theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many electric charging points have been established through Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding. \p Keir Mather: In total, the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, alongside significant private investment, is expected to support the installation of at least 100,000 chargepoints across England.

The majority of LEVI projects have now been approved to go to delivery, the first contracts have been signed between local authorities and chargepoint operators, and the first projects have now started to install chargepoints. Data on chargepoints installed under LEVI will be available in due course. Installation rates will increase as more projects enter delivery, with installation expected to continue over the coming years.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 51813 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland on the number of additional publicly available EV charging points that are due to be delivered following the extra funding provided in 2025. \p Keir Mather: In the 2025 Spending Review £400 million of capital funding was allocated to support the rollout of charging infrastructure in the four financial years from 2026/27 to 2029/30. Under prior On Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) funding, 127 chargepoints are due to be installed across Northern Ireland.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Jacob Collier:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of restricting the resale of driving tests on (a) levels of access to and (b) the cost of driving tests. \p Simon Lightwood: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) understands the impact, including the financial implications, the reselling of practical driving tests is having on learner drivers.

On 28 May, DVSA launched a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. The consultation closed on 23 July. DVSA is reviewing the feedback given and will announce the next steps as soon as possible.

Further information on the consultation can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-car-driving-test-booking-rules/improving-car-driving-test-booking-rules.

The consultation is about changing the rules on how car driving tests can be booked and managed. It looks at how to make test booking fairer, including the possibility of stopping people charging extra fees to book tests and simplifying the system for learners and approved driving instructors. Any additional measures will only be introduced if it is considered appropriate to do so to support the continued delivery of the driver testing service and following public consultation.

All available driving test appointments are shown on DVSA’s live booking system, and as well as releasing tests on a rolling 24-week basis on a Monday, additional appointments are released throughout the week. As new test appointments appear on the booking service at different times of the day and through the week, DVSA advises candidates to continue to check for earlier appointments.

DVSA encourages learner drivers to only use the official GOV.UK website to book and manage their driving test. DVSA has published advice aimed at learner drivers warning them of the risks of using third party services/apps to book a practical driving test. Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/learner-drivers-warned-about-the-risks-of-driving-test-cancellation-finders.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the causes of the decline in the number of houses delivered in London this year. \p Matthew Pennycook: When it comes to development, London faces challenges that are common to all parts of England over recent years. These include a significant increase in building material prices; a rise in financing costs; and planning capacity and capability pressures.

In addition, the capital faces a number of challenges unique to its housing market which differs in important ways from the rest of the country. These include the fact that London is overwhelmingly reliant on flatted developments; has depended over recent decades on demand from international buyers and investors; and has a higher proportion of landowners (and traders acting on their behalf) who are global investors allocating development funding based on competing returns globally and across asset classes.

The government is acutely aware of the housing delivery challenge in London. We are committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, London Boroughs, and other partners to significantly increase rates of housebuilding in the capital as part of our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament.

On 23 October 2025, the Secretary of State and the Mayor of London announced a new package of support for housebuilding in London. Details of that package can be found on gov.uk here.

This package sits alongside reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) announced on 30 June 2025, including operational and policy changes to speed up decision making, particularly on building control approval and the introduction of an Innovation Unit and batching process. Early signs are positive with all applications in the Innovation Unit so far on track to exceed or meet the 12-week SLA target.
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Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of lowering the population thresholds of the Pride in Place programme to include smaller rural communities in the eligibility criteria. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: On 25 September, the Government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, committing up to £5 billion in funding and support to 339 communities.

The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities, incorporating the existing 25 trailblazer areas announced at Spending Review and the 75 Phase 1 Plan for Neighbourhoods programme areas that were announced in March.

Neighbourhoods in England were selected through a robust, metric-based methodology, which uses a composite measure of deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)) and community need (Community Needs Index (CNI)) to identify areas with the poorest social and economic outcomes and create a single index of need. Our allocation methodology targets need everywhere (regardless of type of community) and includes a number of rural communities.

We’re working closely with devolved governments to make sure funding supports local priorities everywhere. Further details on our approach in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will follow.

The full list of areas and place selection methodology is set out here: Pride in Place Programme Phase 2: Methodology note.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 74712 on Local Government: Empty Property, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of abolishing the New Homes Bonus on the number of empty homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: Through the New Homes Bonus, local authorities can receive funding for bringing a long-term empty home back into use.

