Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 115420 on Affordable Housing: Housing Starts, what assessment his Department has made of the number of (a) affordable and (b) non-affordable homes starts that have been de-applied as starts in revisions since July 2024.

In June 2025, Homes England revised their figures for starts and completions from 2022-23 and 2023-24. Minor corrections have also been made to starts data published in November 2024 due to processing errors affecting First Homes units for 2023-24 provided via LAHS. Details of the revisions made each year to the publication are available in the technical note corresponding to that year’s publication. Revisions made in 2024/25 are available on gov.uk here and revisions made in 2023/24 are available on gov.uk here. Housing Supply: Indicators of new supply statistical releases always reflect the latest available data provided to my Department. All revisions are made in accordance with the policy for scheduled revisions as set out in Section 5 of its technical notes, which are available on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, whether local authorities considering the Government’s letter on putting evidence to cancel local elections were (a) offering additional funding or (b) advised they may lose funding, by his Department, if the local authority (i) did or (ii) did not, make a request respectively.

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

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2026, to Question 104169, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Darlington, why the Darlington office has a 40% office attendance rate requirement rather than the Civil Service expectation of 60%.

The office attendance expectation for the Darlington office is set at 40% due to building capacity constraints. This has been determined by assessing the number of staff based at the site against the desks available, while ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements.

Further to the oral statement on China and security of 4 March 2026, if HM Government will now make it their policy to add China to the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

As set out in the National Security Act 2023, the Secretary of State may make a specification under the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) where they consider it is reasonably necessary to do so to protect the safety or interests of the United Kingdom. As I set out in the House of Commons on 4 March 2026, FIRS is a relatively new tool, and this Government is seeking to ensure that we can derive the maximum operational capability from it. We look very carefully at which countries should be on the enhanced tier of the scheme, factoring in a broad range of considerations. We have not made any final decisions as to whether we will place other countries on the enhanced tier, but we keep that under very close review. Any changes to the countries listed will be brought to Parliament in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 118190, on Local Government Finance, what proportion of the £740 million of funding was comprised of unallocated MHCLG budgets for the Spending Review period; and what is the allocation over each year of SR2025.

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

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter sent by the Secretary of State to HM Opposition of 21 March 2026, on MHCLG spending commitments, if he will provide a breakdown of the £62 billion of spending commitments, and the profile across each year and each programme.

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

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2026, to Question 120664, on Travellers: Caravan sites, how the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework on traveller sites are a material consideration in the application for a possession order in relation to land that the travellers do not own but are residing on without the landowner’s permission.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals to incorporate policies relating to traveller sites, currently set out in Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, within relevant chapters of the draft NPPF. The consultation also included a proposed policy on retrospective planning applications and unauthorised development which sets out that if it is concluded, based on evidence, that the unauthorised development was intentional, that fact should be given substantial weight in considering whether to grant planning permission. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2026, to Question 111142, on Housing: Asylum, whether there has been any HM Government expression of interests requested from local authorities in relation to asylum accommodation, including pilots referenced in the Funding Instruction for Local Authorities: Asylum Grant 2025 - 2026.

We ran an expression of interest exercise on new accommodation models with local authorities in 2025. However, further information on responses or guidance given to interested local authorities on the new accommodation model is considered commercially sensitive.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2026, to Question 103288, and further to Deposited Paper DEP2026-0218, committed on 27 February 2026, for what reason the (a) Overseas Pakistanis Convention and (b) external meeting with UNHCR was not listed in the quarterly transparency return of the Minister of meetings with external organisations.

The Rt Hon Member, as a former Foreign Secretary, will know that it is the long-standing practice of successive governments not to comment on private diplomatic meetings. Paragraph 16 of the Guidance on Ministers’ meetings with external organisations and individuals (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance), sets out the types of external engagement that would not automatically be classed as meetings, including events such as conventions and conferences. The former Minister has, however, requested that his transparency return has been updated to include the meeting with UNHCR.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question HL15625 on Islamophobia, if he will place a copy of the Equalities Impact Assessment on the definition of anti-Muslim hostility in the Library.

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

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question 108220, on Affordable Housing: Greater London, whether affordable housing starts in London are tracked from start on site to competition, to ascertain that they are (a) actually delivered and (b) not stalled.

The Affordable Housing Supply statistical release that my Department publishes is produced using a number of different sources. These include data from local authorities, Homes England and the Greater London Authority (GLA).The GLA and Homes England provide information in respect of individual developments, but this is only at the point they start or complete. As such, the data my Department publishes does not distinguish between developments where construction has started and is ongoing and developments where construction has started but has stalled or been abandoned.The GLA expect all schemes will continue to proceed. In instances where that does not prove possible, they will ensure that all grant is recouped and reinvested in social and affordable housing.

Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on consulting (a) HM Opposition and (b) minority opposition parties, in relation to departmental spending pledges that go beyond the Spending Review.

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

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, pages 35 and 40, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the definition of anti-Muslim hostility being adopted by (a) the police and (b) Crown Prosecution Service; and which body will be responsible for the practical guidance.

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

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department will put forward proposals for increasing local government transparency under the next round of the UK National Action Plan for Open Government.

