Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with the social housing regulator on the financial viability of East End Homes.

MHCLG ministers have not had discussions with the independent Regulator of Social Housing (The Regulator) about East End Homes. All registered social housing providers are required to deliver the standards set by the Regulator. Those standards seek to ensure a financially viable and well-governed sector, which can continue to increase the provision of social housing. In May 2023, the Regulator determined that East End Homes was non-compliant with its Governance Standard. It continues to engage with the provider and monitors its progress in addressing the issues previously identified.

What discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) public bodies on the planned implementation of the definition of Islamophobia into the work of (i) government and (ii) public bodies.

Should government accept the recommendations of the Islamophobia Definition Working Group, the definition used will be non-statutory. It will enable government and other relevant bodies to have a greater understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities. We will consider the advice of the Working Group, including discussing across government, before confirming next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support home extensions through mansard roof development.

The government recognises the valued role mansard roof development can play in supporting urban intensification. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that national policy supports all types of upwards extensions, including mansard roof development, and encourages their approval in areas or building types where this is appropriate and meets adopted or emerging local policies and design codes that require development to be well designed.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 22 July 2025 to Question HL9253 on Planning Permission: Public Consultation, if he will make it his policy to bring the Street Vote provisions from the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 into effect.

Although UIN HL9253 set out that the government does not currently intend to implement the street votes provisions in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, I can clarify that no final decision has been taken.We are currently considering how we might support urban densification through a new suite of national policies for decision making that we intend to consult on later this year.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's publication entitled MHCLG areas of research interest, published on 5 March 2025, whether research has been commissioned since 4 July 2024 in relation to reform, revaluation or replacement of council tax.

The Government has not commissioned research in relation to council tax reform. The Government remains committed to keeping all taxes and elements of the local government finance system under review. The Government has recently set out its intention to modernise the administration of council tax to ensure it remains fair and efficient for both taxpayers and local authorities.

Whether she has made an assessment of trends in the level of tax (a) evasion and (b) avoidance linked to candy retail stores.

As my rt. hon Friend the Prime Minister said, the Government recently launched a major crackdown against criminals using high street businesses to launder money at almost 400 properties, which involved securing freezing orders over bank accounts totaling more than £1 million and arresting 35 individuals. HMRC is leading a cross-Government risk assessment to establish a shared understanding of the key risks and their underlying drivers. The findings of this assessment will inform a revitalised and more ambitious coordinated cross-government approach to addressing the harms associated with these retail models.

Whether the (a) Office for National Statistics and (b) Social Mobility Commission classify the socio-economic background of a firefighter.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th September is attached.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the section on Fruitless payments on p.104 of the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC1062, published on 22 July 2025, p.104, whether Homes England is now making use of those software licenses.

Homes England entered into an agreement to acquire software licences for use on an investment project in early development during 2024/25. Due to delays in progressing the project, the Agency was unable to utilise the licences within that financial year, resulting in an unavoidable payment. The circumstances and financial implications are detailed in Homes England’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 62978 on MHCLG: Travel, if he will provide the (a) date, (b) cost and (c) approximate location of each Ministerial journey.

This information is not held centrally and can only be collated at a disproportionate cost to the department.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has received representations from the (a) Mayor of London and (b) combined authority mayors on rent controls since July 2024.

The government has been clear it does not support the introduction of rent controls, including rent stabilisation measures. We believe they could make life more difficult for private renters, both in terms of incentivising landlords to increase rents routinely up to a cap where they might otherwise not have done, and in pushing many landlords out of the market, thereby making it even harder for renters to find a home they can afford. The government has not received direct representations from the Mayor of London or Mayors of other Strategic Authorities in respect of rent controls, and we have not discussed their introduction at a local level.

What estimate she has made of the potential impact of the new Mortgage Guarantee Scheme on the number of (a) repossessions and (b) households entering negative equity.

The Government recognises the difficulties some prospective first-time buyers face in buying a home and is committed to helping them get on the housing ladder.The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is designed to support and sustain the availability of low deposit mortgage products for credit-worthy borrowers. Participating lenders must be satisfied that prospective borrowers can afford their mortgage repayments and will be assessed as part of an individual lender’s affordability assessment, as with any other mortgage product.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of higher levels of regulation in the private rented sector on the number of people who are unable to rent privately and in need of local authority temporary accommodation.

An Impact Assessment (IA) for the Renters’ Rights Bill was published in November 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here. The IA makes clear that the reduction in forced evictions could result in a reduced number of households at risk of becoming homeless, with section 21 evictions currently the second leading cause of homelessness. This will in turn reduce the costs to the public purse and wider society of temporary accommodation.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help enable people living in social rented housing to own pets.

