theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_77

Robbie Moore:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help improve access to cash. \p Emma Reynolds: Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefiting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 200 hubs have been announced so far, and over 100 are already open.

The FCA introduced regulatory rules for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts.

Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK (the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network) assesses a community’s access to cash withdrawal and deposit needs, and can recommend a new service if necessary.

Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Sir Iain Duncan Smith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings between Chinese and UK officials took place between October 1 2024 and March 1 2025. \p Emma Reynolds: UK officials regularly engage with Chinese counterparts in order to further UK interests, cooperating on areas of mutual interest and challenging on areas where we disagree. This government is taking a consistent, long-term and pragmatic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China. It is only right that we engage with China where there are clear UK and global interests, including on international stability, climate, health and bolstering our trade relationship.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Leigh Ingham:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of the (a) closure of local banks and (b) opening of banking hubs on people who are elderly or disabled. \p Emma Reynolds: Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefiting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly.

The FCA requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, such as the elderly and disabled. Additionally, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 200 hubs have been announced so far, and over 100 are already open.

The FCA introduced regulatory rules for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts.

Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK (the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network) assesses a community’s access to cash withdrawal and deposit needs, and can recommend a new service if necessary.

Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Liam Byrne:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will publish its response to its consultation on Reforming anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing supervision, published on 30 June 2023. \p Emma Reynolds: The Treasury’s consultation on reforming the UK’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing supervisory regime closed in September 2023. The Department is continuing to analyse responses to this consultation and remains committed to announcing next steps in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 34611 on Microsoft: Prices, what assessment he has made of the implications for consumer. \p Justin Madders: The Government expects all firms to treat their customers fairly, and there is a strong framework of consumer rights in the UK that underpin this. At the same time, businesses are generally free to set the price of their products as they wish. The UK competition regime encourages open and competitive markets which produces lower prices for consumers. The Government has strengthened both competition and consumer protection regimes in the recent Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of changes to employers National Insurance contributions on independent nightlife; and if he will make representations on the potential merits of scaled National Insurance contributions based on turnover. \p Gareth Thomas: We continue to work closely with HM Treasury on the challenges facing high street and other businesses including those within the nighttime economy.

The Government is protecting the smallest employers by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500, and removing the £100,000 eligibility threshold, meaning all eligible employers benefit. This means that in 2025-26 865,000 employers will pay no National Insurance Contributions at all, and more than half of employers will see no change or will gain overall from this package.

We are creating a fairer business rate system, reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products and transforming the apprenticeship levy to support business and boost opportunities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of compliance with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism requirement for accurate carbon emissions data from complex supply chains on small manufacturers. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: We recognise that reporting requirements of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are having incidental impacts on some UK businesses exporting to the EU.

EU CBAM implementation and guidance remains fundamentally a matter for the European Commission. The Commission have proposed changes to EU CBAM which are intended to exempt most small businesses and make reporting requirements easier to comply with. The Commission intends to undertake a full review of its CBAM later this year, which we will watch closely.

The Commission website is the most up to date source of information for businesses seeking guidance on requirements: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism_en.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a free trade agreement with India. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The Business and Trade Secretary was in Delhi in February to relaunch negotiations for a trade deal with India and made good progress in building momentum towards a deal that will strengthen economic growth across the UK.

A trade deal with India could improve our access to the fastest growing economy in the G20; cut red tape for business, support jobs, and boost wages in UK.

