell Tower fire. \p Samantha Dixon: Officials in my department have regular engagement with financial sector stakeholders. A product of this is the lenders’ statement on cladding which has signatories from ten major banks and building societies.

These lenders have committed to consider mortgage applications, even if a property has building safety issues, provided either the building has funding for works from government or the developer, or the property is protected by the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act, and the leaseholder has completed a ‘Leaseholder Deed of Certificate’ to evidence it.

Officials have well-established relationships with regulators should the need arise to discuss a particular issue.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help promote public confidence in democratic institutions. \p Samantha Dixon: The Government is working closely with a wide range of stakeholders including the Electoral Commission to identify how best to improve public confidence in democratic institutions and tackle the barriers that affect attitudes towards those institutions and participation in our democracy.

For example, MHCLG is exploring integrating the Register to Vote digital service with GOV.UK One Login and the GOV.UK app, which support citizens to access a range of government services more easily, and which could streamline the route to registration for many people. The Attorney General is also prioritising direct engagement with civil society groups and young people, to develop and strengthen the cultural acceptance of the rule of law as a fundamental democratic and British value, further helping to rebuild public trust in the institutions that underpin our democracy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of its proposal to remove the dual registration rule from the Elections Act 2022 on the growth of super-PAC style campaigns in the UK. \p Samantha Dixon: The prohibition on dual registration has affected organisations which operated under longstanding formal electoral agreements and stood joint candidates with other parties. These restrictions meant legitimate smaller parties were excluded from participating fully, effectively barring these parties from our democracy.

We plan to correct this issue in limited circumstances while ensuring we protect the level playing-field for political campaigning. Our changes will not facilitate super-PAC campaigns.

These measures support the broader democratic objective of enabling a diverse range of campaigners to participate in political debate. It is vital that voters are able to hear a variety of voices and perspectives, and third-party campaigners play a critical role in fostering healthy democratic engagement.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the 10% commission charge on the sale of park homes on park home owners. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 69040 on 24 July 2025.
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Mohammad Yasin:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s September 2025 report entitled Brownfield Potential: Unlocking 1.5 Million Homes; and what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to bring such sites forward for development. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including the development of under-utilised land and buildings to meet the need for homes and other uses.

Through the revisions made to the NPPF on 12 December 2024 we broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas.

On 22 September 2024, the government published a ‘brownfield passport’ working paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land. This included exploring the role of national policy in setting minimum density expectations for certain types of locations, to support intensification in the right places. Utilising the feedback provided, we intend to consult this year on a new suite of national policies for decision making that will give effect to these proposals.

On 18 June 2025, my Department announced £5 billion of new capital grant funding for infrastructure and land. This funding will be administered by the new National Housing Delivery Fund, through which councils will be able to secure funding for prospective projects, to contribute to the Government’s priority of delivering 1.5 million homes.

We will consider the points made by the Campaign to Protect Rural England in their September 2025 report as we continue to develop our policy in this area.
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Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that affordable new homes are built to a high standard of flood resilience. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or in the future). Where development is necessary in such areas, the development should be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere.

If it is found to be necessary to build homes in areas of flood risk, statutory guidance accompanying the Building Regulations promotes flood resilient building work in flood-prone areas, through Approved Document C which can be found on gov.uk here. This may include adequate sub-soil drainage; use of non-return valves and anti-flooding devices on sewers and drains; water resistant construction; and provision for inspection and clearance of sub-floor voids.
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Lee Pitcher:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the rate of office-to-residential asset conversions to accelerate the delivery of social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: Under nationally set permitted development rights a wide range of commercial buildings such as offices and shops are able to change use to residential without the need for a planning application.

The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that build to let developments contribute to local affordable housing quotas. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure.

As part of this commitment, we are reviewing the planning practice guidance PPG on viability. That guidance currently recognises that the economics of Build to Rent (BtR) schemes differ from build for sale as they depend on a long-term income stream. As such, for build to rent it is expected that the normal form of affordable housing provision will be affordable private rent.

Where plan makers wish to set affordable private rent proportions or discount levels at a level differing from national planning policy and guidance, this can be reviewed through a viability assessment at the plan-making stage. This approach ensures that local planning authorities continue to maximise contributions towards affordable housing and community infrastructure, while supporting the delivery of viable developments.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including council and housing association tenants are not included in the EPC rating system requirements; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that social housing tenants have (a) adequate heating systems, (b) affordable heating bills and (c) the same rights as private renters. \p Matthew Pennycook: Every tenant deserves to live in a decent, warm and comfortable home.

The recently closed consultation on the future of Energy Performance Certificates, which can be found on gov.uk here, provides an opportunity to ensure the standard in the social rented sector incentivise the appropriate measures for each home.

The government also recently consulted on proposals to set a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for socially rented homes.

Socially rented homes are not currently required to meet a minimum EPC standard and current requirements are roughly equivalent to an EPC ‘F’ rating.

The consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, proposes setting the standard at EPC C or equivalent by 2030. This mirrors proposals to raise standards in the private rented sector, set out within a recently closed consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes which can be found on gov.uk here.

This MEES will be included in the modernised Decent Homes Standard (DHS), which the government recently consulted on, as part of a Criterion D on thermal comfort. The consultation on a reformed DHS for social and privately rented homes can be found on gov.uk here.

Both consultations closed on 12 September, and we have committed to publishing the final standards before the end of the year.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many people have been denied access to social housing waiting lists due to previously unlawfully subletting social housing in the last year. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department does not hold data on the number of people who have been denied access to social housing waiting lists due to previously unlawfully subletting social housing in the last year.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in house prices in the East of England in the last 10 years. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has made no specific assessment of house prices or housing affordability in the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency or the East of England more generally.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on house prices and annual earnings to calculate affordability ratios for national and subnational geographies in England and Wales on an annual basis. This is published on the ONS website here. The East of England average affordability ratio in 2024 was 9.1.

The ONS also publishes data on private rental and house prices. The latest release can be found on the ONS website here.

The ONS also publishes annual data on private rental affordability in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The latest release can be found on the ONS website here.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what eligibility criteria local authorities may use for the First Homes scheme; and whether his Department has oversight over those criteria. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local authorities are required to apply the national eligibility criteria set out in the relevant guidance published on gov.uk here. They may also introduce local eligibility criteria at their discretion. However, any such criteria must be based on local evidence of housing need and should be justifiable and proportionate to local circumstances.

While my Department does not directly approve each local criterion, it maintains oversight through the policy framework, ensuring that local approaches remain consistent with the overall aims of the scheme.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2024, to Question 5687, on Housing: Construction, whether his Department's target to build 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament will be based on the number of housing (a) starts and (b) completions. \p Matthew Pennycook: As we have repeatedly made clear, progress toward the government’s Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament will be measured through the number of net additional dwellings.
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Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending planning legislation on digital advertising screens. \p Matthew Pennycook: The advertisement control regime seeks to control the impact of advertisements by reference to their effect on amenity and public safety. Responsibility for the application of the legislation rests with local planning authorities and they are best placed to consider the impact of specific advertisements.

My Department has not made any assessment of the impact of digital advertising screens and we have no current plans to issue guidance to local planning authorities on the cumulative impact of such installations.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will encourage Councils to offer payroll deduction to employees wishing to save money with a credit union. \p Alison McGovern: Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces including setting their own terms and conditions and employment packages in compliance with all relevant employment legislation.
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Daniel Francis:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of improving the regulations on registering as a provider of social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 sets out who is eligible for registration and gives the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) the power to set criteria on certain matters that landlords must meet to register with them.

RSH’s registration criteria is designed so that once registered, social housing landlords can meet ongoing regulatory requirements: to provide safe, well-maintained homes through organisation that are well governed and financially viable.

Both the Department and the Regulator engage regularly with stakeholders and remain open to receiving feedback on engaging with the registration process.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any respondents to the consultation on the Competence and Conduct Standard for Social Housing, updated on 30 September 2025, raised concerns about the reliance on continuous assessment in housing qualifications; and whether any respondents expressed concern about the absence of formal examinations as a means of assessing critical thinking and competence in key areas such as housing law and repairs. \p Matthew Pennycook: This government carefully considered responses to the consultation led by the previous government in respect of the Competence and Conduct Standard and has now published its response which can be found on gov.uk here.

A small number of respondents raised concerns about assessment methods for qualifications and very few respondents raised concerns about artificial intelligence.

The government has not set prescriptive requirements on methods of assessment, and it will be for awarding organisations to determine how learning is assessed. We also expect awarding organisations to have policies in place to mitigate the risks posed by the use of artificial intelligence.

As set out in the final policy statement, qualifications must be equivalent to or higher than an Ofqual regulated level 4 qualification for senior housing managers and a level 5 qualification or foundation degree for senior housing executives. Ofqual ensures that regulated qualifications are robust and valid through the General Conditions of Recognition – the rules for all the qualifications and organisations Ofqual regulates which can be found on gov.uk here. All regulated awarding organisations have a legal obligation to comply with these rules on an ongoing basis.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Shared Ownership scheme in helping young people into long-term home ownership. \p Matthew Pennycook: The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government is supporting people into home ownership, including through the shared ownership scheme.

Shared Ownership has already helped thousands of people take their first step on to the housing ladder. It plays a vital role in offering a route into home ownership to those who would otherwise struggle to buy a home.

The evidence suggests that shared ownership effectively support younger home buyers. In 2023–24, 65% of purchasers were aged under 40, including 32% under 30, based on CORE data which can be found on gov.uk here and in Live Table 695 on gov.uk here. It should be noted that this reflects only recorded transactions by Registered Providers and does not capture all shared ownership sales.

