theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Sir Mark Hendrick:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with financial institutions to provide (a) (i) emergency and (ii) discreet access to banking, (b) financial independence tools, (c) specialist support services and (d) other (A) privacy and (B) safety measures for people fleeing domestic violence. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government recognises the important role that access to financial services products plays in supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse to establish financial independence. The financial services sector has carried out significant work on this to date to enhance understanding of financial and economic abuse and develop solutions which provide support to their customers. This includes initiatives like UK Finance’s Financial Abuse Code which provides guidance for firms on how they should respond when a customer is facing abuse, including training employees to recognise and respond to the potential signs and effects of financial abuse and to support victim-survivors to access financial services in their own name.

Economic abuse is also a cross-cutting theme of the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy which will be published later this year. The strategy will seek to tackle a range of barriers to individuals’ access to financial services and products and build on the sector’s work to date in supporting victim-survivors to establish financial independence.

More widely, the Government recently announced a £19.9 million investment to support victims of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). As part of this, £1.96m is being invested into the Flexible Fund which provides financial support to victim-survivors to enable them to leave abusive situations and begin to rebuild their lives.
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Catherine Fookes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the regulatory efficacy of the Financial Conduct Authority. \p Emma Reynolds: The government monitors the performance of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in a number of ways.

For example, the FCA is required to respond annually to the letter of recommendation sent by the Chancellor which sets out aspects of the government’s economic policy to which the FCA must have regard. The government scrutinizes this response, as well as other publications such as the FCA’s annual report.

The FCA publishes data against a range of metrics which support the government in monitoring its performance. The FCA is also developing new metrics to monitor its performance as part of its 2025-30 Strategy. This provides opportunities to assess how effectively the FCA is carrying out its role.

The Regulation Action Plan, published in March 2025, committed the government to holding regular performance reviews with relevant regulators. I have held the first meeting with the FCA, and the minutes of this meeting will be made publicly available. The government will use these meetings to build on its already extensive engagement with the FCA and other regulators, to hold them to account for their performance against their statutory duties, their work to reduce administrative costs, and alignment with government priorities.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the level of ground rents on mortgage lending decisions. \p Emma Reynolds: The pricing and availability of mortgages, including how ground rents factor into mortgage applications, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene.

More widely, the Government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to regionalise the property cap on Lifetime ISAs. \p Emma Reynolds: Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the Lifetime ISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values.

Having a single property cap across the UK simplifies the Lifetime ISA for savers and account providers. However, as with all aspects of the tax system, the Government keeps ISA policy under review.
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John Whitby:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that banks abide by the Payment Systems Regulator's new mandatory reimbursement framework and swiftly investigate cases of APP fraud. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this appalling crime. The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is the independent regulator with responsibility for the Authorised Push Payment (APP) scam reimbursement regime.

The PSR’s rules require in scope Payment Service Providers (PSPs) to reimburse victims of APP scams, which take place over the Faster Payments System, within five business days of making a claim. However, PSPs may take longer in specific circumstances, including where it may need more time to gather sufficient information from the victim or third parties to help assess the claim.

To monitor the success and impact of its regime, the PSR has committed to commission an independent post-implementation review of its policy after 12 months of the policy being in force.

On 11 March, the Government announced its intentions to consolidate the PSR and its functions primarily within the FCA. The PSR continues to be an independent economic regulator with full access to its statutory powers until legislation is passed to change this and APP scam victims will continue to benefit from the same levels of protection.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Office for Investment: Financial Services engages systematically with (a) devolved Administrations and (b) regional investment bodies. \p Emma Reynolds: The Office for Investment: Financial Services is a public-private partnership between HM Treasury, the Office for Investment, the financial services regulators, and the City of London Corporation, working together to attract the world’s best financial services businesses to the UK. It was announced as part of the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, published at Mansion House in July 2025.

The government is committed to effective monitoring and evaluation of the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy - including the Office for Investment: Financial Services - with clear indicators laid out in the Strategy focused on how growing the financial sector will support growth and investment across the UK.

The Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority are required by legislation to coordinate on a number of matters, for example to consult each other where there are matters of common regulatory interest where the other regulator may be expected to have relevant information or relevant expertise. The financial services regulators therefore have a close working relationship which will support the operations of the Office for Investment: Financial Services.

