Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets: Ministerial Envoys’ second report, published on 17 March 2026, paragraph 3.3.11, what the evidence basis is in relation to concerns of patronage in relation to (a) recruitment, (b) promotion and (c) performance management under the Mayoral administration.

Concerns regarding the London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ practices, including matters relating to alleged patronage, have been raised over a number of years by a range of stakeholders. The Ministerial Envoys are undertaking a deep dive project as part of the strengthened intervention package to provide assurance in relation to these long-standing concerns.

Communities and Local Government, how will councils be expected to finance the remaining 10% cumulative Dedicated Schools Grant SEND deficit.

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Statutory Override will remain in place until the end of 2027-28. While it remains in effect, all DSG deficits including any proportion of the historic deficit up to 2025-26 not covered by grant (“the residual deficit”) will remain in the associated statutory reserve (“the unusable reserve”) and will not affect local authorities’ wider financial positions. The DSG Statutory Override will end on 31 March 2028. Therefore, local authorities will need to plan to be able to meet the cost of the residual deficit from their own resources in 2028-29, including setting aside appropriate reserves in the preceding years.The Government recognises that some local authorities will continue to have concerns about the pressures of their DSG deficits and the sufficiency of a 90% grant. The Government committed as part of the publication of the Final Local Government Finance Settlement that it would work with local authorities with these challenges, as part of supporting the development of Local SEND Reform Plans.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026, to Question 113730, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Administration of Justice, how many Information Tribunal cases relating to his Department has been determined since 4 July 2024 and if he will list the reference numbers of each case.

The Department does not routinely publish details of its Information Tribunal cases as these are listed both by the Tribunals Judiciary (here) and by The National Archives when determined (here).

Communities and Local Government, what the timetable is for the next Parliamentary boundary review; and in what month and year the snapshot of the electoral register will be taken on which to base the review.

As set out in legislation, the next Parliamentary Boundary Review must be completed and reported by 1 October 2031. The review will be based on the electoral registers as they stand on 1 December 2028.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2026, to Question 118666, on Elections: Pilot Schemes, if he will provide a relevant hyperlink for the invitation to pilot issued in August 2025.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 122112 on 27 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026, to Question 119298, Absent Voting: British Nationals Abroad, if the Commission will take steps to raise awareness amongst Hon Members of registered overseas electors and their status as constituents.

The House of Commons Commission is independent of government, and it is therefore not for the government to comment on or instruct, the Commission in respect of its activities.As noted by the honourable member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney in response to PQ 119298, it is for honourable members to consider how best to represent their constituents.

Communities and Local Government, further to the "Changing Futures Lived Experience Support Grant: prospectus", of 26 March 2026, what his Department's definition of lived experience is.

The definition of lived experience in reference to the Changing Futures programme is direct, personal experience of multiple disadvantage which includes combinations of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answers of 10 February 2026 to Question 109259 and of 3 March 2026 to Question 113740 on Local Government: Elections, if he will list each local authority that submitted a request or expression of interest to participate in the May 2026 flexible voting pilots that was not subsequently approved.

The government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors. These pilots are part of the government’s commitment to encourage greater participation in our democracy and to modernise the voting process, this commitment extends to town and parish council elections, such as those being held in North Hertfordshire in May.The government did not receive any requests or expressions of interest that were rejected. Several local authorities expressed interest but did not make a formal application.There have been no prospectus documents, calls for evidence, bidding documents, consultations or pilot invitations published in the last twelve months on matters other than the flexible voting pilots.The flexible voting pilots are being funded by the Department.Regarding the government’s engagement with stakeholders for the flexible voting pilots, I refer the Rt Hon. Member to Question UIN 87029 on 12 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Land value estimates for policy appraisal 2023, published on 16 March 2026, why the values are only up to date to 2023.

The land value estimates in question are expressed in October 2023 prices to provide a consistent and comparable base. However, the data used to produce the estimates is more recent. For example, while the estimates of non-residential land produced by the Valuation Office Agency draw on data up to August 2024, the estimates of residential land produced by my Department draw on data up to September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026, to Question 120064, on Electoral Register, whether the asymmetric introduction of automatic registration include implementation and rollout by type of data-matching data.

