Written questions by Badenoch.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her oral statement of 30 July 2024 on Building homes, what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on the last date at which a local plan should have been revised in order to be considered up-to-date.

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.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of the use of private planes by her Department.

The department has policies in place to facilitate departmental business being conducted in a cost effective, sustainable, and efficient way. There are no current plans to review this.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a four day week for full pay in local government on the provision of services.

Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces. Any policy announcements will be made in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, whether her department intends to introduce legislation as a result of the Supreme Court decision of [2024] UKSC 20, R (on the application of Finch on behalf of the Weald Action Group) (Appellant) v Surrey County Council and others.

The Supreme Court has clarified that downstream emissions are to be considered as part of the environmental assessment of certain kinds of development. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recently announced their plans to consult on new environmental guidance for offshore oil and gas developments in light of this ruling, and more detail will be provided in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward proposals to sanction local planning authorities that do not have up-to-date local plan by 31 December 2024.

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.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving prisoners the right to vote. .

There has been no change to the Government’s position on prisoner voting rights.