theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_275
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_275

Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of GP fees for (a) letters requested to support applications relating to (i) mental health, (ii) housing, (iii) education and (iv) welfare and (b) other non-NHS letters on patients; and whether he plans to issue guidance to GP practices on fee structures for such documentation in cases involving (A) financial hardship and (B) vulnerable people. \p Stephen Kinnock: There are some medical evidence letters, certificates, and/or reports that general practices (GPs) may charge for, and others that they must not charge patients for. The legislation that sets this out is the General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services Regulations, which form the basis of the GP Contract with the National Health Service. There is no statutory limit to the level of such fees as this is outside of core NHS work.

The Professional Fees Committee of the British Medical Association suggests guideline fees for such services to help doctors set their own professional fees.

We recognise that there are concerns about some fees GPs charge for letters and the consistency of those charges, as well as the additional burden these requests can place on GPs. Where GPs charge for that evidence, these charges should be clear, fair, and consistent. Where possible and appropriate we would encourage people to use alternative evidence.

We are continuing to work across the Government to cut red tape and improve ways of working, including work to improve the patient experience, such as removing the need to request unnecessary medical evidence where possible.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_276
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_276

Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of GP practice closures in (a) England, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) Oldham since 2010. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England has confirmed that since 1 April 2016, the total number of general practices (GPs) in England has reduced from 7,680 to 6,200, as of 1 November 2025.

At a local level, NHS England holds information dating back to 2013. Across Greater Manchester there have been 31 GP closures since April 2013, of which six GP closures have been in Oldham.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_277
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_277

Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will develop a plan to organise children’s palliative care services on a similar basis to the Operational Delivery Networks in use for neonatal care. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

We will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative and end of life care services to ensure that services reduce variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_278
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_278

Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve access to dental care in South Shropshire constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the South Shropshire constituency, this is the NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB.

We have asked ICBs to commission extra urgent dental appointments. ICBs have been making extra appointments available from 1 April 2025.

ICBs are recruiting dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

We are committed to reforming the dental contract, with a focus on matching resources to need, improving access, promoting prevention and rewarding dentists fairly, while enabling the whole dental team to work to the top of their capability. The Government is committed to achieving fundamental contract reform before the end of this Parliament.

We recently held a full public consultation on a package of changes to improve access to, and the quality of, NHS dentistry, which will deliver better care for the diverse oral health needs of people across England. The consultation closed on 19 August. The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and will publish a response in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_279
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_279

Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether additional support will be given to NHS dentistry in the context of the decision at the Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury on ending the use of dental amalgam. \p Stephen Kinnock: Following the decision made at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, we are in the process of planning in detail the necessary steps. This includes establishing what changes may be required for National Health Service dentistry to move towards and implement a phase-out of dental amalgam by 2034.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_280
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_280

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of criteria for (a) parental and (b) professional involvement in decision-making for young people who lack the capacity to make the appropriate decisions to keep themselves safe after they turn 18. \p Stephen Kinnock: People over the age of 18 years old come under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, which has the statutory principle that an individual must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established otherwise. All practicable steps must be taken to help any individual above 18 years old to make a decision by themselves, and if unsuccessful, then all decisions made on their behalf must be in their best interests.

On 18 October 2025, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced the intention to launch a public consultation on the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) in the first half of 2026. The consultation will cover a revised Code of Practice and will incorporate changes in case law, legislation, and good practice in application of the MCA.

The LPS, as introduced by the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019, aims to deliver greater involvement of families and professionals in providing care to vulnerable people in circumstances that amount to a deprivation of liberty.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_281
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_281

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to embed routine oral health (a) screening and (b) signposting in (i) GP, (ii) pharmacy, (iii) community and (iv) other NHS primary care health checks. \p Stephen Kinnock: Dental screening is not recommended due to a lack of evidence that it effectively reduces dental disease. Professionals working in general practice, pharmacy, and community-based services have an important role to help people prevent oral disease and access dental services.

Evidence-based advice has been published to support health professionals to improve and maintain the oral and general health of their patients or members of the public. This is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-prevention.

