theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of delays in the S106 process; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of standardised agreements. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognise that protracted negotiations on section 106 agreements increase costs for local authorities and developers, and can have a disproportionate impact on SME builders.

On 28 May 2025, the government published the Planning Reform Working Paper: Reforming Site Thresholds (which can be found on gov.uk here). The working paper seeks views and evidence as to how section 106 obligations can be agreed more quickly, and the role national government should play in improving the process – including the merits of a standardised s106 template for medium sites. We will consider comments received on this working paper, which will inform a consultation later in the year.

Planning practice guidance on planning obligations encourages local planning authorities to use and publish standard forms and templates to assist with the process of agreeing planning obligations. These could include model agreements and clauses (including those already published by other bodies), that could be made publicly available to help with the planning application process. The guidance also states that planning obligations should be negotiated to enable decisions on planning applications to be made within the statutory time limits or a longer period where agreed in writing between the local planning authority and the applicant.

The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions, including section 106 planning obligations, to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much and what proportion of the increased funding for social care in 2028-29 will come from council tax increases. \p Jim McMahon: The government is committed to transforming social care and making tangible improvements in the short term. The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion available for adult social care in 2028–29 compared to 2025–26. This includes additional grant funding, growth in other sources of income available to support adult social care such as council tax, and an increase to the NHS’s contribution to adult social care via the Better Care Fund, in line with DHSC’s Spending Review settlement. We will set out further details at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.

Council tax levels and the resulting income for services are decided by local authorities each year. The government maintains a referendum threshold so that voters can have the final say over excessive increases. The Spending Review confirmed the government intends to maintain a 3% referendum threshold, with an additional 2% for the adult social care precept, continuing the policy of the previous government. This will be subject to the annual approval of the House of Commons.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she received representations from the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on the Non Domestic Ratings (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act 2025 prior to the Bill receiving Royal assent. \p Jim McMahon: The Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 13 November 2024 and received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government did not receive representations from the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on the Act prior to the Bill receiving Royal assent.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration she will give to the findings of district councils public consultations in determining the structure of new unitary councils in Cambridgeshire. \p Jim McMahon: On 5 February 2025 councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government by 28 November 2025. Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute. The exact timings and detail will depend on the proposals received and the decision taken on which proposal, if any, to implement.

Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence. One of the criteria is that proposals should show how councils in the area have sought to work together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views. We expect there to be wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents, workforce and their representatives, and businesses on a proposal. The engagement that is undertaken should both inform the development of robust proposals and should also build a shared understanding of the improvements expected through reorganisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will provide guidance to local authorities on ensuring mobile network operators are informed for large-scale developments. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion.

Chapter 10 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government’s current policy on supporting high quality communications infrastructure and the latest national planning policy on how telecommunications and mobile network infrastructure should be considered.

In addition, the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England (April 2022) sets out the considerations that operators should follow when deploying infrastructure, including how infrastructure should be sited.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) streamline and (b) better resource Neighbourhood Plans in (i) less affluent communities and (ii) other communities. \p Matthew Pennycook: Following the Spending Review, my Department has announced that it is unable to commission new neighbourhood planning support services for 2025 onwards.

Technical support which has already been awarded will continue to be provided but must be completed before the end of March 2026.

The government remains of the view that neighbourhood plans can play an important role in the planning system. Communities can continue to prepare neighbourhood plans where they consider that doing so is in their best interests.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to what energy standards homes under the Affordable Homes Programme will be built. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government will publish the Future Homes Standard (FHS) this autumn to ensure new homes are zero carbon ready, meaning they will require no future retrofit work as the electricity grid fully decarbonises.

The FHS will apply to all new homes and will ensure they have low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. We will set out appropriate transitional arrangements for the FHS in due course to ensure a smooth adoption of the new standards.

Prior to the implementation of the FHS, we expect new homes to be built to the current 2021 standards. The current standards are set at a high level, ensuring new homes are warm, comfortable and that their energy bills are minimised.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local planning authorities on ensuring (a) Section 106 and (b) Community Infrastructure Levy revenues are spent; and what requirements they have to publish details of (i) received revenues and (ii) unspent revenues. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 51874 on Planning Permissions: Impact Assessment, if she will publish the equality impact assessment produced for each of the changes listed. \p Matthew Pennycook: There is no legal duty to publish equality impact assessments.

