theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to seek improvements to the child maintenance system; and what recent discussions she has had with statutory and non statutory bodies to discuss system improvements. \p Andrew Western: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is taking steps to make improvements across the child maintenance system and create a modern, accessible and robust service through our Service Modernisation Programme and CMS reforms.

Throughout our Service Modernisation Programme, we have worked with suppliers who have experience of transforming organisations globally – this is ongoing, and we benefit from their insight and innovation. Additionally, we have worked with other government departments to understand elements of their transformation, for example HMRC on how they have modernised guidance.

The Service Modernisation Programme (SMP) has already delivered significant improvements to the customer experience through the provision of online services and Digital Assist Telephony Service enabling parents to access their on-line My Child Maintenance Case at any time. We have restructured our telephony call routing system, made incremental improvements to customer communications, including a full review of letters, and made significant advancements to our IT systems. The wide-reaching programme aims to continue to reform and modernise CMS services with increased effectiveness and efficiency and will continue to engage a wide range of statutory and non-statutory bodies to do this.

The CMS has recently concluded a public consultation on policy changes to the CMS (The Child Maintenance: Improving the collection and transfer of payments) and are analysing the responses. This includes removing the Direct Pay service and managing all CMS cases in one service to allow the CMS to tackle non-compliance faster. The consultation also sought views on how victims and survivors of domestic abuse can be better supported to use CMS, and whether removing Direct Pay completely would benefit victims and survivors of domestic abuse. This is ongoing and the Government will publish a response in due course.

Following the Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023 receiving royal assent in 2023, government consulted on accelerating enforcement to inform its proposed regulations to support the introduction of administrative liability orders. Proposed changes will streamline the enforcement process and facilitate compliance from paying parents more quickly. We are working to bring them into effect as soon as possible.

The department is also conducting a programme of work to review the maintenance calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose, reflects today’s social trends and is future proofed to handle further changes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled, Universal Credit: further information for families, updated on 18 December 2024, how her Department defines the terms (a) available, (b) free, (c) appropriate and (d) affordable childcare. \p Alison McGovern: There is no prescribed definition for the terms available, free, appropriate and affordable childcare. The work coach will work with the claimant to understand how childcare is preventing them from undertaking work related activities and make necessary adjustments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of the difference between the rates of the (a) basic state pension and (b) new state pension on pensioners; and whether the Department has considered the potential merits of equalising these rates. \p Torsten Bell: The Government has made a commitment to the Triple Lock for the entirety of this Parliament which will mean spending on people’s State Pensions is forecast to rise by over £31 billion.

It is not possible to make direct, like for like comparisons between State Pension amounts under the new State Pension and the pre 2016 State Pension systems. While the headline full basic State Pension is £169.50 per week (2024/25 rates), people under the pre 2016 system may also receive Additional State Pension. If instead they had been contracted-out of the Additional State Pension, they will also have a workplace or private pension

It is also the case that not everyone under the new State Pension system will receive the full headline amount of £221.20 per week. Although the systems are different, they both reflect the National Insurance contributions an individual has made. This is reflected in the average amounts that people receive.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will reconsider its decision not to provide compensation to women born in the 1950s and 1960s following the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s recommendation that those affected by changes to the state pension age should receive financial compensation. \p Torsten Bell: We carefully considered the Ombudsman’s findings to ensure our decision was fair and based on the evidence.

We have accepted the Ombudsman’s finding that there was a 28-month delay in sending out letters and for this we have apologised. However, we do not agree with the Ombudsman’s approach to injustice or remedy. Full details of the Government’s decision are available here Government response to Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s Investigation into Women’s State Pension age communications and associated issues - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2025 to Question 31507, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of additional staff on pension credit application processing times. \p Torsten Bell: The Government has recently put in place the biggest ever pension Credit tave-up drive. To help ensure it has the capacity to assess all claims within reasonable timeframes, the Department has deployed over 500 additional staff through a combination of internal redeployments, use of external providers and external recruitment.