The Office for Investment: Financial Services will proactively promote all UK nations and regions as investment destinations for the world’s most innovative, fast-growing and highest quality financial institutions. To achieve this, it will work closely with the devolved administrations and regional investment bodies.
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Connor Naismith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether protections for victims of fraud have changed since July 2024. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this appalling crime. In response to a developing threat landscape, and honouring its manifesto commitment to do so, the Government will publish a new, expanded Fraud Strategy, setting out its approach to tackling fraud, including victim support and public resilience. The Fraud strategy will set out the direction of partnership between Government, law enforcement, industry and the international community to tackle this serious crime.

To protect consumers, under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has introduced mandatory reimbursement for APP scams taking place over the Faster Payment system. This came into force on 7 October 2024.

Enforcement of the APP scam reimbursement regime is a matter for the PSR, but to monitor the success and impact of this, the PSR has committed to commission an independent post implementation review of its policy after 12 months of the policy being in force.
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Bobby Dean:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department considers the (a) have regard duty on the Financial Conduct Authority and (b) guidance provided in the Government’s remit letter, published on 14 November 2024, to be sufficient basis for the Financial Conduct Authority to take steps to support people with low financial resilience. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government recognises the key role the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has in improving financial inclusion for UK consumers. This is why the FCA is part of the Financial Inclusion Committee which has been convened to develop a Financial Inclusion Strategy. The membership of the committee reflects the fact that the whole financial inclusion ecosystem will need to work together for the strategy to be a success, including government, industry, consumer representatives, and the regulator.

The strategy will be published later this year and will seek to tackle a range of barriers which prevent individuals from accessing the financial services and products they need. This will include actions for the FCA to take forward as part of their responsibilities within the sector, as well as relevant metrics to monitor the strategy’s progress.

The Government will work closely with the FCA to deliver the strategy and regularly engages with the FCA on this topic at ministerial and official level. In November, the Chancellor also included reinforcing financial inclusion as a matter for the FCA to have regard to in her letter of recommendation. In response to this, Nikhil Rathi noted the FCA’s support for the development of the Financial Inclusion Strategy and its collaboration with partners to help build consumers’ financial resilience.
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Rachel Taylor:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an estimate of the total pension savings held by Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders resident in the UK but held in Hong Kong which they are not able to transfer until they gain British citizenship due to Hong Kong’s permanent departure clause. \p Emma Reynolds: This government is deeply committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK. We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route are having difficulties in drawing down early their pensions held in the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF).

Whilst documentary requirements for withdrawing funds are a matter for the Hong Kong authorities, officials have raised this issue directly with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong MPF Schemes Authority. We have urged them to facilitate early draw down of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently and have made clear such discrimination of BN(O)s is unacceptable.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on food price inflation. \p Emma Reynolds: HM Treasury does not produce forecasts of the UK economy. Forecasting the economy, including the impact of Government policy decisions, is the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR does not publish estimates of the impact of policy decisions, including the Extended Producer Responsibility, (EPR) on levels of food inflation.

There is an impact assessment of the EPR system published, where the system’s impact on inflation can be found. It estimates the impact on headline CPI at around 0.07% and does not provide a separate estimate for food inflation

The Bank of England’s August Monetary Policy Report notes that, under full pass-through of costs, packaging EPR would raise the level of food prices by a little over 0.5%.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle covid-19 small business loan fraud. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government is committed to recouping public money lost in pandemic related fraud whilst also taking steps to provide value for money for UK taxpayers, working closely with law enforcement, counter-fraud agencies and commercial lenders. We are clear that fraud is not acceptable within these schemes, and businesses continue to be responsible for the loans they took out under any of the Covid loan guarantee schemes.

We are providing significant funding to the British Business Bank and the Insolvency Service to combat loan fraud, including £10.9 million for the British Business Bank over three years to boost their counter fraud and assurance programme. The Insolvency Service has a proven track record in handling complex fraud and financial misconduct investigations. By the end of March 2025, its work had resulted in more than 2,000 director disqualifications, bankruptcy restrictions, 62 criminal convictions, and more than £6 million recoveries related to Covid loan guarantee scheme abuse.