The government is considering what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_95

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the dashboard accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, for what reason his Department's project entitled Digital Planning Programme was not included on the Government Evaluation Registry. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Digital Planning Programme is included in the Government Evaluation Registry.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_96

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he will consider introducing a statutory duty for local planning authorities to provide technical assistance to groups preparing neighbourhood plans. \p Matthew Pennycook: Neighbourhood Plans which have passed referenda have statutory weight and form part of the development plan.

The government remains of the view that neighbourhood plans can play an important role in the planning system. Communities can continue to prepare neighbourhood plans where they consider doing so is in their best interests.

Neighbourhood planning groups have received over £71 million since 2013. This support has created a network of planners and groups who have the skills and expertise to prepare neighbourhood plans and to help other communities to do so.

Local planning authorities have an existing duty under Paragraph 3 of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to provide advice and assistance to neighbourhood planning groups. They can also, at their discretion taking into account their constituents’ needs and priorities, provide funding in support of neighbourhood plan preparation.

As of the end of September 2025, the department was aware of c.1850 made neighbourhood plans in England. The Department is aware of 23 neighbourhood plans which have been adopted in Lancashire since 2015, of which 2 were in the Fylde constituency.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_97
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_97

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many First Homes properties have been built; and how many are due to be built by 2030. \p Matthew Pennycook: Up to March 2024, 395 First Homes have been delivered through Section 106 developer contributions, and a further 1,275 through the Early Delivery Programme. This totals 1,670 First Homes altogether. These figures are published in the Live tables on affordable housing supply (Table 1011) which can be found on gov.uk here.

Local authorities are not required to report First Homes delivery separately, so these figures represent the most current data available. Since the removal of the national minimum delivery requirement, local authorities now have discretion over whether to deliver First Homes, and if so, how many. This flexibility allows them to prioritise housing tenures that better meet local needs, such as Social Rent, Affordable Rent and Shared Ownership.

As a result, my Department does not hold data on future delivery and cannot provide an estimate of how many First Homes will be built by 2030. Delivery decisions rest with individual local authorities.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_98
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_98

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 74221 on Business Rates: Tax Allowance, whether any central government body is responsible for monitoring rate relief fraud across local authorities. \p Alison McGovern: Business Rates are a local tax and local authorities are responsible for decisions on the awarding of relief, ensuring compliance, and tackling fraud.

The Government also provides local authorities with data-matching services to help detect fraud and errors in business rates by comparing different datasets, through the Cabinet Office’s National Fraud Initiative (NFI).
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_99
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_99

Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has considered reducing the desired population size for new unitary councils to 300,000 residents. \p Alison McGovern: New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks.

The 500,000 figure is a guiding principle, not a hard target. We understand the need for flexibility, especially given our ambition to build out devolution and take account of housing growth alongside local government reorganisation.

All proposals – whether they are at, above, or below the guided level – should clearly set out the rationale for the proposed approach. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_100
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_100

Alberto Costa:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to require parish councils to submit annual governance reports to their principal authorities. \p Alison McGovern: The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require parish councils and other smaller authorities to produce an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR). Parish councils are accountable to their local electorate rather than their principal authority. The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 require councils to make their unaudited AGAR available for public inspection. Councils are also required to publish their AGAR (including the external auditor's report and certificate) online and/or on noticeboards by the end of September following the end of the financial year to which the statement relates.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_101
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_101

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential need for additional financial support to local authorities to offset revenue losses during the equalisation process of Council Tax rates. \p Alison McGovern: Council tax is managed by local authorities, who decide what level of council tax they wish to set. There is an established system for the locally-led harmonisation of council tax levels across the restructured local authority area, no later than the start of the eighth year after reorganisation. The Government will continue to set referendum principles each year and any authority which sets a council tax increase above the principles must have it approved by voters.

The government is committed to ensuring that funding is targeted effectively at the places and services that need it most and allocated in a way that empowers local leaders to deliver against local priorities. This includes committing to multi-year allocations for each council through the upcoming 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) and moving to a more up-to-date assessment of each council’s needs and resources.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_102
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_102

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the former Deputy Prime Minister has received a Ministerial severance payment. \p Samantha Dixon: Details of such payments are published in departmental annual reports and accounts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_103

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 July 2025 to Question 69052 on Belong: Contracts and with reference to Belong's press release entitled Belong commissioned by MHCLG to develop national cohesion guidance in partnership with the LGA, published on 1 May 2025, how much funding his Department is providing to Belong to develop the national cohesion guidance; and if he will publish the contract for that funding agreement. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 75178 on 12 September 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_104

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much of the Mayoral Recyclable Growth Fund will be available to the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: At the Spending Review the government announced that the new Mayoral Recyclable Growth Fund will be available to Mayors in the North and Midlands with an integrated settlement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_105

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to strengthen retrospective rural-proofing of his Department's policies. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 73926 on 12 September 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_106

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of cashless car parks in (a) Slough and (b) Berkshire. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Central Government does not collect this information.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_107
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_107

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 71488 on Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, who the members are of the social cohesion taskforce. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: As outlined in my response to Question 71488, the Social Cohesion Taskforce is an internal Civil Service team comprised of civil servants.