Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 2 March 2026, to Question 113648, on Business Rate: Tax Yields, if he will place in the Library a copy of the business rate data and forecasts pas

The Office for Budget Responsibility sets out the process for the forecast and information it requests from my department. For information on the business rates forecast up to 2028-29 for England only, I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer to question ...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Council tax: Forecast Methodology section on the OBR website, if he will place in the Library a copy of the forecast on council tax receipts given by his De

The Office for Budget Responsibility sets out the process for the forecast and information it requests from my department. The England Level Council Tax Forecast to 2030-31 is found in Table 4.1 at gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124676 on unitary councils, what the estimated population size is of each of the new proposed unitaries.

A summary of the new unitary councils, including population sizes, is available in the House of Commons library here.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the impact of the council tax equalisation process from the unitary restructuring on council tax bills in each local authority dist

Where new councils inherit different levels of council tax from their predecessors, legislation provides for them to be harmonised no later than the start of the eighth year after the restructuring. Decisions on council tax levels will be taken by the new...

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the adequacy of compliance with the Local Government Transparency Code by local authorities.

The purpose of the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the Code) is to make it easier for the public to directly hold their local authorities to account, not as a means for central government to monitor them. Therefore, the government does not monito...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 24 March 2026, to Question 121210, on Second Homes: Council Tax, whether the Valuation Tribunal Service has issued guidance on whether the (a) per

I refer the Rt hon. Member to the response given to UIN 124732 on 20 April 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what steps (a) his department and (b) the Defending Democracy Taskforce is taking to tackle intimidation of councillors.

Councillors play a vital role in our democracy by stepping up to serve their communities. The Defending Democracy Taskforce (DDTF) is committed to ensuring that all elected representatives are able to fulfil their duties free from harassment and intimidat...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 21 May 2026, HCWS59, on Neighbourhoods and Public Services, what his definition is of an excessive profit.

Every child in care should have a safe and loving home which is also value for money for the taxpayer. In their 2022 report, the Competition and Markets Authority estimated that the operating profit margins for large children’s social care providers betwe...

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the review of Approved Document B on evacuation lifts on the level of housebuilding in (a) London and (b) England.

Analysis of proposals set out in the Approved Document B consultation indicate a low impact on housebuilding. Government’s analysis of 50 buildings at planning stage across England, both in and outside of London, shows the majority of new tall housing blo...

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2026 to Question 456 on Tower Hamlets Council, what is the expected timetable for the Ministerial Envoys to report their findings; and whether th

The Ministerial Envoys will report to minsters in the autumn on the progress of the intervention in Tower Hamlets. This report will form part of the established reporting cycle to provide ministers and Parliament with regular updates on progress across th...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 104178 on Housing: Parking, if he will publish the (a) environmental principles and (b) equality impact assessment for

The government does not routinely publish environmental principles policy statements or equality impact assessments.

Communities and Local Government, when social housing providers will receive the first allocation of funding under the 2026-2036 Affordable Housing Programme; and what the value is of the first tranche.

Bids for Strategic Partnerships under the Social and Affordable Homes Programme are currently being assessed and funding allocations will be set out in due course.I otherwise refer the Rt. hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60128 on 4 July 20...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 77536 on Planning Permission: Public Consultation, whether he plans to bring the Street Vote provisions from the Level

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77536 on 24 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what the average (a) cash grant and (b) subsidy per unit is for a unit of (i) social rent housing, (ii) affordable rent and (iii) affordable home ownership.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60080 on 24 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to monitor the number of councils which introduce anti-Israeli boycott or divestment policies.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 85172 on 10 November 2025

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 22 April 2026 to Question 116755 on Licensing Premises: Business Rates, whether local billing authorities in London are required to apply the 15 p

Where business rate reliefs are implemented under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, such as the Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief Scheme, Business Rate Supplements are adjusted to reflect the percentage relief provided by those schemes ...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 21 May 2026, HCWS59, on Neighbourhoods and Public Services, through what legal mechanism will councils be given new powers to restrict

The Government is taking action to give local authorities and communities more powers to control the make up of their high street. This includes bringing Gambling Impact Assessments into force in due course, which will give local authorities an additional...

Communities and Local Government, whether empty dwellings (a) in a state of disrepair or (b) without a roof, will be liable for the council tax surcharge.

The Valuation Office will be responsible for determining whether a property falls within scope of the High Value Council Tax surcharge and for assigning the appropriate band. As with Council Tax, they will consider a range of factors, including the condit...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 24 April 2026 to Question 124737 on New Towns: Public Appointments, who are the four interim advisers who have been contracted through the Public

The four interim expert advisers engaged to support the New Towns programme are Lyn Garner, Ian Piper, Emma Cariaga and David Rudlin. They have been engaged through the Public Sector Resourcing framework to provide time-limited, specialist advisory suppor...

Communities and Local Government, whether the Facility Agreement for Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Housing Investment Loans Fund has been released by (a) his Department and (b) Homes England under the F

My Department disclosed the Facility Agreement in question in May 2024 following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.