theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_238

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 53 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing a strong training offer that nurtures critical specialist skills. \p Al Carns: The Defence Intelligence Academy was established in October 2025 by Commander Cyber and Specialist Operations Command and the Chief of Defence Intelligence as part of Defence’s efforts to ensure a strong training offer. The programme to do so has focussed on the higher-level Command structures, while delivering several new and innovative training courses focussed on enhancing critical specialist skills. It will cohere delivery across the Military Intelligence Services. The Defence Intelligence Academy is also optimising its courses for future intelligence requirements and technology, improve training delivery methods, and emphasising career-long education.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 110 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Army’s contribution to the (a) planning, (b) preparation and (c) delivery of defence support to domestic resilience if it were mobilised for war. \p Al Carns: The Army, Royal Navy and RAF all continuously contribute to national resilience and would do so in a time of war. At present personnel are held at very high readiness to respond to domestic crises, and have formed the backbone of domestic resilience efforts over the past several years, including during Covid.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and National Security Strategy highlighted the importance of domestic resilience in a time a crisis. Working closely with the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme, we are developing plans and policies in a range of Home Defence related areas, taking the spirit and recommendations of the SDR and applying that to the whole range of policy areas that flow from it, including support to domestic resilience planning and preparation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 128 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on improving data-sharing with the UK intelligence community through adoption of (a) common data standards, (b) handling controls and (c) vetting procedures. \p Al Carns: Collaboration with partners across Government, including the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC), is essential to Defence outputs-both in routine activity and on operations. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a clear ambition to strengthen collaboration and interoperability, enabling delivery of the Integrated Force and the Digital Targeting Web. Defence is already interoperable with Government partners and capable of sharing data and intelligence. However, there are further opportunities to improve. To address this, multiple programmes are ongoing which aim to enhance interoperability and remove barriers to information sharing. These initiatives vary in maturity but are already being adopted across the MOD and UKIC and delivering measurable benefits.

Additional work is underway to modernise data-handling approaches across National Security, leveraging technological advances to enable machine-speed sharing where appropriate. Combined with the MOD's broader technology modernisation programmes, these efforts will deliver improved capability, interoperability, and resilience across Defence and Government partners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 71 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what recent progress he has made on developing a virtual training environment that is integrated into his Department's common digital architecture. \p Al Carns: Defence is conducting a discovery phase to understand how this virtual training capability will work across all domains and military commands and can be integrated into Defence’s common digital architecture.

It is imperative that Defence delivers a training ecosystem that will provide an interoperable, multi-domain capability, across the military commands. This will enable training from individual to collective levels and will realise the benefits of efficiency and enhanced interoperability to, in turn, enable the Integrated Force. By embedding synthetic and virtual training requirements into procurement programmes, Defence is ensuring that its training capabilities are adaptable, innovative, and fit for purpose in the evolving operational environment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 127 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, which aspects of defence intelligence capabilities his Department has assessed as (a) underpowered and (b) fragmented. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence keeps all areas of its capability under review to ensure we are ready to meet the threat posed by adversaries and to protect the UK, but we do not comment in detail on aspects of Defence capability that could be useful to adversaries.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 118 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on re-establishing a Cabinet sub‑Committee or equivalent ministerial group to set the UK’s strategic approach to space. \p Al Carns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard) on 6 September 2025 to Questions 70660, 70661, 70682 and 70659 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) and on 23 July 2025 to Question 68516 to the hon. Member for Solihull West and Shirley (Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst).

Space- Cabinet Committees (docx, 16.4KB)

Space (docx, 16.3KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 117 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he he made on building on UK membership of (a) minilateral groupings and (b) the Combined Space Operations initiative to help ensure that NATO has an effective space policy. \p Al Carns: The United Kingdom remains firmly committed to collaborating with international partners and allies through a range of fora, including the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative. Through these partnerships, we are building a shared understanding of evolving space threats, integrating space more effectively into defence operations, and pursuing interoperability and resilience across our defence space capabilities.