Other resources are also available including those for adults and children, which are available, respectively, at the following two links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-oral-health-applying-all-our-health/adult-oral-health-applying-all-our-health#further-reading-resources-and-good-practice

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-oral-health-applying-all-our-health.

Signposting to dental services should follow local commissioning arrangements. Our commitment to neighbourhood health will provide further opportunities to bring together teams of professionals closer to people’s home in the community, which could include dental therapists and dental nurses.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_282
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_282

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing (a) free dental (i) check-ups and (ii) treatment and (b) an increased level of access to (i) speech and language therapy, (ii) psychological support, (iii) ongoing dental rehabilitation and (iv) other NHS secondary care for mouth cancer patients . \p Stephen Kinnock: Dentists and other dental professionals, including hygienists, routinely check the soft tissues of a patient’s mouth for signs of cancer during dental visits and as part of the check-up will make an assessment and record an individual’s oral cancer risk.

Dentists will prioritise patients at a higher risk of oral cancer for more frequent recall and review in line with guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence. Members of the public who are worried about their oral health in relation to cancer should seek advice from their dentist or general practitioner. Patients with symptoms of concern should be assessed and offered an urgent dental appointment based upon clinical need, in line with advice from NHS England.

The Government is working across the system to ensure that patients who have a diagnosis of cancer receive timely, safe and effective dental care. While a diagnosis of cancer does not qualify patients for free dental care and there are no current plans to extend the list of people eligible for free dental care, some cancer patients may qualify for an exemption of dental charges based on other factors. Support is also available through the National Health Service Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for a full exemption. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-can-get-free-nhs-dental-treatment/

Where appropriate, every person diagnosed with cancer will have access to personalised care, including a needs assessment, a care plan and health and wellbeing information and support. This includes provision of information, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer. Personalised care ensures that each person’s care is planned holistically, covering mental and physical health as well as any practical or financial concerns. This can include speech and language therapy support if necessary. The NHS is supporting adults experiencing cancer with access to psychosocial support which can include NHS Talking Therapy services, which provide evidence-based psychological therapies for people with anxiety disorders and depression.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_283
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_283

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing an NHS public health campaign on eye health. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department does not currently have any plans for a public health campaign on eye health.

The NHS.UK website sets out the importance of regular sight tests whilst also providing information about entitlement to free National Health Service sight tests. The Department also looks for opportunities to promote the importance of NHS sight tests, such as through National Eye Health Week.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_284
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_284

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has issued guidance to GP practices on maintaining equitable access to care for patients who cannot use digital booking platforms in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The General Practice contract requires that all patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, so those without digital access are not disadvantaged.

In February 2025, the General Practice Committee England agreed to make it a contractual obligation for all GP practices to offer access to online services throughout core hours (8:00am–18:30pm, Monday to Friday) bringing online access in line with walk-in and phone access. This will ensure that patients will not have to wait in long phone queues to contact their practice and ensure that those that are not able to use digital booking platforms have an improved user-experience.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_285
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_285

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) Milton Keynes have received home-based NHS care in each of the last three years. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England does not hold data on the number of patients in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes who have received home-based National Health Service care in each of the last three years.

The NHS provides a range of services in peoples’ homes such as community health services, virtual wards, community mental health support, and palliative care.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service.

The Neighbourhood Health Service will embody our new preventative principle that care should happen as locally as it can, digitally by default, in a person’s home if possible, in a neighbourhood health centre when needed, and only in a hospital if necessary.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_286
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_286

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 78216 on Community Relations: Expenditure, which places received funding; and how much each received. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Councils to receive funding through the Community Cohesion Resilience Programme were set out in my response to Parliamentary Question UIN 85786. The payments were made under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003, and the detail of the funding is set out in the grant determination.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_287
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_287

Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of offering publicly funded (a) services and (b) activities to asylum seekers on local community cohesion. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Home Office are responsible for asylum policy and the support provided to asylum seekers while they await the outcome of their asylum claim. The department has not carried out an assessment of the impact of providing publicly funded services and activities to asylum seekers.

