Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, whether the 2013 Written Ministerial Statement advising local authorities against translating into foreign languages remains his department’s policy.

We are clear that the ability to use and understand our shared language should be a fundamental basis for participating in society and an expectation of those who wish to call the UK home. To support this, we are reviewing English language provision to identify best practice, and explore how innovation, including digital delivery, can increase the number of people able to speak English.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Statement of 9 March 2026, Official Report, Column 80, on Social Cohesion Action Plan, whether organisations deemed extremist or subject to the Government’s policy of non-engagement were permitted to submit evidence to Islamophobia working group met.

The Anti-Muslim Hatred/ Islamophobia Working Group launched a Call for Evidence which closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence.The Department does not engage with MEND, CAGE, the Muslim Association of Britain or the Muslim Council of Britain and the Working Group did not meet with any of these organisations.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85787 on Combined Authorities and Unitary Councils, whether it remains the case that new unitary councils should have a population size of 500,000 or more.

The 500,000 population figure has always been a guiding principle, not a fixed threshold. There may need to be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including to support devolution, and that decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The population size of proposed new unitary councils therefore varies between areas. Where any new council is below 500,000, the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is appropriate on the basis it produces the most coherent and effective outcome for that area. As standard, the Secretary of State had discussions on new unitary councils with relevant colleagues in Government and decisions were collectively agreed through the normal and well-established processes.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release, New amendments will create safer streets, champion culture, and strengthen local accountability under the English Devolution Bill, of 18 March 2026, whether the ten commissioners that Mayors can recruit will (a) be politically restricted and (b) have a salary cap; and whether they must be appointed by open and fair competition.

The government published on 16 April statutory guidance on appointing mayoral commissioners and setting/reporting allowances in combined authorities and county combined authorities. This sets out information about political restrictions, remuneration and how they should be recruited through fair and open competition.

Communities and Local Government, what the estimated (a) population size and (b) total number of households is in each of the proposed new unitary councils in England.

The 500,000 population figure has always been a guiding principle, not a fixed threshold. There may need to be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including to support devolution, and that decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The population size of proposed new unitary councils therefore varies between areas. Where any new council is below 500,000, the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is appropriate on the basis it produces the most coherent and effective outcome for that area. As standard, the Secretary of State had discussions on new unitary councils with relevant colleagues in Government and decisions were collectively agreed through the normal and well-established processes.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 December 2024, to Question 20228, on Civil Society: Islam, whether the policy of non-engagement with (a) CAGE and (b) MEND applies across government, or whether it is a policy adopted by individual departments on a case by case basis.

The Anti-Muslim Hatred/ Islamophobia Working Group launched a Call for Evidence which closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence.The Department does not engage with MEND, CAGE, the Muslim Association of Britain or the Muslim Council of Britain and the Working Group did not meet with any of these organisations.

Communities and Local Government, if he will place in the Library a copy of the formal third-party representations submitted in response to the Special Development Order planning application for Universal Studios.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 81310 on 28 October 2025 and UIN 87785 on 17 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definitions received responses to its call for evidence from the (a) Dar Alhekma Trust, (b) Islamic Centre of England, (c) Abrar Islamic Foundation and (d) Centre for Media Monitoring.

The Anti-Muslim Hatred/ Islamophobia Working Group launched a Call for Evidence which closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence. The government does not routinely publish the details of individual respondents to calls for evidence.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2026, to Question HL14714, on MHCLG: Public Consultation, what the policy approach of his Department is on this matter.

As the Department with responsibility for Counter Extremism policy since 2024, Home Office oversees the engagement principles for government and will advise and share information to help inform the decisions of other departments, including MHCLG. The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with respective departments and the appropriate policy areas.

Media and Sport, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 21, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of reductions in the requirements for statutory notices in local papers on the financial sustainability of local newspapers.

As part of the Local Media Action Plan, we have outlined plans for a review of statutory notices. In this review, we intend to consult on whether action is needed to better ensure that communities have access to journalistic scrutiny of local decisionmaking. We will launch a public consultation, to determine whether any changes to legislation are required, and our approach will be informed by the following principles, that we: continue to drive transparency and accountability in local governanceserve all audienceshelp ensure value for money to the local authorities and others required to publicise the information contained within statutory noticesmaintain a link to journalistic scrutinyfoster innovation in the local media ecosystem and do not unfairly disadvantage local news outlets with a proven track record in public interest journalism regardless of whether they operate in print, online or both. We will publish our planned timetable in the coming weeks.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 25 March 2026 on Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS1455, what discussions he had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Secretary of State for Education on the proposed new unitary sizes and composition.

