2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 25 March 2026, to Question PQ117889, on Local Government: Elections, if he will publish a copy of the local election pilot applications by Tamwort
ReplyThe Government has no plans to publish expressions of interest or applications from local authorities relating to the flexible voting pilots.
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026, to Question 124715, on Islamophobia, in what sectors will sector-specific guidance be provided, what is the timetable, and whether
ReplyThe government encourages the adoption of the definition across the public, private and third sectors, and them to consider how this definition applies in their contexts. The government will refer to the definition when developing and revising relevant po...
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 14 January 2026, to Question HL13225, on Rented Housing: Evictions, whether his Department intends to issue guidance on the definition of “knowing
ReplyThe government has published guidance on enforcement measures for landlords, which can be found on gov.uk here, and for local authorities, which can be found on gov.uk here. This guidance contains information regarding the definitions of “knowingly” and “...
2 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124800 on Solar Power: Building Regulations, whether households will be able to install plug-in solar without hiring an
ReplyHouseholds may be able to install plug-in solar without hiring an approved electrician. If the installation involves building work then Approved Document P, the statutory guidance accompanying the Building Regulations, makes clear that electrical installa...
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 4 December 2025, HCWS1128, on Devolution Priority Programme, whether Ministers had discussions with Morgan McSweeney on cancelling 2026
ReplyOn 4 December, the Government announced that it will hold inaugural mayoral elections for the four Devolution Priority Programme places that are also undertaking local government reorganisation in May 2028, so that areas can complete the reorganisation pr...
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, whether his Department collates statistics on retrospective planning applications.
ReplyMy Department does not collect data specifically relating to the number of retrospective planning applications
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the King's Speech 2026: background briefing notes, published 13 May 2026, whether the levy on short-term commercially let accommodation includes pitches for (a)
ReplyWe are empowering Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy. Following the public consultation, decisions on the scope of the ...
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the King's Speech 2026: background briefing notes, published 13 May 2026, whether the overnight visitor levy will apply to transit accommodation for asylum seek
ReplyWe are empowering Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region to drive economic growth, including through support for the local visitor economy. Following the public consultation which closed on 18 February, th...
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what was the cost to the department of correcting errors in the transitional arrangements for councils in business rates pools in the draft Local Government Funding Settlement fo
ReplyIn response to the provisional Local Government Finance consultation, the final Settlement included an update to how pooling gains are estimated for transitional funding arrangements. This decision was the right approach in order to distribute gains more ...
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what is the timetable for the review of the definition of irreplaceable habitats.
ReplyWe are currently analysing the feedback received to our consultation on a new National Planning Policy Framework and will publish our response in due course.
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 27 April 2026, to Question HL16193, on Sustainable Communities Act 2007, how many proposals have been submitted since July 2024.
ReplyThe department has not received any proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 since July 2024.
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026, to Question 124718, on Pride in Place Programme, if he will set out the numbers and proportions of the constituencies in (a) Englan
ReplyA full list of all areas funded by the Pride in Place Programme can be found in the methodology notes at here.
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 113103 on Affordable Housing, what his planned timetable is for publishing the Programme Business Case for the Social and
ReplyThe Social and Affordable Homes Programme Business Case (PBC) remains under development. It will be updated as part of the Strategic Partner allocation process and submitted to HM Treasury for approval. In line with HM Treasury guidance, a summary of the ...
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 29 September 2025, to Question HL10508, on Rents: Appeals, what metrics will be used, and at what levels, to determine whether the Tribunal system
ReplyThe Renters’ Rights Act contains a proportionate safeguard for use in circumstances where it has become clear that the Tribunal appears at risk of being overwhelmed by a sharp increase in challenges.The power in question is discretionary and any decision ...
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124799 on Housing: Construction, whether the 1.5 million housebuilding target will be met if the 302,000 net completions
ReplyI refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 124799 on 20 April 2026.
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 124705 on MHCLG: Darlington, how many (a) staff are assigned to work in the Darlington office and (b) desks are provided
ReplyThere are 30 desks in Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) that are provided contractually by MHCLG, however in agreement with all Departments in the building MHCLG employees are free to use any available desk in the office buildingOffice HeadcountNumber of d...
1 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 103771 on Antisemitism, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle Islamism.
ReplyAs stated previously, this Government takes extremism seriously and we are committed to ensuring we have the required tools and powers needed to address this issue. If an ideology is causing harm by radicalising others into hatred, violence and extremism ...
18 May 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for agreeing the principal and geography of a combined authority for Surrey.
ReplyOn 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 th...
18 May 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what was the budget for the local election pilot schemes in the May 2026 local elections.
ReplyThe final costs will depend on the delivery model adopted and the specific needs of each participating local authority. Final costs are not yet available.
18 May 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities 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.
ReplyThe formal names of new unitary councils are set out in the secondary legislation that establishes them. Once the new councils are vested, they have the same powers as other local authorities and can change their name under Section 74 of the Local Governm...