Written questions by Morello.

Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of fire departments have inflatable crash mats.

MHCLG collects data through the Fire and Rescue Service Incident Recording System (IRS) on equipment used by Fire & Rescue Services at the scene of an incident. It does not include data for the specific equipment category of inflatable crash mat.This data is published in a variety of publications, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics and data tables here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fire-statistics-data-tables; though no statistics are published on the equipment used at incidents.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that fire and rescue services have the expertise required to meet the regulatory requirements on that sector.

It is the role of Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRA) to hold Fire and Rescue Services to account. There are a number of different FRA governance models (for example mayoral authorities, Police Fire and Crime Commissioners and standalone FRAs). However, all areas are required to comply and pay due regard to relevant legislation and guidance. All FRAs, are required to comply with including the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England and they are required annually to provide assurance to the government that they are meeting the requirements set out in the National Framework.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of new fire safety regulations on the workload of fire and rescue services.

The Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 are the main changes made to fire safety legislation in recent years, and both were subject to impact assessments which were published at the time of their introduction. We are providing £10 million Protection Uplift Grant to Fire and Rescue Services for 2025/26, with £5 million allocated for the first six months and a further £5 million to be confirmed later in the year. The Protection Uplift grant is ringfenced to fire protection and is used to bolster capability and capacity in protection departments. Decisions on future funding to Fire and Rescue Services to support the work of the Building Safety Regulator are under consideration and yet to be confirmed. Additionally, MHCLG’s Remediation Acceleration Plan sets out the Government’s intent to legislate to place stronger duties on landlords, including creating a legal duty on those responsible for buildings 11m and over to remediate their buildings within clear timescales, supplemented by further powers for regulators, including Fire and Rescue Authorities, to enforce. An impact assessment of any new legislation will be produced and published alongside this to capture the likely impact of the change including regulatory burden.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help improve the cyber security resilience of fire and rescue services.

The government is committed to enhancing the UK’s resilience to threats, crises and emergencies. Fire and Rescue Authorities are subject to the full set of civil protection duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004), to plan and prepare for disruptive incidents. This includes cyber security, and my department regularly engages with the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Digital Data and Technology Team and relevant service Cyber Leads. In addition, my department is working closely with all Fire and Rescue Services in England to support them to improve their cyber security and resilience. This includes:publication of a new Digital and Cyber Fire Standard, published in September 2024;understanding the landscape through FRS completion of the Cyber Assessment Framework for relevant ICT Systems;strengthening Capability, in partnership with NFCC including development of training materials and sharing of best practice; andincident Planning and Exercising, through delivery of Cyber Tabletop Exercises to FRSs aimed at improving skills and preparedness for responding to cyber incidents.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will consider extending existing site remediation funding to Community Land Trusts.

The government recognises the value of Community Land Trusts in developing homes for local communities. Community Land Trusts can apply for funding through a range of existing programmes, including the Brownfield Land Release Fund and the Affordable Homes Programme. The Department continues to engage with the sector and keeps funding options under review to support community-led housing delivery.

Communities and Local Government, what funding options are available to community land trusts for (a) site remediation and (b) preliminary infrastructure work following the abolition of the Derelict Land Grant.

The government recognises the value of Community Land Trusts in developing homes for local communities. Community Land Trusts can apply for funding through a range of existing programmes, including the Brownfield Land Release Fund and the Affordable Homes Programme. The Department continues to engage with the sector and keeps funding options under review to support community-led housing delivery.

Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory duty for fire and rescue services in England to respond to flooding.

Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. In Autumn 2024, as the Minister previously responsible for fire, the Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson asked officials to undertake further work alongside Defra and other relevant partners to understand in more detail if there are gaps in the fire and rescue services flooding response and resilience system. Fire and Rescue Authorities have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) to prepare for emergencies, including major flooding. Fire Rescue Authorities also have discretionary powers to respond to incidents under their core functions in the Fire and Rescue Services Act (2004) and in response to the risks set out in their Community Risk Management Plans prepared under the National Framework. At this time, a clear rationale for introducing a statutory duty has not been determined. However, MHCLG officials and representatives of fire and rescue services will continue to work with Defra, as the lead government department for flooding, and its partners to understand the challenges that fire and rescue services face and consider how best to ensure that all partners involved in flood response have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce additional fire safety-related grant funding for fire and rescue services to meet changes in regulatory requirements.

We are providing £10 million Protection Uplift Grant to Fire and Rescue Services for 2025/26, with £5 million allocated for the first six months and a further £5 million to be confirmed later in the year. The Protection Uplift grant is ringfenced to fire protection and is used to bolster capability and capacity in protection departments. Decisions on future funding to Fire and Rescue Services to support the work of the Building Safety Regulator are under consideration and yet to be confirmed.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to increase protection for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty from development.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 21471 on 21 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the number of firefighters on fire and rescue response times in Dorset and Wiltshire.

