theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of community energy projects on local employment. \p Michael Shanks: The Government recognises the important role community energy projects play in many different areas, including tackling climate change and providing local employment opportunities.

Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan will provide funding and support to community energy groups to roll out renewable energy projects and develop up to 8 GW of cleaner power. It will increase capacity and capability to build a pipeline of successful projects in local areas and aims to expand community energy projects by helping to crowd-in investment, creating skilled jobs and changing communities for the better.

Great British Energy will benefit all four nations of our United Kingdom whilst respecting the devolution settlements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with his Northern Irish counterpart on the new solar farm installed at Hydebank Prison. \p Michael Shanks: DESNZ officials meet regularly with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to discuss matters relating to renewables, including solar. Solar energy is at the heart of our Clean Energy mission and solar farms, alongside rooftop installations, will play an important part in helping to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030. Government is keen to lead by example in decarbonising its estate and as set out in the Clean Power Action plan, published in December 2024, Great British Energy will also promote renewables on public estates, unlocking additional scope for generation capacity on government-owned land. Great British Energy will seek to work with government landowners who will host generation assets and provide power directly to public buildings, in addition to connecting into the grid.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will publish the latest modelling conducted by his Department or its agencies of (a) energy supply and demand and (b) network capacity constraints. \p Michael Shanks: The Department's Energy and Emission Projections are updated and published annually; these show projected energy demand and electricity generation under policies that have been implemented and those that are planned where the level of funding has been agreed, and the design of the policy is near final.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for managing network constraints and publishing constraint forecasts: *ETYS 2023. As set out in our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, Government is working to accelerate the build of electricity network infrastructure to increase capacity and enable a cheaper and secure energy system for Britain.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on the potential national security risks of the AQUIND interconnector project. \p Michael Shanks: My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of national grid connections in Runcorn and Helsby constituency. \p Michael Shanks: Provision of network capacity in Runcorn and Helsby is the responsibility of the network companies, regulated by Ofgem. Information on network capacity for new distribution network connections in Runcorn and Helsby is available at https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/connection_opportunities.aspx and by contacting Scottish Power Energy Networks. For transmission connections, information is available at https://www.neso.energy/industry-information/connections/connections-360 and by contacting National Energy System Operator.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential risk of investment by Macquarie in (a) Lime Down Solar Park and (b) other Nationally Significant Infrastructure Developments. \p Michael Shanks: Ofgem and DESNZ have robust market monitoring schemes to assess electricity generation licence applications. Ofgem’s principal objective is to protect the interests of existing and future consumers through maintaining security of supply and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ofgem considers the experience, capability, and financial stability of each applicant.

The National Security and Investment (NSI) Act gives the government powers to scrutinise and intervene in acquisitions that may pose threats to national security. The Government does not routinely comment on specific deals or the applicability of the Act.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Gill Furniss:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help increase the uptake of home solar panel installations. \p Michael Shanks: Future standards this year will set new homes and buildings on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuel markets and ensures they are fit for a net zero future.

As part of the Warm Homes Plan, the Government is considering the role that finance may play in supporting homeowners with the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements, solar panels, and installing low carbon heating.

Further details about how the Government will increase the deployment of domestic solar panels will be set out in the forthcoming Solar Roadmap.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to replace the Advanced Nuclear Fund after March 2025. \p Michael Shanks: The Advanced Nuclear Fund (ANF) concludes at the end of the current Spending Review Period in March 2025.

All future plans for nuclear innovation will be considered as part of multi-year Spending Review.

The Government remains committed to nuclear power as a key part of our clean power plans and research and development are a critical part of this commitment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will commission an independent review of alternative renewable energy technologies. \p Michael Shanks: The Secretary of State does not intend to commission a separate independent review of alternative renewable energy technologies. DESNZ monitors new developments through the Net Zero Innovation Programme.

Additionally, since 2012 the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund has received proposals for alternative technologies, which are reviewed independently.

