theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mental health provision for (a) serving members of the armed forces and (b) veterans (i) during the transition to civilian life and (ii) generally. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the health and wellbeing of our Armed Forces personnel. All Service personnel have access to mental health support throughout their career, including medical and non-medical services.

For those personnel requiring medical intervention the Defence Medical Services (DMS) responsive, flexible, accessible and comprehensive treatment service. The DMS is reshaping mental health provision to reduce waiting lists, improve timelines for patient recovery and refocus on earlier intervention. There will be a single point of access for specialist mental health networks allowing quicker access to initial assessment and earlier allocation to the right treatment pathway. DMS is increasing access to resources and online therapy to improve the care offered by GPs.

Several non-medical interventions across Defence complement medical services, including key MOD initiatives such as the Defence Senior Leaders Mental Fitness and Resilience course (SLMFR), HeadFIT and the Annual Mental Fitness Brief (AMFB). Additionally, each of the single Services provide through career mental health and stress management training.

Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, the DMS works in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Departments of Community Mental Health for up to six months after discharge to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required.

The Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Service deliver additional support to Service leavers and their families who are most likely to face challenges as they leave the Armed Forces, including facilitating access to NHS services. Wherever they live in UK, veterans can access bespoke services, including Op COURAGE in England.

Op COURAGE, the Veterans Mental Health, and Wellbeing Service, provides an integrated mental health care pathway for veterans. Op COURAGE has received over 35,000 referrals. In addition to these services, NHS Integrated Care Boards commission NHS talking therapies, which have received over 13,400 referrals over the same time period.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase specialist educational provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities in South Derbyshire constituency. \p Catherine McKinnell: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. We want more children and young people to receive the support they need to thrive in their local mainstream school, reducing the need for pupils to travel a long way to access a specialist placement. This is why we are committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children and young people with the most complex needs.

Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including those with SEND. The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to keep the provision for children and young people with SEND under review (including its sufficiency), working with parents, young people and providers.

The department has announced an additional £740 million of capital funding in the 2025/26 financial year to support children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision. This new funding can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND and create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs, alongside continuing to provide places to support pupils in special schools with the most complex needs.

In addition, the department is providing local authorities’ an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to £11.9 billion.

A joint local area SEND inspection in Derbyshire was undertaken by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September 2024 under the new Area SEND Inspection framework. Ofsted and the CQC found widespread and / or systemic failings leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND which the local area partnership must address urgently. The report, published on 14 November, included six areas for priority action (APAs).

As a result of this inspection, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector requires the local area partnership to prepare and submit a priority action plan (area SEND) to address the identified APAs.

The department’s regional team has put in place systems to track outcomes against the APAs found by inspectors and the progress made by children and young people with SEND. The department has appointed a SEND Adviser to work collaboratively with an NHS England Adviser to challenge, support and work alongside Derbyshire County Council and the local area partnership.
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Paulette Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on adding the collection of school library data to the school census. \p Catherine McKinnell: School libraries complement public libraries by giving pupils access to a range of books and other kinds of texts, both in and out of school. The national curriculum states that teachers are expected to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information.

There are a number of strong links between reading for pleasure and attainment. For example, the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study report found a 34-point difference in reading performance between pupils in England who “very much” liked reading and pupils who “do not” like reading. Additionally, the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment study found that enjoyment of reading links to pupils’ reading engagement, and that reading engagement was strongly positively correlated with reading performance. There is also a strong evidence base linking reading for pleasure to other positive effects, such as improved text comprehension and grammar, increased general knowledge and character development.

It is for individual schools to decide how best to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils. Headteachers have autonomy to decide how best to spend the core schools funding that is allocated to them by the department. The Autumn Budget 2024 announced an additional £2.3 billion for schools for the 2025/26 financial year, compared to 2024/25, bringing the total core schools budget to almost £63.9 billion in 2025/26. Given this autonomy, the department has no current plans to collect information on the number of school libraries or school librarians as part of the school census.

The government’s reading framework offers non-statutory guidance for teachers and school leaders, including helpful guidance for schools on how to organise their school library, book corner or book stock to make reading accessible and attractive to readers.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the reasons for delays in processing education, health and care plans in South Derbyshire constituency; and whether her Department is taking steps to provide additional support to the local authority to improve compliance with statutory timeframes. \p Catherine McKinnell: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. We want to ensure people of all ages and backgrounds can undertake activities which provide them with the skills and learning they need to support them into work and offer excellent career development and progression opportunities.

The department wants to ensure that, where required, education, health and care (EHC) plan assessments are progressed promptly and, if needed, plans are issued as quickly as possible so that children and young people can access the support they need.

Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to assess whether children and young people have special educational needs that require an EHC plan. EHC plans must be issued within 20 weeks of the needs assessment commencing so that children and young people can access the support they need. In 2023, there were 138,200 initial requests for an EHC plan and 90,500 assessments took place. 50.3% of new EHC plans in 2023 were issued within 20 weeks.

The department knows that local authorities have seen an increase in the number of assessment requests and that more needs to be done to ensure that local areas deliver effective and timely services. This includes better communication with schools and families.

A joint local area SEND inspection in Derbyshire was undertaken by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September 2024 under the new Area SEND Inspection framework. Ofsted/CQC found widespread and/or systemic failings leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND which the local area partnership must address urgently. The report, published on 14 November, included six areas for priority action (APAs).

As a result of this inspection, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector requires the local area partnership to prepare and submit a priority action plan (area SEND) to address the identified APAs.

The department’s regional team has put in place systems to track outcomes against the APAs found by inspectors and the progress made by children and young people with SEND. The department has appointed a SEND Adviser to work collaboratively with an NHS England Adviser to challenge, support and work alongside Derbyshire County Council and the local area partnership.
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Paulette Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the guidance entitled The reading framework, published on 10 July 2021, what steps her Department plans to take to help ensure that schools develop a strong reading-for-pleasure culture. \p Catherine McKinnell: High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.

​​​We know that reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a range of benefits. There are a number of strong links between reading for pleasure and attainment. The 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study report found a 34 point difference in reading performance between pupils in England who “very much” like reading and pupils who “do not” like reading. Additionally, the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment study found that enjoyment of reading links to pupils’ reading engagement and that reading engagement was strongly positively correlated with reading performance. There is also a strong evidence base linking reading for pleasure to other positive effects, such as improved text comprehension and grammar, increased general knowledge and character development. Wide recreational reading expands pupils’ knowledge about the world and about language, as well as their understanding of subject-specific academic and technical vocabulary.

​​​In recognition of this, the department has implemented a range of measures to support reading for pleasure.  The English Hubs programme supports the teaching of phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure with funding continuing and £23 million committed for the 2024/25 academic year to support what is set out in the reading framework. For example, through the Transforming Schools Reading Culture, which is a continuous professional development offer delivered via the English hubs to support reading for pleasure.​

​​​The current national curriculum states that teachers are expected to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which will look closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people. This is in line with the government’s ambition for a curriculum that delivers excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics.
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Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a plan to support disabled children through education and social care. \p Catherine McKinnell: The government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is working closely with experts on reforms, recently appointing a strategic advisor for SEND, who will play a key role in convening and engaging with the sector, including leaders, practitioners, children and families, as we consider the next steps for the future of SEND reform.

The Law Commission are currently undertaking a review of disabled children’s social care legislation. The Law Commission are expected to submit their final recommendations to the government in summer 2025, at which point we will consider proposals for reforms to the disabled children’s social care system.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a STEM teachers continuing professional development fund with industry. \p Catherine McKinnell: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The department has a range of programmes to support continuing professional development for teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), for 2025/26 these include:

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has not had any discussions with teaching groups on the potential merits of establishing a continuing professional development fund with industry, but funding to support STEM education beyond the 2025/26 financial year will be considered as part of the forthcoming spending review.

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Mrs Sharon Hodgson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of expanding the Holiday Activities and Food programme to all (a) families in receipt of Universal Credit and (b) children and young people living in areas of high multiple deprivation. \p Stephen Morgan: The holiday activities and food programme (HAF) supports disadvantaged children and their families during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays with enriching activities, providing them with healthy food, helping them to learn new things, improving socialisation and benefiting their health and wellbeing during school holidays.

The HAF programme guidance sets out that: “While the majority of funding that local authorities receive should be used for holiday club places for children in receipt of free school meals (FSM), local authorities have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related FSM, but who the local authority believe could benefit from HAF provision”.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary school breakfast clubs she plans to introduce in Lincolnshire. \p Stephen Morgan: The government is committed to offering a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 64 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what assessment she has made of the impact of the (a) abolition of district councils with existing Local Plans, (b) requirement of new unitaries to develop new Local Plans and (c) development of Spatial Development Strategies on the viability of the delivery of the 1.5 million homes target in this Parliament. \p Matthew Pennycook: Where an area is going through local government reorganisation, it is essential that individual local authorities continue to deliver services and statutory duties as these remain unchanged up until such time as the re-organisation process is complete.

