Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, in what financial year will the new default arrangements for council tax bills being billed in 12 instalments, rather than 10, come into effect.

The government published a consultation on modernising and improving council tax administration which included a proposal on whether to move to default 12 monthly council tax billing whilst retaining the option to pay over 10 months. The government is currently considering all responses on this proposal and will publish its response to the consultation in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Affordable Homes Programme annual report 2024 to 2025, published on 7 January 2026, whether the £2 billion of funding announced in March 2025 is separate to the £39 billion of funding in the 2026 to 2036 programme.

As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549), the injection of £2 billion of new capital investment to support social and affordable housing delivery was designed to act as a bridge to the long-term grant funding that was to be announced at the Spending Review in June of that year. It is part of the £39 billion budget for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Affordable housing supply in England: 2024 to 2025, published on 20 November 2025, whether the Greater London Authority’s affordable homes data includes affordable homes counted as started which were then un-designated.

The Affordable Housing Supply statistical release published on 20 November 2025 reflected the most recent data published by the Greater London Authority.There were no revisions of the Greater London Authority’s historical data for the November 2025 release. A summary of other revisions for that release can be found in section 7 of its technical notes, which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2025 to Question 86657 on Elections and Political Parties, whether the final version of the Elections Strategy was shared with the Labour Party before publication.

The government’s Strategy for Elections was not shared with any political party prior to publication.

Communities and Local Government, how much funding was allocated to the Greater London Authority in each year of the 2026-36 affordable housing programme.

The Greater London Authority has secured up to £11.7 billion to deliver the London portion of the government’s Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which will run from 2026 to 2036.The programme will support the delivery of thousands of new social and affordable homes across London, with the overall housing target for the programme to be confirmed after the initial bidding round.Funding is available to deliver projects that can start on site by March 2036 and complete by March 2039.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Co-operative Party has made representations on the Elections Act 2022 provisions on the banning of dual registration of political parties as third parties.

Our package of electoral reforms set out in our Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections has been informed by a wide variety of stakeholder recommendations and representations over time, including from political parties.

Communities and Local Government, whether households charged second home council tax premiums under processes later found to be procedurally defective are entitled to refunds.

Each billing authorities is responsible for the administration of council tax in its area including making any relevant determinations or calculations in accordance with the law. Whether any refunds may be necessary would depend on the specific circumstances of each case. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on individual cases or offer legal advice.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 84633 on Electoral Commission, when he plans to issue the new Strategy and Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission to reflect this Government’s priorities for elections and the Commission’s increased roles and responsibilities.

The government is committed to strengthening democracy and upholding the integrity of our elections. Robust and proportionate enforcement of political finance rules is an essential part of this. That is why, as announced on 17 July in the government’s Strategy for Elections, we committed to strengthening the Electoral Commission’s powers and extending its remit to ensure that it can effectively enforce the political finance framework.

Communities and Local Government, whether guidance has been provided by his Department to planning decision makers on rejecting applications due to (a) undue pressure and (b) unreasonable behaviour by applicants.

My Department has issued no such specific guidance. By law, planning applications should be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the cost to (a) central and (b) local government of the cost of translation and interpretation services.

As under the previous government, this information is not held centrally. The department does not hold this data for other departments or local authorities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87636 on Independent Review into Civil Unrest in Leicester, on what date the panel's report was received by his Department.

The panel submitted their findings to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 1 July 2025.

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

On 28 October 2025 the government set out its position that simplifying local government in Surrey also provides a strong foundation for devolution. We have begun working with partners across Surrey, including new unitary authorities once established, to put in place a strategic authority for the area. The legislation to establish the new authorities is currently before the House and they would be the constituent authorities of a Surrey Strategic Authority. This will help ensure that relevant functions held at the county level, such as transport and adult skills, can continue to be delivered on that geographic footprint where possible. The establishment of a strategic authority would be subject to the relevant statutory tests being met and local consent.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2026 to Question 97134 on MHCLG: Departmental Responsibilities, whether his attendance at the Labour YIMBY awards will be declared in gov.uk returns; whether he was accompanied by a private secretary; and if he will publish his speech.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt. Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Communities and Local Government, how does the uplift in Rateable Values in the 2026 business rates revaluation affect the calculation of council funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026-27; and what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of council areas with an above-average increase in Rateable Values on their net funding relative to the previous year from business rate revenue.

At revaluations, adjustments through the business rates retention system ensure that as far as possible local authorities do not see a change in the income they raise from business rates. In 2026-27, the business rates retention system is being reset as part of the design of the multi-year settlement which will also deliver the Fair Funding Review reforms. The reset includes a new measurement of all local authorities’ income which takes into account the impact of the 2026 revaluation, and reallocates business rates funding according to an updated measurement of local government funding need.

Communities and Local Government, whether he holds data on (1) the aggregate number of hereditaments which claimed Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26, (2) the average Rateable Value of such hereditaments, (3) the distribution of Special Category Code of such hereditaments and (4) any such data by local authority.

The number of hereditaments receiving the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief as at 31 December 2024 can be found in Table 4 on gov.uk here. This is based on a snapshot taken by local authorities on or as close to the 31 December 2024. The snapshot as at 31 December 2025 is currently being collected and will be published by the end of March. The Department does not collect data on the rateable value or the Special Category code of the hereditaments that received this relief.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend the the National Planning Policy Framework to define a fast food outlet.

The government is consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making. Through the consultation, we are seeking feedback on the application of the term ‘fast food outlets’ in planning decisions, and whether any further clarity could be provided on the types of establishments this policy should apply to. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, whether local planning authorities are required to inform him when making an Article 4 direction in relation to restricting permitted development rights.

Local planning authorities are required to send a copy of all Article 4 directions made to the Secretary of State, as set out in Schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Muslim Council of Britain is eligible to apply for funding through the Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2026.

The government does not engage with the Muslim Council of Britain. The Windrush Day Grant Scheme assesses all applications in line with the published eligibility criteria: Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2026 - GOV.UK. Organisations do not need to be Windrush‑specific, but they must show that their project will genuinely involve and benefit the Windrush community. All applications are considered on this basis. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not in itself imply that funding will be awarded; applications are considered holistically against the aims and requirements of the scheme.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the potential effect of the planned increases in landfill duty on housebuilding.

The government carefully considered the impact of reforms to landfill tax on rates of housebuilding and took account of the feedback received to the consultation carried out last year. As a result, the government set out a plan to prevent the gap between the two rates of landfill tax expanding over the coming years, ensuring that housebuilders will not face significant new costs. In addition, we are retaining the tax exemption for backfilling quarries to ensure that housebuilders continue to have access to a low-cost alternative to landfill.

Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has spent with Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Limited since July 2024; and for what purposes.

Since July 2024, £608,970 has been spent with Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd in connection with contracts that the Department had, and has, with the firm. Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd provides technical planning advice relating to a number of planning decisions to be taken by the government and has provided advice that supported the work of the New Towns independent Task Force.