Written questions by Brown-Fuller.

Communities and Local Government, whether access to healthcare will be a consideration in the default yes position for housing developments around train stations when consulting on the national planning policy framework.

The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation sets out the details of the proposed approach to land around stations, including those that are defined as well-connected and those that are within and outside of settlements. It can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, whether any other transport infrastructure will be considered in the government's consultation on a default yes position for development around train stations in the national planning policy framework.

The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation sets out the details of the proposed approach to land around stations, including those that are defined as well-connected and those that are within and outside of settlements. It can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what distance will be classified as near to a train station for the default yes position the department is currently consulting on as part of its review into the national planning policy framework.

The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation sets out the details of the proposed approach to land around stations, including those that are defined as well-connected and those that are within and outside of settlements. It can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance exists on balancing data protection with safeguarding when families seek to support vulnerable adults in accessing local authority services including housing registers; and what discretion local authorities have to share information with family members in such circumstances.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing individuals’ care and support needs and, where eligible, for meeting those needs, such as under the Care Act 2014. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides mechanisms by which others can support, and if appropriate make decisions for, a person who lacks mental capacity. A person who is aged 18 or over and who has capacity (a donor) can make a lasting power of attorney (LPA) appointing one or more trusted third parties (often family members or friends) to act as attorney. An attorney with powers under an LPA can act or make decisions for the donor, including accessing services on their behalf. If no LPA has been made and a person lacks capacity, the Court of Protection can appoint a deputy to manage the person’s affairs. Statutory guidance on social housing allocations sets out how local housing authorities should approach information sharing in relation to the management of their allocation scheme including how data should be processed in line with UK data protection laws. If a person is likely to have difficulty making an application for an allocation of social housing without assistance, local housing authorities must ensure that any necessary assistance is available free of charge. The cross-government Changing Futures programme is working with 15 local partnerships to test new approaches to improve access to support for adults experiencing multiple disadvantage – including combinations of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system. A further £56m has been announced in the homelessness strategy to build on learning from Changing Futures through a new multiple disadvantage programme.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure vulnerable adults can access essential services when they cannot navigate processes independently and family members lack formal powers of attorney.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing individuals’ care and support needs and, where eligible, for meeting those needs, such as under the Care Act 2014. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides mechanisms by which others can support, and if appropriate make decisions for, a person who lacks mental capacity. A person who is aged 18 or over and who has capacity (a donor) can make a lasting power of attorney (LPA) appointing one or more trusted third parties (often family members or friends) to act as attorney. An attorney with powers under an LPA can act or make decisions for the donor, including accessing services on their behalf. If no LPA has been made and a person lacks capacity, the Court of Protection can appoint a deputy to manage the person’s affairs. Statutory guidance on social housing allocations sets out how local housing authorities should approach information sharing in relation to the management of their allocation scheme including how data should be processed in line with UK data protection laws. If a person is likely to have difficulty making an application for an allocation of social housing without assistance, local housing authorities must ensure that any necessary assistance is available free of charge. The cross-government Changing Futures programme is working with 15 local partnerships to test new approaches to improve access to support for adults experiencing multiple disadvantage – including combinations of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system. A further £56m has been announced in the homelessness strategy to build on learning from Changing Futures through a new multiple disadvantage programme.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that planning policy adequately reflects the potential risks posed by dynamic environments such as a) estuaries, b) floodplains and c) coastlines.

Chapter 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out a holistic approach to meeting the challenges of climate change, coastal change, and flooding. It makes clear that the planning system should take full account of all climate impacts, including coastal change and flood risk. The Framework outlines a sequential approach to flood risk management, requiring inappropriate development to be directed away from areas at highest risk, and providing strong safeguards where development is necessary in these areas. It also specifies that local planning authorities should limit the planned lifetime of development in Coastal Change Management Areas through temporary permissions and restoration conditions if necessary to reduce unacceptable levels of future risk to people or development. The government is considering whether further changes are required to sufficiently reflect the risks to such areas and we intend to consult on a new suite of national policies for decision making before the end of this year.

Communities and Local Government, if he will direct electricity providers to periodically conduct Electrical Installation Condition Reports.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80904 on 10 October 2025.Electricity providers, the electricity network operators and electricity suppliers, the companies who distribute and supply electricity to homes and businesses, have no role in electrical safety inspections and are not responsible for electrical safety in homes and businesses.For social rented homes we have introduced regulations, that came into force this month, requiring all landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years. This is in line with regulations already in place in the private rented sector. Social landlords must also have the electrical equipment that they provide under the tenancy checked by a qualified person at least every five years.