On community cohesion more broadly, we are committed to bridging divisions between communities and challenging hatred, and we continue to work closely with community groups, charities, and public sector partners to achieve this. That is why MHCLG has launched a landmark £5 billion Pride in Place programme — backing the true patriots who build their communities up and choose unity over division.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_288
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_288

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of (a) transparency and (b) accountability in the private parking sector. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The government is aware of concerns about poor practice from a number of parking operators and is determined to raise standards.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government is preparing a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

The government has recently consulted on its proposals for this new code. The consultation closed on 26 September, and the government will respond in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_289
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_289

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is his Department’s policy on commissioning publicity material in foreign languages aimed at individuals who permanently reside in the UK. \p Samantha Dixon: The department does not have a specific policy on commissioning publicity material in foreign languages. The department provides published content in additional languages where appropriate and on a case-by-case basis.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_290
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_290

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78283 on Councillors: Misconduct, and with reference to the Cabinet Office consultation principles, for what reason the Government has not yet published its response to the December 2024 consultation. \p Alison McGovern: The Government response to the Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England consultation was published on 11 November.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_291
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_291

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will publish a breakdown of how business rates tax collected by Surrey Heath Borough Council is (a) allocated and (b) used by the Treasury. \p Alison McGovern: The business rates retention system (BRRS) was introduced in April 2013 to give authorities a direct financial interest in business rates, recognising their role in the collection of the tax. Percentage shares of business rates income collected are allocated to the central share (to be paid to central government) and the local share (retained locally by local authorities, including Surrey Heath) in the annual Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS). The most recent version of the LGFS, for 2025-26, is published on gov.uk here. We will set out the breakdown over the 3 years of the multi-year settlement at the provisional LGFS later this year.

Details of the business rates collected annually by local authorities are available on gov.uk here. This sets out the amounts retained locally and paid over to central government.

Receipts collected by central government are paid into the consolidated fund and used for the purpose of funding expenditure on local government.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_292
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_292

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which types of asylum seekers accommodation provided under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are subject to (a) council tax and (b) business rates; and what exemptions exist. \p Alison McGovern: All properties are generally liable for either council tax or business rates. Whether a property is assessed for council tax or business rates will depend on whether it is assessed being primarily domestic (council tax) or non-domestic (business rates). There is no mandatory exemption in the council tax system for dwellings which are used for asylum purposes. To the extent that any asylum seekers accommodation is in a non-domestic use, no specific exemption is provided from business rates for such purposes.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_293
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_293

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78178 on City of London Corporation, for what reason the City of London will continue to operate under a committee-based system of governance. \p Alison McGovern: The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision to amend the Local Government Act 2000, which sets out the permissible governance arrangements for local authorities in England.

Arrangements for the discharge of local authority functions by City of London Corporation are enabled separately by the Local Government Act 1972. Given the broader range of public and private functions for which the City of London Corporation is responsible, the Government has no current plans to amend these arrangements.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_294
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_294

Peter Lamb:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his expected timetable is for publication of the Government’s response to the consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England. \p Alison McGovern: The Government response to the Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England consultation was published on 11 November.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_295
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_295

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Valuation Tribunal Service has issued (i) guidance and (ii) advice to local billing authorities on the changing of designations of secondary residences to primary occupation. \p Alison McGovern: The government has not issued guidance to councils on this. It is for individual councils to assess whether a dwelling is a sole/main residence or if it is a second or empty home. In doing this councils will consider a range of factors including; where the liable person is registered with a GP, where they vote, where their family home is etc.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_296
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_296

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of requiring local authorities to make separate food waste collections by 31 March 2026 on (a) council budgets and (b) the provision of other core local authority services . \p Alison McGovern: As set out at the Spending Review, £3.4 billion of new grant funding will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29. This includes funding for local authorities to deliver Simpler Recycling as part of the Collection and Packaging waste reforms.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_297
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_297

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to allow local referendums on (a) local government restructuring, (b) changes to the governance model of local councils and (c) the establishment of combined authority mayors and strategic authorities. \p Alison McGovern: Parliament has set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 the process for establishing unitary councils in two-tier areas, and a referendum is not part of the statutory process that has already begun. The process requires statutory consultation, and we will welcome responses from anyone interested in the proposals for unitary local government, including local residents, town and parish councils, businesses and the voluntary and community sector. As set out in the invitation letter, areas must demonstrate how the local community has been engaged in developing proposals.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill includes provisions to change the available governance arrangements for councils in England. Councils currently operating the committee system will be required to move to the leader and cabinet model within one year of the relevant provision commencing, without holding a referendum. The Bill also prevents the creation of any new local authority mayoralties operating the mayor and cabinet executive governance arrangement. Councils already operating this model will remain able to hold referendums on whether or not to move to the leader and cabinet model.

