theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Chinese-manufactured smart devices in the UK's critical national infrastructure on national security. \p Kanishka Narayan: National security is the first duty of our government.

Under the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, any connected device intended to be used by consumers must meet three basic requirements: no universal default or easily guessable passwords; transparency about the minimum length of time manufacturers will provide security updates; and information on how to report security vulnerabilities directly to manufacturers.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launched a Call for Views on 12 May 2025 on proposals to strengthen the cyber security of enterprise connected devices. Research commissioned in 2021 by DSIT of 400 businesses showed significant gaps in device security practices with 58% of businesses not requiring security checks when purchasing connected devices. Our Call for Views included a draft Code of Practice, developed with the National Cyber Security Centre, which sets out 11 security principles for manufacturers, covering areas like secure updates, authentication, data protection, and device integrity. Feedback is being considered, and a government response will be published in due course.

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will also be introduced when parliamentary time allows, to deliver a step change in the UK’s national security, requiring essential and digital services in scope to have robust cyber security practices and standards. This will include empowering regulators to designate critical suppliers, ensuring the most important suppliers to essential and digital services are subject to the regulatory regime.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of satellite debris falling to earth on the environment. \p Kanishka Narayan: The UK Space Agency has led global research on the potential environmental impact of satellites burning up in Earth’s atmosphere (atmospheric ablation) through a set of short, complementary research studies. Initial outcomes conclude there is an impact of metals on the atmosphere, but further research is needed to fully identify knowledge gaps and provide a solid evidence base for decision-making.

The Space Industry Act (2018) requires applicants for launch operator and spaceport licences to provide the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with an assessment of the effects that launches of spacecraft are expected to have on the environment.

The National Space Operations Centre monitors all trackable space objects and provides indicators and warnings of re-entry and projected paths, particularly where objects are expected to have sufficient mass and volume for some or all components to survive to the surface.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much his Department has spent on social media advertising by (a) influencer and (b) organisation in each of the last five financial years. \p Ian Murray: The Department for Science Innovation and Technology has spent money on social media advertising over the last five years. Sensitivities exist around aspects of this spend which could prejudice commercial interests. All spend in these areas are subject to the standard value for money assessments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Dave Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to commission a review of the 2017 Electronic Communications Code reforms to evaluate its potential impact on the deployment of 5G masts. \p Kanishka Narayan: Government has no plans to conduct a formal review of the 2017 reforms to the Electronic Communications Code before commencing the remaining sections of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.

The aim of the 2017 reforms was to encourage investment in digital networks and improve coverage and connectivity across the UK. Following the 2017 reforms, government representatives engaged regularly with stakeholders about their impact, resulting in a consultation on further changes to the Code. These were included in the 2022 Act, which received full Parliamentary scrutiny.

Our ambition is that all populated areas will have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030. We are committed to removing barriers to the digital infrastructure, including reviewing where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of 5G.

Analysis from the EU Commission showed 5G households' coverage in the UK at the end of 2024 (95%) was on par with India, China and ahead of France (94%) and the EU (94.3%), but behind South Korea (100%), Japan (99.2%), Norway, Iceland and Germany (all 99%) as well as USA (97.0%). Since this assessment, UK 5G coverage outside premises has increased to 96%.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Chinese companies supplying cellular modules for use in the UK’s critical national infrastructure on national security. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Prime Minister has emphasised that national security is the first duty of our government. The Government has a broad set of tools to safeguard our Critical National Infrastructure, including The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, The Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018, The Procurement Act 2023 and The Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022.

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will also be introduced when parliamentary time allows, to deliver a step change in the UK’s national security, requiring essential and digital services in scope to have robust cyber security practices and standards. This will include empowering regulators to designate critical suppliers, ensuring that the most important suppliers to essential and digital services are subject to the regulatory regime.

