Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Office for Environmental Protection publication entitled OEP gives advice to Government on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 1 May 2025.

The government welcomes that the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) share our view that the Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to secure better outcomes for nature whilst also unlocking and accelerating necessary development.We are giving careful consideration to the advice the OEP have provided on proposed changes to environmental law contained in Part 3 of the Bill.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to make a submission to the Women and Equalities Committee's inquiry on gendered Islamophobia.

We welcome the Committee's inquiry on this topic and ministers will take a keen interest in its findings. The Government recognises that religious hatred is not specific to one place and can manifest in varying areas, such as online spaces and in public and educational settings. Certain characteristics, for example gender, sexuality and race, can often compound individual’s experiences of religious hatred. British Muslim women are pivotal to our wider communities. They are often the driving force behind interfaith and community initiatives, yet they face specific challenges, with discrimination and intolerance often directed at them. The Government has established a new working group to provide government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia. This work will consider views from a cross-section of society, including those of Muslim women, to improve understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities, supporting wider and ongoing government-led efforts to tackle religiously motivated hate crime and foster cohesion.

Communities and Local Government, what the locations were of the official visits she undertook on 10 April 2025.

The Deputy Prime Minister was undertaking official and political business from multiple locations on 10 April . This included a departmental visit to Birmingham.

Communities and Local Government, on what date she last used her office in 70 Whitehall.

Yesterday.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) MI5, (b) GCHQ or (c) MI6 are able to make representations to (i) the planning inspector and (ii) her as part of the planning inquiry on the proposed Chinese Embassy without such representations being made available to the applicant.

Representations on planning applications will be dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, on what topics her Department has produced an environmental principles assessment since 4 July 2024.

The Environment Act 2021 requires Ministers to have ‘due regard’ to the policy statement on environmental principles when making policy. This is to ensure that environmental considerations are at the heart of policymaking across government. Since this duty came into force in November 2023, my Department has produced environmental principles assessments on a range of different topics. While the Department does not maintain a running list of environmental principles assessments it has undertaken, assessments have included those for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the December 2024 update to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Communities and Local Government, whether she will have access to the unredacted plans for the proposed Chinese Embassy when the Planning Inspector’s report is submitted.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 45663 on 29 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to support Historic County Flag Day; and which public body organises the event.

The department will continue its annual celebration of Historic County Flag Day in July 2025 by flying all registered historic county flags of Great Britain in Parliament Square. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for organising and overseeing the event.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47709 on Permitted Development Rights, whether her Department has issued guidance to local planning authorities on making Article 4 directions publicly accessible.

The regulations require local planning authorities to publicise all Article 4 directions made. My Department has not issued any guidance on this.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling in Mead Realisations Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWCA Civ 32.

The government has noted the view of the Court of Appeal in Mead Realisations Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWCA Civ 32 that the Planning Practice Guidance can in principle amend national policy. It remains the case that Planning Practice Guidance will continue to be used in a supporting role to, and consistent with, national policy. The government did not appeal this decision within the applicable time period.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with the Welsh Government on automatic electoral registration in Wales.

UK Government and Welsh Government officials are in regular contact on a range of electoral conduct and registration topics, including the Welsh Government’s pilots on automatic electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on the manifesto commitment to improve electoral registration including making greater use of public data and digital services. We are following the Welsh pilots with interest.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department holds information on the number of dwellings subject to a second homes council tax premium in each local authority area.

The Department will publish data on the number of second homes liable for a council tax premium in November as part of the annual council taxbase statistics.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47712 on Night-time economy: Greater London, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to transfer powers to the Mayor of London.

The government will work with the Greater London Authority to review strategic licensing powers and explore a pilot scheme, providing the Mayor of London with new powers over strategic licensing. The government and the Greater London Authority will work closely with local stakeholders to design the pilot scheme, including determining if legislation is required.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 45642 on European Islamic Centre, in what capacity the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has engaged with the European Islamic Centre since being appointed.

The department does not engage with the European Islamic Centre. Members of Parliament routinely undertake engagements in their own constituencies, separate to any other roles held.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the total staff exit costs incurred in each instance of local government reorganisation since 2009.

No estimate has been made of total staff exit costs as a result of previous local government reorganisation.

Communities and Local Government, what criteria she plans to use to assess local government reorganisation proposals which fall below the 500,000 population threshold.

The English Devolution White Paper, and the Statutory Invitation set a guiding principle that new unitary councils should have a population size of 500,000 or more. This is not a hard target and it is recognised that there should be flexibility, especially given our ambition to build out devolution and take account of housing growth, alongside local government reorganisation. All proposals, whether they are at the guided level, above it, or below it should clearly set out the rationale for the proposed approach. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the guidance and the available evidence.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide transitional funding to support local authorities undergoing reorganisation.

The £7.6 million will be made available in the form of local government reorganisation proposal development contributions, to be split across the 21 areas that have been invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. This is the first time that capacity funding has been made available for reorganisation proposals, recognising the priority that this government attaches to this. Further information will be provided on how this will be allocated soon, and we intend to make payments as soon as possible. As set out in the invitation to areas, considering the efficiencies that are possible through reorganisation, we expect that areas will be able to meet transition costs over time from existing budgets, including from the flexible use of capital receipts that can support authorities in taking forward transformation and invest-to-save projects. We asked areas to include indicative costs in their interim plans.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of local government reorganisation since 2009.

As set out in the answer to Question UIN 32149 on 3 March 2025, we set out in the English Devolution White Paper that we will learn from the experience and successes of others who have been through the local government reorganisation process. We welcome the partnership approach that is being taken across the sector to respond to the ambitious plans set out in the White Paper, including sharing expertise on delivering reorganisation effectively given each area’s unique circumstances. For example, unitarisation has helped North Yorkshire Council, established in April 2023 to manage financial pressures through structural changes and service transformation which are expected to achieve more than £40 million in savings by March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what plans she has made to ensure that any final local government reorganisation proposals reflect the views of local residents and stakeholders.

On 5 February, the government issued invitations to councils in two-tier areas in England and neighbouring unitary councils to prepare proposals for local government reorganisation. The invitation is clear on the importance of engagement in developing proposals for strong, stable unitary councils that are fit for the future. This engagement should include local residents and stakeholders, including public service providers, workforce and their representatives, Members of Parliament and businesses. Final proposals put forward should include evidence of local engagement, an explanation of the views that have been put forward and how concerns will be addressed. Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute.

Communities and Local Government, what criteria will be used to allocate the £7.6 million capacity funding for local government reorganisation to local authorities.

The £7.6 million will be made available in the form of local government reorganisation proposal development contributions, to be split across the 21 areas that have been invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. This is the first time that capacity funding has been made available for reorganisation proposals, recognising the priority that this government attaches to this. Further information will be provided on how this will be allocated soon, and we intend to make payments as soon as possible. As set out in the invitation to areas, considering the efficiencies that are possible through reorganisation, we expect that areas will be able to meet transition costs over time from existing budgets, including from the flexible use of capital receipts that can support authorities in taking forward transformation and invest-to-save projects. We asked areas to include indicative costs in their interim plans.