theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to make an assessment of the potential (a) costs and (b) merits of local government reorganisation in Surrey. \p Alison McGovern: As set out to the House on 17 June, two proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey were received on 9 May. In accordance with the guidance provided to two-tier areas, it is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. Councils are responsible for working through the implications relating to local government reorganisation, including costs and merits.

Following the Government’s consultation which closed on 5 August, the proposals for Surrey will be considered carefully against the published criteria, alongside the responses received and all other relevant information. It would be inappropriate to comment at this stage or give a view on specific unitary proposals, or to pre-empt future decisions under the statutory process for unitarisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what discussions the Local Government Pension Scheme has had with the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. \p Alison McGovern: The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is managed locally by its administering authorities. Discussions between Mayors and administering authorities are a matter for those parties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether new unitary councils will be elected (a) all-out and (b) by thirds. \p Alison McGovern: Our expectation is to provide for whole council elections, consistent with the approach taken in previous unitarisations where new councils were established under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to publish a report on proposals for local government reorganisation in Surrey. \p Alison McGovern: On 17 June, MHCLG launched a consultation on two proposals for unitary local government made by Surrey councils. That consultation closed on 5 August. A decision will now be made on which proposal, if any, to implement by assessing the proposals against the criteria set out in the statutory guidance accompanying the invitation, and having regard to all representations received to the consultation, and to all other relevant information available. In line with usual practice, a summary of the consultation responses will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on what the average Band D parish precept was in (a) Wiltshire, (b) Shropshire and (c) Cornwall in each year since 2008-09. \p Alison McGovern: The Department publishes annual council tax level statistics, including town and parish council precepts. Statistics for 2025-26 can be found on gov.uk here. Table 2 shows council tax by class of authority and Table 6 shows the average Band D parish precept for England.

The Band D council tax figures by local authority from 1993-94 to 2025-26 are published on gov.uk here. These show Band D council tax including and excluding parish precepts for all local authorities.

Information on individual parish precepts has been collected by the Department annually since 2010-11.

Data for 2016-17 to 2025-26 are available here: Live tables on Council Tax - GOV.UK. Data for 2010-11 to 2015-16 are available here: Council Tax statistics - GOV.UK.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to meet representatives of the Public and Commercial Services Union to discuss the industrial action affecting her Department. \p Samantha Dixon: There is ongoing dialogue between representatives of Public and Commercial Services Union representatives and departmental officials. Departmental officials are responsible for employment related matters and are best placed to engage with the Trade Union. The relevant ministers are updated regularly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish each Electronic Purchasing Card transaction on her department's cards since 4 July 2024, listing the (a) merchant name, (b) date, (c) volume and (d) transaction type for every transaction, including those under £500. \p Samantha Dixon: In line with Cabinet Office guidance MHCLG currently publishes details of all spending over £500 using an electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS) on a monthly basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing (a) penalties and (b) redress mechanisms where leaseholders were not properly informed about the (i) risks and (ii) financial obligations associated with their lease. \p Matthew Pennycook: Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, property listings must not omit information that the average consumer needs to make an informed transactional decision.

On 9 February, the government announced action to improve the availability of property information. This will help transactions run more smoothly by ensuring all parties are able to access the information they need at the right time.

In addition, the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 contains measures to protect leasehold homeowners, including specific measures to improve the home buying and selling process by ensuring information required to sell a leasehold home is accessible at a reasonable cost. We will be consulting on the secondary legislation that is required to switch on these measures in due course.

We continue to work with stakeholders across industry, government, and the public sector to understand the most effective way of supporting buyers to make the right decisions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with the Planning Inspectorate to help ensure that local plans developed by planning authorities include achievable housing targets. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a new Standard Method for assessing housing needs that is aligned to our Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the end of this Parliament.

