theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has conducted an impact assessment on energy payments to gas fired electricity generators during the winter period December 2024 to February 2025. \p Michael Shanks: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has not conducted a formal impact assessment on energy payments to gas fired electricity generators during the winter period December 2024 to February 2025. The Government is working closely with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator to ensure the Balancing Mechanism, a tool that ensures electricity supply meets demand in real-time, remains competitive and transparent. The Government continues to monitor the Capacity Market - the main tool for ensuring continued security of electricity supply - making improvements where necessary to ensure it remains fit for purpose.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what diversity, equality and inclusion targets his Department has for staff recruitment. \p Michael Shanks: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero values the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce. We internally monitor our departmental diversity data and seek to increase representation amongst under-represented groups, especially at more senior grades, with a focus on Women, Ethnic Minority and Disability. We do not set targets as part of our recruitment processes but ensure that our processes are fair and equitable.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to (a) consult and (b) compensate local communities impacted by new electricity network infrastructure projects. \p Michael Shanks: The Government has announced measures to ensure that communities directly benefit from hosting clean energy infrastructure, to help support the rollout of grid infrastructure which will deliver our new renewable generation to homes and businesses. This includes community funds guidance that sets out the government’s recommendations on how communities can benefit from hosting clean energy infrastructure, which provides a level of funding of £200,000 per km of overhead line and £530,000 per substation, and an electricity bill discount scheme providing a discount of up to £250 per year over up to 10 years for households within 500m of new or significantly upgraded transmission network infrastructure. Additionally, the Government intends to carry out further stakeholder engagement on the bill discount scheme in due course to gather evidence and feedback from stakeholders, including local communities.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he plans to take to (a) help decrease planning delays for energy infrastructure projects and (b) engage with the public on those projects. \p Michael Shanks: In December 2024, the Government published the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan which sets out an ambitious package of legislative and non-legislative reforms to our planning system to accelerate the development of energy infrastructure. The Government is currently progressing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill through parliament with measures to streamline planning processes for critical infrastructure, including energy projects.

The Government wants communities to continue to participate in the planning system and as a part of the examination process, have their say in decisions which may affect them. The Government has committed to ensuring communities benefit from new energy infrastructure they host.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to improve the process for procuring (a) transformers, (b) cables and (c) other critical components for electricity network expansion projects. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is committed to working with electricity operators and Ofgem to improve procurement processes for critical electricity network expansion projects. Ofgem recently launched the Advanced Procurement Mechanism to enable Transmission Owners to procure transformers, cables, and other critical components earlier in the project development cycle. This will enable Transmission Owners to secure supplier capacity and bulk procure multiple factory slots across a portfolio of projects. Transmission Owners will use this mechanism to address the current long delivery lead times for this key equipment. Officials are also engaging with further partners to examine wider policy options to address procurement challenges.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the long-term sustainability of the solar panels being installed under the Great British Energy scheme in relation to their (a) lifespan, (b) efficiency degradation and (c) recyclability. \p Michael Shanks: We expect panels delivered under this scheme to have an estimated lifespan of 30 years [with a 0.5% yearly attrition rate] which is based on our published assumptions.

Recyclability is a critical factor in the sustainability of solar panels and the schools and NHS trusts receiving solar panels under this scheme will be responsible for ensuring appropriate end-of-life management of panels under this scheme.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of the solar projects under the Great British Energy scheme will include battery storage solutions. \p Michael Shanks: Complementary technologies including battery power are in scope for use in the scheme where they would be beneficial. Whilst parts of the programme are still in development, 16 out of the initial list of 132 NHS projects published last week currently intend to fund battery storage through the scheme.

The process to finalise the selection of schools is still underway; feasibility studies will then be undertaken to determine what interventions are most suited for each site.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) primary and (b) secondary schools with high energy costs. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.