It is the responsibility of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA) to decide how the authority’s resources, including staff, are best deployed to meet core functions. This includes determining crewing levels and appropriate targets for local response times. Decisions are based on analysis of risk and local circumstances within local Community Risk Management Plans. The Government is committed to ensuring FRAs have the resources they need to do their important work keeping the public safe. In 2024/25, fire and rescue authorities received around £2.87 billion. Standalone FRAs saw an increase in core spending power of £95.4m during 2024/25.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Local Government Finance Settlement 2025-26 on fire and rescue services provision in West Dorset constituency.

For Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority, the final Settlement makes available a total of up to £74.9 million in 2025-26, representing an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £2.4 million.The government will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector to ensure Fire and Rescue services have the resources they need to protect communities. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed to meet their core functions are a matter for each fire and rescue authority.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help improve the clarity of (a) deferred event fees documentation and (b) other documentation. .

Once commenced, measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 will ensure all leaseholders receive minimum key financial and non-financial information on a regular basis, including introducing a standardised service charge demand form and an annual report, so that leaseholders can scrutinise and better challenge costs if they are considered unreasonable.As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440), the government will consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s provisions on service charges this year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.We are giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, including that government should implement the Law Commission’s 2017 recommendations to regulate event fees.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to help ensure that asset management plans are made available to prospective property buyers.

Providing essential information upfront during the home buying and selling process is important in supporting potential buyers to make informed decisions about whether a property is suitable for them.There is already a requirement under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 that any property information that would help a prospective homebuyer to make an informed decision is not hidden or omitted.On 9 February 2025, the government announced action to improve the availability of property information. Improving access to key home buying and selling data will help transactions run more smoothly by ensuring all parties are able to access the information they need at the right time.We recognise the benefits to leaseholders of Asset Management Plans. As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440), the government will consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works.    We continue to work with stakeholders across industry, government, and the public sector to understand the most effective way of supporting buyers to make the right decisions.

Communities and Local Government, what support she is providing to coastal communities to help improve parking facilities in areas with increasing domestic tourism.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area.To support this, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.Where authorities raise income from parking services, which are often influenced by increased seasonal visitors, they are able to reinvest this in additional parking capacity as they see fit.

Communities and Local Government, what funding is available to local authorities to help improve parking infrastructure in areas with significant seasonal influxes of visitors.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area.To support this, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.Where authorities raise income from parking services, which are often influenced by increased seasonal visitors, they are able to reinvest this in additional parking capacity as they see fit.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of parking provisions in rural towns during peak tourist seasons.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area.To support this, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.Where authorities raise income from parking services, which are often influenced by increased seasonal visitors, they are able to reinvest this in additional parking capacity as they see fit.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle parking challenges associated with seasonal tourism surges in West Dorset constituency.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area.To support this, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.Where authorities raise income from parking services, which are often influenced by increased seasonal visitors, they are able to reinvest this in additional parking capacity as they see fit.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) prevent the establishment of pop-up campsites in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and (b) ensure that such developments do not negatively impact the local environment and biodiversity.

A nationally set permitted development right allows for the temporary use of land for recreational campsites for up to 60 days per calendar year.Where it is necessary to protect the local amenity of an area, the local planning authority can consult the local community on removing a permitted development right by making an Article 4 direction. Planning applications would then be required, and the local planning authority can determine them in accordance with its local plan and in consultation with neighbours.The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to (a) support residential mobility and (b) ensure adequate housing in areas with high rates of under-occupation.

The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in England in this Parliament. We intend to deliver housing of all tenures in the right places, supporting our towns and cities to grow, and providing the homes people want near to businesses and employment opportunities.We also want to see efficient use of existing housing stock. When it comes to social housing, local authorities and housing associations are encouraged to support under-occupiers to transfer to smaller properties, including through mutual exchanges. We are also empowering local authorities to bring empty properties back into use. Where funding, tax, and informal approaches are ineffective, local authorities can use formal enforcement levers to bring homes back into use. The government is also considering recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce on how to improve housing choices for older people.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help older residents in rural areas to downsize.

The updated National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including older people, and reflect this in planning policies.As the needs of older people can range from accessible and adaptable general needs housing to specialist housing with a high level of care and support, it is up to each local authority to decide how to prioritise particular types or tenures of new housing in order to meet needs.The Framework is also clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas.The government have committed to considering further how policy can promote rural affordable housing, and to the recommendations set out in the report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, published on 26 November 2024.