Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written evidence submitted by the Home Office to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry on the Home Office's management of asylum accommodation, AAC0141, HC 580, which local authorities are participating in pilots relating to the Accommodation Strategy.

This Government is committed to ending the use of asylum hotels. To support that goal, we are investing £500 million in a new, more sustainable asylum accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This will help make available basic alternative accommodation so that it can be used on a temporary basis to house asylum seekers waiting for their cases to be processed. Our ambition is that this investment will leave a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduce pressure on local housing markets. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels. MHCLG and the Home Office are working closely with councils and devolved partners to co-design this approach. Funding allocations to local authorities are yet to be finalised and will be confirmed in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the value for money of the Greater Manchester Housing Investment Loans Fund.

An independent evaluation of the Housing Investment Fund commissioned by Greater Manchester Combined Authority concluded that it delivers good value for money.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to publish revised land value estimates, updated in August 2020; and whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Valuation Office Agency on this issue.

The government is developing updated land value estimates for use in policy appraisal and has commissioned work from the Valuation Office Agency to that end. Our aim is to publish updated values for a range of land uses within the next 12 months.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 84928 on Local Government: Elections, if he will make it his policy to include political parties in the gateway.

I refer the Rt. hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 84928 on 3 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on Local Government Pension Scheme investments in fossil fuels.

Investment strategies for Local Government Pension Scheme funds are set by administering authorities, and must include how social, environmental and corporate governance considerations, such as the environmental impact of fossil fuels, are taken into account. Authorities must have regard to their fiduciary duty to scheme members and employers, must consider factors that are financially material to the performance of their investments when setting their investment strategy, and must follow relevant legislation and guidance.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed business rates retention reset on (a) councils with high business growth and (b) future incentives for high business growth.

The Business Rates Retention System was designed to be “reset” periodically to update the way it redistributes locally retained business rates between local authorities – a core aspect of the system. The reset will fundamentally improve the way we fund local authorities, ensuring funding is targeted where it is needed most, based on an updated assessment of need. As set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, to smooth the delivery of the reset the government is proposing to offer increased protection to local authorities’ business rates income across the multi-year settlement period – further detail will be set out at the Policy Statement. By fixing these foundations, the sector will be better placed to invest in and drive local growth. Business rates growth that comes on stream after the reset would be retained for the duration of the future reset period, continuing to reward authorities for local business rates growth.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the research and analysis entitled Electoral Resilience and Democratic Engagement Programme: Voter identification research, published on 3 November 2025, for what research the opinion research was commissioned by gender rather than sex.

The research was conducted using the same criteria that was previously used for the research and evaluation for the Elections Act 2022. The researchers use industry standard methods which allows for the comparison of data across demographic groups. All research commissioned by the programme is published in line with the Government Social Research Publication Protocol.

Communities and Local Government, whether councillors who sign up to the Local Government Pension Scheme will have it listed in the annual statement of payments to councillors.

Currently, the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 does not require local authorities to publish information relating to pension payments in the annual statement of payments to councillors. A consultation was launched on 13 October on providing access to the Local Government Pension Scheme to mayors and councillors and remains open until 22 December.

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for reviewing the legal framework on the protection of open spaces; and whether he plans to publish a (a) call for evidence and (b) consultation on this matter.

Open and green spaces are an essential part of local social infrastructure and must be protected for future generations. The current system of protections for public recreational green space is fractured and complex, and that is why government intend to review to clarify the current protections for public recreational green spaces. We intend to analyse the effectiveness and usability of those protections, to simplify the system, ensure consistency for developers and local authorities and empower communities to protect valued spaces. The government is committed to working at pace on this to ensure clarity is brought to the system. Details of the review will be announced in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the research and analysis entitled Electoral Resilience and Democratic Engagement Programme: Voter identification research, published on 3 November 2025, whether other research has been commissioned but is not published under that programme.

The research was conducted using the same criteria that was previously used for the research and evaluation for the Elections Act 2022. The researchers use industry standard methods which allows for the comparison of data across demographic groups. All research commissioned by the programme is published in line with the Government Social Research Publication Protocol.

Communities and Local Government, what the forecast cost was of retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

The forecast costs of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief for 2024-25 and 2025-26 is published on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 83818 on Flags, which local authorities raised the subject of flags during those meetings.

The subject of flags has been raised by numerous local authorities in a variety of contexts and meetings across England. My department engages with local authorities day in and day out in a variety of different contexts. While discussions on flags have been prominent in many conversations with officials across the department, the information about these conversations is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost of time and resource to the department. My department has signposted councils to existing guidance on flag flying, and has not provided any new guidance or interpretation of the existing guidance.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press notice entitled Mayors and councillors to access LGPS under reforms, published on 13 October 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of those reforms on (a) the London Assembly and (b) Mayor of London.

The consultation launched on 13 October 2025 proposes that mayors and councillors in England should have access to the LGPS, including the Mayor of London and London Assembly Members. The overall cost is projected to increase employer contributions by an estimated £40-45 million per year.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to require Local Government Pension Scheme investments to not assist breaches of international law.

Local Government Pension Scheme administering authorities set the investment strategies for their funds, and must follow relevant legislation and guidance. Authorities are legally required to comply with UK sanctions, including restrictions on dealings with designated individuals, entities, and countries.

Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to stop councillors in England from being able to be elected to foreign office overseas.

We expect councillors to uphold the Nolan principles, which include selflessness, integrity, objectivity, and accountability, because they are essential for maintaining public confidence in local democracy. The government is clear that any councillor elected by local people to serve their interests must continue to do so as their highest priority.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the empty homes council tax premium on financial incentives to councils to leave homes empty.

It is the government’s clear expectation that councils will take reasonable steps to bring empty homes in their area back into use. The premium is one of several levers councils have, to encourage owners of empty homes to bring them back into use. As we outlined in the English Devolution White Paper, we intend to strengthen the ability of councils to take over the management of empty homes. Further details will follow in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 78188 on Affordable Housing: Finance, what estimate his Department has made of the 10-year cost of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme in real terms excluding inflation.

At the Spending Review, the government announced £39 billion, in nominal terms, for a new Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36.Economic appraisal for the SAHP business case was carried out following HMT Green Book methodology and used the Green Book discount rate (known as the Social Time Preference Rate) to assess the economic value for money of the programme in present value terms.I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 78177 on 3 November 2025 for further details.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on how breaches of Temporary Stop Notices can be addressed.

Guidance on temporary stop notices can be found in the Enforcement and post-permission matters section of my Department's Planning Practice Guidance on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2025 to Question 83815 on Permitted Development Rights: Multiple Occupation, what information his Department holds on whether any local authorities have submitted an Article 4 direction to remove permitted development rights for houses in multiple occupation that are occupied by asylum seekers.

My Department does not hold the data in question.

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable if for the commencement of (a) section 48 and (b) Schedule 10 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

The government intend to implement Section 48 and Schedule 10 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 as soon as possible after we have made necessary changes in primary legislation to fix the small number of specific but serious flaws that the Act contains.For details of those flaws I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 25972 on 6 February 2025.