We have also appointed a fixed-term Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner, Tom Hayhoe, to look at the issue of Covid fraud and recoveries at large, as we use every means possible to recoup public money lost in pandemic-related fraud. The Commissioner will be completing his work by the end of this year and will provide a report to be presented to Parliament.

In the interests of transparency, the Government also publishes Covid loan guarantee performance data, which includes total values lent and repayment data. The latest version of this data was published in August 2025 and can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-loan-guarantee-schemes-repayment-data-march-2025
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Melanie Onn:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to cash for disabled people who are not able to use cash machines. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals as a priority.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules ensure cash continues to be a viable method of payment for the millions of people who depend on it and help businesses to continue to accept cash by providing reasonable access to cash deposit facilities.

The Government is also working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this parliament. These hubs will provide small businesses and individuals who need face-to-face support with critical cash and in-person banking services. Over 180 Banking Hubs are already open across the UK.

The provision of cash machines (and their functions) is overseen by LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network. LINK provide a free cash locator tool on their website allowing consumers to find their nearest cash access points, including showing access points where audio assistance and wheelchair access is available. https://www.link.co.uk/cash-locator

The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection from discrimination for disabled people in a range of circumstances, including in the provision of goods, facilities and services and requires retailers to make reasonable adjustments. The Financial Conduct Authority also requires authorised financial services firms to comply with their ‘Consumer Duty’, which requires them to deliver good outcomes for retail customers, including those with disabilities.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to support people facing difficulties in obtaining mortgages for ex-Right to Buy properties. \p Emma Reynolds: HM Treasury is regularly in contact with mortgage lenders on all aspects of their mortgage business to understand their position and current lending conditions. However, the pricing of mortgages, including the availability of mortgage finance for particular properties, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene.

I would encourage any prospective homeowner to shop around and speak to a mortgage broker in order to find the best possible mortgage product for their circumstances.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of improved financial literacy in schools on levels of personal debt among young adults. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government fully recognises the importance of financial education and wants to ensure that all children are equipped with the skills they need to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives.

HM Treasury works closely with the Department for Education, which sets the national curriculum for financial education in schools in England. In England, financial education forms a compulsory part of the national curriculum for mathematics at key stages 1 to 4, and citizenship at key stages 3 and 4, this includes personal budgeting, saving for the future, and managing credit and debt.

The Government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which is considering whether there is sufficient coverage of key knowledge and skills, including financial education, to prepare children and young people for future life.

The interim report highlighted that the Review has heard consistently from children and young people and their parents that they want more focus on the applied knowledge and skills that will equip them for later life and work, such as financial education. The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in autumn with the government’s response.

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), an arm’s length body of the Government, provides comprehensive guidance to support people at every stage of their financial lives through the Money Helper website. This includes guidance for dealing with debt and signposting to free debt advice.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the UK are subject to clear and robust regulation. \p Emma Reynolds: On 29 April, HM Treasury published draft legislation for the future financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets.

The draft legislation includes a new regulated activity for operating a cryptoasset trading platform, meaning firms carrying on this activity and dealing directly or indirectly with UK consumers will need to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Government is seeking to bring forward final legislation before the end of this year.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that individuals holding a registered Power of Attorney can access banking services on behalf of people with conditions such as dementia without undue delay or administrative barriers. \p Emma Reynolds: Ensuring all individuals have access to the appropriate financial services and products they need is a key priority for Government. Like all service providers, banks and building societies are bound under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, where necessary, in the way they deliver their services. This may include allowing for a carer or deputy to act for the disabled person.

A Lasting Power of Attorney must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in order for it to be used. Whilst the OPG does not have statutory powers to tell banks or financial institutions how to manage their customers’ accounts, they do work closely with them to help improve their understanding of the role of OPG and how Powers of Attorney should be recognised and supported.

OPG regularly engages with the finance sector and finance membership groups to discuss any issues experienced with the use of OPG products. Recently, OPG have been working with the UK Regulators Network (UKRN) on updating joint guidance to help improve the understanding of LPAs with their members, including the banking sector.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates the financial services sector, recently completed a review of retail banks’ Power of Attorney services. They recognised several areas for improvement in how banks allowed customers to manage the finances of the person for whom they were the Attorney, particularly highlighting the current limitations of app-based and online banking for attorneys. Following this, the FCA wrote to the banks involved, setting out their findings and the expected next steps for firms to follow. The Government is supportive of this work.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the charging of (a) interest and (b) compound interest on Equity Release Loans by financial services companies on (i) elderly customers and (ii) relatives of deceased customers. \p Emma Reynolds: Decisions concerning the design of loans, including the interest charged, are commercial decisions for firms in which the Government does not intervene.

