Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the DESNZ press release, Government to make “plug-in solar” available within months, of 24 March 2026, whether householders will be required to hire a certified electrician to connect to the main electricity supply and comply with BS 7671 UK Wiring Regulations; and whether building regulations will apply to the installation.

Part P of the Building Regulations 2010 and Approved Document P make clear electrical installations in dwellings should be designed and installed in such a way to protect people from electric shock and fire hazards. Approved Document P refers to the electrical installation standards in BS7671 as the way of showing compliance with Building Regulations. In domestic situations, if electrical work is notifiable, competent electricians can self-certify that their work is compliant with Part P of the Building Regulations. All electricians who have been authorised by a government approved Competent Person Scheme are listed on the Registered Competent Person Electrical Register All other functional requirements of Building Regulations, beyond electrical safety, must also be met.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026, to Question 111684, on Recreation Spaces: Planning Permission, what is the status and timetable for publishing the public consultation on the review in the legal framework of protections for public recreational space.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 111684 on 24 February 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether bank cards which only have a first name initial, such as “S.Dixon”, will be accepted as identification in polling stations; and whether the card must have a honorific to indicate the sex of the card holder.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the Representation of the People Bill 2026, which provides that bank cards must show either the elector’s first and last name or first initial and last name to be accepted as Voter ID. Bank cards will not be required to display an honorific to be accepted as Voter ID.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026, to Question 120066, on Electoral Register: EU Nationals, whether he has an estimate of the number of qualifying EU citizens in (a) England and (b) Northern Irelan who are eligible to register to vote, following the implementation of the Elections Act 2022, who are not otherwise entitled to be on the franchise by virtue of being Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizens.

The Government does not hold data on the number of qualifying EU citizens who are eligible to register to vote in England or Northern Ireland following the implementation of the Elections Act 2022. As set out in the answer to Question UIN 120066 on 18 March 2026, the Office for National Statistics has not produced updated estimates of EU citizens eligible to vote following the changes to voting rights implemented through the Elections Act 2022.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to Question 117888, on Candidates, whether election agents who do not have a dedicated office address, will still be required to publish their home address, given the continuing policy on not allowing PO Box addresses.

Through the Representation of the People Bill, the Government will allow all agents, including candidates acting as their own agent, to provide an alternative correspondence address instead of their home address. Election agents may use a PO Box as a correspondence address. However, they are still required to provide an office address at which legal documents may be served. Under UK Civil Procedure Rules, this office address cannot be a PO Box. It is the responsibility of individual agents to ensure that they have a suitable office address.

Communities and Local Government, what the proposed timetable is for the implementation of Section 54A of PPERA 2000 Section 9 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009, via secondary legislation; and what his policy is on the un-commenced Sections 10 and 11.

The Government has committed to commencing section 54A of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, as inserted by section 9 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009, and intends to do so before the end of this Parliament. The Electoral Commission is responsible for producing guidance to support compliance with political finance rules. The Department does not intend to issue separate guidance. Matters relating to the practical operation of the declaration requirement, including whether declarations may be made electronically, are for the Electoral Commission to consider as part of its role in supporting compliance. There is presently no intention to commence sections 10 and 11 of the 2009 Act.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 117899, on Local Government: Elections, if he will clarify how the answer to Question 118044 on the overnight visitor levy relates to the question asked on election delays and special advisers.

Apologies, the incorrect answer was uploaded in error. My Department has held discussions with councils in all 21 areas that are part of the local government reorganisation programme. Ministers meet regularly with representatives of the Local Government Association as part of the government’s engagement with the sector, including to discuss local government reorganisation.

Communities and Local Government, further to the "Changing Futures Lived Experience Support Grant: prospectus", of 26 March 2026, what his Department's definition of lived experience is.

The definition of lived experience in reference to the Changing Futures programme is direct, personal experience of multiple disadvantage which includes combinations of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's factsheet entitled Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, published on 2 March 2026, whether the new provisions on (a) crypto-currency, (b) overseas, (c) company and (d) due diligence donations will apply to donations to hon. Members.

Existing controls on political donations apply to Members of Parliament. The reforms we are making to political donation rules through the Representation of the People Bill will also apply to Members of Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026, to Question HL15191, on Absent Voting, whether the Electoral Commission tracks or monitors the level of postal vote renewals, or the number and proportion of postal vote applications that were renewed or expired, over any period.

The Electoral Commission operates independently of government and addressed the volume of postal vote applications in its report on the 2024 General Election.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his correspondence entitled Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, dated 25 March 2026, what steps his Department is taking to prevent overseas funding being channelled through the Republic of Ireland.