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) requires all local planning authorities to identify strategic priorities for the development and use of land in the authority’s area and set out policies to address these in their development plan.

New unitary authorities agree to take on this responsibility when they reorganise, and the government expects to see them playing their part in delivering universal coverage of local development plans as soon as possible.

The production of Spatial Development Strategies will improve housing delivery by facilitating effective cross-boundary cooperation and enabling the most beneficial use to be made of sustainable development sites with the appropriate infrastructure either present or planned.
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Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure that contractors are not damaging trees during works. \p Matthew Pennycook: Where development may impact a tree, owners are required to check if the tree is in a conservation area or subject to a Tree Preservation Order. If a tree is subject to either of these, owners are required to obtain the necessary permission to carry out any work in accordance with the relevant legislation.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2024, to Question 18953, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, whether 10 Downing Street asked the Deputy Prime Minister to call in the planning application, further to the Prime Minister’s conversation with President Xi on the matter. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17009 on 6 December 2024.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of the current role of Internal Drainage Boards on the planning process. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recently declared a moratorium on any new statutory consultees, along with a review of the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. Any further announcements will be subject to this review.

Separately, an independent review of the water sector’s regulatory system was launched in October 2024, with the aim of enhancing water management and cross-border challenges. Findings are expected in early 2025.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, if she will make it her policy to publish regular reports on progress towards the target to fast track at least 150 major infrastructure projects; and what her definition is of a major infrastructure project in this context. \p Matthew Pennycook: As part of its Plan for Change, the government has committed to making decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects within this Parliament. This target is aimed at projects of a certain type and over a certain size as set out under the Planning Act 2008, which are considered by government to be of national importance and therefore should be consented at a national level through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.

Progress on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project decisions that make up the 150 milestone are publicly trackable on the Planning Inspectorate website which provides information on each project going through the process. We are currently considering how best to summarise and present this information and will announce plans in due course.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Institution of Fire Engineers as a regulatory body for fire engineers. \p Alex Norris: Currently, the fire engineering profession is undefined and not regulated in law. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry report makes a number of recommendations in respect of fire engineering sector including the recommendation that the profession be recognised and protected by law and that an independent body be established to regulate the profession, define the standards required for membership, maintain a register of members and regulate their conduct.

Following the publication of the Grenfell Tower Fire Inquiry Report, the Department is reviewing the findings and recommendations in relation to the fire engineering sector. No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Institution of Fire Engineers as a regulatory body for fire engineers.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 236 of the National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12 December 2024, whether relevant councils are required to begin a new local plan (a) during or (b) upon the conclusion of the examination of their local plan. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government’s Plan for Change includes an ambitious milestone of delivering 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament.

Delivering on that milestone requires local planning authorities to plan for sufficient homes, as well as commercial development and wider infrastructure, through their local development plans.

Local plans clearly spell out to developers and communities where development will and will not take place, bringing certainty to all parties. They are also the mechanism through which local communities can have their say in how homes are built.

The government inherited a planning system in which only 31% of local planning authorities have adopted plans in the last five years. That is not sustainable, and I am clear that it is unacceptable for local planning authorities to not make a local plan.

We are determined to drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible, to progress towards our ambition of achieving universal plan coverage and ensure plans contribute positively to our ambition of delivering 1.5 million homes.

To that end, the transitional arrangements contained within the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 make clear that plans which are submitted for examination on or before 12 March 2025 will continue to be examined under the relevant previous version of the NPPF.

However, where the draft housing requirement in the plan to be adopted meets less than 80% of local housing need, the authority will be expected to begin working on a new plan, as soon as the new plan-making system is brought into force this summer/autumn, to address the shortfall in housing need.

We want to work in partnership with local planning authorities to deliver for their communities, but where they fail to do so the Deputy Prime Minister will make use of the intervention powers available to her to get local plans in place.

We will provide more information on the rollout of the new plan-making system in due course.
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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 24615 on Housing: Carbon Emissions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned amendments to building regulations on the economy. \p Alex Norris: The Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. It set out proposals for improving the energy efficiency of new homes and buildings. An impact assessment was published concurrently, which included an assessment of the economic impact of the proposals, and the consultation invited consultees to offer their views on this assessment.

We are carefully considering the feedback received. We intend to introduce new energy efficiency standards later this year and will publish an updated impact assessment at that time.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that residents are protected from incorrectly completed EWS1 forms when trying to (a) sell, (b) remortgage and (c) purchase properties in residential buildings. \p Alex Norris: EWS1s are not a legal or regulatory requirement, and the Department does not intend to regulate their issuance. The use of EWS1s is a commercial decision by lenders and subject to their individual lending criteria.