The impact assessments relating to revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework on 12 December 2024 can be found here.

The Secretary of State complied with her public sector equality duty (PSED) under s149 of the Equality Act 2010 in issuing the planning practice guidance updates.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 143 of the National Planning Policy Framework, if she will ensure that grey belt land is assessed against the five green belt purposes. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 39471 on 26 March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to improve infrastructure levy charging arrangements in local authorities to avoid people being charged incorrectly. \p Matthew Pennycook: A person who considers a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charge to have been incorrectly calculated can seek a formal review of the calculation by the levy charging authority. They may also seek an independent assessment of the calculation through an appeal to the Valuation Office Agency if deemed necessary following review by the authority.

There are also provisions in levy regulations enabling a person to seek an independent appeal via the Planning Inspectorate against any surcharges imposed by the levy charging authority.

Separately, a person can escalate any concerns with how their local authority has handled a particular matter, including CIL, through the authority’s official complaints process. Concerns can be subsequently further escalated, if considered necessary and appropriate, to the Local Authority Ombudsman.

The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions, including CIL, and we will provide further details in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Darren Paffey:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the role of the mitigation hierarchy of (a) avoidance, (b) mitigation and (c) compensation in ensuring ecological protections (i) during the planning process and (ii) following the approval of new developments. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that when determining planning applications, local planning authorities should apply the principle that if significant harm to biodiversity resulting from a development cannot be avoided, adequately mitigated, or, as a last resort, compensated for, then planning permission should be refused.

Any mitigation or compensation would be set out in the planning conditions and obligations associated with the planning permission, enabling local planning authorities to monitor the development's implementation and, if necessary, take enforcement action.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will increase permitted development rights for telecommunications applications. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion.

We continue to keep permitted development rights under review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Sport England will remain a statutory consultee for planning applications that affect playing fields. \p Matthew Pennycook: As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510), the government plans to consult on the impact of removing statutory consultee status for planning applications from Sport England, The Theatres Trust, and The Gardens Trust.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025to Question 54202 on Historic Environment Records, which sections of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 her Department (a) intends, (b) does not intend and (c) is still reviewing whether to commence any remaining provisions that have not yet been commenced. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17127 on 7 January 2025.

We are giving consideration to how we implement those LURA provisions which support our growth objectives and will provide updates in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many compulsory purchase powers have been granted as part of nationally significant infrastructure project approvals since 2022. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government does not hold data on the total number of compulsory acquisition powers that have been granted from the 55 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects decided since the start of 2022.

All compulsory acquisitions approved as part of a Development Consent Order are recorded and can be found on the Planning Inspectorate website here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Katie White:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Bill on student housing (a) supply and (b) affordability in Leeds North West. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises the high rental costs experienced by many students living in the private rented sector in Leeds North West and across the country.

The Renters’ Rights Bill will take practical steps to empower tenants to challenge unreasonable rent increases, with all rent increases taking place via an existing statutory process. Tenants who receive a rent increase that they feel is not representative of the market value will be able to challenge the increase at the First-tier Tribunal. This will prevent unscrupulous landlords using rent increases as a backdoor means of eviction, while ensuring rents can be increased to reflect market rates.

The Bill will prohibit a landlord or letting agents from inviting, encouraging or any payment of rent before a tenancy has been entered into. In addition, a landlord will only be able to require up to one month's rent in the window between a tenancy agreement being signed and that tenancy beginning. Once the tenancy starts, landlords will be unable to enforce any terms in a tenancy agreement that require rent to be paid in advance of agreed due dates.

The Bill will also prohibit rental bidding practices.

The proposed new ground for possession (Ground 4A) in the Bill is intended to facilitate the maintenance of the annual cycle of student letting for most typical students, namely groups of full-time students living together in Houses in Multiple Occupancy.

Less typical students who may require greater security of tenure, for example postgraduate couples who have put down roots in their area, will be able to enjoy the benefits of the new tenancy system the Bill introduces.

The Renters’ Rights Bill Impact Assessment looked across the package of reforms and received a ‘green’ rating from the Regulatory Policy Committee, meaning it is ‘fit for purpose’.

The government does not expect the Bill to have a destabilising effect on the robust student rental market. We will continue to work with good landlords and their representative associations throughout implementation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on increasing the provision of land for food-growing allotments. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that planning policies and decisions should enable and support healthy lives, including through the provision of allotments.

