Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to answer Question 26478 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Employers' Contributions, tabled on 27 January 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 26478 on 17 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a cap on Mayoral Combined Authorities precepts for 2025-26.

The government has not set referendum principles for Mayoral Combined Authorities for 2025-26. The government held a consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement, providing opportunity for the public and local authorities to share views on the proposed referendum principles. The government keeps referendum principles under review, and decisions are made at the local government finance settlement, with the next due in 2026.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) long-term vacant and (b) derelict homes returned to use count towards local housing targets.

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 (Question 15) which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 23144 on Housing: Migrants, whether her Department holds information on the potential impact of immigration on housing costs.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 23144 on 18 February 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 25703 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Consultants, what changes she has made to the neighbourhood planning contract.

The current neighbourhood planning support contract was last changed in May 2024.The government launched the procurement for the neighbourhood planning support contract on 1 October 2024 and we will announce the outcome of that exercise in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the non-regression principle in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on her Department's ability to introduce deregulatory measures to increase housebuilding.

The government is committed to unlocking and accelerating the building of new homes without reducing relevant protections. For example, the new Nature Restoration Fund provided for by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will enable developers to fund restoration more efficiently whilst securing improved outcomes for the environment. As such, the Bill would not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection of existing environmental law and the Secretary of State has confirmed as much via a statement under section 20(3) of the Environment Act.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30336 on Parking: Regulation, for what reason a further consultation is required.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. The Act explains in Section 2 that the Secretary of State must consult relevant stakeholders prior to the Code’s publication. The consultation in 2021 related to a Code laid by the previous government which was later withdrawn.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 23920 on MHCLG: Minister’s Private Offices, if she will publish the invoices for these works.

It is not in our policy to publish individual invoices for works. However, we have previously provided costings for fittings in Ministers’ Private Offices in the answers to Question UIN 9072 on 3 December 2024 and Question UIN 23920 on 14 February 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2025, to Question 30652, on Local Government: Disclosure of Information, if she will undertake an audit of the local government transparency data published by local authorities to ascertain whether data is (a) accessible, (b) published in open reuse formats and (c) published in a timely manner.

The purpose of the Transparency Code is to make it easier for the public to directly hold their councils to account. Councils are independent of central government and expected to meet the Code’s requirements, and to take account of recommendations in the document, including to publish data in a format that allows open reuse. It is for councils to ensure that they are complying with legal duties and government does not monitor or micromanage how such requirements or recommended best practice are being met, including compliance with the Code.If members of the public have concerns about a local authority’s compliance with the Code, then they should raise this with the authority in question.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30632 on Admiralty House, whether any civil servants assisted her move into Admiralty House.

Professional removal and cleaning services were hired and paid for personally by the Deputy Prime Minister and at no cost to the Department. Some logistical support was provided by civil servants for the move into an official residence.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on whether byelaws can be applied to regulate inside (a) the curtilage of private property, (b) a dwelling and (c) a business premises where there is no effect on local amenity outside the curtilage.

MHCLG and other government departments publish guidance for local authorities on the process they should follow when making byelaws and also publish model byelaw sets which councils can adopt. Local authorities are required to seek legal advice on their proposed byelaws before applying for Secretary of State confirmation. The department has not provided specific guidance on regulating inside (a) the curtilage of private property, (b) a dwelling and (c) a business premises where there is no effect on local amenity outside the curtilage.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 23917 on MHCLG: Public Consultation, what the reference number is of each response that was published in response to a (a) Freedom of Information and (b) Environmental Information Regulations in the last three years.

The Department has not published Freedom of Information or Environmental Information Regulations responses for the last three years. We are currently exploring options for routinely publishing this information in future.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2025 to Question 29152 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Equality, which (a) contractors and (b) organisations that funding went to.

a) Funding in the aforementioned response procured learning services from the following suppliers: Ernst & Young LLP through the Government Learning FrameworksInclusive Employers Ltd. b) This funding was not provided to any other organisations.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 25703 on MHCLG: consultants, what the monetary value is of the target to reduce spending by 50%.

This information will be published in due course as part of MHCLG’s annual report and accounts for financial year 2024-25.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 22777 on HM Land Registry: Buildings, and with reference to the Public and Commercial Services Union press release entitled Land Registry Action Short of a Strike begins, dated 22 January 2025, what the status is of the industrial action at HM Land Registry as of March 2025; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that industrial action on office attendance requirements at HM Land Registry; and what steps she is taking to help resolve that dispute.

The action short of a strike (as per the Public and Commercial Services Union press release of 22 January 2025) is continuing as are talks with PCS to conclude the dispute.The industrial action in question does not alter the expectation that HM Land Registry staff comply with the government’s 60% office attendance requirement.HM Land Registry has been monitoring office attendance of staff during the action short of a strike, and there has been no discernible impact.MHCLG is in regular contact with HM Land Registry management and supports their attempts to resolve the dispute.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to para 129 of the UK Government Response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, CP1248, published in February 2025, whether the extension of the Freedom of Information Act to Tenant Management Organisations (a) is limited to matters relating to social housing and (b) covers all information held by the organisation; and what her planned timetable is for secondary legislation on the issue.

The government is committed to increasing transparency in the social rented sector, including by enabling residents of Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs) to request access to information about the management of their homes in the same way as other social tenants.We will work closely with TMOs, local authorities and residents of homes managed by TMOs to consider how best to implement the requirements. Our priority will be to ensure tenants can access as much information as possible on their housing services. We will set out next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the level of duplication of regulation on fire matters in (a) building regulation and (b) planning consent processes.

Fire safety regulations in building regulation and planning permission processes serve distinct purposes and are not duplicated. Planning addresses fire safety in relation to land-use planning matters, such site layout, and access for emergency services. Building regulations focus on detailed technical standards for construction, including fire resistance of materials, means of escape, and fire detection systems. These regulations are tested at different gateways, each serving distinct purposes to ensure comprehensive fire safety measures are in place. Together, these elements contribute to a robust fire safety regime that delivers safe buildings and protects occupants.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30659 on Conditions of Employment: Departmental Responsibilities, how many headcount staff in her Department are assigned to work on matters relating to (a) employment law, (b) industrial and trade union relations and (c) the Future of Work Cabinet Committee.

Strengthening employment rights is a key priority across Government. The Deputy Prime Minister is supported in her role as the Chair of the Future of Work Cabinet Committee, alongside the delivery of other cross-cutting priorities on Make Work Pay, by a Deputy Director and five FTE policy advisors.

Communities and Local Government, for what reasons she appointed Dominic Grieve as the Chair of the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia working group.

The Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group has been established to provide government with a non-statutory definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, supporting a wider stream of work to tackle the unacceptable incidents of anti-Muslim hatred. The Rt Hon Dominic Grieve KC has a strong legal background and experience of working with Muslim communities. This technical expertise will be invaluable to meeting the group’s objective to advise His Majesty’s Government on the appropriate and sensitive language to describe, understand and define unacceptable treatment, prejudice, discrimination and hate targeting Muslims.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to (a) reduce the level and (b) increase the transparency of service charges on (i) private estates and (ii) new build developments.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).