The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 38041 on Roads: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the complete resurfacing of an existing road is classed as capital or revenue expenditure. \p Lilian Greenwood: It is up to local highway authorities’ Section 151 officers to determine what types of highway maintenance expenditure can legitimately be classed as capital and what as revenue expenditure, following the advice provided by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and others. There are some grey areas, but the complete resurfacing of an existing highway by a local highway authority will almost always be classed as capital expenditure. This is because it would count as improving a council-owned asset and making it last longer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to help tackle speeding in Lincolnshire. \p Lilian Greenwood: Enforcement of the speed limit is for the police. The Department for Transport makes highways and local transport funding available to local transport authorities, who decide how to use the funding to support local priorities. Local authorities have the responsibility of making decisions about the roads under their care, based on their knowledge of the area and taking into account local needs and considerations.  This includes setting local speed limits and introducing traffic calming measures.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the average time taken to process an asylum claim after July 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The specific data requested is not currently available from published statistics and could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

However, the Home Office does publish data on the number of asylum claims awaiting an initial decision by duration. This data can be found at table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum and resettlement summary tables’.

Additionally, data on the percentage of applications processed within six months is published in table ASY_D03 of the ‘Immigration and Protection’ data of the Migration Transparency Data collection.

We are restoring order to the asylum system so that every part – border security, case processing, appeals and returns – operates swiftly.

As a result, asylum decision making increased by 52% in the last three months of 2024.

The Home Office continues to take action to speed up asylum processing whilst maintaining the integrity of the system.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether non-Syrian nationals displaced by the Syrian civil war seeking asylum have had their claims paused following the general pause of Syrian asylum claims from December 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Following the fall of the Assad regime, the Home Office withdrew the Country Policy Information Notes and guidance relating to Syria and has temporarily paused all asylum interviews and decisions. The pause also applies those who have previously been habitually resident in Syria. The pause is being kept under constant review and when there is a clear basis upon which to make decisions, we will resume the processing of them.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on people who have been deported. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Statistics on the returns of foreign national offenders (FNOs) by nationality and destination are published on a quarterly basis. These returns are published in the Returns Detailed Datasets, and are currently available to the end of December 2024, which are available at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

In addition, a note providing an overview of the number of people who have been returned from the UK since 5 July 2024 was published on 31 March 2025, and can be found here: Returns from the UK from 5 July 2024 to 22 March 2025 - GOV.UK.

3,594 FNOs were returned in this period, which is an increase of 16% compared to 3,101 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior (FNO returns include both enforced and voluntary returns).

Figures on deportations, which are a subset of enforced returns, are not separately available.

We are committed to delivering justice for victims and safer streets for our communities. Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and, where appropriate, we will pursue their deportation.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who entered the UK on a visa and who now live in (a) asylum hotels and (b) other state-funded accommodation are from (i) Pakistan, (ii) Nigeria and (iii) Sri Lanka. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Data on the ‘Source of asylum claims in 2024’ was published by the Home Office on 30th March 2025. The remaining requested data is not available from published statistics and could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps is she taking to tackle fraudulent Certificates of Sponsorship as a route for illegal immigration. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Certificates of sponsorship (CoS) are electronic documents created by sponsors licensed by the Home Office. If we identify that a fraudulent, non-genuine CoS has been submitted, that does not match our records, we shall refuse the application.
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Martin Rhodes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the number of children in the UK who are (a) stateless and (b) at risk of statelessness. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The information requested is not available from published statistics and could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has plans to make changes to the rules on public notices for small online news publishers. \p Stephanie Peacock: Public notices are important for ensuring that the public is kept informed of decisions made by their council which may affect their quality of life, local services or amenities, or their property. The independent 2019 Cairncross Review into sustainable journalism found that public notices are also an important source of revenue for local newspapers.

However, the Government is aware of feedback from some sectors about the audience reach of these notices and the desire for greater digitalisation. In this context, the sector’s Public Notice Portal is a welcome innovation, intended to take advantage of print publishers’ growing digital audiences and provide a centralised resource for all types of public notice. We are monitoring the progress of the Portal, and the effect that it has on the audience reach of public notices.

We also welcome the plans for expansion of the Portal, announced in December and funded by the Google News Initiative, including a fully searchable archive and new consultation functions to help public bodies and commercial entities engage with the public more effectively. We consider this type of industry innovation and collaboration to be integral to securing the sector’s future, and will seek to further support and incentivise it through our Local Media Strategy.
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Sir Iain Duncan Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to regulate unregulated legal gambling. \p Stephanie Peacock: Gambling in Great Britain is regulated by the Gambling Commission, which operates a point of consumption licensing regime. Most legal gambling in Great Britain is regulated.
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Sir Iain Duncan Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will withdrawn Bet365's UK operating licence for openly operating in China. \p Stephanie Peacock: As the independent regulator, it is the Gambling Commission’s duty to ensure that operators comply with the requirements set out in the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice and to take appropriate regulatory action against those operators which fail to comply. Any decision to withdraw an operator’s licence lies with the Gambling Commission.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Sally Jameson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress she has made on considering the capital funding request from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. \p Alex Norris: The fiscal position means that there have been tough choices to get us back on the path to recovery. It is in this context that the department is considering the request made for funding by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

