Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Regulatory Policy Committee's report entitled Status of Post Implementation Reviews published on 24 April 2025, why the post-implementation review of The Infrastructure Planning Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2017 was delayed.

It is a matter of regret that under the previous government my Department did not manage to carry out and publish the required post-implementation reviews of regulatory provisions in these Regulations in a timely manner.I reassure the hon. Member, and the Regulatory Policy Committee, that this government will proceed to review these regulatory provisions and publish a report setting out the conclusions as soon as we can.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of polygamous marriages approved by sharia law courts in the most recent period for which information is held.

This information is not held.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document by the Regulatory Policy Committee entitled Status of Post Implementation Reviews, published 24 April 2025, when Department plans to publish its post-implementation review of The Infrastructure Planning (Compulsory Acquisition) (Amendment) Regulations 2017.

It is a matter of regret that under the previous government my Department did not manage to carry out and publish the required post-implementation reviews of regulatory provisions in these Regulations in a timely manner.I reassure the hon. Member, and the Regulatory Policy Committee, that this government will proceed to review these regulatory provisions and publish a report setting out the conclusions as soon as we can.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of Unite's statement entitled Birmingham council real plans laid bare as it now announces savage cuts for bin drivers, published on 29 April 2025.

The waste dispute between the employer (Birmingham City Council) and the trade union (Unite), remains a significant concern. The government has no formal role in these negotiations but we urge both parties to negotiate in good faith, reach a fair agreement, and bring this dispute to a close.

Communities and Local Government, what recent progress she has made on replacing the non-executive directors in her Department.

The open competition to recruit up to four Non-Executive Directors for the MHCLG Departmental Board is currently at interview stage, with the aim of appointing and announcing successful candidates in the coming months.

Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the number of second homes in each local billing authority in England.

The government annually publishes data on council taxbases, including the number of dwellings assessed as second homes for council tax purposes in England. The most recent data, taken from a snapshot in October 2024, is available here.

Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on (a) the number of charitable independent schools which received 20% discretionary business rate relief in 2024-25 and (b) the number of local authorities offering such discretionary rate relief; and whether her Department holds information on the number of local authorities which are continuing to provide such discretionary business rate relief in 2025-26.

The government does not collect data on discretionary rates relief awarded to charities at property level. As part of the annual National Non-Domestic Rates return, data is collected for total discretionary relief for all charitable occupation. The published forecast data shows an estimate of 281 Billing Authorities providing £48.7 million in discretionary relief for charitable occupation in 2024-25, and 280 Billing Authorities providing £48.9 million in 2025-26.

Communities and Local Government, whether the scheduled local council elections in Surrey in 2026 will be (a) postponed and (b) cancelled.

The government considered requests to postpone local elections from May 2025 to May 2026 where it could be shown to help deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.The government will work with areas to hold elections for new unitary councils as soon as possible as is the usual arrangement in the process of local government reorganisation. For Surrey, our expectation is that the only elections that will take place in May 2026 are elections to new shadow unitary local government, with a view to going live in April 2027.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has a target number of people to be supported under the Communities for Afghans phase 2 scheme.

Communities for Afghans phase 2 aims to accommodate 500 Afghan households (approximately 2,750 individuals) on Afghan resettlement schemes by the end of March 2031. Further detail on the scheme is here.

Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on (a) domestic and (b) international flights since 4 July 2024.

MHCLG has spent £39,114.79 on domestic flights and £68,513.31 on international flights since 4 July 2024.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has recused herself from matters relating to licensing in the hospitality sector.

All ministers are recused from policy decisions where there are competing interests. The Deputy Prime Minister has declared her interests in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish interests of Departmental board members.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published an updated register of board members’ interests on Gov.uk on 07 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to conduct a post-implementation review of The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015.

The government has considered the wider assured tenancy system in the process of preparing the Renters’ Rights Bill.The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015 refer only to assured shorthold tenancies, which will cease to exist after the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill.The regulations will therefore cease to have any effect after implementation of the Bill, so we intend to repeal them by regulation.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of automatic voter registration.

The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of public data and online Government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of deploying water efficiency technologies in the delivery of new homes as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Building Regulations require all new homes to meet a water efficiency standard of 125 litres per person per day (l/p/d). Local planning authorities can set higher standards through the preparation of local plans as set out in national planning guidance on Housing: Optional Technical Standards. This optional technical standard, of 110 litres l/p/d, can be implemented through local plan policies where there is a clear local need such as local water scarcity or other environmental considerations.We are working alongside Defra and the Building Safety Regulator to tighten water efficiency in new developments and retrofits. This will help meet the target set by the Environment Act 2021 to reduce the use of public water supply in England per head of the population by 20% by 2038.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including technology-based solutions in proposed environmental delivery plans in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Environmental Delivery Plans would be able to consider a range of different types of conservation measures.This may include technology-based solutions, where such solutions could address potential negative effects of development on the environmental features with which the plan is concerned.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his letter to the Lead Commissioner of Birmingham City Council of 2 April 2025, what the remit of the Commissioners is on the failures of the Oracle IT system; and whether he expects there to be a wider inquiry in the IT system.

Commissioners appointed to Birmingham City Council have powers relating to governance, finance and recruitment, and bring expertise in local government improvement, finance, HR, housing, IT and commercial strategy. Their remit includes supporting the Council in the re-implementation of the Oracle-based Enterprise Resource Programme system. Commissioners have supported the Council in developing a recovery strategy and improving stability and accountability, as reflected in their second progress report which was published on 31 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of equal pay legislation on the finances of (a) Birmingham City Council and (b) other local authorities.

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for complying with employment legislation and so the management of equal pay claims is a matter for councils. This includes conducting an assessment of the financial impact of such claims. The government does however, fund the Local Government Association to run a Sector Support Programme, which includes providing support and guidance for councils on equal pay issues. In addition, in line with the government’s wider approach to Exceptional Financial Support, we stand ready to speak to any council that is experiencing financial difficulties, including as a result of equal pay. As I confirmed last July (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament), Birmingham Council’s current estimate of the Equal Pay liability is £867m. The Government has provided in-principle Exceptional Financial Support to support the Council to set a balanced budget, including on the Equal Pay liability.

Communities and Local Government, how much will be paid to each local authority through the Employer National Insurance Contribution Grant in the 2025-26 financial year; and whether payments will be made through that grant in the 2026-27 financial year.

The allocations for the Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant for each local authority are available on the GOV.UK page for the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, in the Core Spending Power table - Core Spending Power table: final local government finance settlement 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK. Spending decisions beyond 2025-26, including on Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant for 2026-27, are a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41456 on Parish and Town Councils: Council tax, whether her Department holds data on the precepts set by individual (a) town and (b) parish councils.

The 2024-25 council tax statistics on the precepts set by individual town and parish councils, in England, are published here. The 2025-26 statistics are provisionally scheduled to be published on 7 May 2025.