The standard method is used by local authorities to inform the preparation of their local plans. Once local housing need has been assessed, authorities should then make an assessment of the number of new homes that can be provided in their area. This should be justified by evidence on land availability, constraints on development, such as National Landscapes and areas at risk of flooding, and any other relevant matters. The approach taken is then be tested by the Planning Inspector during the examination of the Local Plan.

Local planning authorities can only adopt a plan that is sound. The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that a sound plan should be positively prepared, deliverable over the plan period, based on proportionate evidence, and consistent with national policy. Plans should also take the views of local people into account. Each plan, including the local housing requirement, is subject to a public examination in front of an independent Inspector, who plays an important role in examining plans impartially to ensure that they are legally compliant and sound.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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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 national distribution of the length of time between the date on which developers and local authorities agree funding under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the date on which developers transfer funds under that agreement. \p Matthew Pennycook: Planning practice guidance on planning obligations, which can be found on gov.uk here, states that the terms of commuted contributions should form part of the discussions between a developer and a local planning authority and be reflected in any planning obligations agreement.

Agreements should include clauses stating when the local planning authority should be notified of the completion of units within the development and when the funds should be paid. Authorities can also charge a monitoring fee through section 106 planning obligations, to cover the cost of monitoring and reporting on delivery of that section 106 obligation.

Any local planning authority that receives a contribution from development through section 106 planning obligations must prepare and publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement at least annually.

Reporting on developer contributions helps local communities and developers see how contributions have been spent and understand what future funds will be spent on, ensuring a transparent and accountable system.

Detailed guidance and an infrastructure funding statement template can be found on the planning advisory service website. However, the chief planner has written to local planning authorities to remind them of their statutory duty to prepare and publish an infrastructure funding statement where they receive developer contributions via section 106 or community infrastructure levy.

The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions, including section 106 planning obligations, to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. We will provide further details in due course.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to consult on the repeal of Strategic Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments regime. \p Matthew Pennycook: As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 16 December 2024 (HCWS317), we will, in due course, replace the current EU derived systems of Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment with Environmental Outcomes Reports (EORs). These will be a more effective and outcome-focused tool for managing the effects of development on the natural environment.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 contains a number of duties to consult on the core elements of the new EOR system, including the setting of outcomes and repealing existing legislation.

Until a new system is implemented, current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the introduction of National Development Management Policies; and whether she has made changes to the policy developed by the previous Administration. \p Matthew Pennycook: We intend to consult on a set of national decision making policies later this year.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered introducing additional measures to support first-time buyers. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60807 on 30 June 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66192 on Emergency Services: Employers' Contributions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of basing allocations on net current expenditure on the level of mitigation made to fire and rescue authorities. \p Alison McGovern: We recognise the challenges that fire and rescue authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services.

In 2025-26 the Government provided £2 billion of additional grant funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement, including a total of £515 million to manage the impact of employer National Insurance Contribution changes for councils and combined authorities. The level of this funding was determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff, taking into account the impacts of the changes on different types of local authorities. The grant distribution methodology was published in an explanatory note on gov.uk here.

This methodology was updated at the final 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, following feedback raised by stakeholders through the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement consultation.
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Gill Furniss:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to remove the sanction of imprisonment for non-payment of Council Tax in England as part of wider proposed sentencing reforms. \p Alison McGovern: The sanction of imprisonment for non-payment of council tax only applies where the court is satisfied that non-payment is due to wilful refusal to pay or culpable neglect. A person cannot be imprisoned for being unable to pay their council tax.

The government is currently consulting on modernising and improving the administration of council tax, and this includes seeking views on changes to how councils collect and enforce council tax. The government will publish its response to the consultation in due course.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the total council tax receipts in England from 2024-25 and each subsequent year of the spending review. \p Alison McGovern: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 66939 on 11 July 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the abolition of fixed term tenancies on the security of tenure for rental properties for those who needed to be in an area for a fixed period. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Renters’ Rights Bill will ensure that tenants enjoy greater security of tenure. The introduction of a new tenancy system based on periodic tenancies will ensure tenants have the flexibility to stay in a property for as long as they need to. Tenants will need to provide two months’ notice when leaving a tenancy. Landlords will only be able to evict a tenant in reasonable circumstances as set out in this legislation.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to amend (a) planning policy and (b) permitted development rights in relation to asylum accommodation. \p Matthew Pennycook: This government is committed to ending the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament, but we are clear this must be done in a controlled and orderly manner.

