theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Clive Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals relating to police use of (a) AI and (b) machine learning technology. \p Dame Diana Johnson: It is for operationally independent Chief Constables to decide when and how they deploy AI systems. They are accountable to elected Police and Crime Commissioners.

AI deployment must be lawful, transparent, ethical and underpinned by robust data and governance arrangements. These principles are set out in the ‘Covenant for Using AI in Policing’ which all Chief Constables have signed. The Home Office is working closely with the AI portfolio of the National Police Chief’s Council and the Police Chief Scientific Advisor to ensure policing has the resources and support it needs to abide by these principles consistently. This includes working with a range of academics from leading universities on a ‘responsible AI checklist’ and producing a detailed ‘AI playbook for policing’, akin to those produced for other government departments.

AI-enabled technologies like facial recognition are valuable tools in modern policing, helping the police to quickly identify suspects and keep our communities safe. While existing laws provide a framework for its use, we recognise the need for clarity and are engaging closely with stakeholders to ensure facial recognition operates on a firm legal footing. We will set out our plans in the coming months alongside a broader package of reforms in our forthcoming White Paper on policing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, what her planned timeline is for bringing the proposals into effect. \p Seema Malhotra: Further details of all the measures announced in the White Paper will be set out in due course, and where necessary, subject to consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visas have been issued to Ukrainian children seeking medical evacuation to the UK since February 2022. \p Seema Malhotra: The requested information is not held by the Home Office. However, a range of data on Ukraine visa applications can be found at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK and Migration transparency data - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase to the standard qualifying period for settlement on (a) higher education and (b) research. \p Seema Malhotra: A technical annex has been published alongside the White Paper. It can be found at the following link: Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UK.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time. An impact assessment will be developed alongside any finalised policy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, if she will make it her policy to include consideration of the social contribution of social care workers when determining points-based contributions to reducing the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain. \p Seema Malhotra: We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to maintain the five year qualifying period for current indefinite leave to remain visa holders in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire. \p Seema Malhotra: We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Gavin Robinson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to (a) enforce and (b) monitor the application of legislation on the rights of migrants to (i) rent and (ii) otherwise reside in Northern Ireland. \p Seema Malhotra: The Right to Rent Scheme (the Scheme) requires landlords and letting agents to check that prospective adult tenants have the relevant permission to access the private rental sector. The Scheme is in force in England only and has not been rolled out to the devolved nations and therefore does not apply to Northern Ireland. The Home Office continues to keep the Scheme’s operation under review.

Immigration Enforcement teams are active in Northern Ireland as they are in the rest of the UK. As part of our Plan for Change, this government is cracking down on criminal industry at every level, including stepping up our visits to businesses where illegal working is taking place, and increasing our enforcement action both against illegal workers and the people who employ them in Northern Ireland.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to continue the Talent Catalogue beyond the Displaced Talent Mobility Pilot. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office’s Displaced Talent Mobility Pilot ended on 1 November 2024. The Talent Catalogue used during the pilot was wholly owned and operated by Talent Beyond Boundaries, the non-profit organisation who were the delivery partner for the pilot.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a list of the organisations that were invited to provide evidence to the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition. \p Alex Norris: The work to provide a definition of anti-Muslim hatred is being undertaken by an independent working group. They will provide advice to Ministers as per the established terms of reference and the Government will provide a response in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's publication entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2025, published on 28 April 2025, what the goods or services were commissioned from Oxford Economics Ltd entitled Cambridge Economic Forecasting. \p Alex Norris: The department commissioned Oxford Economics to model economic growth in Greater Cambridge.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when local elections will take place in Essex. \p Jim McMahon: Yes. Local elections in Essex will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Clive Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of setting a percentage target spend to be allocated to the VCSE sector in future guidance to (a) mayors and (b) unitary authorities. \p Jim McMahon: The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. The majority of funding within scope of the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced in recognition that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, for example investing in their Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sectors.