The New Homes Bonus in its current form will close at the end of the financial year 2025-26.

Following its closure, local authorities will still be able to access funding for empty homes work through the Local Authority Housing Fund.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of provisions in the Renters’ Rights Bill on the number of empty homes, in the context of the ban on re-renting homes after a home has been vacated for sale. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has made no such assessment.

Landlords making use of new mandatory possession ground 1A (sale of dwelling-house) will be expected to sell their property with vacant possession as intended.

To prevent abuse of this ground, landlords will not be able to market or re-let their property for twelve months after using the selling ground. This will remove the financial incentive to landlords from misusing the grounds and evicting a tenant with the intention to re-let at a higher rent.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the projected house building completion targets are in (a) 2025, (b) 2026, (c) 2027, (d) 2028 and (e) 2029 in the context of the Government’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 19066 on 20 December 2024.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many new house builds have been (a) started and (b) completed since 5 July 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government publishes quarterly data on planning applications and housing starts and completions.

The latest data on planning application statistics can be found on gov.uk here.

Data on housing starts and completions can be found on gov.uk here.

The main measure of housing supply is net additional dwellings, the latest data on which can be found on gov.uk here.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will issue guidance on the proportion of new build homes that must be fully accessible to (a) people with limited mobility and (b) wheelchair users. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 53184 on 27 May 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2025, to Question 75980, on MHCLG: Travel, if he will breakdown the requested information for each month of the last six months. \p Samantha Dixon: Question 75980 does not relate to travel. If the Rt Hon Member can clarify his question, I will ensure he receives a response.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many new homes have been completed in London in the first half of 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department publishes a quarterly release entitled ‘Housing supply: Indicators of New Supply, England’, which includes estimates of new build starts and completions in London.

Statistics to the quarter ending June 2025 can be found in Table 217 on gov.uk here.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the initial Government response to the independent report entitled New Towns Taskforce, published on 28 September 2025, whether the (a) plan-making for the site and (b) outline planning permissions will be decided by (i) the Government, (ii) development corporations and (iii) local authorities. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the government’s initial response to the New Towns Taskforce’s final report which can be found on gov.uk here.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77558 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Aviation, whether his Department has a policy on undertaking domestic flights where direct train journeys are available. \p Samantha Dixon: MHCLG has a Travel and Expenses Policy which requires colleagues to consider cost, business need, sustainability and practicability when planning journeys. Low carbon options, such as Rail travel, must be considered first.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of average house prices in (a) the South East and (b) other parts of the country. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has no plans to make such an assessment.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 78195 on Housing: Greater London, whether his Department has had discussions with the Greater London Authority on the potential merits of (a) reducing the affordable housing quota in London to help encourage more housebuilding and (b) removing regulatory requirements in planning that only apply to London. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by the Secretary of State on 23 October 2025 (HCWS991).
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to prioritise the release of surplus public land to (a) councils and (b) housing associations for affordable housing projects at discounted rates. \p Matthew Pennycook: This government has made significant progress in respect of the release of surplus and underutilised public land for new homes.

On 27 March 2025, we announced the establishment of a new taskforce to unlock surplus public defence land for development.

On 30 July, we announced a new company, Platform 4, to kickstart the delivery of up to 40,000 new homes on surplus rail land across the UK.

While it is for individual Departments to set the prices at which they are willing to dispose of their assets, we are taking a joined-up approach and working across government to promote shared objectives, including building more social and affordable homes, and maximise broader public value.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve (a) sewage lines and (b) other housing infrastructure. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to questions UIN 65505 on 14 July 2025 and UIN 77897 on 17 October 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75613 on Central Government: Supply Estimates, whether his Department has produced an internal 2025-26 outcome delivery plan. \p Samantha Dixon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 75613 on 16 September 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has received the remaining unredacted internal drawings for the proposed development of the Chinese Embassy. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning Inspector's Report was received by the Department on 10 June.

Following careful analysis of the report, the Secretary of State referred back to parties on a number of matters, including the redacted drawings, on 6 August. The reference back process is on-going.

Full reasons for the decision and a list of post-inquiry representations will be set out in the final decision letter.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Manifesto Club entitled Gatekeepers: How councils are controlling access to the public square, published in October 2025. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The provision and administration of street trading and highways licences are the responsibility of Local Authorities under either the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 or the London Local Authorities Act 1990, depending on their location.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 68415 on Political Parties: Finance, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals relating to donors raising funds from abroad. \p Samantha Dixon: While it is clear that foreign donations to political parties are not permitted, the Government recognises the risk posed by malign actors who seek to interfere with and undermine our democratic processes.

