Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84635 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, if he will list each organisation that the Government discussed the Supplementary Vote with prior to the introduction of the Bill.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government engaged with a wide range of local stakeholders during the development of all the measures in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We engaged with local stakeholders on all the measures in the Bill ahead of the Bill’s introduction, including the Supplementary Vote change.

Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the submission for a May 2026 election pilot from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets; and whether the Best Value Envoys were consulted on or have reviewed that application.

We are currently reviewing applications from local authorities wishing to pilot at the May 2026 elections and we will share further details in due course. An application from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is not being considered.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what estimate his Department has made of the upfront costs to (a) local government and (b) central Government of the restructuring.

I refer the Rt. hon Member to the answer given to UIN: 85785 on 4 November 2025. Exact costs and savings will vary depending on the area and the final decisions on which proposals, if any, are implemented.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to allow local referendums on (a) local government restructuring, (b) changes to the governance model of local councils and (c) the establishment of combined authority mayors and strategic authorities.

Parliament has set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 the process for establishing unitary councils in two-tier areas, and a referendum is not part of the statutory process that has already begun. The process requires statutory consultation, and we will welcome responses from anyone interested in the proposals for unitary local government, including local residents, town and parish councils, businesses and the voluntary and community sector. As set out in the invitation letter, areas must demonstrate how the local community has been engaged in developing proposals.The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill includes provisions to change the available governance arrangements for councils in England. Councils currently operating the committee system will be required to move to the leader and cabinet model within one year of the relevant provision commencing, without holding a referendum. The Bill also prevents the creation of any new local authority mayoralties operating the mayor and cabinet executive governance arrangement. Councils already operating this model will remain able to hold referendums on whether or not to move to the leader and cabinet model.Referendums will not be required when establishing future strategic authorities. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will see Government working in partnership with leaders of the constituent local authorities, as elected representatives, to set up new Strategic Authorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Valuation Tribunal Service has issued (i) guidance and (ii) advice to local billing authorities on the changing of designations of secondary residences to primary occupation.

The government has not issued guidance to councils on this. It is for individual councils to assess whether a dwelling is a sole/main residence or if it is a second or empty home. In doing this councils will consider a range of factors including; where the liable person is registered with a GP, where they vote, where their family home is etc.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2025, to Question 81310, on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, if he will make it his policy to publish all online written representations to planning applications for Special Development Orders.

Special Development Orders are a long-established part of the planning system, and each case is considered on its individual merits. In July 2025, my Department set out how it intends to inform the public of its decision on a request for planning permission for an Entertainment Resort Complex and associated development in Bedford. There is no statutory requirement to publish representations received in relation to Special Development Orders and the government has no plans to change this.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83285 on Private Rented Housing: Energy, whether he plans to provide guidance to (a) renters, (b) landlords and (c) tribunals on whether landlords recouping upfront costs of energy efficiency measures may be a legitimate material consideration in determining the market rent for the purposes of a rent tribunal.

Once Part 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, tenants will have the right to apply to the First-tier Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’) to challenge a proposed rent increase.Where a tenant chooses to do so, the Tribunal will determine the open market rent. This is the rent that the landlord could expect to receive for the property, if they were to let it on the open market the next day.The Tribunal has experts who are experienced in understanding the different factors which result in the open market rent and determining whether a proposed rent is reflective of this.Section 14 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the factors that must be considered or disregarded by the Tribunal when determining rents. It would not be appropriate to provide guidance beyond this to the Tribunal as to how the legislation should be interpreted, as this is a matter for the judiciary.When considering the proposed rent, the Tribunal must look at the rent the property could command on the open market, rather than costs borne by the landlord. However, the open market rent of the property could be affected by the condition of the property, among other factors. It will be for the Tribunal to make a determination in each case.We will publish guidance for landlords and tenants before Part 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 28 October 2025, HCWS998, on Local government reorganisation, and with reference to the debt write-off of Woking Borough Council, whether he plans to do the same for any other councils following restructuring.

In general, as with previous rounds of local government reorganisation, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation. Alongside Woking Borough Council, and as I set out on 13 October, Thurrock Council holds significant unsupported and exceptional debt that cannot be managed locally in its entirety as a result of historic capital practices. The Government has committed to providing debt repayment support. Any support will need to consider value for money for the taxpayer and what can be done locally to reduce debt. We will continue to work with the Council and Commissioners and provide further details in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83343 on Elections: Pilot Schemes, what his planned timetable is for announcing which local authority areas will be selected for election pilots in May 2026; how many will be selected; what the budget is for that programme; and how many bids were submitted by the deadline.

We are currently reviewing applications from local authorities wishing to pilot at the May 2026 elections and we will share further details in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 81951 on Affordable Housing: Construction, whether grant funding will be provided under the Affordable Housing Programme for (a) unsold and (b) uncontracted homes provided under section 106 agreements.

The Social and Affordable Homes Programme will support the delivery of social and affordable housing additional to those that developers have committed to delivering through Section 106 agreements.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what discussions his Department has had with councils in Surrey on establishing charter trustees.

The Government believes the historic identity, rights and privileges of cities and counties in England are important and should be safeguarded and celebrated. There have been no specific discussions on this matter with councils in Surrey to date, but we have confirmed that we will work together on the further legislation that we expect will be needed to cover matters such as ceremonial issues.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78178 on City of London Corporation, for what reason the City of London will continue to operate under a committee-based system of governance.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision to amend the Local Government Act 2000, which sets out the permissible governance arrangements for local authorities in England.Arrangements for the discharge of local authority functions by City of London Corporation are enabled separately by the Local Government Act 1972. Given the broader range of public and private functions for which the City of London Corporation is responsible, the Government has no current plans to amend these arrangements.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78227 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Standards, if he will provide the data for each of those metrics from July 2024.

The metrics currently used in the dashboard are mainly derived from datasets available on the Office for National Statistics and GOV.UK websites, supported by both additional internal analysis and data sources provided under licence by third party organisations with restrictions on publication. This is used to support live policy development.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Affordable Housing Programme will have a funding stream for (a) renovating and (b) getting long-term empty homes back into use as affordable housing.

On 7 November 2025, my Department published a policy statement setting out the full details of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme as part of our plan to kickstart a decade of social and affordable housing renewal. It can be found on gov.uk here.The new programme is designed to be flexible to support the greater diversity of supply needed, and we are asking providers to come forward with ambitious bids that reflect this diversity.While the new programme will focus on the supply of new homes, it will also continue to support some regeneration schemes that provide a net increase in homes on a site. The programme will also allow for a limited number of acquisitions of existing housing stock, to support wider delivery while more rapidly increasing the supply of social and affordable homes.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78232 on MHCLG: Remote Working, for what reason junior civil servants have a lower office workplace requirement than senior civil servants.

Senior Civil Servants in MHCLG have a higher expectation for Office Attendance than other employees as they have a key leadership role in the Department and have a responsibility to be visible and accessible to their colleagues. Office Attendance expectations within the Department reflect the available capacity across the MHCLG estate.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department consulted mayors on the proposed Supplementary Vote change for (a) mayors and (b) Police and Crime Commissioners prior to the announcement on 10 July 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government engaged with a wide range of local stakeholders during the development of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We engaged with Mayors on the measures in the Bill, including the Supplementary Vote change, ahead of the Bill’s introduction to Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83810 on Pride in Place Programme: Finance, how much funding has been allocated to each nation in the Spending Review period.

Our Pride in Place programme will see up to £280 million shared among 14 places in Scotland, each receiving up to £20 million over 10 years. Up to £180m will be provided to a further 9 Welsh communities as part of the programme. These areas will join 10 areas in Scotland and 5 in Wales where work is already underway, taking the totals up to £480m over 10 years in Scotland and £280m over 10 years in Wales. For Northern Ireland, corresponding funding will be made available. MHCLG and the Northern Ireland Office are working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive to determine the appropriate delivery approach. Further details, including funding profiles, will be shared in guidance shortly.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 78194 on Affordable Housing: Expenditure, where this information can be found in the annual reports and accounts.

Within my Department’s Annual Report and Accounts – which can be found here on page 140, expenditure for the Affordable Homes Programme is set out in ‘Note 4 - Operating Expenditure’ under ‘Notes to the Departmental Accounts’, in addition to being included within MHCLG’s budget and outturn throughout.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83816 on Devolution: Cornwall, whether he plans to require Cornwall to (a) join a combined authority with Devon and (b) have a mayor.

Decisions on future devolution beyond the areas on the Devolution Priority Programme, including Cornwall, will be confirmed in due course and will be subject to further local engagement and ministerial decisions.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 78216 on Community Relations: Expenditure, what each of those 300 projects were; and what reporting requirements there were on how the money was spent.

The Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme (CCRP) funding was allocated to local authorities; those receiving funding and their allocations are set out in the response to PQ 87321. Local authorities were provided with monitoring and evaluation guidance, which included outputs and outcomes to be reported against which directly linked to the Programme’s objectives. Of the 300 projects funded via the CCRP, each local authority delivered their respective projects in line with the programme guidance, delivering a wide range of initiatives in local places to bring communities together.