The link to more of the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-entrepeneurs-fund
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to lay an Official Statistics Order to include Great British Energy. \p Michael Shanks: The Department does not expect to amend the Official Statistics Order 2023 to include Great British Energy (GBE), because GBE will be an operationally independent energy company and we do not anticipate it will produce the sorts of statistics expected of bodies included in the order.
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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much revenue was raised from fines of oil companies for all oil spills occurring during offshore operations in each of the last five years. \p Michael Shanks: OPRED issues fines for oil spills as an alternative to criminal prosecution for the more serious offences. A maximum fine of £50,000 can be issued for the most serious of spills. Revenue raised from fines of oil companies for all oil spills occurring during offshore operations in each of the last five years was £25,000 in 2020 and a £25,000 fine due to be issued for an oil spill in 2024. No fines for oil spills were issued in the other years.

OPRED has a range of other enforcement options that can be taken to ensure compliance with the law.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make it his policy to retrieve the subsidy payments made to the Drax power station. \p Michael Shanks: Ofgem’s recent investigation did not find any evidence to suggest that Drax had been issued with subsidies incorrectly. Whilst Drax complied with sustainability standards, it had failed to report data accurately. This is a serious matter and Government expects full compliance with all regulatory obligations. Drax’s subsequent £25 million redress payment underscores the robustness of the regulatory system.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to improve accountability for oil companies responsible for oil pollution. \p Michael Shanks: Oil spills from oil and gas installations are of significant concern to the Department which is why there is no minimum quantity for reporting. The number of oil spills reported to OPRED (Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning) has almost halved since 2018 and the amount of oil spilled in 2023 was at an historic low.

Operators are required to report all discharges, spills and non-compliances and every case is investigated by OPRED proportionately. OPRED takes enforcement action against operators if needed, including the use of notices to improve compliance with the law, fines or referral for criminal prosecution.
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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department's upcoming consultation on updated environmental guidance for offshore oil and gas projects will include measures to enact the ban in primary legislation; and when he plans to launch that consultation. \p Michael Shanks: On 30 October the Government launched a public consultation on draft guidance that will help offshore operators understand how to assess end-use (scope 3) greenhouse gas emissions associated with oil and gas extraction projects in areas that have already been licensed.    This is a necessary step following the Supreme Court Finch judgment.

The consultation closed on 8 January 2025 and the finalised guidance will be published in the Spring.

Separately, the Government will also shortly consult on the implementation of its manifesto position not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on industrial lithium-ion battery storage safety. \p Michael Shanks: My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the ability of the carbon intensity calculations used by his Department to take into account the recent increase in the volume of liquified natural gas imported from the USA. \p Michael Shanks: The UK follows the agreed international approach for setting targets, and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, which is for countries to report the emissions produced within their territories.

However, consumption-based emissions, which factor in overseas emissions associated with imports, are reported by Defra (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uks-carbon-footprint ) and considered in policy making where relevant and material.

DESNZ also publish conversion factors for company reporting which include well-to-tank emissions factors for LNG (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-conversion-factors-for-company-reporting). The latest published factors are based on 2022 data but the values are updated annually, allowing for changes in the sources of imported gas, particularly LNG, to be reflected.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure landlords are compliant with the need to ensure that new tenancies have an Energy Performance Rating of at least C from 1 April 2025. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government will consult shortly on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation will include proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the Data Communications Company in the (a) development and (b) testing of the Virtual Wide Area Network; and whether he plans to make funding available to ensure that consumers in rural areas can access smart meters. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Data Communications Company (DCC) is required to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of communications network coverage for Great Britain beyond its currently provisioned minimum level of 99.25%. To enable the DCC to increase network coverage, the Department has recently consulted upon and indicated its intention to proceed with changes to the regulatory framework that will support implementation of the DCC’s Virtual Wide Area Network solution. The necessary funding for this, including in rural areas, is provided for by the energy industry, as is the case with other smart metering costs.
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Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Solicitor General, what the Government's policy is on the potential prosecution of UK nationals returning to the UK after serving as volunteer fighters in the Ukrainian armed forces if they hold (a) both Ukrainian and UK citizenship, (b) sole UK citizenship but born to Ukrainian parents and (c) sole UK citizenship without Ukrainian antecedents; and whether official guidance for volunteers returning to the UK is publicly available. \p Lucy Rigby: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice to Ukraine states: 'If you travel to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, your activities may amount to offences under UK legislation. You could be prosecuted on your return to the UK'. Their full advice is available here: Ukraine travel advice - GOV.UK.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which acts independently of police and government, will consider any information that is referred by the police and any decision to prosecute will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