However, equity release products are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and so benefit from consumer protections under the Financial Conduct Authority’s rules, including requiring lenders to engage and provide tailored support to their customers and that advertising is clear, fair and not misleading. Anyone considering equity release should seek independent financial advice to help ensure that the product is suitable for their individual needs.

The Equity Release Council, which represents the sector, also promotes high standards of conduct and practice across the industry.
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Shaun Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child trust funds are unclaimed in (a) Telford constituency, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England. \p Emma Reynolds: Information on Child Trust Funds is available in HMRC’s Annual Savings Statistics.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-savings-statistics-2024

HMRC does not hold information on the geographical locations of Child Trust Fund account holders, therefore the requested regional breakdowns cannot be provided.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to review thresholds for mandatory reporting of large cash withdrawals or transfers by banks under anti-money laundering regulations. \p Emma Reynolds: The government recognises the importance of minimising administrative friction around payments for people, banks, and businesses, while maintaining strong safeguards against the growing threat to the economy from money laundering and economic crime. The department keeps the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs) under regular review, and the MLRs require banks to take a proportionate approach commensurate with their assessment of the risk. The MLRs are being amended in a forthcoming Statutory Instrument, with various changes intended to reduce unnecessary checks on legitimate transactions while maintaining robust controls targeted at higher-risk activity; policy development is ongoing and next steps will be set out in due course.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the barriers to expanding the financial services provisions within existing Economic Partnership Agreements. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government published its Trade Strategy on 26 June, setting out its plan to stimulate economic growth in a rapidly changing global landscape. The Strategy sets out that the Government will consult with governments and businesses on expanding our Economic Partnership Agreements to include services. Any decision to expand the financial services provisions within EPAs will be guided by dialogue with partner countries and aligned with UK growth and development objectives.

Financial services is one of the eight growth-driving sectors identified in the Trade Strategy. The UK’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, launched by the Chancellor on 15 July, sets out the Government’s commitment to ensuring the UK remains an open and connected financial centre, and to upholding its commitment to international regulatory standards. Strengthened partnerships with international financial centres around the world and a trade strategy that prioritises financial services and market access are essential for sustaining the UK’s leadership as a global financial hub and fostering economic growth.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to align the implementation of Overseas Recognition Regimes with the UK's financial services trade objectives in Asia-Pacific markets. \p Emma Reynolds: At Mansion House, HM Treasury published revised guidance on the UK’s approach to the unilateral recognition of overseas jurisdictions’ regulation of financial services, known as Overseas Recognition Regimes (ORRs). ORRs will replace the ‘equivalence’ regimes inherited from the EU after EU exit, which were repealed by FSMA 2023.

As the government progresses its programme of work to replace the existing equivalence regimes with ORRs, it is the intention to maintain all the existing decisions, including decisions in Asia-Pacific markets.

As set out in the guidance document, the government’s approach to new ORR designations will be aligned with the UK’s wider objectives.

Consideration of an overseas jurisdiction for a new designation under an ORR is initiated by HM Treasury, although overseas jurisdictions are welcome to indicate an interest to HM Treasury in being assessed, and these will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with LINK on the potential for widening the criteria for establishing additional banking hubs across the UK. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 230 hubs have been announced so far, and over 180 are already open.

Whilst the Government meets with LINK to discuss a variety of matters, any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK and the financial services sector.

The treatment of customers by UK banks is governed by the the Financial Conduct Authority, which requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers. In addition, like all service providers, banks and building societies are bound under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, where necessary, in the way they deliver their services.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question 64049 on Alcoholic Drinks, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) production of organic wines and sparkling wines in British vineyards and (b) use of renewable technologies on achieving environmental objectives, in the context of green bond objectives. \p Emma Reynolds: The Green Financing Programme’s objective is to raise funds via green gilts and retail Green Savings Bonds for policies with a positive climate or environmental impact. All eligible policies financed by the Programme are drawn from policies agreed by HM Treasury and departments in the Spending Review.

