Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cleverly this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 601–620 of 1,421 · this parliament
Whether the valuations and address of each dwelling liable to pay the council tax surcharge will be published online by the Valuation Office Agency.
The Valuation Office Agency is developing its approach and will set out more details in due course, alongside the government’s consultation.
With reference to the answer of 6 January 2026, to Question HL13202, on Public Houses: Business Rates, what the equivalent figures are to the 4% increase in average pubs’ business rates bills, in years (a) 2027-28 and (b) 2028-29.
From April, every pub and live music venue will get 15% off its new business rates bill on top of the support announced at Budget and then bills will be frozen in real terms for a further two years. Three-quarters of pubs will see bills flat or falling in April. The new relief is worth £1,650 for the average pub next year. As a sector pubs will pay 8% less in business rates in 2029 than they do right now. The Government will also launch a review which will explore how pubs are valued for business rates.
Further to the Valuation Office Agency's publication entitled Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (draft list), published on 26 November 2025, for what reason average rateable values across the hotels, guest and boarding, self category sub-sector have increased by 78 per cent.
We recognise that hotels have expressed concerns about how they are valued for business rates. Hotels valuations are undertaken in a different way to some other sectors. The methodology used is well established, but, as with pubs, the government has announced it will review the way hotels are valued to ensure it accurately reflects the rental value for these sectors.
Pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026, to Question 103885, on Council tax: garden, what methodology is used when a garden is valued by the Valuation Office Agency as part of determining the value of the whole dwelling; and whether the size of the garden is material.
The Valuation Office Agency values properties, including their gardens, in line with legislation.
Pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2025 to Question 89444 on Property: Valuation, whether the discussion between the Valuation Office Agency and the Scottish Assessors Association on the model assisted valuation model included discussion of its use in a council tax revaluation in Scotland.
There has been no discussion with Scottish Assessors Association on the use of the automated valuation model in a Council Tax revaluation in Scotland.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Affordable Homes Programme annual report 2024 to 2025, published on 7 January 2026, whether the £2 billion of funding announced in March 2025 is separate to the £39 billion of funding in the 2026 to 2036 programme.
As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549), the injection of £2 billion of new capital investment to support social and affordable housing delivery was designed to act as a bridge to the long-term grant funding that was to be announced at the Spending Review in June of that year. It is part of the £39 billion budget for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
With reference to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government correspondence entitled 4/2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Multipliers, published on 17 November 2025, if she will publish the Valuation Office Agency's business rates revaluation communication pack provided to local authorities.
The VOA does not routinely publish its communications with local authorities.
If she will set out the criteria used by the Valuation Office Agency to determine whether a gastro-pub is assigned a special category code of a pub or restaurant.
There are a broad range of considerations when determining if a property is a restaurant or a pub including. All valuations are carried out by experienced professionals in accordance with industry best practice and legal requirements.From April, every pub and live music venue will get 15% off its new business rates bill on top of the support announced at Budget, and then bills will be frozen in real terms for a further two years.This relief will be awarded to pubs and live music venues at the discretion of Local Authorities, who will determine eligibility using guidance published by the Government and based on existing definitions.
Pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 94190 on Hospitality Industry: Taxation, how much is the mean increase in rateable values for the hotel sector following the 2026 revaluation.
Official statistics comparing the 2023 non-domestic rating lists and 2026 draft non-domestic rating lists for England and Wales, including a breakdown by special category code, (which includes the hotel sector), are published here. We recognise that hotels have expressed concerns about how they are valued for business rates. Hotels valuations are undertaken in a different way to some other sectors. The methodology used is well established, but, as with pubs, the government has announced it will review the way hotels are valued to ensure it accurately reflects the rental value for these sectors.
What estimate her Department has made of how many and the proportion of pubs hereditaments assigned Valuation Office Agency Special Category Code 226 which were eligible for the 40 per cent Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
MHCLG publish data on the number of properties benefitting from RHL relief. You can find the information here: National non-domestic rates collected by councils in England: forecast 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK
Communities and Local Government, in what financial year will the new default arrangements for council tax bills being billed in 12 instalments, rather than 10, come into effect.
The government published a consultation on modernising and improving council tax administration which included a proposal on whether to move to default 12 monthly council tax billing whilst retaining the option to pay over 10 months. The government is currently considering all responses on this proposal and will publish its response to the consultation in due course.
When the head of the Office for Statistics Regulation plans to respond to the letter from the Rt hon. Member for Braintree of 8 January 2026 on business rates.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt Hon. gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26th January is attached.
Communities and Local Government, whether the Co-operative Party has made representations on the Elections Act 2022 provisions on the banning of dual registration of political parties as third parties.
Our package of electoral reforms set out in our Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections has been informed by a wide variety of stakeholder recommendations and representations over time, including from political parties.
Communities and Local Government, how much funding was allocated to the Greater London Authority in each year of the 2026-36 affordable housing programme.
The Greater London Authority has secured up to £11.7 billion to deliver the London portion of the government’s Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which will run from 2026 to 2036.The programme will support the delivery of thousands of new social and affordable homes across London, with the overall housing target for the programme to be confirmed after the initial bidding round.Funding is available to deliver projects that can start on site by March 2036 and complete by March 2039.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2025 to Question 86657 on Elections and Political Parties, whether the final version of the Elections Strategy was shared with the Labour Party before publication.
The government’s Strategy for Elections was not shared with any political party prior to publication.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 84633 on Electoral Commission, when he plans to issue the new Strategy and Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission to reflect this Government’s priorities for elections and the Commission’s increased roles and responsibilities.
The government is committed to strengthening democracy and upholding the integrity of our elections. Robust and proportionate enforcement of political finance rules is an essential part of this. That is why, as announced on 17 July in the government’s Strategy for Elections, we committed to strengthening the Electoral Commission’s powers and extending its remit to ensure that it can effectively enforce the political finance framework.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Affordable housing supply in England: 2024 to 2025, published on 20 November 2025, whether the Greater London Authority’s affordable homes data includes affordable homes counted as started which were then un-designated.
The Affordable Housing Supply statistical release published on 20 November 2025 reflected the most recent data published by the Greater London Authority.There were no revisions of the Greater London Authority’s historical data for the November 2025 release. A summary of other revisions for that release can be found in section 7 of its technical notes, which can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, whether guidance has been provided by his Department to planning decision makers on rejecting applications due to (a) undue pressure and (b) unreasonable behaviour by applicants.
My Department has issued no such specific guidance. By law, planning applications should be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Communities and Local Government, whether households charged second home council tax premiums under processes later found to be procedurally defective are entitled to refunds.
Each billing authorities is responsible for the administration of council tax in its area including making any relevant determinations or calculations in accordance with the law. Whether any refunds may be necessary would depend on the specific circumstances of each case. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on individual cases or offer legal advice.
What her Department's policy is on publishing details of grants on asylum housing costs to individual local authorities.
The Home Office does not publicly publish grant payment levels by local authority, and we have no plans to do so. We do however publish the grant funding instructions, which can be found here:Unaccompanied asylum seeking children and leaving care: funding instructions - GOV.UKhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-dispersal-grant-funding-instruction/funding-instruction-for-local-authorities-asylum-grant-2025-2026