theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Meta's use of the LibGen database to train artificial intelligence models on UK creative workers. \p Chris Bryant: The Government has no plans to make a formal assessment. However, while the case highlighted relates to legal proceedings in the United States, we take seriously the implications for UK rights holders. The unauthorised use of copyright works, particularly at industrial scale, is unacceptable and not permitted under the UK copyright framework, which is a vital part of our support for the creative industries, which in turn make a substantial contribution to our economy and national identity.
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will hold discussions with online service platforms on the potential merits of taking steps to ensure that children between 13 and 15 years of age cannot (a) change family safety settings for online devices and (b) turn off their parents' ability to see their online activity without parental consent. \p Feryal Clark: The government has high expectations there will be significant change in online experiences for children, as services start to comply with their duties under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom stands ready to act against services who fall short in protecting users.

Ofcom’s final child safety codes outline over 40 measures that providers should consider to protect children online. Ofcom considered parental controls as part of the evidence base that informed these codes.

Ministers have regular meetings with stakeholders, including social media companies, to discuss protecting children online. Details of ministerial meetings are published quarterly on gov.uk.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what Shared Rural Network projects are underway in South Holland and the Deepings constituency. \p Chris Bryant: According to the latest information published by Ofcom outdoor 4G coverage In South Holland and the Deepings, from all four operators, currently stands at 96% and coverage from at least one mobile network operator is almost 100%. Consequently, there will not be any further coverage improvements from the Shared Rural Network in South Holland and the Deepings, and no Shared Rural Network projects are underway.
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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of vehicles rented by his Department are electric vehicles. \p Feryal Clark: The Department does not hold this information.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what routes of recourse exists for writers whose work has been uploaded as pirated material to a database without their consent or knowledge of the authors (a) against the database owners and (b) against any corporations or third parties that have used that database. \p Feryal Clark: The Government is committed to ensuring a fair and balanced IP system and the protection of IP rights. The UK has a robust framework in place to protect IP rights, which includes both civil and criminal enforcement measures.

Right owners can report IP crime by contacting Trading Standards. They may also consider alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, like mediation, or taking legal action before courts.

With respect to online databases, the Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002 requires platforms to disable or remove IP infringing content that they become aware of or risk legal action.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what role his Department plans for (a) civil society and (b) community organisations in delivering media literacy programmes for adults; and what steps his Department is taking to assist relevant stakeholders with this. \p Feryal Clark: Civil society and community organisations are instrumental in delivering media literacy programmes to adults, leveraging their expertise to support diverse and vulnerable groups. Libraries and community centres provide accessible locations where adults can get guidance and advice.

The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps toward delivering digital inclusion and media literacy across the UK, including supporting local initiatives to increase digital participation. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology coordinates efforts across government departments and public services on media literacy, collaborating with Ofcom, which engages and convenes civil society and community organisations in its role as online safety regulator.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to media literacy education. \p Feryal Clark: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology coordinates media literacy activity across government, including in its approach to digital inclusion which integrates policy on digital skills and media literacy. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps to support community initiatives for boosting digital skills and media literacy.

In formal education, the government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review which aims to ensure a rich, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work. The Review’s interim report, published in March, highlights the need for a focus on media literacy in response to evolving technological challenges.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to implement media literacy programmes in (a) local and (b) regional development strategies. \p Feryal Clark: Government is adopting a holistic approach to media literacy, integrating it with digital inclusion and related policy on digital skills. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps towards delivering digital inclusion for everyone in the UK, including supporting community initiatives for boosting digital skills and media literacy. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology aims to coordinate and embed media literacy through cross-cutting government strategies.

Under updated media literacy duties, Ofcom is developing a ‘place-based’ model to embed media literacy into community digital strategies, working with the Good Things Foundation to support Digital Inclusion Hubs to offer media literacy.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits for businesses in Aldridge-Brownhills constituency of the £10m grant issued to the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator this year. \p Feryal Clark: We were delighted to extend the Innovation Accelerator pilot into 2025/26, investing an extra £30 million in growing high-potential clusters in the West Midlands, Glasgow City Region and Greater Manchester.

The West Midlands Innovation Accelerators is supporting a range of projects focused on business innovation. For example, Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator is helping companies navigate “pinch-points” in the medical translation process, and Clean Futures is supporting SMEs to develop, demonstrate and grow clean-tech solutions in partnership with the wider ecosystem.

Innovate UK will continue to work collaboratively with each regional partnership to maximise the impact on their regions.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the terms of reference for the Advisory Committee on Online Information. \p Feryal Clark: Ofcom and its advisory committees are independent of government. The design of the advisory committee’s Terms of Reference are therefore a matter for Ofcom.

The Online Safety Act includes clear requirements for the Committee’s responsibilities: advising Ofcom on how providers should address mis- and disinformation, how the regulator should exercise their transparency powers and fulfil their statutory duty to promote media literacy in relation to mis- and disinformation. These obligations are unchanged and are duly reflected in the terms of reference for the Online Information Advisory Committee.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the distribution of funding for research and development across (a) England, (b) Norfolk and (c) South West Norfolk constituency. \p Feryal Clark: DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, a real terms increase of 8.5% compared to 2024/25. This will include investments in our R&D system in every region of the UK.

In 2023/24, UKRI invested £8,357 million in England, £141 million in Norfolk and £0.5 million in South West Norfolk.

UKRI’s investments in Norfolk include £317 million for Norwich Research Park to establish a pioneering plant and microbial research hub by 2030.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions has he had with animal protection groups on the phasing out of animal testing. \p Feryal Clark: The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year. The Government will also be hosting a roundtable shortly with representatives from animal welfare organisations to discuss the strategy.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current level of Physical Infrastructure Access fees. \p Chris Bryant: Ofcom’s Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) framework supports market entry and expansion by alternative network operators via access to Openreach’s ducts, poles, and other utility infrastructure.

Ofcom has powers to impose access conditions on electronic communications networks, enabling third party infrastructure access on fair and reasonable terms, conditions and charges, and without undue discrimination.

My officials meet with Ofcom on a regular basis to discuss a range of regulatory issues including PIA. The Government supports this framework but will not intervene in independent Ofcom decisions regarding fee pricing structure or the adequacy of the current level of fees.
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Steve Race:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with industry stakeholders on the remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022; and what further consultations he has planned. \p Chris Bryant: Discussions on the remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 have focused on the Government’s intention to commence the provisions, and to hold public consultations. Stakeholders have also been asked to provide data on the cases affected.

A technical consultation on draft regulations to commence Sections 61 – 64 of the Act, dealing with certain Renewal agreements, was published on 7 May 2025.

The Government is considering the best approach to commencing Section 70, relating to complaints procedures.

The other outstanding provisions relate to court jurisdiction and unresponsive landowners. Work is underway to commence these provisions.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent steps he has taken to phase out animal testing. \p Feryal Clark: The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. The Government invests £10m annually in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) to accelerate the development and adoption of 3Rs approaches. A significant amount of research funding in the UK also goes to underpinning technologies that have the potential to deliver the 3Rs, driving forward innovation.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the buy-to-let lending sector on implementing the Renters’ Rights Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department has engaged with a range of organisations, including those representing buy-to-let lenders, to understand their needs in the development of the Renters’ Rights Bill. We will continue to work with the sector to ensure a smooth transition to the new tenancy system.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued recent guidance to local authorities on charging for pest control (a) removal and (b) prevention. \p Jim McMahon: The government has not issued any recent guidance to local authorities on charging for pest control removal and prevention.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Homes England has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2018. \p Matthew Pennycook: Homes England has made use of apprentices each year in its workforce since 2017.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce a formal mechanism to remove non-qualifying lease status after confirmation by a professional fire engineer assessment that no further remediation work is required. \p Alex Norris: As expressed at a recent Select Committee session the department is looking very closely at what can be done to sunset the “in perpetuity” status of leases which do not qualify for the leaseholder protections.