The absence of a correctly completed EWS1 should not be a blocker to mortgage lending, where a leaseholder can provide alternative evidence of the safety of their building or that the building is in a remediation scheme or that the leaseholder qualifies for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act.

We are working closely with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the lending industry to ensure the market continues to function for leaseholders in properties with building safety issues, and those looking to purchase properties with building safety issues.

Leaseholders should contact the building owner or person responsible for fire safety if they have concerns about the fire safety of their building.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many people are on the waiting list for social housing in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England. \p Matthew Pennycook: The number of households on social housing registers (waiting lists) in (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England is available in live table 600 on gov.uk here.

The department does not collect this information by parliamentary constituency, so we do not have the information for (a) Hexham constituency.

The number of households on the housing register (waiting list) is not the same as the number of households waiting. Local authorities periodically review their registers to remove households who no longer require housing, so the total number of households on housing registers may overstate the number of households who still require social housing at any one time. The frequency of reviews varies between local authorities. Housing register size may also be affected by other factors. For example, there is the potential for some households to be on the housing register of more than one local authority.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what transitional arrangements she plans to put in place for (a) local authorities and (b) developers to adapt to the provisions on grey belt development in the new National Planning Policy Framework. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is for individual local authorities to plan and make decisions regarding the locations of new development in their areas.

The amount of development that occurs in any given Green Belt will depend on local circumstances. Where a local authority proposes to alter its Green Belt boundaries through a Local Plan, the revised draft Plan will be created in consultation with the local community and submitted for rigorous independent examination by planning inspectors prior to its adoption.

Similarly, any planning application will be assessed in the light of policies in the adopted Plan, of relevant policy in the National Planning Policy Framework, and of all other factors the decision-makers find relevant to a particular planning case and its location, including the evidenced concerns of local people.

We have been clear that development on grey belt must be sustainable and we have introduced new Golden Rules to ensure that development benefits communities and nature. Our reforms to Green Belt policy do not lessen existing policy obligations to protect designated areas and minimise impacts on biodiversity.

Transitional arrangements for implementing policies in the revised National Planning Policy Framework are set out in Annex 1 of it.
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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of levels of demand for new housing in different areas of the UK; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of new homes on the economy of the different regions. \p Matthew Pennycook: In December 2024, the government implemented a new standard method for assessing local housing needs. This method aligns with the government’s ambition for 1.5 million new homes over this parliament, and better directs new homes to where they are most needed and least affordable. Indicative housing figures for each local authority and region in England are published on gov.uk.

Investment in housing and infrastructure today drives future productivity growth and higher living standards, making these areas pivotal to the success of the Growth Mission. This government is committed to kickstarting economic growth and getting Britain building.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many times the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has made a representation to her Department on the call-in of a planning application in the last ten years. \p Matthew Pennycook: Officials do not monitor or track the number of representations made by particular organisations or parties over time. As such, the department does not hold such statistics.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of under 25s who are renting privately. \p Matthew Pennycook: The English Housing Survey (EHS) contains details of the demographic profile of households in England. In the most recent published figures (for 2023-24) there were 447,000 households renting privately where the Household Reference Person (HRP) was aged 16-24. This equates to 10% out of all households in the private rented sector. Around two-thirds (68%) of all households where the HRP was aged 16-24 were renting privately.

More information on the EHS can be found on gov.uk here, and detailed information on the demographic profile of household can be found on gov.uk here.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 16 December 2024 on English Devolution, HCWS316, whether local authorities will be able to impose selective licensing requirements on all private rented properties. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 23 December 2024, a new General Approval for selective licensing came into force. This enables local authorities to introduce selective licensing schemes of any size without seeking approval from the Secretary of State. Under the previous 2015 General Approval, approval was required for schemes covering more than 20% of a local authority’s Private Rented Sector stock or geographical area.

No changes have been made to the legislative requirements for introducing and managing a selective licensing scheme. Local authorities will still need to meet the requirements under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 and comply with the condition in the General Approval to consult for at least 10 weeks on any new schemes.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to allow more empty premises to be used. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 6686 on 14 October 2024.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure adequate infrastructure is in place before new housing is built. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.

The government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through Land and Infrastructure funding programmes, such as the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The changes to the National Planning Policy Framework announced on 12 December will also support the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.

The government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_174

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, whether Delivery Plans will be part of Local Plans. \p Matthew Pennycook: Delivery Plans as proposed in the Development and Nature Planning Reform Working Paper would be prepared for protected habitats or species and would not necessarily be at the scale of local plans.

