theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish an anonymised list of Non Crime Hate Incidents investigated by police forces in England and Wales. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office does not currently centrally collate information on non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) recorded or investigated by individual police forces – this data is held by individual forces.

The Home Secretary has been clear that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken with NCHIs. The Government has also been clear that its top priority for policing is delivering on the safer streets mission to rebuild neighbourhood policing, restoring public confidence, and making progress on the ambition to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls.

The Home Office has agreed that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), supported by the College of Policing, will conduct a review on the use and effectiveness of NCHIs, including looking at force-level data.
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing performance-related pay for Chief Constables based on (a) rates of crime reduction and (b) crime outcomes including (i) charges and (ii) summonses. \p Dame Diana Johnson: PCCs and Mayors with PCC functions, as the locally elected representative for policing, are responsible for holding Chief Constables to account for their performance and that of their force. This government will continue to work with PCCs and chief constables to set clear expectations for policing on performance and standards to ensure that our communities have an effective and efficient police service within their force area.

The Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) makes recommendations to the Government on the appropriate level of pay and allowances for chief police officers. This government values their independent and expert advice.
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to help West Mercia Police recruit more special constables in rural communities. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government recognises and values the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice shown by special constables in their work. Special constables, along with the full range of volunteers in policing, make a vital contribution to keeping our communities safe.

As we announced in the Police Funding Settlement in January, the Government is doubling the funding available in 2025/26 to support the first steps in delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel, including special constables. This £200 million investment underlines our commitment to the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee as part of the Safer Streets mission.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to prevent parcel thieves taking parcels which have already been delivered to people’s homes. \p Dame Diana Johnson: This Government is committed to reducing crime and restoring public confidence in policing and we are getting on with this through our Safer Streets Mission, including through delivery of a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. As part of this, each neighbourhood will have a named, contactable officer dealing with local issues that communities are experiencing.

In January 2025, the Government announced £200 million in the 2025/26 financial year to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 neighbourhood personnel, ensuring the police are visible in every community, deterring and preventing crime.

A key part of making acquisitive crime, including theft, less attractive to criminals is making stolen goods harder to sell on. We are working closely with policing and academic leads to examine what more can be done to tackle the disposal markets for stolen goods and reduce the ability to profit from this criminality.
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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of policing in Rubery in Bromsgrove constituency. \p Dame Diana Johnson: John Campion, as the directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for West Mercia, is responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account for the performance of West Mercia Police. To drive up performance and standards across forces, ensuring communities can have confidence in their local police force, the Home Secretary has announced the creation of a new Performance Unit in the Home Office. This will harness national data from a Performance Framework to monitor performance and direct improvements, working with sector partners such as the College of Policing, HMICFRS, National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), IOPC and PCCs.

It is the responsibility of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to assess the operational performance of forces in England and Wales. HMICFRS last published a Police Effectiveness Efficiency and Legitimacy inspection (PEEL) report for West Mercia police on 13 April 2022. We welcome this report, which shines a light on the performance of West Mercia Police and makes recommendations on areas for improvement. Their next PEEL inspection report is expected to be published later this year.
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John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that retired police officers affected by the 2018 McCloud judgment receive a Remediable Service Statement by the 31 March 2025. \p Dame Diana Johnson: While the Home Office has responsibility for overarching policy and legislative changes to the police pension regulations in England & Wales, the police pension scheme is locally administered by individual police forces. The Home Office is working with the policing sector to support the effective implementation of the McCloud remedy for all affected individuals.

It is for each Chief Constable, in their role as scheme manager for their force, to determine their administrative timetable. This includes the timetabling of when scheme members’ Remediable Service Statements will be distributed, which are produced for each scheme member by the relevant scheme administrator.

The devolved governments have overarching policy and legislative responsibility in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Matt Bishop:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the efficiency of firearms licensing authorities. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for the issuing of firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police.Since November 2021, however, the Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State requires forces to make certain checks on the suitability of the applicant to hold a license and ensure their subsequent continuous assessment. The application process is now also supported by the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and a national training programme.

The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for police forces. In addition, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection in respect of firearms licensing.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on the UN Global Compact for Migration. \p Seema Malhotra: The Global Compact for Migration, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, aims to foster international cooperation on migration in a comprehensive way. The Global Compact reaffirms the sovereign right of States to determine their national migration policy and their prerogative to govern migration within their jurisdiction, in conformity with international law.