This can be found at Oral evidence: Grenfell and Building Safety (1 April 2025, Q55 https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/15662/pdf/).
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Amanda Hack:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the size of the backlog of cases in front of the Planning Inspectorate's Rights of Way and Common Land Decision Service in each month since 1 January 2020. \p Matthew Pennycook: Based on the targets described below, the number of open cases over non-statutory targets each month is as follows:

Month (end of)

Number of open cases over non-statutory target

Rights of Way

Common Land

Jan-20

46

3

Feb-20

48

5

Mar-20

52

4

Apr-20

57

4

May-20

69

6

Jun-20

71

9

Jul-20

76

7

Aug-20

78

6

Sep-20

76

13

Oct-20

90

11

Nov-20

93

11

Dec-20

91

12

Jan-21

97

12

Feb-21

93

7

Mar-21

108

8

Apr-21

102

10

May-21

107

12

Jun-21

113

11

Jul-21

119

9

Aug-21

122

11

Sep-21

116

10

Oct-21

106

6

Nov-21

100

7

Dec-21

94

4

Jan-22

97

6

Feb-22

95

8

Mar-22

108

9

Apr-22

116

8

May-22

125

10

Jun-22

133

9

Jul-22

124

8

Aug-22

117

5

Sep-22

115

9

Oct-22

116

10

Nov-22

121

8

Dec-22

128

9

Jan-23

128

11

Feb-23

128

12

Mar-23

144

14

Apr-23

150

15

May-23

144

13

Jun-23

139

14

Jul-23

134

11

Aug-23

143

9

Sep-23

147

12

Oct-23

154

12

Nov-23

150

13

Dec-23

159

10

Jan-24

148

12

Feb-24

149

10

Mar-24

133

17

Apr-24

132

22

May-24

136

20

Jun-24

132

23

Jul-24

133

24

Aug-24

134

23

Sep-24

128

23

Oct-24

124

26

Nov-24

132

33

Dec-24

131

31

Jan-25

127

35

Feb-25

137

33

Mar-25

154

34

Apr-25

159

35

“Backlog” in this context is usually understood to refer to the number of cases which are over statutory deadlines. There are no statutory targets for Rights of Way and Common Land decisions.

However, non-statutory targets are as follows:

Non-statutory targets for Rights of Way decision

Procedure

Opposed orders

Schedule 14 appeals

Schedule 14 directions

Written representations

37 weeks

30 weeks

21 weeks

Hearings

39 weeks

39 weeks

N/A

Inquiries

45 weeks

45 weeks

N/A

Procedure

Non-statutory targets for Common Land decision

Written representations

In-house (no Inspector) no objections - 18 weeks In-house objections - 26 weeks Inspector cases - 40 weeks

Hearings

40 weeks

Inquiries

40 weeks

Due to limitations in the data storage, the inspector cases target (40 weeks) has been applied to all Common Land decisions by Written representation for the purposes of this answer.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of capping rent-in-advance at one month on prospective tenants. \p Matthew Pennycook: Demands for extortionate rent in advance put financial strain on tenants and can exclude certain groups from renting all together.

The Renters’ Rights 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 effect of these measures will be that tenants can be certain that the financial outlay to secure a tenancy will not exceed the cost of a tenancy deposit and the first month’s rent, and that they will not be required to pay their rent earlier than agreed.
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Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing emergency funding for temporary accommodation in London. \p Rushanara Ali: This government has increased funding for homelessness services in 2025/26 by £233 million to nearly £1 billion. This includes more than £277 million for London, an increase of more than £78 million from 2024/25.

Councils can draw from the wider local government finance settlement to help meet homelessness and temporary accommodation costs. The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26 makes available a total Core Spending Power of up to £10.14 billion for London Boroughs excluding the GLA, representing an increase of 6.6%.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing additional funding for social rent homes in the forthcoming spending review. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549).

The investment made at Spring statement follows the £800 million in new in-year funding which has been made available for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme and that will support the delivery of up to 7,800 new homes, with more than half of them being Social Rent homes.

We will set out set details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress she has made with local authorities on removing local connection tests for veterans seeking social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 18 December 2024, the government brought into force regulations to exempt all former members of the regular armed forces from local connection and residency tests to facilitate their access to social housing.

The regulations removed the five-year limit and will ensure that no veterans of the regular armed forces will need to meet a local connection test for social housing regardless of when they last served.

Statutory guidance was updated on 18 December 2024 to reflect this change, and can be found on gov.uk here.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce a transition period for the introduction of the provisions of the Renters’ Rights Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Renters' Rights Bill delivers the government's manifesto commitment to overhaul the regulation of the private rented sector, including by abolishing Section 21 'no fault' evictions.

We want to see tenants benefit from these reforms as quickly as possible. We have therefore decided to introduce the new tenancy system for the private rented sector in one stage. Upon the commencement date, the new tenancy system will apply to all private tenancies - existing tenancies will become periodic, and any new tenancies will be governed by the new rules. We will provide sufficient notice and will work closely with tenants groups and the landlord and lettings sector ahead of implementation.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of deploying water efficiency technologies in the delivery of new homes as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: Building Regulations require all new homes to meet a water efficiency standard of 125 litres per person per day (l/p/d). Local planning authorities can set higher standards through the preparation of local plans as set out in national planning guidance on Housing: Optional Technical Standards. This optional technical standard, of 110 litres l/p/d, can be implemented through local plan policies where there is a clear local need such as local water scarcity or other environmental considerations.

We are working alongside Defra and the Building Safety Regulator to tighten water efficiency in new developments and retrofits. This will help meet the target set by the Environment Act 2021 to reduce the use of public water supply in England per head of the population by 20% by 2038.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps she has taken to help ensure the effectiveness of reforms to permitted development rights for farms in South Cotswolds constituency since the Oxford farming conference 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
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Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken with Homes England to encourage SMEs to build affordable homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has set Homes England a strategic objective that funding for the Affordable Homes Programme for 2021-26 should support use of small and medium-sized enterprise contractors. When Homes England assess a bid to the programme for funding, they will look at how the proposed development meets this strategic objective. Homes England will also include this objective in any grant agreement for the programme.
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Liam Conlon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support shared ownership leaseholders who are unable to sell their homes as a result of changes to lease terms following the implementation of the Building Safety Act 2022. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Building Safety Act ensures that those who built defective buildings take responsibility for remedying them; that the industry contributes to fixing the problem; and that leaseholders are protected in law from crippling bills for historical safety defects.

For shared owners, Schedule 8, paragraph 6(5) of the Building Safety Act provides that any contributions required towards remediation costs are capped according to the size of the share they own at the time their lease became qualified for the protections. This position does not change should a shared owner later increase their share by staircasing, including up to 100%.

The government has also introduced guidance to support shared owners who continue to face challenges due to building safety issues, including that requests to sub-let should always be accepted by registered providers of social housing in England (though where required, shared owners may also need permission from their mortgage lender and/or the building’s freeholder).
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to ensure the effectiveness of permitted development rights for farms. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including technology-based solutions in proposed environmental delivery plans in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: Environmental Delivery Plans would be able to consider a range of different types of conservation measures.

This may include technology-based solutions, where such solutions could address potential negative effects of development on the environmental features with which the plan is concerned.
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Amanda Hack:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of Casework Officers employed in the Planning Inspectorate's Rights of Way and Common Land Decision Service in each of the last 10 years. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning Inspectorate does not hold historical information on case officers broken down by casework. However, the tracking of this information has commenced from the start of the financial year 2025/26.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has consulted with (a) local authorities and (b) planning professional bodies on the proposed delegation reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 13 February 2025, the government published a Planning Committees Planning Reform Working Paper inviting views on models for a national scheme of delegation, which the government has committed to introduce to support better decision making in the planning system. We received feedback to the working paper from a range of stakeholders including local authorities and planning professional bodies such as the Royal Town Planning Institute.

