Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 1,583 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 March 2026, to Question 119947, on Money Laundering: Montenegro, whether any assessment has been made of whether laundered money from the West Balkans has entered the UK political system in the form of political donations or donations in kind.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, how much local authorities across England have raised through the pavement licensing scheme in each year since its inception.
Central government sets fee caps for pavement licenses and licenses are directly administered by local authorities. Central government does not collect information on how much revenue local authorities have raised.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the pavement licenses on the hospitality industry for each of the last two years.
In October 2025, the Government launched a call for evidence seeking views on the recommendations from the report of the Licensing Taskforce. This shaped the development of the National Licensing Policy Framework published in November 2025. We will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, police and residents, to take forward the recommendations made by the Taskforce including around pavement licences.
Communities and Local Government, whether he has made a formal assessment of the impact of the pavement licensing regime on the hospitality industry.
In October 2025, the Government launched a call for evidence seeking views on the recommendations from the report of the Licensing Taskforce. This shaped the development of the National Licensing Policy Framework published in November 2025. We will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, police and residents, to take forward the recommendations made by the Taskforce including around pavement licences.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2026, to Question 108681, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if he will list each developer or applicant that has been given clarification meetings or pre-application engagement since July 2024.
Since July 2024, officials have undertaken pre-application engagement with:a Cross-Whitehall Group that included the Department for Transport, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and HM Revenue & Customs,the Home Office, andthe Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.Engagement in these instances related to prospective Crown or Urgent Crown applications, and carried out in accordance with planning propriety guidance.
Communities and Local Government, what is the Government’s policy on the use of deepfake imagery, video or audio in elections.
The Government takes the threat posed by harmful deepfakes very seriously. The Government recognises that the huge opportunities offered by AI also come with risks, including potential challenges posed by AI-generated content for the online information environment and its potential impact on democratic processes. The UK’s Online Safety Act has introduced duties on in scope services to tackle digital impersonation where it amounts to an existing offence, including false statements about a candidate's character or conduct ahead of or during an election. Solutions that help to determine what media is real and what is AI-generated are key to tackling a range of AI risks. The government is undertaking work to explore the potential methods for detecting AI-generated content. The UK also has strong data protection laws to help tackle the misuse of personal identity, through the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. These laws require that any personal data processing is lawful, fair and transparent.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 105388 on Councillors: Vetting, whether she is considering options for criminal record checks for elected representatives other than councillors.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given Question UIN 105388 on 20 January 2026 which answered this question in full. This remains our current position.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of levels of intimidation of candidates, agents and campaigners at (a) election hustings and (b) election counts.
Intimidation and abuse of those participating in public life has no place in our society and will not be tolerated. MHCLG does not engage directly with candidates or collect wider information about those involved in elections' experience of harassment and intimidation. MHCLG’s role is to provides all candidates and returning officers with security guidance ahead of elections periods. MHCLG does work closely with the Defending Democracy Taskforce, which leads on the cross-government response to harassment and intimidation, including work to evaluate its nature and scale, as well as with the police, Electoral Commission and Local Government Association, who also collect relevant information. The government is also working with the Electoral Commission to develop an updated Code of Conduct for campaigning to set clear expectations for behaviour during election campaigns and guidance for the verifications and counts.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the decision letter, Called-in decision: Royal Mint Court, London, EC3N 4QN (refs. 3353754 and 3353755), 20 January 2026, whether the build out of the Chinese Embassy site at the Royal Mint will be subject to inspections by local authority (a) building control and (b) planning officers.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 110795 on 12 Feb 2026.
Communities and Local Government, what is the Government’s policy on political advertising marking whether it has been created or manipulated by AI.
The government recognises that while AI presents significant opportunities, it also introduces risks including challenges posed by AI-generated content for the online information environment and the potential impact on democratic processes.Solutions that help to determine what media is real and what is AI-generated are key to tackling a range of AI risks. The government is undertaking work to explore the potential methods for detecting AI-generated content.Any reforms in this area must be carefully balanced to protect freedom of expression and avoid placing undue burdens on campaigners and online platforms.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 102816 on Local Government: Elections, on what dates the Electoral Commission was informed of his Department's (a) decision to postpone the 2026 mayoral elections and (b) consultation on postponing the council elections scheduled for May 2026.
