Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 1,583 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to issue guidance to councils on protecting political free speech and freedom of association.
Local authorities are independent of central government. They must uphold their obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 to ensure their actions are compatible with rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association. The Equality and Human Rights Commission provides guidance on these specific matters.
Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend electoral law to prevent British councillors standing for election in overseas countries.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 95058 on 4 December 2025 for councillors in England. Local government is devolved, and it is for devolved national governments to govern their own local government members.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement on 19 November 2025, HCWS1071, on Local Government Reorganisation, what is the timetable for the statutory consultation on other two-tier areas not listed in the statement, other than Surrey.
Following the statutory invitations issued on 5 February 2025 to two-tier authorities and neighbouring small unitary authorities to develop proposals for unitary local government, the Government received final proposals from the remaining 14 invitation areas on 28 November 2025. I expect to launch statutory consultations on these proposals in the new year.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a financial recovery framework for major wildfire incidents, equivalent to the Flood Recovery Framework, to provide (a) grants for affected businesses and (b) business rate relief.
The Flood Recovery Framework is unique to flooding and only activated in exceptional circumstances. No assessment has been made of the merits of establishing a similar scheme for wildfire incidents. There are a range of potential support mechanisms from across Government for local areas following significant emergency response incidents that are being explored.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the Fylingdales Moor fire on businesses that were (a) evacuated and (b) made inaccessible due to road closures; and what financial support will be made available to them.
The Flood Recovery Framework is unique to flooding and only activated in exceptional circumstances. No assessment has been made of the merits of establishing a similar scheme for wildfire incidents. There are a range of potential support mechanisms from across Government for local areas following significant emergency response incidents that are being explored.
Communities and Local Government, When he plans to respond to the letter of 16 September 2025 from the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton on Tower Hamlets and community assets.
A response was sent to the hon. Member on 4 December 2025.
Communities and Local Government, Pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2025, to Question 84947, on Public Spaces: Access, if he will make it his policy for his department to issue guidance to local authorities to advise that political parties, elected representatives and candidates for office should not be levied fees for authorised street stalls in public spaces.
The provision and administration of street trading and highways licences, including fees charged are the responsibility of Local Authorities under either the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 or the London Local Authorities Act 1990, depending on their location. Local authorities may decide when it is necessary to recover the costs of these services.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 84208 and 84626 on Chinese Embassy, if he will publish the requested information.
All inquiry documents for this case are publicly available on Tower Hamlets website here. Post-inquiry representations, including parties' responses to the reference back letter, will be listed in the final decision letter and will be publicly available when that letter is published.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 84950, on Local Government: Elections, if he will list the dates on when political parties were (a) individually or (b) collectively consulted.
As set out in the response to Question UIN 84950, the Government has worked closely with a range of partners in the electoral sector in the development of the strategy for modern and secure elections. The Government will continue to engage with all key election sector stakeholders, including political parties, to ensure the successful delivery of the changes.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to para 3.1 of the Greater Essex devolution consultation, updated July 2025, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on whether levying a mayoral precept will be a requirement or expectation of the devolution agreement with the government.
We have not had discussions with Greater Essex on the requirement or expectation on the levying of a mayoral precept. As set out in paragraph 3.1 of the Greater Essex devolution consultation, the Greater Essex Mayoral Strategic Authority would have the ability to introduce a mayoral precept on council tax should it choose to do so.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 84201 on Absent Voting, if he will make it his policy to amend legislation to ensure that political parties and elected representatives have access to the expiry date of a postal vote as part of their existing rights to receive absent voting lists.
As stated in the Answer of 29 October 2025 to UIN 84201 on Absent Voting, political parties and elected representatives are entitled to request access to the electoral register, including absent voter lists. The Government has no plans to make changes to the information which is shared as part of the electoral register.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 33 of his Department's publication entitled Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales: Scheme improvements (access and protections), updated on 15 October 2025, if he will publish a copy of the (a) calculations and (b) estimates provided by the Government Actuary Department.
Currently, the Department has no plan to publish the calculations or estimates provided by the Government Actuary’s Department in the consultation document published on 13 October 2025. The policy is still being developed and is subject to public consultation.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter of 27 October 2025 from the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness to the hon Member for Thirsk and Malton, what is the planned timetable for introducing the legislation on councillors’ home addresses.
On 18 November, we tabled government amendments NC45 and 114 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. These amendments would prevent a member’s or co-opted member’s home address from being included in public registers by default. They are scheduled for debate during the Commons Report Stage from 24 November.
Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to local billing authorities by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies on council tax (i) avoidance and (ii) evasion in relation to the second homes council tax premium.
The Government has not issued guidance to billing authorities on this issue. Council tax is a local tax and administered by local authorities. It is therefore for them to manage and address any potential cases of avoidance or evasion in the council tax system.
Communities and Local Government, whether the (a) security agencies and (b) Bank of England have been able to make representations about the cyber-security of telecommunication cables in the BT Openreach exchange next to the proposed Chinese Embassy without providing that information to the Chinese Government.
As the hon. Member is aware, any party can make representations in respect of a planning application. Representations on planning applications are dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions found on gov.uk here. The Secretary of State is able to issue a direction under section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This allows specific evidence to be withheld from public inspection. Again, as the hon. Member is aware, no section 321 direction was made during the public inquiry on this matter, which closed on 19 February 2025.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraphs 99 and 102 of his Department's policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2025, whether the donation threshold of £7,500 will be uprated to £11,180, in line with the threshold for unincorporated associations.
Our ‘Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections’ sets out how we will respond to the threat of foreign interference by strengthening the rules around political donations. This includes ensuring that unincorporated associations are prevented from making significant campaign contributions unless they can verify and disclose the source of their funding, and requiring donors to declare any benefits received in connection with their donation. We will ensure the appropriate thresholds for these requirements are uprated from £7,500 to £11,180 in line with other thresholds in electoral law.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to ensure that his decision on the called-in Chinese Embassy planning application is announced through a statement to Parliament.
The House will be notified when the decision is made.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 99 of the policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2025, to what activities would the proposed thresholds of (a) £11,180 and (b) £2,230 apply.
Our ‘Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections’ sets out how we will respond to the threat of foreign interference by strengthening the rules around political donations. This includes ensuring that unincorporated associations are prevented from making significant campaign contributions unless they can verify and disclose the source of their funding, and requiring donors to declare any benefits received in connection with their donation. We will ensure the appropriate thresholds for these requirements are uprated from £7,500 to £11,180 in line with other thresholds in electoral law.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer on 13 October 2025 to Question HL10731 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, when the property was vacated.
The former Deputy Prime Minister has vacated the property. The Government agreed the terms of vacation of Admiralty House with the former Deputy Prime Minister in the usual way.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 77559 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Aviation, what was the topic of the training course.
The topic of the course was risk management.