An effective well-managed migration system is a fundamental part of the UK’s approach to ensuring the security and control of our borders and the UK remains committed to working with partners to address shared challenges.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's document entitled Contract for the provision of Language Analysis Services, notice 2022/S 000-009633, how many and what proportion of people who were determined by the supplier under the Contract to have made a false claim of origin were given (a) asylum (b) any other grant of protection or leave. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Language analysis reports are not used to determine a claimant’s place of origin as standalone evidence, but they provide expert additional evidence for caseworkers to be considered alongside other decision-making information.

Link to the published policy guidance on language analysis can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/language-analysis-instruction.

This guidance will be updated shortly to incorporate the new supplier.
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Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's news story £200 million boost to transform neighbourhood policing, published on 31 January 2025, whether additional funding will be allocated to community policing in Heywood and Middleton North constituency. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government has committed to restoring neighbourhood policing through the delivery of a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. This includes new putting 13,000 additional police officers, PCSOs and Special Constables on the beat in neighbourhoods up and down the country. Every part of the country needs to benefit from this pledge including Heywood and Middleton North constituency.

Details of each force’s allocation of the neighbourhood policing grant for 2025-26 were announced at the final police funding settlement on 30 January.
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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of street racing on the A435 at Wythall; and what steps her Department plans to take to help increase prosecutions for these offences. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

The Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee sets out our ambition to have a dedicated lead officer for ASB in every police force, working alongside communities on developing a bespoke ASB action plans for their area, in order to address the issues that matter most in local communities.

As part of that Guarantee, we will also put 13,000 additional neighbourhood police and community support officers into local communities up and down the country by the end of the Parliament.

We are bringing forward new powers in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill to ensure police and other agencies have the powers they need to tackle ASB, such as allowing the police to more swiftly seize vehicles being used antisocially, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them. This will allow them to better deal with vehicles involved in street racing and car cruising.

We will also introduce Respect Orders, which can be applied for by the police and local councils and are issued by the courts. They will enable courts to place wide-ranging restrictions on the behaviour of the most persistent and disruptive ASB offenders. Breaching a Respect Order will be a criminal offence, allowing police officers to immediately arrest offenders and disrupt ongoing ASB.
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure sufficient recruitment of retained firefighters in Shropshire. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Firefighters play a vital role in keeping the public safe and I am grateful for the work undertaken by fire and rescue services across the country in support of their local communities.

The Government is committed to ensuring fire and rescue services have the resources they need to do their important work. Overall, fire and rescue authorities are receiving around £2.87 billion during 2024/25. Standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities have seen an increase in core spending power of £95.4m during 2024/25. This is an increase of 5.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2023/24.

Recruitment practice and processes are the responsibility of individual fire and rescue authorities who must ensure that fire and rescue services are meeting the needs of their local communities.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to respond to the independent report entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population, published on 26 November 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce.

We are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to (a) revise the National Planning Policy Framework and (b) redefine affordable housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government published a revised National Planning Policy Framework on 12 December 2024, including an amended definition of affordable housing in its glossary.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22329 on Noise: Pollution Control, what guidance her Department has issued on noise complaints about established use, including long-standing (a) chiming clocks and (b) church bells. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22329 on 17 January 2025.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason thank you payments to sponsors hosting refugees from Ukraine for more than 12 months will reduce from £500 to £350 from 1 April 2025; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this reduction on (a) the ability of sponsors to continue hosting more than one refugee and (b) local authority budgets. \p Rushanara Ali: To fund our continued support through the 18 month Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme visa period, and ensure it is affordable within government budgets, we have taken the difficult decision to reduce the level of thank you payments.

We recognise that this is a difficult time for many. Sponsors who feel they cannot continue to support their guests may want to consider asking guests to pay a reasonable and proportionate contribution (according to use) for water, gas and electricity consumed or supplied to the accommodation or to any shared facilities. Sponsors might want to talk with their guest about moving to a more formal arrangement and consider offering a rental property or make use of the Government’s Rent a Room scheme.

We are maintaining Government support for Ukrainians coming to the UK. For arrivals on Homes for Ukraine visas, local authorities continue to receive a tariff of £5,900 per Ukrainian arrival in their area (£10,500 for eligible minors), and councils have the flexibility to use this funding as best suits the local area which could include supporting guests to access privately rented accommodation.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has she made of the impact on her policies of the levels of damp and mould affecting housing managed by Onward Homes in Halton. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm, and free from damp and mould.