Referendums will not be required when establishing future strategic authorities. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will see Government working in partnership with leaders of the constituent local authorities, as elected representatives, to set up new Strategic Authorities.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_298
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_298

Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending the process for allotment disposal by local authorities. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Under the Allotments Act 1925, in order for local authorities to dispose of allotments they have to seek approval from the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and a defined legal threshold must be met before approval. This includes: the allotment to be surplus to requirements, any waiting lists to be considered, public consultation to have occurred, and other local policies to have been considered. At present, we have made no formal assessment of the potential merits of amending the process for allotment disposal by local authorities.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_299
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_299

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Plan for Neighbourhoods on communities in the North East. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: On 25 September the Government announced its flagship Pride in Place Programme, which will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 of Great’s Britain’s most in-need neighbourhoods over the next decade. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities, incorporating the 25 trailblazer areas announced at Spending Review and the existing 75 Phase 1 areas that were announced in March, previously the Plan for Neighbourhoods.

10 areas in the North East were selected in Phase 1 of the Pride in Place Programme, including areas in Darlington, Hartlepool and Sunderland. A further 10 neighbourhoods across the region were announced as part of Phase 2, extending long-term investment to communities in places such as County Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside. In addition, 6 local authorities across the region, including Gateshead, Middlesbrough and South Tyneside, have been awarded funding through the Pride in Place Impact Fund, with each receiving £1.5 million over two years.

In total, the Government is investing up to £409 million across the North East through the Pride in Place Programme and the Pride in Place Impact Fund. This investment will help build stronger communities across the region, create thriving places, and enable residents to take back control of their neighbourhoods. Funding will support locally led Pride in Place plans shaped around local priorities, with each area guided by a Neighbourhood Board representing the local community to ensure that investment reflects local needs and ambitions. The Pride in Place Impact Fund will provide more immediate support over the next two years, helping to revitalise high streets and community spaces while visible improvements are delivered on the ground.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_300
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_300

Patrick Hurley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make alternative funding available for community organisations after the UK Shared Prosperity Fund comes to an end in March 2026. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government is taking a new approach to local funding, replacing multiple funding pots with long-term certainty for places. This will be led by sustained and predictable support for local authorities through the Local Government Finance Settlement and complemented by targeted interventions designed to drive local growth and strengthen communities.

Strong communities are vital to drive growth, yet many communities have been left behind and let down by years of decline and systemic under-investment. While there are no current plans to directly replace the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Government has announced a new local growth fund for specific mayoral city regions in the North and Midlands as part of its strategy for regional investment, supporting areas with the highest productivity catch-up and agglomeration potential’

On top of this, every part of the country will benefit from our whole of government Pride in Place strategy, which focuses on three overarching objectives: building stronger communities; creating thriving places; and helping communities to take back control of their own lives and areas. You can find the strategy here: Pride in Place Strategy - GOV.UK

As part of the strategy the Government announced, the Pride in Place programme and Pride in Place Impact Fund, both have been designed to target the most in-need places. We have used metrics that identify ‘double-disadvantaged’ neighbourhoods – those suffering from a combination of material deprivation and low social capital.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_301
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_301

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84635 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, if he will list each organisation that the Government discussed the Supplementary Vote with prior to the introduction of the Bill. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government engaged with a wide range of local stakeholders during the development of all the measures in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We engaged with local stakeholders on all the measures in the Bill ahead of the Bill’s introduction, including the Supplementary Vote change.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_302
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_302

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84636 on Eden Project: Morecombe, if he will publish the Memorandum of Understanding; and what proportion of the £50 million of funding is conditional on matched funding. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: We have no plans to publish the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 19th November 2024 as the project information is published by the local authority responsible for the project. Available on gov.uk here.