Proposals for a Nature Restoration Fund are under development for inclusion in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Further information will be set out when the Bill is introduced.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_175
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_175

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the New Homes Bonus on the funding of district councils. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 19760 on 20 December 2024.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_176
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_176

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the total cost to the public purse of the work of the New Towns Taskforce. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 22561 on 27 January 2025.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_177
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_177

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the merits of deposits for private renters. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government believes the current requirements for private rented sector (PRS) tenants to pay, and PRS landlords to protect, a tenancy deposit are reasonable.

The Housing Act 2004 requires landlords to protect deposits taken in England and Wales for assured shorthold tenancies, on or after 6 April 2007, with a government-authorised Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) scheme. These schemes operate with no cost to the tenant.

The Tenant Fees Act 2019 created legal limits to the amount of deposit that can be charged, and Trading Standards can fine landlords up to £5,000 for breaking the rules and up to £30,000 for multiple breaches.

As part of the re-procurement process of these schemes we are reviewing the operation of the TDP system and identifying areas for improvement.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_178
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_178

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 16 December 2024 on English Devolution, HCWS316, if she will place in the Library a copy of each substantive response by local authorities to the invitation sent to places without devolution in July 2024. \p Jim McMahon: As has been the case under successive administrations, we do not generally publish private letters of correspondence sent to Government Ministers.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_179
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_179

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what requests she has received from local authorities to set a council tax referendum threshold for 2025-26 above the draft Local Government Finance Settlement. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon Member to the written ministerial made by the Secretary of State (HCWS413) on 3 February 2025.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_180
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_180

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to para 4.2.3 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, how the (a) debts and (b) surpluses of individual councils will be divided up in areas with local government restructuring; and whether debt liability will be transferred to all the taxpayers in the new unitary. \p Jim McMahon: It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt, which they will do in the normal course of business. Local government re-organisation does not change this. Previous Secretaries of State used statutory powers to intervene in a small number of councils failing their Best Value Duty partly associated with high levels of unsustainable debt.

We will work with local leaders to explore how best to support local government reorganisation where there has been failure. We will continue to work with Best Value Commissioners in these councils to support the councils’ financial recovery.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_181
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_181

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18952 on Local Government Pension Scheme, what assessment she has made of the potential risk (a) to investment returns from the proposed changes to the nature and types of investments and (b) of political interference in investment decisions. \p Jim McMahon: The Government remains committed to fiduciary duty remaining with local pension funds, who are responsible for ensuring that assets are invested in the best interests of employers and scheme members. Fiduciary duty is key to limiting political interference in investment decisions. Under the Government’s proposals Local Government Pension Scheme administering authorities will retain the responsibility for setting an investment strategy for their fund, including high-level objectives on the required levels of risk and return, which is the key driver of investment returns.

The Government published analysis in the Pension fund investment and the UK economy research paper, which illustrated that greater scale is able to generate greater economies and efficiencies, and to reduce investment risks.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_182
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_182

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 3.2 of the Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, if she will make an estimate of the average change in Band D council tax in England from proposed changes to mayoral precepts. \p Jim McMahon: Mayoral precepts are a matter for mayors, who are accountable to local taxpayers. Successive governments have not put in place measures to limit mayoral precepts. The measures in the English Devolution White Paper seek to provide consistent powers between Mayoral Combined Authorities.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_183
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_183

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 16 December 2024 on English Devolution, HCWS316, how many areas will be in the first wave of local government restructuring. \p Jim McMahon: On 16th December, I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries alongside the White Paper, to set out our plans. I intend to write soon to formally invite unitary proposals from all these councils. As set out in the White Paper we will deliver an ambitious first wave of reorganisation in this Parliament.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_184
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_184

Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress she has made on the implementation of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. \p Rushanara Ali: The Government is taking action to implement the measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. On 4 November I laid a Written Ministerial Statement confirming that we will publish the consultation in the new year. We also remain committed to establishing a Supported Housing Advisory Panel.

A consultation on the measures in the Act will be published shortly. We are in the process of establishing the Supported Housing Advisory Panel. This has closed to applications, and we will confirm membership of the Panel in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_185
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_185

Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23337 on Local Government: Debts, what will happen to existing Council debt following local government reorganisation where a local authority is carrying debt but is not subject to either an (a) best value notice and (b) exceptional financial support framework. \p Jim McMahon: It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt, which they will do in the normal course of business. Local government reorganisation does not change this.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_186
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_186

Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has set a deadline for councils to publish their (a) local growth plans and (b) local housing development plans. \p Matthew Pennycook: