Written questions by McMurdock.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce mechanisms for cases where unitary authority council areas disagree with the decision by a mayoral strategic authority to introduce a visitor's levy.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what proportion of revenue raised through a visitor levy will be retained locally.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the hotel and hospitality sector on the potential impact of a visitor levy on international competitiveness.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to council leaders on 16 February 2026, whether the additional capacity funding will be provided (a) to all local authorities and (b) only to local authorities that requested election postponements.

Up to £63 million new funding will be made available to help all local councils across the 21 reorganisation areas best deliver local government re-organisation and builds on the £7.6 million provided last year.

Communities and Local Government, whether he is considering exemptions from a visitor levy for children, long-stay visitors and people travelling for medical purposes.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure revenue from a visitor levy is reinvested in local tourism infrastructure.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing a visitor levy on the number of domestic tourists.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the administrative costs to accommodation providers of implementing and collecting a visitor levy.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the hospitality sector.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of of a visitor levy on the competitiveness of English destinations compared with European cities including Paris, Barcelona and Rome.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on average visitor spending per trip.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to council leaders on 16 February 2026, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on whether the 2027 local elections will proceed in areas undergoing local government reorganisation.

The government remains committed to the indicative timetable set out in July, with elections to the new councils scheduled for May 2027.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of implementing a visitor levy on the displacement of tourism activity to neighbouring areas without such a levy.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area. The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, how Essex County Council's debts will be distributed once local government reorganisation has concluded.

The assets, liabilities and ongoing commitments of the councils being replaced would transfer to the new authorities, in line with previous reorganisations.

Communities and Local Government, how Thurrock and Basildon councils' debts will be distributed once local government reorganisation in Essex has concluded.

The assets, liabilities and ongoing commitments of the councils being replaced would transfer to the new authorities, in line with previous reorganisations.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on factors social landlords should consider when assessing the suitability of a property for a tenant’s pet, including property size, shared access arrangements and communal areas.

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government’s letter to Social housing landlords, dated 12 February 2026, how long the proposed standard timeframe would be within which social housing landlords should respond to tenant requests to keep pets.

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government’s letter to Social housing landlords, dated 12 February 2026, what steps he is taking to encourage social housing landlords to publish clear and accessible pet policies in tenancy agreements and on their websites.

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government’s letter to Social housing landlords, dated 12 February 2026, what mechanisms will be available to social housing tenants to challenge a landlord’s refusal of a request to keep a pet.

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government’s letter to Social housing landlords, dated 12 February 2026, what proportion of social housing landlords who currently refuse to allow tenants to keep pets does his Department anticipate will reverse this policy as a result of the letter and the changes to legislation.

My Department does not hold information on the proportion of social housing landlords who do not allow tenants to keep pets.On 12 February 2026, Baroness Taylor wrote to all social housing landlords setting out my Department’s position on fair consideration of requests to have a pet in social housing. Her letter can be found on gov.uk here.We have not made a projection of how many social housing landlords may change their pet policies as a result of the letter or wider reforms.The government has no current plans to issue new guidance.