Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 25780 on Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners: Elections, whether existing Police and Crime Commissioners will serve their full term where the police functions are given to new combined authority mayors.

As outlined in my previous response, the timing of the transfer of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner functions to new mayors established through the Devolution Priority Programme will be determined in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has issued guidance to local authorities on making (a) licensing, (b) planning and (c) gambling decisions during local election periods.

Local authorities are required to consider the Recommended Code of Practice for Local Authority Publicity (‘the Code’) in coming to any decision on any communication, in whatever form, addressed to the public or a section of the public. A Code principle is that publicity be issued with care during periods of heightened sensitivity, such as in the pre-election period.The pre-election period of heightened sensitivity does not prevent a local authority from carrying out routine business.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39016 on Nature Restoration Fund, whether planning permission can be refused if a self-build developer declines to pay the voluntary levy.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 39016 on 26 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 39867 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, if she will publish all expenditure on those cards since 4 July 2024.

In line with Cabinet Office guidance MHCLG publishes details of all spending over £500 using an electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS) on a monthly basis.

Communities and Local Government, how much (a) capital and (b) resource funding she plans to allocate to Investment Zones in each of the next four financial years.

The allocation of Investment Zone programme funding to 2028/29 is published in the Investment Zones: technical document - GOV.UK. The amount allocated to individual Investment Zones is determined in consultation with the accountable bodies as part of the year end reporting process and planning for delivery in subsequent years. That reporting and monitoring process is also set out in the Technical Document.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Combatting Hate Against Muslims fund: prospectus, published on 2 April 2025, whether groups that disagree with the Government’s new working definition on Islamophobia will be eligible to receive funding.

The government has announced a new fund to provide a comprehensive service to monitor anti-Muslim hate and support victims. With cases on the rise, up-to-date and detailed information on incidents and drivers of this form of hatred will play a fundamental part in supporting the government to combat anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia and ensure Muslim communities feel safe and supported. Non-profit distributing incorporated organisations such as: companies limited by guarantee (including community interest companies), charitable incorporated organisations, and community benefit societies are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants will need to demonstrate their ability to understand and work with Muslim communities. The prospectus for the fund makes clear that applicants must be aligned with government values concerning hate crime, extremism, community cohesion, and the value of inter-faith work. They must also be willing to record and monitor instances of anti-Muslim hate crime in such a way that is consistent with the government’s working definition of anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia, should the government choose to adopt a definition in future Further information can be found in the fund’s prospectus, published on GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, whether any Muslim organisations are not eligible to submit bids to the Combatting Hate Against Muslims fund.

The government has announced a new fund to provide a comprehensive service to monitor anti-Muslim hate and support victims. With cases on the rise, up-to-date and detailed information on incidents and drivers of this form of hatred will play a fundamental part in supporting the government to combat anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia and ensure Muslim communities feel safe and supported. Non-profit distributing incorporated organisations such as: companies limited by guarantee (including community interest companies), charitable incorporated organisations, and community benefit societies are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants will need to demonstrate their ability to understand and work with Muslim communities. The prospectus for the fund makes clear that applicants must be aligned with government values concerning hate crime, extremism, community cohesion, and the value of inter-faith work. They must also be willing to record and monitor instances of anti-Muslim hate crime in such a way that is consistent with the government’s working definition of anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia, should the government choose to adopt a definition in future Further information can be found in the fund’s prospectus, published on GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of local government restructuring on the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Local government reorganisation will have impacts on the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and may require the transfer of various functions, including the responsibility for administering an LGPS fund to a different authority. Member benefits are guaranteed in statue and will not be affected.

Communities and Local Government, whether council tax referendum provisions will be applied to new (a) town and (b) parish councils established in new unitary areas.

In 2025-26 the Government has not set referendum principles for town and parish councils. The Government encourages councils to be mindful of the impact on tax payers when setting precepts. Decisions taken by town and parish councils in 2025-26 will be taken into account by the Government when considering referendum principles in future years.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 39870 on Freeports: Finance, what the budgeted (a) capital and (b) resource funding is for freeports in 2025-26.

Departmental budgets for 2025-26 will not be formally confirmed until the Main Estimate has been approved by Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of equal pay claims on the financial viability of councils.

Local authorities are independent employers and responsible for complying with employment legislation, so the management of equal pay claims is primarily a matter for councils. 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. As always, the Department stands ready to speak to any council that has concerns about its finances, including as a result of equal pay claims, and we will treat all discussions in confidence, with respect and determination to find a solution together.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the entry for Casas Y Palacios in the publication entitled MHCLG: spending over £500, January 2025, updated on 27 February 2025, what event she attended.

Details of international Ministerial travel are published on a quarterly basis on Gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 36686, on MHCLG: Industrial Disputes, what the disputed issue is between her Department and the PCS trade union relating to that industrial action.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has declared a Trade Dispute and is balloting members on industrial action. The trade dispute includes planned closures of six offices as part of the department's location strategy, office attendance requirements and recruitment policies. Discussions with Trade Union representatives on a range of issues continue to take place.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 39802 on Regulator of Social Housing: Translation Services, whether her Department has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of translation into foreign languages by local authorities.

My Department has not made an estimate of the costs in question. It is for individual local authorities to decide how best to use the resources available to them.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to give additional powers to local authorities to tackle unauthorised traveller (a) development and (b) encampments.

The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, which can be found on Gov.uk here, sets out that local planning authorities should produce their own assessment of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation need and plan to meet this need through their Local Plan. This includes setting pitch targets for Gypsies and Travellers and plot targets for travelling showpeople, which address the likely permanent and transit site accommodation needs of Travellers in their area. Gypsy and Traveller pitches are part of the overall calculation and information submitted for the purpose of the Housing Delivery test. Non-permanent dwellings are included only if they are the resident’s main residence and council tax is paid on them. Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40195 on Levelling Up Fund, how much has been allocated in (a) capital and (b) resource funding to the Levelling Up Fund for 2025-26; and whether those planned allocations have changed since 4 July 2024.

Departmental budgets for 2025-26 will not be formally confirmed until the Main Estimate has been approved by Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) authorised and (b) unauthorised traveller pitches count towards housing targets.

The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, which can be found on Gov.uk here, sets out that local planning authorities should produce their own assessment of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation need and plan to meet this need through their Local Plan. This includes setting pitch targets for Gypsies and Travellers and plot targets for travelling showpeople, which address the likely permanent and transit site accommodation needs of Travellers in their area. Gypsy and Traveller pitches are part of the overall calculation and information submitted for the purpose of the Housing Delivery test. Non-permanent dwellings are included only if they are the resident’s main residence and council tax is paid on them. Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £500, February 2025, published on 31 March 2025, which Ministers used the ministerial private car service provided by Little's Chauffeur Drive; where this service was provided; and whether her Department considered using the Government Car Service.

This service was provided for the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth during a visit across multiple locations in Scotland. Following consultation with the Government Car Service, this service was the cheapest available option.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 38367 on Fast Food: Planning Permission, what rulings the Planning Inspectorate has made on the working definition of a fast food outlet.

The Planning Inspectorate has not made any rulings on the working definition of a fast food outlet.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 3 February 2025, HCWS413 on the Local Government Finance Settlement 2025-26, whether she plans to provide additional support to local authorities impacted by increases to Internal Drainage Board special levies.

Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) play a crucial role in managing water levels and flood risk. MHCLG recognises the continued increases in special levies which local authorities are having to pay over the past few years. This is why the government announced, as part of the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, that it will provide £5 million in funding for the local authorities most impacted by Internal Drainage Board levies. This follows the £3 million grant awarded in the previous two years. Allocations for the 2025-26 IDB levy support grant will be announced in due course. MHCLG recognises the need for a long-term solution and is working with Defra to explore potential approaches.