Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statutory guidance entitled Flexible use of capital receipts: direction, updated on 26 March 2025, whether the sale of a local authority allotment would qualify under those rules as a capital receipt.

The government has not changed the rules with respect to disposing of allotments. There remain in place strict criteria to protect allotments, whereby councils must seek approval from the Secretary of state to dispose of a statutory allotment and only sell it where a defined legal threshold is met. From 2016, the previous government introduced a general flexibility that allows councils to use capital receipts to pay for transformation. We are clear that councils should only do this where it provides value for money and it is in the interests of residents. This flexibility does not override any statutory restrictions that may exist on certain types of assets including allotments.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 59 of the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC1062, published on 22 July 2025, what the business case was for the increase in the total cost of trade union facility time between 2023-24 and 2024-25; and whether Ministers authorised the increase.

Trade union representatives have a legal right to be given time off to undertake their duties. Facility time is granted in line with Cabinet Office guidance and remains within 1% of our overall paybill.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2025 to Question 43889 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, what the total aggregate monetary amount spent by her Department on electronic purchasing card solution was including transactions which were below the reporting threshold in each month since July 2024.

Cabinet Office guidance on Transparency Reporting advises Departments publish £500 and above. In compliance with this MHCLG currently publishes details of all spending over £500 using an electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS) on a monthly basis. This gives a good balance between transparency to the taxpayer and reducing the administrative burden on departments

Communities and Local Government, whether she has issued guidance to local authorities on purchasing empty homes for the purpose of housing asylum seekers.

The department has not issued any guidance at this stage to local authorities on purchasing empty homes for the purpose of housing asylum seekers. We continue to work closely with the Home Office and local authorities to develop a more sustainable model of asylum accommodation supply which will ensure basic accommodation is made available for asylum seekers on a temporary basis.

Communities and Local Government, what her timetable is for implementation of automatic voter registration.

As set out in the July 17 policy paper ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’, the Government is committed to creating a more automated approach to electoral registration over the coming years. Before implementing any changes, we will test a range of automated approaches including more effective use of data and better join-up across public services. This will ensure that any interventions or changes to the registration process are effective at improving the accuracy and completeness of the register and offer value for money.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, June 2025, published on 31 July 2025, what was the purpose of the funding to Cambridge University of 4/6/25, marked increase in chief CSA salary; and what position does this relate to.

This spend was a recharge to the University of Cambridge for the salary of the current Chief Scientific Adviser who is a Professor of Engineering at Cambridge.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of banning upward-only rent reviews for commercial leases on the valuations of commercial property owned by local authorities.

The Government has carefully assessed the evidence for banning upwards only rent reviews and published full details in the Impact Assessment for the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.Based on the data and evidence-base we have available, we have assessed that any costs incurred by landlords will be outweighed by the benefits to tenants and the wider economy of a fairer, more dynamic property market.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on what the average Band D council tax was in parished areas in (a) England, (b) unitary council areas, (b) London, (c) two-tier areas and (d) metropolitan council areas in the 2025-26 financial year.

The Department publishes annual council tax level statistics, including town and parish council precepts. Statistics for 2025-26 can be found on gov.uk here. Table 2 shows council tax by class of authority and Table 6 shows the average Band D parish precept for England. The Band D council tax figures by local authority from 1993-94 to 2025-26 are published on gov.uk here. These show Band D council tax including and excluding parish precepts for all local authorities. Information on individual parish precepts has been collected by the Department annually since 2010-11.Data for 2016-17 to 2025-26 are available here: Live tables on Council Tax - GOV.UK. Data for 2010-11 to 2015-16 are available here: Council Tax statistics - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on what the average Band D parish precept was in (a) Wiltshire, (b) Shropshire and (c) Cornwall in each year since 2008-09.