Any device with a cellular module that is incorporated into the network or systems of UK Critical National Infrastructure will need to comply with that network’s cyber security practices and standards and as such should have robust security controls in place. If such a device falls within scope of The Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 then it will also need to comply with the requirements of that Act.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to address the role of social media companies in enabling (a) harassment and (b) stalking through their platforms. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act since its implementation in 2023 places legal duties on social media companies to tackle online harms, including harassment and stalking. Platforms must assess risks, swiftly remove illegal content, and implement measures to prevent abuse. They are also required to provide clear reporting tools. Ofcom, the independent regulator, is responsible for ensuring services are complying with their safety duties. The Act also introduced new communications offences, including cyber-flashing and threatening communications, strengthening protections against online harassment and stalking. The Secretary of State is taking steps to make cyberflashing, and assisting and encouraging self-harm priority offences, in addition to stalking and harassment already being priority offences, to strengthen the act further.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance he has issued to the Planning Inspectorate on considering potential environmental impacts of decisions to designate land as grey belt. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning Inspectorate has not been issued with specific guidance to support decisions as to whether any given site is considered grey belt when a decision by a local planning authority has been appealed. Nor has it been issued with specific guidance related to consideration of the potential environmental impacts of decisions to designate land as grey belt.

In determining whether a site is classified as grey belt at appeal, the relevant Inspector will consider relevant legislation; national planning policy, including the National Planning Policy Framework; Planning Policy Guidance; and any relevant local development plan policies and material considerations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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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 clawback practices by local authorities on the application of the Community Infrastructure Levy exemption on (a) self-build, (b) annexes and (c) extensions on householders making small administrative errors. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises that procedural requirements relating to exemptions for housebuilder applications under the 2010 CIL regulations have had financial consequences for some homeowners. We remain committed to finding a solution to this issue.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring councillors in principle tier authorities to obtain a DBS check. \p Alison McGovern: We are preparing initial advice which includes options for a draft public consultation on criminal record checks for local government members that we intend to submit to you in due course.
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his Department’s planned timeline is for responding to the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board's letter, dated 13 October 2025, requesting guidance on investments accused of being complicit in violations of international law. \p Alison McGovern: The Department has received the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board's letter and will treat it in line with the Government’s usual approach to correspondence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many times he has met with the leader of Birmingham City Council to discuss resolving the ongoing bin strikes. \p Alison McGovern: The ongoing waste dispute is a local issue and rightly being dealt with by Birmingham City Council. Secretary of State-appointed Commissioners continue to support the Council in their recovery and improvement journey and provide regular progress reports to the Secretary of State. My department engages regularly with Councils under intervention.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department plans to take to help reduce the number of children living in temporary accommodation. \p Alison McGovern: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 83747 on 27 October 2025.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of updating the National Planning Policy Framework to include guidance on the importance of telecommunications infrastructure in new developments. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that advanced, high quality and reliable communications infrastructure is essential for economic growth and social well-being. It sets out that planning policies and decisions should support the expansion of electronic communications networks, including next generation mobile technology.

The government intend to consult this year on a new suite of national policies for decision making and we will consider policies on telecommunications as part of that exercise.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve the enforcement of ecological conditions attached to planning consents; and whether he has had recent discussions with (a) Natural England and (b) local planning authorities on improving post-occupancy inspections of biodiversity enhancements. \p Matthew Pennycook: Monitoring and ensuring compliance with ecological conditions attached to planning permissions are matters for local planning authorities who already have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, to use as they consider appropriate.

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.

In respect of post-occupancy monitoring, my Department does not collect the data requested.

Officials in my Department have engaged with Natural England and local planning authorities about the monitoring of biodiversity enhancements, particularly in relation to the implementation of biodiversity net gain.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria he uses to postpone local elections under local government reorganisation. \p Alison McGovern: Our starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification otherwise.

Postponements have previously occurred in areas undergoing local government reorganisation only where councils requested or agreed to the postponement. The single year postponements in 2025 were intended to help deliver both devolution and reorganisation to the most ambitious timeline possible in the area, and in Surrey, in the context of specific financial challenges.