The Deputy Prime Minister made a Written Ministerial Statement on 6 February (HCWS423) confirming that the government will bring Awaab’s Law into force for damp and mould in October 2025.

Awaab’s Law will empower social tenants to hold their landlords to account by law if they fail to investigate and fix hazards within their homes within set timescales. Tenants will be able to hold their social landlords to account by seeking redress through the Housing Ombudsman Service or taking legal action through the courts for a breach of contract.

The government is also committed to consulting on a new Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards this year which will enable upfront preventative measures on disrepair and deliver improvements to tackle damp and mould.
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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 potential impact of access to greenbelt countryside in north Worcestershire on the health of residents in local communities. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 29375 on 18 February 2025.
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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential contribution of the greenbelt to adjacent urban communities to health and recreational opportunities. \p Matthew Pennycook: Access to high quality open spaces, whether located inside or outside the Green Belt, is important for the health and well-being of communities. That is why local authorities are asked to base their planning policies on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities, and opportunities for new provision.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields and formal play spaces, should not be built on unless there is clear evidence they are no longer required; equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location; or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

Within the Green Belt, major development is required to provide new or improved green spaces accessible to the public. Authorities should also look for opportunities to enhance the beneficial use of Green Belt land, including outdoor recreation.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of people who live in social housing in Mid Leicestershire constituency who were born in the UK. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department does not hold the required information. MHCLG publishes data on the number and proportion of people living in a new social housing letting issued in 2023/24 by local authority area, but this data does not cover all people living in the social rented sector.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework adequately reflects the socio-economic benefits of mobile infrastructure. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion.

On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure for economic growth and social wellbeing.
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Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many council houses were built in the West Midlands between 2010 and 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: Data on new affordable housing delivery by provider and region, including West Midlands, broken down by new build and acquisitions is available on gov.uk here.

The number of new affordable housing delivered without provider information (unknown provider) was higher prior to 2014-15 than it is currently. As such, breakdowns by provider, including the delivery by local authorities, should be interpreted with care prior to 2014-15.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Chief Land Registrar on ensuring that adverse possession claims are not granted for land designated as public open space or held for flood management purposes; and whether her Department plans to issue guidance to local councils on this matter. \p Matthew Pennycook: HM Land Registry has operational responsibility for considering land registration applications based on adverse possession. It publishes guidance about this matter at gov.uk here and here.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with Vodafone on the inclusion of mobile connectivity and 5G technologies within the definition of digital infrastructure in the National Planning Policy Framework. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion.

On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many new homes have been built in (a) the UK, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Mid Leicestershire constituency since 5 July 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department publishes a quarterly release entitled ‘Housing supply: Indicators of New Supply, England’, which includes estimates of new build starts and completions in England, Leicestershire and in each local authority district. Statistics to the quarter ending September 2024 can be found in Table 253a on gov.uk here.

Estimates of new build starts and completions in the UK are collated and published by the Office for National Statistics and are available on its website here.

Both of these datasets cover new build dwellings only and should be regarded as a leading indicator of overall housing supply.

The Department publishes an annual release entitled ‘Housing supply: net additional dwellings, England’, which is the primary and most comprehensive measure of housing supply. This includes estimates of new homes delivered in each local authority, in each financial year, since 2001/02 to 2023-24 can be found in Live Table 122 on gov.uk here.

Figures at parliamentary constituency level are not centrally collected.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure major housing developments include mobile network infrastructure. \p Matthew Pennycook: Developers of major housing schemes must ensure their proposals are in conformity with the local development plan and national planning policy.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 sets out how planning policies and decisions should support high quality and reliable communications infrastructure.
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Gregor Poynton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the British Business Bank on eligibility of the Enable Build programme; and whether its origination criteria that a substantial majority of the portfolio must relate to developments in England applies to the (a) lenders or (b) home builders portfolio. \p Matthew Pennycook: The ENABLE Build scheme is open to banks and non-bank lenders for the purpose of lending to small and medium-sized housebuilders across the United Kingdom, including those based in Scotland.

ENABLE Build is a ‘portfolio product’ where a guarantee is provided to a lender that covers a portfolio of eligible loans to SME borrowers.

