Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 26476 to Community Development: Radicalism, whether her Department’s policy of non-engagement applies to (a) representations received on planning applications and appeals, (b) Freedom of Information Act requests, (c) Subject Access requests and (d) consultation responses.

Statutory requests for information, under laws like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), or the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UKGDPR) allow anyone to request information held by the Department, as long as they meet the requirements set out in the relevant legislation. The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas.

Communities and Local Government, what processes and procedures apply to town and parish councils who are unable to set a balanced budget; and what guidance has been issued on town and parish council finances.

Town and parish councils are legally required to set a balanced budget each year. To do so, they charge a precept equalling the difference between their expected annual expenditure and income. All smaller authorities must undergo an annual external audit in the form of a limited assurance review to ensure transparency and compliance with the relevant procedures.The National Association of Local Councils and its county associations support their members by publishing guidance and providing advice on effective financial management in town and parish councils.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30629 on Unitary Councils, whether there will be an allowed (a) minimum and (b) maximum variance of the proposed 500,000 population size for the new unitaries; and whether there is an absolute population size that should not be exceeded.

On 5 February, I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and nearby smaller unitaries, inviting them to put forward proposals for reorganisation. This communication included guidance from the Secretary of State, highlighting that new councils should be appropriately sized to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity, and remain resilient to financial challenges. Ideally, new councils should aim for a population of 500,000 or more. However, it is recognised that there may be specific situations where this target may not apply, particularly in relation to devolution, and any such reasons should be clearly explained in each proposal. There are no set minimum or maximum population size requirements specified, and we expect a variety of proposals will follow.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason the consultations on establishing mayoral combined authorities, published on 17 February 2025, ask respondents for gender.

Collecting demographic information in the consultation helps us to understand whether the responses we receive are representative of those who live and work in the areas involved in the consultations. This will also help MHCLG conduct an equality impact assessment to ensure compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. We are not asking for information that identifies individuals in consultation responses, and the demographic information provided is anonymous.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the abolition of district councils on (a) the size of town and parish councils and (b) parish precepts on council tax.

What happens under new local government arrangements will depend on the proposals we receive from these areas. Plans to establish new parish councils in response to local government reorganisation should show how this will contribute to the goal of creating simpler structures that deliver high quality and efficient public services. Local authorities should ensure that new arrangements guarantee strong value for money for local taxpayers and precept payers alike. Central government is not involved in the establishment of new parish councils, as this is devolved to principal local authorities through the community governance review process.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposal to increase the number of town and parish councils on administration costs.

What happens under new local government arrangements will depend on the proposals we receive from these areas. Plans to establish new parish councils in response to local government reorganisation should show how this will contribute to the goal of creating simpler structures that deliver high quality and efficient public services. Local authorities should ensure that new arrangements guarantee strong value for money for local taxpayers and precept payers alike. Central government is not involved in the establishment of new parish councils, as this is devolved to principal local authorities through the community governance review process.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) initial and (b) final proposals on local government restructuring should be agreed by consensus between local authorities within the two-tier area; and what steps she plans to take if proposals differ.

We expect local leaders to engage their MPs and to ensure there is wide engagement with local partners and stakeholders, residents and businesses. This engagement should both inform the development of robust proposals and build a shared understanding of the improvements they expect to deliver through reorganisation. However, we understand that there will be some cases when it is not possible for all councils to jointly develop and submit a proposal, and this will not be a barrier to progress. Government will consider any suitable proposals submitted by the relevant local authorities. My department will continue to work closely with the Local Government Association (LGA), the District Councils Network, the County Councils Network and other local government partners to plan how best to support councils through this process.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make use of Legislative Reform Orders to deliver changes to primary legislation.

Ministers consider a range of legislative and non-legislative options to deliver the Government’s Plan for Change.All legislation will be presented before Parliament to consider in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025,to Question 26561 on HM Land Registry: Buildings, how many Land Registry staff assigned to work in the Croydon office attended that office in person on average in December 2024.

359 staff assigned to work in the Croydon office attended that office in person in December 2024. No adjustment has been made to attendance numbers to account for those on short term leave.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question HL4177 on Local Government: Devolution and Elections, whether advice from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England will be public.