We continue to keep our approach, including in respect of planning and permitted development rights, under review.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document entitled Secretary of State opinion on Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI) to Portsmouth City Council, published on 14 August 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of that opinion on (a) economic development and (b) housebuilding in Portsmouth. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Secretary of State ‘opinion’ on Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI) to Portsmouth City Council can be found on gov.uk here. It sets out the Secretary of State’s consideration of IROPI together with full reasons in respect of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Having issued this decision, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
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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 potential impact of reforms to Level 7 apprenticeships on the Pathways to Planning programme. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 67508 on 21 July 2025 and Question UIN 54911 on 10 June 2025.
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Dr Allison Gardner:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of implementing an expanded national programme of Housing First to tackle homelessness. \p Alison McGovern: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 72851 on 15 September 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government is taking steps to monitor fraud under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure business rate relief scheme, in the context of businesses falsely claiming a discount when they would otherwise be subject to the £110,000 cap. \p Alison McGovern: Business rates are administered by local government, and it is for local authorities to determine eligibility for reliefs, having regard to guidance issued by the government.

The government will not tolerate any business falsifying their records or providing false evidence to gain relief, including claiming support above the cash cap. As set out in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief guidance (Business Rates Relief: 2025/26 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme - GOV.UK) ratepayers cannot exceed the £110,000 cash cap across their properties. Any ratepayer who falsely applies for any relief, provides false information or makes false representation in order to gain relief may be guilty of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006 and may be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both.

The government remains committed to taking the necessary action to tackle business rates avoidance and evasion over the course of this Parliament.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of postal vote applications that were not renewed between April 2021 and April 2024. \p Samantha Dixon: The department does not actively track trends in the level of postal vote renewals, or the number and proportion of postal vote applications that were not renewed, over any period.

Information relating to postal vote applications will be held by independent Electoral Registration Officers rather than the UK Government and so it is not possible to provide more information about the number of postal vote applications that were not renewed during any period.

The department will continue to work with the Electoral Commission and with local authorities to support independent Electoral Registration Officers with postal vote application activities.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Allotment Act 1925 for protecting allotments from being sold by local authorities. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Under the Small Holdings and Allotment Act 1908, local authorities have a duty to provide allotments if there is sufficient demand. The responsibility for the running, management, and organisation of these allotments also falls on the local authority. A local authority, when faced with sufficient demand, must acquire suitable land, freehold or leasehold by agreement or, if necessary, by compulsion. At present, we have made no formal assessment of the effectiveness of the Act to ensure demand is met by district and parish councils.

We are content with effectiveness of the clearly defined legal process to protect allotments as outlined under the Allotments Act 1925. The National Allotment Society stated that the eight approvals quoted in parliament from July 2024 to July 2025 represented a slight decrease in allotment disposals in recent years, and that it had not challenged any of the applications as they had all met the legal threshold with either low take-up of plots or alternative allotment space provided elsewhere.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much was spent on the Affordable Housing Programme (a) 2015-2018 and (b) (2016-2021) in each year of operation; and how much has (i) been spent and (b) is forecast to be spent for the Affordable Housing Programme 2021-26 in each year of its operation, including funding allocated to London and mayoral combined authorities. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government’s affordable homes programmes are delivered by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London and by Homes England in the rest of England.

Homes England’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2024/25, which can be found on gov.uk here, make clear that by the end of that financial year Homes England had invested £6.08 billion of its £8 billion budget for the 2021-26 programme and the full £4.9bn budget for the 2016-21 programme.

The GLA does not publish details of its capital spending for individual programmes.