As pledged in our manifesto, we are strengthening the rules around donations to political parties. We have published our ‘Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections’ which sets out a number of reforms we are making to strengthen rules on political donations, responding to the threat of foreign interference. These include “Know Your Donor” requirements for recipients of donations and tighter controls on unincorporated association donations.

We are also tightening the rules to ensure greater scrutiny of the origin and nature of political donations. Donors will be required to declare any benefits or sources of funding associated with their donation. In addition, companies making donations will be required to demonstrate a genuine and substantive connection to the UK or Ireland, preventing the use of shell companies to channel foreign or illicit money into UK politics.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 76608 on Local Government: Elections, whether the information sharing gateway will include powers to share information (a) to and (b) from (i) political parties and (ii) other regulators. \p Samantha Dixon: The Government intends to provide the Electoral Commission with an explicit statutory gateway that will enable it to disclose information to certain regulators and enforcement authorities for the purpose of assisting those bodies in carrying out their statutory functions. The gateway will not include political parties. This will provide a solid legal foundation for the Commission to disclose information on cross-cutting issues such as foreign interference and data protection, nurturing a more collaborative and effective regulatory environment. Any disclosures will remain subject to UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
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Jim Dickson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the statutory guidance entitled Allotment disposal guidance: safeguards and alternatives, published on 30 January 2014, remains in effect. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The 2014 statutory allotment disposal guidance remains in effect.
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Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to make any changes to the existing bespoke distribution method for the Recovery Grant. \p Alison McGovern: The local government finance settlement for 2024 to 2025 introduced the Recovery Grant, worth £600 million. This was distributed to places with greater need and demand for services (using deprivation as a proxy), and which are least able to fund their own services locally.

The grant laid the foundations for funding reform, ahead of our commitment to bringing forward the Fair Funding Review 2.0 from 2026-27.

We consulted on the Fair Funding Review 2.0 over the summer, and we will confirm final details of our proposals through a comprehensive policy statement later in the autumn, followed by a consultation for the provisional local government finance settlement, as usual, later in the year.
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Sir Bernard Jenkin:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent progress he has made with Cabinet colleagues on allocating funding for the proposed A1331 link road. \p Alison McGovern: £100m from the Housing Infrastructure Fund has been provided to Essex County Council to deliver Phase 1 of the A1331 Link Road, which is under construction. We have been working closely with the council and are expecting them to submit a formal request to Homes England for additional funding to deliver Phase 2 shortly. This request will be considered under the standard Housing Infrastructure Fund processes, and a decision will be made in due course.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 84368 on UK Prosperity Fund, what steps he is taking to support rural areas outside of mayoralties with the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. \p Alison McGovern: The government will provide long-term local growth funding to support regional growth across all of the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Pride in Place strategy sets out how this government will support places throughout the country, with communities given new tools and powers to shape their neighbourhoods in a way that is truly reflective of local need.

Our allocation methodology targets need everywhere (regardless of type of community) and includes a number of rural communities. This includes communities in Wiltshire, East Lindsey, Somerset, amongst others. Funding is allocated based on a robust methodology, using established data to measure deprivation and community need across the country.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for (a) decision on and (b) implementation of unitarisation of councils in Surrey; and whether Surrey will have an elected mayor. \p Alison McGovern: I refer the Rt. Hon. Gentleman to the Written Ministerial Statement that was published on 28 October 2025, which announced the decision made by the Government to implement the proposal for two unitary councils for Surrey, subject to Parliamentary approval.
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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 75442, on Housing: Portsmouth, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 on the Government's target to build 1.5 million houses by the end of this Parliament. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has no current plans to undertake a specific assessment of the implications of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 on housing supply, but we continue to keep all policy under review as we progress toward our hugely ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in England in this Parliament.

While it is the role of competent authorities to carry out an assessment under the Habitats Regulations to test whether a plan or project could adversely affect the designated features of a European site, the government is clear that the Habitats Regulations Assessment process should be applied appropriately and proportionately, with decisions based on the best available scientific evidence.

