Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for agreeing the principal and geography of a combined authority for Surrey.

On 28 October 2025, we committed to working with partners across Surrey to establish a strategic authority for the area, to avoid service disaggregation when new unitary authorities go live in April 2027. Establishing a strategic authority in Surrey to that timeline would make sure that functions held by the County Council, such as transport and adult skills, continue to be delivered on a Surrey footprint where possible. The establishment of any strategic authority will be subject to the relevant statutory tests being met and local consent.

Communities and Local Government, whether the new councils of (a) West Surrey and (b) East Surrey will be given Borough status.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his department has made on the adequacy of the number of local authority staff with responsibility for enforcement action in the private rented sector.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance to councils on best practice for the operation of casting votes in No Overall Control councils.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the introduction of commonhold as the default tenure for flats on the (a) property price and (b) saleability of leasehold flats.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124686 on Tower Hamlets Council, what work the Tower Hamlets Ministerial Envoys are taking in relation to reviewing grants given by the mayoral administration to third parties in Tower Hamlets.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the (a) Gardener’s Lodge, (b) Royal Lodge, (c) Chief Clerks Apartment, (d) Surgery Flat, (e) Crown Equerry’s House, (f) The Royal Guard Room and (g) Royal Residence in Buckingham Palace will be liable to pay the council tax surcharge.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cost of pavement licences on the operating costs of hospitality businesses.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, how many homes need to be built in London for the Government to meet its 1.5 million target; and how many have been delivered to date.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, whether flying the Palestinian flag has deemed planning consent.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what powers (a) shadow unitary authorities and (b) new unitary authorities have to change their formal new name without recourse to the Secretary of State.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will add a metric on the frequency of household waste collections to the Environment, Circular Economy and Climate Change metrics in the Local Outcomes Framework.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, how many homes will be (a) started and (b) completed in this Parliament under the New Towns Programme.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what was the budget for the local election pilot schemes in the May 2026 local elections.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what is the average workplace attendance in his Department’s London main building on a Friday as a proportion of assigned staff over the past 12 months.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has provided additional (a) funding and (b) support to Birmingham City Council to facilitate the ending of the council's bin collection industrial action.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, if he will set out the meetings his Department's special advisers have had with Labour Together since he was appointed.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, when the Rt. Hon Member for Braintree will receive a response to his correspondence dated 3 May 2026.

We are considering the points raised by the Rt Hon member in his correspondence and will respond in due course.

Communities and Local Government, when the Rt. Hon Member for Braintree will receive a response to his correspondence dated 18 February 2026.

We are considering the points raised by the Rt Hon member in his correspondence and will respond in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether he discussed Departmental business at the Labour YIMBY dinner on 28 October 2025.

At the events on 28 October and 24 November the Secretary of State spoke about the overall government approach to housing. No other departmental business was discussed. As these were party political events, it would not be appropriate for the Department to publish the Secretary of State’s remarks or include in transparency returns, as has been the case with previous administrations. The Secretary of State was not accompanied by a private secretary.