Similarly, the funding for Mayoral Strategic Authorities does not include a target spend for the VCSE sector. Mayors are best placed to decide how to use their resources to deliver outcomes and best serve their communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of financial requirements for standing in mayoral elections on the (a) accessibility and (b) diversity of candidates. \p Jim McMahon: The Government has not made such an assessment. Under electoral law, candidates are required to pay a deposit in certain elections, reflecting the scale of the role, including budget responsibility, role as chair of the Combined Authority or Combined County Authority, and the ability to raise a levy; as well as the size of the electorate and electoral area. This has been set at £5,000 for Mayoral candidates for Combined Authorities and Combined County Authorities which was deemed proportionate and fair by Parliament when the relevant legislation was made. A deposit is returned if a candidate receives more than 5% of the valid votes cast.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Government announces 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods to receive long-term investment - details, published on 11 June 2025, what the evidential basis was for the selection of the trailblazer areas. \p Jim McMahon: We have announced 25 trailblazer areas that will benefit from funding. These 25 areas were selected through a robust metric-based methodology which assessed the most in need communities across the UK, further details will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to address variation between local authorities in the application of discretionary business rates relief for not-for-profit organisations. \p Jim McMahon: Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 provides billing authorities with discretionary powers to award business rates reliefs to properties within their area. This is a local decision for individual billing authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answers of (a) 4 June 2025 to Question 54046 on Waste Disposal: Birmingham and (b) 7 May 2025 to Question 48129 on Birmingham City Council, what information (i) her Department and (ii) Best Value Commissioners hold on legal injunctions successfully awarded by Birmingham City Council against Unite the Union on refuse collection industrial action. \p Jim McMahon: A negotiated outcome is in everyone’s interest and the government remains committed to supporting Birmingham’s long-term transformation, for the benefit of residents.

The details of the civil injunction are a matter for Birmingham City Council.

Following the issuance of the Section 114 notice in 2023, the government appointed commissioners to exercise certain functions of the council, including governance, finance, and recruitment. Commissioners are working to ensure the council is meeting the requirements of the Best Value Duty and operate independently within the framework of their statutory responsibilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48129 on Birmingham City Council, what information her Department holds on which contractors are collecting domestic rubbish from households in Birmingham. \p Jim McMahon: The government has been working intensively with Birmingham City Council to tackle the backlog and clean up the streets in the interests of Birmingham residents and public health. Birmingham City Council believe the amount of waste on the streets is broadly back to 'normal' for the city, with households receiving one collection per week per household.

Details about operational arrangements in relation to the waste service are a matter for Birmingham City Council.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.59 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025: departmental efficiency delivery plans, published on 11 June 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of insourcing services on levels of efficiency in her Department. \p Alex Norris: The department is committed to improving efficiency by reducing reliance on external suppliers and consultants, having already achieved a 50% reduction in consultancy use since 2023/24. Consultants are only engaged for time-limited, specific needs where internal expertise is not available, ensuring that costs remain tightly controlled. As part of our ongoing invest-to-save initiative, we are actively replacing contractors and professional services with permanent civil servants. This approach has already delivered substantial savings and is expected to generate further annual efficiencies. By building in-house capability, the department is not only reducing costs but also enhancing the skills and sustainability of the civil service workforce, which in turn supports more effective and efficient delivery of our objectives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the core spending power budget line in table B.2 of HM Treasury's document entitled, Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, what is the estimated total revenue from council tax in each year from 2024-25 to 2028-29 in England. \p Jim McMahon: Projected overall local government Core Spending Power within Resource Departmental Expenditure Limits is set out at table B.2 of the Spending Review document. This includes estimated funding from council tax. However, this remains subject to final decisions on the referendum principles set by government with the approval of the House of Commons, and the council tax levels set by individual authorities. Referendum principles will be set out as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement in the usual way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding her Department has provided to Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Housing Investment Loans Fund; and whether (a) guidance and (b) conditions were attached to that funding. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) provided Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) with a £300m Housing Investment Loan Fund in 2015, as part of its devolution deal.

The requirements of the fund, including the conditions, are set out in a Facility Agreement – executed as a deed – between MHCLG and GMCA. Summaries of how the fund operates are publicly available at gov.uk https://democracy.manchester.gov.uk/Data/Executive/20150318/Agenda/21_GMHousingInvestmentFund_2.pdf and https://democracy.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=34289

On 17 June 2025 we announced that the fund will be extended to deliver thousands of new homes over the next ten years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help local authorities in rural areas effectively use compulsory purchase orders to bring derelict buildings back into community use. \p Alex Norris: Local authorities have various compulsory purchase powers which they can use to acquire and develop derelict or empty properties. To assist them in the use of their powers, the government has implemented the package of reforms in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 to streamline and modernise the compulsory purchase order (CPO) process and clarify that local authorities’ CPO powers can be used to deliver regeneration in their areas. Further reforms to improve the CPO process and land compensation rules have been included in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We also publish guidance on the compulsory purchase process to help local authorities understand and use their powers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support local authorities in receipt of exceptional financial support to resolve funding issues in the long term. \p Jim McMahon: The Government recognises the significant pressures that councils are facing. The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. The £3.4 billion, when taken together with a 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept, results in an average overall real terms increase in local authority core spending power of 2.6% per year over the next multi-year settlement (2026-27 to 2028-29).