The Affordable Housing Programme for 2015-2018 was extended to 2020 at the Autumn Statement 2014. However, the programme was interrupted at the 2015 Spending Review and the remaining programme budget was consolidated into the Affordable Homes Programme for 2016-2023. Delivery data for the 2015-18 programme is set out in the National Audit Office (NAO) Report: The Affordable Homes Programme since 2015. The report can be found on the NAO website here.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of families that have been living in emergency accommodation for longer than the six-week legal limit. \p Alison McGovern: The Department publishes quarterly statistics on statutory homelessness in England, which can be found on gov.uk here. The latest quarterly data was published on 22 July 2025, covering January to March 2025.

The number of under 18s in temporary accommodation in English local authorities is included in the data (TA8), including by age on a local authority level. Councils must ensure that temporary accommodation is suitable for the needs of the household and should keep the suitability of accommodation under review. The Homelessness Code of Guidance for local authorities sets out the factors to be taken into account when determining the suitability of accommodation..

The latest quarterly statistics includes additional data tables on the English regions that out of area placements have been made to, by the local authority or region that they have been placed from (TA9). The data does not provide a breakdown of the number of households with children. The Department does not collect address level data that would allow the tracking of the distance households have moved

The number of households in B&B accommodation with children and resident more than six weeks is included in the data (TA1).
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Lizzi Collinge:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle (a) delays, (b) administrative burdens and (c) the availability of approved contractors to improve the operation of the Disabled Facilities Grant. \p Alison McGovern: The Government recognises the importance of timely and efficient delivery of home adaptations, including through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), to help enable older and disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide adaptations for people who satisfy a needs assessment, eligibility criteria and a means test, and have powers to agree a more generous local policy. To support this duty, government have boosted funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to £711 million for both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Government guidance Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) delivery: guidance for local authorities in England  on the effective delivery of the grant, sets out best practice delivery to meet statutory timescales. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide a decision on a DFG application within 6 months of receipt, and the works must usually be completed within 12 months of the approval date. This guidance also outlines how councils can develop a local housing assistance policy to improve efficiency and better address the needs of their local communities.

Government also funds a national body for DFGs and home improvement agencies, currently Foundations, to provide support and advice to local authorities to help them deliver the DFG as efficiently as possible. In December 2024 Foundations launched the Home Adaptations Installer Network, Introducing the Home Adaptations Installer Network: Raising the Bar for Quality and Trust a tool for engaging with TrustMark registered contractors to deliver home adaptations.

Government continues to keep all aspects of the DFG under consideration. As part of this, government is consulting until 16 September 2025 on a new approach to the way government allocates capital DFG funding to local authorities in England to ensure funding for the grant is better aligned with local needs. The consultation can be accessed here.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration she has made of introducing a council tax referendum threshold for town and parish councils with precepts above £100 on Band D. \p Alison McGovern: To date, no referendum principles have been set for town and parish councils. Referendum principles are determined annually and the Government will set out its proposals for 2026-27 later in the year. In doing this the Government will take into account the levels previously set by town and parish councils.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local highways authorities on the placement of not formally authorised (a) flags, (b) banners and (c) advertisements from (i) lampposts and (ii) other local authority street furniture since 4 July 2024. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The government supports the flying of flags across the country. Flags should be an embodiment of bringing our country and our communities together. Guidance exists, such as ‘Flying flags: a plain English guide” - as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 (as amended in 2012 and 2021) – which outlines the regulations related to the flying of flags in England.
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Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of civil servants in her Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Due to the nature of locally managed arrangements, we are unable to confirm the total number of staff currently utilising flexible working options. However, we can confirm that, as of 31 August 2025, 1,158 payroll-active employees have formally arranged flexible working in place. This represents approximately 29% of the workforce. Of these, 690 employees have formal compressed hours arrangements, equating to 17% of the workforce.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether assessment of local housing needs includes (a) share of second homes, (b) prevalence of short-term lets and (c) local house-price-to-income ratios. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government’s revised standard method for assessing local housing need, introduced in December 2024, uses a baseline of local housing stock, adjusted for affordability using median workplace-based affordability ratios. The affordability adjustment directs more homes to where they are most needed.

