Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to correspondence from his Department entitled Council tax information letter 2/2026: Carers disregard, local council tax support schemes and other matters, published on 18 February 2026, whether the higher income from the removal of the two child limit in Universal Credit and working-age Housing Benefit will be liable to reduce the amount of local council tax support for working age households.

Local authorities are responsible for designing and reviewing their council tax support schemes for working-age residents. This includes assessing income and eligibility. The referenced council tax information letter encourages local authorities to consider the interaction of their council tax support schemes with changes in the wider benefit system. The government does not prescribe the requirements for working-age council tax support schemes. It is ultimately for local authorities to decide whether the higher income from the removal of the two-child limit in Universal Credit and working-age Housing Benefit will be liable to reduce the amount of local council tax support for working age households.

With reference to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation's blog entitled OFSI and partners clamp down on the abuse of cryptoassets, of 28 January 2026, whether the OFSI will examine crypto donations being made to political organisations.

Since 2020, UK cryptoasset firms have been subject to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations, requiring strict supervision, customer checks and suspicious activity reporting. Since 2023, these firms have also been required to collect, verify and share information about the sender and receiver of transfers. The Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) works alongside other government agencies to tackle the threats posed to sanctions by illicit cryptoasset activity. While OFSI does not comment on individual cases, it is fully prepared to investigate any sanctions offences, including those that may involve donations to political organisations. The rules for donations in cryptoassets apply in the same way as they do for any other political donations. The Government announced in December 2025 that the independent Rycroft Review will assess current financial rules and safeguards that regulate political finance and political parties. The Review will specifically consider safeguards against illicit funding streams, including difficult-to-trace assets such as cryptoassets.

Pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2026, to Question 111133, on Housing: Sales, whether HMRC holds information on the number of sales of primary homes by local authority area in 2025.

HMRC does not hold the information requested.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107997 on Council tax, valuation, whether the new council tax surcharge will entail new value significant codes; and whether new codes were created for the council tax revaluation in Wales.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is developing its approach to the High Value Council Tax Surcharge and will set out more details in due course, alongside the government's consultation in 2026.For the Council Tax revaluation in Wales, the VOA has not collected additional codes over and above those already used within England and Wales.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions has the department had with the Venice Commission on elections since July 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 December 2024 to Question 19695.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107997 on Council tax, valuation, if he will list the DwellingHouse Codes that the Valuation Office Agency uses for council tax.

Dwelling house codes are used by the VOA internally to classify dwellings by Group and Type – there are therefore no plans to publish these.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK Politics, Governance and Rights Centre provides guidance or assistance to foreign countries in relation to the practices of holding elections, and the frequency at which local elections should be held.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 December 2024 to Question 19695.

Pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2026, to Question 109138, on business rates, whether the 2026 revaluation was subject to Collective Cabinet responsibility and agreement, or whether it was deemed part of a fiscal event.

The VOA is responsible for valuing non-domestic property for business rates purposes. They are required by law to compile and maintain up-to-date rating lists for non-domestic properties in England and Wales, impartially and independent of central government. The Treasury worked closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government in the run up to Budget once the VOA shared the results of the changes in rateable values. That is why the Government introduced a support package at Budget worth £4.3 billion, to protect ratepayers seeing large bill increases.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the (a) National Insurance increase, (b) National Living Wage, (c) Increase in Beer excise duty, (d) the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and (e) the increase to business rates on the hospitality industry in (1) England and (2) other constituent nations.

The Government recognises the important contribution that businesses in the hospitality sector make to local communities, the high street and the wider economy across the UK. The potential impacts of changes on this sector are carefully considered as part of policy development. Where changes are made, relevant impact notes and assessments are published at fiscal events and otherwise as necessary, in line with the Government’s usual practice. The Treasury also engages regularly with the hospitality sector to understand the challenges they face. The Government continues to provide targeted support to the hospitality sector through the tax system and other policies and keeps all areas of the tax system under review, with future decisions taken at fiscal events under the normal process.

Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for the publication of the social cohesion strategy, and whether there will be a consultation or green paper.

We published Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive, and resilient United Kingdom on Monday 9 March 2026. This publication sets out this government’s vision for a fair, tolerant and decent country and the steps we are taking to tackle threats to social cohesion.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90226 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, if she will publish data for the number of hereditaments on the 2026 Rating List with a Rateable Value above £500,000 by Special Category code.

You can find data related to the 2026 revaluation here: Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (draft list) - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105190 on Council tax: Valuation, whether a new computer system is being developed to undertake valuations for the new council tax surcharge.

The Valuation Operating System for Council Tax was launched in 2025 and supports all Council Tax work in England and Wales, including the High Value Council Tax Surcharge.

Communities and Local Government, what number and proportion of planning appeals were decided through the Rosewell Inquiry Process in 2025.

In 2025, 167 planning appeals were decided through the Rosewell Inquiry Process. This represents 93% of the total planning appeals decided by inquiry.

What estimate has the Office for National Statistics made of the average house price of a (a) residential dwelling and (b) primary residence dwelling, in each (i) local authority area and (ii) Parliamentary constituency.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt Hon. gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 6th March is attached.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 9 February 2026 on Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29, whether he has allocated additional funding to MHCLG.

The final 2026-27 to 2028-29 Local Government Finance Settlement confirmed £740 million in new grant funding additional to the provisional Settlement, taking the total new grant funding delivered through the multi-year Settlement to over £4 billion. Local authority funding allocations across the three years can be found here: Core Spending Power table: final local government finance settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29 - GOV.UK.The £740 million of additional funding is comprised of unallocated budgets for the Spending Review period and additional Exchequer funding. The Barnett formula applies to all increases or decreases to UK Government Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL).

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the UK anti-corruption strategy 2025, CP 1454, of December 2025, para 88, what is the separate agreement relating to (a) the Code of Conduct and (b) Independent Oversight on local government standards.

The Government published its response to the consultation “Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England” in November 2025. The response sets out the Government’s intention to introduce measures including a mandatory Code of Conduct for councillors and strengthened oversight of the local government standards regime.We intend to legislate on local government standards reforms when parliamentary time allows.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the administrative cost per year of (a) valuing and (b) collecting the Council Tax surcharge.

The Government has set out, in its guidance, that it will carry out a new burdens assessment to ensure local authorities are fully funded for these costs.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 102399 on Local Government: Elections, whether the new unitary councils will be elected (a) in full and (b) by (i) halves and (ii) thirds.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 74954 on 15 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what the status is of each locality within the Devolution Priority Programme.

Government will establish Mayoral Strategic Authorities in the Devolution Priority Programme areas as quickly as possible following the consent of the constituent councils. The Combined Authorities for Cumbria and Cheshire & Warrington were established on 24 February. Legislation establishing a Sussex and Brighton strategic authority has been laid before Parliament. We are firmly committed to delivering mayoral devolution as quickly as possible in the other three Devolution Priority Programme areas: Hampshire and the Solent; Norfolk and Suffolk and Greater Essex. We will continue to work closely with all Devolution Priority Programme areas.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of local government reorganisation on the (a) services provided by, (b) responsibilities of and (c) parish precepts for council tax in (i) new and (ii) existing town and parish councils.

Town and parish councils are not in scope for local government reorganisation and will continue to operate as they do now.  The power to create and restructure town and parish councils is devolved to principal local authorities, which can review and make changes to local governance arrangements through Community Governance Reviews. In doing so, they are expected to take the views of local people into account. The Government expects town and parish councils – including new councils – to carefully consider the burden placed on taxpayers when setting their precepts. Areas considering the establishment of new town and parish councils should also think carefully about how these might be funded to avoid putting further pressure on local authority finances and/or new burdens on the taxpayer.