Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58054 on Fast Food, whether local authority powers under the National Planning Policy Framework to block new fast-food outlets near schools applies to sandwich shops.

It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application, to consider whether, given the type of food and service to be provided at the location proposed, they consider the outlet to be either a hot food takeaway or a fast food outlet.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59314 on Local Government Finance, what the grant funding to local government is in cash terms in each financial year between 2024-25 and 2028-29.

The Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) for 2024-25 made available £64.7 billion for local government, a cash increase in core spending power of 7.5% compared with 2023-24. The LGFS for 2025-26 made available over £69 billion, a cash increase in core spending power of 6.8% compared with 2024-25. This year’s Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the LGFS within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29, an average overall cash increase in local authority core spending power of 4.5% per year. Further information will be made available as part of the provisional LGFS later this year, which will provide the first multi-year settlement for local government in a decade.

Communities and Local Government, how many Homes England staff are undergoing redeployment.

Homes England have no staff currently undergoing redeployment.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 53573 on Oxford Growth Commission: Public Appointments, what the level of remuneration is for the Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission.

The Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission’s (OGC) remuneration is commensurate with the seniority of the role and in line with current policy on senior pay levels. We understand that the Chair has written to Kevin Hollinrake to disclose his level of renumeration.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it a requirement for the new Spatial Development Strategies to be written in plain English.

The government would expect strategic planning authorities to ensure that Spatial Development Strategies are clear and easy to understand.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to local authorities on the delegation of decisions by councillors to council officers in (a) executive, (b) mayoral and (c) committee systems of governance; and whether she has provided guidance on whether the Carltona doctrine applies to local government.

The Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, as amended, set out what types of decisions are to be taken by a council’s executive (whether leader and cabinet or mayor and cabinet) and which are to be taken by the full council. Guidance was issued in 2000 and 2001 to assist the initial implementation of executive arrangements in local authorities; we do not consider guidance is currently required to assist authorities in their operation under the Regulations. The Local Authorities (Committee System) (England) Regulations 2012 set out the equivalent rules on delegations for councils operating the committee system. These Regulations were considered to be self-explanatory. The Secretary of State has not provided guidance on whether the Carltona doctrine applies to local government.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Bill on the (a) popularity and (b) take-up of Build to Rent new build.

My Department has engaged with a range of organisations, including Build to Rent operators, to understand their interests in the development of the Renters’ Rights Bill. We do not expect the Bill to have a destabilising effect on the rental market or the Build to Rent sector. We will continue to work with good landlords and their representative associations to ensure a smooth transition to the new tenancy system.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has provided to local councils on (a) discipline and (b) grievance in local government relating to senior officers.

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces. This includes managing their disciplinary and grievance procedures, complying with relevant legislation.

Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have introduced Article 4 directions which restrict office to residential conversion permitted development rights.

46 local authorities have made Article 4 Directions which remove the permitted development right which enables buildings in the Class E Commercial, Business and Service use class to change to residential use.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 May 2024, to Question 53574, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, and with reference to page 26 of the Section 106 agreement, for what reason the agreement references Articles 13 and 141 of the EU Treaty Articles.

As the application in question is before ministers in MHCLG to determine, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific elements of it.

Communities and Local Government, what proportion of funding for the new Affordable Housing Programme will finance (a) additional, purpose-built new-build homes on land acquired for that purpose, (b) the acquisition of unsold new-build homes, (c) the purchase of homes from developers provided under section 106 agreements and (d) (i) remodelling and (ii) improving existing housing stock.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

Communities and Local Government, whether powers of entry for building inspectors apply to embassies.

The position in respect of diplomatic premises is covered by international treaties including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as applied in the UK through the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the amount of capital (a) grant and (b) subsidy to build a new social rent dwelling.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).In awarding contracts under the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, Homes England and the GLA will assess the need for grant on the basis of bids from social housing providers, including local authorities, considering what is needed to make projects viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the findings by Savills Research entitled Housing Completions Forecast for England: May 2025, published on 9 June 2025.

The government does not recognise the analysis presented in the Savills’ research in question. The housing completions forecast it contains does not take into account the supply impacts of the measures announced at Spending Review 2025 or the further reforms to the planning system that we are committed to enacting, including the measures contained in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the forthcoming set of national policies for decision making.

Communities and Local Government, if she will commission research on the operation of shariah courts in England.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 50309 on 14 May 2025. Sharia Courts are not part of the judicial system in England and Wales.

Communities and Local Government, whether civil servants in her Department relocated outside of London will have their pay reduced, and whether civil servants employed in new locations outside London will lose their existing London weighting.

MHCLG has separate National pay ranges and London pay ranges. MHCLG has an established policy and salary change calculation that applies when colleagues transfer from the London to the National pay range or vice versa, this includes individuals being placed on the same relative position on their new pay range as they held on their old pay range, i.e. if the colleague was on the minimum of the London pay range they would move to the minimum of the National pay range.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 58761 on Parish and Town Councils: Devolution, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) local government restructuring and (b) the abolition of district councils does not lead to an increase in the overall level of council tax.

Decisions on council tax levels will be taken by new councils. Where new councils inherit different levels of council tax from their predecessors, legislation provides for them to be harmonised for up to seven years. The Secretary of States determines referendum principles each year to ensure residents have the final say over excessive increases. Council tax referendum principles are set on an annual basis and no decision have been taken about the principles for future years.

Communities and Local Government, whether public conveniences are eligible for retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief in 2025-26.

The Retail Hospitality and Leisure Rate Relief Scheme 2025/26 does not expressly provide relief for public conveniences. Public toilets may indirectly benefit from RHL relief where they are not separately-assessed and instead form part of a larger property, such as a shop or café, which itself is eligible for the relief. Nevertheless, the Non-Domestic Rating (Public Toilets) Act 2021 provides a statutory 100% business rates relief for separately-assessed public toilets in England and Wales, including those operated by both local authorities and private sector operators.

Communities and Local Government, whether building regulations apply to the construction of embassies.

The Building Regulations 2010 apply to all buildings in England, with specific exemptions given in Schedule 2. Embassies are expected to respect local laws, including the Building Regulations. Building Regulations may apply when somebody is putting up a new building, making material changes to a building, extending an existing building or altering building services.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 45 of Annex 10 of the Impact Assessment for the Planning and Infrastucture Bill, published on 6 May 2025, whether the 374k net additions per year from 2027 will apply from the beginning of the (a) 2026-27 financial year, (b) 2027-28 financial year or (c) calendar year 2027.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 55284 on 10 June 2025.