Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Plan for Neighbourhoods: prospectus, published on 4 March 2025, for what reasons the programme operates on a bidding fund basis.

The Long-Term Plan for Towns programme was launched during the previous administration. It was an unfunded commitment for which the previous administration had no funded plan as to how that promise would be delivered. All 75 towns across the UK that were originally selected to receive Long-Term Plan for Towns funding will receive the Plan for Neighbourhoods package. We are making good on those commitments, giving each of the 75 places the certainty that they will receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade.There are no plans to expand the programme at this time, this would be a decision for the upcoming Spending Review.The Plan for Neighbourhoods represents a break from the competitive bidding process and micromanaging of previous regeneration funds.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 32217 on Homes England: Consultants, what the consultancy spend is as a percentage of the total funding provided by her Department to Homes England since the 5 July 2024.

Full details of Homes England’s expenditure will be published in the annual report and accounts in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Plan for Neighbourhoods: prospectus, published on 4 March 2025, for what reason the programme is restricted to the 75 selected places.

The Long-Term Plan for Towns programme was launched during the previous administration. It was an unfunded commitment for which the previous administration had no funded plan as to how that promise would be delivered. All 75 towns across the UK that were originally selected to receive Long-Term Plan for Towns funding will receive the Plan for Neighbourhoods package. We are making good on those commitments, giving each of the 75 places the certainty that they will receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade.There are no plans to expand the programme at this time, this would be a decision for the upcoming Spending Review.The Plan for Neighbourhoods represents a break from the competitive bidding process and micromanaging of previous regeneration funds.

Communities and Local Government, what (a) capital and (b) resource funding was allocated to town deals in (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025.

Like all other departmental expenditure, Town Deal programme allocations are broken down by financial year (FY) rather than by calendar year. The forecast allocation for future financial years is subject to change due to the way that Town Deal payments are determined, however we do not expect this shift to be significant. Please see financial year allocations covering the scope of your query set out below.FY 23/24 (actual)FY 24/25 (actual) FY 25/26 (forecast)Capital£553,852,309£422,756,803£327,710,196Resource£18,530,415£13,051,511£7,885,992

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the second homes council premium on recent trends in the number of properties being switched to hereditaments paying business rates.

The government annually publishes data on properties liable for business rates and intends to publish the next set of data in June. The current data does not show a trend of second homes switching to business rates however the government will continue to monitor this.This government has maintained the previous government’s position that a property must meet a minimum lettings threshold before being assessed as a short-term let for business rates purposes. Where a property does not meet these criteria, it would usually be liable for council tax. The government will keep this policy under review.

Communities and Local Government, what (a) capital and (b) resource funding was allocated to the Levelling Up Fund in 2024-25 in (i) May 2024 and (ii) March 2025.

In 2024-25, the Levelling Up Fund received £797 million in Capital DEL funding. Additionally, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government allocated £20 million in Resource DEL funding for the same period. These allocations were consistent for both May 2024 and March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 30616, on Asylum: Health services, what the (a) forecast and (b) budgeted aggregate spend on refugees and asylum seekers by local government in England was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The most recent data collected by the department regarding budgeted spending on refugees and asylum seekers by local government in England is from 2024-25 and can be found here. The relevant lines are: RA326 Children's social care – Asylum seekers; and RA349 Social support – Asylum seeker support.The most recent data collected by the department regarding outturn spending on refugees and asylum seekers by local government in England is from 2023-24 and can be found here. The relevant lines are: RO3 Line 18 Children looked after – asylum seeking children who are looked after; RO3 Line 26 Children’s social care – Asylum Seekers; and RO3 Line 49 Social support – Asylum seeker support.

Communities and Local Government, what (a) capital and (b) resource funding was allocated to devolution deals in 2024-25 in (i) May 2024 and (ii) March 2025.

Three devolution agreements were implemented across 2024-25 in the North East; York and North Yorkshire; and East Midlands. Full details of the funding allocated to each area can be found in their individual devolution deals, published on gov.uk. Funding specifically allocated in the months of May 24 and March 25 from MHCLG is listed in the table below.MCARDEL/CDELPayment NoteMay 24March 25East MidlandsRDELCapacity funding£1,000,000£500,000East MidlandsRDELLocal Enterprise Partnership Funding£234,285 North EastRDELCapacity Funding£1,000,000£1,750,000North EastRDELLocal Enterprise Partnership Funding£234,285 North EastRDEL & CDELInvestment Zones£2,450,000 (RDEL) £4,650,000 (CDEL) North EastCDELInvestment funds£20,000,000 York and North YorkshireRDELCapacity Funding£1,000,000£500,000York and North YorkshireRDELLocal Enterprise Partnership Funding£234,285

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 30616 on Asylum: Health services, what the outturn aggregate spend was on refugees and asylum seekers by local government in England in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The most recent data collected by the department regarding budgeted spending on refugees and asylum seekers by local government in England is from 2024-25 and can be found here. The relevant lines are: RA326 Children's social care – Asylum seekers; and RA349 Social support – Asylum seeker support.The most recent data collected by the department regarding outturn spending on refugees and asylum seekers by local government in England is from 2023-24 and can be found here. The relevant lines are: RO3 Line 18 Children looked after – asylum seeking children who are looked after; RO3 Line 26 Children’s social care – Asylum Seekers; and RO3 Line 49 Social support – Asylum seeker support.