We measure Pension Credit performance via our published 50 working day timeliness measure and monitor weekly average actual clearance times. The most recent information on processing times for Pension Credit was published in DWP annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (ARA) on 22nd July 2024. This shows that in 2023/24 DWP cleared 192,000 Pension Credit claims within the planned 50 working day timescale, equating to 77.7%. The next publication of the ARA will include claims processed in the Financial Year 2024 to 2025, which is due for publication in the summer.

As a result of this investment in staff the latest Average Actual Clearance Time is now down to 56.2 working days in week commencing 24th February 2025 after a peak of 87 working days week commencing 9 December 2024.

Please note, the Average Actual Clearance Time figures shown is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. It is rounded to the nearest working day and based on the week the claim was cleared, rather than the week the claim was made.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has considered renaming the Attendance Allowance. \p Torsten Bell: There are no plans to change the name of Attendance Allowance in England and Wales.

Attendance Allowance is a devolved matter in Scotland. The Scottish Government is currently replacing it with Pension Age Disability Payment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the amount of eligible Pension Credit that has been unclaimed as of 28 February 2025. \p Torsten Bell: The Department does not have data for the period up to February 2025.

The latest available Pension Credit take-up statistics cover the financial year 2022 to 2023 and are available at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2023 - GOV.UK. In the financial year ending 2023, the estimated amount of unclaimed Pension Credit was £1.33 billion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Seamus Logan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she will reply to correspondence sent from the Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East on pensioner poverty of (a) 25 November 2024 and (b) 14 January 2025. \p Torsten Bell: I replied to the Hon.Member on 6 March. I apologise for the delay.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Leigh Ingham:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Stafford constituency have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded Pension Credit since 10 July 2024. \p Torsten Bell: On 27th February we published Pension Credit applications and award statistics. This publication provides application volumes up to 23 February 2025. Pension Credit Applications - February 2025

We do not hold data at regional or constituency level for applications made. We do hold Pension Credit caseload data by Parliamentary constituency. You can find the latest available data held on Stat-Xplore - Home which shows Pension Credit caseload data by Parliamentary constituency up to August 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department are taking to reduce phone-line waits for those making an application for Pension Credit. \p Torsten Bell: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plans resourcing according to forecasted telephony demand in an effort to keep wait times down. Wait time performance and forecasted demand is frequently reviewed and we are continually working to improve our telephony service.

In response to significantly increased demand, we have increased the resource in Pension Credit claims by over 500 additional staff through a combination of internal redeployments, use of external providers and external recruitment.

We are investing in a new technology that aims to better route customers to the right service at the right time. Once deployed, this technology will reduce the time callers spend listening to a menu of choices and instead invite claimants to say why they are calling, at the start of the call.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to take steps to reduce the number of questions on the Pension Credit application form. \p Torsten Bell: As the Department continues to modernise the Pension Credit service, we review the user experience, balancing simplification of application with capturing the right information to ensure accuracy of award. A key objective of DWP’s Service Modernisation Programme is to utilise end user research to understand how the application process should operate in the future and consider the opportunities on how services can be more user friendly and easily accessible for citizens. To that end we are streamlining all Pension Credit application routes by using information held internally to reduce the number of questions the citizen must answer.

Claims for Pension Credit can be made online, by telephone or by post. By far, the most popular way to claim is online where a claim can be made 24/7 with the help of a family member, a friend or a third party. Via the online service, the maximum number of questions a person needs to answer is 48; for some customers it can be as few as 35 questions. As a result, the online claim form now takes just 16 minutes on average to complete, with 90 per cent of new customers applying using the simple online form, or over the phone.

With the telephone service, the caller will be guided through the claim process. We will keep the Pension Credit application process under review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has plans to change supported housing rules and regulations to allow disabled people to work more hours if they can; and whether she has plans to (a) monitor and (b) enforce how employers implement reasonable adjustments to work practices for disabled people. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those living in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.