The grant funding provided to the project is not conditional on match funding; however, the Local Authority is responsible for securing the additional funds required to deliver the benefits for which the funding was granted.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_303
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_303

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what discussions his Department has had with councils in Surrey on establishing charter trustees. \p Alison McGovern: The Government believes the historic identity, rights and privileges of cities and counties in England are important and should be safeguarded and celebrated. There have been no specific discussions on this matter with councils in Surrey to date, but we have confirmed that we will work together on the further legislation that we expect will be needed to cover matters such as ceremonial issues.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_304
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_304

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what estimate his Department has made of the upfront costs to (a) local government and (b) central Government of the restructuring. \p Alison McGovern: I refer the Rt. hon Member to the answer given to UIN: 85785 on 4 November 2025. Exact costs and savings will vary depending on the area and the final decisions on which proposals, if any, are implemented.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_305
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_305

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 28 October 2025, HCWS998, on Local government reorganisation, and with reference to the debt write-off of Woking Borough Council, whether he plans to do the same for any other councils following restructuring. \p Alison McGovern: In general, as with previous rounds of local government reorganisation, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation.

Alongside Woking Borough Council, and as I set out on 13 October, Thurrock Council holds significant unsupported and exceptional debt that cannot be managed locally in its entirety as a result of historic capital practices. The Government has committed to providing debt repayment support. Any support will need to consider value for money for the taxpayer and what can be done locally to reduce debt. We will continue to work with the Council and Commissioners and provide further details in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_306
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_306

Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of real-terms reductions in core funding on the delivery of statutory services by Buckinghamshire Council. \p Alison McGovern: The government has been listening closely to the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other bodies on the proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation. No final decisions on the outcome of the review have yet been taken.

The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_307
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_307

Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will introduce a minimum 4 per cent annual uplift in core spending power for local authorities with Adults and Children’s Services responsibilities. \p Alison McGovern: As set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, this Government will use the first multi-year Settlement in a decade to redirect around £2 billion of existing funding to the places and communities that need it most. We expect the vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement, with most councils seeing it increase in cash terms. We will publish the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year, which will inform local authorities of their provisional multi-year allocations.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_308
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_308

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) single sex and (b) gender neutral bathroom facilities his Department provides in its main Whitehall building. \p Samantha Dixon: MHCLG’S main Whitehall building, in (Fry) 2 Marsham Street has 60 single sex toilets with 3 cubicles in each, and 0 urinals. We do not have non-gendered universal toilets (individual self-contained lockable toilet rooms which contain a toilet, washbasin and hand-drying facilities). However, we do have 10 accessible toilets for our wheelchair users.

(Fry) 2 Marsham Street does not have any gender-neutral toilets (i.e. toilets where users, of any gender, share a single space containing toilet cubicles, urinal facilities and shared hand washing facilities).
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_309
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_309

Patrick Hurley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that funding for alternative learning and skills provision will be available after UK Shared Prosperity Fund comes to an end in March 2026. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: This Government is establishing a new local growth fund, provided for specific mayoral city regions in the North and Midlands, with the highest productivity catch and agglomeration potential, which can be used to support skills interventions.

This sits alongside Government’s continuing investment in education and skills training for adults (19 and over) through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), spending £1.4 billion in the 2025/26 academic year, ensuring that adults can access the education and training they need to get into employment or progress in work.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_310
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_310

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Affordable housing set to benefit from £100 million following CMA probe, published on 9 July 2025, whether he has considered the potential merits of allocating the English portion of the £100 million to community-led housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: As the Competition and Markets Authority set out in its final decision letter published on 30 October 2025 (which can be found on gov.uk here), the government will disburse England’s proportion of the payment to the affordable homes programmes delivered by Homes England and the Greater London Authority.

On 7 November 2025, my Department published a policy statement on the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) which can be found on gov.uk here. This was accompanied by detailed guidance for prospective bidders published by Homes England and the Greater London Authority.

