Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on funding for (i) remedial works to Grenfell Tower and (ii) the regeneration of the Lancaster West Estate.

The Government is committed to supporting the community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy for the long term, and to working with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea so the vision of a 21st century estate for the residents of the Lancaster West Estate can be realised.The Leader of the Council has corresponded with the Building Safety Minister about the Lancaster West Estate. My officials have been engaging with the council, who lead on the refurbishment of the Estate, to fully understand their plans for delivery.The Government took ownership of the Grenfell Tower site in 2019 and has been responsible for making operational decisions, including on the security and safety of the site, since then. The Government made the decision in February 2025 that the Tower should be carefully taken down, and communicated this to the Grenfell community.Work to carefully take down Grenfell Tower is progressing, and we continue to engage and share information with bereaved, survivors and the immediate community during this sensitive period.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to use his Best Value powers to stop local authorities boycotting or divesting in companies based in, or which trade with, Israel.

Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note 01/16 remains in force which prohibits procurement boycotts by public authorities against Israeli firms and firms which trade with Israel, unless formal government sanctions are in place Under the Local Government Act 1999, local authorities have a statutory Best Value duty to secure continuous improvement in how they exercise their functions, having regard to economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. The Secretary of State may intervene where there is significant, systemic, and extensive failure to meet this duty, based on a holistic assessment of all relevant information. The government has published guidance for local authorities on meeting the Best Value duty and on intervention.

What datasets the Office for National Statistics collates and holds of the size of the population, and population growth, by religion, faith or belief, other than from the Census.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 7th January is attached.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 95883, on Visitor Levy, whether the Office for National Statistics intends to classify the overnight visitor levy as a tax for statistical purposes.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 7th January is attached.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 88657, on Renters’ Rights Act 2025, if he will publish the terms of reference and project specification for the study commissioned from Verian; and what the timetable is for it to report.

As is usual practice, my Department will publish relevant information on the Verian study on the evaluation registry in due course. This will include the rationale and methods of the evaluation, alongside publication dates. The report findings will be published two and five years after the Renters’ Rights Act implementation date of 1 May 2026.

Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the Social and Affordable Homes Programme business case.

The Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) is expected to be onboarded onto the Government Major Programmes Portfolio (GMPP). In line with the HM Treasury guidance for GMPP programmes, the SAHP intends to publish a summary of its Programme Business Case (PBC) within four months of HM Treasury’s formal approval of the PBC.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 16 December 2025, what assessment has been made of the effect of that Framework on planning applications and planning enforcement for traveller sites.

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The draft Framework incorporates policies relating to traveller sites, currently set out in Planning Policy For Traveller Sites, within relevant chapters. The government recognises that there are particular concerns about the ability of local planning authorities to deal with intentional unauthorised development. The consultation on the revised NPPF seeks views on strengthening the policy on intentional unauthorised development. The consultation is open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, whether the figures on local authority, fire and police core spending power include or exclude the grant funding to compensate local public bodies for the increase in National Insurance contributions for employees.

As set out at the 2026/27 provisional local government finance settlement, the £502 million Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant from 2025/26 will be consolidated into the Revenue Support Grant. As outlined in the explanatory note on Mayoral Strategic Authority funding existing Strategic Authorities will receive the Mayoral Capacity Fund in 2026/27, which takes account of their allocation from Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant from 2025/26. Police authorities received funding for the increase in employee National Insurance Contributions separately.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report, Antisemitism: Recent Government Actions and Next Steps, published on 17 December 2025, what steps is the Government taking to tackle anti-semitism caused by (a) Islamist extremism and (b) radicalised anti-Israeli sentiment.

This Government takes extremism seriously and we are committed to ensuring we have the required tools and powers needed to address this issue. Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society which is why countering it in all its forms remains an operational priority for our security and intelligence services. Regardless of the worldview it draws from, if an ideology is causing harm by radicalising others into hatred, violence and extremism we will take action to prevent this and to safeguard susceptible individuals. We understand that Islamist and extreme right-wing ideologies remain the most prominent today hence why it remains at the very heart of our approach. Everyone in this country has the right to feel safe. We work closely with policing and Jewish community stakeholders to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities. The Community Security Trust has been allocated £28 million in 2025/26 through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant. This includes additional emergency funding of £10 million. The Government also works closely with HMG’s Independent Adviser on Antisemitism and with the established Antisemitism Working Group on how to effectively tackle antisemitism and engage Jewish communities around international, national and local events affecting British Jews.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 January to Question 99197, on Council tax, what the deadline is for a local authority to make a representation to him on a higher council tax referendum threshold in 2026-27.

