Written questions by McMurdock.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with Thurrock Council on ensuring the continued support for vulnerable residents in Thurrock, in the context of the planned closure of the Thurrock Centre for Independent Living; and if he will ask the commissioners at Thurrock Council to review the (a) value for money for the services provided by the Thurrock Centre for Independent Living and (b) level of support provided to that chairt.

Commissioners have been in place since September 2022 to address the concerns about the unprecedented scale of the financial and commercial risks that faced the Thurrock Council at the beginning of the intervention. Commissioners continue to help and provide oversight to the Council to manage their investments, finances, and to drive forward long-term change and reform of the Council, working with the Council to ensure value for money and services are delivered for local residents.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support areas with a high proportion of construction sector businesses.

The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament. My department is working across government and with industry to address skills shortages and improve skills, competence, and productivity across built environment professions, from construction trades to architects, planners, building inspectors and other specialist professions. Our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill will further streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure, helping to support construction businesses across the UK.

Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of instances of councils not meeting responsibilities under section 198 of the Housing Act 1996 by not responding since 2020.

The Government does not collect any data on the number of instances in which a council does not meet their responsibilities under section 198 of the Housing Act 1996.Where there are disputes between the notifying authority and the notified authority over which authority should be responsible for the applicant, the Homelessness (Decisions on Referrals) Order 1998 sets out a process to resolve the dispute. In England, the Local Government Association will typically mediate between the two authorities. As such, the Local Government Association has issued its own guidance for authorities for invoking this disputes procedure and resolving any disputes, which can be accessed below. https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/procedures-referrals-homeless-applicants-another-local-authorityTo support councils with carrying out their homelessness duties this Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million to a total of more than £1 billion in 2025/26. Local authorities can use this funding to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in their area.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that councils meet responsibilities under section 198 of the Housing Act 1996.

The Government does not collect any data on the number of instances in which a council does not meet their responsibilities under section 198 of the Housing Act 1996.Where there are disputes between the notifying authority and the notified authority over which authority should be responsible for the applicant, the Homelessness (Decisions on Referrals) Order 1998 sets out a process to resolve the dispute. In England, the Local Government Association will typically mediate between the two authorities. As such, the Local Government Association has issued its own guidance for authorities for invoking this disputes procedure and resolving any disputes, which can be accessed below. https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/procedures-referrals-homeless-applicants-another-local-authorityTo support councils with carrying out their homelessness duties this Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million to a total of more than £1 billion in 2025/26. Local authorities can use this funding to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in their area.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83618 on Retail Trade, what proportion of Pride in Place programme funding has been allocated to high street regeneration projects.

On 25 September the Government announced the Pride in Place Programme, supporting 244 of Great Britain’s most in need neighbourhoods with up to £20m each over the next decade. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities, incorporating the existing 25 trailblazer areas announced at Spending Review and the 75 Phase 1 Plan for Neighbourhoods programme areas that were announced in March. Neighbourhood Boards will be provided with a list of pre-approved interventions and given the autonomy to pursue the changes that their community want to see. High street regeneration projects are included as a pre-approved intervention, and the decision on whether, and how much, to invest in this will be decided by each board locally. Further guidance will be published shortly.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities meet identified needs for older people’s housing in local plans.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 63197 on 7 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of High Street Rental Auctions in reducing retail vacancy rates.

The auction is the final stage of the High Street Rental Auction process which supports councils to reoccupy vacant commercial units. These powers were introduced in December 2024 and early adopter councils confirmed in March 2025. Since then, no council has reached the auction stage, but there are a number of councils that have reported closer engagement with landlords after designating the high street resulting in new lettings and sales of long term vacant units.Since the powers were recently introduced, no specific assessment has yet been made, but the government is working closely with early adopter councils to support and monitor delivery.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to require landlords to publish standardised information on (a) rent and (b) service charge costs for high street tenants.

The Government regularly engages with small business representative organisations to garner their views. The ongoing Law Commission work, as set out in my answer to PQ UIN(s): 77535, has already involved a formal consultation with the commercial sector and is likely to include more engagement. There are currently no plans to require commercial landlords to publish standardised information on rent or service charges.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83617 on Retail Trade: Empty Property, how many High Street Rental Auctions have been held.

The auction is the final stage of the High Street Rental Auction process which supports councils to reoccupy vacant commercial units. These powers were introduced in December 2024 and early adopter councils confirmed in March 2025. Since then, no council has reached the auction stage, but there are a number of councils that have reported closer engagement with landlords after designating the high street resulting in new lettings and sales of long term vacant units.Since the powers were recently introduced, no specific assessment has yet been made, but the government is working closely with early adopter councils to support and monitor delivery.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with representatives from small business on (a) rent and (b) service charge reform for high street tenants.

The Government regularly engages with small business representative organisations to garner their views. The ongoing Law Commission work, as set out in my answer to PQ UIN(s): 77535, has already involved a formal consultation with the commercial sector and is likely to include more engagement. There are currently no plans to require commercial landlords to publish standardised information on rent or service charges.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce (a) financial incentives and (b) stamp duty reliefs for older homeowners wishing to move to more suitable housing.

The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring that housing policy supports independent living for older people.

The government recognises that well-designed, suitable housing can help support older people to live independently for longer. We will shortly set out our policy on accessible new build housing, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to a safe, suitable home.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of average house prices in the South East on (a) housing affordability and (b) access to home ownership.

My Department has made no specific assessment of the potential impact of average house prices in the South East on (a) housing affordability and (b) access to home ownership.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of average house prices in (a) the South East and (b) other parts of the country.

My Department has no plans to make such an assessment.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on taking steps to help support high streets in the context of trends in the levels of online shopping.

The Government is fully committed to working with councils and other partners to revitalise our changing high streets. Through the Pride in Place programme, we are investing up to £5 billion funding to revive deprived neighbourhoods and high streets. The department engages regularly with councils on a variety of issues, including our plans for neighbourhood and high street regeneration.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to review regulations affecting (a) rent and (b) service charges in (i) high streets and (ii) shopping centres.

This government recognises the importance of a fair commercial leasehold market for the health of the high street. We are legislating to ban the use of upwards-only rent reviews, which make high street businesses uncompetitive if the market declines. We have also tasked the Law Commission, in addition to their ongoing review of the Landlord and Tenant Act (1954), with considering the law governing the maintenance, repair and upgrading of leased commercial buildings, including service charges.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to help tackle high vacancy rates in (a) shopping centres and (b) other retail units.

The Government is committed to fostering the conditions to reduce vacancy, including in our high streets and shopping centres. We have introduced legislation to ban upwards-only rent reviews in commercial leases to make tenancies more affordable, and will introduce lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties from 2026. As set out in the recent Pride in Place strategy, we have also introduced High Street Rental Auctions, empowering councils to bring vacant units back into use, and other measures to support revitalisation of vacant space including a new Community Right to Buy for valued assets, such as shops and pubs, and streamlined compulsory purchase orders. This is alongside up to £5 billion investment in 244 of the most deprived neighbourhoods which can be used to tackle high street vacancy.

Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report, published in November 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 53184 on 27 May 2025 and UIN 74681 on 12 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support older homeowners that wish to (a) downsize and (b) move to more accessible accommodation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 53184 on 27 May 2025 and UIN 74681 on 12 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of levels of availability of accessible housing on the ability of older people to move out of larger family homes.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 53184 on 27 May 2025 and UIN 74681 on 12 September 2025.