The origination criteria under the scheme stipulates that at least 80% of the lender’s guaranteed portfolio should relate to developments in England.

This does not apply to the borrower’s portfolio, meaning that home builders based in Scotland can benefit from the scheme even if their operations and development are entirely Scotland-based.
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Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of people who were evicted from their properties in each year since 2015. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly data on possession claim actions in the county court. It can be found on gov.uk here.

The data includes the volumes of repossessions carried out by county court bailiffs in mortgage and landlord possession cases. It does not include cases where a tenant has left their property voluntarily following a notice for eviction.
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Steve Witherden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed national planning reforms for farmers on (a) the environment and (b) animal welfare. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment.

The revised Framework published on 12 December last year maintains the expectation that where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, areas of poorer quality land should be preferred to those of a higher quality.

The government are considering what further changes might be made to make it quicker for farmers to build farm buildings, barns and other infrastructure needed to boost their food production.

The animal welfare considerations for buildings and accommodation used for farmed animals are set out in The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 with further guidance set out in the relevant species-specific welfare code of practice.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) prevent the establishment of pop-up campsites in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and (b) ensure that such developments do not negatively impact the local environment and biodiversity. \p Matthew Pennycook: A nationally set permitted development right allows for the temporary use of land for recreational campsites for up to 60 days per calendar year.

Where it is necessary to protect the local amenity of an area, the local planning authority can consult the local community on removing a permitted development right by making an Article 4 direction. Planning applications would then be required, and the local planning authority can determine them in accordance with its local plan and in consultation with neighbours.

The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
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Bobby Dean:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of leasehold flats containing combustible material with higher insurance costs that will be classified as permanently impaired under the Basel 3.1 requirements. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has engaged with the Bank of England with a view to understanding the potential impact of implementing the Basel 3.1 standards on properties with extant building safety issues or those that have carried out remediation works recommended by a fire professional following the PAS 9980 guidance.

The Bank does not expect these changes to have a material impact on current industry practice for determining property valuations, including for properties with cladding.

Officials in my department are in regular contact with the lending and insurance industry on issues related to fire safety affected buildings and will continue to work with them to ensure leaseholders in buildings with cladding are able to re-mortgage and sell freely.
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of holiday lets on the affordability of rents; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving councils greater licensing powers to regulate the (a) number and (b) use of holiday lets. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 13348 on 18 November 2024.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking with the build to rent sector to increase the supply of housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to supporting the Build to Rent sector. We are unlocking nearly £2 billion in additional lending through the Private Rented Sector Guarantee Scheme and have announced a £700 million extension to the Home Building Fund to help deliver more homes alongside institutional investors, including those provided by Build to Rent operators.
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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will publish the rationale for cancelling or delaying certain council elections scheduled for May 2025; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this decision on local democratic representation; and what steps she is taking to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process during local government reorganisation. \p Jim McMahon: On 16 December I wrote to leaders of all two-tier councils and of neighbouring unitary authorities, explaining that government would only postpone elections where it will help deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. I carefully considered each request, along with all relevant information including the representations we received, according to the criteria in that letter. The bar for agreeing to these requests is very high. My letter has been published and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-letter-to-two-tier-areas; my statement to the House of 5 February provides more detail and is available here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-02-05/hcws418

We will work with areas where elections have been postponed to move to elections to new ‘shadow’ unitary councils as soon as possible as is the usual arrangement in the process of local government reorganisation. Elections to shadow councils are subject to the same requirements, including for transparency and accountability, as those to established councils.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the next (a) revaluation of the Local Government Pension Schemes and (b) the review of employer and employee contribution rates. \p Jim McMahon: As required by Regulation 62 (1) of the LGPS Regulations 2013, a formal valuation of all Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds is carried out every three years. The next valuation will take place as at 31 March 2025. This will set local employer contribution rates which will come into effect for the 2026-27 financial year. Employee contribution rates are set centrally and reviewed on a regular basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_221

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will hold discussions with the Leader of the House of Lords on the applicability of the Salisbury-Addison convention to the policies set out in the English Devolution white paper, published on 16 December 2024. \p Jim McMahon: The English Devolution Bill will deliver on the ambition of the English Devolution White Paper.