The 500,000 population figure has always been a guiding principle, not a fixed threshold. There may need to be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including to support devolution, and that decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The population size of proposed new unitary councils therefore varies between areas. Where any new council is below 500,000, the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is appropriate on the basis it produces the most coherent and effective outcome for that area. As standard, the Secretary of State had discussions on new unitary councils with relevant colleagues in Government and decisions were collectively agreed through the normal and well-established processes.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 113631 on West Yorkshire Combined Authority: Lexington Communications, whether she will make an assessment of the compliance of the contract between West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Lexington Communications with the Recommended code of practice for local authority publicity published by his Department on 31 March 2011.

Local authorities are required to have regard to the Recommended Code of Practice on Local Authority Publicity when making decisions about publicity. Responsibility for compliance with the Code rests with individual authorities. Where the Secretary of State considers that an authority is not complying with the Code, he has powers under section 4 of the Local Government Act 1986 to issue a direction requiring the authority to comply. Any concerns regarding compliance should in the first instance be directed to the authority concerned. Following this, if the Rt Hon. Member still has concerns about West Yorkshire Combined Authority, he may wish to write to the Department setting out the relevant evidence.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2026 to Question 117657 on Constituencies, whether his Department has assessed the potential asymmetric effect on parliamentary boundary reviews of rolling out automatic registration in different geographical areas to different timetables.

The sole aim of moving towards automated registration, as set out in the Representation of the People Bill, is to increase the completeness and accuracy of electoral registers. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will test automated registration in a range of different locations and settings, with different characteristics and challenges. We will be guided throughout by principles of fairness and open engagement.The Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are independent of Government. The timings of Parliamentary Boundary Reviews are set by legislation, which the Government has no plans to change.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given by (a) his Department and (b) LEASE relating to leasehold enfranchisement for (i) residential dwellings, (ii) non-residential hereditaments and (iii) hybrid properties, and what plans there are to update the guidance in light of legislative changes.

My Department publishes guidance on gov.uk for residential and commercial leaseholders, including a ‘How to Lease’ guide for residential leaseholders.The government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) provides extensive guidance and free initial legal advice for leaseholders on residential leasehold enfranchisement, including through its website here.The government is committed to implementing measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to make enfranchisement cheaper and easier.The Act sets the method for calculating the price of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition, known as the valuation process. It removes the requirement for marriage value to be paid, caps the treatment of ground rents in the valuation calculation at 0.1% of the freehold value, and allows government to prescribe the rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium.Valuation rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium will be set by the Secretary of State in secondary legislation. We will consult on valuation rates and commence the relevant provisions as soon as possible.As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), primary legislation will be required to rectify a small number of specific flaws in the 2024 Act before the Act’s enfranchisement provisions are commenced.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the UK Statistics Authority letter, Letter from Penny Young to Cllr Simon Hogg – Council Tax increases, of 23 March 2026, what steps his Department is taking to address misleading local government publicity on changes to the social care precept on council tax.

The government does not comment on individual cases or the work of the UK statistics authority. Councils are responsible for administering council tax in line with the legislation. It is the government’s expectation that the information councils provide is clear and accurate for taxpayers.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026, to Question 113641, on Parish and Town Councils: Council tax reduction schemes, what assessment has been made of (a) whether principal local authorities have reduced their financial support for parish councils, in relation to the application of local council tax support on parish precepts, in (a) 2025-26, and (b) 2026-27 budgets and (b) the associated effects on parish council precepts.

Local council tax support schemes are designed by local authorities in consultation with council taxpayers. It is the responsibility of principal authorities to work with parish and town councils on council tax matters, including support schemes and to agree appropriate funding arrangements to avoid large increases in parish precepts.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 December 2024, to Question 20228, on Civil Society: Islam, whether his department engages with the Ramadan Tent Project.

My Department have not engaged with the Ramadan Tent Project. As a part of the Department’s work to rest relationships with faith and belief communities, Ministers and officials continue to engage with a broad range of stakeholders.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2025, to Question 95065, on Local Government Pension Scheme: Councillors, and Further to the policy paper, Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales: Access for Elected Members - government response, of 24 February 2026, whether he has now taken a decision on the proposal to ensure that residents are informed of any pension payments in the annual statement of payments to councillors, following the Government response to the consultation.

Authorities will be required to publish employer pension contributions made to councillors, under Regulation 15 of the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003.

Communities and Local Government, further to the policy paper, Amplify: The Local Media Action Plan, published 17 March 2026, paragraph 115, what steps are being taken to stop councils hindering public scrutiny by journalists, and whether he will make it his policy to strengthen guidance in his area.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 84641 on 29 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled New Towns Draft Programme, published on 23 March 2026, what is the profile of the delivery of the 10,000 new homes in each proposed new town, and over what time period.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the New Towns Draft Programme consultation launched on 23 March which can be found on gov.uk here.