Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on Northern Powerhouse Rail.

As stated in the Autumn Budget, this government is committed to securing delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade and maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail by progressing planning and design work to support future delivery, with further details to be set out in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to review of her plans to close regional offices, in the context of her Department's press release entitled Thousands of Civil Service roles moved out of London in latest reform to the state, published on 14 May 2025.

There are no plans to review the decision to close six MHCLG offices by the end of 2026. The Department will continue to progress toward having 50% of staff based outside of London by 2030 compared to 23% in 2020. In doing so MHCLG will maintain at least one office in every English region and in each nation of the United Kingdom.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance entitled Guidance for the management of Private Office information and records, published on 29 December 2023, whether her Department is archiving Ministers' official diaries; and whether official diaries include a record of a Minister's location.

The Department keeps, and archives, Ministerial diaries in line with the published guidance.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on the green belt review being undertaken by the Greater London Authority.

The Secretary of State meets with the Mayor of London regularly to discuss a range of matters.The government has awarded the Greater London Authority £770,000 to undertake a Green Belt review in conjunction with 11 London boroughs. A further six London boroughs have also each received £70,000 to undertake Green Belt reviews.The Green Belt Planning Practice Guidance issued on 27 February 2025 will assist Mayors and local planning authorities considering reviews of their Green Belt.

Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on (a) taxis and (b) other private hire vehicles since 5 July 2024.

MHCLG has spent £69,021.26 on taxis and private hire vehicles since 5th July 2024. We are unable to report separately on private hire vehicles and taxis.

Communities and Local Government, what planning status Metropolitan Open Land has under the National Planning Policy Framework.

Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan.Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor.The government’s approach to the Green Belt, including the circumstances in which Green Belts should be reviewed, is set out in Chapter 13 of the revised National Planning Policy Framework that was published on 12 December 2024. The Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should review their Green Belt in exceptional circumstances, including situations where an authority cannot meet its identified needs through other means.It is only in built-up areas that residential gardens are excluded from the definition of previously developed land.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a list of the local authorities which will levy a second homes premium on council tax in 2025-26; and what estimate she has made of the number of homes liable to that premium.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 51402 on 20 May. This data will be provided in November.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 47263 on Returning Officers, whether she provides guidance to local authorities on whether Electoral (a) Returning Officers and (b) Registration Officers are considered to be part of local authorities in relation to the rights to access public sector information.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 41457 on 3 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what the average cost to a local authority is of holding a (a) Parliamentary and (b) local authority by-election; and whether information is held by type of local authority ward.

The cost of UK Parliamentary elections is met directly by the Consolidated Fund. The estimated cost of a Parliamentary by-election is stated in the relevant Charges Order. The latest order can be found here. The Department does not hold any data on the costs of local authority elections and by-elections.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to tackle Islamist sectarianism.

Government policy plays a key role in supporting thriving and resilient communities. We are committed to bridging divisions between communities, challenging hatred and promoting good inter and intra faith relations. We continue to work closely with community groups, faith and belief groups, charities, and public sector partners to achieve this.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 45670 on Green Belt: Planning Permission, whether she took into account (a) the fall in housing starts due to the post-2008 recession and financial crisis and (b) the redesignation in 2010 of gardens as greenfield land.

Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan.Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor.The government’s approach to the Green Belt, including the circumstances in which Green Belts should be reviewed, is set out in Chapter 13 of the revised National Planning Policy Framework that was published on 12 December 2024. The Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should review their Green Belt in exceptional circumstances, including situations where an authority cannot meet its identified needs through other means.It is only in built-up areas that residential gardens are excluded from the definition of previously developed land.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to relevant authorities on whether the use of a hotel as asylum hostel accommodation constitutes a material change of use.

My Department has not issued any such guidance.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of local authority-owned homes that are empty in each local authority in England.

The number of local authority owned homes that are empty in each local authority in England can be found in Live Table 615 here on vacant dwellings in England at local authority district level. Figures in this table show vacant dwellings owned by local authorities within each local authority area in England.The latest published statistics refer to vacant dwellings owned by local authorities in England on 31 March 2024, including homes earmarked for sale or demolition, or awaiting or undergoing major repairs.

Communities and Local Government, what requirements local planning authorities have to undertake Green Belt reviews; and whether this includes Metropolitan Open Land.

Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan.Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor.The government’s approach to the Green Belt, including the circumstances in which Green Belts should be reviewed, is set out in Chapter 13 of the revised National Planning Policy Framework that was published on 12 December 2024. The Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should review their Green Belt in exceptional circumstances, including situations where an authority cannot meet its identified needs through other means.It is only in built-up areas that residential gardens are excluded from the definition of previously developed land.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 45670 on Green Belt: Planning Permission, how many homes were approved on greenfield land within the Green Belt in each year since 1997-98 for which figures are held.

My Department does not hold the requested information.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 40908 on New Towns: Planning Permission, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the loss of the 1,300 homes and 30,000sqm of commercial development originally planned by the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 40908 on 7 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on redevelopment for housing of (a) golf courses and (b) other green space sporting facilities located on (i) Green Belt and (ii) Metropolitan Open Land.

Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan.Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor.The government’s approach to the Green Belt, including the circumstances in which Green Belts should be reviewed, is set out in Chapter 13 of the revised National Planning Policy Framework that was published on 12 December 2024. The Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should review their Green Belt in exceptional circumstances, including situations where an authority cannot meet its identified needs through other means.It is only in built-up areas that residential gardens are excluded from the definition of previously developed land.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) her Department and (b) the Valuation Tribunal Service has issued guidance to local billing authorities on the definition of a second home for council tax purposes.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 52861 on 23 May 2025. The government’s guidance also sets out how second homes are defined for council tax purposes.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's correspondence on the appointment of the Oxford Growth Commission Chair, published on 12 May 2025, whether the Chair is remunerated; and if she will require him to publish a declaration of (a) interests and (b) political activity.

I can confirm that the Chair of the newly formed Oxford Growth Commission (OGC) has been appointed as a direct ministerial appointment and will be remunerated.Direct ministerial appointments such as the Chair of the OGC are not regulated public appointments and do not fall within the remit of the Governance Code on Public Appointments. However, the usual public law principles applicable to all ministerial decision-making still apply. The Department has carried out appropriate due diligence checks and is satisfied these principles are met.

Communities and Local Government, whether she intends to lay regulations to commence the substantive provisions in section 113 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 on Power to decline to determine applications in cases of earlier non-implementation etc.

On 25 May, the government launched a technical consultation on implementing measures to improve the transparency of build rates from new residential development, which includes proposals to implement provisions in section 113 of the LURA on the power to decline to determine applications. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the government intends bring forward the regulations to implement these measures at the earliest practical opportunity with the new build out reporting framework coming into force from 2026.