theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mortgage in possession clauses in planning applications on (a) housebuilding and (b) other development. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of mortgage in possession clauses in planning applications.

It is for local planning authorities to consider whether otherwise unacceptable development could be made acceptable through the use of conditions or planning obligations. Such obligations may include mortgage in possession clauses.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the (a) security agencies and (b) Bank of England have been able to make representations about the cyber-security of telecommunication cables in the BT Openreach exchange next to the proposed Chinese Embassy without providing that information to the Chinese Government. \p Matthew Pennycook: As the hon. Member is aware, any party can make representations in respect of a planning application.

Representations on planning applications are dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions found on gov.uk here.

The Secretary of State is able to issue a direction under section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This allows specific evidence to be withheld from public inspection. Again, as the hon. Member is aware, no section 321 direction was made during the public inquiry on this matter, which closed on 19 February 2025.
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Jess Asato:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has (a) implemented a domestic abuse policy for staff and (b) trained line managers to effectively respond to staff who are experiencing domestic abuse. \p Samantha Dixon: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is committed to supporting staff that are experiencing, or going through the aftermath of, domestic violence.

MHCLG has a published Domestic Violence policy.

Our published policy includes guidance and support for Line Managers and individuals who are confided to about domestic violence issues and signposts to a range of resources and sources of support for colleagues experiencing domestic violence and for managers supporting colleagues.

Once available, we will promote the take-up of the training product for managers currently being developed by the Cabinet Office.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question HL8844 on Affordable Housing: Finance and pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 78177 on Affordable Housing: Finance, for what reason the Social Time Preference Rate discount has not been applied to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme. \p Matthew Pennycook: At the Spending Review, the government announced £39 billion, in nominal terms, for a new Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36.

Economic appraisal for the SAHP business case was carried out following HMT Green Book methodology and used the Green Book discount rate (known as the Social Time Preference Rate) to assess the economic value for money of the programme in present value terms.

I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 78177 on 3 November 2025 for further details.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will reject plans to establish a quarry at the former Hatfield Aerodrome. \p Matthew Pennycook: Due to the quasi-judicial role of MHCLG Ministers in the planning system, I am unable to comment on the details of individual cases.
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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Green Belt protection is factored in when making decisions on new towns. \p Matthew Pennycook: Green Belt policy is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The NPPF is a material consideration in planning decisions.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he collects data on the number of data centre developments consented under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime; and what estimate he has made of the total land area associated with those projects. \p Matthew Pennycook: No data centres have yet been consented under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting process.
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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will publish further guidance to Local Planning Authorities on the weight given in the planning balance to a failure to comply with the Golden Rules. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 58228 on 24 June 2025.

The government’s planning practice guidance on viability makes clear that where development is subject to the ‘Golden Rules’, site specific viability assessment should not be used for the purpose of reducing developer contributions. The guidance is available on gov.uk here. We are currently reviewing planning practice guidance and will publish updates in due course.
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Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with (a) officials and (b) local authorities on making planning enforcement a non-discretionary service. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance. It is for authorities to decide how and when they use their powers depending on the circumstances of each case.

It is also for local planning authorities to ensure they have the resources in place to carry out their planning enforcement function effectively.

For a summary of the steps the government is taking to support capacity and capability within local planning authorities, including within their enforcement teams, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question UIN 67508 on 14 July 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of trends in the level of unauthorised traveller sites undertaking development on (a) weekends and (b) bank holidays to avoid Temporary Stop Notices; and if he will allow those notices to be (i) issued and (ii) enforced after that development. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is for local planning authorities to determine whether to enforce against unauthorised development and to keep records of their enforcement activities.

The government does not collect granular data on unauthorised development by type.

We have published guidance on various planning enforcement matters, including Temporary Stop Notices, and this is available on gov.uk here.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of changing planning laws to ensure developments with full planning permission are (a) completed on time and (b) not able to exist with minimal work on them. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local planning authorities (LPAs) already have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use in instances where development has not taken place in accordance with the relevant planning consent.

These enforcement powers include the power to issue a completion notice which requires a developer to complete their development if it is left uncompleted.

It is for LPAs themselves to decide how and when they use their powers depending on the circumstances of each case.

On 25 May, the government published a Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out (which can be found on gov.uk here) inviting views on further action the government should take to speed up homes being built.

On the same day, we launched a technical consultation on implementing measures to improve the transparency of build rates from new residential development, which includes proposals to implement provisions in Section 113 of the LURA on the power to decline to determine applications. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the government intends bring forward the regulations to implement these measures at the earliest practical opportunity with the new build out reporting framework coming into force from 2026.