As set out in the provisional settlement, we will continue to have a framework to support councils and have set the process out in communication with the sector. Councils should engage with the department as soon as they have concerns about their ability to set or maintain a balanced budget or if they are considering submitting a request to be considered for higher council tax referendum thresholds in 2026-27. All discussions will be treated in confidence, but we will publish details of any support provided, including bespoke referendum principles at the Local Government Financial Settlement.

Pursuant to the guidance entitled National Fraud Initiative: public-sector data specifications, updated on 11 November 2025, whether the council tax data matching will include the second homes council tax premium, where single person discount is not being claimed.

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI), as part of the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA), works closely with local authorities to help them identify and prevent fraud. As part of this, the NFI is currently collaborating with local authorities to understand the fraud risks related to council tax second home premiums.

Pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2025, to Question 90236, on Traveller: Caravan Sites, what information her Department holds on whether any police forces have been able to use the powers following the court’s declaration of incompatibility.

In May 2024 the High Court made a declaration of incompatibility directed to sections 60C(3), 61(4ZA)(a), 62(1A)(a) and 62B(2) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, in so far as they identify a 12-month no-return period to an unauthorised site after being directed to leave.This legislation remains in force until it is amended or repealed by the government. It is an operational matter for individual police forces to determine whether and how to enforce the legislation and the Home Office does not collect this information.The government is working on a response to the Court’s judgment. In the Crime and Policing Bill Committee stage debate on 17 November, Home Office Minister Lord Hanson committed to set out the Government’s response to the judgment ahead of the Report stage of the Bill.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2025, to Question 84476, on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, what the wider policy and guidance from the Cabinet Office is on whether departments should consider written consultation responses from individuals or organisations who are subject to a policy of non-engagement.

The Cabinet Office has published consultation principles which set out how consultations should be conducted. They are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance.

Pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 88672, on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, whether any impact assessment has been undertaken of the effect of the £1.1 billion in business rates from the reduction in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

The Government is introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties. 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 total change in business rates revenue is set out in the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 16 December 2025, page 100, for what reason he has repealed the written ministerial statement and associated planning policy on community pubs of 26 January 2015, Official Report, HCWS221.

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes a list of Written Ministerial Statements and other documents where the planning policy stated within them is reflected in the proposed NPPF policies on which we are consulting, or which no longer represents government policy. The changes would not affect other content in the Written Ministerial Statements concerned.The consultation includes policy designed to facilitate and safeguard the provision of community facilities such as public houses.The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 88270 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Publicity, how much has been spent on translation and interpretation by his Department and each of its Arm's Length Bodies since July 2024.

The MHCLG and it’s Arm’s Length Bodies do not hold a central record of translation and interpretation costs in relation to publicity.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2025 to Question 87779, on MHCLG: Standards, if he will list each of the data sources that are provided under licence by third parties.

As per the department’s response to PQ 78227 on 20 October, the “Rolling annual number of first-time buyers with a mortgage” and “New Lets (Zoopla)” metrics listed draw from data provided by third parties.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 90716 on Asylum: Housing, which local government bodies the Government is currently working with.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working closely with the Home Office, local authorities and their national membership bodies in addition to devolved partners to develop and deliver a new, more sustainable model for asylum accommodation.

Whether the Government holds national data on which individual hereditaments claimed Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

The Government does not hold national data on which individual hereditaments claimed Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

Communities and Local Government, whether Warwick District Council sought advice from his Department prior to introducing its second home council tax premium.

The Government does not provide advice to councils on the application of the council tax premiums. The Government has published guidance on the administration of premiums. Councils must make their own decisions on whether to charge a premium based on the legislation and their own local circumstances. Councils administer council tax independently of central government. Where necessary, councils should seek their own independent legal advice on the interpretation of legislation.