As NATO continues to implement its space policy, the United Kingdom is actively contributing to these efforts by leveraging the expertise and insights gained through wider collaboration with international partners, many of whom are also NATO members. In doing so, the United Kingdom helps to shape discussions and drive progress on NATO’s space policy, strengthening the Alliance’s ability to address emerging challenges in an increasingly contested space environment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 122 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on empowering each of the services to develop their own electromagnetic warfare capabilities. \p Al Carns: The capacity to operate within the electromagnetic spectrum is a critical component of contemporary warfare, as evidenced by ongoing events in Ukraine. By the end of the year, the newly established 2 star Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force will assume responsibility for developing and coordinating Electromagnetic Operations strategy and force development, including setting standards and architectures.

Meanwhile, each Single Service will continue to advance their own tactical capabilities to ensure preparedness against emerging threats and effective operation within their respective domain.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 122 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on shaping the CyberEM domain to be led in a similar way to UK Space Command. \p Al Carns: The design and implementation planning process is well underway. The 4 star Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) was officially launched on 1 September 2025. The 2 star Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, previously referred to as the CyberEM Command, which operates within CSOC, is set to be established by the end of the year.

The design team has visited UK Space Command to ensure that their lessons and best practice have been incorporated and will continue to share best practice during the design and implementation phase.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, how enterprise-wide operational defence priorities for activities in the cyber domain will be deconflicted with the National Cyber Force’s priorities. \p Al Carns: We do not routinely comment on operational matters or the operational prioritisation of the National Cyber Force (NCF) due to reasons of national security.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 121 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what rank commands the National Cyber Force. \p Al Carns: As announced in the press release dated 16 October 2023, The National Cyber Force is commanded by a 2 star Military Officer, or a Civil Servant at SCS2 level. Currently, Commander National Cyber Force is Air Vice-Marshal Tim Neal-Hopes OBE.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what the future structure of the Army’s Cyber and Electromagnetic Effects Group will be. \p Al Carns: The Department is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review, including those involving the Cyber and Electromagnetic Domain (CyberEM)

Force design work on the Army’s CyberEM Effects Group is ongoing. Until this work is fully complete, there are no changes to the current CyberEM structure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing a new CyberEM Command. \p Al Carns: The design and implementation planning process is well underway. The 4 star Cyber ans Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) was officially launched on 1 September 2025. The 2 star Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, previously referred to as the CyberEM Command, which operates within CSOC, is set to be established by the end of the year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on fusing CyberEM activity in pursuit of (a) sovereign and (b) NATO operations. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence works closely with allies and partners on shared mission sets in preparing for future operational scenarios.

The newly established 2 star Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force (within Cyber and Specialist Operations Command) will drive the fusion of these efforts, with a particular emphasis on electromagnetic operations. This approach aims to ensure that insights from the Ukraine conflict are applied to both present and future sovereign and NATO strategy development and operational planning.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what change is required within the CyberEM domain to achieve a tech-enabled Integrated Force. \p Al Carns: The aim to achieve a tech-enabled Integrated Force was a central tenet of the SDR and will require change across all domains. The Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ) will drive the change, with the National Armaments Director Group (NADG) responsible for delivering a strong and secure digital backbone.

Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) will continue to be the 4 star Command responsible for the protection of Defence networks, platforms and infrastructure, in partnership with the Single Services, industry and partners across government. The newly established 2 star Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, as part of CSOC, will ensure the authorities are in place to respond rapidly to both threats and opportunities in the CyberEM domain.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on educating personnel on the risk of cyber-attack via Defence Digital. \p Al Carns: The Strategic Defence Review 2025 recognised the importance of educating personnel on how they can protect the Department from cyber-attack. Since 2020 the Ministry of Defence has implemented a blended approach to this challenge, including formal training, supported with a thematic awareness campaign designed to develop and embed good cyber security behaviours across the entire workforce.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what proportion of the National Cyber Force’s capability is dedicated to (a) defence and (b) other national security priorities. \p Al Carns: We do not routinely comment on operational matters or the operational prioritisation of the National Cyber Force due to reasons of national security.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 110 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on ensuring the Army’s contribution has kept pace with innovation in electromagnetic warfare. \p Al Carns: For reasons of safeguarding operational security, I am unable to provide details relating to electromagnetic warfare.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 109 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing an enhanced Standing Joint Command. \p Al Carns: Since the publication of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), the Standing Joint Command (SJC) has undertaken a series of workstreams to begin delivery against SDR intent. This includes the publication of a new operational framework, the delivery of a series of table-top exercise with Government partners and a review of future workforce requirements.

The work to establish an enhanced SJC remains ongoing but has already made tangible progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 108 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what multiple increase in lethality he has achieved; and by when he plans to achieve a ten-fold increase. \p Al Carns: The Army ​will deliver a tenfold increase in lethality over the next ten years by harnessing firepower, surveillance technology, autonomy, digital connectivity, and data - leading the way in NATO in its use of technology to change how it fights, improving speed and accuracy. However, a tenfold increase in lethality is not a single moment in time-it is a trajectory.

By 2027 the British Army aim to have doubled fighting power through better training, smarter use of existing capabilities, and rapid adaptation. Tripling by 2030 is within reach as we field new systems and integrate them into a digitally connected force.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 38 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in delivering an integrated frigate force comprising of (a) crewed, (b) uncrewed and (c) autonomous platforms via a new partnership with industry. \p Al Carns: The Royal Navy has made significant early progress in delivering an integrated frigate force comprising crewed, uncrewed, and autonomous platforms, in line with Recommendation 38 of SDR 25. This initiative is central to our future Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability and is being pursued through a new, dynamic partnership with industry.

The Type-26 Frigate remains the cornerstone of the RN’s crewed anti-submarine warfare capability plan and will be at the heart of the future fleet. The Atlantic Bastion programme operates with T26 at its centre and will secure the North Atlantic against subsurface threats for the UK and NATO. We have initiated trials of several uncrewed surface and sub-surface systems with the intent that uncrewed systems will integrate with Type 26 and other fleet assets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Type 45 destroyers on NATO regional plans. \p Al Carns: Type 45 destroyers are central to the UK's integrated air and missile defence strategy, and they have actively contributed to NATO operations through Carrier Strike Group deployments and singleton deployments with Standing Naval Maritime Groups.

Upgrades to the Type 45s will serve to enhance the UK's preparedness against advancing and proliferating threats, further demonstrating the UK's commitment to NATO's deterrence and defence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of littoral strike by the Royal Navy on NATO regional plans. \p Al Carns: The Royal Navy's Littoral Strike capabilities are aligned with NATO's strategic objectives. These capabilities enhance the UK's ability to contribute to NATO operations, particularly in contested and strategically significant regions, and they support the Alliance's goals of deterrence, crisis response, and operational readiness.

The UK operates Littoral Response Groups (LRGs), which are part of the Littoral Strike concept, as forward-deployed amphibious forces capable of operating independently or as part of a larger joint force. These groups are designed to deliver defence engagement, maritime security operations, and hybrid warfare operations, as well as to support NATO operations including regional plans, which are routinely reviewed by the NATO Joint Force Command.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, under what agreement the UK operates the Naval Support Facility in Bahrain. \p Al Carns: The Naval Support Facility in Bahrain operates under an arrangement reached with the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2014.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing a programme of exercises to test plans for response to an armed attack on (a) the UK and (b) NATO allies. \p Al Carns: The Government regularly performs exercises on its ability to respond to an armed attack on the United Kingdom and our NATO Allies.

The Ministry of Defence works closely with the Cabinet Office and the Home Office to test and strengthen national resilience and home defence arrangements. These exercises enhance coordination between the Armed Forces, civil authorities and emergency services, ensuring the UK remains prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to any armed threat.

In addition, NATO has an extensive set of plans outlining how to respond to an armed attack on any Ally, including the UK. These exercises enhance Allied interoperability, validate defence and deterrence strategies, and reinforce the credibility of NATO's collective defence posture.

The largest of these exercises is the STEADFAST series, NATO's most extensive and comprehensive exercise programme. Last year, Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024, the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, involved around 20,000 UK personnel.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on devising a strategy for the protection of critical national infrastructure by the (a) MOD Guard Service and (b) UK intelligence community. \p Al Carns: The protection of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) is an important pillar of work in the Home Defence Programme. This work is led by the Cabinet Office and aims to develop a cross-Government plan to strengthen the nation’s security, preparedness, and resilience in order to deter threats to and defend the UK homeland. Defence continues to play a significant contributory role with partners and the private sector to protect CNI from a full spectrum of threats.

The UK already has an existing strategy for protecting CNI which includes a partnership between intelligence agencies, and components of the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC), such as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Guard Service (MGS) provides unarmed security services for MOD sites. The MGS are just one of the MOD policing and guarding organisations that could contribute to the protection of CNI under the cross-Government plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 78 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on developing a single Integrated Global Defence Network. \p Al Carns: The Integrated Global Defence Network (IGDN) has completed the first phase of its development by merging the Directorate of Overseas Bases and the Global Defence Network of Defence Attachés and Advisors into the IGDN HQ, dually lead by a 2 star military director and an SCS2 civilian director, with 3 star military oversight.

The network will now continue through to the second phase of its development through a series of projects, including the SDR-directed Network Review of Defence’s global footprint, which will include engagement with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 34 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on strengthening the interoperability of carrier strike groups with Italy. \p Al Carns: Italy is an important partner of the United Kingdom, demonstrated in the context of Carrier Strike, through our memberships of NATO, the F-35 Lightning II programme, and the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII).

Interoperability has been strengthened during the ongoing deployment of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on Operation HIGHMAST, during which HMS PRINCE OF WALES worked alongside the Italian Navy’s ITS CAVOUR CSG in the Mediterranean Sea in May 2025. Combined training activity emphasised UK-Italian CSG interoperability and integration across all domains, including UK and Italian F-35B jets flying sorties by day and night, and the opportunity for Italian Navy F-35Bs to land on, and launch from, HMS PRINCE OF WALES. Further combined training opportunities to strengthen UK-Italian CSG interoperability are planned during the UK CSG’s return passage later this year.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 106 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, when the multi-role ocean survey ship will be deployed to counter threats to critical undersea infrastructure. \p Al Carns: The Royal Navy is acting under the direction provided in the Strategic Defence Review 2025 to lead and co-ordinate work to protect critical undersea infrastructure. This includes new investment capability options for platforms and sensor suites to counter threats.

Options for new investment to support critical undersea infrastructure protection are in the Royal Navy’s submission into the Defence Investment Plan, which will report in due course.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 22 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what the composition is of the Joint Expeditionary Force. \p Al Carns: The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a coalition of ten like-minded NATO nations: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK, which acts as Framework Nation.

The JEF is a high-readiness multinational defence framework designed to respond rapidly to crises, particularly in the High North, North Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea Region. It operates flexibly, with no standing force elements, instead drawing national contributions on a case-by-case basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 79 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what steps he is taking to uphold the Antarctic Treaty system. \p Al Carns: Defence plays an important role in safeguarding UK interests in Antarctica, including the British Antarctic Territory and supporting UK roles and responsibilities to the Antarctic Treaty.

The Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship, HMS PROTECTOR, routinely deploys to the Antarctic Peninsula. Activities include: undertaking hydrographic surveys to improve the safety of navigation; facilitating inspections under the Antarctic Treaty; and assistance to the British Antarctic Survey and UK Antarctic Heritage Trust.

RAF transport aircraft periodically deliver logistics to British Antarctic Survey through airdrops.

The MOD is supporting the FCDO’s work to publish a UK Antarctic strategy by the end of the year, which will set the Government’s aims and ambitions for Antarctica for the next 10 years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent steps he has taken to prioritise NATO in defence planning. \p Al Carns: In line with the Strategic Defence Review, the UK has put NATO at the heart of our force development. This is evidenced by UK operational and force design for our Euro-Atlantic security being driven by NATO's plans and capability targets, as set through NATO's Defence Planning Process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

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Clive Jones:To ask the Solicitor General, how many people in the UK have been prosecuted for committing cyber security attacks on individuals and businesses. \p Ellie Reeves: This Government is taking significant action to counter the cyber threat posed to UK nationals and businesses.

The Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) response to cybercrime is delivered at a local, national and international level, with increasing levels of expertise targeted at the most complex cases.

Cybercrime is complex – often involving transnational elements and led by highly skilled organised crime groups. The CPS takes this form of offending extremely seriously and will prosecute cases referred to them by law enforcement wherever its legal test is met.

The CPS handles both cyber enabled and cyber dependent crime. Most cyber dependent crime is prosecuted under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. While the CPS does not hold data showing the final outcome or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at finalisation, I can confirm that between April 2020 and March 2025, 992 offences under the Act reached a first hearing in the magistrates’ court. This is set out by year below. Please note that this data relates to the number of offences and not the number of individual defendants.

Financial Year

Offences

2020-2021

185

2021-2022

232

2022-2023

179

2023-2024

199

2024-2025

197
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce rent controls in Lancashire. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 56269 on 10 June 2025.
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Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will consider introducing legislation allowing councils to introduce landlord licensing powers across whole cities, rather than selective schemes. \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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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_273

Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has received recent representations from relevant stakeholders on the potential impact of (a) rent charge clauses and (b) management company practices on homeowners’ ability to sell their properties. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has not carried out an assessment of the prevalence and potential impact on freehold property sales of rent-charge clauses.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 contains measures to protect homeowners on freehold estates, including specific measures to improve the home buying and selling process by ensuring information required to sell a home on a freehold estate is accessible at a reasonable cost. We will be consulting this year on the secondary legislation that is required to switch on most of these measures.

The government is determined to end the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ entirely and we will also consult this 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 (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_274

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support home extensions through mansard roof development. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises the valued role mansard roof development can play in supporting urban intensification. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that national policy supports all types of upwards extensions, including mansard roof development, and encourages their approval in areas or building types where this is appropriate and meets adopted or emerging local policies and design codes that require development to be well designed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_275

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason the Land Registry has not updated the title deeds on the former Deputy Prime Minister’s dwelling in Ashton-under-Lyne following the changes made earlier this year. \p Matthew Pennycook: HM Land Registry publishes information about processing times which can be found on gov.uk here. While the time taken to process this type of application is not out of the ordinary, HM Land Registry is committed to improving speed of service for its customers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_276

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of UK-based (a) civil and (b) software engineers by local authorities. \p Alison McGovern: Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_277

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the role of (a) parish and (b) town councils in the context of Local Government reorganisation; what assessment he has made of the potential merits in maintaining their statutory role in representing local communities on planning applications; and what steps he is taking to ensure parish councils remain integral to local democratic accountability. \p Alison McGovern: Town and parish councils are not in scope for local government reorganisation and will continue to operate as they do now. Councils may wish to collaborate with their town and parish councils to determine how they can most effectively contribute to the delivery of services in future arrangements. In doing so, they may wish to consider the support town and parish councils will require to do so effectively.

We recognise the important role that parish and town councils play in the planning process. Planning law allows parish councils and neighbourhood fora to require local planning authorities to consult them on any relevant planning applications in their area, and notify them of the decision. This will not change in the context of LGR.

The government continues to value the role of town and parish councils in driving forward the priorities of their communities and delivering effective local services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_279

Andy MacNae:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the legislative proposal to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee in planning decisions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the protection of playing fields. \p Matthew Pennycook: Access to open green spaces and playing fields is crucial to the government’s ambitions to increase physical activity levels across the nation and deliver on its Health Mission. We remain committed to protecting and extending our playing field capacity. The National Planning Policy Framework ensures these interests are maintained in the planning system. Sport England plays an important role in developing local development and strategic plans, and through the publication of guidance and advice.