To date, the CPS has not prosecuted any cases involving UK-linked foreign fighters in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
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Josh Fenton-Glynn:To ask the Solicitor General, how many agricultural crime offences in Calderdale District resulted in suspects being (a) charged, (b) convicted and (c) not convicted in each year since 2010. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government recognises the impact that crimes of theft have on all our communities, whether rural or urban, and we are committed to tackling the problem.

There is no specific legal definition of agricultural crime and therefore data on it cannot be collated. However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) holds data on the number of prosecutions where the principal offence category was theft and handling stolen goods.

It is important to note that CPS principal offence category data is only extracted from the Case Management Information System once the prosecution case has been finalised, this means that the following offence data only relates to completed prosecutions and not any ongoing prosecutions.

From 2010 to date, the CPS has prosecuted 57,641 cases with a theft and handling stolen goods principal offence category originating from the West Yorkshire police force area. Of these, 52,286 resulted in a conviction and only 5,355 resulted in an acquittal.
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on the future of the garden communities programme. \p Matthew Pennycook: Garden Communities are locally-led new settlements or urban extensions. The Garden Communities programme provides support to progress long-term housing projects from their earliest stages. It enables local authorities to recruit specialist staff, undertake the required planning and receive advice and support from the housing delivery body, Homes England. The government will keep the programme under review.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on the 16 December 2024, what discussions she had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer before setting the population threshold to 500,000 or more for newly formed councils. \p Jim McMahon: Ministers regularly have meetings with colleagues across government.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2024 to Question xx-xxxx-xxxx on Regional Planning and Development: Finance, what her Department's policy is on the (a) continuation of the Thames Estuary Growth Board and (b) coordination of planning across the Thames Estuary area. \p Jim McMahon: At the Autumn Budget, the Government confirmed that it would consult on its minded to decision to cease funding for pan-regional partnerships at the end of this financial year. The consultation sought to gather views from all interested parties on the impacts of this decision, should it be taken forward, and closed on 16 December. The Department is currently considering the responses received and will confirm a final decision shortly.

The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, published in December 2024, confirmed our commitment to strategic planning through the production of Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs) covering all of England. Legislation to enable this will be introduced in 2025 through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's target response time to Freedom of Information requests is; and when she plans to respond to Case NC39961. \p Alex Norris: The statutory timescale for responding to FOI requests is 20 working days. A response to the Honourable Gentleman was issued by MHCLG’s correspondence team on 10 January 2025. I hope that he will accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused by the delay to this response.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, if she will make it her policy to publish an annual report on progress towards the target to build 1.5 million homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 19066 on 20 December 2024.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the (a) full time equivalent and (b) headcount number of staff assigned to work in each of her Department’s offices is. \p Alex Norris: The location of every departmental office and the number of staff assigned to work in each of those offices as at 31 December 2024, in both (a) full time equivalent and (b) headcount, is set out below.

Office Location

FTE

Headcount

Belfast

21

21

Birmingham

144

147

Birkenhead

87

91

Bristol

163

167

Cambridge

50

53

Cardiff

44

45

Darlington

125

127

Edinburgh

51

52

Exeter

24

26

Hastings

23

26

Hemel Hempstead

56

58

Leeds

163

168

London

2,163

2,220

Manchester

196

201

Newcastle

66

67

Norwich

12

12

Nottingham

70

72

Plymouth

24

24

Sheffield

48

51

Truro

14

15

Warrington

56

59

Wolverhampton

269

277

Grand Total

3,867

3,979
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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to promote community-based initiatives that foster social connections among vulnerable populations. \p Alex Norris: The government funds programmes to increase social connections including those run by Near Neighbours and Schools Linking, which deliver initiatives in communities to bring people together.

