Written questions by Badenoch.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 3903 on Political Parties: Finance, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of political parties on the development of this policy.

As set out in our manifesto, the Government intends to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy. The policy development work to give effect to this commitment is ongoing, and we will engage with key stakeholders over the course of this work.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a (a) regulatory impact assessment, (b) equality impact assessment, (c) family test assessment and (d) environmental principles assessment for the Renters’ Rights Bill.

The Government submitted the Impact Assessment for the Renters’ Rights Bill on 16 September 2024 to the Regulatory Policy Committee. The Government will publish the impact assessment in due course. In line with usual practice, the Government will always consider the impact of any policies when taking the legislation through Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, how frequently she meets directors-general within her Department to discuss progress.

The Deputy Prime Minister has regular discussions with director generals in the department. As has been the case under successive administrations, details of internal discussion are not normally disclosed.

Communities and Local Government, whether she made an assessment of the potential merits of publishing a regulatory impact assessment of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

The Government submitted the Impact Assessment for the Renters’ Rights Bill on 16 September 2024 to the Regulatory Policy Committee. The Government will publish the impact assessment in due course. In line with usual practice, the Government will always consider the impact of any policies when taking the legislation through Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, what the net increase in the number of dwellings in 2023-24 in England was in (a) the Valuation Office Agency's dwelling list and (b) dwellings registered with an Energy Performance Certificate.

The Valuation Office Agency publishes official statistics on the number of domestic properties in the Council Tax list on GOV.UK. The latest publication is available under ‘Council Tax Stock of properties: Summary tables, 2024’.In England, there were 25,353,530 domestic properties in the Council Tax list in 2023, compared with 25,571,400 in 2024. This is a difference of 217,870, which is made up of 264,330 properties being added to the Council Tax list and 46,460 properties being deleted from the list.The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government publishes full statistics for EPCs produced in England every quarter since 2009. In 2023/24 1,579,865 new EPCs were produced for dwellings. Records are not maintained for the net change in dwellings with EPCs.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Written Ministerial Statement of 30 July 2024 on Building the Homes We Need, HCWS48, what steps she plans to take to provide new build affordable housing through social rent; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a rise in the number of social rent homes on the availability of affordable housing.

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, 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.

Whether the Deputy Prime Minister's remit includes responsibility for ethics and integrity in government.

Each minister is responsible for their personal conduct, including upholding the highest standards of propriety and integrity. Policy responsibility for propriety and ethics in government is held by the Cabinet Office.

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, what her planned timetable is for the commencement of the Renters’ Rights Bill and the passage of associated secondary legislation, including any planned differences for the application of (a) new and (b) existing tenancies.

Following Royal Assent of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Government will implement the new system as soon as possible. The abolition of section 21 and the introduction of the new tenancy system will be applied to new and existing tenancies simultaneously. This approach will support tenants, landlords and agents to adjust to and understand the new rules, while making sure that tenants can benefit from the new system quickly. We will provide more details about our implementation plans and timetables during the passage of the Bill.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of requiring landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties to a EPC C rating by 2030 on (a) rent prices and (b) trends in the number of private sector landlords exiting the sector.

The Government has announced its intention to consult by the end of the year on implementing a minimum energy efficiency standard of Energy Performance Certificate Band C or equivalent in the private rented sector by 2030. The consultation will be accompanied by an Options Assessment, which will consider impacts arising from the policy proposals, including potential impacts on rent levels and the supply of properties in the sector.

Communities and Local Government, what the total (a) funding under the Build to Rent Fund and (b) finance supported from the Private Rented Sector Housing Debt Guarantee Scheme was; and what estimate she has made of the number of additional dwellings supported by these schemes.

The Build to Rent Fund provided over £606 million in debt financing to support the construction of 6,262 homes. The Fund closed in 2016, and all loans have now been repaid. The Private Rented Sector Guarantee Scheme has thus far supported the delivery of 7,660 Build to Rent homes, utilising c£1.5 billon of guarantees capacity.We recognise that the Build to Rent sector plays an important role in driving up quality and delivering additional homes in the Private Rented Sector. We continue to offer support to new schemes alongside institutional investors and operators via the Levelling Up Home Building Fund.

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, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of requiring landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties to a EPC C rating by 2030 on the finances of (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations.

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 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.