The consultations closed on 7 July and responses are currently being analysed.
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Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to local planning authorities to ensure the protection of (a) buildings and (b) areas of historic importance. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has made no specific assessment of trends in relation to historic buildings and unlawful development.

The government is committed to the protection of the historic environment.

There are strong protections in both the National Planning Policy Framework and legislation to support the conservation and enhancement of heritage assets.

The government has also given local planning authorities a wide range of enforcement powers in relation to unauthorised development, including specific powers in relation to designated heritage assets, with strong penalties for non-compliance.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that infrastructure upgrades are delivered alongside new housing developments arising from grey belt designations in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 makes clear that ‘Golden Rules’ should apply to major development involving the provision of housing on land released from the Green Belt through plan preparation or review, or on sites in the Green Belt subject to a planning application. These ‘Golden Rules’ include necessary improvements to local or national infrastructure.

The point at which infrastructure is delivered is a matter for local planning authorities and will depend on the nature of the site. Requirements can be set out as planning conditions or agreed through section 106 planning obligations.

The government’s planning practice guidance on viability makes clear that where development is subject to the ‘Golden Rules’, site specific viability assessment should not be used for the purpose of reducing developer contributions. The guidance is available on gov.uk here. We are currently reviewing planning practice guidance and will publish updates in due course.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable if for the commencement of (a) section 48 and (b) Schedule 10 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government intend to implement Section 48 and Schedule 10 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 as soon as possible after we have made necessary changes in primary legislation to fix the small number of specific but serious flaws that the Act contains.

For details of those flaws I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 25972 on 6 February 2025.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department considered providing low interest loans to councils in the context of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department did explore providing low interest loans to councils but having carefully considered the fiscal implications we reluctantly arrived at the conclusion that the scheme would be for Private Registered Providers only.

As part of our commitment to reinvigorating council housebuilding, we have confirmed a number of other measures designed to support delivery of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme by councils. Full details can be found in my 7 November letter to local council leaders 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, whether his Department has a target to reduce the number of empty homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government does not have a numerical target for reducing the number of empty homes.
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Linsey Farnsworth:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve the rights of property buyers in the context of consultations on home buying and selling reform and the provision of material information in property listings. \p Matthew Pennycook: Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, property listings must already not omit information that the average consumer needs to make an informed transactional decision.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the proposals set out in the home buying and selling consultations published on 6 October 2025. They can be found on gov.uk here and here.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued recent guidance on deemed consent for the flying of the Palestinian flag. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has not issued any recent guidance on deemed consent for the flying of the Palestinian flag. General guidance on the planning rules for flying flags 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 30 October 2025 to Question 84634 on Personal Care Services: Fraud, what her policy is on the use streamlined compulsory purchase orders to tackle fake barber shops. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is for local authorities to decide how and when to use their compulsory purchase powers to improve their high streets. Compulsory purchase powers must only be used where negotiations to acquire properties by agreement have failed and there is a compelling case in the public interest.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84194 on Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Ebbsfleet, when the discussions started; whether Ministers received such representations; and whether the discussions included the Corporation requesting that the Sites of Special Scientific Interest designation was (a) removed or (b) reduced in size. \p Matthew Pennycook: As the sponsor Department, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has always had regular discussions with Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) on matters relevant to its core objectives.

The EDC has not formally requested a review of the SSSI designation in question but continues to work with Natural England as part of an agreed Memorandum of Understanding to support wider development proposals for Ebbsfleet Central.
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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 77630 on Land: Valuation, if he will publish the Valuation Office Agency’s viability study. \p Matthew Pennycook: The viability study produced by the Valuation Office Agency in October 2024 helped to inform wider analysis and is an internal government document. We have no plans to publish it.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to ensure that his decision on the called-in Chinese Embassy planning application is announced through a statement to Parliament. \p Matthew Pennycook: The House will be notified when the decision is made.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 October 202, to Question 69864 on Private Rented Housing: Licensing, whether landlords in selective licensing areas will be required to (a) make three separate registrations and (b) pay three fees. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 65373 on 14 July 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 99 of the policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2025, to what activities would the proposed thresholds of (a) £11,180 and (b) £2,230 apply. \p Samantha Dixon: Our ‘Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections’ sets out how we will respond to the threat of foreign interference by strengthening the rules around political donations. This includes ensuring that unincorporated associations are prevented from making significant campaign contributions unless they can verify and disclose the source of their funding, and requiring donors to declare any benefits received in connection with their donation.