Community groups also play a crucial role in promoting social cohesion and providing services which improve health and wellbeing, reduce anti-social behaviour, protect nature and offer support to groups in need. On 23 December 2024 we announced the outcome of round 4 of the Community Ownership Fund, with 85 projects from across the UK receiving £36.2 million in funding.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Disabled Facilities Grant. \p Rushanara Ali: Government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling older and disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. This is why on 3 January 2025 government announced an immediate £86 million in-year uplift to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), taking the funding total to £711 million for 2024-25. This will allow 7,800 more eligible people to make vital improvements to their home allowing them to live more independent lives and reducing hospitalisations.

Furthermore, government announced an £86 million additional investment in the DFG for the 2025-26 financial year at the Autumn Budget (bringing total funding for 2025-26 to £711 million).

Government continues to keep all aspects of the DFG under consideration. As part of this process, we are reviewing the suitability of the current upper limit.

Government does not hold data on how many people have received DFG funding. The table below sets out the number of completed grants for the (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire in each of the last 14 years, taken from voluntary, unaudited and incomplete data provided annually by local authorities in England. Due to changes in reporting mechanisms, completions data for financial year 2017-18 is not available.

Year

Number of DFGs completed

(a) Newcastle-under-Lyme

(b)Staffordshire

2010-2011

130

932

2011-2012

116

1018

2012-2013

Incomplete data

Incomplete data

2013-2014

95

Incomplete data

2014-2015

119

683

2015-2016

Incomplete data

Incomplete data

2016-2017

118

Incomplete data

2017-2018

N/A

N/A

2018-2019

120

754

2019-2020

75

659

2020-2021

60

573

2021-2022

135

703

2022-2023

87

864

2023-2024

92

984
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the English Devolution White Paper on the delivery of public services in Lincolnshire. \p Jim McMahon: Subject to the relevant Statutory Instrument being made, Greater Lincolnshire will elect a Mayor in May 2025. The Mayor and Combined County Authority will receive the additional funding and powers associated with the Mayoral Strategic Authority level of devolution as set out in the White Paper, including on adult education and employment support, transport, and planning. As previously agreed, they will also receive a mayoral investment fund of £24 million a year for 30 years. Transferring funding and powers from Westminster will give an elected local leader the tools they need to kick start the local economy and improve vital public services across Lincolnshire.

The White Paper also announced a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas. Unitarisation can lead to better outcomes for residents, and save significant money which can be reinvested in public services.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the English Devolution White Paper on the delivery of public services in Surrey. \p Jim McMahon: The White Paper we published before Christmas sets an ambitious new framework for English devolution, moving power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best. To deliver change, we need strong local leadership and empowered institutions. This is what devolution is all about.

A unitary council for Surrey residents will bring lower and upper tier services together, creating opportunities for service transformation which will support improvements in delivery. Ultimately, our goal is mayoral devolution that will prioritise the delivery of high quality, sustainable public services to citizens and communities, above all other issues.

Mayors will be equipped with a range of new powers across planning, infrastructure, transport, skills, business and energy, alongside strong and effective relationships with councils and other partners, to deliver the missions we have set out to transform the country.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many people with citizenship of other countries can vote in UK elections; of which countries such people hold citizenship; which elections they are eligible to vote in; and whether these arrangements are reciprocal. \p Rushanara Ali: Electoral statistics are not available broken down by citizenship.

The franchise for UK Parliamentary elections, Northern Ireland Assembly elections, local government elections in England and Northern Ireland and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales are reserved. This answer relates to reserved elections only.

Irish citizens resident in the UK can vote in all elections. These rights are reciprocal. Commonwealth citizens lawfully resident in the UK can vote in all elections. These rights are not generally reciprocal.