Where an election is postponed, the criteria for that postponement is set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to the required secondary legislation for the consideration of Parliament.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what scheduled elections in (a) 2026 and (b) 2027, will be cancelled following the Surrey reorganisation; and what new elections for local government bodies will take place in (i) 2026 and (ii) 2027. \p Alison McGovern: It continues to be expected, by both the Government and council leaders in Surrey, that the new unitary councils in Surrey will come into effect from 1 April 2027. From this time the only councils for the area will be the two new councils, which will have held elections in May 2026. We will bring to the House, for approval, a Structural Changes Order, which will provide for the establishment of the two new councils, abolish the existing councils, and make the necessary electoral arrangements, including replacing the scheduled County and District elections in May 2026 with elections to the new councils.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78232 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Remote Working, whether the (a) 50% and (b) 40% office attendance requirements for those offices are (i) percentage of assigned staff attending the workplace or (ii) percentage of allocated desks being occupied. \p Samantha Dixon: Office Attendance in the Department is assessed on what percentage of working days an individual attends an office.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the creation of two councils will not affect the cost of the provision of social care. \p Alison McGovern: Local government reorganisation will strengthen the sector, help grow the economy and drive up living standards – which is this Government’s number one mission.

It will also help reform local public services. Bringing services like housing, public health, and social care under one roof means one council can see the full picture and spot problems early – for example, supporting a family in need of housing and then supporting the children to stay in school.

Ensuring public services, like social care, are commissioned effectively and are responsive to their communities will make services more efficient, help to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, and enable people to reach their full potential.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with Thurrock Council on ensuring the continued support for vulnerable residents in Thurrock, in the context of the planned closure of the Thurrock Centre for Independent Living; and if he will ask the commissioners at Thurrock Council to review the (a) value for money for the services provided by the Thurrock Centre for Independent Living and (b) level of support provided to that chairt. \p Alison McGovern: Commissioners have been in place since September 2022 to address the concerns about the unprecedented scale of the financial and commercial risks that faced the Thurrock Council at the beginning of the intervention. Commissioners continue to help and provide oversight to the Council to manage their investments, finances, and to drive forward long-term change and reform of the Council, working with the Council to ensure value for money and services are delivered for local residents.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations in the report by the Citizens Advice entitled The Hidden Cost of Homelessness, published in September 2025 on (a) addressing poor standards in temporary accommodation by implementing the extension of the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) and Awaab’s law and (b) working more closely with local authorities to improve the quality of temporary accommodation. \p Alison McGovern: The Renters’ Right Act provides powers to extend Awaab’s Law to temporary accommodation occupied under licence. We will be consulting in due course on how best to apply Awaab’s Law to such accommodation.

We announced in February this year that subject to consultation we plan to extend the Decent Homes Standard to temporary accommodation. We are now carefully considering all responses to the consultation. These will inform our proposals, which we intend to publish in due course.

The Government is providing £950 million of investment for the fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund – the largest investment in the fund to date - to support local authorities in England to increase the supply of good quality temporary accommodation and drive down the use of costly bed and breakfasts and hotels. We have also invested more than £1 billion in homelessness services this year, an increase of more than £316 million on the previous year. This includes £10.9 million additional funding announced last month to increase access to support and services for families in temporary accommodation.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an estimate of the number of people have been employed in local government in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency in every year since 2010. \p Alison McGovern: Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces including decisions about terms and conditions, working practices and how best to deploy staff to achieve value for money. The Government will not micromanage their day-to-day running.

