Written questions by Cleverly.

How many civil servants in his Department are working on the Independent commission into adult social care; whether any (a) Commissioners and (b) other external appointees have been (i) appointed and (ii) assigned to support the work of the Commission; and what the budget for the Commission is in the current financial year.

There is a total of ten officials assigned to work on the Independent Commission into adult social care (the Commission). Eight are employed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and two by the Cabinet Office. There are a further four officials working in the Commission’s sponsorship function based in DHSC.There are currently no Commissioners appointed, and one external individual has been hired as contingent labour to support the work of the Commission.As the Commission is independent, the secretariat may expand as it carries out its work, and as Baroness Casey considers what further skills and expertise she needs.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press notice entitled Chancellor appoints infrastructure and planning adviser to clear path for new investments, published on 12 September 2025, whether (a) he and (b) the Minister for Housing and Planning have met the Chancellor’s Infrastructure and Planning Adviser since 12 September 2025.

Both the Secretary of State and I regularly engage with ministerial colleagues and advisors on a range of matters. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2025 to Question 75625 on Building: Safety, if he will make it his policy to intervene in the London Plan to remove regulatory requirements on new build housing in London that do not apply across the rest of England.

Building regulations are set nationally under the Building Act 1984 and apply uniformly across England, but local authorities, including those in London may apply additional planning or enforcement measures. The Department continues to work closely with the Greater London Authority and other stakeholders to ensure that building safety reforms are implemented consistently and proportionately across all regions. We keep regional impacts under review as part of our ongoing engagement with the Building Safety Regulator and future updates to guidance.

Communities and Local Government, how many special advisers of the former Deputy Prime Minister have (a) left and (b) remained in government.

The government publishes an annual statement to Parliament setting out the numbers, names and pay bands of special advisers, the appointing minister and the overall paybill.

Communities and Local Government, further to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's press release entitled Ombudsman writes to Secretary of State after council refuses to accept recommendation on abuse survivor’s complaint, published on 10 September 2025, what steps he is taking further to the letter from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman relating to Leicester City Council.

The Department is aware of the concerns raised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. We continue to monitor Leicester City Council’s compliance with its Best Value Duty, in line with our wider oversight of local authority risk.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 to require planning permission for the use of hotels as accommodation for asylum seekers.

Whether or not use of a hotel or a house in multiple occupation to accommodate asylum seekers would constitute a material change of use requiring planning permission is a matter of fact and degree and will be for the local planning authority to determine on the individual merits of a case.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to amend the General Permitted Development Order to require an application for planning permission in all cases of repurposing a house in multiple occupation as accommodation for asylum seekers.

Whether or not use of a hotel or a house in multiple occupation to accommodate asylum seekers would constitute a material change of use requiring planning permission is a matter of fact and degree and will be for the local planning authority to determine on the individual merits of a case.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on the use of Article 4 directions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for (a) houses in multiple occupation and (b) asylum accommodation.

My Department has not issued any such guidance.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 71482 on Green Belt: Planning Permission, whether the Planning Inspectorate holds information on decisions made in relation to green belt land since December 2024.

The Planning Inspectorate does hold information on decisions made in relation to green belt land. This information is released under management information in our Casework Database which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69298 on Electoral Register: Young People, if he will make it his policy to consult with political parties on the elections strategy at an early stage prior to bringing forward legislative proposals on this matter.

Pursuant to the answer given to Question [69298] on Electoral Register, the Government will continue to work closely with our partners in local and devolved government and wider stakeholders to deliver on our strategy for modern and secure elections. This will include engagement with political parties, the electoral sector, education and civil society, and with citizens themselves to ensure impacts are thoroughly considered and changes successfully delivered.

Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on requiring (a) short-term lets and (b) second homes to have planning permission; and what plans he has to bring forward legislation on this matter.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 72633 on 15 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 66939 on Council Tax: Tax Yields, if he will publish the FOI disclosure reference FOI2025/22431.

It is not MHCLG policy to routinely publish FOI responses. The Information Tribunal views disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a release into the public domain.

Communities and Local Government, with reference the Written Statement of 24 June 2025 entitled Simplified Local Leadership Structures, HCWS736, whether he plans to abolish the committee-based governance system in the City of London Corporation.

The government has no current plans to abolish the committee-based governance system in the City of London Corporation.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights, which closed on 12 April 2023.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 72633 on 15 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75617 on Homes England: Conferences, how many Homes England staff attended the MIPIM conference; and which hotel they stayed at.

Seven Homes England colleagues attended MIPIM in April 2024. The delegation that attended MIPIM stayed at the Hotel Cannes Montfleury, 25 Av. Beauséjour, 06400 Cannes, France. Details of the travel and subsistence usage by Homes England staff is set out in their Annual Report.

Communities and Local Government, which international conferences were attended by representatives of his Department since 4 July 2024; and what the cost was of attending each conference.

The requested information cannot be reported on centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of new build homes that were sold in the last 12 months.

My Department does not hold the requested data.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 69050 on Local Government Finance, what the aggregate value was of the capitalised costs in 2024-25.

Since 2016, under a general direction initially put in place by the previous government, local authorities have the flexibility to use eligible capital receipts to fund the costs of projects that produce ongoing savings or efficiencies.Local authorities are required to provide annual returns to Government, including data on revenue expenditure. The latest return was published on 18th September 2025: Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2024 to 2025 – first release - GOV.UK. The data includes reported revenue spend funded by capital receipts under the general direction.These values may be subject to revision as authorities provide further or updated information.

Communities and Local Government, whether Essex county council elections will take place in May 2026.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60731 on 24 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16490 on Deputy Prime Minister: Departmental Responsibilities, what the status is of the policy and strategy unit that was allocated to the previous Deputy Prime Minister.

Staff allocated to the Office of the former Deputy Prime Minister continue to be employed by MHCLG, working on the priorities of the new Secretary of State.