The government is committed to fixing the foundations of local government through ambitious reform. The Fair Funding Review 2.0 is open from 20 June to 15 August and seeks views on the approach to local authority funding reform through the Local Government Finance Settlement from 2026-27.

In line with our commitment to support councils’ receiving Exceptional Financial Support to improve, as a condition of the support agreed councils will be subject to additional external assurance to give them independent and expert help to drive local improvement and manage their financial position.

Finally, we also followed through on our commitment to not make borrowing more expensive for those councils in the most financial difficulty, by removing the condition requiring a 1% premium on borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, CP 1336, whether the £39 billion for a new 10‑year Affordable Homes Programme is (a) in cash terms and (b) takes into account inflation. \p Matthew Pennycook: As under the existing Affordable Homes Programme, registered providers will need to bid for the grant funding announced at the Spending Review. The government will confirm further details, including the timing and process for bids to the new fund, in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of housing investment announced in the Spending Review 2025 on (a) the protection of Green Belt land and (b) new housing starts in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has not made any such assessment.

The allocation of housing investment announced at the Spending Review will depend on the bids received from registered providers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the average (a) cash grant and (b) subsidy per unit is for a unit of (i) social rent housing, (ii) affordable rent and (iii) affordable home ownership. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to questions UIN 15764 on 3 December 2024, UIN 23794 on 22 January 2025, UIN 31045 on 25 February 2025 and UIN 31046 on 25 February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of private landlords that have issued Section 21 notices to their tenants since 5 July 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department does not hold data on Section 21 evictions issued by landlords.

However, the English Private Landlord Survey 2024 indicated that Section 21 notices are the most common way landlords evict tenants, and we know that chronic insecurity in the private rented sector has real-life consequences for individuals and families.

The Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver our manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting, including the long-delayed abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.

The Bill will give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to table B.3 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, whether her Department's average annual real growth in capital expenditure during 2025-26 to 2029-30 includes the Affordable Housing Programme. \p Matthew Pennycook: The calculations showing MHCLG’s average annual real growth in capital expenditure during 2025-26 to 2029-30 in table B.3 of the HM Treasury’s Spending Review 2025 publication includes the funding allocated to the Affordable Housing Programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4.19 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, what her Department's target is for the (a) total number and (b) proportion by tenure type of additional new build homes funded by the Affordable Housing Programme. \p Matthew Pennycook: The new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme that was announced at the Spending Review will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent. We will confirm further details in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the Affordable Housing Programme funding the purchase by social housing providers of affordable homes already obligated by developers under Section 106 during the Spending Review period. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Affordable Homes Programme supports the delivery of social and affordable homes additional to those that developers have committed to delivering through Section 106 agreement. We have no plans to change these arrangements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to support displaced people to (a) build English language skills and (b) secure well-paid employment to support their ability to rent. \p Alex Norris: The Government recognises that the ability to speak English is key to helping people integrate into life in the UK, as well as supporting people to access education, employment and other opportunities. We regularly monitor the English language and employment support available to new arrivals alongside other government departments.

We have launched a competitive tender process for the delivery of a new programme to continue our English language and employment support for Ukrainians and Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) visa holders. This programme will provide support for up to 4,000 individuals. This builds on the success of the STEP Ukraine pilot which has supported over 13,000 Ukrainians, with an impressive 84% successfully completing the programme and 73% achieving a 100% in their English language test.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Cities and Local Growth Unit has been closed. \p Alex Norris: The Cities and Local Growth Unit, a joint Unit with the Department for Business and Trade, ended on 31 March 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54410 on Mo Baines, if she will publish that declaration. \p Alex Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 50166 on 14 May 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 53925 on Green Belt: Planning, what definition her Department uses for a built-up area; and what level of density or rurality provides that development on residential gardens is considered construction on brownfield land. \p Matthew Pennycook: The definition of Previously Developed Land is set out in Annex 2: Glossary of the National Planning Policy Framework. It excludes land in built-up areas such as residential gardens, parks, and allotments.

The National Planning Policy Framework, and associated Green Belt guidance, do not introduce a definition of a built-up area.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to help ensure that housing developments are completed after they have been granted planning permission. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government wants to see homes built faster and we recognise the frustrations that stalled or delayed sites can cause to communities.