Local authorities will each hold data about their own individual workforces but the Department does not collect this centrally. Sector-wide data is collected by the Office for National Statistics Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (ONS Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey | Local Government Association).
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of local authorities that (a) currently operate four-day working weeks for their employees and (b) are considering implementing four-day working weeks for employees. \p Alison McGovern: Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces and the Government will not micromanage them. The Department does not routinely collect this data. However it is the Government’s policy that Local Authorities should not be offering full time pay for part time work as we are concerned it does not offer value for money for taxpayers.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) strategic authorities and (b) combined authority mayoral precepts will have any liability for the historic debts of local authorities in their area following local government restructuring. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Legislation set outs that during local government reorganisation, property, rights and liabilities, including debt, transfer from the old councils to the new councils for that area. It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt. In general, as with previous restructures, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation. The Government has committed to unprecedented debt repayment support for Woking and Thurrock councils, given exceptional unsupported debt in these councils.

The ability to issue a mayoral precept has existed in law since 2017. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will allow mayors to spend a precept across all functions of a strategic authority. Introducing a precept is a choice for the elected mayor, who must determine the potential benefits when balanced against the costs for residents.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 78670 on Regional Planning and Development, if he will publish the (a) projects that had funding cancelled in each of the six local authorities and (b) amount of funding cancelled in each. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: No, the government does not routinely publish details of projects that have not received funding as that could potentially disadvantage any future applications for further investment.
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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 77689 on Local Government: Investment, if he will take steps to stop divestment decisions in local government pension schemes relating to (a) Trident renewal and (b) investment in the defence industry. \p Alison McGovern: Investment strategies for Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds are set by local administering authorities, and include how social, environmental and corporate governance and responsible investment considerations are taken into account. Administering authorities must have regard to their fiduciary duty to scheme members and employers when setting their investment strategy and must follow relevant legislation and guidance.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of renaming West Surrey council as West Surrey and South Middlesex Council. \p Alison McGovern: There are no plans to make such an assessment.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to allow unitary councils to expand their size into current two-tier areas. \p Alison McGovern: The Government is committed to ending two-tier local government in England in this Parliament.

On 5 February 2025, the Government invited two-tier authorities and their neighbouring small unitary authorities to develop proposals for unitary local government. Final proposals from councils must specify the area for any new unitary council(s). If a boundary change is part of any final proposal, then it should be clear on the boundary proposed. Boundary changes are possible, but existing district areas should be considered the building blocks for proposals. More complex boundary changes will only be considered where there is a strong justification. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has paused all electoral reviews in areas that have been invited to submit proposals for local government reorganisation. My Department is liaising closely with the Commission so that they are involved at the appropriate time to ensure fair electoral arrangements across the area of any new unitary local authority.
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has appointed a lead official to cover the issues (a) raised by and (b) that affect the British Chinese community. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: As a part of my Department’s ongoing work to understand, hear from and support communities, including to drive cohesion, officials engage with a range of ethnically and religiously diverse communities. There are no plans for specific engagement with British Chinese communities at this time.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of children in temporary accommodation in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East, and (e) England. \p Alison McGovern: We will publish a cross-government strategy that will set out the actions needed across central and local government and the homelessness sector to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. It will put prevention at its core and set a clear vision for tackling homelessness, including both short and long-term interventions.

This year (2025/26) we are investing more than £1 billion in homelessness and rough sleeping services, a £316 million increase on the previous year. This will help prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation.

We have allocated £644.17 million of funding in 2025/26 through the Homelessness Prevention Grant, helping support local authorities to deliver services to prevent and respond to homelessness. This includes an uplift of £203.8 million compared to last year. The 2025/26 Homelessness Prevention Grant allocations can be found here: Homelessness Prevention Grant allocations: 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK .

The government is also providing £950 million of investment for the fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund – the largest investment in the fund to date - to support local authorities in England to increase the supply of good quality temporary accommodation and drive down the use of costly bed and breakfasts and hotels.