My Department continues to engage with a wide range of stakeholders as we progress detailed proposals for consultation alongside the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23428 on Flats: Fire Prevention, how many under 11 metre buildings were unable to access an independent audit of a Fire Risk Appraisal of the External Wall between July 2024 and March 2025; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the inability to access those audits on leaseholders. \p Alex Norris: Thirteen buildings were awaiting audits of their fire risk appraisal of external walls (FRAEWs) between July 2024 and March 2025. A new contract is now operative, audits are being urgently processed and officials are engaging regularly with property managers, freeholders and leaseholders about all low-rise buildings requiring audits.

The department has not made an assessment of the potential impact on leaseholders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_320

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of enforcement actions against (a) enfranchised and (b) leaseholder-owned buildings for non-cladding fire safety defects. \p Alex Norris: The department does not hold information on the number of enforcement actions against (a) enfranchised and (b) leaseholder-owned buildings for non-cladding fire safety defects, and we have no requirement to maintain this information.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_321

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of residential buildings requiring remediation of life-critical non-cladding defects (a) in scope and (b) not in scope of the developer remediation contract. \p Alex Norris: The department does not hold the information requested on the total number of residential buildings requiring remediation of non-cladding defects. It collects related data for some buildings as part of wider surveys of developers and of registered providers of social housing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_322

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43882 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Industrial Disputes, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate the potential impact of the industrial action. \p Alex Norris: The department has well-tested and thorough plans in place to support business continuity in the event of events which may disrupt regular business. Existing business continuity plans have been reviewed, core functions engaged to ensure that any impacts are mitigated, and regular communications have been issued to prepare for and manage industrial action.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_323

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent progress she has made on replacing the non-executive directors in her Department. \p Alex Norris: The open competition to recruit up to four Non-Executive Directors for the MHCLG Departmental Board is currently at interview stage, with the aim of appointing and announcing successful candidates in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_324

Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what regeneration funding she is making available for (a) Newport, (b) Shifnal and (c) other rural market towns. \p Alex Norris: This government confirmed its commitment to regeneration funding at the Autumn Budget securing millions of pounds to support economic growth across the UK – our number one mission. This included £3.5 million through the UKSPF to continue to support communities across Shropshire.

The government will set out a refreshed approach to local growth funding at the multi-year Spending Review in the Spring. An approach that includes supporting rural businesses, improving infrastructure, and enhancing local economies, with a focus on areas most in need.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_325

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a new oversight board at the West Midlands Fire Service on the quality of service provided. \p Alex Norris: I am responding as the Minister now with responsibility for Fire. It is the government’s priority to drive meaningful culture change across the fire and rescue sector.  Our fire professionals work under significant pressure and in challenging circumstances, so it is important that the Fire and Rescue Authorities and the Fire and Rescue Services create a culture where every member of the team can thrive.

The West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority have established, through working with the Local Government Association, the corporate governance improvement board. The board provides challenge and support to the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority and works to identify potential areas of improvement.

I am supportive of the board’s work and my officials remain in regular contact with the Local Government Association to keep abreast of its ongoing work.

To further support the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service, in December 2024, the Home Secretary decided to commission a ‘Best Value Inspection’ of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority to ascertain whether the authority is meeting its Best Value obligations, particularly regarding governance. We will ensure partners are kept updated on the development of this Best Value Inspection.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_326
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_326

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Government backs mayor to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, published on 9 April 2025, how much of the £30 million funding was not already allocated to the combined authority in the Integrated Settlement. \p Alex Norris: The £30 million funding is devolved existing funding that has been unlocked for the mayor to invest in local priorities by providing flexibility on its use through the new, flexible, long-term Integrated Settlement which we intend to implement in SYMCA from 2026/27, following them demonstrating readiness and building capacity locally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_327

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025, whether her Department plans to amend its policy on the use of women only spaces in its buildings by transgender women. \p Alex Norris: We are reviewing our policies, including on toilets and single-sex spaces, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.

We will follow external advice from relevant advisory bodies.

