Written questions by Strathern.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help reduce the average waiting time for a decision from the Housing Ombudsman Service.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 118414 on 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the merits of including low cost effective property flood resilience measures in (a) the Future Homes Standard and (b) building regulations.

The Government is committed to building the homes the country needs while ensuring they are safe from flooding. The Building Regulations set minimum standards for all new dwellings. The Future Homes Standard will focus on the energy efficiency and carbon emission standards within the Building Regulations and will not encompass flood resilience measures. Statutory guidance to the Building Regulations in Approved Document C promotes the use of flood resilient and resistant construction in flood prone areas, without placing undue costs onto any properties that do not require further flood resilience measures.

Communities and Local Government, when her Department's proposals for planning restrictions on heat pumps will be implemented.

Nationally set permitted development rights enable the installation of air and ground source heat pumps without the need to submit a planning application. The previous government consulted on proposed changes to these rights, and on 21 November we announced our intention to amend the existing permitted development right for air source heat pumps in early 2025, to allow more flexibility in installation and size of heat pumps. Further information can be found here.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing the local connection test for care leavers seeking to access temporary accommodation.

Homelessness legislation includes eligibility criteria such as the local connection test, to ensure that resources are prioritised effectively, ensuring accommodation is there for people who need it most.There are already existing provisions in homelessne...

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to mandate that swift bricks are required to be added to all new houses.

The Government is considering what action may be appropriate to drive up rates of swift brick installation in new build properties.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of households in (a) the UK and (b) Hitchin constituency that are located on estate roads that have not been adopted by their local authority as of 23 July 2023.

The requested information is not held by the department.The Government is committed to taking steps to bring the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ private estates and unfair maintenance costs to an end and we will consult on the best way to achieve this.In the interim, we will act quickly to provide residential freeholders with greater protections by implementing the relevant provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.