Written questions by Kearns.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2025 to Question 25333 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: China, whether those checks have revealed attempts by organisations controlled by (a) the Hong Kong Trade Office, (b) the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and (c) Confucius Institutes to access Government funding.

Checks are conducted on all organisations that apply to receive money from the department. These checks are to ensure that the department is satisfied insofar as is possible with the information available, that the organisation is suitable to receive government funding. My department is not aware of any links between government funded programmes or attempts to receive government funding and the organisations named.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Almshouse Association is eligible for support through (a) Section 106 agreements and (b) the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Section 106 planning obligations assist in mitigating the impact of unacceptable development to make it acceptable in planning terms, including through the provision of affordable housing. Whether accommodation provided by almshouse charities can be secured through a section 106 agreement is a matter for the decision maker, taking into account the National Planning Policy Framework and other material considerations. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) cannot be used to fund affordable housing. However, there is greater flexibility in how the neighbourhood portion of CIL may be spent. This could include provision of accommodation provided by almshouses, provided this meets the requirement to ‘support the development of the area’. In addition, accommodation provided by almshouses is eligible for a CIL exemption. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20627 on 6 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance (a) her Department has and (b) its predecessor Departments have issued to councils on including within their constitutions provision for public participation at council meetings.

We have been clear that it is not for Government to micromanage local authorities. We do not provide guidance on allowing public participation, such as deputations, at formal local authority meetings; it is for individual authorities to decide what public participation they may permit and to put in place procedures that work for them and their residents. In support of open and accountable local government, formal council meetings must be open to the public except in limited defined circumstances where legislation requires or allows the meeting to be closed to the public.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to Councils on the process for residents to issue deputations at meetings; and whether residents are required to provide the full text of their deputation in advance.

We have been clear that it is not for Government to micromanage local authorities. We do not provide guidance on allowing public participation, such as deputations, at formal local authority meetings; it is for individual authorities to decide what public participation they may permit and to put in place procedures that work for them and their residents. In support of open and accountable local government, formal council meetings must be open to the public except in limited defined circumstances where legislation requires or allows the meeting to be closed to the public.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter from the Secretary of State for the Home Department and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the planning and listed building consent applications by the Chinese Embassy in the UK for the redevelopment of the Royal Mint Court site in Tower Hamlets, dated 14 January, whether that letter will be admissible to the examination, in the context of being submitted after the deadline of 2 December 2024 for comments by interested parties.

The conduct of the public inquiry is a matter for the Planning Inspectorate.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with (a) Ministers and (b) hon. Members on the application for a proposed Chinese Embassy.

As has been the case under successive administrations, government does not normally disclose details of internal discussions or discussions with Members of Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether the Government has plans to allow referendums to authorise local authority merges.

It will be essential for councils to work with local partners, including MPs, to develop plans for sustainable unitary structures capable of delivering the high-quality public services that residents need and deserve. It is for councils to decide how best to engage locally in a meaningful and constructive way when developing their proposals. We will consult a range of stakeholders in areas where we receive proposals for reorganisation, as required by statute. I will write to local authorities in further detail, inviting proposals for local government reorganisation and setting out the criteria to be used to assess proposals, in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what plans her Department has to consult with the public on proposals for local government reforms.

For local government reorganisation, it will be essential for councils to work with local partners, stakeholders, and MPs, to develop plans for sustainable unitary structures capable of delivering the high-quality public services that residents need and deserve. It is for councils to decide how best to engage locally, including with residents, in a meaningful and constructive way when developing their proposals.We will consult a range of stakeholders in areas where we receive proposals for reorganisation, as required by statute. I will write to local authorities in further detail, inviting proposals for local government reorganisation and setting out the criteria to be used to assess proposals, in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has allocated funding to organisations controlled by (a) the Hong Kong Trade Office, (b) the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and (c) Confucius Institutes.

Checks are conducted on all organisations that receive money from the Department to be satisfied insofar as is possible with the information available, that the organisation is suitable to receive Government funding.

Communities and Local Government, what checks her Department undertakes before providing funding to community organisations for Hong Kongers in the UK.

The Government takes the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously and my department works closely with the Home Office and the FCDO, as well as other government departments, to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders.The department assesses the appropriateness and suitability of all potential grant funding recipients, and their ability to deliver the support required as part of HMG’s BN(O) Welcome Programme. This Programme reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the UK by taking up BN(O) status at the point of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997.In deciding whether to make a grant award to any organisation through the Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme, checks are conducted on all organisations to be satisfied insofar as is possible with the information available, that the organisation is suitable to receive Government funding.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposals within the English Devolution White Paper on the (a) borders and (b) status of ceremonial counties.

The proposals within the English Devolution White Paper will not directly impact the borders or status of ceremonial counties which do not exist for the purposes of local government administration. Where areas develop proposals for local government reorganisation, we will work with councils to consider any implications for the ceremonial counties.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 22092 on Local Government: Reform, whether local council mergers will be required under the English Devolution White Paper.

On 16 December, I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries alongside the English Devolution White Paper, to set out our plans. I intend to formally invite unitary proposals in January 2025 from all these councils and I will ask for interim plans in March. I am open to hearing from other councils who consider reorganisation will put them on a more sustainable footing. As set out in the White Paper, I will take a phased approach to delivery, taking into account where reorganisation can unlock devolution, where areas are keen to move quickly or where it can help address wider failings.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether unitary local authorities will be required to merge with neighbouring councils to meet the 500,000 target.

On 16 December, I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries alongside the White Paper, to set out our plans. I intend to formally invite unitary proposals in January 2025 from all these councils. I will ask for interim plans in March and I am open to hearing from other councils who consider reorganisation will put them on a more sustainable footing. I will take a phased approach to delivery, taking into account where reorganisation can unlock devolution, where areas are keen to move quickly or where it can help address wider failings.New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis.

Communities and Local Government, when the next round of the Community Ownership Fund will open for applications.

Following the announcement of Round 4 Window 1 outcomes on 23 December 2024, the Community Ownership Fund (COF) is now closed.There will be no further application windows on the COF programme.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had discussions with representatives of the Chinese government on the application to build a new Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets.

Officials in my Department have met with representatives of the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of this engagement was to explain the operation of the UK planning system. Details of the application for a new Chinese embassy were not discussed.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to assess national security considerations when determining whether to grant planning permission for a new Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question HL3240 on 19 December 2024.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Prime Minister requested she call-in the application for a new Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets after his phone call with the President of China on 23 August 2024.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17009 on 6 December 2024.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to respond to the consultation entitled The Future Homes and Buildings Standards: 2023 consultation which closed on 27 March 2024.

The Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024, and a government response has not yet been issued. We fully support the need for low carbon homes, fit for a net zero future. We are reviewing proposals and feedback from the Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation and will publish the Government response in due course.