We will ensure the appropriate thresholds for these requirements are uprated from £7,500 to £11,180 in line with other thresholds in electoral law.
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish further information on his proposals to help tackle (a) unaffordable and (b) unregulated ground rents. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to UIN 74455 on 15 September 2025.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to review the adequacy of legislation governing the provision of service charge accounts to leaseholders. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 4 July, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. It can be found on gov.uk here. For an overview of the proposals set out in the consultation, I refer the hon. Member to the associated Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS780). The consultation closed on 26 September, and we are analysing responses.
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Mark Sewards:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of powers available to local authorities to (a) maintain and (b) intervene on land where ownership is (i) unknown and (ii) unregistered. \p Matthew Pennycook: HM Land Registry (HMLR) are responsible for registering the ownership of land.

Approximately 11% of land in England and Wales remains unregistered.

My Department is working with HMLR to widen and deepen transparency of land ownership and control.
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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to include leasehold houses in Right To Manage eligibility. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has commenced the Right to Manage measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. They came into effect on 3 March 2025.

These changes implement the Law Commission recommendation to increase the non-residential floorspace limit from 25 to 50 per cent for Right to Manage claims. This means that more leaseholders in mixed-use buildings will qualify for the right to manage, gaining control over the management of their building. Further changes mean that leaseholders making right to manage claims will no longer have to pay their freeholder’s process costs for that claim.

As per the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government is determined to take action to address Law Commission recommendations omitted from the 2024 Act.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 84594 on Community Infrastructure Levy, if he will make it his policy to collate data on unspent (a) Section 106 and (b) Community Infrastructure Levy funds. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department is exploring proportionate and efficient ways of collecting and analysing data from Infrastructure Funding Statements, alongside other relevant sources of evidence.

I also refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) research and (b) data his Department (i) collates and (ii) procures to monitor (A) trends in levels of private sector rent, (B) the number of dwellings for private rent and (C) the number of private sector landlords. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department routinely monitors trends across the private rented sector, including levels of rent; the number of dwellings for private rent; and the number of private sector landlords.

To do this, we make use of data from existing surveys such as the English Housing Survey, the English Private Landlord Survey, and data from the Office for National Statistics and Hometrack. We have also commissioned Verian to carry out a longitudinal survey of private renters to help baseline and monitor the private rented sector reforms.

The government is committed to a robust evaluation of the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. This evaluation will include extensive data collection through interviews, surveys and focus groups and will involve engagement with a range of stakeholders including tenants, landlords, letting agents, third sector organisations, delivery partners, and government officials.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much HM Land Registry has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years. \p Matthew Pennycook: HM Land Registry (HMLR) has spent £52,336 on translation and interpretation services, including sign-language interpretation, in the previous 5 years as below.

The significant majority of the expenditure relates to translating HMLR official documents into Welsh under the statutory requirements set out in the Welsh Language Act 1993.

2020-21 14,718

2021-22 10,357

2022-23 8,917

2023-24 6,955

2024-25 11,389

Grand Total 52,336
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it is his Department's policy that neighbouring local authorities will be consulted before new towns are built. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the independent New Towns Taskforce final report as well as the government’s initial response to it. Both can be found on gov.uk here.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed introduction of (a) digital property logbooks and (b) open property data on (i) cyber-security and (ii) fraud. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 6 October 2025, the government published two consultations outlining reform proposals to transform home buying and selling. They can be found on gov.uk here and here.

We recognise that robust security and privacy standards will be essential in an increasingly digitalised market. Subject to the outcome of the consultations, we will work with industry to establish and maintain security protocols and approval criteria for providers.
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Sarah Owen:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to protect leaseholders from (a) poor-performing managing agents and (b) excessive service charges. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the proposals set out in the consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services published on 4 July 2025 (which can be found on gov.uk here) and the answer given to Question UIN 77534 on 17 October 2025.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will hold discussions with representatives of the legal sector in Cornwall on the consultation entitled Home buying and selling reform, published on 20 October 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 6 October 2025, the government published two consultations outlining reform proposals to transform home buying and selling. They can be found on gov.uk here and here.

Officials in my Department are actively engaging with stakeholders as part of the consultation process, and they would welcome discussions with representatives of the legal sector in Cornwall.
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Anna Dixon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to Answer of 16 April 2025 on Question 43378 on HM Land Registry, what recent progress he has made on reducing backlogs in the Land Registry application system. \p Matthew Pennycook: Improving speed of service remains a top priority for HM Land Registry (HMLR). All the services that people need from HMLR before they move property are either instantaneous or within its usual 3-day standard.