Strategic authorities are established by secondary legislation, which requires the consent of the constituent councils. Whilst there is no requirement to consult the Electoral Commission on the establishment of strategic authorities, including on the timing of their inaugural mayoral elections, the Department remains in contact with the Electoral Commission where appropriate. The government wrote to the Electoral Commission on 18 December and considered their representations ahead of the decisions about the potential postponement of local elections in 2026.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January, Question 107071, whether his Department or any body administering Government-backed loan guarantees or financing facilities have undertaken any quantitative modelling or formal assessment of the impact of the rent review provisions in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 on (a) cash-flow certainty, (b) valuation assumptions or (c) default risk for build-to-rent developments.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 107071 on 28 January.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 23786 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, how many clarification meetings have taken place with other developers on other planning applications since 4 July 2024.
Clarification meetings do not routinely take place with developers on planning applications. However, pre-application engagement occurs on some applications made directly to the Secretary of State. These, and all, planning applications are subject to planning propriety guidance.
Communities and Local Government, what Government-backed loan guarantees or financing facilities currently support lending to the build-to-rent sector.
The government‘s £3.5 billion Private Rented Sector Guarantee Scheme (PRSGS) was reopened in March 2025 to new applicants for another three years and makes loan guarantees available for Build-to-Rent operators to support housebuilding Build to Rent operators are also one of the groups that benefit from finance from our £2 billion Home Building Fund.We have also announced that the National Housing Bank, backed by up to £16 billion of finance, will be launched in April 2026. Its detailed investment approach will be outlined in due course.
Communities and Local Government, under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, what assessment the Government has made of the availability for controlled access or publication of rental price data held by the statutory tenancy deposit schemes, including data on achieved rents at the start of tenancies.
The use of data collected by Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) schemes is governed by the Housing Act 2004 and by the individual data sharing agreements in place with each scheme provider. My Department has not undertaken a detailed assessment of options for controlled public access or publication of rental price data held by the statutory tenancy deposit schemes. The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 does not provide powers that would enable any further use of TDP data beyond the purposes for which it is currently permitted.
Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with lenders on assessing the potential impact of changes to rent review mechanics in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 on loan availability, loan-to-value ratios and pricing for build-to-rent schemes.
My Department engages regularly with build to rent operators and other stakeholders from the sector in relation to the reforms that we are making to the private rented sector and will continue to do so to ensure the successful implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. The Impact Assessment for the Act is available here. While this does not model the specific impacts referred to in the hon. Member’s questions, it concludes that the costs of our reforms are estimated to be just £22 per rented property annually (0.2% of mean annual rents).
Communities and Local Government, whether tenancy deposit scheme data will be made available under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
The use of data collected by Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) schemes is governed by the Housing Act 2004 and the individual data sharing agreements with providers. Details of the purpose of data collection, and where and how TDP data is shared with other bodies is set out in the TDP privacy notice. This can be found on gov.uk here. The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 does not grant the power to allow further use of TDP data beyond its current uses as set out in the Housing Act 2004, contractual agreements, and privacy notice.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of the rent review provisions in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 on the risk profile of loans supported by Government-backed loan guarantees or financing facilities to the build-to-rent sector.
My Department engages regularly with build to rent operators and other stakeholders from the sector in relation to the reforms that we are making to the private rented sector and will continue to do so to ensure the successful implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. The Impact Assessment for the Act is available here. While this does not model the specific impacts referred to in the hon. Member’s questions, it concludes that the costs of our reforms are estimated to be just £22 per rented property annually (0.2% of mean annual rents).
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of rent review provisions in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 on the viability and future pipeline of build-to-rent developments.
My Department engages regularly with build to rent operators and other stakeholders from the sector in relation to the reforms that we are making to the private rented sector and will continue to do so to ensure the successful implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. The Impact Assessment for the Act is available here. While this does not model the specific impacts referred to in the hon. Member’s questions, it concludes that the costs of our reforms are estimated to be just £22 per rented property annually (0.2% of mean annual rents).
Communities and Local Government, what modelling he has undertaken on the expected number of market rent determination applications following implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
My Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunal Service to ensure that the justice system is well prepared for the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, including the potential impact of the Act on the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). This includes ensuring that suitable arrangements are in place for monitoring data relating to rent increase challenges in the Residential Property Tribunal. The justice system will be supported with funding to ensure that the courts and tribunals have the resources and capacity they need to handle the workload that implementation of the Act will generate.