As set out in the government’s response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, the revised standard method does not adjust the housing stock baseline to account for vacant and second homes.

Local authorities have powers available to respond to locally specific concerns related to vacant and second homes.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with local government representatives on mandating the use of British made bricks in house building programmes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is working with industry to ensure the housebuilding sector has access to the construction materials needed to build 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this parliament.

We expect suppliers to increase capacity to meet demand, and we have seen deliveries of bricks in England, Scotland and Wales increase by 10% in the year to April 2025.

Added to that, construction materials prices are stable, rising only 1% between January 2024 and January 2025, far below the rate of inflation for the wider UK economy.

We are engaging with the wider sector to support the use of British-made bricks, but there are currently no plans to mandate their use.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 40908 on New Towns: Planning Permission, whether she has received representations from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation on removing the Site of Special Scientific Interest designation to facilitate the redevelopment of Ebbsfleet Central West. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Secretary of State has received no representations from the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation to remove the Site of Special Scientific Interest designation at Ebbsfleet.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the forthcoming long-term housing strategy will address the (a) viability and (b) supply of supported housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government intends to publish a long-term housing strategy later this year. For obvious reasons, we do not intend to share details about tis content ahead of publication.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the level of demand for skilled carpenters in the housebuilding sector over the next five years. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 32067 on 3 March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_394

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the number of housing starts in London in Q2 2025 on her target to build 1.5 million homes over this Parliament. \p Matthew Pennycook: Delivering historic levels of housebuilding in London is a critical part of the government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes within this parliament.

The government fully recognises the scale and breadth of the housing delivery challenge in London. We are committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, boroughs and wider partners to significantly increase housing delivery to meet these ambitions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_395

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement on Local Government Reorganisation of 3 June 2025,  HCWS676, for what reason Bedfordshire has not received funding to support development of proposals for a Mayoral Combined Authority. \p Alison McGovern: Local government reorganisation and the establishment of mayoral combined authorities through devolution are separate processes. While funding was made available for the 21 two-tier areas developing proposals for new unitary authorities as part of local government reorganisation, funding for devolution is not available until strategic authorities are being established.

Bedfordshire will not receive funding to deliver local government reorganisation as it is already an area with unitary authorities. Bedfordshire is also currently not part of a mayoral strategic authority. Next steps for future waves of devolution will be confirmed in due course, subject to further ministerial decisions and local conversations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_396

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department’s fair funding review for local authorities on adult social care provision for people of working age. \p Alison McGovern: The government is committed to transforming adult social care, including for people of working age, and making tangible improvements in the short-term. The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion available for adult social care in 2028-29 compared to 2025-26.

We have consulted on proposals, as part of ‘The Fair Funding Review 2.0’, to ensure adult social care funding reflects an up-to-date assessment of need, including updating the Adult Social Care Relative Needs Formula (ASC RNF) with the most recent data. The ‘Fair Funding Review 2.0’ proposals are a fundamental step to improving the sustainability of the sector and will allow councils to focus on service delivery and transformation.

We are considering ‘The Fair Funding Review 2.0’ consultation responses; decisions are yet to be taken that will determine final allocations for local authorities overall. We will respond to the consultation in due course and will set out further details at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_397

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the age profile of local government officers eligible for redundancy following the implementation of local government reform (a) in Cambridgeshire and (b) nationally. \p Alison McGovern: Councils, as employers, are responsible for managing the staffing implications of Local Government Reorganisation.

In our invitations to councils, we asked areas to set out in their proposals how they will seek to manage transition costs, which we expect to include any staffing implications.