While maximising supply is at the forefront of the SAHP, the programme is also designed to support greater diversity and supply of the different types of homes that can be delivered, as well as greater diversity in who delivers these homes.

We recognise that some types of social and affordable homes that are much needed can often cost more to deliver – such as some homes built by local councils, supported housing, community-led and rural homes. The new programme is designed to be flexible to support the greater diversity of supply needed, and we are asking providers to come forward with ambitious bids that reflect this diversity.

The flexibility in grant rates provided for under the new programme will help community-led schemes achieve viability and help the sector grow towards its full potential.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_311
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_311

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83285 on Private Rented Housing: Energy, whether he plans to provide guidance to (a) renters, (b) landlords and (c) tribunals on whether landlords recouping upfront costs of energy efficiency measures may be a legitimate material consideration in determining the market rent for the purposes of a rent tribunal. \p Matthew Pennycook: Once Part 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, tenants will have the right to apply to the First-tier Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’) to challenge a proposed rent increase.

Where a tenant chooses to do so, the Tribunal will determine the open market rent. This is the rent that the landlord could expect to receive for the property, if they were to let it on the open market the next day.

The Tribunal has experts who are experienced in understanding the different factors which result in the open market rent and determining whether a proposed rent is reflective of this.

Section 14 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the factors that must be considered or disregarded by the Tribunal when determining rents. It would not be appropriate to provide guidance beyond this to the Tribunal as to how the legislation should be interpreted, as this is a matter for the judiciary.

When considering the proposed rent, the Tribunal must look at the rent the property could command on the open market, rather than costs borne by the landlord. However, the open market rent of the property could be affected by the condition of the property, among other factors. It will be for the Tribunal to make a determination in each case.

We will publish guidance for landlords and tenants before Part 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_312
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_312

Kerry McCarthy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 71739 on Flats: Fire Prevention, when he plans to publish the eligibility criteria. \p Samantha Dixon: The Department intends to provide further information on cladding remediation funding for buildings under 11m in height in England in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_313
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_313

Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of walking, wheeling and cycling routes on disused railways to access to new housing sites. \p Matthew Pennycook: The provision of walking, wheeling and cycling routes plays an important role in new developments and has wide ranging benefits, including reducing impacts associated with traffic, as well as supporting health and wellbeing.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals, using a vision led approach to identify transport solutions that deliver well-designed, sustainable and popular places.

This includes identifying and pursing opportunities to promote walking and cycling, which could include routes on disused railways, to help ensure safe and suitable access to new housing sites for all users.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_314
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_314

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78232 on MHCLG: Remote Working, how many (a) assigned staff and (b) allocated desks there are in each of his Department’s offices. \p Samantha Dixon: The requested information on staff and desk numbers in each MHCLG office as at the end of October, is as follows:

Office

Desks

Staffing headcount

Belfast

18

17

Birmingham

76

124

Bristol

40

161

Cambridge

30

51

Cardiff

25

40

Darlington

30

158

Edinburgh

32

33

Hastings

13

23

Hemel Hempstead

40

57

Leeds

74

166

Liverpool

48

96

London

829

2163

Manchester

64

208

Norwich

10

18

Nottingham

40

73

Plymouth

30

24

Sheffield

16

48

Warrington

42

47

Wolverhampton

58

266

Total

1515

3773
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_315
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_315

Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the government is taking to cap service and estate management charges paid by residents. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has no plans to cap service charges or estate management charges given this would prevent necessary funds being raised for legitimate purposes.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_316
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_316

Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the government is taking to abolish leasehold tenures for (a) flats and (b) other properties. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government intends to consult this year on the best approach to banning new leasehold flats, ensuring this works effectively alongside the robust ban on leasehold houses provided for by the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_317
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-17 conversation_317

Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data his Department holds on the number of newly built homes purchased by non-UK nationals in each of the last five years. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department does not hold data on new built homes purchased by non-UK nationals.

Overseas entities who want to buy, sell, or transfer property or land in the UK, must register with Companies House and declare who their registrable beneficial owners or managing officers are.

Data on property ownership by overseas companies in England and Wales is published by HM Land Registry and is publicly available on gov.uk.