The NPPF also makes clear that open spaces and recreational buildings and land should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required; equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location; or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to reverse the 10 per cent commission charge on the sale of park homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44299 on 16 April 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 52812 on Affordable Housing, what her definition of a generation is. \p Matthew Pennycook: In line with common usage, a generation is taken to mean around 25 years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on offering loans to property (a) companies and (b) developers. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is for local authorities to determine their own capital strategies given they are best placed to understand local needs and are accountable to the local electorate.

In doing so, local authorities have a duty to comply with the Prudential Framework and must have regard to statutory guidance to ensure plans are prudent, affordable, and sustainable.

Guidance for local authorities on investments was published under the previous government. A copy can be found here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Sir Geoffrey Cox:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will exclude (a) Dartmoor, (b) the Tamar Valley and (c) other environmentally protected and low-density settlement areas in West Devon from her Department’s methodology for determining the required number of new affordable homes; and if she will adopt the relevant local authority's baseline figure. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government implemented a new standard method for assessing housing need via the revised National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024. The revised method aligns with our ambition to deliver 1.5 million safe and decent homes this parliament and better directs new homes to where they are most needed and least affordable.

National policy is clear that the standard method should be used by local authorities to inform the preparation of their local plans. Once local housing need has been assessed, authorities should make an assessment of the amount of new homes that can be provided in their area. This should be justified by evidence on land availability and constraints on development, such as National Landscapes, and any other relevant matters.

Planning Practice Guidance makes clear that where strategic policy-making authorities do not align with local authority boundaries, or where the data used in the method is not available, such as in National Parks, an alternative approach may have to be used. In these instances, authorities may continue to identify a housing need figure using a method determined locally.

Local authorities should also make their own assessment of size, type, and tenure of housing needed for different groups in their local communities, including those who require affordable housing, and reflect this in their planning policies. This can draw on locally held data such as the number of homeless households or those in temporary accommodation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the number of small-scale landlords exiting the private rented sector due to incoming regulation and tax changes; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact on (a) housing availability and (b) rent prices. \p Matthew Pennycook: In the most recent release of the English Private Landlord Survey in 2024, 45% of landlords had only one property. This is similar to findings in 2021 (43%) and 2018 (45%).

Whilst landlords have been aware of successive governments’ plans to reform the private rented sector since 2019, the size of the sector as a whole has remained broadly stable since 2013-14.

The government is clear that it values the contribution of professional landlords who understand their responsibilities and comply with regulation, regardless of the size of their portfolios. The Renters’ Rights Bill will make sure good landlords have the confidence and support they need to continue to invest and operate in the sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of capping local authority landlord licensing fees in (a) rural and (b) low-income areas. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local authorities are responsible for setting fees for their licensing schemes, taking account of a number of factors. These include the initial set-up costs of the scheme, the cost of assessing applications and issuing licences, and, where necessary, the cost of inspecting properties . Licence fees will vary between areas to account for differences in costs, however local authorities are not expected to profit from licensing.

The government expects local authorities to make details of these fees, along with the rationale behind their determination, transparent and readily accessible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54889 on Homes England, if she will publish the new target operating model for Homes England. \p Matthew Pennycook: Homes England publishes details of its organisational structure in its annual report and accounts and framework document.

The Agency will also publish a new Strategic Plan in due course, setting out how it will work with partners across England to support delivery of the government’s housing ambitions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Jonathan Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help local authorities reduce the number of void properties in their social housing stock. \p Matthew Pennycook: The length of time a property is void can be affected by a range of factors, including whether a property is under repairs or in need of adaptations, how extensive these repairs or adaptations are and whether a property is earmarked for demolition or sales.

The government encourages social housing providers to develop solutions that make best use of the social housing stock and minimise void periods where possible.

Local authorities able to use funding from the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund to refurbish and bring long-term void stock back into use. On 11 June 2025 the government announced £950 million capital for the fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund through the Spending Review.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, what services were commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Council with reference WWC LEG Payment 24-25. \p Alex Norris: MHCLG make an annual financial contribution to the Economic and Social Research Council to part fund the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54896 on Civil Service: Recruitment, what the expected level of office attendance is in each of her Department’s offices outside London; and whether civil servants recruited under location-neutral positions have the same expectation of workplace attendance. \p Alex Norris: In line with this department’s policy, civil servants in offices outside London are generally expected to attend the office for 50% of their working time over a three-month period. Some exceptions apply where specific circumstances limit attendance to less than 50%. Senior Civil Servants are expected to attend an MHCLG office or external location for 60% of their time, regardless of their location. Colleagues who have home-working contracts account for less than 1% of the department’s workforce and do not have the same office attendance expectations. All other staff are contracted to fixed MHCLG locations where the same expectations on office attendance apply. MHCLG maintains an ambition to move to 60% attendance for all staff in future.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending permitted developments rights to require local consent for the installation of wireless broadband masts. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion.