The Bill will be subject to the usual Parliamentary procedures.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_222

Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to expedite the development of affordable housing at Sawyers Close in Windsor. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government will continue to work in partnership with local authorities, housing associations and the wider sector to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_224

Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase the transparency of charges levied on residents of new estates where freehold estate management fees apply. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_225

Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of local councils that plan to increase the local fire precept to fund fire services in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Jim McMahon: This is a devolved policy issue, you will appreciate I am unable to comment on any levels which may be set outside of England. However, in England, decisions on council tax levels are for individual local authorities including fire authorities and councils which are responsible for the fire services in their area. The government will publish data on the council tax levels set by all English authorities for 2025-26 in March.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_226

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to help ensure that grants for affordable housing schemes do not sit as debt on housing association balance sheets. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is responsible for setting prescribed accounting standards for the UK and Ireland, including the treatment of government grants. Grants, such as those associated with the Affordable Housing Programme, are not treated as debt on housing association balance sheets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_227

Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allocating more funding to build social rent homes as part of the Spending Review. \p Matthew Pennycook: We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_228

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contribution on the plan to build 1.5 million houses in this Parliament. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 21627 on 17 January 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_229

Matt Bishop:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has plans to amend the Homelessness Code of Guidance to clarify the obligations of local authorities at the (a) presentation, (b) initial interview and (c) assessment stage. \p Rushanara Ali: Our Homelessness Code of Guidance provides a summary of the homelessness legislation duties, powers and obligations on housing authorities and others towards people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

We keep the Homelessness Code of Guidance under review and update it regularly to provide up to date relevant advice, following changes to legislation and feedback from our Homelessness Advice and Support Team of advisors who meet regularly with local authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

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Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking with (a) local authorities and (b) Cabinet colleagues to provide homeless and pregnant women with (i) housing, (ii) healthcare and wellbeing and (iii) financial support. \p Rushanara Ali: Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. We have already taken the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25) and brings total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26.

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, and working with mayors and councils across the country.

Pregnant women experiencing homelessness continue to have priority need for accommodation under the Homelessness Reduction Act (2018), which places a duty on local housing authorities to prevent and relieve homelessness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_231

Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she will issue guidance to planning authorities on the cumulative impact of carbon emissions from infrastructure projects on the Government’s carbon reduction targets. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government’s Planning Practice Guidance on Climate Change, its National Design Guide and National Model Design Code provide general guidance on how carbon impacts can be taken into account in the town and country planning process.

For Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, National Policy Statements set out not only the need case for the infrastructure, but also the principles and types of impact against which they will be assessed (including air quality and carbon impacts).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_232

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Leicestershire County Council on (a) local government reorganisation and (b) devolution. \p Jim McMahon: Following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December, Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with Local Authorities across England, including Leicestershire County Council, on what these ambitious agendas means for local areas. I met with the Leaders of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland on 9 January to further understand local positions on devolution and local government reorganisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_233

Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Greater Manchester Combined Authority on encouraging housing developments near Castleton Rail Station. \p Matthew Pennycook: MHCLG Ministers have had a range of discussions with the Mayor for Greater Manchester and the Combined Authority about their priorities and plans. This includes the Places for Everyone plan for jobs, new homes, and sustainable growth. These conversations have not covered the detail of impacts on places within Greater Manchester, including planned developments close to Castleton Rail Station. These details and impacts are the responsibility of Rochdale Borough Council, the Mayor and Combined Authority working with local partners and elected members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_234

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of mandatory design codes for local planning authorities. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 6867 on 15 October 2024 and to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 12 November 2024 (HCWS209).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_235

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23351 on Regulatory of Social Housing: Translation Services and with reference to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question HL3662 on Civil Service: Translation Services, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the approach taken by the Regulator of Social Housing on translating in foreign languages. \p Matthew Pennycook: All registered providers of social housing are required to deliver the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing.

To deliver the outcomes of the regulator’s Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard, all registered providers must ensure that communication with, and information for, tenants is clear, accessible, and appropriate to their diverse needs.

The regulator is operationally independent and has a duty to exercise its functions in a way that is proportionate and minimises interference in registered providers.

The government will continue to engage closely with the regulator to ensure it delivers against its objectives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_236

Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15319 on Holiday Accommodation: Registration, what additional powers her Department plans to give to local authorities to respond to pressures of short-term lets. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Members to the answer to Question UIN 13348 on 18 November 2024.