Despite this challenge, the Housing Benefit taper ensures a person is better off in work than wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence, as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health.

It is recognised that employers play an important role in supporting disabled people and those with health conditions. Our support to employers includes a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident Scheme. Employers must comply with the Equality Act 2010, including making reasonable adjustments for disabled employees and job applicants. The Government keeps the Equality Act 2010 under review, but no formal review is planned at this time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many additional pensioners have claimed Pension Credit in Folkestone and Hythe constituency since 4 July 2024. \p Torsten Bell: On 27th February we published Pension Credit applications and award statistics. This publication provides application volumes up to 23 February 2025. Pension Credit Applications - February 2025

We do not hold data at regional or constituency level for applications made. We do hold Pension Credit caseload data by Parliamentary constituency. You can find the latest available data held on Stat-Xplore - Home which shows Pension Credit caseload data by Parliamentary constituency up to August 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 22254 on Pension Credit, how many new applications for Pension Credit were (a) made and (b) approved between 10 September 2024 and 10 February 2025. \p Torsten Bell: On 27th February we published Pension Credit applications and award statistics. This publication provides application volumes up to 23 February 2025. This information can be found at Pension Credit Applications - February 2025
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to protect chalk streams in Wiltshire when building new developments. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that to protect and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity, local plans should identify, map and safeguard components of local wildlife-rich habitats and wider ecological networks such as chalk streams. It is for local planning authorities to apply this policy when planning for new development.

Chalk streams are specifically referenced in the definitions of ‘natural environment’ and ‘environmental protection’ for the new system of Environmental Outcomes Reports that the government intend to introduce. This will ensure the protection of chalk streams is taken into account as part of this new approach to environmental assessment.

The government will consult on draft regulations in due course following policy development and engagement with key stakeholders. While we want to realise the benefits of reform as quickly as possible, we recognise the need to manage the transition to the new system carefully. Until a new system is implemented, current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 13622 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Industrial Disputes, what the issue relating to office attendance between HM Land Registry and PCS is. \p Alex Norris: The disputed issue between PCS and HM Land Registry on the matter of office attendance relates to the government’s requirement for civil servants to attend the office for 60% of the time and HM Land Registry’s implementation of the requirement. Talks with PCS to conclude the dispute are ongoing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department engages with Greenpeace. \p Alex Norris: The department does not currently engage or is intending any engagement with Greenpeace.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of (a) 7 February 2025 to Question 27249 and (b) 11 February 2025 to Question 28154 on MHCLG: Staff, if she will publish figures for (a) each individual departmental office and (b) the number of aggregate, numeric staff attendances there were in an average week, for December 2024. \p Alex Norris: MHCLG publishes quarterly HQ Occupancy Statistics for its headquarters at 2 Marsham Street, London (not proportional attendance). We do not intend to publish regional information or numeric staff attendances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps she has taken to help support Slough Borough Council to provide adequate temporary accommodation to people who are eligible. \p Rushanara Ali: Homelessness levels are far too high which can have a devastating impact on those affected. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.

As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25). This increased funding will help to prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and prevent rough sleeping. This brings total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26, a record level of funding.

In December, MHCLG announced that £633.2 million will be provided to councils in England through the Homelessness Prevention Grant 25/26, of which £2,538,151 has been allocated to Slough Borough Council. This funding represents an uplift of £1,184,119 for Slough compared with 24/25 allocations, an increase of 87.5%.

MHCLG’s homelessness advice and support team continue to work closely with local authorities under the highest pressures, including to develop B&B elimination plans, to reduce households being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation for longer than six weeks.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department collects data on the number of known rough sleepers that have been offered statutory support by local authorities. \p Rushanara Ali: Statutory homelessness statistics can be found here. Tables: A4P, A4R provide information on number of households who are owed a prevention or relief duty, broken down by accommodation at the time of application, including rough sleeping.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to (a) review and (b) expand the types of identification required to vote to include digital ID. \p Rushanara Ali: The government has recently published our response to the Electoral Commission’s reports on the 2024 General Election, and this is available here: Electoral Commission’s reports on the 2024 elections: government response - GOV.UK.

