Written questions by Carden.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has plans to reform local government finance to ensure funding allocations take greater account of local need.

Future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement in which we are engaged. The department will work with local government leaders to ensure they are better able to fulfil their statutory duties. We want to hear from councils about the financial challenges they are facing and we are committed to stabilising the local government finance landscape in this Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has plans to reform council tax.

Future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement in which we are engaged.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to return landlord licensing powers to local authorities.

Local housing authorities are able to introduce selective licensing of landlords in targeted areas to tackle specific problems, if the statutory requirements are met.Since 2015, new or renewed schemes which cover more than 20% of a local authority’s private rented stock or geographical area require approval from the Secretary of State.We will keep this 20% threshold under review in light of our proposals for devolution and supporting improving rented sector standards.