In the context of the Green Financing Programme, HM Treasury does not conduct impact assessments of existing or potential policies. Spending departments are responsible for the decision to conduct ex-ante or ex-post impact assessments of their policies.

HM Treasury does publish a biennial Impact Report of policies funded via the Green Financing Programme, using data from other departments. The most recent such report was published in September 2023 and can be found via the following website link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/651446cdb1bad4000d4fd916/HMT-UK_Green_Financing_Allocation_Impact_Report_2023_Accessible.pdf
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Steve Darling:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will consider the potential merits of reopening the Equitable Life Compensation Scheme. \p Torsten Bell: The Equitable Life Payment Scheme has been fully wound down and closed since 2016 under the approach taken by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition Government. There are no plans to reopen any decisions relating to the Payment Scheme. Further guidance on the status of the Payment Scheme after closure is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equitable-life-payment-scheme#closure-of-the-scheme
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to respond to the open letter from Young Women's Trust entitled For the Employment Rights Bill to work for young women and their employers, the Spending Review must increase funding for enforcement of their rights, dated 22 May 2025. \p James Murray: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has responded to the open letter from the Young Women’s Trust, as the department responsible for delivering the Employment Rights Bill.

At SR 2025, DBT were funded to support the establishment of the Fair Work Agency (FWA), which will tackle low pay, poor working conditions and poor job security. The government is committed to ensuring the FWA is fully resourced to deliver on its remit, with funding allocated to cover both transition and operational costs through to 2028-29. This includes the transfer of existing budgets from enforcement bodies such as the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, the Director of Labour Market Enforcement, and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, as well as funding for National Minimum Wage enforcement.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff assigned to work for the Deputy Prime Minister are based in (a) 70 Whitehall and (b) 26 Whitehall. \p Alex Norris: The Deputy Prime Minister works from multiple locations, including an office in 70 Whitehall. The office in 70 Whitehall can accommodate up to 30 staff. No staff assigned to the Deputy Prime Minister are based in 26 Whitehall.
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Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Building Safety Regulator's process delays on the delivery of infrastructure improvements to hospitals. \p Alex Norris: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) are working closely with NHS Estates and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to understand the potential impact of the new more stringent, higher-risk building control regime on building work in hospitals. We have taken several steps to ensure that building control applications are processed as smoothly as possible, including:
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase funding for advice services in West Dorset constituency. \p Jim McMahon: At the final Settlement, the government confirmed that it is making available over £69 billion for local government, increasing Core Spending Power by up to 6.8% in cash terms on 2024-25.

The 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.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has received representations from the Mayor of London on the provision in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to disqualify a person from being a mayor and a Member of Parliament simultaneously. \p Jim McMahon: My department has engaged with Mayors and the local government sector ahead of publication of the English Devolution White Paper, where this policy was introduced.

The post of mayor is a significant role at the forefront of delivering change and demands the full attention of any post holder. That is why the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will prohibit individuals from holding the office of Member of Parliament (or being a member of the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and mayor simultaneously. This is already the case for Mayors who hold Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

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Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of delays in the Building Safety Regulator’s approvals on the UK’s attractiveness as a destination for foreign direct investment in the built environment sector. \p Alex Norris: The BSR is a key delivery partner in supporting government priorities, including the delivery of 1.5 million homes. We recognise that delays can have a significant impact across the construction sector, and we are committed to ensuring homes are delivered safely and quickly and investment opportunities are maximised.

Currently 154 New build Gateway 2 applications currently sit with the BSR, amounting to c. 29,000 homes, including c.15,000 in London.

To address these challenges on 30 June MHCLG announced significant changes marking a new phase of operations for the BSR, including addressing operational challenges, strengthening leadership and the intention to move the BSR from the HSE into a new standalone body.

On 4 August 2025, the BSR launched a new Fast Track Innovation Unit. This will significantly accelerate the determination of building control approval applications initially for new Higher-Risk Buildings (HRB) including those relevant to new affordable housing. This Unit aims to make a final decision within 65 days of receipt of an application. Of the 17 decisions going through this system as of 29 August 2025, 10 are ahead of internal milestones to meet this target, and the other 7 are on track.

