Written questions by Badenoch.

Communities and Local Government, what the estimated cost to (a) councils and (b) housing associations is of requiring all social housing to be EPC 'C' compliant by 2030; and what (i) funding and (ii) loans her Department plans to provide to these organisations.

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 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, 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 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.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Home upgrade revolution as renters set for warmer homes and cheaper bills published on 23 September 2024, what account the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the changes to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards will take of the Renters' Rights Bill.

We have announced our intention to publish consultations on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector and the social rented sector by the end of the year. DESNZ and MHCLG are working closely together to take account of the impact of MEES and the Renters’ Rights Bill on the private and social rented sectors. The impact of potential changes to the wider policy landscape for private and social landlords will be considered in the respective Impact Assessments.

Pursuant to the answer of 30 August 2024 to Question 1617 on Energy Performance Certificates: Rented Housing and with reference to his Department's press release entitled Home upgrade revolution as renters set for warmer homes and cheaper bills, published on 23 September 2024, what account the requirement to improve properties to Energy Performance Certificate standard C by 2030 will take of changes to how Energy Performance Certificates are calculated.

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 domestic private and social rented sectors by 2030. Government will also shortly set out a consultation with proposals for improvements to Energy Performance Certificates to make them more accurate and reliable, which will be reflected in the consultations on minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes.

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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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.

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, 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.