The Department publishes annual council tax level statistics, including town and parish council precepts. Statistics for 2025-26 can be found on gov.uk here. Table 2 shows council tax by class of authority and Table 6 shows the average Band D parish precept for England. The Band D council tax figures by local authority from 1993-94 to 2025-26 are published on gov.uk here. These show Band D council tax including and excluding parish precepts for all local authorities. Information on individual parish precepts has been collected by the Department annually since 2010-11.Data for 2016-17 to 2025-26 are available here: Live tables on Council Tax - GOV.UK. Data for 2010-11 to 2015-16 are available here: Council Tax statistics - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to issue updated guidance to public bodies not to translate into foreign languages for domestic audiences.

I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 31875 on 10 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish each Electronic Purchasing Card transaction on her department's cards since 4 July 2024, listing the (a) merchant name, (b) date, (c) volume and (d) transaction type for every transaction, including those under £500.

In line with Cabinet Office guidance MHCLG currently publishes details of all spending over £500 using an electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS) on a monthly basis.

Communities and Local Government, if she will hold discussions with the Mayor of London on making an assessment of the reasons for trends in the level of housing starts in London.

The government recognises the significant challenges affecting housing delivery challenge in London. We are committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, boroughs, and others to significantly increase rates of housebuilding in the capital. My Department, both at a Ministerial level and official level, meet regularly with the Greater London Authority to discuss issues relating to housing delivery in London.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to amend national planning policy guidance to explicitly exclude sandwich shops from the fast food outlet ban in paragraph 97 of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2024.

It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application, to consider whether, given the type of food and service to be provided at the location proposed, they consider the outlet to be either a hot food takeaway or a fast-food outlet. We intend to consult on a set of national policies for decision making later this year, which will cover policy on hot food takeaways.

Communities and Local Government, what role the precautionary principle plays in the planning system.

The National Planning Policy Framework sets clear expectations that a precautionary approach should be taken across a range of issues including where development could occur in locations affected by flood risk, coastal change or various other natural or man-made hazards, or where it could affect areas or assets that are protected for their natural or historic value. The Environmental Principles Duty, established by the Environment Act, requires Ministers to consider the precautionary principle whilst developing policy on planning.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Affordable Homes Programme will support the (a) renovation and (b) putting back into use of long-term empty homes.

The primary focus of the new 2026-27 to 2035-36 Social and Affordable Homes Programme will be the supply of new homes. However, it will also be accessible for regeneration schemes that provide a net increase in homes on a site and will allow for some acquisitions of existing housing stock to support wider delivery.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to meet representatives of the Public and Commercial Services Union to discuss the industrial action affecting her Department.

There is ongoing dialogue between representatives of Public and Commercial Services Union representatives and departmental officials. Departmental officials are responsible for employment related matters and are best placed to engage with the Trade Union. The relevant ministers are updated regularly.

Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department has provided to the Belong Network to develop national cohesion guidance; and whether there is a grant agreement.

MHCLG provided £410,000 in the financial year 2024-25 to the Local Government Association (LGA) to boost Local Authorities’ capacity and capability to develop effective local cohesion strategies, to bring people together. This will fund the creation of guidance, training, and targeted support. The LGA has contracted Belong to support the delivery of this work.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the European Commission in relation to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The former Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government did not have discussions with the European Commission in relation to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

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, whether her Department plans to make changes to the agent of change principle in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Following the recommendation made in the Licensing Taskforce report published in July, the government is exploring whether the ‘agent of change’ principle in the licensing regime should be strengthened to better protect existing licensed premises and residents. We intend to explore how we can improve the implementation of the ‘agent of change’ principle in the planning system, and will consult on a new set of national policies for decision-making later this year.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Terms of Reference for the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, for what reason the advice provided to her Department by the independent Working Group will be private.

It is important that government is transparent in the actions it takes to address all forms of hatred. However, any independent work should also have the space to consider sensitive and complex issues in private. This is the approach the Working Group will take when considering the appropriate and sensitive language to describe, understand and define unacceptable treatment, prejudice, discrimination and hate targeting Muslims or anyone who is perceived to be Muslim. Once submitted, the Government will review the Working Group’s advice and consider next steps.