We anticipate that the vast majority of council workers will transfer to new organisations, and workers will be protected by the relevant employment laws, including the Local Government (Structural and Boundary Changes) (Staffing) Regulations 2008.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_398

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what additional monitoring of HM Land Registry her Department has undertaken since July 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: As its sponsor department, MHCLG undertakes a range of activities to hold HM Land Registry (HMLR) to account for its organisational, corporate and governance performance.

A departmental representative sits on the Land Registry Board (LRB) and its subcommittees to review and scrutinise HMLR’s performance against its annual business plans and key performance indicators.

The Minister or Senior Sponsor issues an annual letter to the chair of the board, setting out the department’s priorities for HMLR over the coming year. The latest letter was issued in February 2025 and can be found on gov.uk here. The department holds regular meetings with HMLR executives and the LRB chair, including a quarterly sponsorship governance and performance meeting.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_399

Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to address the loophole in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 whereby freeholders can retain undemised flats to prevent buildings from qualifying for collective enfranchisement. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government wants to support leaseholders to take control of the management of their buildings through the right to manage or to enfranchise should they wish to do so. That is why we have already implemented the provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold reform act to remove the two-year qualifying period before people can enfranchise or extend their lease.

Where a freeholder owns a flat within a building this is no bar to leaseholders exercising their right to manage or to enfranchise. However, we recognise that if a freeholder owns a substantial portion of a building, claims are likely to be difficult. We would welcome any evidence of freeholders choosing to retain flats within buildings in order to complicate right to manage or enfranchisement proceedings.

The Government has committed to further reform the leasehold system by enacting remaining Law Commission recommendations relating to enfranchisement and the Right to Manage.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_400

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of automatic planning permission for extending helipad operation hours at major trauma hospitals. \p Matthew Pennycook: Operating hours are usually set locally, by condition, following the grant of planning permission. If there are conditions restricting operating hours, these can be varied or removed through a section 73 application following local consideration of the benefits and any local impacts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_401

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a (a) single mandatory redress and (b) ombudsman scheme for freeholders on private estates who want to challenge management charges. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government remains committed to protecting residential freeholders on private and mixed-tenure housing estates from unfair charges.

We will consult this year on implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act's consumer protection provisions for the up to 1.75 million homes that are subject to these charges, and bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness of such charges at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager.

The government is also determined to end the injustice of 'fleecehold' entirely and we will consult this year on legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements, which are the root cause of the problems experienced by many residential freeholders.

Managing agents play a key role in the maintenance of freehold estates.

On 4 July, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. It can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation includes proposals to strengthen the regulation of managing agents.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_402

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the letter to the Hon Member for Thirsk and Malton, from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, of 15 August 2025, when the Minister of State for Housing and Planning first became aware that the applicant had not provided unredacted drawings to the planning application. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does not comment on live planning cases.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_403

Bobby Dean:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce a national (a) framework and (b) funding stream to support local authorities in purchasing ex-council homes in areas of (i) high vacancy and (ii) visible decline. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has no plans to introduce a national framework and funding stream of the kind suggested.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_404

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) building regulations and (b) planning policy on levels of installation of air conditioning in new build homes. \p Samantha Dixon: Part O of the Building Regulations, which was introduced in June 2021 and came into force in June 2022, ensures new homes are designed to minimise the risk of overheating.

Given the Government’s net zero commitment, our preferred means of mitigating overheating is through passive measures, which ensure little or no energy is required to manage indoor temperatures. While mechanical cooling, such as air conditioning, is effective at reducing overheating, it is not a desirable or financially efficient solution due to the energy it consumes. Widespread reliance on mechanical cooling would place additional demand on the national grid, slowing the transition to a zero-carbon system and requiring further generation capacity. There are also implications for households, as the costs associated with mechanical cooling could exacerbate fuel poverty where people are unable to afford to run cooling systems.

Mechanical cooling can still be used to comply with Part O. However developers must first demonstrate that all reasonable passive measures have been implemented before adopting mechanical solutions.