Communities and Local Government, what (a) capital and (b) resource funding was allocated to freeports (i) in 2024-25 and (ii) as of 20 March 2025.

At the Supplementary Estimate, £68.3m Capital DEL (Departmental Expenditure Limits) funding for 2024-25 has been agreed via the Reserve for the Freeports programmes. The department funded £4.3m Resource DEL for the Freeports programme for 2024-25.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) her Department and (b) Homes England award affordable housing funding based on the Affordable Rent model.

The Department delegates delivery of the Affordable Homes Programme to Homes England outside London and to the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London. The government agrees budgets and targets with both agencies to deliver the programme’s overall targets for additional affordable homes. Homes England has a published Capital Funding Guide which sets out the procedures and conditions which must be followed by providers progressing schemes for rent, including Affordable Rent and Social Rent. Detail on this can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, which unitary local authority areas she is considering restructuring.

On 5th February I formally invited proposals from councils in all two-tier areas and their neighbouring small unitary authorities. The full list of councils who received an invitation is available on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-invitation-to-local-authorities-in-two-tier-areas.In the English Devolution White Paper we made clear that Government will also facilitate reorganisation for those unitary councils where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries are impacting on their responsibilities. While some of these councils are included in the invitations for reorganisation in two-tier areas given their geographical boundaries, there will be a different legal process for mergers of existing unitaries. The Government is open to discussions with all areas where structural change will help them get onto a more sustainable footing.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 33041 on Local Government: Reorganisation, if she will require the (a) interim and (b) final response to an invitation to restructure to be endorsed by a full council of the local authority before being considered by Ministers.

As set out in my previous answer, I formally invited proposals for local government reorganisation from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring unitary councils.It is for councils themselves to consider the approval processes they should follow in responding to my invitation in line with their own individual constitutional arrangements.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans she to postpone unitary council elections in 2026.

There are no plans to postpone unitary council elections in 2026.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Green Belt, published on 27 February 2025, whether she carried out a (a) consultation and (b) impact assessment on the guidance for villages.

The definition of grey belt, for the purposes of plan-making and decision-making, is provided in the glossary of the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024. Grey belt is land in the Green Belt that is previously developed land or other land that does not make a strong contribution to the following Green Belt purposes (a) checking the sprawl of large built-up areas, (b) preventing the merging of neighbouring towns, and (d) preserving the setting and special character of historic towns. It is for individual local planning authorities to decide if land is grey belt and to determine whether and how to amend Green Belt boundaries through the preparation or updating of plans, including neighbourhood plans where appropriate. It is also for each local planning authority to assess, as a material consideration when writing Local Plan policies or determining planning applications, what environmental impacts could occur. National planning policy and our recently published guidance on Green Belt assessment are clear that release of, or development on, Green Belt land should not fundamentally undermine the ability of the remaining Green Belt across the area of the plan from serving all five of the Green Belt purposes. The definition of grey belt, and the revised Framework more widely, were determined following extensive consultation, including with relevant public bodies. For further detail, I refer the hon. Member to the government response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation which can be found on gov.uk here. Our guidance introduces new criteria to drive a more consistent approach to the identification of grey belt land, and to inform Green Belt assessments. It is for these Green Belt assessments to consider if any particular features act to preserve visual separation. Green Belt guidance is clear that assessing the contribution land makes to Green Belt purposes (a), (b) and (d) relates to large built-up areas, towns, and historic towns respectively, rather than villages. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that villages can be included in the Green Belt where it is necessary to restrict development because of the contribution the village makes to the Green Belt. If the character of the village should be protected for other reasons, other means should be used, such as conservation area or normal development management policies. The National Planning Policy Framework and the Green Belt guidance do not introduce a definition of historic town, town, or village. The responsibilities of local planning authorities to recognise and protect their historic assets, making use of built heritage and conservation expertise as necessary, remain unaltered. Local planning authorities continue to 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, how much (a) capital and (b) resource funding was allocated to Investment Zones in the 2024-25 financial year; and how much funding has been allocated for the 2025-26 financial year.

The allocation of Investment Zone programme funding is published in the Technical Document on gov.uk: Investment Zones: technical document - GOV.UK. Actual amounts paid out to places are based on local requirements and subject to annual delivery planning.

Communities and Local Government, how many Government Procurement Cards are held by each Ministerial private office in her Department.

There are currently two Government Procurement Cards used across all ministerial private offices in MHCLG.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31935 on Civil Society: Islam, how such decisions are (a) recorded and (b) communicated to teams within her Department.

The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with respective departments and the appropriate policy areas. All policy decisions are taken and recorded in the usual way, as per standard practice.

Communities and Local Government, whether she will make it her policy to introduce combined mayoral authorities only in areas where they have been approved through a local referendum.

There is an existing statutory process for establishing combined authorities, including the requirement for a public consultation. Government is currently carrying out such public consultations in the areas in the Devolution Priority Programme. The results of these consultations will inform decisions on whether the statutory tests have been met to proceed with the necessary secondary legislation to establish the combined authorities. The consultations are not a referendum, and these are not a requirement for devolution.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish her Department's report Population size and local authority performance: final research report”, written in 2006.

The Government has no plans to publish the report Population size and local authority performance: final research report (2006) as it is already in the public domain.