Our negotiating team is working to capitalise on the positive momentum and secure a deal that strengthens our trade and investment relationship.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle increasing malnutrition rates around the world through its international development programs. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office is taking steps to prevent, detect, and tackle malnutrition through our Child Wasting Innovation Programme (CWIP), the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) and through our approach to integrating nutrition objectives alongside other policy objectives on sectors such as health, food and agriculture, humanitarian, and climate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking diplomatic steps to encourage conflict parties in Sudan to remove (a) travel permits, (b) internal travel notifications for humanitarian staff, (c) unpredictable visa procedures and (d) other bureaucratic barriers to humanitarian access. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK continues to raise the critical issue of humanitarian access and the bureaucratic impediments placed by the warring parties on relief agencies. At the UN Security Council in December 2024 and again in January this year, we called for the warring parties to lift bureaucratic impediments and let aid get to those who need it. The former Minister for Development also engaged directly with the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, on the UN response and the bureaucratic obstacles it faces. In recent bilateral engagements with the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces, General Burhan, the UK lobbied against impediments including lengthy delays in the provision of visas for international humanitarian personnel.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department offers support to Sudan to help combat the spread of cholera. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The conflict in Sudan and the widespread destruction of sanitation and health services has caused a devastating cholera outbreak. In response, the UK is supporting UNICEF and others who are delivering lifesaving emergency health interventions including cholera treatment and prevention. We are also contributing to an ongoing cholera vaccination campaign in Kosti and Rabak, targeting one million people. UK aid is also addressing related needs across the region given the cross-border risks of Sudan's cholera outbreak. We continue to urge all parties in Sudan to facilitate humanitarian access so that aid reaches those most in need.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the reduction in ODA spending, what steps his Department plans to take to provide humanitarian support to the Democratic Republic of Congo. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: During the Foreign Secretary's recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, the Foreign Secretary announced an uplift of £14.6 million of humanitarian support for at least 480,000 more people in eastern DRC. This brings our humanitarian assistance in Eastern DRC to over £79 million this year. These funds support essential emergency assistance, and provide access to clean drinking water, treatment for malnourished children and life-saving sexual and reproductive health services. The UK remains committed to supporting those most in need in this critical humanitarian situation. Detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be allocated in future years will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors, including impact assessments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the recent reports of attacks on Alawite communities in Syria. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The events in Syria at the start of March 2025 were deeply concerning and reports that large numbers of civilians have been killed are horrific. We are working as quickly as possible to establish from reliable sources of information what exactly happened and who was responsible. Following the Foreign Secretary's public statement on 9 March, I made clear in my statement to the House on 10 March that the interim authorities have a responsibility to ensure the protection of all Syrian civilians and to make progress towards an inclusive political transition. We will judge them by their actions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help ensure that conflict parties in Sudan facilitate consistent humanitarian access through (a) cross-border and (b) crossline routes. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is playing a leading role in response to the crisis in Sudan, including efforts to facilitate more consistent humanitarian access. Through a commitment of £226.5 million we are delivering lifesaving aid to over one million people. In April, the Foreign Secretary will convene Foreign Ministers in London to host an event marking the two year anniversary of the conflict. The event aims to increase international attention to the human cost of the conflict and to help deliver a more effective and scaled-up humanitarian response, including more consistent cross-border and crossline access. In February, the former Minister for Development also convened a meeting with her counterparts which sought to strengthen the UN-led international humanitarian response and improve aid access.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps is he taking to ensure continued accountability for people responsible for crimes committed during Bashar al-Assad’s regime. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign Secretary has raised the need for accountability directly with Syrian interim Foreign Minister Shaibani. We continue to support partners who are playing a pivotal role in developing a credible evidence base to record atrocities committed by the former regime and others. This financial year, we have committed £1.15 million to accountability and documentation-related programmes. Following the collapse of the Assad regime, we announced a further £240,000 in funding to help secure and preserve vital evidence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the level of Russian involvement in the attack by pro-Assad forces prior to the outbreak of violence on the west coast of Syria in March 2025. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The events in Syria at the start of March 2025 were deeply concerning, and reports that large numbers of civilians have been killed are horrific. We are working as quickly as possible to establish from reliable sources of information what exactly happened and who was responsible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of relaxing restrictions on the (a) energy, (b) transport and (c) finance sectors in Syria on the UK's (i) foreign policy objectives and (ii) humanitarian efforts in the region. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: As I said in my statement to the House on 10 March, the Government is committed to helping to support the Syrian people in re-building their country and to promoting security and stability. We are focusing amendments to the Syria sanctions regime on energy, transport and finance as sectors of Syria's economy where international expertise, trade and investment has the greatest potential to contribute to meeting the immediate needs of the Syrian people. We are clear with the interim authorities in Damascus that they have a responsibility to ensure the protection of all Syrian civilians and to make progress towards an inclusive political transition. We will judge them by their actions, not their words.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to adapt the Syria sanctions regime. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: As the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories announced in Parliament on 13 February, we are making changes to the Syrian sanctions regulations to support the Syrian people in re-building their country and promote security and stability. On 6 March, the Government lifted asset freezes on 24 Syrian entities, including the Central Bank of Syria, that were previously used by the Assad regime to fund the oppression of the Syrian people. This follows the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation publishing on 12 February a General Licence, allowing payments that support humanitarian assistance in Syria. As I made clear in my Statement to the House on 10th March, we keep our sanctions under close review to ensure they are used as a responsive tool. Where there are changes to the Syria Regulations, Members of Parliament will have the opportunity to debate in line with the made affirmative procedure for sanctions Statutory Instruments.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to collaborate with African nations on the Kampala Declaration. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Africa Food Trade and Resilience programme, we have been working with the Africa Union Commission on the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) process that led to the Kampala Declaration, including supporting the delivery of the Summit itself in January.