The Department keeps this issue under review. A wide range of mechanisms exist to ensure transparency and accountability of local authorities. The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 requires authorities to publish a range of information about their activities including spending, procurement and assets. Authorities are also required to produce annual accounts which are independently assured by an external auditor. The Ministry is working to improve transparency through reforms to the local audit system which will establish the Local Audit Office to oversee the system. The Local Outcomes Framework will provide outcomes based performance measurement against key national priorities delivered at the local level.

Communities and Local Government, further to his oral statement of 23 February 2026, Official Report, Col.80, on Local Government Reorganisation, on how many occasions since July 2024 have Ministers in his Department made a re-consideration of a Ministerial decision following legal advice or a legal challenge; and in how many cases was the decision made by a different Minister.

It is a longstanding principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice.

What recent steps his Department has taken to support hospices in the Braintree constituency.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB), including the NHS Mid and South Essex ICB, must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.The Government recognises the financial pressures facing hospices. In February, NHS England wrote to all ICBs requesting an update on the financial stability of hospices in their footprint as a matter of urgency, and the steps being taken to mitigate risks.We also supported the hospice sector in England with a £125 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. From this funding stream, Farleigh Hospice in mid-Essex received £1,350,650 and Havens Hospices, which Little Havens Children’s Hospice is part of, received £1,287,240.Furthermore, children and young people’s hospices received £26 million in revenue funding in 2025/26. This was a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the Children’s Hospice Grant. From this funding, Little Havens Children’s Hospice received £557,000.In 2025/26, we announced the continuation of this funding for a further three financial years. This funding will see at least £26 million, adjusted for inflation, allocated to children and young people’s hospices in England each year, covering 2026/27 to 2028/29, amounting to approximately £80 million over the three-year period.Children and young people’s hospices and ICBs have recently been informed of their allocations for 2026/27, although we are not yet in a position to share those individual allocations publicly. Communication regarding future allocations, for 2027/28 and 2028/29, will be sent once the 2026/27 process is complete.For the long-term, the Government is developing a Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care for England, with a planned publication date of autumn 2026. We recognise that there is currently a mix of contracting models in the hospice sector. As part of the development of the MSF, we will consider contracting and commissioning arrangements. By supporting ICBs to commission more strategically, we can move away from grant and block contract models. In the long term, this will aid sustainability and help hospices’ ability to plan ahead.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026, to Question 111691, on Valuation Office Agency: Conference, what domestic conferences the Valuation Office Agency has made presentations at since July 2024.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 121728 on 27 March 2026.

What recent discussions he has had with NHS England and integrated care boards on supporting hospices facing financial pressures, including those serving mid-Essex.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB), including the NHS Mid and South Essex ICB, must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.The Government recognises the financial pressures facing hospices. In February, NHS England wrote to all ICBs requesting an update on the financial stability of hospices in their footprint as a matter of urgency, and the steps being taken to mitigate risks.We also supported the hospice sector in England with a £125 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. From this funding stream, Farleigh Hospice in mid-Essex received £1,350,650 and Havens Hospices, which Little Havens Children’s Hospice is part of, received £1,287,240.Furthermore, children and young people’s hospices received £26 million in revenue funding in 2025/26. This was a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the Children’s Hospice Grant. From this funding, Little Havens Children’s Hospice received £557,000.In 2025/26, we announced the continuation of this funding for a further three financial years. This funding will see at least £26 million, adjusted for inflation, allocated to children and young people’s hospices in England each year, covering 2026/27 to 2028/29, amounting to approximately £80 million over the three-year period.Children and young people’s hospices and ICBs have recently been informed of their allocations for 2026/27, although we are not yet in a position to share those individual allocations publicly. Communication regarding future allocations, for 2027/28 and 2028/29, will be sent once the 2026/27 process is complete.For the long-term, the Government is developing a Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care for England, with a planned publication date of autumn 2026. We recognise that there is currently a mix of contracting models in the hospice sector. As part of the development of the MSF, we will consider contracting and commissioning arrangements. By supporting ICBs to commission more strategically, we can move away from grant and block contract models. In the long term, this will aid sustainability and help hospices’ ability to plan ahead.

Whether his Department plans to collect data on hospice bed capacity and service provision at a national level.

The majority of hospices are charitable, independent organisations and, therefore, the Government does not collect or keep data on hospice bed capacity nationally. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning palliative care services to meet the reasonable needs of their population, which can include hospice services available within the ICB catchment. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and a service specification. NHS England’s Medium-Term Planning Guidance makes clear that ICBs and relevant National Health Service providers should ensure an understanding of current and projected total service utilisation and costs for those at the end of life, which can include services provided by hospices. The Government is developing a Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care. Through our MSF, we will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end-of-life care services to ensure that services reduce variation in access and quality. As part of the MSF, we will consider contracting and commissioning arrangements. We recognise that there is currently a mix of contracting models in the hospice sector. By supporting ICBs to commission more strategically, we can move away from grant and block contract models. In the long term, this will aid sustainability and help hospices’ ability to plan ahead.

With reference to the Budget Policy Costing 2025, November 2025, page 51, on the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, what proportion of the (a) -£60 million impact in 2025-26, (b) -£120 million impact in 2026-27 and (c) -£155 million impact in 2027-28 is from (i) lower stamp duty, (ii) lower capital gain tax, (iii) lower inheritance tax and (iv) lower Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings receipts, in each case and year.

I refer to my previous answer to question 121393 on 9 April 2026.