The government is committed to reviewing the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. As per the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510), we intend to consult on removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sports England. We also intend to review the range and type of planning applications on which statutory consultees are required to be consulted and consider whether some types of application could be removed, or addressed by alternative means of engagement and provision of expert advice. Further details will be set out in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_280

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage the (a) development of sporting facilities and (b) maintenance of playing fields through National Planning Policy Guidance. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that access to high-quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities.

The Framework sets out that planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities and opportunities for new provision, which plans should then seek to accommodate.

It also includes strong protections for existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, setting out that they should not be built on unless they are no longer needed, equivalent or better alternatives are provided, or the development is for alternative sports or recreational provision which offers greater benefits.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_281

Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of setting a target for social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has not yet set a national target for social and affordable housing although we keep the position under review.

Accurately forecasting long-term delivery is inherently challenging even in respect of grant-funded social and affordable housing, but we have made clear that we believe the Social and Affordable Homes Programme could deliver around 300,000 social and affordable homes over its lifetime with around 180,000 for Social Rent.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_282

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulation of property agents. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to ensuring that those living in the rented and leasehold sectors are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents.

Property agents must already belong to a government-approved redress scheme. This legislative requirement is currently enforced by local authorities and by the National Trading Standards’ Lettings and Estate Agency Team, who have the power to issue warnings and banning orders to rogue estate and letting agents.

The previous government committed to regulate the property agent sector in 2018 and asked a working group chaired by Lord Best to advise them how to do it, yet it failed to respond to their findings from 2019.

Managing agents play a key role in the maintenance of multi-occupancy buildings and freehold estates, and their importance will only increase as we transition toward a commonhold future, and so we are looking again at Lord Best’s 2019 report on regulating the property agent sector, particularly in light of the recommendations in the final Grenfell Inquiry report.

On 4 July 2025, we launched a wide-ranging consultation on proposals to hold landlords and managing agents to account for the services they provide and the charges and fees they levy. This included a number of proposals recommended by Lord Best, including the introduction of mandatory qualifications for managing agents and estate managers on freehold estates. We are clear that this consultation is not the final step in the regulation of managing agents and we will continue to reflect on the various other recommendations made in the 2019 report.

We will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_283

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the statutory role of Sports England consultee in planning decisions on the (a) development of sporting facilities and (b) maintenance of playing fields. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to reviewing the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. As per the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510), we intend to consult on removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sports England. We also intend to review the range and type of planning applications on which statutory consultees are required to be consulted and consider whether some types of application could be removed, or addressed by alternative means of engagement and provision of expert advice. Further details will be set out in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_284

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with the social housing regulator on the financial viability of East End Homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: MHCLG ministers have not had discussions with the independent Regulator of Social Housing (The Regulator) about East End Homes.

All registered social housing providers are required to deliver the standards set by the Regulator. Those standards seek to ensure a financially viable and well-governed sector, which can continue to increase the provision of social housing. In May 2023, the Regulator determined that East End Homes was non-compliant with its Governance Standard. It continues to engage with the provider and monitors its progress in addressing the issues previously identified.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_285

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing tenants' protections from eviction after landlords have accessed grants to improve energy efficiency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation included proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030. The consultation closed in May this year and DESNZ are currently reviewing responses ahead of publishing a response.

The government is committed to protecting and improving the rights of tenants. The Renters’ Rights Bill will put in place new regulations to protect tenants. This includes providing stronger protections to ensure that tenants are able to appeal excessive above-market rents, abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’, and moving to a simpler tenancy structure where all assured tenancies ae periodic. These measures provide more security for tenants and enable them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of eviction.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-17 conversation_286

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to with reference to DEP2025-0538/ MHCLG Flights July 5 2024- May 31 2025, deposited on 24 July 2025, for what reason his Department travelled from London to Boston. \p Samantha Dixon: A senior official in the Department travelled to Boston for external training as part of a year-long leadership course, approval for which followed normal processes.