Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question 108220, on Affordable Housing: Greater London, whether any other assessment has been made of affordable housing starts in London which have then not been built, despite being registered as started.

The Affordable Housing Supply statistical release that my Department publishes is produced using a number of different sources. These include data from local authorities, Homes England and the Greater London Authority (GLA).The GLA and Homes England provide information in respect of individual developments, but this is only at the point they start or complete. As such, the data my Department publishes does not distinguish between developments where construction has started and is ongoing and developments where construction has started but has stalled or been abandoned.The GLA expect all schemes will continue to proceed. In instances where that does not prove possible, they will ensure that all grant is recouped and reinvested in social and affordable housing.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 118190, on Local Government Finance, what proportion of the £740 million of funding was comprised of unallocated MHCLG budgets for the Spending Review period; and what is the allocation over each year of SR2025.

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

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2026, to Question 120055, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Flexible Working, whether time taken for lunch counts towards the 37 hour limit; and whether a full-time civil servant would be permitted to work from 9am to 6.15pm from Monday to Thursday under a compressed four day week.

Staff who work full-time, have the following conditioned hours per week:36 hours net – if their normal place of work is in London and if appointed before 1 June 201337 hours net – if their normal place of work is elsewhereIf they were appointed to the Civil Service within the department on or after 1 June 2013:37 hours net – in all locations (including London) Net hours do not include meal breaks. Staff working a compressed four-day week have the flexibility to agree their daily working pattern to reach the required conditioned hours per week. As provided, the example hours would not be suitable owing to the reasons given.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question 108220, on Affordable Housing: Greater London, whether affordable housing starts in London are tracked from start on site to competition, to ascertain that they are (a) actually delivered and (b) not stalled.

The Affordable Housing Supply statistical release that my Department publishes is produced using a number of different sources. These include data from local authorities, Homes England and the Greater London Authority (GLA).The GLA and Homes England provide information in respect of individual developments, but this is only at the point they start or complete. As such, the data my Department publishes does not distinguish between developments where construction has started and is ongoing and developments where construction has started but has stalled or been abandoned.The GLA expect all schemes will continue to proceed. In instances where that does not prove possible, they will ensure that all grant is recouped and reinvested in social and affordable housing.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, pages 35 and 40, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the definition of anti-Muslim hostility being adopted by (a) the police and (b) Crown Prosecution Service; and which body will be responsible for the practical guidance.

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

Communities and Local Government, whether the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definitions received responses to its call for evidence from the (a) Dar Alhekma Trust, (b) Islamic Centre of England, (c) Abrar Islamic Foundation and (d) Centre for Media Monitoring.

The Anti-Muslim Hatred/ Islamophobia Working Group launched a Call for Evidence which closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence. The government does not routinely publish the details of individual respondents to calls for evidence.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release, New amendments will create safer streets, champion culture, and strengthen local accountability under the English Devolution Bill, of 18 March 2026, whether the ten commissioners that Mayors can recruit will (a) be politically restricted and (b) have a salary cap; and whether they must be appointed by open and fair competition.

The government published on 16 April statutory guidance on appointing mayoral commissioners and setting/reporting allowances in combined authorities and county combined authorities. This sets out information about political restrictions, remuneration and how they should be recruited through fair and open competition.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 28, whether the cross-government integration strategy will be published as a substantive policy or strategic document in its own right.

We will provide more detail of the cross-government integration strategy in due course.The Social Cohesion Taskforce is an internal Civil Service team comprised of civil servants. Following existing precedent, we will not be identifying members.

Communities and Local Government, what underlying mechanism(s) the Department is minded to use to implement the working definition on anti-Muslim hostility into government policy decisions and operational matters of state bodies.

The government will refer to the definition of anti-Muslim hostility when developing and revising relevant policy. We encourage relevant organisations, employers and sectors to do the same – with the definition designed for organisations to use in ways that they consider to be useful and lawful. As part of our next steps, we will work with sectors to consider practical guidance and the best approaches to provide sector-specific guidance and support effective implementation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2025, to Question 27162, on Civil Society: Islam, whether the Islamophobia Working Group took evidence from (a) MEND, (b) CAGE, (c) the Muslim Association of Britain and (d) the Muslim Council of Britain.