Once they have moved, the purchase needs to be registered with HMLR. Around a third of all registrations are automated and near instantaneous. Most take around 12 weeks.

The age of the oldest outstanding registrations has now more than halved from a peak in 2023 to under 11 months today.

HMLR processing times are publicly available on gov.uk here. If a delay to an application may cause financial, legal, or personal problems or put a property sale at risk, it can be fast tracked (expedited) free of charge. HMLR processes over 1,500 expedited applications every day, with more than 95% of these processed within 10 working days.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77557 on Electoral Commission, which parts of the Strategy and Policy Statement do not reflect his priorities. \p Samantha Dixon: The Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections, sets out the Government’s commitment to strengthen our democracy and uphold the integrity of elections. Our priorities include expanding the democratic rights of young people, improving voter registration, reforming voter identification, combatting foreign interference, and tackling harassment and intimidation.

Our proposed reforms will confer significant new powers and responsibilities on the Electoral Commission to enhance the enforcement of the political finance regime and strengthen public confidence in the integrity of our elections.

In light of these proposals, a new Strategy and Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission to reflect this Government’s priorities for elections and the Commission’s increased roles and responsibilities is intended.
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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that appropriate infrastructure is built when building new towns. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the independent New Towns Taskforce final report as well as the government’s initial response to it. Both can be found on gov.uk here.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department's consultation on legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements will be published. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440).
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has a policy on the naming of new roads in housing developments supported by (a) Homes England's and (b) his Department’s housing schemes. \p Matthew Pennycook: Street names are a local matter and are formally determined by the local authority for the area.

Geoplace, an organisation created by local authorities and the Ordnance Survey, publishes guidance on how to go about naming new roads and streets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Local Planning Authorities have an up-to-date local plan before local government reorganisation. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 3 June 2025 (HCWS676) and the answer given to Question UIN 70545 on 15 September 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_330

Catherine West:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to work closely with local authorities in Hornsey and Friern Barnet constituency to further progress the building of social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 58440 on 17 June, the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771), and the Social and Affordable Homes Programme policy statement published on 7 November which can be found on gov.uk here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_331

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason the Right to Shared Ownership has been disapplied to rented homes funded by the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026 to 2036. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Right to Shared Ownership, uptake of which has been very low, has been removed as a contractual condition of funding from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-36 to protect much needed social and affordable housing stock and to increase certainty for social landlords in respect of long-term rental income.

At their discretion, landlords will still be able to offer tenants the opportunity to purchase their home via Shared Ownership.

This change does not impact tenants already living in homes funded by the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme, who will still be able to access the Right to Shared Ownership in their current properties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_332

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the forthcoming Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill will include provisions to (a) regulate the use of estate rentcharges on freehold properties, (b) limit enforcement powers available to estate rentcharge holders under Section 121 of the Law of Property Act 1925 and (c) provide homeowners with a statutory right to vary estate rentcharge deeds to remove disproportionate enforcement mechanisms. \p Matthew Pennycook: The use of Sections 121 and 122 of the Law of Property Act 1925 to enforce rent arrears is draconian and wholly inappropriate given alternative means for rentcharge arrears are available.

We will publish an ambitious draft Leasehold and Commonhold reform Bill before the end of the year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_333

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 71834 on Construction: Foreign Investment in UK, how many building control applications managed by the Fast Track innovation unit were (a) approved within the statutory time frame, (b) approved after the statutory time frame, (c) approved within the 65 working day target, (d) approved outside that target, (e) not yet approved and the statutory time frame has expired, (f) not yet approved and the 65 working day target has expired and (g) have been rejected. \p Samantha Dixon: The June reforms mark a pivotal step in positioning the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) for the future, reflecting the Government's commitment to enhancing safety and supporting residents.

On 4th August, the BSR launched the innovation unit to accelerate new-build applications. The new model is working effectively, with the majority of cases progressing in line with expectations, and some already concluded. It will take time for the benefits to be felt across the system, however we would expect the model to start to deliver tangible improvements around December.