Following publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the Government set out steps to strengthen the UK’s political finance framework to address the risk of foreign financial interference, including through the Representation of the People Bill, which will introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets, and will strengthen donation rules across the regime, including for donations linked to Ireland, which remain subject to strict permissibility, transparency and enforcement requirements to ensure the true source of funds is identifiable and lawful.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2026, to Question 119513, on Elections: Local Government, what consideration was given to consulting the Parliamentary Parties Panel on the local election pilots in May 2026.

The government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors. These pilots are part of the government’s commitment to encourage greater participation in our democracy and to modernise the voting process, this commitment extends to town and parish council elections, such as those being held in North Hertfordshire in May.The government did not receive any requests or expressions of interest that were rejected. Several local authorities expressed interest but did not make a formal application.There have been no prospectus documents, calls for evidence, bidding documents, consultations or pilot invitations published in the last twelve months on matters other than the flexible voting pilots.The flexible voting pilots are being funded by the Department.Regarding the government’s engagement with stakeholders for the flexible voting pilots, I refer the Rt Hon. Member to Question UIN 87029 on 12 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to Question 117891, on Electoral Register: EU Nationals, whether automatic registration systems will have access to Home Office immigration data.

We are working with departments across Whitehall to explore the range of data-enabled opportunities available to supporting the overall objective of improving registration. This includes working with the Home Office to explore whether its data could help to identify individuals who are eligible to register. We will work closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure that any use of data is supported by appropriate safeguards. Any permanent changes to the registration process will be informed by robust evidence, user research and careful testing before being implemented.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 110793, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Flexible Working, what assessment has been made of the reasons for the rise in full time compressed 4 days FTE from January 2025 to January 2026; and what changes have been made to departmental policy on staff working compressed hours since July 2024.

Staff have a statutory right to apply for flexible working at any point during their employment. The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 (Commencement) Regulations 2024 were brought into force on 6 April 2024 making flexible working requests a day one right and this has likely driven changes as well as individual employee circumstances. Overall staffing levels in the Department have remained broadly stable and we are unable to comment on the decisions made by employees and managers throughout the flexible working application process.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Land value estimates for policy appraisal 2023, published on 16 March 2026, why the values are only up to date to 2023.

The land value estimates in question are expressed in October 2023 prices to provide a consistent and comparable base. However, the data used to produce the estimates is more recent. For example, while the estimates of non-residential land produced by the Valuation Office Agency draw on data up to August 2024, the estimates of residential land produced by my Department draw on data up to September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to Question 117734, on Local Government: Elections, where there are any other (a) prospectus documents, (b) calls for evidence, (c) bidding documents, (d) consultations or (e) pilot invitations send to local authorities, on matters other than flexible voting pilots, that have not been published on gov.uk, in the last 12 months.

The government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors. These pilots are part of the government’s commitment to encourage greater participation in our democracy and to modernise the voting process, this commitment extends to town and parish council elections, such as those being held in North Hertfordshire in May.The government did not receive any requests or expressions of interest that were rejected. Several local authorities expressed interest but did not make a formal application.There have been no prospectus documents, calls for evidence, bidding documents, consultations or pilot invitations published in the last twelve months on matters other than the flexible voting pilots.The flexible voting pilots are being funded by the Department.Regarding the government’s engagement with stakeholders for the flexible voting pilots, I refer the Rt Hon. Member to Question UIN 87029 on 12 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026, to Question 120063, on Electoral Register: Commonwealth, whether he has an estimate of the number of qualifying Commonwealth citizens in (a) England and (b) the UK who are eligible to register to vote.

There are no official statistics on the number of qualifying Commonwealth citizens living in the UK who are eligible to register to vote, either in England or across the United Kingdom.As set out in the answer to Question UIN 120063 on 18 March 2026, the Electoral Commission has previously estimated that around 66% of qualifying Commonwealth citizens may be registered to vote (as at 2023). The Commission’s estimate is based on their survey data and provides an indication of the proportion registered; however no corresponding estimate exists for the total number eligible to register.

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, with reference to the Written Statement of 25 March 2026 on Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS1455, if he will set out the proposed changes to the governance arrangements for the new mayoral combined authority; and how many votes each unitary will have on the new combined authorities in the devolution priority areas.

In the first instance, the Government is establishing Mayoral Combined County Authorities in the areas on the Devolution Priority Programme that are yet to undergo local government reorganisation. These will consist of the existing upper-tier local authorities. Following reorganisation, these Authorities will be converted to Mayoral Combined Authorities, consisting of the new unitary authorities. Governance, including voting, arrangements will be specified in the legislation to effect the conversion.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2026, to Question 118666, on Elections: Pilot Schemes, if he will provide a relevant hyperlink for the invitation to pilot issued in August 2025.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 122112 on 27 March 2026.