This Government is also tackling the root causes of homelessness and has committed to delivering 1.5 million homes over this Parliament and the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding for a generation.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 78207 on Hate Crime: Internet, for what reason True Vision was funded via a non-competitive process. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: As of the financial year 2020/21, under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding, MHCLG allocates funding of £80,000 to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority as part of the True Vision programme which aims to support the operation and development of the True Vision resource. The resource is managed by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and directed by its National Policing Lead, and provides a range of services to support victims, professionals, and NGOs. The programme also maintains outreach and audit activity to ensure accountability and knowledge sharing between Police, Government and external stakeholders by contribution to the cost of employing a National Police Hate Crime Coordinator.
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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 75607 on Working Hours: Cambridge City Council, whether he has (a) changed policy and (b) written to local authorities on four day weeks. \p Alison McGovern: This Government is committed to working in partnership with local authorities and will not micromanage their day-today running. The Secretary of State wrote to South Cambridgeshire District Council in October 2025 (copied to Cambridge City Council), stating the Government’s policy that local authorities should not be offering full time pay for part time work.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been allocated to councils for local government restructuring over the Spending Review. \p Alison McGovern: The 2025 Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29.

We will publish the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year, which will inform local authorities of their provisional multi-year allocations.

In addition, under the local government reorganisation programme, £7.6 million was made available in June, July and August in the form of proposal development contributions, split across the 21 areas that have been invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. This is the first time that such funding has been made available for the development of reorganisation proposals.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the four day week trial taking place in some local authorities. \p Alison McGovern: This Government is committed to working in partnership with local authorities and will not micromanage their day-today running. However, it is Government’s view that local authorities should not be offering full time pay for part time work.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance to local authorities on the (a) civil and (b) criminal penalties for avoidance of paying the second homes council tax premium. \p Alison McGovern: Councils have a range of powers available to them to recover any type of unpaid council tax, including council tax premiums. The government has recently consulted on modernising and improving the administration of council tax which seeks views on how council tax is collected and enforced. The government will publish its response to the consultation in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_114

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what estimate his Department has made of the debt that West Surrey council will inherit when it is established. \p Alison McGovern: It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt. The government was clear in statutory invitations for Reorganisation proposals (criterion 2f), that proposals should reflect the extent to which the implications of debt linked to historic capital practices could be managed locally.

On 28 October 2025, we announced our unprecedented commitment to repay in-principle £500 million of Woking Borough Council’s debt in 2026-27. This reflects significant unsupported debt held by the Council that cannot be managed locally. This is a first tranche of debt repayment support, and we will continue to explore what further debt support is required at a later point.

Government remains committed to achieving the best value for money for taxpayers in the rationalisation of Woking’s assets, and to providing interim financial support to the new council until a final decision is made.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_115

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local billing authorities on (a) the length of time that council taxpayers should be given to pay and (b) when council tax bills are considered to be in arrears. \p Alison McGovern: This government has recently consulted on modernising and improving the administration of council tax. This included seeking views on the current processes in place to recover council tax. We are currently reviewing all responses to the consultation and will publish our response in due course.

A person is considered to be in arrears from the day they have missed a payment. Councils cannot carry out formal enforcement action until after they have issued a reminder and then acquired a liability order confirming the amount owed.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_116
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_116

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department collates information on which local authorities have introduced (a) boycotts, (b) divestment or (c) sanctions against firms which (i) trade or (ii) are based in (A) Israel or (B) the Occupied Territories. \p Alison McGovern: The Department does not collate information on which local authorities have introduced boycotts, divestment or sanctions against firms trading with or based in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Cabinet Office has published guidance to public authorities prohibiting procurement boycotts against Israeli firms and firms which trade with Israel.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_117

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of including housing costs in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation on areas with lower housing costs but higher levels of deprivation. \p Alison McGovern: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (IoD25) on Thursday 30th October 2025. All resources can be accessed online here - English indices of deprivation 2025 - GOV.UK

As part of the IoD25 release, the Department updated its measures of deprivation in line with recommendations from its 2022 user consultation - Indices Futures: Updating the English Indices of Deprivation (IoD) - consultation - GOV.UK - and broader stakeholder engagement. This includes accounting for housing costs within specific domains.

