Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 to require planning permission for the use of hotels as accommodation for asylum seekers.

Whether or not use of a hotel or a house in multiple occupation to accommodate asylum seekers would constitute a material change of use requiring planning permission is a matter of fact and degree and will be for the local planning authority to determine on the individual merits of a case.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69298 on Electoral Register: Young People, if he will make it his policy to consult with political parties on the elections strategy at an early stage prior to bringing forward legislative proposals on this matter.

Pursuant to the answer given to Question [69298] on Electoral Register, the Government will continue to work closely with our partners in local and devolved government and wider stakeholders to deliver on our strategy for modern and secure elections. This will include engagement with political parties, the electoral sector, education and civil society, and with citizens themselves to ensure impacts are thoroughly considered and changes successfully delivered.

Communities and Local Government, further to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's press release entitled Ombudsman writes to Secretary of State after council refuses to accept recommendation on abuse survivor’s complaint, published on 10 September 2025, what steps he is taking further to the letter from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman relating to Leicester City Council.

The Department is aware of the concerns raised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. We continue to monitor Leicester City Council’s compliance with its Best Value Duty, in line with our wider oversight of local authority risk.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on the use of Article 4 directions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for (a) houses in multiple occupation and (b) asylum accommodation.

My Department has not issued any such guidance.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 71482 on Green Belt: Planning Permission, whether the Planning Inspectorate holds information on decisions made in relation to green belt land since December 2024.

The Planning Inspectorate does hold information on decisions made in relation to green belt land. This information is released under management information in our Casework Database which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to amend the General Permitted Development Order to require an application for planning permission in all cases of repurposing a house in multiple occupation as accommodation for asylum seekers.

Whether or not use of a hotel or a house in multiple occupation to accommodate asylum seekers would constitute a material change of use requiring planning permission is a matter of fact and degree and will be for the local planning authority to determine on the individual merits of a case.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights, which closed on 12 April 2023.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 72633 on 15 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference the Written Statement of 24 June 2025 entitled Simplified Local Leadership Structures, HCWS736, whether he plans to abolish the committee-based governance system in the City of London Corporation.

The government has no current plans to abolish the committee-based governance system in the City of London Corporation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 66939 on Council Tax: Tax Yields, if he will publish the FOI disclosure reference FOI2025/22431.

It is not MHCLG policy to routinely publish FOI responses. The Information Tribunal views disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a release into the public domain.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has undertaken research on the potential impact of rent controls on the housing market.

My Department regularly reviews external research and evidence related to various aspects of the private rented sector. The government has been clear it does not support the introduction of rent controls, including rent stabilisation measures. We believe they could make life more difficult for private renters, both in terms of incentivising landlords to increase rents routinely up to a cap where they might otherwise not have done, and in pushing many landlords out of the market, thereby making it even harder for renters to find a home they can afford.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce planning restrictions on the opening of (a) betting shops, (b) vaping shops and (c) Turkish barbers.

My Department currently has no plans to introduce such restrictions. An application for planning permission will always be required for an additional betting office. In the Pride in Place Strategy, we committed to introduce Cumulative Impact Assessments in gambling licensing, which will allow councils to take data-driven decisions on premises licences, particularly in areas that have been identified as being vulnerable to gambling-related harm. Furthermore, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will provide powers for ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products.

Communities and Local Government, whether Essex county council elections will take place in May 2026.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60731 on 24 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16490 on Deputy Prime Minister: Departmental Responsibilities, what the status is of the policy and strategy unit that was allocated to the previous Deputy Prime Minister.

Staff allocated to the Office of the former Deputy Prime Minister continue to be employed by MHCLG, working on the priorities of the new Secretary of State.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2025 to Question 70567 on Deputy Prime Minister: Finance, what the status is of staff in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister who did not work on matters in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, following the appointment of the new Deputy Prime Minister.

Staff allocated to the Office of the former Deputy Prime Minister continue to be employed by MHCLG, working on the priorities of the new Secretary of State.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 68790 on MHCLG: Civil Servants, for what reason the London pay range is paid to civil servants in the Hemel Hempstead office.

The application of the MHCLG London pay scale to the Hemel Hempstead office relates to a historic decision and wider contractual pay agreement reached with Departmental Trade Unions.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2025 to Question 75188 on MHCLG: University of Cambridge, for what reason the salary of the Chief Scientific Adviser is recharged through Cambridge University.

The MHCLG Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) is a Professor of Engineering at Cambridge University. MHCLG is recharged a proportionate amount to account for his role as CSA in the department.

Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to the letter from the Rt hon. Member for Braintree of 13 August 2025.

The Rt Hon Member’s letter has been passed to the Department for Business and Trade for a response.

Communities and Local Government, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital funding has been allocated to the Local Regeneration Fund in each year of the Spending Review period; and whether any of this funding has been repurposed from cancelled schemes.

The Local Regeneration Fund is a consolidation of existing local growth capital funds (Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals, and the Pathfinder Pilot). No schemes were cancelled. Local Authorities in receipt of Local Regeneration Fund were paid £1,330m Capital and £9.4m Revenue in September 2025 for financial year 2025/26. Departmental internal business planning processes for future years are still ongoing, therefore we cannot yet confirm specific allocations for the LRF at this time as allocations are provisional.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance to the Local Government Pension Scheme on hiring lobbyists; and whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

The Department has not issued guidance to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) on hiring lobbyists. Local authorities should have regard to the provisions of the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.The Department is in regular contact with LGPS funds and asset pools, including the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, as part of work to implement LGPS reforms.

Communities and Local Government, whether strategic authority commissioners will be politically restricted.

The government will be setting out further details on Commissioners in statutory guidance using powers set out in Schedule 3 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We will consider appropriate political restrictions to be included in this guidance.