My Department continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local planning authorities on the installation of wireless broadband masts. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion.

Chapter 10 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government’s policy on supporting high quality communications infrastructure and on how telecommunications and mobile network infrastructure should be considered.

The Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England (April 2022) sets out the considerations that operators should follow when deploying infrastructure, including how infrastructure should be sited.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of trends in the relationship between home ownership levels among under-45s and historic tax support for mortgage holders. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has no plans to consult on new fiscal incentives to support younger people into home ownership. ​

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of home ownership.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government will be launching a new mortgage guarantee scheme in July 2025. Further details can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement of 11 June (HCWS694).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been provided through the British National (Overseas) Welcome Programme in each year since 2021. \p Alex Norris: Funding provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government through the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Welcome Programme is set out below.

Financial year 21/22 - approximately £7.2 million

Financial year 22/23 - approximately £9.4 million

Financial year 23/24 - approximately £10.7 million

Financial year 24/25 - approximately £9.5 million
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John Whitby:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of requiring short-term holiday lets to inform customers about private water supplies. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has not made an assessment of this matter.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50169 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, what changes have been made to those thresholds. \p Alex Norris: The thresholds have been aligned with Cabinet Office guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has provided guidance to (a) elected representatives, (b) political parties and (c) community groups on obtaining a (i) street trading and (ii) highways licence for a street stall in a public place. \p Alex Norris: The provision and administration of street trading and highways licences are the responsibility of Local Authorities under either the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 or the London Local Authorities Act 1990, depending on their location. The Government has not issued guidance on how to apply. However, signposting to local authority guidance is provided via gov.uk.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how frequently the Defence Investors’ Advisory Group will meet. \p Maria Eagle: The frequency of meetings of the Defence Investors' Advisory Group has yet to be determined.

The Defence Investors’ Advisory Group will be an important element in supporting the Government’s aim of boosting private investment in the defence and dual-use technology sectors, and in supporting new entrants and innovation.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 18 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what information his Department holds on when it will receive funding to increase the number of active reserves by 20%. \p Luke Pollard: Our Reserve Forces help the UK Armed Forces meet the threats we face at home and overseas, with the scale, skills, agility and connection to society that we need, in a cost-effective way. The diversity of knowledge, skills, experience, and behaviours that Reserves bring from their outside jobs are an invaluable strength.

We have received the recommendation and are looking at how to undertake this in due course.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_77

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 18 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, which back-office functions will be transferred to front-line roles. \p Luke Pollard: The Government is endorsing the vision and accepting the Strategic Defence Reviews's 62 recommendations, including the recommendation that the MOD should seek to release all Regular personnel from administrative into front-line roles and should automate at least 20% of Human Resources, Finance, and Commercial functions by July 2028.

Military personnel in administrative roles perform them with pride and skill. As we return to rebuilding warfighting readiness, it is important that we are using our highly trained and highly skilled military personnel for the roles only they can do. The Strategic Defence Review sets the vision; more detailed workforce planning will now be conducted within the department to make these changes in a deliberate, phased way.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_78

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 18 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025 what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of increasing the number of active reserves by 20%. \p Luke Pollard: Our Reserve Forces help the UK Armed Forces meet the threats we face at home and overseas, with the scale, skills, agility and connection to society that we need, in a cost-effective way. The diversity of knowledge, skills, experience, and behaviours that Reserves bring from their outside jobs are an invaluable strength.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) presents an exciting opportunity to invest in our Active Reserve, and the Secretary of State for Defence has agreed to all the SDR recommendations.

We anticipate it will become necessary to increase the UK’s Active Reserve forces by at least 20%. We have received the recommendation and are looking at how to undertake this in due course.The Ministry of Defence is not in a position to comment on when exactly that will be, as this will be dictated by a range of internal and external factors.

