Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written ministerial statement of 2 September 2025 on Local Regeneration, HCWS900, whether funding allocations previously given to local authorities from the Levelling Up Fund will be retained by those authorities.

Yes, as part of the Local Regeneration Fund, allocations provided to Local Authorities from the Levelling up Fund will be retained. The Local Regeneration Fund consolidates multiple funds into a single pot, with greater flexibility. It exemplifies this government’s commitment to pushing power to local authorities, reducing burdens and allowing them to get on with delivery.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69680 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, with which mayors his Department has held discussions on the supplementary vote.

Before the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was introduced on 10 July 2025, all Mayors were invited to a briefing on the Bill, which included discussions on the change back to the supplementary vote.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance entitled Local Regeneration Fund: accounting officer assessment, published on 2 September 2025, which projects were safeguarded following the consultation entitled Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: consultation on implementation of plan-making reforms of February 2025.

A list of the projects safeguarded is published on gov.uk: Local Regeneration Fund Culture Projects.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars, published on 26 July 2025, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of licensing hospitality zones on the regulation of licensed premises not designated as a hospitality zone.

The government is exploring a range of reforms proposed by the recent Licensing Taskforce to support the hospitality industry and night-time economy. This includes designating zones to promote or preserve economic and cultural activity. Similar approaches have been successful in the UK and overseas – for example, in New South Wales.We have launched a call for evidence to provide an opportunity for the public and a range of stakeholders to shape early policy development on the designation of licensing hospitality zones, alongside other possible reforms to the licensing system. The call for evidence is open to the public on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, which international conferences were attended by representatives of his Department since 4 July 2024; and what the cost was of attending each conference.

The requested information cannot be reported on centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 68791 on MHCLG: English Language, if he will make an assessment of whether publications issued by his Department use (a) clear and (b) understandable language.

While there is no legal requirement for government documents to be published in plain English, the department always asks teams to use clear, understandable language in its publications.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of council responses to the raising of UK national flags on (a) integration and (b) community relations.

The Prime Minister has been clear that he supports the flying of flags across the country. Flags should be an embodiment of bringing our country and our communities together. Decisions about whether flags should be removed are devolved to Local Authorities and it is for them to assess the impacts of removing or allowing flags to remain. Guidance exists, such as ‘Flying flags: a plain English guide” - as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 (as amended in 2012 and 2021) – which outlines the regulations related to the flying of flags in England.It is important that the decisions taken by Local Authorities reflect the character and values of the communities they serve. Where symbols are used in ways that threaten public safety, it is right that action is taken to address this.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the collection entitled Crown Development and Urgent Crown Development applications and decisions, published on 10 September 2025, what criteria are used to assess whether a development is of national importance.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 13 February 2025 (HCWS454).

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 72484 on Inheritance Tax: Valuation, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the free home care threshold on trends in the number of unoccupied homes.

My Department does not hold records on the impact of care costs on the number of vacant homes.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason there is a four year limit on Section 183 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 stop notices for cases involving the use of (a) hotels and (b) houses in multiple occupation.

Stop notices are intended for use where the impact of a breach of planning control is such that it needs to be stopped quickly and before the related enforcement notice takes effect. The four-year time limit for their use was first introduced by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 on the basis that, if a breach has already been in existence for more than four years it is less likely that it would need to be stopped quickly.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 74339 on Planning: Environment Protection, when he expects the Environmental Outcomes Reports framework to replace the environmental assessment systems.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 16 December 2024 (HCWS317), we will, in due course, replace the current EU derived systems of Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment with Environmental Outcomes Reports (EORs). These will be a more effective and outcome-focused tool for managing the effects of development on the natural environment. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 contains a number of duties to consult on the core elements of the new EOR system, including the setting of outcomes and repealing existing legislation. The government will consult on draft regulations in due course following policy development and engagement with key stakeholders. Until a new system is implemented, current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 68789 on Permitted Development Rights, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Article 4 directions on the volume of new dwellings from conversions.

No assessment of the impact in question has been made by my Department.

Communities and Local Government, how much (a) capital and (b) revenue funding was allocated to the Affordable Housing Programme in each year since 2019-20.

My Department published an update on targets in respect of the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme on 30 July 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here. Delivery for the GLA on affordable housing can be found on their website here and Homes England set out their annual report and accounts for delivery outside of London here. My Department publishes our annual reports and accounts here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's statistics entitled Housing supply: indicators of new supply, England: April to June 2025, published on 19 September 2025, what data Glenigan collects for his Department; and whether Glenigan provides figures on unbuilt-out planning permissions.

My Department obtains a range of planning-related data from Glenigan Ltd through a contract. Its estimates of the numbers of residential planning permissions granted are routinely published in its quarterly statistical releases. The data provided by Glenigan Ltd includes information on developments that have been granted permission but do not constitute robust estimates of the number of planning permissions that have not been built out.

Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of new build homes that were sold in the last 12 months.

My Department does not hold the requested data.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 69050 on Local Government Finance, what the aggregate value was of the capitalised costs in 2024-25.

Since 2016, under a general direction initially put in place by the previous government, local authorities have the flexibility to use eligible capital receipts to fund the costs of projects that produce ongoing savings or efficiencies.Local authorities are required to provide annual returns to Government, including data on revenue expenditure. The latest return was published on 18th September 2025: Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2024 to 2025 – first release - GOV.UK. The data includes reported revenue spend funded by capital receipts under the general direction.These values may be subject to revision as authorities provide further or updated information.

Communities and Local Government, what the average difference is in Band D council tax rates between parished and non-parished areas in 2025-26.

The Department does not hold data on the average Band D council tax for parished and non-parished areas.

Communities and Local Government, under what circumstances would the HM Land Registry not publish title deeds on the gov.uk website following the purchase of a dwelling.

HM Land Registry does not publish title deeds on gov.uk. Instead, it maintains a register, which is the official and definitive record of land and property ownership in England and Wales. Once a property is registered, the register itself serves as proof of ownership. There is no requirement for title deeds to confirm ownership. An official copy of the register or title plan provides a true and legally recognised record of the property’s ownership and boundaries at a specific point in time. While a property is the process of being registered with HM Land Registry, it will not appear on the register until that registration has been completed. However, legal ownership rights are secured and protected from the moment the application is received by HM Land Registry, not at the point at which processing of the application is completed. Applicants can contact HM Land Registry to check on the progress of their application. Processing times for completing different application types can be found on GOV.UK. Under the Land Registration Act 2002, the register, title plan, and certain associated documents are publicly accessible to all. These can be obtained for a small fee via the ‘search for land and property information’ service on gov.uk which can be found here. It should be noted that not all documents submitted during the registration process are retained, and not all retained documents are available electronically. Access to documents is subject to the Land Registration Rules 2003. Some documents—such as identity documents—are classified as “excepted documents” and are not made available to the public.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of whether overseas electors in (a) Australia and (b) UAE can receive postal ballot papers posted from the United Kingdom in line with the legal deadlines for returning them.

The responsibility for arranging the timing and dispatch of postal votes sits with the Returning Officer for each electoral area. As such, it falls to them to assess the likelihood of an elector’s postal ballot pack being dispatched, returned and completed before the close of poll. The Electoral Commission advises Returning Officers to prioritise overseas postal ballot packs. Since 2016, the Government has supported Returning Officers by funding the use of the International Business Response Licence - which expedites the return of ballot packs from overseas, as well as covering any postage costs that might otherwise be incurred. The Electoral Commission also advises that, in cases where it may not be realistic for a postal ballot pack to be dispatched, completed and returned before the close of poll, the Electoral Registration Officer should make the elector aware of this and advise that they vote by proxy instead. The online absent vote application service includes similar advice for electors applying for a postal vote.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to repeal the Parliamentary Elections Act 1695.

The majority of the Parliamentary Elections Act 1695 was repealed by the Representation of the People Act 1948. The one remaining section (section 7) related to the minimum age of candidacy for elections to the House of Commons and was repealed by the Electoral Administration Act 2006 when that Act reduced the minimum age of candidacy for elections to the House of Commons from 21 to 18 years.