EU citizens resident in the UK before EU exit can in the main continue to vote in local elections. Post-Brexit migrants from some EU Member States (Poland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal and Denmark), with whom the Government has agreed reciprocal arrangements, can vote in local elections.

The franchise for devolved elections in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce replacement legislation for the Vagrancy Act 1824. \p Rushanara Ali: The Government views the Vagrancy Act as antiquated and no longer fit for purpose. No one should be criminalised for simply sleeping rough on the streets.

We will carefully consider the Vagrancy Act and other relevant legislation in developing our new cross-government homelessness strategy.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to change the voting system to Supplementary Vote for mayoral elections. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer my hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 20691 on 19 December 2024.
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Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to improve national oversight of local commissioning of (a) specialist led-by and (b) domestic abuse services. \p Rushanara Ali: Local authorities have a duty to commission services under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The statutory guidance is clear that local authorities must assess the needs of all victims, including those requiring specialist support, and ensure sufficient support is available to meet identified need. Support should be delivered by knowledgeable and experienced specialist domestic abuse providers. The guidance is also clear that commissioning processes should not exclude smaller voluntary organisations, such as those run ‘by and for’ groups with particular protected characteristics.

To further support local authorities in meeting these responsibilities, £160 million has been committed for support in safe accommodation in 2025/26, which includes a £30 million uplift to strengthen domestic abuse support services.

My department works closely with local authorities, supporting delivery of these duties, including monitoring through quarterly and annual data collections. My officials regularly liaise with organisations such as Women’s Aid, and I am establishing a new Domestic Abuse Housing Group, to be co-chaired by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, to oversee delivery. This will help ensure that services remain responsive, effective, and aligned with the needs of domestic abuse victims.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_387

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15441 on Local Government: Staff, how the Local Government Workforce Development Group members will be selected; and whether the membership will be politically balanced. \p Jim McMahon: Membership of the Workforce Development Group is composed of officers from both national and local government organisations. The group is focussed on the common interest of tackling local government workforce issues and is not party political. The inaugural meeting was chaired by the Minister for Local Government, and future meetings will be chaired by a senior official from MHCLG.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_388
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_388

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16200 on Local Government: Productivity, for what reason her Department does not routinely publish letters issued to local authorities. . \p Jim McMahon: In line with the practice of successive previous governments, MHCLG does not regularly publish non-public correspondence between Ministers and local authorities. Local authorities are free to publish these letters if they believe it is beneficial to do so.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_389
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_389

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what the evidential basis is for the decision to set new unitary council sizes at 500,000 or more. \p Jim McMahon: The overall case for local government reorganisation is set out the English Devolution White Paper. New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_390
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_390

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's publication entitled English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, if she will make it her policy to ensure elections to principal and strategic authorities take place concurrently. \p Jim McMahon: The Government has no plans to change the timing of elections for principal and strategic authorities to ensure that they take place concurrently.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_391
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_391

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to seek the approval of local councils before establishing new (a) foundation strategic authorities, (b) mayoral strategic authorities and (c) established mayoral strategic authorities; and whether she plans to introduce secondary legislation to implement these proposals. \p Jim McMahon: The Government has announced its intention to introduce new Mayoral Combined Authorities and Mayoral Combined County Authorities with elections in May 2026. This will require the consent of all constituent local authorities involved, using the processes set out in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. These areas, and other new and existing devolved institutions in England, will be designated as Strategic Authorities when the English Devolution Bill comes into force. The government is fully committed to working in partnership with councils to bring about devolution by establishing new strategic authorities, and to creating a clear pathway to accessing higher levels of devolution, including Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities. We will set out in the English Devolution Bill more detail on how we will seek the consent of constituent councils under this new legislation, which will be laid in this Parliamentary session.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_392
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_392

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the implementation of the proposals in the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024. \p Jim McMahon: The deadline for application to the Devolution Priority Programme was 10 January and we will confirm participants shortly after. The English Devolution Bill will be introduced in the first session, subject to parliamentary time. Integrated funding settlements will be provided to Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities at the start of the next financial year (25/26) and four more Mayoral Combined Authorities will follow in the 26/27 financial year. Further changes to funding and programmes will be delivered through the Spending Review process.

