Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the cost to (a) central and (b) local government of the cost of translation and interpretation services.

As under the previous government, this information is not held centrally. The department does not hold this data for other departments or local authorities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87636 on Independent Review into Civil Unrest in Leicester, on what date the panel's report was received by his Department.

The panel submitted their findings to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 1 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for determining the (a) principal and (b) geography of a combined authority for Surrey.

On 28 October 2025 the government set out its position that simplifying local government in Surrey also provides a strong foundation for devolution. We have begun working with partners across Surrey, including new unitary authorities once established, to put in place a strategic authority for the area. The legislation to establish the new authorities is currently before the House and they would be the constituent authorities of a Surrey Strategic Authority. This will help ensure that relevant functions held at the county level, such as transport and adult skills, can continue to be delivered on that geographic footprint where possible. The establishment of a strategic authority would be subject to the relevant statutory tests being met and local consent.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2026 to Question 97134 on MHCLG: Departmental Responsibilities, whether his attendance at the Labour YIMBY awards will be declared in gov.uk returns; whether he was accompanied by a private secretary; and if he will publish his speech.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt. Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2025, to Question 95882, on Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties, for what reason CPI is used to calculate business rates.

The national business rates multipliers uprate by the previous September’s CPI figure every April. Business rates make up a quarter of Local Authority core spending power and support critical local services, including child and adult social care. Indexing the business rates multipliers in between revaluations helps to maintain the real-terms value of this revenue to fund these services.

Communities and Local Government, how does the uplift in Rateable Values in the 2026 business rates revaluation affect the calculation of council funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026-27; and what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of council areas with an above-average increase in Rateable Values on their net funding relative to the previous year from business rate revenue.

At revaluations, adjustments through the business rates retention system ensure that as far as possible local authorities do not see a change in the income they raise from business rates. In 2026-27, the business rates retention system is being reset as part of the design of the multi-year settlement which will also deliver the Fair Funding Review reforms. The reset includes a new measurement of all local authorities’ income which takes into account the impact of the 2026 revaluation, and reallocates business rates funding according to an updated measurement of local government funding need.

What criteria is used by the Valuation Office Agency to determine whether a licensed premises is assigned a special category code of a (a) pub or (b) bar.

The criteria for determining special category codes for pubs and bars is published in the Valuation of Public Houses Approved Guide 2023. Guide_to_Public_Houses.pdf

Whether the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish an ad-hoc release for (a) Non-domestic rating: properties over £500,000 and (b) Non-domestic rating: summary of properties over £500,000, based on the 2026 Rating List.

This information was included in the Change in rateable value of rating lists, 2026 Revaluation publication:Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (draft list) - GOV.UK

Whether the Valuation Office Agency uses Value Significant Codes for council tax valuations, and whether it is planning to collect new Codes, for (a) England or (b) Wales.

The Valuation Office Agency uses Value Significant Codes for council tax valuations to indicate specific features that are likely to affect the value of a property either positively or negatively.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Muslim Council of Britain is eligible to apply for funding through the Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2026.

The government does not engage with the Muslim Council of Britain. The Windrush Day Grant Scheme assesses all applications in line with the published eligibility criteria: Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2026 - GOV.UK. Organisations do not need to be Windrush‑specific, but they must show that their project will genuinely involve and benefit the Windrush community. All applications are considered on this basis. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not in itself imply that funding will be awarded; applications are considered holistically against the aims and requirements of the scheme.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the potential effect of the planned increases in landfill duty on housebuilding.

The government carefully considered the impact of reforms to landfill tax on rates of housebuilding and took account of the feedback received to the consultation carried out last year. As a result, the government set out a plan to prevent the gap between the two rates of landfill tax expanding over the coming years, ensuring that housebuilders will not face significant new costs. In addition, we are retaining the tax exemption for backfilling quarries to ensure that housebuilders continue to have access to a low-cost alternative to landfill.

Communities and Local Government, whether local planning authorities are required to inform him when making an Article 4 direction in relation to restricting permitted development rights.

Local planning authorities are required to send a copy of all Article 4 directions made to the Secretary of State, as set out in Schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend the the National Planning Policy Framework to define a fast food outlet.

The government is consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making. Through the consultation, we are seeking feedback on the application of the term ‘fast food outlets’ in planning decisions, and whether any further clarity could be provided on the types of establishments this policy should apply to. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, whether he holds data on (1) the aggregate number of hereditaments which claimed Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26, (2) the average Rateable Value of such hereditaments, (3) the distribution of Special Category Code of such hereditaments and (4) any such data by local authority.

The number of hereditaments receiving the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief as at 31 December 2024 can be found in Table 4 on gov.uk here. This is based on a snapshot taken by local authorities on or as close to the 31 December 2024. The snapshot as at 31 December 2025 is currently being collected and will be published by the end of March. The Department does not collect data on the rateable value or the Special Category code of the hereditaments that received this relief.

Pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2025, to Question 99923, on Retail Trade: Business Rates, what is the estimated change in the value of Retail Hospitality and Leisure relief for business rates in 2026-27 on firms not previously subject to the £110,000 cap in 2025-26.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government publishes data on the cost of, and number of properties receiving, business rates relief. This data can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-non-domestic-rates-collected-by-councils-in-england-forecast-2025-to-2026

Whether Valuation Office Agency staff will have their contractual terms amended following its merger with HMRC.

The Valuation Office Agency will close from 1 April 2026 with all colleagues transferring into HMRC. Colleagues will transfer under the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSoP) with which HMRC and the VOA have complied in full. All contractual terms currently held by colleagues working for the VOA have been protected as a matter of principle during this process and will be honoured in full on transfer to HMRC. HMRC and VOA have consulted with VOA’s recognised Trade Unions during the COSoP process to ensure that meaningful engagement and discussion has taken place concerning all matters relating to the transfer.

Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has spent with Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Limited since July 2024; and for what purposes.

Since July 2024, £608,970 has been spent with Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd in connection with contracts that the Department had, and has, with the firm. Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd provides technical planning advice relating to a number of planning decisions to be taken by the government and has provided advice that supported the work of the New Towns independent Task Force.

What assessment she has made of the potential compound impact on the hotels sector of (a) the overnight visitor levy and (b) increases in business rates in the 2026 Business Rates valuation.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.The Government is also introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, while ensuring that warehouses used by online giants will pay more. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid.Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.The precise design and scope of the power for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy is still under development. Mayors will decide whether to introduce a levy and, if so, consult on specific proposals. We expect Mayors to engage constructively with businesses and their communities to hear their concerns. This will inform their decisions regarding whether and how a levy will be applied and how any revenue is spent. Giving this power to local leaders who best understand their region enables them to tailor it to growing their local economies.

Pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025, to Question 87790, on Business Rates: Valuation, what was the increase in aggregate Rateable Values for the serviced office sector as a result of the new valuation methodology.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2025, to Question 95866, on Business Rates, how many and what proportion of hereditaments have seen their bills (a) increase, (b) remain the same and (c) fall following the revaluation and revised multipliers in England.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base.At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down next year. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.The new, permanently lower tax rates for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government publishes data on the number of properties receiving business rates relief. This data can be found at the following link:    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-non-domestic-rates-collected-by-councils-in-england-forecast-2025-to-2026