Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, on what date were political parties (a) informed and (b) consulted on the 2026 local election pilots.

The government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors. Local authorities were invited to apply to pilot a range of flexible voting methods at the May 2026 elections in England. We continue to engage with stakeholders on the development of the proposed pilots.

Communities and Local Government, if he will list the third parties who have been consulted on the report provided by the Islamophobia/Anti-Muslim Hatred working group.

As is standard practice in government policy making, officials have undertaken some limited and focused informal engagement with relevant stakeholders as we consider the advice presented to government by the working group.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2025, to Question HL12631, on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, who is the designated Planning Minister for the Chinese Embassy called-in planning application decision.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 62966 on 7 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of levels of council tax in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27 on the cost of living for (i) working households and (ii) pensioners.

Council tax levels are decided by local authorities, and the Department has not made specific assessments on the impact of council tax levels on the cost of living for working households and pensioners. For the vast majority of councils, the government intends to maintain a core 3% referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept and is consulting on this as part of the local government finance settlement. Councils are required to put in place council tax support schemes to support those on low incomes. The support for pensioner households is centrally prescribed and provides reductions of up to 100%.

Communities and Local Government, further to the introduction of the council tax surcharge, whether he intends to revalue the main council tax system.

The Valuation Office will conduct a targeted valuation exercise to identify properties in scope of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge. Current Council Tax bands will not be revalued and will still apply. The Government will consult on the design of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge. The Government is committed to ensuring the council tax system is fair for taxpayers and local authorities and will continue to keep council tax under review.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2025, to Question HL12352, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, for what policy reason a Section 321 direction was not issued in this instance.

My Department does not comment on live planning cases. The full reasons for the decision will be set out in the final decision letter.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the draft Local Government Finance Settlement published on 17 December 2025, whether his department will consider requests for higher council tax referendum thresholds for other councils than the six councils mentioned.

The provisional settlement sets out the eligibility criteria for removing referendum principles for the last two years of the multi-year settlement period. We consider that only six authorities meet the criteria. For the vast majority of councils, the government intends to maintain a core referendum threshold of 3%, and a 2%, adult social care precept over the multi-year Settlement. However, the government is under no illusions about the pressures councils are facing. Following precedent set by the previous government, we will consider requests for additional limited council tax flexibility from councils in extremely difficult financial situations on a case-by-case basis. All local authorities should continue to do all they can to manage their finances and protect vulnerable taxpayers.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 April 2025, to Question 43564, on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, what discussions he and his Ministers have had with Unite on the Birmingham bin strike since his appointment.

Since being appointed in September 2025, the Secretary of State has met with Unite and urged the Trade Union to bring the dispute to a close for the benefit of Birmingham’s residents. The waste dispute remains a local issue and is rightly being dealt with by Birmingham City Council.

Communities and Local Government, further to the written statement of 18 December 2025, HCSWS1215, on Local Government Reorganisation, in cases where an individual council makes a representation to cancel elections, whether (a) only the scheduled elections for that individual council will be cancelled or (b) all the scheduled unitary, district and county elections within that wider local government restructuring area will be cancelled.

The Secretary of State will consider the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received. This means that different decisions may be taken for different councils within the same local government reorganisation invitation area that have local elections scheduled, depending on the representations received. As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 December (HCWS1215), I remain committed to the indicative timetable that was published in July, that sees elections to new councils in May 2027 and those councils going live in April 2028.

Communities and Local Government, how much funding his Department or Homes England for the Lancaster West Estate refurbishment; and what assessment he has made of the estimated £85 million shortfall in funding identified the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

The government is committed to supporting the community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy for the long term.In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government agreed to provide c£25m towards the refurbishment of the Lancaster West estate on the assumption that this funding was to be matched by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and that no further funding would be required from Government.My officials have been engaging with RBKC, who lead on the refurbishment of the estate, to fully understand the cause of the shortfall and the Council’s plans for delivery.

Whether an Electric Vehicle chargepoint within the curtilage of a domestic dwelling is deemed to be a material consideration by the Valuation Office Agency when a property is valued or revalued for council tax, including the new surcharge.

I refer the hon member to the answer given on UIN 99865.

With reference to paragraph 4.38 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, and to the HMT document, Effects of the business rates retail, hospitality and leisure multipliers and high value multiplier of 26 November 2025, whether according to information held by HM Treasury, if she will break down the 10.2 per cent increase across the effects of (i) the new high-value surcharge, (ii) the rates revaluation and (iii) the higher multipliers.

The Government does not hold data on the breakdown of business rates revenue.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency's publication, VOA rating list downloads, whether the Unique Address Reference Number (UARN) matches individual hereditaments on the 2026 draft non-domestic rating list with their previous entry on the 2023 non-domestic rating list; and how are properties matched if they do not have an UARN.

I refer the hon member to the answer given on UIN 99863.

What is the timetable for business rate bills to be issued for 2026-27, and what is the timetable for appeals against the new draft valuations published on 25 November 2025.

I refer the hon member to the answer given to UIN99864.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax: practice notes, Basis of Valuation- Valuation Assumptions, Section 4.3: Tenure, what assessment has the Agency made of the typical difference between a sale price and a council tax valuation as a consequence of the assumptions on leasehold flats.

I refer the hon member to the answer on UIN 99866.

What is the estimated annual cost of the retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier in 2026-27, and how many hereditaments will be eligible in England according to her Department’s estimates.

The retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) multipliers being introduced from April are worth nearly £900 million per year, and they will benefit over 750,000 properties in England.

If she will itemise which Valuation Office Agency special category code hereditaments are eligible for the 2026-27 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure multipliers.

I refer the hon member to the answer given on UIN 99861. In addition, the relevant guidance and regulations set out here may be of interest:Business Rates Multipliers: Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure - GOV.UKThe Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Hereditament) Regulations 2025.

What the estimated annual cost is of the retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier in 2026-27; and how many hereditaments will be eligible in England.

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 as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, the Government has introduced a generous support package worth £4.3 billion over the next 3 years, including support to help ratepayers to transition to their new bill. As a result, over half of all ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by 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 in England. The Government is paying for this tax cut through higher rates on the top one per cent of most expensive properties, including distribution warehouses used by online giants. 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.

What her planned timetable is for business rate bills to be issued for 2026-27; and what is the timetable for appeals against the new draft valuations published on 25 November 2025.

Local councils are responsible for the timing and issuing of business rates bills, typically these are sent in February or March for the following tax year. New valuations cannot be formally challenged until they come into force on 1 April 2026. Until then valuations are draft. Ratepayers can let the VOA know now if any of the information used to calculate the valuation is wrong, and if necessary, the valuation will be corrected.

Which Valuation Office Agency special category code hereditaments are eligible for the 2026-27 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure multipliers.

VOA Special Category codes do not determine eligibility for RHL multipliers. Local authorities are responsible for administering the business rates multipliers for qualifying Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties.