Written questions by Griffith.

Communities and Local Government, how many properties have been purchased by the Local Authority Housing Fund in (a) the Chichester District, (b) the Horsham District, (c) the Arun District and (d) aggregate for

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications were submitted for change of use into Class E for each of the last three years.

My Department does not hold the information requested.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2025 to Question 97277 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, if he will modify the Business Rates Information Letter (5/2025) sent to English Billing Authorities on 26 November 2025 so that the calculation for Base Liability aligns with the case studies in the Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Factsheet.

The Business Rates Information Letter (5/2025) is already aligned with the Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure factsheet. On 15 December 2025, the government published the 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief local authority guidance which is intended to support billing authorities in administering the scheme. It can be viewed on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, if he will modify the Business Rates Information Letter (5/2025) sent to English Billing Authorities on 26 November so that that the formula for the calculation of Transitional Relief calculates 2025-26 BL as A multiplied by M minus RHL relief where applicable.

At the Budget the Chancellor announced a Transitional Relief Scheme and a Supporting Small Business Relief scheme – both of which help ratepayers that are seeing significant bill increases as a result of the 2026 business rates revaluation. The 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme provides support for ratepayer losing certain reliefs including the current 40% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. As is made clear in paragraph 8(b) of the Annex to the Business Rates Information Letter issued on 26 November, the Base Liability (BL) within the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme will reflect any Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief or 2025/26 Retail Hospitality and Leisure relief applicable at 31/3/26.

Communities and Local Government, when he will publish guidance for Businesses on the application of the a.) Transition Relief Scheme, b.) Transition Relief Supplement, and c.) Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.

At the Budget the Chancellor announced a business rates Transitional Relief, Transitional Relief Supplement and Supporting Small Business Relief. Regulations providing for the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Transitional Relief Supplement must be made by 31 January 2026 and will be laid in the coming weeks. The Government will publish guidance for local authorities on the administration of the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme in the coming weeks ahead of the 2026/27 billing cycle. The Government has provided information on the Transitional and Supporting Small Business Reliefs that will apply from 1 April 2026 on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with planning authorities in the (a) South West, (b) South East, (c) West Midlands, (d) East Midlands and (e) the East of England on the designation of new green belts.

Government policy in respect of the designation of new Green Belts may be found in Chapter 13 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which sets out that new Green Belts should be established only in exceptional circumstances. The Framework was recently updated following extensive consultation, including with local planning authorities.

Communities and Local Government, what HM Land Registry's average response time is on requests to merge title deeds.

The government does not hold the information in the format requested.HM Land Registry processing times for a range of broad application categories can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

Paternity Leave entitlement is based on 26 weeks of continuous service ending with the 15th week before the baby is due. Qualifying service includes employment with another civil service organisation.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.