Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 31882 on Local Government: Reorganisation, what the threshold is for her to submit a formal request for a structural review to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

As part of the process for changing from two tiers to a single tier of local government, where the Secretary of State receives a proposal in response to an invitation, the Secretary of State may, under section 4 of the 2007 Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, request the Local Government Boundary Commission England to advise on any matter that relates to the proposal and is specified in the request.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 16954 on New Towns, whether a requirement to have a New Town will be imposed on local planning authorities if (a) they do not consent to the proposed development and (b) the town development is not currently in their Local Plan.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report this summer. As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest. Not least because construction of the next generation of new towns will only begin toward the end of this Parliament, the government has been clear that they will deliver over and above the targets produced by the standard method. However, we will make sure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward and will keep under review how the Taskforce’s forthcoming recommendations on new towns interact with housing targets across England. New towns will be well-connected, well-designed, environmentally sustainable, and attractive places where people want to live and have all the infrastructure, amenities and services necessary to sustain thriving communities, including a gold standard aim of 40% affordable and social housing, with an emphasis on social rent. As there may be political or commercial sensitivities to information submitted regarding prospective developments, the New Towns Taskforce will not be sharing information about the evidence base of locations prior to publication of the final report.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32152 on Unitary councils, what the estimated population per councillor is under the new proposed unitaries with 500,000 populations.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is responsible for conducting Electoral Reviews of local government, which examine a council’s electoral arrangements including determining the total number of members to be elected to the council (council size) and the optimum number of electors per councillor. Local authorities are able to make a submission on council size to the LGBCE when undertaking an Electoral Review, to set out options for the number of councillors and reflecting on the number of councillors required for the local authority.The LGBCE’s guidance states that in calculating the appropriate total number of members per council, they are seeking to propose a council size which is appropriate for the individual characteristics of the local authority in question, and will consider the following factors:governance arrangements of the council, how it takes decisions across the broad range of its responsibilities, and whether there are any planned changes to those arrangements;the council’s scrutiny functions relating to its own decision-making and the council’s responsibilities to outside bodies, and whether any changes to them are being considered; andthe representational role of councillors in the local community and how they engage with people, conduct casework and represent the council on local partner organisations.The LGBCE decision on council size marks the start of the formal review process for warding patterns (the number, names and boundaries of individual wards), with final electoral arrangements for the number of members implemented by an Order of Parliament.The Electoral Review process is subject to a local consultation.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.2.5 of the Devolution White Paper, published in December 2025, CP 1218, whether the Integrated Settlement for London will entail devolution of funding to (a) London Boroughs, (b) the pan-London organisation of London Councils and (c) the Greater London Authority; and whether she plans to transfer power from London Boroughs to the Greater London Authority.

At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government committed to exploring how the Integrated Settlement policy could be applied for the Greater London Authority from the 2026-27 financial year onwards, taking into account the capital’s unique devolution arrangements. This work is currently taking place and the Government plans to announce further details following the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Spending Review 2025.In the English Devolution White Paper, the Government committed to working with the Greater London Authority to ensure the capital city benefits from new powers and funding being made available to other Strategic Authorities, while retaining pre-existing bespoke London arrangements. This work is currently taking in place in preparation for the English Devolution Bill.

Communities and Local Government, how many days each of her departmental Ministers has spent working at the Darlington Campus since 5 July 2024.

The Deputy Prime Minister and ministerial team work from a number of locations and offices across the country. The Deputy Prime Minister does not regularly work from the Wolverhampton office or Darlington Campus.

Communities and Local Government, whether a heritage impact assessment has been conducted on proposals to move the Chinese Embassy to the former Royal Mint building.

An appointed Inspector held a public inquiry which heard a range of evidence for and against the proposals in question. As this case will come before ministers in MHCLG to determine, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 3 March 2025, HCWS487, on Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, what the criteria was used to select (a) the chair and (b) the working group members.

The Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group Chair and Members are technical experts, and have been selected for their ability to deliver against the group’s objectives. All members must follow The Seven Principles of Public Life and the Government retains the right to end the relationship if any member does not abide by the principles. All appointments are subject to assessment of any potential or actual conflicts of interest, which must be fully disclosed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. Group members will not be remunerated but will be able to claim expenses for travel and/or costs incurred whilst carrying out their role. Further detail of the group’s membership and Terms of Reference will be published after the public appointment process has concluded.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 3 March 2025, HCWS487, on Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, what interests the chair of the working group on delivering a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia has declared; and whether he will be remunerated.

The Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group Chair and Members are technical experts, and have been selected for their ability to deliver against the group’s objectives. All members must follow The Seven Principles of Public Life and the Government retains the right to end the relationship if any member does not abide by the principles. All appointments are subject to assessment of any potential or actual conflicts of interest, which must be fully disclosed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. Group members will not be remunerated but will be able to claim expenses for travel and/or costs incurred whilst carrying out their role. Further detail of the group’s membership and Terms of Reference will be published after the public appointment process has concluded.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 31042 on MHCLG: Trade Union Officials, whether the level of facility time provided to the trade unions in her Department has increased since 4 July 2025.