We are working closely with stakeholders to improve the functioning of the Habitats Regulations. This includes acting on the recommendations of the Corry review and the Post-Implementation Review of the Habitats Regulations.
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Markus Campbell-Savours:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of pension schemes that have an exposure to freehold properties; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the implementation timetable for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on the value of those schemes. \p Matthew Pennycook: An Impact Assessment (IA) was published in December 2023 for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. It can be found here.

An addendum to that IA was published on 14 April 2025 which can be found here.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Department is taking to ensure that all potential liabilities associated with unadopted assets in the housing sector are (a) identified and (b) accounted for. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has not made a specific assessment of the potential liabilities associated with unadopted assets in the housing sector.

An overview of the government’s plans in respect of private and mixed-tenure housing estates can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps his Department has taken to introduce regulation of (a) development and (b) residential management companies; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of establishing a (i) statutory regulator and (ii) code of practice for that sector. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77534 on 17 October 2025.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2025 to Question 65935 on Private Rented Housing: Energy Performance Certificates, what his Department's timetable is for publishing the (a) Government's response to and (b) further impact assessment on the Consultation on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in the Social Rented Sector in England, which closed on 10 September 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 81744 on 21 October 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the letter sent to the Rule 6 participants on 16 October 2025 announcing the delay in the target date for the Chinese Embassy decision. \p Matthew Pennycook: We do not routinely publish correspondence to parties on live cases.

Letters to the Rule 6 participants will be listed in the final decision letter, and will be available on request when the decision is published.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps he has taken to protect renters' rights in Slough constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Renters’ Rights Bill received Royal Assent on Monday 27 October.
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Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support she is providing to protect residential estates that are on unadopted road in the event of inadequate residential management group maintenance. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80700 on 20 October 2025.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help families in lower socio-economic groups who are unable to afford private sector rental prices. \p Matthew Pennycook: Housing is a devolved matter within the competency of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The government provides financial support to low-income private renters in England through a range of mechanisms including the housing element of Universal Credit, Discretionary Housing Payments, and the Household Support Fund.

The Renters’ Rights Act contains a large number of provisions that will benefit low-income private renters in England. These include measures that empower private tenants to challenge unfair rent increases without fear of eviction; make it illegal for landlords and agents to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits or with children; and end the practice of rental bidding by prohibiting landlords and agents from asking for or accepting offers above the advertised rent.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding her Department provides to the Northern Ireland Executive to help make derelict properties (a) safe and (b) habitable. \p Matthew Pennycook: Housing is a devolved matter within the competency of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The UK Government supports the Northern Ireland Executive through a variety of funding streams.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 54 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, when he plans to issue updated procedures to enable the use of the (a) Crown Development and (b) Urgent Crown Development routes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Crown Development planning regulations in England came into force on 1 May 2025. The government has no current plans to change those regulations.

The reference to updated procedures in the Defence Industrial Strategy relates to how the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Ministry of Defence will work together when the latter identifies potential applications for Crown development routes. Further details will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_113

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his Department's housing targets are per square mile in (a) Dorset, (b) West Dorset constituency and (c) England. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local housing need is expressed as a total number of dwellings for each local authority area. It is not broken down as a proportion of the population, nor as a proportion of available brownfield land or per square mile.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_114

Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to recognise (a) private and (b) communal gardens as a part of green infrastructure in the delivery of (i) net zero and (ii) climate resilience strategies. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework defines green infrastructure as a network of multi-functional green and blue spaces and other natural features – urban and rural – that are capable of delivering a wide range of environmental, economic, health, and wellbeing benefits for nature, climate, local and wider communities and prosperity.

In this context, private and communal gardens can form part of green infrastructure, as they are capable of falling under this broad definition.

The Framework further makes clear that new development should be planned for in ways that avoid increased vulnerability to the range of impacts arising from climate change. When new development is brought forward in areas which are vulnerable, care should be taken to ensure that risks can be managed through suitable adaptation measures, including through incorporating green infrastructure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_115

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question 76143, on Planning Permission: Multiple Occupation, what guidance his Department provides on whether local authorities are permitted to use an Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights for Houses in Multiple Occupation that are specifically occupied by asylum seekers. \p Matthew Pennycook: We have not issued any such guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_116

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support the construction of new build bungalows. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a new Standard Method for assessing housing needs that is aligned to our Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the end of this Parliament.