The Local Government Boundary Commission England (LGBCE) is responsible for electoral reviews for local government, reviewing wards, and setting the council size in terms of number of councillors. When a full electoral review of a newly established authority is carried out, the LGBCE will follow its guidance (which is available on its website), and the electoral review process includes a local consultation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 23793 on National Identity, for what reason establishing strategic authorities will augment (a) pride in England and (b) the English national identity.

We want to see all of England benefit from devolution, with full devolution coverage across the country, with an ambition for all areas to have a Mayor. Mayors will be able to come together at the Mayoral Council to consider issues that affect England, and will represent England at the Council of Nations and Regions. Further the creation of the Mayoral Council as a England wide body, together with the Leaders Council allows for senior elected members in the country to demonstrate collective leadership.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29001 on Local Government: Elections, whether the scheduled 2026 district council elections will be cancelled if a decision is taken in the two-tier area to move ahead with unitary local government restructuring.

There are no plans to cancel district council elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification. The date of any unitary council elections will depend on the nature of proposals for local government reorganisation and progress on development of those proposals. Members could review the numerous examples of reorganisations which took place under the previous government to better understand the practical steps taken as the programme progresses.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29001 on Local Government: Elections, whether the unitary local government elections will take place on the same day as the May 2026 combined authority mayors.

There are no plans to cancel district council elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification. The date of any unitary council elections will depend on the nature of proposals for local government reorganisation and progress on development of those proposals. Members could review the numerous examples of reorganisations which took place under the previous government to better understand the practical steps taken as the programme progresses.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30361 on Local Government: Elections, whether she had discussions with the district councils in (a) East Sussex, (b) West Sussex, (c) Essex, (d) Norfolk, (e) Suffolk, (f) Hampshire and (g) Surrey prior to the announcement of the cancellation of elections in those areas in May 2025.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, what the target number of affordable homes provided through the 2021-26 Affordable Housing Programme is; and how many of those homes are (a) social rent, (b) affordable rent, (c) affordable home ownership, (d) supported housing and (e) rural housing across (i) England and (ii) London.

The Department published an update on targets in respect of the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme on 30 July 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here. The Greater London Authority (GLA) has shared targets for the programme in London. These can be found on gov.uk here. Homes England set out their target for the programme outside of London in their annual report and accounts. This can be found on gov.uk here. As set out in my answer to Question UIN 16935 on 16 December 2024, the government will continue to work with Homes England and the GLA to support them to deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and home-ownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason the invitation to restructure letter to Surrey has a deadline of May.

Given the urgency of creating sustainable unitary local government for Surrey, the decision was taken to work with local leaders in Surrey to facilitate reorganisation to the most ambitious timeframe possible. This will also enable Surrey to benefit from devolution as quickly as possible once new unitary local government is in place.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23351 on Regulator of Social Housing: Translation Services, which document includes guidance to registered providers of social housing on supplying information in different languages.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 23351 on 21 January 2025 and the answer given to Question UIN 30140 on 18 February 2025.I also refer the hon. Member to the Regulator of Social Housing’s Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard, which can be found on gov.uk here and the consumer standards Code of Practice which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 13622 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Industrial Disputes, what the issue relating to office attendance between HM Land Registry and PCS is.

The disputed issue between PCS and HM Land Registry on the matter of office attendance relates to the government’s requirement for civil servants to attend the office for 60% of the time and HM Land Registry’s implementation of the requirement. Talks with PCS to conclude the dispute are ongoing.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department engages with Greenpeace.

The department does not currently engage or is intending any engagement with Greenpeace.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of (a) 7 February 2025 to Question 27249 and (b) 11 February 2025 to Question 28154 on MHCLG: Staff, if she will publish figures for (a) each individual departmental office and (b) the number of aggregate, numeric staff attendances there were in an average week, for December 2024.

MHCLG publishes quarterly HQ Occupancy Statistics for its headquarters at 2 Marsham Street, London (not proportional attendance). We do not intend to publish regional information or numeric staff attendances.