Paid facility time is captured and published in line with the Cabinet Office guidance on statutory reporting requirements Public-sector trade union facility time data - GOV.UK. Facility time for 2024 to 2025 will be published in line with this at the end of the reporting period.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2024 to Question 19964 on Land Registry: Buildings, how many staff attended on average the Land Registry's Croydon office each week in November 2024.

Week Croydon office staff who attended in each week. 04/11/2024 - 08/11/2024 33311/11/2024 - 15/11/2024 34618/11/2024 - 22/11/2024 33725/11/2024 - 29/11/2024 333 Weekly average 337.25 These figures do not include staff on short term leave. Staff are asked to manage their attendance over the course of a month, so there will be some natural variance on a weekly level.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 16954 on New Towns, what the planning mechanism is by which a New Town area will be designated; and what the role of (a) site-specific national planning policy, (b) development corporations and (c) strategic authorities is in this process.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report this summer. As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest. Not least because construction of the next generation of new towns will only begin toward the end of this Parliament, the government has been clear that they will deliver over and above the targets produced by the standard method. However, we will make sure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward and will keep under review how the Taskforce’s forthcoming recommendations on new towns interact with housing targets across England. New towns will be well-connected, well-designed, environmentally sustainable, and attractive places where people want to live and have all the infrastructure, amenities and services necessary to sustain thriving communities, including a gold standard aim of 40% affordable and social housing, with an emphasis on social rent. As there may be political or commercial sensitivities to information submitted regarding prospective developments, the New Towns Taskforce will not be sharing information about the evidence base of locations prior to publication of the final report.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 3 March 2025, HCWS487, on Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, when the (a) terms of reference and (b) membership will be deposited.

The Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group Chair and Members are technical experts, and have been selected for their ability to deliver against the group’s objectives. All members must follow The Seven Principles of Public Life and the Government retains the right to end the relationship if any member does not abide by the principles. All appointments are subject to assessment of any potential or actual conflicts of interest, which must be fully disclosed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. Group members will not be remunerated but will be able to claim expenses for travel and/or costs incurred whilst carrying out their role. Further detail of the group’s membership and Terms of Reference will be published after the public appointment process has concluded.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 16954 on New Towns, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the willingness of local authorities to participate in the New Towns programme.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report this summer. As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest. Not least because construction of the next generation of new towns will only begin toward the end of this Parliament, the government has been clear that they will deliver over and above the targets produced by the standard method. However, we will make sure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward and will keep under review how the Taskforce’s forthcoming recommendations on new towns interact with housing targets across England. New towns will be well-connected, well-designed, environmentally sustainable, and attractive places where people want to live and have all the infrastructure, amenities and services necessary to sustain thriving communities, including a gold standard aim of 40% affordable and social housing, with an emphasis on social rent. As there may be political or commercial sensitivities to information submitted regarding prospective developments, the New Towns Taskforce will not be sharing information about the evidence base of locations prior to publication of the final report.

Communities and Local Government, what powers the Government has to enforce breaches of planning conditions by foreign embassies.

Responsibility for planning enforcement rests with local planning authorities. It is for them to decide how and when to use their enforcement powers depending on the particular circumstances of each case.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 31048 on Licensing Laws, what the evidential basis is that a unified consent regime for pavement licences did not prove workable.

In March 2024 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government made permanent changes to streamline applications for pavement licenses. In May 2024 the Home Office consulted on options to make permanent its existing temporary measures to streamline applications for alcohol licenses where a pavement licence is in effect. The Home Office published its analysis of responses in February 2025 and concluded that it would not take forward any of the options proposed and would instead allow temporary streamlining to end as of 31 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, December 2024, whether she plans to transfer the powers of current (a) Police and Crime and (b) Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners to new Mayoral Combined Authorities in the areas where they are being created.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force and fire and rescue geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.The timing of the transfer of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner functions, and therefore plans for future elections, will be determined in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether there will be an election for the role of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex in 2028.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force and fire and rescue geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.The timing of the transfer of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner functions, and therefore plans for future elections, will be determined in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether she plans to transfer powers from Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners to Mayors before the expiry of the terms of office of those Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force and fire and rescue geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.The timing of the transfer of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner functions, and therefore plans for future elections, will be determined in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025, to Question 30643, on Nightclubs and Public Houses: Planning, if she will provide the gov.uk address for her Department's guidance on (a) noise and (b) statutory nuisance; and whether her Department issues specific guidance on the agent of change principle.

Planning Policy Guidance on noise with advice about how planning can manage potential noise impacts in new developments, and the ‘agent of change’ principle, can be found in the online Planning Practice Guidance on Noise here in Paragraph: 009 Reference ID: 30-009-20190722.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 23916 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Legal Costs, whether her policy on naming organisations or groups as extremist affects her policy on not engaging with extremist organisations.

The community engagement principles were a policy launched by the previous administration – they provided a set of standards and guidance on how Government should consider which partners to engage with. Guidance was published in March 2024, but the principles were never implemented by the last government. The naming of extremist groups was also part of the Counter-Extremism policy by the previous administration. The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas.