Written questions by Stafford.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department assesses the impact of new housing on the mobile telecommunication networks at any stage post-approval.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 29727 on 18 February 2025. In addition to national planning policy and guidance, the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England, published February 2022, sets out the roles and responsibilities for all relevant stakeholders, including applicants and local authorities, when planning for, consulting on and installing telecommunications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, whether mobile network operators were consulted on the deployment of communications infrastructure in areas of planned housing growth as part of the process to inform the December 2024 revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 29727 on 18 February 2025. In addition to national planning policy and guidance, the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England, published February 2022, sets out the roles and responsibilities for all relevant stakeholders, including applicants and local authorities, when planning for, consulting on and installing telecommunications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, if she will consider issuing guidance to local authorities to treat mobile network operators as statutory consultees for large-scale residential developments.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 29727 on 18 February 2025. In addition to national planning policy and guidance, the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England, published February 2022, sets out the roles and responsibilities for all relevant stakeholders, including applicants and local authorities, when planning for, consulting on and installing telecommunications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring housing developers share (a) occupancy projections, (b) site layout data and (c) construction timelines with mobile network operators to allow for forward planning of network capacity.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 29727 on 18 February 2025. In addition to national planning policy and guidance, the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England, published February 2022, sets out the roles and responsibilities for all relevant stakeholders, including applicants and local authorities, when planning for, consulting on and installing telecommunications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of updating the NPPF to include guidance on the integration of passive telecommunications infrastructure at the masterplanning stage of new residential developments.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 29727 on 18 February 2025. In addition to national planning policy and guidance, the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England, published February 2022, sets out the roles and responsibilities for all relevant stakeholders, including applicants and local authorities, when planning for, consulting on and installing telecommunications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled Mobile homes: The impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission, published in June 2022.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44299 on 16 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the mandatory commission on the sale of park homes for vendors.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44299 on 16 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ground rent costs on the ability of long-term leaseholders to sell their leased properties.

The government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) local authorities and (b) social housing providers to tackle anti-social behaviour in residential premises.

Social landlords already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response. The government is strengthening these powers through the Renters’ Rights Bill for private registered providers. Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help support housing associations to seek possession of a property when there is substantial evidence of anti-social behaviour.

Social landlords already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response. The government is strengthening these powers through the Renters’ Rights Bill for private registered providers. Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will consider the adoption of new formal partnership mechanisms with Town and Parish Councils in new unitary authorities formed through Local Government reorganisation in England.

The government values the role currently played by town and parish councils in local government. We strongly encourage all local authorities to involve their town and parish councils in their plans to ensure that their contribution to local public services is recognised in future arrangements. Whether or not an area has town and parish arrangements in place, they will be expected to imbed neighbourhood working into new unitary councils empowering frontline councillors to be the community convenors they were elected to be. Local authorities operate independently of central government. The government believes that individual local authorities are best placed to determine how they can most effectively collaborate to support the wellbeing of their citizens.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to require (a) developers and (b) housing associations to have robust warranties in place which include cover for (i) incomplete and (ii) inadequate work.

The government’s plans to ensure new build homes are of sufficient quality are being taken forward outside of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. This includes reforms set out in the answer to Question UIN 37745 on 19 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the provisions in the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, on (a) localism and (b) communities.

The government sees the policies set out in the English Devolution White Paper as supportive of communities and the localism agenda. The White Paper is clear that we cannot deliver the change the public expect, whether more growth, more homes, more joined-up services, or restored trust, without more empowered communities and local government. Its approach to community empowerment focuses on putting people in control of their own lives, alongside devolving power away from Westminster. That is why alongside committing to greater devolution of powers to area it commits to measures such as replacing the community ‘Right to Bid’ with a strengthened ‘Right to Buy’ Assets of Community Value, creating a more robust pathway to community asset ownership. It’s also why we have recognised the importance of a thriving local media sector that can continue to play an invaluable role by reporting on the issues that matter to communities and, in the context of local government reorganisation, want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level. Together we have assessed this provides a positive impact on localism and communities.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the updated Homes for Ukraine Scheme on Ukrainian refugees' ability to access housing.

Thank you payments have been extended for the full 18-month period under Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme to support Homes for Ukraine guests to remain in sponsorship and to thank sponsors for their continued generosity. We hope that the extension of this support will provide enough time for guests and sponsors to plan for next steps, including to secure independent accommodation if needed or convert a sponsorship to a lodging arrangement. To fund this support and ensure it is affordable within government budgets, from 1 April 2025, all thank you payments will be paid at a rate of £350 per month for all sponsors of guests on Homes for Ukraine and UPE visas, regardless of how long guests have been in the UK. We are signposting sponsors to the Government’s ‘rent a room’ scheme for those who wish to convert their sponsorship to a lodging arrangement. If sponsors move to an arrangement where they charge rent, they will no longer be eligible for thank you payments. Councils receive a tariff of £5,900 per Homes for Ukraine arrival in their area to support guests to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities. Councils have the flexibility to use the funding to support households as best suits the local area. This could include measures to support guests to access employment, English language provision and provide integration measures that support Ukrainians to access private rented accommodation. We engage closely with councils and the voluntary and community sector to ensure that we understand the needs of Ukrainians living in the UK and that adequate support is available. We continue to closely monitor the homelessness pressures relating to Ukrainian homelessness and separately publish statistics here: Homelessness management information - Ukrainian nationals: England - GOV.UK

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review the treatment of digital and mobile infrastructure within the National Planning Policy Framework.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with Vodafone on the inclusion of mobile connectivity and 5G technologies within the definition of digital infrastructure in the National Planning Policy Framework.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure major housing developments include mobile network infrastructure.

Developers of major housing schemes must ensure their proposals are in conformity with the local development plan and national planning policy.The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 sets out how planning policies and decisions should support high quality and reliable communications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review the National Planning Policy Framework in relation to provisions for new 5G and 4G infrastructure.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework adequately reflects the socio-economic benefits of mobile infrastructure.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion.On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure for economic growth and social wellbeing.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of adding more brackets on the Council Tax band system for the highest value homes.

The government currently has no plans to reform council tax. The Government is committed to keeping taxes on working people as low as possible.