In the meantime, to restore mass and resilience in a crisis, Defence must make much better use of the resources available by urgently reinvigorating how it engages with the Strategic Reserve and improving recruitment and retention within the Active Reserves.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_79
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_79

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what the requirements are for membership of the Defence Investors’ Advisory Group. \p Maria Eagle: The SDR recognises that today, much of the best innovation is found in the private sector, while the increasing prevalence of dual-use technologies has widened the net of potential suppliers that can contribute to Defence outcomes. The Review is clear that Defence must embrace its role in seeding innovation and growth, rapidly adopting new technology to keep the Integrated Force at the forefront of warfare.

It specifically recommends that external expertise should be systematically accessed through a new Defence Investors' Advisory Group. This will be an important starting point in boosting private investment in the defence and dual-use technology sectors, and in supporting new entrants and innovation.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_80
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_80

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's messenger service routinely keeps records of when departmental hard copy (a) documents and (b) publications were sent to (i) parliamentarians and (ii) external stakeholders. \p Luke Pollard: The Department’s messenger service does not hold specific records of what is delivered and to whom.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_81
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_81

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, who will sit on the Defence Investors’ Advisory Group. \p Maria Eagle: As set out when the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was published, the Government accepts the vision and recommendations of the Review, including the establishment of a Defence Investors' Advisory Group.

The SDR suggests that Defence should build relationships with the investors behind the innovators. The Review recommends that external expertise should be systematically accessed through a new Defence Investors' Advisory Group whose membership includes venture capital and private equity investors.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_82
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_82

Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, whether a human rights assessment was carried out before approving training for the Israel Defence Forces. \p Luke Pollard: Fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK.

The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.

UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_83
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_83

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, whether he has made an assessment of the risk of Ministry of Defence training to Israel Defense Forces personnel (a) facilitating and (b) contributing towards violations of international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. \p Luke Pollard: Fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK.

The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.

UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_84
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_84

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of members of the UK armed forces training the IDF personnel. \p Luke Pollard: Fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK.

The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.

UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_85
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_85

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has withheld any Royal Air Force surveillance information from the Israeli government in the last two years. \p Luke Pollard: Since early December 2023, the Ministry of Defence have conducted unarmed surveillance flights over Gaza for the sole purpose of locating hostages. Only information related to hostage rescue can be passed to the relevant authority, and is only passed if we are satisfied it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_86
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_86

Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, what the cost to his Department has been of training Israel Defence Forces personnel in each of the last five years. \p Luke Pollard: Pursuant to the answer provided to Question 56822, there is no cost to the Ministry of Defence for Israel Defence Force personnel on UK training courses. The numbers are fewer than five people and I can confirm these are academic, non-combat education courses.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_87
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_87

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how much of the £6bn announced for munitions this Parliament has been accounted for in his Department’s budget. \p Luke Pollard: We will develop a new Defence Investment Plan to deliver the Strategic Defence Review’s vision. We will ensure the Plan is deliverable and affordable, considers infrastructure alongside capabilities, enables flexibility to seize new technology opportunities, and maximises the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy. This will supersede the old-style Defence Equipment Plan.

This will deliver the best kit and technology into the hands of our front-line forces at speed and, importantly, invest in and grow the UK economy.

The plan will highlight how the Government's historic investment in defence will deliver warfighting readiness to deter increasing threats and drive defence as an engine for jobs and growth. The Defence Investment Plan will be published later this year.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_88
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_88

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how much of the £11bn Invest annual budget represents new money. \p Luke Pollard: We will develop a new Defence Investment Plan to deliver the Strategic Defence Review’s vision. We will ensure the Plan is deliverable and affordable, considers infrastructure alongside capabilities, enables flexibility to seize new technology opportunities, and maximises the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy. This will supersede the old-style Defence Equipment Plan.

This will deliver the best kit and technology into the hands of our front-line forces at speed and, importantly, invest in and grow the UK economy. The Defence Investment Plan will be completed later this year.

The plan will highlight how the Government's historic investment in defence will deliver warfighting readiness to deter increasing threats and drive defence as an engine for jobs and growth.
wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_89
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-19 conversation_89

Clive Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether representatives from the (a) Israeli Defence Force and (b) Israeli government communicated to the UK Government that there were plans to attack Iran. \p Luke Pollard: I hope that the hon. Gentleman understands that, as per the long standing convention, I cannot comment on intelligence matters.