As set out in that response, we are presently undertaking a thorough review both of the list of identifications currently accepted in polling stations and of the wider voter ID policy. This will include consideration of digital IDs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Nesil Caliskan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Commonhold White Paper: The proposed new commonhold model for homeownership in England and Wales, published on 3 March 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of those proposals on commonhold on (a) existing leaseholders and (b) Right to Manage arrangements. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statements I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244) and 3 March 2025 (HCWS488).

The government will consult this year on the best approach to banning new leasehold flats. We are also reviewing the Law Commission’s recommendations to make it easier for existing leaseholders to choose to convert to commonhold and will set out next steps in due course.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing leaseholders with greater rights, powers and protections over their homes. Alongside the extensive programme of detailed secondary legislation that we are bringing forward to implement the remaining provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, we will further reform the existing leasehold system by legislating to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents; removing the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture; acting to protect leaseholders from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous managing agents; and enacting remaining Law Commission recommendations on enfranchisement and the Right to Manage.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the level of (a) training, (b) standards and (c) pay required for (i) staff and (ii) clerks following local government restructuring. \p Jim McMahon: There has been no assessment made of the level of: (a) training, (b) standards and (c) pay required for (i) staff and (ii) clerks following local government restructuring. Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including training, management and pay, and all reorganisation proposals must be led and implemented by individual councils concerned.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether measures are in place to prevent private landlords from inflating the cost of electricity when reselling it to tenants. \p Matthew Pennycook: Ofgem’s Maximum Resale Price Guidance protects tenants from being charged inflated electricity costs by their landlord. It sets a maximum price that can be charged for electricity and gas which has already been bought from an authorised supplier.

The current maximum resale price is set at the same price as paid by the person reselling, including any discounts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there will be an election for the role of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex in 2028. \p Jim McMahon: As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force and fire and rescue geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.

The timing of the transfer of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner functions, and therefore plans for future elections, will be determined in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make Almshouses eligible for the right to buy scheme. \p Matthew Pennycook: Almshouses are exempt from the Right to Buy scheme and the government has no plans to alter that fact.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will include the Land Use Framework to support (a) nature recovery and (b) net zero objectives. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is currently consulting on the Land Use Framework. It will not be implemented through the forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to increase densification of developments and housing on brownfield land in inner cities. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas.

On 22 September 2024, the government also published a ‘brownfield passport’ working paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land. This included exploring the role of national policy in setting minimum density expectations for certain types of locations, to support intensification in the right places. The deadline for providing responses to the working paper was Friday 28 February and the government is analysing the feedback.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 27158 on Planning Permission, for what reason planning powers are being transferred to a sub-regional level. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government intends to implement strategic planning at a sub-regional level through the production of Spatial Development Strategies to facilitate effective cross-boundary working to address development and infrastructure needs.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 12 February 2025 on Further support for social and affordable housebuilding and next steps on supported housing, HCWS447, if she will list the (a) tenure types and (b) estimated average grant subsidy per unit of the 2,800 homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 12 February 2025, the government announced the allocation of a further £300 million to the Affordable Homes Programme. This will support the near-term delivery of more social and affordable housing, delivering up to 2,800 new homes with more than half being Social Rent homes.

As set out in my answer to Question UIN xx-xxxx-xxxx on 16 December 2024, the government will continue to work with Homes England and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to support them to deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and home-ownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.

While this funding remains open to bidding the average grant rates per home are commercially sensitive. The final grant rate and mix of tenure types will also depend on the bids received, and assessment of them, by Homes England and the GLA, including assessing deliverability and value for money.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Jess Asato:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of unfurnished homes on (a) prison leavers, (b) people escaping domestic violence and abuse and (c) people that cannot afford to furnish a home. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department does not collect data on the number of households living without essential furniture.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide appropriate support in safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims who need to flee their homes.

Emergency domestic abuse safe accommodation is furnished, and sources of financial support to furnish safe longer-term housing exist if needed.

The Accommodation for Ex-Offenders scheme launched in July 2021 assists ex-offenders to access the private rented sector, focusing on supporting them into sustainable accommodation with an expected tenancy of 12 months.

All others in need can apply for help in securing essential furniture from their local authority through the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other local services. The social security system includes provision to help eligible people with intermittent furniture expenses that may be difficult to budget for.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has conducted an impact assessment of the fire risk for residents living near Coryton Energy Park. \p Matthew Pennycook: Due to the role of MHCLG Ministers in the planning system it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific cases. For the same reason, Ministers do not actively engage communities in relation to specific development proposals.

The Health and Safety Executive regulates grid-scale batteries within a robust framework which requires industry to act at all stages of the battery’s deployment to ensure safety. Of particular relevance to fire safety, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (2002) set out requirements to protect workers and others from fire risks.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the resources local authority enforcement teams (a) currently have and (b) will need to implement the Renters’ Rights Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 32068 on 5 March 2025.
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Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory annual reporting by councils on enforcement activity to ensure transparency and accountability. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department recognises the importance of good quality data on enforcement in the Private Rented Sector to support good decision making at both national and local level, and the monitoring and evaluation of Renters’ Rights Bill implementation.

The Bill places a new duty on local authorities to report to the Secretary of State on their activities under the legislation. We expect to start formally collecting data from local authorities on enforcement activity in the 2026/27 financial year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to prevent duplication between the planned landlord database and local licensing schemes to reduce inefficiencies. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Private Rented Sector Database will operate alongside selective licensing to drive improvement in standards in the private rented sector, not as a replacement for these schemes.

We will continue to review the use of selective licensing as we implement the Private Rented Sector Database, including how data may be shared to improve efficiency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on improving the collection of fines issued to rogue landlords; and if she will bring forward legislative proposals to devolve more powers to local authorities to help enforce the collection of such fines. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department engages regularly with local authorities and other stakeholders on how enforcement against rogue landlords in the private rented sector might be strengthened. Local authorities have a range of tools they can use to support the collection of unpaid fines imposed on rogue landlords, including charging orders and bankruptcy proceedings. The Department will continue to engage with local authorities and consider how best practice can be shared as part of supporting the effective implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Ruth Cadbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of rent for people living in houseboats with permanent moorings. \p Matthew Pennycook: There is limited data available on the number of houseboats and whether these are owner-occupied or rented. While houseboats with permanent moorings may be in the postcode address file and therefore eligible for inclusion in the English Housing Survey, these cannot be separated out for reporting purposes due to very low numbers. As a result, such an assessment cannot be made.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to support the celebration of Tamil culture. \p Alex Norris: Faith groups and diaspora communities, including the Tamil community, are a core part of our societal fabric in the UK. Their festivals bring vibrancy to our streets and their community spirit they foster brings joy and purpose to so many.

The Prime Minister was delighted to host an event in January to celebrate the festival of Thai Pongal with members of Britain’s Tamil community where he praised British Tamils for their invaluable contribution to life in this country.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure effective (a) monitoring and (b) tackling of Islamophobia. \p Alex Norris: Islamophobia is completely abhorrent and has no place in our society. No one should ever be a victim of hatred because of their religion or belief, and we are determined to root it out.

On 28 February 2025, the Government announced the establishment of a new working group to provide government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, advising government and other bodies on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims. With levels of Islamophobia at a record high, this work will improve understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities, supporting wider and ongoing government-led efforts to tackle religiously motivated hate crime and foster cohesion.