We aim to ensure appropriate facilities are available for all staff.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_328

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what was the per capita funding for Fire and Rescue services in Cambridgeshire each year since 2001/2002. \p Alex Norris: The government calculates the funding available to each Fire and Rescue Authority as a single figure - their core spending power - rather than per capita. In 2025/26, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have core spending power of £40.3 million. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of £1.8 million (4.7 per cent) on 2024/25.

Relevant data to allow for the per capita calculation can be accessed here:

Key information table for local authorities: final local government finance settlement 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK

Nomis - Query Tool - Population estimates - local authority based by single year of age
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_329
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_329

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will publish the findings of the call for evidence entitled Jointly owned properties which closed on 7 April 2024. \p Alex Norris: A call for evidence on jointly owned residential leasehold properties was undertaken by the previous administration and we do not intend to publish it. However, the government is reviewing how to better protect leaseholders from costs relating to building safety.

All leaseholders, including those who hold leases which do not qualify for the leaseholder protections, (whether as joint or sole owners) benefit from qualifying lease status for their principal (main) residence.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_330
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_330

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of judicial reviews by Client Earth to her Department in the last three years. \p Alex Norris: We have not identified any judicial reviews by ClientEarth against the Department (or its predecessor or Ministers) in the last three years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_331

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment the potential merits of implementing recommendation 11 of the report by Policy Connect entitled Bricks and Water: Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Policy for a New Government, published on 22 January 2025. \p Alex Norris: The government is committed to building the homes the country needs while ensuring they are safe from flooding. The Building Regulations set minimum standards for all new dwellings. Statutory guidance to the Building Regulations in Approved Document C promotes the use of flood resilient and resistant construction in flood prone areas, without placing undue costs onto any properties that do not require further flood resilience measures.
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_332
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_332

David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the National House Building Council on the effectiveness of its warranty schemes when faults have been identified in new build properties. \p Alex Norris: The Deputy Prime Minister has not discussed the effectiveness of its warranty schemes when faults have been identified in new build properties with the National House-Building Council (NHBC).

However the department regularly carries out engagement with industry and regulators to better understand the effectiveness of new build warranty schemes, which includes those provided by NHBC.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_333

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025, whether the review will include (a) public corporations, (b) non-ministerial departments and (c) government-owned companies. \p Georgia Gould: The review is being led by departments. Departments are to justify every quango otherwise they’ll be closed, merged, or have powers brought back into the department. It will be for individual departments to enact this guidance, with policy teams determining the specifics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_334

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13820 on Government Departments: Staff, whether his Department has met the requirements listed in the Cabinet Office’s transparency publication schedule. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Cabinet Office’s updated organogram is now available at:

https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/ff76be1f-4f37-4bef-beb7-32b259413be1/organogram-cabinet-office
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_335
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_335

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to reduce delays for applicants to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Over the last year, the Cabinet Office, as the sponsoring department of ACoBA, has supported the Committee’s secretariat to recruit the additional staff required to ensure it is resourced to deliver its core functions to agreed timescales
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_336
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_336

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13326 on Government Departments: Flags, which flags are owned by his Department. \p Georgia Gould: For the properties operated by the Government Property Agency (GPA), where flag flying forms part of its service, all buildings with flagpoles have the Union flag. In addition, buildings across the estate will have a variety of other flags depending on their function in Government. There have been no changes to the categories of flags owned since the General Election. Currently the GPA owns the following types of flags:

National

Union Flag

St George’s Cross (England)

St Andrew’s Cross (Scotland)

Y Ddraig Goch (Wales)

Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations

Flag of Ukraine

Flag of Israel

Armed Forces

British Armed Forces Flag

Red Ensign Flag

Royal Airforce Flag

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Flag

Cultural

Pride Flag

Transgender Flag

Bisexual Flag

Windrush Flag
wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_337
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-12 conversation_337

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46959 on Non-departmental Public Bodies, when the review of arm's-length bodies will be completed. \p Georgia Gould: The review of arm’s-length bodies (ALBs) is ongoing. The outcomes of the review will be announced in due course.