Written questions by Badenoch.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5229 on Empty Property and Second Homes: Council Tax, whether she plans to publish a response to the consultation; and what her planned timetable is for bringing forward (a) secondary legislation and (b) updated guidance to local billing authorities.

Secondary legislation to introduce these regulations were laid before Parliament on 8 October and will come into effect from 1 April 2025. The Government intends to publish guidance prior to these regulations coming into effect.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of levels remuneration of local authority chief executives.

This Government recognises the intense demands facing local authority chief executives, and is grateful for the excellent work they do. Local authorities are independent employers, and decisions on local pay and remuneration should be taken by those who are directly accountable to local people.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of local authorities divesting their Local Government Pension Scheme assets from the oil and gas industry.

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) administering authorities are responsible for setting the investment strategy of their pension funds. Authorities must take investment decisions in the interests of their members and for the purpose of paying benefits.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 900289 on Affordable Housing, whether her Department has made changes to the (a) tenure, (b) stock profile and (c) proportion of homes available for (i) social rent and (ii) other affordable housing types for new homes planned under the 2021-26 Affordable Housing Programme.

Between 2013 and 2023, the number of Social Rent homes owned by registered providers of social housing fell by over 205,000. The Government’s aspiration is to ensure that, in the first full financial year of this Parliament (2025-26), the number of Social Rent homes is rising rather than falling. We have therefore asked Homes England and the Greater London Authority to maximise the number of Social Rent homes in allocating the remaining Affordable Homes Programme funding.My department published an update on targets in the 2021-26 Programme on 30 July 2024. We have also proposed a number of changes to national planning policy that are designed to support the delivery of Social Rent homes. We will bring forward details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has received representations on the potential effect of proposed private renters legislation on the student accommodation market, and what steps her Department has taken to support that market.

The Renters’ Rights Bill introduces a new mandatory ground which will allow landlords renting Houses of Multiple Occupation to full time students to seek possession ahead of each new academic year, facilitating the ongoing yearly cycle of short-term student tenancies while ensuring students can benefit from the increased security and flexibility our reforms will create. The department has engaged with a range of stakeholders in the student accommodation market and will continue to do so.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 28 March 2024 to Question 19849 on Private Rented Housing: Registration, whether her Department the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunal Service have a joint plan for improvements to the county court possession process.

My department is working closely with the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunal Service to ensure that the county courts are ready for the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of higher Section 106 affordable housing quotas on (a) the sale price of non-subsidised new build private sector homes in the same development and (b) overall house prices.

As part of the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, the Government is seeking views on implementing golden rules to ensure development in the Green Belt is in the public interest.These rules include a target of 50% affordable housing on land released from the Green Belt for residential development. The consultation closed on the 24 September and officials in my department are currently analysing responses with a view to publishing a government response before the end of the year.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to issue hardship tests in the private rented sector before landlords can evict tenants.

There are currently no plans to introduce hardship tests relating to eviction of tenants, outside of the existing ’undue hardship’ test in the Housing Act 1988.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2024, to Question 3830, on Development Plans: Greater London, if she will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of the minutes for the meeting.

The Government does not intend to place a copy of the minutes of the Deputy Prime Minister’s July meeting with the Mayor of London in the House of Commons library as the discussions are considered confidential.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 3824, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Flags, whether she plans to amend the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 on flag flying.

The Government has no current plans to amend the Regulations in question.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's proposals for (a) higher quality standards, (b) cladding removal, (c) decarbonisation and energy efficiency requirements in the social housing sector on the financial capacity of housing associations to (i) build new social homes and (ii) purchase affordable homes from private developers.

The Government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm and free from damp and mould. We have committed to bringing forward the regulations necessary to introduce Awaab’s Law in the Social Rented Sector this Autumn, and to consulting on and implementing a new Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. We will set out the costs and impacts of the relevant requirements alongside each consultation.The Government’s Warm Homes Plan offers grants and low interest loans which support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other improvements. Social landlords are responsible for improvements to their properties to ensure they meet the required standards.As we set out in July, details of future government investment in social and affordable housing will be brought forwards at the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 4681 on Public Houses, what steps her Department is taking to help support community pubs.

Community pubs are a fantastic example of how community ownership can help keep local institutions alive and thriving. Our pubs are already protected by the planning system, and we want to further support community pubs with the introduction of Community Right to Buy through the English Devolution Bill. This will give communities the power to buy valued community assets, such as their local pub, if they go up for sale.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Table 2 of HM Treasury's publication entitled Fixing the foundations: public spending audit 2024-25, CP 1133, published in July 2024, what plans her Department has to reduce spending on (a) communications and (b) Government Communications Service staff.

As stated in the HM Treasury report, all departments will stop non-essential spending on communications. This includes the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.A review of planned government communications and marketing has recently concluded and the department is now updating our campaign plans to ensure that they are effective and in line with government priorities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2024, to Question 2979, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Departmental Responsibilities, if she will list the job title of each member of the Policy and Strategy Unit.

The Policy and Strategy Unit is comprised of two Deputy Directors, supported by a team of policy advisers and senior policy advisers. Staffing roles are in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration.

Communities and Local Government, how many photographers her Department has hired as (a) staff and (b) contractors since since 4 July 2024; from what dates; and what estimate she has made of the annual cost of those photographers.

As is the case already in other government departments, official photographers help to share the work of the department and ministers with the public. Photography and videography - for external use or on the department's corporate channels - can help to give the public and civil servants a greater sense of accessibility and transparency over the activities of government. Members of MHCLG’s communications team already demonstrate a broad range of written and digital / visual media skills to help communicate with the public, the media and stakeholders.MHCLG does not currently employ a photographer on a part or full-time basis. The department has recently advertised a role within the Civil Service for a chief photographer (Grade 7).We do not comment on individual staffing matters.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 5232 on Local Government: Elections, whether her Department holds a list of (a) councils, (b) mayors and (c) combined authority mayors subject to elections in May 2025.

The department publishes our understanding of the years in which each council’s elections will be held. That list can be found here.In accordance with legislation, councils are required to post notice of any election or by-election taking place which they administer, and this can be found on council websites.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2024, to Question 2981, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Civil Servants, if she will list the (a) Recruitment Principles exception and (b) job title of the position for each of the appointments made without open and fair competition from 4 July 2024 to date.

MHCLG made 47 appointments by exception to fair, open and merit-based recruitment principles from 1 July to 31 September 2024.All appointments were at grades below the Senior Civil Service. We are unable to break this down further (ie grade level) as the numbers are too small to disclose.ExceptionDescriptionNumber of appointments between 1st July – 31st September 2024Exception 1Temporary appointments40Exception 2Government employment programmes5Exception 3Secondments2The department publishes a senior and junior organogram biannually setting out job titles and salaries – Organogram of Staff Roles & Salaries - data.gov.uk.There are clear rules governing recruitment and appointment of civil service roles, which are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. It is the longstanding convention of government under successive administrations that we do not comment on matters relating to individual staff.

Communities and Local Government, how much has been spent on refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since 4 July 2024, broken down by (a) furniture, (b) fixtures, (c) fittings and (d) shoe racks.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 9072 on 3 December 2024.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of an automatic electoral registration on the number of Parliamentary seats in each constituent nation of the United Kingdom.

The Government is actively exploring ways to improve voter registration, as per its manifesto commitment. The fact that an estimated eight million eligible electors are missing from the register, or incorrectly registered, is totally unacceptable. The Government intends to tackle this, and appropriate assessments will be made as policy develops.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the merits of providing additional resources to ensure local authorities have an up to date local plan.

To progress toward our ambition of universal local plan coverage, the Government has made clear that it will drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible.Local planning authorities should continue to progress their plans to adoption under the existing system without delay and we reaffirm our commitment to supporting them in getting plans in place.To enable local planning authorities to respond to any changes that might be made following the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, the Government have proposed transitional arrangements for emerging plans in preparation. This will ensure that plans at more advanced stages of preparation can maintain progress, while maximising proactive planning for the homes our communities need.If taken forward, we recognise that these transitional arrangements would require some local planning authorities to undertake unforeseen additional work and reopen engagement with communities. In such a scenario, the Government has made clear that it would provide direct funding support to help these authorities progress their plans to examination quickly.While we hope the need will not arise, we have made clear that we are willing to make full use of available intervention powers – including taking over an authority’s plan making directly – if local plans are not progressed as required.