Communities and Local Government, if he will (a) review and (b) update legal obligations on electricity providers to (i) inspect, (ii) evaluate and (iii) replace (A) outdated and (B) dangerous wiring.

An electricity Distribution Network Operator's responsibility ends at the domestic cutout fuse. An electricity supplier’s responsibility ends at the meter. Anything on the consumer side of the meter is the building owner’s responsibility, including domestic wiring. Building owners have a responsibility to manage their building with a view to the safety of occupiers and people who work in or may be around the building. New building work, including installation of controlled services, must meet the requirements of the Building Regulations including, at Schedule 1 Part P, Electrical Safety. Electrical work must be carried out in accordance with the Building Regulations.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to update the National Planning Policy Framework to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle charging points for homeowners without driveways.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that in setting local parking standards for residential and non-residential development, planning policies should take into account the need to ensure adequate provision of spaces for charging plug-in and other ultra-low emission vehicles. This includes consideration of charging points for homeowners without driveways. The Framework is also clear that applications for development should be designed to enable charging of plug-in vehicles in safe, accessible, and convenient locations.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of processing times at HM Land Registry.

Improving speed of service remains a top priority for HM Land Registry (HMLR). Plans to achieve this will be outlined in its forthcoming Strategy 2025+ being published shortly. As its sponsor department, MHCLG holds HMLR to account for performance and operational delivery and are in regular communication with HMLR about their processing times. HMLR has been making improvements in this area through hiring and training more staff and by improving the efficiency of the services its customers use. The introduction of new pre-submission validation checks will speed up processes and reduce staff time spent on dealing with errors or mistakes. The age of outstanding post-completion applications is now under 12 months across all service lines, from a peak of 20 months in February 2023. HMLR processing times are publicly available on gov.uk here. Anyone who is concerned that a delay to their application may cause financial, legal or personal problems or put a property sale at risk, can apply to have their application expedited free of charge. HMLR processes nearly 1,400 expedited applications every day, with more than 95% actioned within 10 working days.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of UK-based (a) civil and (b) software engineers by local authorities.

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 June 2025, HCWS736, on Simplified Local Leadership Structures, what her Department's planned timetable is for making those changes to local leadership structures.

Councils operating the committee system which are not part of local government reorganisation will be given one year from the date of the legislation coming into force to make the transition. Where a council which operates the committee system is to be dissolved under local government reorganisation it will be exempt from making the change. All new councils will be required to operate the leader and cabinet model of governance. Legislation on this matter will be introduced when Parliamentary time allows.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document entitled Remote attendance and proxy voting in local authorities: consultation results and government response, published on 5 June 2025, what her Department's planned timetable is for bringing forward legislative proposals to allow (a) remote attendance and (b) proxy voting in local councils.

On 5 June, we published the gov.uk ‘Remote attendance and proxy voting in local authorities: consultation results and government response’ where we announced that we plan to legislate when parliamentary time allows.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to help ensure that housing developments are completed after they have been granted planning permission.

The government wants to see homes built faster and we recognise the frustrations that stalled or delayed sites can cause to communities. Once housebuilders have been granted permission for residential development, meeting local housing needs and preferences, we expect to see them built out as quickly as possible. Local planning authorities already have powers to issue a completion notice to require a developer to complete their development if it is stalled. If they fail to do so, the planning permission for the development will lapse. The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December includes policies designed to support increased build out rates, including the promotion of mixed tenure development. On 25 May, the government published a Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out (which can be founded on gov.uk here) inviting views on further action the government should take to speed up homes being built.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to give local planning authorities further powers to prevent high concentrations of (a) short-term and (b) holiday-let accommodation.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer to Question UIN 13348 on 18 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 19 December 2023 on The Next Stage in Our Long Term Plan for Housing Update, HCWS161, if she will publish (a) the review into the wider statutory consultee system and (b) her response to that review.

The Written Ministerial Statement in question was published by the previous government. This government recognises the importance of ensuring the system of statutory consultees delivers effectively. Any announcements regarding the statutory consultee system will be made in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of cancellation of the Community Ownership Fund on the projects of applicants.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 11941 on 8 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, if she will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of reforming the electoral system used to elect Members of Parliament.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 5974 on 14 October 2024.