We continue to work closely with police and community partners to ensure effective monitoring of Islamophobia. The Government has worked with the police to fund True Vision, an online hate crime reporting portal, designed so that victims of hate crime do not have to visit a police station to report. We have also made up to £1 million of funding available this year to monitor Islamophobia and provide support to victims.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she will issue guidance to local authorities to waive street party fees for celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe. \p Alex Norris: On 5 March 2025, Minister Peacock, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) wrote to all local authorities regarding the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe (VE) and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day this year.

The letter asked councils to help their communities in their preparations for VE Day – including by making processes cost-free for residents, as well as by signposting and updating existing community activity guidance and being flexible when receiving applications for road closures for street parties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer given on 29 January 2025 to Question 21599 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Infrastructure, if she will list the (a) nine projects already determined, (b) the 12 projects due for decision and (c) the 15 projects yet to progress to decision stage; and set out any changes in their status. \p Matthew Pennycook: 11 projects have now been decided in this parliamentary term, with Hinckley National Rail Freight Exchange being the most recent (decided on 10 March 2025). There are 9 projects due for decision and 16 projects at the Examination and Recommendation stage.

Information on applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and their decisions can be found on gov.uk here. This page includes information on projects already determined, projects due for decision and projects at an earlier stage in the application process.
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Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a new national post of Chief Environmental Health Officer to provide leadership on enforcement. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has no plans to create a new post of National Chief Environmental Health Officer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason the invitation to restructure letter to Surrey has a deadline of May. \p Jim McMahon: Given the urgency of creating sustainable unitary local government for Surrey, the decision was taken to work with local leaders in Surrey to facilitate reorganisation to the most ambitious timeframe possible. This will also enable Surrey to benefit from devolution as quickly as possible once new unitary local government is in place.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 33161 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, how retained business rates are used to fund fire and rescue services. \p Jim McMahon: The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement, including funding for Fire and Rescue Authorities, is distributed through the Settlement Funding Assessment. This funding includes Revenue Support Grant and retained business rates.

The Settlement Funding Assessment uses a range of formulas to determine the relative funding need of areas, which when combined with a measure of tax base, determines their relative income. This includes the Fire and Rescue Formula, which consists of a basic allocation of funding per resident, with adjustments for coastline, population density and sparsity, deprivation, fire risk areas and community fire safety.

Further details on the current funding methodology can be found online, within the ‘Calculation of 2013/14 Formula Funding’ page, linked here.

The government is committed to introducing an improved and updated approach to funding local authorities, including Fire and Rescue Authorities, from 2026-27. We sought views on our principles and objectives for funding reform through a consultation which ran from 18 December 2024 - 12 February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of the potential impact of urban (a) trees and (b) woodland on (i) mental and (ii) physical health. \p Alex Norris: Woodlands and green spaces are an essential part of our local and social infrastructure. Research shows that regular visits to woodlands and green spaces have significant health benefits.

This Government is committed to improving the quality of, and access to urban green spaces. We are updating our flagship Green Flag Award standard for parks and green spaces to make it fit for modern parks. Furthermore, Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework sets out the Urban Tree Canopy Standard, providing important guidance on the long-term maintenance of tree canopy and urban greening to support urban cooling.

We are also committed to increasing access to nature more widely, and have already set out several ambitious manifesto commitments to expand opportunities for the public to enjoy the outdoors, including the creation of nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make use of Legislative Reform Orders to deliver changes to primary legislation. \p Alex Norris: Ministers consider a range of legislative and non-legislative options to deliver the Government’s Plan for Change.

All legislation will be presented before Parliament to consider in the usual way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-11)

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Jonathan Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department’s timeframe is for making decisions on the future of the Midlands Engine. \p Alex Norris: Midlands Engine have undertaken a range of valuable work and have supported collaboration on shared growth opportunities.

The English Devolution White Paper published in December 2024 last year sets out our intention in future to support mayors in working together across boundaries.

We have now consulted on our minded to decision not to extend funding for the six pan-regional partnerships beyond the agreed allocations to the end of the 2024-25 financial year. We are currently considering the responses received, and we expect to announce our decision very soon.