Every parliamentary written question tabled by Edward Morello this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 160 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of developers reducing affordable housing delivery on local housing need in in West Dorset constituency.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 95573 on 5 January 2026.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of exit fees from selling a retirement flat on retirees in West Dorset constituency.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to introduce reforms enabling residents to sublet retirement properties while awaiting a buyer.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of allowing subletting of retirement properties on people in West Dorset constituency.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that development firms (a) meet national affordable housing targets and (b) do not reduce delivery on viability grounds.
The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Alongside measures to deal with the legacy problem of existing uncontracted S106 units, we intend to take steps to create a simpler, more transparent, and more resilient S106 system. As set out in the package of support for housebuilding in London announced by the Secretary of State and the Mayor of London on 23 October, which can be found on gov.uk here, the government intends to clarify the use of Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 so that an application under this section to vary a condition of a planning permission should no longer be used as an alternative means of reconsidering fundamental questions of scheme viability or planning obligations. We are also reviewing the planning practice guidance PPG on viability. Further details will be set out in due course.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of developers reducing affordable housing delivery on local housing need in West Dorset.
The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Alongside measures to deal with the legacy problem of existing uncontracted S106 units, we intend to take steps to create a simpler, more transparent, and more resilient S106 system. As set out in the package of support for housebuilding in London announced by the Secretary of State and the Mayor of London on 23 October, which can be found on gov.uk here, the government intends to clarify the use of Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 so that an application under this section to vary a condition of a planning permission should no longer be used as an alternative means of reconsidering fundamental questions of scheme viability or planning obligations. We are also reviewing the planning practice guidance PPG on viability. Further details will be set out in due course.
Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that development firms meet their agreed affordable housing commitments in West Dorset.
The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Alongside measures to deal with the legacy problem of existing uncontracted S106 units, we intend to take steps to create a simpler, more transparent, and more resilient S106 system. As set out in the package of support for housebuilding in London announced by the Secretary of State and the Mayor of London on 23 October, which can be found on gov.uk here, the government intends to clarify the use of Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 so that an application under this section to vary a condition of a planning permission should no longer be used as an alternative means of reconsidering fundamental questions of scheme viability or planning obligations. We are also reviewing the planning practice guidance PPG on viability. Further details will be set out in due course.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to take steps to protect older residents in West Dorset from excessive exit fees on retirement flats.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to allow owners of retirement properties to sublet until a new buyer is found.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of service charges on retirement home a) residents and b) sales in West Dorset constituency.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of service charges applied to retirement properties.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to introduce additional protections for residents of retirement homes in West Dorset relating to service charges.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reform service charges on retirement homes.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 95245 on 8 December 2025 and UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that development firms nationally meet affordable housing targets and do not reduce delivery on viability grounds.
The government is committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure.On 16 December 2025, we published a consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which can be found on gov.uk here.The consultation includes proposals relating developer contributions and viability which seek to promote greater clarity on expected contributions at the plan-making stage, and reduce cases of unnecessary site-specific viability assessment by clarifying when it may be appropriate at the decision-making stage.
Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to ban exit fees on retirement flats.
The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People's Housing Taskforce report, including its recommendation that the government should implement the Law Commission’s 2017 recommendations to regulate event fees.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of proposed reforms to exit fees charged on retirement properties.
The government recognises the importance of helping older people to live independently at home for as long as possible and is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market, including retirement or sheltered housing. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People's Housing Taskforce report, including its recommendation that the government should implement the Law Commission’s 2017 recommendations to regulate event fees.
Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of a devolution deal for Wessex on the economy of Wessex.
The evidence is clear that to drive improved economic outcomes, we must devolve core levers over growth – like transport, skills, employment support and strategic planning – and align these across functional economic areas in which people live and work. Decisions on future devolution, including for Wessex, will be confirmed in due course, subject to further ministerial review and local conversations.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the savings to local authorities in the Wessex area from a devolution deal.
The evidence is clear that to drive improved economic outcomes, we must devolve core levers over growth – like transport, skills, employment support and strategic planning – and align these across functional economic areas in which people live and work. Decisions on future devolution, including for Wessex, will be confirmed in due course, subject to further ministerial review and local conversations.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance on the application of pavement licence caps in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 across highways maintainable at public expense regardless of the owning authority.
The Pavement Licence (Fees) Regulations 2023, made under the Business and Planning Act 2020, set national fee caps of £500 for new pavement licences and £350 for renewals. The guidance (Pavement licences: guidance - GOV.UK) sets out that licences can only be granted in respect of highways listed in section 115A(1) of the Highways Act 1980, that section does not refer to ownership. Generally, these are footpaths restricted to pedestrians or roads and places to which vehicle access is restricted or prohibited. Highways maintained by Network Rail or over the Crown land are exempt (so a licence cannot be granted).
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of training provided to firefighters responding to mental health crises.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 89240 on 18 November 2025. Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) are responsible for ensuring that firefighters receive the training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents that they attend. The National Fire Chiefs Council maintains national operational guidance for fire and rescue services to draw upon when developing operational policies, procedures and training. The Fire and Rescue National Framework requires all FRAs to work collaboratively with partner agencies such as the NHS, mental health services and the police, and to integrate training reflecting current societal risks such as mental health crises. Each FRA must align its training and response strategies to meet these national policy expectations.