Other reforms include improved communication with applicants and plans for an account manager model, granting approvals with requirements, and changes to allow Class 2 RBIs to handle some lower risk work, freeing up Class 3 capacity. To support this BSR will recruit over 100 new staff to strengthen capacity by the end of the year.

Combined MHCLG, BSR and Industry deep dives and BSR engagement with Tier 1 developers via the CLC working group are helping identify further improvements. Recently the CLC published new guidance to support successful submissions.

These changes will of course take time to take full effect, but the early signs are encouraging. I am clear that my department and the BSR should continue to work closely with the sector to ensure applications can be processed quickly without compromising safety.

On your question regarding potential delays as a result of the regulatory transition, the BSR and MHCLG are working closely together to ensure that the transition does not impact day to day delivery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled Building Safety Regulator building control approval application data October 2023 to March 2025, published on 9 July 2025, when she plans to publish the next set of transparency data. \p Alex Norris: The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has a set learning programme, delivered to a) Case Officers, b) Regulatory Leads and c) Principal Regulatory Leads that takes approximately 6 weeks to complete. The Building Control learning programme includes content on i) building control applications, ii) completion certificate applications and iv) regularisation certificate applications.

Initial training is enhanced by a programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions delivered weekly to Regulatory Leads and Principal Regulatory Leads. CPD is informed by matters raised by both industry and BSR. Topics have included regularisation, emergency repairs, controlled changes and regulating through the construction phase. The BSR does not publish internal training material.

Training on iii) emergency repair notices is not covered specifically by this training package but has been included in CPD sessions. Formal training to external Multi-Disciplinary Team members is not provided by BSR.

Regarding data, the BSR is currently prioritising the automation of Gateway 2 data. Data releases for Gateway 3 and Regularisation Certificate applications will be developed and are intended to be published in 2026.

The BSR remains committed to publishing regular (quarterly) data. BSR colleagues plan the next release of building control approval application data (Apr – Jun 2025) to be published by the 30 September 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of private carpark regulation. \p Alex Norris: The Government is aware of concerns about the poor practice and behaviour of some parking operators and is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. The private parking industry is currently self-regulating through the two main trade associations: the British Parking Association and the International Parking Community.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. My department is currently consulting on standards within the new Code and its compliance framework.

The Private Parking Code of Practice Consultation runs until 5 September 2025 and is available on https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/private-parking-code-of-practice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of a statutory time limit for private parking fine enforcement. \p Alex Norris: Statutory time limits for issuing and enforcing notices of parking charges are currently enshrined in the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the Limitation Act 1980.

Under the Protection of Freedoms Act, private operators must issue the notice of parking charge within 14 days of the alleged contravention if the notice is sent by post. If a notice is left on vehicle’s windscreen, but is not paid within 28 days, the operator has additional 28 days to send a notice to the registered keeper’s address.

If the issued notice is unpaid, the operator has up to six years to pursue payment or take legal action (e.g. via County Court) under the Limitation Act 1980.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to cover the costs in full for the provision of statutory obligations by councils for children resettled within a local authority in the Ukrainian resettlement scheme by the end of this Parliament. \p Alex Norris: Further details will be announced in the usual way, in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

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Gregor Poynton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that imported construction products are subject to the same UKCA marking requirements as those manufactured in the UK. \p Alex Norris: Construction products supplied to the GB market must be affixed with a UKCA or CE mark where they are covered by a designated standard under the UK Construction Product Regulations or where they conform to a UK technical assessment which has been issued for that product.

This reflects the written ministerial statement issued by the Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness on 2 September, which confirmed that CE marking would continue to be recognised when placing construction products on the market to remove unnecessary trade friction, promote growth and protect the UK internal market. Any subsequent changes to the recognition of CE marking would be subject to a minimum 2-year transitional period.

We published a construction products green paper setting out proposals for system wide reform including options for product marking. We will set out next steps in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-04)

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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to update building regulations to require the inclusion of solar panels on new warehouse developments. \p Alex Norris: The Future Buildings Standard, which will be set through changes to the Building Regulations in autumn this year, will apply to new non-domestic buildings, including new warehouse developments. The Government published a consultation on the Future Buildings Standard which closed in March 2024. We consulted on two potential performance requirement options for non-domestic buildings, both of which included the use of solar panels. The Government will respond to the consultation and publish the new standard later this year.