Every parliamentary written question tabled by Esther McVey this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–9 of 9 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, how many affordable homes were delivered as part of projects funded by the Greater Manchester Housing Investment Loan Fund in the postcodes (a) M15 4TP and (b) M15 4PA, in each of the last ten years.
The Greater Manchester Housing Investment Loan Fund is operated by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). GMCA is therefore best placed to respond to this question.
Communities and Local Government, how many staff network events took place in her Department in May 2025; and what the names of those events were.
Staff networks are collaborative volunteer networks, organised by staff themselves rather than the department. As a result, events are organised by staff themselves, not the department. We are aware of the following (internally) published events that these networks organised in May 2025. Progression, learning and development-Race Equality and Celebrating History Network (REACH)Weekly Mental Health Support Group session x 4 events (Mental Health Ambassadors)Mental Health Ambassador – Induction Session (Mental Health Ambassadors)Black Baby Loss Awareness Week Panel Event (REACH and Gender Networks)Menopause Lunch & Learn (Optional Discussion) -Gender Network
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has updated guidance on the use of single-sex facilities in response to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements. We aim to ensure appropriate facilities are available for all staff.
Communities and Local Government, how much funding was awarded to Knutsford Town Council via the Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is allocated to lead local authorities (LLAs). Details of full funding allocations for LLAs can be found here for 2022-25 and here for 2025-26. Knutsford Town Council did not directly receive a UKSPF allocation for 2022-25 or 2025-26. However, Knutsford has benefited from UKSPF allocations made to Cheshire East Council who are the LLA for this area.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant of the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45609 on Knutsford Town Council: Finance, how much of this grant was received by Knutsford Town Council.
Knutsford Town Council received £552,000 of the grant awarded to them in the first round of the Community Ownership Fund. The project failed to proceed as planned. By agreement with the applicant the full amount of grant received was returned to the Department.
Communities and Local Government, how much Government funding was allocated to Knutsford Town Council in each of the last three years.
Knutsford Town Council was awarded a £560,000 grant in September 2023 through the Community Ownership Fund help fund the refurbishment of the Market Hall.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department provides guidance to chief executives of local authorities on attending meetings with Rt hon. and hon. Members.
The department does not issue such guidance. Councils are independent, democratic bodies accountable to the communities they serve.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of planning protections afforded to Local Wildlife Sites in the in the update to the National Planning Policy Framework.
The powers secured through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 would allow Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment to be replaced with a new framework of Environmental Outcomes Reports.The government is committed to securing better environmental outcomes alongside securing the development we need and will consider how best to reform environmental assessment with this objective in mind. Alongside, reforming building regulations, we will carefully consider how Environmental Outcomes Reports can be used to support our wider carbon reduction targets. In the meantime, the current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure biodiversity net gain is not used to override protections afforded to Local Wildlife Sites and other designated nature sites.
Development is restricted on sites which are designated for environmental or amenity value, and the National Planning Policy Framework requires local plans to identify, map and safeguard components of local wildlife-rich habitats and wider ecological networks, including the hierarchy of international, national and locally designated sites of importance for biodiversity.Biodiversity Net Gain is additional to these protections for nature and only required on new development that needs planning permission, therefore only applying on designated nature sites in the very limited circumstances where such development is permitted.