Once housebuilders have been granted permission for residential development, meeting local housing needs and preferences, we expect to see them built out as quickly as possible.

Local planning authorities already have powers to issue a completion notice to require a developer to complete their development if it is stalled. If they fail to do so, the planning permission for the development will lapse.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December includes policies designed to support increased build out rates, including the promotion of mixed tenure development.

On 25 May, the government published a Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out (which can be founded on gov.uk here) inviting views on further action the government should take to speed up homes being built.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the safety of the Jewish community in the UK. \p Alex Norris: Antisemitism has no place in our society, and tackling it is a top priority for this government. We are particularly concerned about the steep increase in antisemitism we have seen since the abhorrent 7 October attacks.

The government is committed to protecting the safety of the Jewish community in the UK and making our streets and communities safer. That is why funding of £72 million has been allocated for the Community Security Trust to continue their vital work from 2024/25 until 2027/28, providing security to schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings.

The government works closely with the Independent Adviser on Antisemitism to provide independent advice to the Secretary of State on the most effective methods to tackle antisemitism and to ensure that the Jewish community’s concerns about antisemitism are heard and acted upon. We also work with the police to regularly review potential threats and ensure that everything is done to protect communities from hate crime.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 53912 on Asylum: Housing, if she will make it her policy to issue planning practice guidance on changing hotels to asylum hostel accommodation. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has no plans to issue such guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's publication entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2025, published on 28 April 2025, what the goods or services commissioned from 23 Red Limited entitled (a) consultancy and (b) campaign creative production were. \p Alex Norris: The Department commissioned 23 Red Limited through approved government procurement frameworks to help deliver two key campaigns addressing housing needs in our communities.

The 'consultancy' expenditure covered essential strategic and creative elements of our Make Things Right campaign. This campaign supports social housing tenants to effectively engage with the complaints process when experiencing issues with their accommodation, helping to drive improvements in housing standards.

The 'campaign creative production' expenditure funded essential strategic and creative elements of our StreetLink campaign. This initiative raises awareness of the StreetLink service and improves public understanding of how to provide effective referrals for people sleeping rough, ultimately helping to connect vulnerable individuals with appropriate support services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the outcomes of bans on wearing full face coverings in public spaces in (a) France, (b) Denmark, (c) Austria and (d) other European countries. \p Alex Norris: Britain has a proud tradition of freedom of speech and religious expression within the confines of the law. There are no current general policies or legislations that ban the wearing of religious and non-religious full-face coverings in public spaces. The government has no intention to introduce any.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertsmere Borough Council on the application of the Golden Rules in local planning decisions. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 includes ‘Golden Rules’ for major development involving the provision of housing on land that is situated within, or released from, the Green Belt.

The NPPF must be taken into account in preparing local development plans and is a material consideration in planning decisions.

On 27 February 2025, my Department published updated planning practice guidance on the Green Belt which sets out how local planning authorities should apply the new ‘Golden Rule’ on green space provision, including how they should consider accessibility, quality, and alignment with Local Nature Recovery Strategies.

The government has a variety of ways to assess the impacts of, and interactions between, policy changes. These include consultation processes and the publishing of a range of metrics to monitor the impacts of changes.

The government monitors and publishes data on planning permissions granted, quarterly data on starts and completions, and annual statistics showing the extent of England’s Green Belt, including changes resulting from land being released from, or added to, the Green Belt.

We also continuously engage with the planning sector, including local planning authorities, to understand the impact of our policy changes. This includes the implementation and effect of the Golden Rules.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_53

Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the new Local Authority Housing Fund is available to support new arrivals across safe routes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The £950 million fourth round of Local Authority Housing Fund will primarily support local authorities in England to increase the supply of better-quality temporary accommodation and drive down the use of Bed and Breakfasts for families with children.

It will also provide safe and suitable housing for those on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), to fulfil the UK’s humanitarian duties to assist those who assisted British efforts in Afghanistan and are at risk of homelessness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_54

James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to protect (a) freehold property owners and (b) freehold property owners in new build housing estates from high maintenance fees. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government remain committed to protecting residential freeholders on private and mixed-tenure housing estates from unfair charge

We will consult this year on implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s new consumer protection provisions for the up to 1.75m homes that are subject to these charges, and bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager.

The government is also determined to end the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ entirely and we will consult next year on legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements, which are the root cause of the problems experienced by many residential freeholders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_55

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of high annual ground rents on the ability of leaseholders to sell their properties in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department is aware that some leaseholders may be experiencing problems with mortgaging or selling a property because of their ground rent terms.

