Written questions by Robertson.

Communities and Local Government, how many meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with metro mayors to discuss the devolution of powers to enable the implementation of an overnight visitor levy since the 2024 General Election; and how many such meetings took place (i) before the launch of the consultation on 26 November 2025 and (ii) since that date.

Ahead of launching its consultation, the government considered a range of evidence on the case for a visitor levy power, including economic analysis and the success of international examples. Ministers engage regularly with Mayors on devolution-related issues, including through the quarterly Mayoral Council meetings. As the government set out in response to Question UIN 98784 answered on 22 December 2025, the government received representations from Mayors on a visitor levy power ahead of the announcement of the consultation on 25 November.

Communities and Local Government, what evidence his Department considered when determining whether to consult on the principle of introducing an overnight visitor levy.

Ahead of launching its consultation, the government considered a range of evidence on the case for a visitor levy power, including economic analysis and the success of international examples. Ministers engage regularly with Mayors on devolution-related issues, including through the quarterly Mayoral Council meetings. As the government set out in response to Question UIN 98784 answered on 22 December 2025, the government received representations from Mayors on a visitor levy power ahead of the announcement of the consultation on 25 November.

Communities and Local Government, how many meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the hospitality and tourism industry and businesses likely to be impacted by an overnight visitor levy since the 2024 General Election; and how many such meetings took place (i) before the launch of the consultation on 26 November 2025 and (ii) since that date.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 118044 on 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision to discontinue Island Forums on island communities; and whether he plans to introduce alternative mechanisms.

We recognise the unique opportunities and challenges faced by island communities, including those on the Isle of Wight, and it is essential that they are still able to raise issues with government. We also recognise that there has been positive and constructive engagement across and between Forum members, and we encourage them to continue working closely with colleagues to share best practice and develop effective, evidence‑based solutions. The decision to discontinue the Islands Forum at the 2024 Autumn Budget was taken considering the difficult fiscal circumstances we are facing. Since then, we have been working closely with other UK Government departments to determine the future of the forum and agree responsibilities for future engagement - we wanted to get this right. It has been agreed that officials from the Offices for Nations will now take forward island engagement in their respective nations, whilst MHCLG will continue working with island communities in England, on issues that are our responsibility respectively. My officials are also able to help island communities make connections with other departments across government.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department conducted an impact assessment before ending Island Forums.

We recognise the unique opportunities and challenges faced by island communities, including those on the Isle of Wight, and it is essential that they are still able to raise issues with government. We also recognise that there has been positive and constructive engagement across and between Forum members, and we encourage them to continue working closely with colleagues to share best practice and develop effective, evidence‑based solutions. The decision to discontinue the Islands Forum at the 2024 Autumn Budget was taken considering the difficult fiscal circumstances we are facing. Since then, we have been working closely with other UK Government departments to determine the future of the forum and agree responsibilities for future engagement - we wanted to get this right. It has been agreed that officials from the Offices for Nations will now take forward island engagement in their respective nations, whilst MHCLG will continue working with island communities in England, on issues that are our responsibility respectively. My officials are also able to help island communities make connections with other departments across government.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the level of independence of the complaint review process within the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

The legal powers underpinning the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s investigations are invested in the Ombudsman themselves and they have personal authority in the investigation of complaints. I therefore have no remit to interfere with the Ombudsman’s investigatory work. This independence rightly keeps central government at arm’s length from the service that the Ombudsman provides to members of the public; a service which is an important element of the overarching local government accountability system.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2025 to Question 72865 on Local Government: Hampshire and Isle of Wight, if his Department will publish a breakdown of consultation responses by local authority area.

The government published a response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2025 to Question 72865 on Local Government: Hampshire and Isle of Wight, whether his Department plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of that proposed devolution area on (a) transport services and (b) disparities between urban and rural areas.

A Mayoral Strategic Authority over Hampshire and the Solent will play a key leading role on transport planning and delivery for the area, becoming the Local Transport Authority, with responsibility for producing a Local Transport Plan setting out their local transport policies and how these will be delivered. We would also expect the Mayoral Strategic Authority to deliver for all communities and address disparities, this could include through designating a member of the leadership Cabinet with a Rural portfolio to ensure equality of attention across all areas of the region, as has been done in other Strategic Authorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether proposals for English devolution will require the re-organisation of (a) NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board and (b) other integrated care boards.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), alongside NHS England, continue to work closely on any proposals to reorganise integrated care boards (ICBs). In areas where Strategic Authorities are known, DHSC, alongside the MHCLG and NHS England, will proceed with integrated care board (ICB) reorganisation to ensure coterminous boundaries wherever feasibly possible.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a breakdown of responses to the Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation by local authority area.

The government published a detailed response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes number of responses and detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Communities and Local Government, how many responses to the Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation were submitted by (a) residents and (b) organisations based on the Isle of Wight.

The government published a detailed response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes number of responses and detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Communities and Local Government, whether responses from Isle of Wight Council to the Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation will be published separately to general consultation responses.

The government published a detailed response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes number of responses and detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Communities and Local Government, how many responses were received to the Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation.

The government published a detailed response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes number of responses and detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57180 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Internet, if she will publish her Department's Acceptable Use policy.

I will deposit a copy in the House library.

Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on the personal use of IT equipment to access the internet through (a) desktops and (b) wifi by (i) staff and (ii) Ministers.

MHCLG do not provide desktop computers. However all corporate devices are covered by the same policy and terms and conditions.WiFi is provided by the GovWiFi service, which is covered by the GovWiFi Terms and Conditions (Terms and conditions - GovWifi) in conjunction with MHCLG acceptable usage policy, which is available to all staff on the Intranet. The policy allows for ‘limited personal use of MHCLG IT is acceptable as long as it does not cause a problem with your work or that of your colleagues’.

Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made on the long-term housing strategy.

The government intends to publish a long-term housing strategy later this year.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to enable social landlords to gain access to building safety remediation funding.

Across England, social landlords can apply to government remediation funds (Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme). They can apply for funding equivalent to (1) the amount which the social landlord would otherwise be entitled to pass on to leaseholders; or (2) the full cost of remedial works where paying those costs would render the social landlord financially unviable. As of 30 April 2025, government has committed £606m to support remediation of social housing through government schemes. Social landlords face barriers to accelerating remediation, including access to upfront capital. From April 2025, we have increased funding for social landlords applying for government remediation funding so that remedial works can start sooner and we will this year announce a long-term strategy for accelerating social housing remediation.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has assessed compliance costs associated with local authority planning approvals.

Ensuring compliance with planning approvals is a matter for local planning authorities. As such, the Department has not made an assessment of the costs involved.

Communities and Local Government, how often her Department assesses compliance costs associated with local government administration.

The Department regularly engages with authorities across the country to understand the administrative costs councils face, and to work with the sector to reduce these. The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. The majority of funding in the Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has adopted trade union representation requirements in procurement processes since July 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 33868 on 3 March 2025.