To support transparency and accountability, the BSR published performance data on 16 October and will continue to do so monthly to track progress against this commitment. We are expecting the next release of data towards the end of November.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_334

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter of 27 October 2025 from the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness to the hon Member for Thirsk and Malton, what is the planned timetable for introducing the legislation on councillors’ home addresses. \p Alison McGovern: On 18 November, we tabled government amendments NC45 and 114 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. These amendments would prevent a member’s or co-opted member’s home address from being included in public registers by default. They are scheduled for debate during the Commons Report Stage from 24 November.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_335

Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support community ownership. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, we are introducing a new community right to buy to give communities stronger powers to take ownership of a range of assets which are important to them and protect them for future community use.

Communities will be given the right of first refusal on the purchase of registered assets of community value when they are put up for sale and a longer timeframe to raise funds to purchase the asset.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_336

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 28 July 2025 to Question HL9659 on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether (a) basic bank accounts and (b) prepaid cards that do not require credit checks could be used. \p Samantha Dixon: Bank cards will be accepted as voter ID if they are issued by a UK-regulated bank and display the elector’s name. This includes cards issued with a basic bank account and prepaid cards that meet these requirements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_337

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of low-complexity work in higher-risk buildings having to be submitted to the Building Safety Regulator for approval on the levels of application processing backlog. \p Samantha Dixon: We recognise there have been significant challenges faced by applicants in getting Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approval for low-complexity and lower-risk work. Category B work, generally including less-complex and lower-risk projects, carries fewer procedural requirements in an application to the BSR.

The intention was that these category B applications should be simpler for the applicant to prepare and quicker for the BSR to assess. The department and BSR has been working at pace to address these challenges, and to ensure the new regime is fit for purpose and proportionate for all type of work. We will continue to engage with industry while policy review and development is under way.

On average Category B applications have taken 11.5 hours to make a decision per application. In comparison, Category A applications have taken an average of 20 hours per application, and New HRB’s have taken an average of 88.2 hours per application.

As of 14 November 2025, there are 12 Category B applications currently progressing through Gateway 2 Assessment. When measured against the total volume of Category B assessments received during this financial year, the average time allocated represents approximately 3.6% of overall working hours.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_338

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for the full private parking regulation regime to be (a) in place, (b) implemented and (c) in force. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: This government is committed to raising standards across the private parking sector and protecting motorists.

On the 11th July, the government launched a consultation outlining its proposals for a new Private Parking Code of Practice. The consultation closed on the 26th September, and we are currently analysing all responses.

The government will publish a response to this consultation and confirm its final proposals for the code and its enforcement framework in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_339

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 86648 on Absent Voting: British Nationals Abroad, what steps his Department is taking to help support overseas electors in Australia. \p Samantha Dixon: Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to UIN 86648 on Absent Voting: British Nationals Abroad, the Government is clear that all legitimate electors should be able and encouraged to participate in democracy. This includes overseas electors, who should be able to exercise their vote without unnecessary barriers. The Electoral Commission is responsible for raising awareness to facilitate democratic participation. The EC also undertakes communication campaigns to engage with citizens and promote awareness of, for example, how to register to vote.

As set out in the policy paper, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections published on 17 July 2025, the Government will introduce a package of measures intended to improve the resilience and capacity of the postal voting system overall. These measures include moving the postal vote application deadline three working days earlier in time. The deadline for candidate nominations will also be moved earlier in time in order to allow Returning Officers more time to proof the ballot papers for printers, giving more time for the next part of the process to get underway, and in particular to enable postal ballot papers to be printed and issued to postal voters at an earlier point.

These changes will benefit all administrators and voters, including those living overseas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_340

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 86231 on Local Government: Reorganisation, what his Department’s policy is on engaging with lobbying firms hired by local authorities to make representations on local government restructuring. \p Alison McGovern: The Government and the Department policy is that any contact between civil servants and lobbyists should be conducted in accordance with the Civil Service Code and the principles of public life set out by the Nolan Committee.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_341

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the postal voting system. \p Samantha Dixon: Between October 2024 and April 2025, the Government undertook a strategic review of electoral registration and conduct processes, which considered the key stages in and resilience of election delivery, working in partnership with the Electoral Commission, electoral practitioners and key local authority representatives including the Association of Electoral Administrators and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers and Returning Officers and their teams. Issues relating to postal voting were considered as part of the review and the Government will be bringing forward changes to strengthen the postal voting system to make it more resilient and responsive for electors and electoral administrators.

A full list of outcomes of the review and the changes which the Government proposes to bring forward as a result were set out in the policy paper, ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’ published on 17 July 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-21 conversation_342

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department holds information on the number of employees in the Local Government Pension Scheme who make use of salary sacrifice arrangements. \p Alison McGovern: The Local Government Pension Scheme is locally administered and the Department does not hold this data.