Written questions by Morris.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure compliance with statutory homelessness data returns.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with the 18 local authorities which did not return data for the Statutory Homelessness Detailed Local Authority Data 2024-25 dataset on th

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the number of firefighters to meet operational demand.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) does not have data on firefighter vacancies and recruitment, but it does publish fire and rescue service (FRS) workforce numbers. The latest published statistics say that while the full time equivalent (FTE) number of firefighters has reduced by 0.5%, the total number of FRS staff (FTE) has increased by 0.6% on the previous year. Decisions on how fire and rescue services are run, their resources and crewing numbers, are for the local Chief Fire Officers and their democratically elected fire and rescue authority. They are responsible for ensuring the needs and demands of their local community are met and are able to direct their resources where they are needed most.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help increase firefighter recruitment.

While the Government is committed to ensuring fire and rescue services have the resources they need to do their important work, is it individual fire and rescue authorities that are responsible for recruitment and decisions around deployment of resources. The provisional 2026-27 Settlement will make available almost £1.99bn in Core Spending Power for standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities in England, a 4.4% increase compared to 2025-26. By the end of the multi-year period (2026-27 to 2028-29), we will have provided a 12.6% increase compared to 2025-26. (NB: this excludes Greater Manchester and York and North Yorkshire mayoral authorities.)

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring private parking enforcement companies to provide an online appeals option for motorists to challenge parking charge notices.

The government recognises motorists concerns about the private parking industry and the existing appeals process. Under the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, a new Code of Practice will be introduced to raise standards across the sector. On 11th July 2025, the government published a consultation, setting out its proposals for the Code and specifically sought views on the perceived shortcomings of the current appeals process. Responses are now being analysed, and the government will publish its final proposals in due course. Many parking operators do provide an online appeals platform for motorists to use.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58194 on Letter Boxes, if he will make an estimate of the number of property developers who do not comply with the guidance on the positioning of letterboxes and letterplates.

The department does not hold this data. Since October 2023, the Building Safety Regulator have a duty under the Building Safety Act 2022 to keep under review the safety and standards of all buildings in England, which includes keeping Approved Document Q under review.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department collects on local authorities’ use of (a) Compulsory Purchase Orders and (b) Empty Dwelling Management Orders.

My Department has published a register of decisions on compulsory purchase orders in England submitted by local authorities for confirmation since 2019. It can be found on gov.uk here.The Department does not collect data on the number of Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMOs) that have been issued.Local authorities can apply for an EDMO when a property has been empty for more than two years, subject to the production of evidence that the property has been causing a nuisance to the community and evidence of community support for their proposal. More information can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 56184 on Letter Boxes, if he will make the guidance relating to the height and positioning of letter boxes set out in BS EN 13724:2013 Postal Services: Apertures of Private Letter Boxes and Letter Plates a mandatory requirement for (a) new-build properties and (b) new front door replacements.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 56988 on the 10 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of the 1.5 million homes the Government aims to deliver during this Parliament expected to be built by (a) private sector developers, (b) social housing providers and (c) local authorities.

Achieving the government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament requires the contribution of a wide range of housing providers, including, but not confined to, local authorities, registered providers of social housing, and private developers.The government has not made an estimate of the exact number of homes each type of housing provider will deliver in this Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make the industry standard for letterbox height mandatory for all (a) new-build properties and (b) new front door replacements.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 19554 on 18 December 2024.

Communities and Local Government, how much the Oxford Growth Commission project will cost her Department in (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27, (c) 2027-28 and (d) 2028-29.

Economic growth is the number one priority for this Government and the Plan for Change. Oxford offers huge economic potential for the UK’s growth prospects which will not only benefit the wider region but also help drive growth in every corner of the country by creating jobs, boosting living standards, and putting more money into working people’s pockets. The Oxford Growth Commission will support the delivery of infrastructure, housing and employment to unleash Oxford’s and Oxfordshire’s economic power and is a key part of government’s commitment to unlock growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the high potential sectors within it. The Commission is jointly supported by MHCLG, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council alongside the Universities and local business. Future departmental budgets will be set at the upcoming Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential contribution of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to Local Growth Plans in former coalfields areas with capital funding from government.

Local leadership is at the heart of our mission to achieve higher growth - harnessing the expertise that exists in devolved institutions and local communities. National government will work in partnership with local stakeholders, such as the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT), to empower places to deliver improved outcomes. Mayoral Local Growth Plans are the cornerstone of this place-based approach. These will articulate a ten-year vision for growth, setting out their region’s unique strengths, identifying shared priorities of national importance to be taken forwardly jointly with the UK Government, and highlighting the most attractive opportunities for private sector investment. Several plans – including for the North East Combined Authority and the West Midlands Combined Authority – will serve coalfield communities. The Government will consider the request for funding from the CRT at HM Treasury’s 2025 multi-year spending review. I am pleased to be meeting with Andy Lock to discuss the work of the CRT.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31832 on Coalfields Regeneration Trust, if she will meet with the hon. Member for Easington to discuss (a) the impact of the work of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust in coalfield communities and (b) the potential merits of reinstating government funding to the CRT.

I recognise that the proud history of our coalfields communities must be matched with a proud future. The work done by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust with over 850 community organisations to tackle the social and economic challenges facing coalfield communities has made great progress towards this. We are committed to working in partnership to invest in and empower the nation’s former coalfield locations, so that they can kickstart growth in their area, and increase living standards. That’s why we have already announced planning reforms, devolution, our plans to make work pay, and a settlement to fix the foundations of local government. This will support coalfields to build their future. We remain committed to the Government's mission to kickstart economic growth. The Government will set out its long-term vision for local growth at HM Treasury’s 2025 multi-year spending review.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31832 on Coalfields Regeneration Trust, whether she has considered the correspondence from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust dated 22 January 2025 on their request for capital funding.

I recognise that the proud history of our coalfields communities must be matched with a proud future. The work done by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust with over 850 community organisations to tackle the social and economic challenges facing coalfield communities has made great progress towards this. We are committed to working in partnership to invest in and empower the nation’s former coalfield locations, so that they can kickstart growth in their area, and increase living standards. That’s why we have already announced planning reforms, devolution, our plans to make work pay, and a settlement to fix the foundations of local government. This will support coalfields to build their future. We remain committed to the Government's mission to kickstart economic growth. The Government will set out its long-term vision for local growth at HM Treasury’s 2025 multi-year spending review.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reinstating funding to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

This government’s defining mission is growth, and we are determined that our coalfield communities are central to it. That is why we are working in partnership to invest in and empower the nation’s coalfields, so that they can boost growth, and increase living standards. At the 2024 Autumn Budget we committed to deliver on the promises made to 75 deprived communities from the previous administration’s Long-Term Plan for Towns. The reformed plan will support several coalfield communities including: Kilmarnock, Mansfield, Worksop, Newark-on-Trent, Chesterfield, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Jarrow, Washington, Leigh, Farnworth, Castleford, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley, Merthyr Tydfil and Wrexham. We remain committed to the Government's missions to kickstart economic growth, and this will be reflected in the allocation of all further funding. As with all future funding the Government will set out its long-term vision for local growth at the 2025 multi-year spending review.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of cases in which location data for out-of-area placements made while discharging a homelessness duty is (a) not recorded or (b) unknown, in each of the last five years.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, especially children. Too many families are spending years in temporary accommodation, at a point in a child’s life when they need space to play and develop, nutritious food to thrive and access to education.We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Government is looking at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness once and for all. This includes a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, bringing together ministers from across government.More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness by delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament. The government is also abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, preventing private renters being exploited and discriminated against, and empowering people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.We are already taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25). This increased spending will help to prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help to prevent rough sleeping. This brings total spend to nearly £1 billion in 25/26. Allocations for individual local authorities in England will be set out later in December.The department regularly collects homelessness data, including on out of area placements, which can be found here in table TA 1 and are published quarterly: Statutory homelessness in England: April to June 2024 - GOV.UK. Records on the location of accommodation where accommodation is secured to end the prevention or relief duties, including where that accommodation is out of area, are published annually and can be found in tables P4 and R4 here: Detailed_LA_20232024.xlsx.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2024 to Question 13192 on Homelessness, if she will publish her letter of 11 November 2024 addressed to all local authority Chief Executives in England about out-of-area accommodation placements.

As set out in my answer to Question UIN 13192, on 11 November 2024 the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authority Chief Executives in England about out-of-area accommodation placements, including temporary accommodation and housing offers to end a homelessness duty.The letter referred to section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, reminding local authorities that they are required by law to notify the receiving local authority of any out-of-area placement and that this should be happening in every case. It also highlighted the importance of considering safeguarding arrangements when placing households out of area, including relevant consultation with Children’s Services. The letter requested that Chief Executives personally assure themselves that these notifications are happening.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with local authorities on their legal duties under section 208 of the Housing Act 1996.

On 11 November 2024 the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authority Chief Executives in England about out-of-area accommodation placements, including temporary accommodation and housing offers to end a homelessness duty. This letter referred to section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, and reminded local authorities that they are required by law to notify the receiving local authority of any out-of-area placement.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9158 on Homelessness, what redress is available to a receiving Local Authority when a local authority breaches section 208 of the Housing Act 1996 by failing to notify them of an out-of-area placement.

Homelessness legislation and the Code of Guidance is clear that local authorities should place individuals within their own area, and when this is not possible, they should place the household as near as possible. The Government is clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, avoid placing households out of their borough. However, this is not always possible when there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation.Under section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, if a local authority places a household into accommodation in another local area, they are required by law to notify the local authority of any placement, to ensure there is no disruption to education or employment. This notification should be happening in every out of area placement.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 7729 on Homelessness, what information her Department collects to monitor the distance of out-of-area placements.

Homelessness levels are far too high and can have a devastating impact on households affected, as well as putting local authorities and their services under financial strain. Homelessness legislation and the Code of Guidance sets out that local authorities should try to place individuals within their own area, and when this is not possible, they should place the household as near as possible to the original local authority. The Government is clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, avoid placing households out of their borough. However, this is not always possible when there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation.Under section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, if a local authority places a household into accommodation in another local area, they are required by law to notify the local authority of any placement, to ensure there is no disruption to education or employment. This notification should be happening in every out of area placement.The department collects data on statutory homelessness applications, duties and outcomes for local authorities in England, including data on out of borough placements. The department publishes data on out of area placements in the quarterly statistics here.