My officials are currently working on the design of the direct registration pilots, which includes consideration of different options for the use of national and local datasets to support direct registration. Further details will be available in due course, and as previously made clear, will also be set out in secondary legislation subject to the affirmative procedure.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026, to Question 113641, on Parish and Town Councils: Council tax reduction schemes, what assessment has been made of (a) whether principal local authorities have reduced their financial support for parish councils, in relation to the application of local council tax support on parish precepts, in (a) 2025-26, and (b) 2026-27 budgets and (b) the associated effects on parish council precepts.

Local council tax support schemes are designed by local authorities in consultation with council taxpayers. It is the responsibility of principal authorities to work with parish and town councils on council tax matters, including support schemes and to agree appropriate funding arrangements to avoid large increases in parish precepts.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2026, to Question 119513, on Elections: Local Government, what consideration was given to consulting the Parliamentary Parties Panel on the local election pilots in May 2026.

The government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors. These pilots are part of the government’s commitment to encourage greater participation in our democracy and to modernise the voting process, this commitment extends to town and parish council elections, such as those being held in North Hertfordshire in May.The government did not receive any requests or expressions of interest that were rejected. Several local authorities expressed interest but did not make a formal application.There have been no prospectus documents, calls for evidence, bidding documents, consultations or pilot invitations published in the last twelve months on matters other than the flexible voting pilots.The flexible voting pilots are being funded by the Department.Regarding the government’s engagement with stakeholders for the flexible voting pilots, I refer the Rt Hon. Member to Question UIN 87029 on 12 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his correspondence entitled Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, dated 25 March 2026, whether an impact assessment has been made on the two measures, including assymetric effects on political parties.

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the Government wrote to political party representatives to set out the immediate steps being taken to strengthen the UK’s political finance framework to address the risk of foreign financial interference. The Government announced its intention to introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets. Further policy detail will be set out as we bring forward these policies as amendments to the Representation of the People Bill.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 December 2024, to Question 20228, on Civil Society: Islam, whether his department engages with the Ramadan Tent Project.

My Department have not engaged with the Ramadan Tent Project. As a part of the Department’s work to rest relationships with faith and belief communities, Ministers and officials continue to engage with a broad range of stakeholders.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department or Homes England undertakes liquidity tests on strategic partners.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 119480 on 17 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026, to Question 111684, on Recreation Spaces: Planning Permission, what is the status and timetable for publishing the public consultation on the review in the legal framework of protections for public recreational space.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 111684 on 24 February 2026.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the revenue test being introduced for political donations from companies, what assessment has been made of the effect on the ability of political parties with holding companies with low or no trading income, to bequest property or investment assets to other party accounting units or to the central party.

The revenue test will form part of the donor permissibility requirements for companies and limited liability partnerships under provisions included in the Representation of the People Bill. It will apply to the donating entity for the purposes of determining whether a donation is permissible. Companies that do not make sufficient revenue to fund their donation will not be eligible.

Communities and Local Government, what the proposed timetable is for the implementation of Section 54A of PPERA 2000 Section 9 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009, via secondary legislation; and what his policy is on the un-commenced Sections 10 and 11.

The Government has committed to commencing section 54A of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, as inserted by section 9 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009, and intends to do so before the end of this Parliament. The Electoral Commission is responsible for producing guidance to support compliance with political finance rules. The Department does not intend to issue separate guidance. Matters relating to the practical operation of the declaration requirement, including whether declarations may be made electronically, are for the Electoral Commission to consider as part of its role in supporting compliance. There is presently no intention to commence sections 10 and 11 of the 2009 Act.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 25, which of the recommendations of the Colin Bloom’s Independent Faith Engagement Review have been (a) adopted and (b) not adopted by his department.

The Bloom Review on Faith Engagement is one of the many evidence bases that inform the work of my department, including in relation to supporting community cohesion. This includes our commitment set out in Protecting What Matters to boost Faith and Belief literacy (informed by Colin Bloom’s recommendation to do so), in addition to our ongoing commitment to regular and consistent engagement with Faith and Belief groups. The insights of Faith and Belief groups continue to play an important role in shaping policies that promote inclusivity, understanding, and respect across our society.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer, of 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether bank cards issued in (a) Iran, (b) Pakistan and (c) China will be accepted as identification.

The Representation of the People Bill 2026 provides that only bank cards issued by UK‑regulated or authorised issuers will be accepted as voter identification. Consequently, cards issued by foreign banks that are not regulated or authorised in the UK, will not be able to be used.