The government wants to ensure more tenants can experience the benefits of pet ownership. Many social landlords set out their pet policies in their tenancy agreements and will allow tenants to keep pets where it is appropriate to do so. Consideration is given to whether the pets can be well looked after and any adverse effects on the lives of neighbours and those living nearby. We encourage all social landlords to adopt similar policies. The circumstances in which pets may be kept is, however, for social landlords to determine locally, taking account of the views of their tenants.

Communities and Local Government, what representations his Department has received from local authorities on creating charter trustees, in the context of local government restructuring.

No formal representations have yet been received from local authorities on creating charter trustees. The government will ensure that the ceremonial rights and privileges of an area will be maintained after any reorganisation. As part of the statutory invitation for reorganisation, all areas were asked to consider any impact on ceremonial rights as part of their proposals. Officials have been supporting councils as they develop proposals ready for submission to government in the coming weeks and months.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July 2025, HCWS872, on Combating Hatred Against Muslims Fund, how many bids to provide an anti-Muslim hatred monitoring and victim support service through the Combating Hate Against Muslims fund were received by his Department.

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government received 34 applications to the Combating Hatred Against Muslim Fund. All applicants were required to submit a detailed business plan as well as provide answers to questions related to 16 criteria. More information on the 16 criteria which applications were assessed against can be found on the fund’s prospectus - Combatting Hate Against Muslims fund: prospectus - GOV.UK. Due diligence checks were undertaken into all high scoring applicants. Financial checks were undertaken using the Spotlight due diligence tool. This uses risk indicators, developed by national security and fraud experts to inform decisions about whether to award a grant or contract, and onward monitoring, providing real time information from a range of government and commercial data sources in order to risk assess grant applicants including any linked directors, companies and beneficial owners.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68060 on Islamophobia, whether the responses to the Islamophobia definition call for evidence from organisations which are subject to his department’s policy of non-engagement would be considered and given material weight.

The Working Group is an independent, non-statutory body which will provide advice to ministers on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred/islamophobia. Ministers will consider the advice that the independent working group provides. Any proposed definition by the independent Working Group should comprehensively reflect multiple perspectives and implications for different communities. The Working Group launched a Call for Evidence to build on the extensive consultation they’ve already undertaken. The Call for Evidence closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was welcome to submit evidence.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of estate agents who are not members of a redress scheme.

My Department has made no such estimate. The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT), operated by Powys County Council, approve the bodies that administer government-sanctioned estate agent redress schemes. In instances where NTSEAT or the agent redress schemes are made aware of an agent potentially operating without redress scheme membership, cases are referred to the relevant local authority for further investigation.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the abolition of (a) the New Homes Bonus and (b) payments for bringing empty homes back into use on the number of empty homes.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 73762 on 9 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July 2025, HCWS872, on Combating Hatred Against Muslim Fund, what was included in the bid by the British Muslim Trust for the contract to provide a comprehensive service to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred.

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government received 34 applications to the Combating Hatred Against Muslim Fund. All applicants were required to submit a detailed business plan as well as provide answers to questions related to 16 criteria. More information on the 16 criteria which applications were assessed against can be found on the fund’s prospectus - Combatting Hate Against Muslims fund: prospectus - GOV.UK. Due diligence checks were undertaken into all high scoring applicants. Financial checks were undertaken using the Spotlight due diligence tool. This uses risk indicators, developed by national security and fraud experts to inform decisions about whether to award a grant or contract, and onward monitoring, providing real time information from a range of government and commercial data sources in order to risk assess grant applicants including any linked directors, companies and beneficial owners.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July 2025, HCWS872, on Combating Hatred Against Muslim Fund, what financial due diligence his Department undertook in relation to the appointment of the British Muslim Trust as a government-funded partner.

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government received 34 applications to the Combating Hatred Against Muslim Fund. All applicants were required to submit a detailed business plan as well as provide answers to questions related to 16 criteria. More information on the 16 criteria which applications were assessed against can be found on the fund’s prospectus - Combatting Hate Against Muslims fund: prospectus - GOV.UK. Due diligence checks were undertaken into all high scoring applicants. Financial checks were undertaken using the Spotlight due diligence tool. This uses risk indicators, developed by national security and fraud experts to inform decisions about whether to award a grant or contract, and onward monitoring, providing real time information from a range of government and commercial data sources in order to risk assess grant applicants including any linked directors, companies and beneficial owners.