This collaboration has been through our engagement in the Development Partners Coordination Group (DPCG) as well as working with African institutions to support the continent's food systems transformation. We will continue to strengthen our long term partnerships by working with African nations and institutions to progress their implementation of the Kampala Declaration and its objective to unlock growth through a stronger and more resilient African food and agriculture sector, that is also critical for our own and global supply chain security.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Satvir Kaur:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the number of Nigerians living in makeshift internally displaced person camps who have been displaced due to violence and religious persecution. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Internal displacement in Nigeria remains high and is largely concentrated in North-East Nigeria. Through our Humanitarian and Resilience Programme (HARP), we have reached approximately one million people, reducing mortality and increasing resilience for people with the most severe humanitarian needs in the North-East, including those displaced by conflict and violence. Additionally, through the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), the UK is working with Nigeria's security forces to tackle violence against civilian communities. Our Strengthening Peace and Resilience programme ('SPRING') is working to reduce rural violence in northwest and north-central Nigeria, including by supporting collaboration and productive livelihoods for both farmers and pastoralists, and strengthening conflict early warning, management and response.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide humanitarian support to Northwest Nigeria. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK's Humanitarian and Resilience Programme (HARP) provides support to those in urgent need of assistance in the North-East of Nigeria, one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. Through HARP, we have reached approximately one million people, reducing mortality and increasing resilience for people with the most severe humanitarian needs in the North-East, including those displaced by conflict and violence. We are also working closely and regularly engage the Government of Nigeria on the best ways to meet the challenge of rising displacement and growing humanitarian need.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase funding for food security and nutrition programmes in conflict-affected regions in Nigeria. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is committed to tackling the important issue of food insecurity in Nigeria. Firstly, we are supporting the World Bank provide assistance to deliver essential nutrition services through health facilities. Secondly, the UK is supporting a nutritious and resilient food system by scaling the production and consumption of biofortified crops in Nigeria. Thirdly, the UK is incentivising domestic resource allocation for nutrition via investment in the Child Nutrition Fund which several states as well as the federal government have accessed matched funding through for key nutrition commodities. The UK recently contributed £7.4 million towards a wider $30 million match by the federal government for the scale up of essential services to prevent and treat malnutrition.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international partners on increasing humanitarian aid to Sudan and its neighbouring countries. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is playing a leading role in response to the crisis in Sudan. Through a commitment of £226.5 million, we are delivering lifesaving aid to over one million people. Next month, the Foreign Secretary will convene Foreign Ministers in London to host an event marking the two year anniversary of the conflict. The event aims to increase international attention to the human cost of the conflict and to help deliver a more effective and scaled-up humanitarian response. The UK is doing all it can, in concert with our international partners, to address the crisis and its toll on the people of Sudan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Tahir Ali:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing a medical evacuation team for children in Gaza requiring urgent treatment. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Officials from all relevant Whitehall departments are exploring avenues to ensure our support best meets the needs of the critically ill in Gaza, including children, and we continue to support the provision of healthcare in Gaza and the region. The Government is keeping our humanitarian programme and existing policies on medical evacuations and visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza.

We have announced £1 million for the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, delivered through World Health Organisation (WHO) Egypt, to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza. The UK is also supporting the provision of essential healthcare to civilians in Gaza, including support to UK-MED who have now provided vital care to over 330,000 Gazans since the start of the conflict.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Nigerian government on bilateral cooperation to improve food security. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK has raised food security with Federal and State Government representatives in Nigeria. This includes discussions on supporting food availability, access, utilisation and stability, including through relevant Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) programming. Officials have discussed efforts to address food insecurity in recent meetings with Nigeria's Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit, Nigeria's new Federal Ministry of Livestock and Development, and Kaduna State Government. Officials and other development partners have stressed to the Nigerian Government the importance of implementing the World Bank funded Social Safety Nets programme as a matter of urgency to help address food insecurity.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of food procured by his Department is sourced in the UK. \p Catherine West: To date the Government has not held information on where publicly procured food is sourced from. Starting right away, for the first time ever, this government will review the food currently bought in the public sector to determine the standards that it is meeting, where it is bought from and look to introduce monitoring for transparency and accountability within those supply chains to ultimately get the best food for the consumer.

This work will be a significant first step to inform any future changes to public sector food procurement policies as we want to help make it an equal playing field for British producers to bid into the £5 billion spent each year on public sector catering contracts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure the release of James Anderson from Russian custody. \p Stephen Doughty: We strongly condemn the sentencing of British national James Anderson in a Russian court on false charges. Under international law, prisoners of war cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities. We demand that Russia respect its obligations under the Geneva Conventions, including that prisoners of war are treated humanely. We condemn the exploitation of prisoners of war for political and propaganda purposes. The UK regularly raises Mr Anderson's case with our Ukrainian partners, and at every opportunity with senior Russian officials. We remain in close contact with Mr Anderson's family and are providing consular support.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the land use breakdown of (a) the average Parliamentary constituency, (b) Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, (c) Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton constituency, (d) Greenwich & Woolwich constituency, (e) Nottingham North & Kimberley constituency and (f) Bethnal Green & Stepney constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department publishes an annual release entitled “Land use statistics: England”, which presents summary statistics showing how different land uses are distributed across England, as at 2022.

This is broken down into regions, local authorities, and Parliamentary constituency level analysis, with constituency breakdowns available in Live Tables P404a (proportion) or P404b (hectarage) on gov.uk here.

These proportions shown for England Live Table P404a can, in effect, also be regarded as the breakdown for the average English Parliamentary constituency.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of local government reorganisation on council finances in the context of existing financial pressures. \p Jim McMahon: The English Devolution White Paper set out that Government will facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation. This can help strengthen local leadership, improve local services, save taxpayers’ money, and improve local accountability.

In 2020 a PwC report, “Evaluating the importance of scale in proposals for local government reorganisation”, for the County Councils Network, estimated that reorganisation of the then 25 two-tier areas to a single unitary structure would have a one-off cost of £400 million, with the potential to realise £2.9 billion over five years, with an annual post-implementation net recurring saving of £700 million. The unitary proposals submitted in relation to the most recently established unitary councils identified a range of efficiencies that could be achieved where council services are brought together in one organisation. For North Yorkshire Council, established in April 2023, unitarisation has enabled the council to manage financial pressures through structural changes and service transformation which are expected to achieve more than £40 million in savings by March 2026.

However, it is important to note that the scale of savings are dependent on the size and number of unitary authorities which are created. It is for local areas to develop proposals which are then submitted to government. Scale and efficiency will be an important element in those considerations, alongside a range of other factors.

In our invitation we have set out guidance to support councils as they develop proposals that are in the best interests of their areas. This includes guidance on issues of size, sensible geographies, efficiencies and financial sustainability. The criteria we will assess proposals against include the ability to achieve financial efficiencies.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of homes expected to be built between July 2024 and July 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government do not routinely publish a supply forecast or projected profiles of housing delivery.

Our Plan for Change includes an ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament. Progress will be measured through the number of net additional dwellings, and we will update Parliament in the usual manner.
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Alex Sobel:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's timetable is for the implementation of changes to permitted development rights for air source heat pumps. \p Matthew Pennycook: Further announcements on permitted development rights for air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points will be made in the coming months.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, whether any of the proposals received cover Mid Bedfordshire constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report this summer.

As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest.

Not least because construction of the next generation of new towns will only begin toward the end of this Parliament, the government has been clear that they will deliver over and above the targets produced by the standard method. However, we will make sure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward and will keep under review how the Taskforce’s forthcoming recommendations on new towns interact with housing targets across England.

New towns will be well-connected, well-designed, environmentally sustainable, and attractive places where people want to live and have all the infrastructure, amenities and services necessary to sustain thriving communities, including a gold standard aim of 40% affordable and social housing, with an emphasis on social rent.

As there may be political or commercial sensitivities to information submitted regarding prospective developments, the New Towns Taskforce will not be sharing information about the evidence base of locations prior to publication of the final report.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_109

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2024 to Question 19964 on Land Registry: Buildings, how many staff attended on average the Land Registry's Croydon office each week in November 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: Week Croydon office staff who attended in each week.

04/11/2024 - 08/11/2024 333

11/11/2024 - 15/11/2024 346

18/11/2024 - 22/11/2024 337

25/11/2024 - 29/11/2024 333

Weekly average 337.25

These figures do not include staff on short term leave. Staff are asked to manage their attendance over the course of a month, so there will be some natural variance on a weekly level.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_110

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what she expects the average density per hectare to be of housing developments built during this Parliament. \p Matthew Pennycook: Development density is influenced by a range of factors, such as the type of land use, building types and form, and building heights. The National Design Guide and National Model Design Code provide guidance on these elements.