The government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_56

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Rooftop solar for new builds to save people money, published on 6 June 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the capital cost of installing solar panels on a new build family home. \p Matthew Pennycook: As part of the previous government’s consultation on the Future Homes Standard, an impact assessment estimating the costs and wider impacts of the proposals, including solar installations, was published. It can be found on gov.uk here.

This government intend to introduce a Future Homes Standard in autumn this year and will publish an updated impact assessment alongside it.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_57

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help support Cheltenham Borough Council to run high street rental auctions. \p Alex Norris: This government has introduced High Street Rental Auctions, powers available to local authorities in England to require landlords, regardless of their country of residence, to rent out vacant commercial premises. As a deterrent it is a criminal offence for a landlord not to engage in the auction process and where they do not comply local authorities are empowered to progress with the measures in their absence.

We want to ensure that councils across the country, such as Cheltenham Borough Council, have the support they need to implement the powers. To that end, a fund of £1 million is available to support delivery this financial year and a new burdens payment can be drawn down to meet the administrative costs. Furthermore our local authority early adopters are also available to offer practical support to help facilitate implementation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_58

Marie Goldman:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will provide additional funding to restart Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s joint fleet workshop collaboration with Essex Police. \p Alex Norris: On 3 February, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published the 2025/26 Local Government Finance Settlement which sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue.

These allocations, which include the National Insurance Contribution Grant, will see standalone fire and rescue authorities including Essex receiving an increase in core spending power of £69.1 million in 2025/26. This is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25.

In 2025/26, Essex Fire Authority will have core spending power of £95.7 million; an increase of 4 per cent on 2024/25. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed to meet their core functions are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_59

Steve Race:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle youth homelessness. \p Rushanara Ali: Homelessness levels are far too high, and this can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. We must address this and deliver long term solutions.

The government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million in 2025/26 compared to last year, taking our total investment to £1 billion. Local authorities can use this funding to respond to the needs of their communities.

The government is also considering youth homelessness as part of our long-term, cross-government strategy; working with Mayors, councils and key stakeholders to get us back on track to ending homelessness for good.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_60

Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to include youth homelessness in the cross-government homelessness strategy. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 52307 on 14 May 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_61

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2025, published on 28 April 2025, what consultancy services were commissioned from CFE Research and Consulting Ltd. \p Rushanara Ali: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government appointed a consortium of organisations, led by CFE Research and including Cordis Bright, Revolving Doors, and the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR) at The University of Sheffield, to undertake an independent evaluation of the Changing Futures programme. The spend in March was for research and evaluation activity for this programme evaluation.

The Changing Futures programme is an initiative between the UK Government and The National Lottery Community Fund, running from 2021 to 2026. All evaluation publications to date are available at: Evaluation of the Changing Futures programme - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_62

Martin Rhodes:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what principles his Department is applying when determining its priorities in the review of Official Development Assistance. \p Stephen Doughty: We are modernising our approach to development, focusing on greater impact and delivering the development our partners want - ensuring every pound delivers for the UK taxpayer and the people we support.

We will sharpen our focus on three priorities: humanitarian, health, and climate and nature, underpinned by economic development.

We will prioritise multilaterals in the Official Development Assistance budget, while driving reform of the multilateral system to strengthen its most important parts - humanitarian, health, climate, and the global financial system - to help lower-income countries sustain their progress and become self-sufficient.

We will transform our country development partnerships, reflecting the changing needs of our partners: as an investor rather than just a donor and from service delivery to system support, while drawing on the UK's leading expertise and working through local partners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_63

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Minister’s oral contribution during the debate on Gavi and the Global Fund of 15 May 2025, Official Report, column 203WH, when he will write to me on the potential use of the International Finance Facility for Immunisation. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is a long-standing supporter of Gavi, contributing £1.65 billion from 2021-2025, with £590 million via International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). I recognise the value of IFFIm in enabling Gavi to efficiently manage financing and quickly scale up vaccines during health crises. We will be announcing our GAVI + IFFIM contributions on Wednesday 25 June.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-24 conversation_64

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much of the Official Development Assistance budget is allocated to global health programmes in (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27, (c) 2027-28 and (d) 2028-29. \p Stephen Doughty: We will publish the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's final 2025/26 Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations in the Annual Report & Accounts in July. Over the coming months, we will work through detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used in future years, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.

Reducing the overall size of our ODA budget will necessarily have an impact on the scale and shape of the work we do. We will sharpen our focus on humanitarian, health and climate and nature.