Full detail on the Indices methodology can be found in the IoD25 Technical Report online here - English indices of deprivation 2025: technical report - GOV.UK. Further analysis and interpretation of the data is available in our Research Report online here - English indices of deprivation 2025: research report - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_118
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_118

Dame Siobhain McDonagh:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on taking steps to help support (a) Merton Council’s London Borough of Sport programme and (b) other local authority-led initiatives to increase physical activity. \p Alison McGovern: DCMS, as the lead department for the Government's arm's-length body Sport England, is investing up to £250 million of National Lottery and Exchequer funding into more than 90 locations across England. This investment is being delivered in partnership with local organisations in the communities that need it most, helping more people to live active and healthier lives for longer.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_119
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_119

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to promote awareness among leaseholders of their right under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to extend their lease to 990 years at a peppercorn ground rent; and what support his Department will provide to ensure leaseholders can exercise this right without requiring professional legal assistance. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to ensuring leaseholders can take advantage of the reforms provided for by the Leasehold and Freehold Reform act 2024 as they are implemented. We will continue to work closely with delivery partners and stakeholders to raise awareness about these, including publishing guidance as and when appropriate.

Specialist legal advice should be taken from a solicitor or surveyor when considering enfranchisement or extensions. Leaseholders can also get free information and advice from the government supported Leasehold Advisory Service.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_120
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_120

Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department includes purpose-built student accommodation in it's counting of affordable housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: The definition of affordable housing used in statistical publications is the one included in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Any student accommodation that falls within that definition will be included, but it is not separately identified in the data collected for the Department’s affordable housing supply statistics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_121

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Affordable Housing Programme will have a funding stream for (a) renovating and (b) getting long-term empty homes back into use as affordable housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 7 November 2025, my Department published a policy statement setting out the full details of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme as part of our plan to kickstart a decade of social and affordable housing renewal. It can be found on gov.uk here.

The new programme is designed to be flexible to support the greater diversity of supply needed, and we are asking providers to come forward with ambitious bids that reflect this diversity.

While the new programme will focus on the supply of new homes, it will also continue to support some regeneration schemes that provide a net increase in homes on a site. The programme will also allow for a limited number of acquisitions of existing housing stock, to support wider delivery while more rapidly increasing the supply of social and affordable homes.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_122
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_122

Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how his Department plans to work with relevant stakeholders to resolve potential issues affecting the delivery of social housing through Section 106 on early engagement between developers and housing associations on the (a) design and (b) quality of homes in the long-term. \p Matthew Pennycook: Section 106 agreements are, and will remain, an essential mechanism for delivering social and affordable housing.

The government continues to progress work on a holistic policy package that will deal with the legacy problem of existing uncontracted S106 units and also prevent the problem recurring. We are working with stakeholders, including registered providers, local planning authorities and housebuilders, on this.

In respect of early engagement specifically, my Department notes and welcomes the work of the G15 group of London's leading housing associations and others to develop collaboration principles aimed at improving how housebuilders and social landlords work together to deliver successful S106 agreements.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_123
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_123

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance he has issued to the Planning Inspectorate on deciding whether a site is considered grey belt when a decision by a local authority has been appealed. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning Inspectorate has not been issued with specific guidance to support decisions as to whether any given site is considered grey belt when a decision by a local planning authority has been appealed. Nor has it been issued with specific guidance related to consideration of the potential environmental impacts of decisions to designate land as grey belt.

In determining whether a site is classified as grey belt at appeal, the relevant Inspector will consider relevant legislation; national planning policy, including the National Planning Policy Framework; Planning Policy Guidance; and any relevant local development plan policies and material considerations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_124

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) fathers and (b) mothers received legal aid support in family court proceedings relating to child custody and access in the last five years. \p Sarah Sackman: The requested information is not centrally held.