Local Design Guides and Design Codes may set out densities or ranges of density, that take account of local context.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_111

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of houses that would be built if all active planning permissions were approved. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department does not hold the information requested.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_112

Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the current level of resources for local trading standards services based within local authorities in Great Britain. \p Jim McMahon: Local authorities are independent of central government and are responsible for managing their own services and financial positions.

The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. The majority of the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, including for local trading standards services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_113

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make a comparative assessment of the cumulative housing target for (a) Tower Hamlets, (b) Broxtowe, (c) Nottingham, (d) Greenwich, (e) Oldham and (f) Tameside under (i) the new housing targets and (ii) the housing targets under the previous system. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government published the revised standard method for assessing local housing need on 12 December 2024. This aligns with our ambition for 1.5 million new homes to be delivered over this parliament and better directs new homes to where they are most needed and least affordable.

The new standard method supports a more strategic approach to housing growth, distributing growth across wider city regions, and not just to the largest urban authority within our largest cities, as was the case under the previous method.

Further detail on the new standard method is set out in the government’s response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation and the revised Planning Practice Guidance on housing and economic needs assessments. These are available on gov.uk.

Local housing need figures for each local authority and region arising from the revised standard method can be found here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_114

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29763 on Discussions with Members from Worcestershire on local government reform, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) senior officials have had with hon. Members from Worcestershire on local government reform. \p Jim McMahon: Neither ministers nor senior officials have had discussions with hon members from Worcestershire on local government reform. The Minister wrote to Worcestershire council leaders on 5th February 2025 to formally invite proposals for local government reorganisation. The invitation is clear that councils should engage locally and that we also expect and encourage local leaders to engage their Members of Parliament on any proposals being developed, before these are submitted to Government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_115

Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the debate following her oral statement of 5 February 2025 on English Devolution and Local Government, Official Report, column 780, if she will meet the hon. Members for constituencies in Surrey to discuss the potential impact of council debt in Surrey on her proposals for local government reorganisation before 21 March 2025. \p Jim McMahon: It is for Surrey councils to develop a proposal or proposals in line with the criteria and guidance set out in the invitation. This should include for Surrey, as an area covering a council in Best Value intervention, demonstrating how reorganisation may contribute to putting local government in the area as a whole on a firmer footing and what area-specific arrangements may be necessary to make new structures viable. The invitation is also clear that councils should engage locally and that we also expect and encourage local leaders to engage their Members of Parliament, on any proposals being developed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_116

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, if she will publish a list of the 350 sites stuck in the system referenced. \p Matthew Pennycook: To date, ten sites with a combined capacity to deliver over 35,900 homes have been announced as benefitting from site-specific government support through the New Homes Accelerator. These are: Liverpool Central Docks, Northstowe, Worcestershire Parkway, Langley Sutton Coldfield, Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community, Stretton Hall, Biggleswade Garden Community, Beam Park, South of Cayton, and Frome Gateway.

Through intensive engagement with other government departments and statutory consultees, the Accelerator, as a convener and broker, has also helped progress a number of other sites with the capacity to deliver more than 20,000 homes, including Cowley Hill in Liverpool and Wolborough in Devon.

We are unable to provide information on other sites which were submitted as part of the call for evidence and that have not been publicly announced as that information was provided on a confidential basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-14 conversation_117

Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help councils (a) re-establish Housing Revenue Accounts and (b) become the direct provider of new council homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: If a local authority has over 199 social and affordable homes, it must open a Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and we invite any council that is considering this to engage with the Department.

We know from our engagement with non-HRA holding councils, that many would like to increase their current levels of housing delivery, but that the cost of opening a HRA can make this difficult. That is why I have asked my officials to explore whether the current threshold is set at the right level, or if a different threshold would enable councils to reach a level of housing provision that would better enable them to meet the costs of opening and managing an HRA.

In 2023-24, councils delivered just over 8,950 affordable homes. We want to support all councils – both HRA holding and non-HRA holding – to boost their levels of direct delivery so that we can achieve the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. We have begun this process through a series of measures designed to enhance councils’ capacity, capability, and confidence to build again at scale, as detailed in my answer to Question UIN 31737 on 27 February 2025.