I was pleased to meet with Andy Lock to discuss the outstanding work done by the organisation across Britain’s coalfields. I recognise that addressing the acute challenges faced by our coalfield communities will require greater partnership working between government and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, and I am committed to working in partnership with them to explore opportunities for collaboration.

This government remains committed to supporting our most disadvantaged communities. At Spending Review, we announced funding for up to 350 places. Of the 100 places announced, 15 are in coalfield areas. Details of the remaining places will be announced in due course.
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Alison Hume:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of creating a Minister for Coastal Communities to oversee a coastal strategy. \p Alex Norris: There are no current plans to create a Minister for Coastal Communities.

As Minister for Local Growth, I am responsible for regional growth nationwide and recognise that coastal communities can make a contribution to growth.

The Plan for Neighbourhoods will support regeneration across the country including in many of our cherished coastal communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58771 on Local Government: Elections, whether she has made an estimate of the number of councils which will be subject to the transitional arrangements in 2026, and have their scheduled 2026 elections cancelled to make way for replacement elections; and in what year would the replacement elections take place. \p Jim McMahon: Seven councils could have their elections replaced with elections to new unitary councils in May 2026. Surrey is the only area whose ambitious timetable is such that we will need Parliamentary approval by March 2026 to allow for elections to the new unitary authorities in May 2026 to enable new authorities to go live in April 2027.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 6.2.5 of the consultation entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of council tax increases on funding allocations to local authorities with average Band D council taxes below £2,000. \p Jim McMahon: The government’s proposal is to make funding available in a way that enables all local authorities to provide the same level of service to their residents. We propose to do this by setting the notional Council Tax level at the average Band D level of Council Tax in England, which will fully equalise for a local authority’s ability to raise Council Tax.

The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles are to protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases. We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement in the usual way.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether revenues from selective licensing charges on private rented sector landlords (a) are ringfenced and (b) can be applied to the general revenue account; and whether councils can charge above cost recovery. \p Matthew Pennycook: Selective licensing fees paid by landlords to local authorities should only be used to cover the costs of running schemes. Local authorities are not expected to profit from licensing, nor should they use licensing revenues to fund other local authority services.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on the (a) siting and (b) appearance of statutory undertaker infrastructure on highway land; and whether she plans to ensure that (i) local authorities and (ii) residents can determine the placement of visible above-ground installations in residential neighbourhoods. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has not issued any such guidance.

The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will take steps with (a) academies and (b) schools to introduce impact statements for large housing developments within their catchment area. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework recognises the importance of ensuring a sufficient choice of early years, school and post-16 places are available to meet the needs of existing and new communities and outlines that local planning authorities should take a proactive, positive, and collaborative approach to meeting this requirement, and to development that will widen choice in education.

The Framework further states that local planning authorities should give great weight to the need to create, expand or alter early years, schools, and post-16 facilities through the preparation of plans and decisions on applications, and work with early years, school and post-16 promoters, delivery partners and statutory bodies to identify and resolve key planning issues before applications are submitted.

In view of these existing provisions, the government has no plans to introduce separate requirements for impact statements for large housing developments.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps she has taken to increase community involvement in the planning process. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46945 on 30 April 2025.
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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 implications for her policies of the report by Localis entitled Reorganisation, local government and the future of English Devolution, published on 25 June 2025; and what estimate her Department has made of the reduction in the number of councillors from local government reforms. \p Jim McMahon: I would like to thank Professors Copus and Leach for their analysis of the short and long-term history of English local government reform, which my officials are considering. The department has not made an estimate of the reduction in the number of councillors from local government reforms. It is important that councils have the right number of members to achieve the strategic, decision-making and representative roles of the authority. As I set out in my answer to PQ 26697 on 4 February 2025, my department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) so that they are involved at the appropriate time to ensure fair electoral arrangements across the area of any new unitary local authorities.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure that new housing developments have adequate access to infrastructure. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.