Indicative local housing need figures resulting from the new Standard Method do not specify the proportion or type of dwelling that should be provided.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, and reflect this in their Local Plans.

Each Local Plan is subject to a public examination in front of an independent inspector, who plays an important role in examining plans to ensure they are consistent with national policy, supported by evidence and take the views of local people into account.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_117

Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to encourage all social landlords to adopt the Best Practice Guide included in the Decent Homes Standard. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 84054 on 3 November 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_118

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 73798 on Disinformation and Radicalism, if he will publish the most recent report from the National Community Tensions Scheme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The reports provided by the National Community Tensions Team are not public and contain sensitive data and therefore cannot be published. This data gathered from this team forms part of the National Hate Crime statistics, which are made public.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_119

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of introducing loan guarantees for joint ventures between housing associations and local authorities to support affordable housing delivery. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department already operates guarantee schemes that support affordable housing delivery.

Subject to eligibility criteria, joint ventures between Registered Providers (such as housing associations) and Local Authorities can qualify for these schemes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_120

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of new council houses that have been built in Greater Manchester since May 2017. \p Matthew Pennycook: Data on new affordable housing completions since 1991-92 for Greater Manchester is available on the live tables on affordable housing supply which can be found on gov.uk here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_121

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77538 on East End Homes: Finance, what recent assessment the Regulator has made of the financial viability of East End Homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The independent Regulator of Social Housing last issued East End Homes Limited with a regulatory judgement on 25 May 2023. It can be found ongov.uk here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_122

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 66180 on Housing: Finance, whether he plans to publish a regional breakdown of Affordable Homes Programme allocations (a) outside London via Homes England and (b) by tenure type. \p Matthew Pennycook: Homes England publish allocations data for the Affordable Homes Programme on gov.uk here.

Further updates on allocations, including those with Strategic Partners, will be released in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_123

Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to write to social landlords to encourage them to offer a proportion of their properties as furnished, in the context of the best practice guide within the Decent Homes Standard. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department engages actively with registered providers of social housing on all issues facing social housing tenants and with a range of stakeholders on issues facing residents and has engaged with groups such as End Furniture Poverty to understand their research on this issue.

On 2 July, we opened a consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for the social and private rented sectors. It can be found on gov.uk here.

The consultation proposed that government develop best practice guidance for all landlords including information and support where tenants in need can access help on furniture provision.

The consultation has now closed and responses are being analysed. More information about future guidance will be released as part of the government response.

People in need may be able to get support from their local authorities via the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_124

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question HL8844 on Affordable Housing: Finance, what measure of inflation was used to provide the statistical basis for the valuation of the programme. \p Matthew Pennycook: At the Spending Review, the government announced £39 billion for a new Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36.

The Spending Review document sets out that spend on the SAHP will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.

The programme follows the financial appraisal as set out in the HM Treasury Green Book guidance and uses HMT’s GDP deflator which can be found on gov.uk here.

My Department will continue to publish capital spend figures in its Annual Report and Accounts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_125

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions his Department has had with Woking Borough Council on the steps it has taken following his predecessor Department's report of its non-statutory review into Woking Borough Council’s finances, investments and related governance in 2023. \p Alison McGovern: The Department regularly engages with both local authorities and Commissioner teams during interventions. Commissioners are required to regularly submit formal reports on progress and challenges in the local authority to the Department. The reports of the Woking Borough Council commissioners since their appointment in May 2023 are publicly available on gov.uk here.

Alongside the government's decision to establish two unitary authorities in Surrey, we have committed to repay in-principle £500 million of Woking Borough Council’s debt in 2026-27 as a first instalment. We will continue to explore what further debt support is required at a later point. Any support must take into account value for money for the local and national taxpayer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_126

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many officials were investigated under their Department's disciplinary processes in each of the last 5 years. \p Samantha Dixon: The data held on how many officials were investigated under the department’s disciplinary processes is not held in the format requested, and is contemporaneous and personally sensitive in nature. For that reason information on disciplinary proceedings is not usually disclosed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_127

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) cases are active against the UK; and what the total value of claims is in those cases. \p Chris Bryant: Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory, or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation.

The Government is a respondent in two active arbitrations. The UK has a longstanding track record of supporting foreign investment, including through fulfilling its obligations in the international investment agreements to which it is a party and has never faced a successful ISDS claim.

The Government maintains that it has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations in the case of the legal challenges. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.