The Anti-Muslim Hatred/ Islamophobia Working Group launched a Call for Evidence which closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence.The Department does not engage with MEND, CAGE, the Muslim Association of Britain or the Muslim Council of Britain and the Working Group did not meet with any of these organisations.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his department's factsheet, Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, of 2 March 2026, and to the statement the company or LLP donating will need to have demonstrated making sufficient revenue in the three years prior to the year in which the donation is received to justify its donation, whether companies which are less than three years old will be permitted to make political donations.

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance. In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation. The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation. Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2026, to Question 118666, on Elections: Pilot Schemes, what the provisional budget is for pilot schemes in May 2026.

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance. In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation. The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation. Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his department's factsheet, Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, of 2 March 2026, through what mechanism will political parties be able to ascertain the past and current revenues of (a) small companies and (b) micro-entities, given the lack of profit and loss data in Companies House accounts.

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance. In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation. The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation. Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's factsheet, Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, of 2 March 2026, through what mechanism political parties will be able to ascertain the past and current revenues of unlimited companies, given the lack of information on Companies House.

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance. In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation. The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation. Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's flowchart entitled Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, published on 2 March 2026, if he will amend the thresholds so they are in line with the Electoral Commission guidance entitled Political party donations and loans in Great Britain, published on 21 November 2023.

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance. In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation. The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation. Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's document entitled Political donations overview: existing rules and what is changing, published on 2 March 2026, and to the statement that if the company is majority owned by another company, it will not pass this requirement, whether such a provision would still apply if the other company was itself permissible.

The government’s position on political donation thresholds and donor permissibility is set out in legislation and in the Representation of the People Bill. The Electoral Commission will reflect any necessary changes in their guidance. In terms of unlimited companies, where statements are not available on Companies House the company must provide revenue statements to political parties in order to make a donation. The new rules will not exclude companies less than three years old. The reference in the factsheet to a three‑year period is intended as a window of time for assessing whether a company can demonstrate sufficient revenue. It does not operate as an age‑based restriction. Companies will be able to make political donations, provided they are able to demonstrate sufficient revenue and meet the other eligibility criteria set out in legislation. Where a company is majority‑owned or controlled by another company, the donating company must meet the eligibility criteria in its own right. A company that does not meet those criteria would be impermissible, regardless of whether the owning company itself is permissible.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 44, if he will name the members of the Social Cohesion Taskforce.

We will provide more detail of the cross-government integration strategy in due course.The Social Cohesion Taskforce is an internal Civil Service team comprised of civil servants. Following existing precedent, we will not be identifying members.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 31, whether the Social Cohesion Measurement Framework will include English language proficiency.

The Social Cohesion Measurement Framework will be available to local government, civil society and impact investors across England, to help them identify emerging tensions. Work on the framework is underway and we will publish fuller details in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether the 2013 Written Ministerial Statement advising local authorities against translating into foreign languages remains his department’s policy.

We are clear that the ability to use and understand our shared language should be a fundamental basis for participating in society and an expectation of those who wish to call the UK home. To support this, we are reviewing English language provision to identify best practice, and explore how innovation, including digital delivery, can increase the number of people able to speak English.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 25 March 2026 on Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS1455, whether the Local Government Boundary Commission was consulted on the boundaries of the new local authorities, including the division of existing councils and the reallocation of parishes.

The Department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (the Commission). The Secretary of State invited the Commission to respond as a named consultee on all proposals received that involved boundary change requests splitting districts between new unitary councils. With regard to electoral boundaries within new councils, these will be reflected in the Structural Changes Order that establishes them, once Ministers have decided which proposals to implement. For the first elections, anticipated in May 2027, we ask councils to provide us with their suggested interim warding arrangements for inclusion in the structural changes order, based on existing wards, divisions or, where appropriate, parishes. The Commission can offer advice and guidance to councils as they draw up these boundaries. The Commission intend to undertake a full electoral review of all new councils after their first election and before their second.