Written questions by Snowden.

Communities and Local Government, whether the government has any plans to amend the Localism Act 2011 in this Parliament.

The Localism Act 2011 covers a broad range of local government and community empowerment matters, and the government keeps this legislative framework under review. The government is committed to widening and deepening devolution across England, rebuilding and reforming local government and giving communities stronger tools to shape their local areas. The government is delivering on this through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, by devolving powers to local leaders across areas such as transport, skills, housing and growth, and by enhancing community empowerment, including greater influence over local decision-making and control over local assets.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of postal delays on the delivery of postal ballots for 2026 local elections.

Local Returning Officers undertake stringent risk assessments and contingency planning as part of running elections, including the monitoring of known or emerging postal issues. Officials in the Ministry of Housing and Communities and Local Government meet regularly with suppliers to discuss matters relating to elections including capacity, capability and contingency planning, and I will meet with senior representatives of Royal Mail to discuss preparedness ahead of the May elections.

Communities and Local Government, what protections are in place for freehold homeowners who were required to enter into management agreements through TP1 transfer documents at the point of purchase.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) regulators and (b) industry bodies on reform of private estate management practices.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with regulators or industry bodies on reform of private estate management practices.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to ensure that administration fees and late payment charges applied by estate management companies are proportionate and transparent.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure licences granted for Houses of Multiple Occupancy do not adversely impact community cohesion.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 110684 on 11 February 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of mould and damp in council-owned housing in England.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 37561 on 19 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve accountability for councils not resolving mould and damp complaints from tenants.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 113896 on 2 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is able to provide the conveyancing sector to digitise the property transaction process.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103007 on 13 January 2026.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking any steps to assist the digitisation of the conveyancing process.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103007 on 13 January 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what conditions are attached to the Exceptional Financial Support granted to councils in 2026; and whether those conditions include requirements for (a) asset disposals, (b) service reductions and (c) workforce restructuring.

This government is delivering fairer funding, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. However, delivering reform will take time, and the government recognises the challenging financial context for local authorities as they continue to deal with the legacy of the previous flawed system. On 23 February government published details of Exceptional Financial Support provided to a number of councils to help them set balanced budgets for 2026-27. Full details of all support agreed under the Exceptional Financial Support process since 2020-21 are available on GOV.UK. As a requirement of support, the government will be seeking additional external assurance on all of these councils to support local improvement as well as provide an assessment on the actions each council is taking locally to manage its position.

Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have applied for Exceptional Financial Support in each financial year since 2020; and what the total value of support approved has been in each year.

This government is delivering fairer funding, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. However, delivering reform will take time, and the government recognises the challenging financial context for local authorities as they continue to deal with the legacy of the previous flawed system. On 23 February government published details of Exceptional Financial Support provided to a number of councils to help them set balanced budgets for 2026-27. Full details of all support agreed under the Exceptional Financial Support process since 2020-21 are available on GOV.UK. As a requirement of support, the government will be seeking additional external assurance on all of these councils to support local improvement as well as provide an assessment on the actions each council is taking locally to manage its position.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to publish proposals for a long-term funding settlement for adult social care during this Parliament.

The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026-27 to 2028-29 sets out multi-yearsettlements for local authorities, including upper tier authorities that have social care responsibilities. As part of this, the government have set out the funding available to local authorities for adult social care over three years, with around £4.6 billion of additional funding being made available for adult social care in 2028-29 compared to 2025-26. Alongside a document setting out priority outcomes and expectations for local authorities’ delivery of adult social care from 2026-27, the Department of Health and Social Care has published local authority level notional allocations for adult social care to facilitate local authority budget setting and plans to progress the delivery of adult social care priorities. Notional allocations are not formal spend expectations but will instead act as a reference point to support local authorities in budget-setting. These will be reviewed annually to reflect new data and any wider changes in local government funding. The provisional Local Government Settlement consultation has closed and the government will publish the final details in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of restrictions on local councillors who are in debt to the authority they are a member of.

Provisions on the declaration and registration of councillor interests restrict them from participating in decisions where they may have a conflict of interest. Participating in a decision where there is a conflict of interest may be a breach of codes of conduct and potentially a criminal offence.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Property Redress Scheme in providing impartial and evidence-based dispute resolution for leaseholders and tenants.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 76613 and Question UIN 76612 on 16 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the ability of people to sell tenanted properties in the case of inheritance.

My Department has made no such assessment.The Renters’ Rights Act introduces a new ground for landlords who wish to sell their property, Ground 1A. This enables landlords to evict a tenant when they wish to sell their property if it is not possible or appropriate to sell with a sitting tenant.Some landlords may find it quicker and easier to sell with sitting tenants. We encourage them to do so when the circumstances are right.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of directors being on the boards of housing developers and building management companies simultaneously on conflicts of interest.

The Companies Act 2006 sets out the rules around conflicts of interests for the directors of boards.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the ability of vulnerable groups to access planning consultations.

Under the Equality Act 2010, all public bodies have a Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) to have due regard to certain equality considerations when exercising their functions, this includes public engagements such as planning consultations. Planning consultations are carried out through a range of methods and local planning authorities are required to publish these on their website. Public authorities must make their website accessible and publish and keep updated an accessibility statement on their website. The duty should always be applied in a proportionate way depending on the circumstances of the case and the seriousness of the potential equality impact.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to ensure that monies raised in a geographic are ringfenced for spending in that area in the event of local government reorganisation.

The proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review will ensure local government funding delivers the best value for money for taxpayers and sees funding go to the places that need it most. It will be for new authorities to decide how spending is allocated within their areas.