We intend to formally invite reorganisation proposals in January 2025 from all relevant councils. We expect to deliver new unitary authorities in April 2027 and 2028.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_393
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_393

Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Bill on the ability of Offices of the Police and Crime Commissioner to provide accommodation for police officers. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government will continue to engage with stakeholders, including representatives of police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners, to ensure that the provisions of Renters’ Rights Bill operate effectively.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_394
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_394

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15451 on Renters’ Rights Bill, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Impact Assessments (a) receive clearance from the Regulatory Policy Committee and (b) are published no later than the First Reading of a Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department aims to publish Impact Assessments in a timely manner, in line with the ‘Better Regulation Framework’ guidance, which states that an Impact Assessment ‘should be published alongside relevant legislation when it is laid before Parliament.’

In exceptional circumstances this may not be possible, for example, where the legislation is urgent, further work is needed following concerns expressed by the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) or where the assessment is with RPC for review. In those circumstances, the Department works with the RPC to ensure the Bill Impact Assessment and RPC opinion is published as soon as possible.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_395
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_395

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of legislating to increase the minimum percentage of affordable housing requirement when hew housing developments are (a) planned and (b) built. \p Matthew Pennycook: The golden rules introduced through the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 require that development on the Green Belt delivers 15 percentage points more affordable housing than the existing local plan affordable housing requirements, up to a maximum of 50% (except where the local plan requirement is already higher). We estimate that the median affordable housing target in the Green Belt will be 50%.

Outside of the Green Belt, it is for local authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, and to reflect this in planning policies. We will consider what further steps we can take to support social and affordable housing as part of our intent to produce a set of national policies for decision making later this year.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_396
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_396

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to ensure that charges for freehold homeowners for the upkeep of shared (a) areas and (b) facilities are equitable. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer my hon Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_397
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_397

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of repurposing vacant (a) shops, (b) offices and (c) houses; and whether this would reduce local new-build housing targets. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including bringing back into residential use empty homes and the development of under-utilised land and buildings, to meet the need for homes and other uses.

Changes we made to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024 broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas.

On 22 September 2024, we published a ‘brownfield passport’ policy paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_398
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_398

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what financial resources will be made available by her Department to support mayoral combined authorities in bringing forward spatial development plans. \p Matthew Pennycook: We recognise that strategic authorities will require effective capacity so that they can deliver on the ambitions set out in the English Devolution White Paper, including in relation to proposed Spatial Development Strategies. Any decisions on funding will be a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_399
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_399

Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of making (a) Integrated Care Boards and (b) NHS trusts statutory consultees in the planning process. \p Matthew Pennycook: NHS and Integrated Care Boards are consultees on local plans. This helps ensure that local strategies to improve health and the provision of the required health infrastructure are considered upfront in plans and in planning decisions. There are no current plans to make NHS and Integrated Care Boards statutory consultees in the planning application process.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_400
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_400

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of biodiversity net gain on the sale of land previously used for agriculture. \p Matthew Pennycook: Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain was introduced by the previous government through the Environment Act 2021. To support this, an impact assessment was undertaken in 2019 estimating the overall assessed cost of biodiversity net gain to developers and the effect on developable land prices. No subsequent assessment has been made under the current government.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_401
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_401

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many households were on social housing waiting lists in (a) England and (b) London in each year since 2009-10. \p Matthew Pennycook: The number of households on social housing registers (waiting lists) in (a) England) and (b) London each year since 2009-10 is available in live table 600 here. The number of households on the housing register (waiting list) is not the same as the number of households waiting. Local authorities periodically review their registers to remove households who no longer require housing, so the total number of households on housing registers may overstate the number of households who still require social housing at any one time. The frequency of reviews varies between local authorities. Housing register size may also be affected by other factors. For example, there is the potential for some households to be on the housing register of more than one local authority.