The government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through Land and Infrastructure funding programmes, such as the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 will also support the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.

The government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.

Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes various provisions designed to streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the outcome of the consultation entitled Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, which closed on 26 February 2025. \p Jim McMahon: The government response to the ‘Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework for Local Authorities in England’ consultation will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether allotments are classified as (a) greenfield or (b) brownfield land for planning purposes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework defines previously developed land (brownfield land) as land which is, or was, occupied by a permanent structure and any associated fixed surface infrastructure.

However, the definition explicitly excludes land in built-up areas such as residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments.

As such, allotments do not fall within the category of previously developed land and are therefore considered greenfield.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect nature through the planning process. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear about the importance of conserving and enhancing the natural environment.

Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures and incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats, and hedgehogs.

We are considering using a new suite of national policies for decision making, which we will be consulting on later this year, to require swift bricks to be incorporated into new buildings, unless there are compelling reasons that preclude their use or that would make them ineffective. As an interim step ahead of the planned consultation, we published updated Planning Practice Guidance setting out how swift bricks are expected to be used in new developments.

Under the new statutory framework for Biodiversity Net Gain, every grant of planning permission (subject to some exemptions) is subject to the condition that the development must deliver at least a 10% increase in biodiversity value relative to the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat.

When it comes to development and the environment, we know we can do better than the status quo, which too often sees both sustainable housebuilding and nature recovery stall. Instead of environmental protections being seen as barriers to growth, we want to unlock a win-win for the economy and for nature. Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces a new Nature Restoration Fund that will unlock and accelerate development while going beyond neutrality to unlock the positive impact development can have in driving nature recovery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect bridleways in the context of changes to national planning regulations. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should protect and enhance public rights of way and access, including taking opportunities to provide better facilities for users, for example by adding links to existing rights of way networks including National Trails.

The government will consult on a new suite of national policies for decision making later this year and as part of that exercise we will consider whether any changes are needed to policy relating to public rights of way.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the publication entitled Count of Traveller Caravans, January 2025: England, published on 25 June 2025, what steps she is taking to help tackle the increase of (a) unauthorised traveller development on land they own and (b) unauthorised traveller encampments and trespass on land they do not own. \p Matthew Pennycook: Whilst the number of caravans on unauthorised sites did increase between the 2024 and 2025 counts, local authorities have been encouraged to report excess numbers on authorised sites as unauthorised so the reported increase may reflect improved data quality, rather than a genuine increase in the number of caravans on this site type.

More widely, the number of caravans on unauthorised encampments is a very small proportion of the overall number of caravans reported (1%) and subject to more fluctuation than other site types.

In relation to local planning authority enforcement powers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46336 on 30 April 2025.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered including child development in the planning process to encourage outdoor activities. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) recognises that access to a network of high-quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities, including children.

The Framework is clear that local planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities, and opportunities for new provision, including places for children’s play.

In the revised NPPF published on 12 December 2024 we strengthened the strong protections already in place by adding explicit reference to safeguarding “formal play spaces”. That means that facilities can be lost only where there is clear evidence they are no longer required, where equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or where development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of abolishing residential leaseholds. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_18

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether private sector landlords will be required to pay multiple fees to register under (a) selective licensing introduced by local authorities, (b) the Private Rented Sector Database and (c) to be regulated under landlord redress schemes; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of consolidating those fees. \p Matthew Pennycook: Selective licensing schemes introduced by local authorities, the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, and the PRS Ombudsman are separate regimes and fees will be structured and set according to the relevant legislation.

My Department is exploring options for administrative alignment where possible; for example, aligning the registration process for the Ombudsman and Database.

We will provide guidance which will make clear what landlords need to do to meet their new responsibilities.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_19

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect nature in the design of new build housing developments. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear about the importance of conserving and enhancing the natural environment.

Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures and incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats, and hedgehogs.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_20

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of steps that local authorities are taking to help improve the representation of people with (a) a working class background, (b) a minority ethnic background and (c) disabilities in local government. \p Jim McMahon: Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including recruitment practices. It is the duty of local authorities to comply with all relevant employment and equalities legislation and there is no role for central government intervening in this, except where specific provision has been made in legislation.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_21

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the regional allocation of (a) local authority housing and (b) affordable homes programme funds in the Spending Review 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_22

Chris Hinchliff:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the proportion of projected additional funding for the Affordable Homes Programme that will be allocated to homes for social rent in the next three financial years. \p Matthew Pennycook: The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.

The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme (2026-27 to 2035-36) will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.

As such, government spending on affordable housing investment will have almost doubled by the end of this Parliament.

Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance. We will continue to publish past year’s expenditure figures in the department's Annual Report and Accounts.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_23

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) maintain and (b) promote local green spaces in South Holland and the Deepings constituency. \p Alex Norris: The government is firmly committed to creating better access to parks and green spaces for all sections of society. Green spaces such as South Holland’s Ayscoughfee Gardens are an essential part of local social infrastructure which supports more connected, stronger communities. The MHCLG-owned Green Flag Award sets the national quality standard for parks and green spaces, the scheme aims to meet the needs of the communities they serve and has helped to transform thousands of parks and green spaces across the country

MHCLG has also established the Parks Working Group, which brings together sector experts with government officials to find innovative ways of managing parks, creating employment, hosting economic activities and encouraging inward investment. Finally, the government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) allows communities to designate land as Local Green Space, in order to protect green areas that are important to them.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_24

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring landlords to update Efficiency Performance Certificates regularly. \p Alex Norris: The government is reforming Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to ensure that people, including tenants, have access to even more reliable and accurate information about the properties they are renting. Having a regularly updated EPC provides tenants with up to date information including relative energy bills and thermal comfort of their homes compared to other rental properties. More information, including the consultation stage impact assessment, can be found in the consultation ‘Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime’ on gov.uk.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_25

Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to improve the regulation of supported exempt accommodation; and what information her Department holds on levels of supported exempt accommodation in (a) Birmingham and (b) Birmingham Northfield constituency. \p Rushanara Ali: As set out in the written statement on Supported Housing Regulation (HCWS800) published on 10 July 2025, following the recent consultation on supported housing regulation the government is considering the responses received and will publish a full government response as soon as possible, in advance of consulting on draft regulations in early 2026.

The department does not hold data on supported exempt accommodation. The most recent estimates of national levels of supported housing were published in the gov.uk Supported Housing Review 2023 on 4 November 2024.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_26

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will commission research on the operation of shariah courts in England. \p Alex Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 50309 on 14 May 2025.

Sharia Courts are not part of the judicial system in England and Wales.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_27

Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the funding available to (a) housing associations, (b) property owners and (c) local authorities for the provision of infrastructure for the secure storage of (i) mobility scooters, (ii) e-bikes and (iii) e-scooters, in the context of the (A) potential fire risk posed by lithium ion batteries and (B) needs of people who use mobility scooters who do not live on the ground floor. \p Alex Norris: No such specific assessment has been made.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_28

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many affordable homes were delivered in (a) 2013-24 and (b) 2023-24. \p Matthew Pennycook: The number of affordable homes delivered in each year since 1991-92 is published in Live Table 1000 on gov.uk here.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_29

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 7.12 of her Department's publication, Local authority funding reform objectives and principles consultation: summary of responses published on 20 June 2025, whether she plans to set a higher council tax referendum threshold for councils with a Band D council tax below the notional council tax. \p Jim McMahon: The government recognised in its response to the consultation a number of respondents had requested increased council tax flexibility to reflect funding reform. The Spending Review confirmed the government intends to maintain the 3% threshold with an additional 2% for the adult social care precept, in line with OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way.
wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_30

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities in adopting AI responsibly in service delivery. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government supports the responsible integration of AI across local government operations and services to reduce costs, drive efficiencies and improve service outcomes.

My Department is working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Incubator for AI (i.AI) to deliver the ‘Extract’ tool, which uses AI to transform planning information and maps from PDF’s into data. The tool includes a human verification element, and when launched will be accompanied by guidance to support local authorities.

We also continue to fund the development of AI solutions in collaboration with local planning authorities via our PropTech Innovation Fund. Previous funding rounds saw a number of AI projects balancing innovation with responsible service delivery and implementation of safeguards. The latest round, which closed June 2025, placed ethical and responsible considerations as a priority criterion for assessment, with applications proposing to develop AI solutions required to set out steps towards responsible delivery and regulatory compliance.