Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, how many homes would have been delivered in buildings waiting for Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator for (a) over 12 weeks, (b) over 26 weeks, (c) over 52 weeks and (d) in total in each of the last six months.

We recognise that delays to the assessment of applications have been unacceptable, which is why we announced reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) on 30 June, including plans to establish the BSR as a separate body. The BSR is already making operational and policy changes to speed up decision making, particularly on building control approval, including through the introduction of an Innovation Unit. Early signs are positive with all applications in the Innovation Unit so far on track to exceed or meet the 12-week SLA as they progress through the application process. To support transparency and accountability, the BSR published performance data on 16 October and will continue to do so monthly to track progress against this commitment. Gateway 2 decisions in July-September 2025 doubled to over 500 compared to around 250 in January-March 2025. In addition, the backlog of new-build applications has reduced from 134 on 30th June 2025 to 102 on 15th October 2025. The BSR has provided the sum of residential units that were without a decision covering these timeframes as of the 1st of each month spanning over 6 months: May -25Jun- 25Jul-25Aug-25Sep-25Oct-2512-25 weeks3,4172,2312,4122,0111,221026-51 weeks4,6033,9093,6932,9232,9152,01052+ weeks3086484836066060

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the causes of the decline in the number of houses delivered in London this year.

When it comes to development, London faces challenges that are common to all parts of England over recent years. These include a significant increase in building material prices; a rise in financing costs; and planning capacity and capability pressures. In addition, the capital faces a number of challenges unique to its housing market which differs in important ways from the rest of the country. These include the fact that London is overwhelmingly reliant on flatted developments; has depended over recent decades on demand from international buyers and investors; and has a higher proportion of landowners (and traders acting on their behalf) who are global investors allocating development funding based on competing returns globally and across asset classes. The government is acutely aware of the housing delivery challenge in London. We are committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, London Boroughs, and other partners to significantly increase rates of housebuilding in the capital as part of our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. On 23 October 2025, the Secretary of State and the Mayor of London announced a new package of support for housebuilding in London. Details of that package can be found on gov.uk here. This package sits alongside reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) announced on 30 June 2025, including operational and policy changes to speed up decision making, particularly on building control approval and the introduction of an Innovation Unit and batching process. Early signs are positive with all applications in the Innovation Unit so far on track to exceed or meet the 12-week SLA target.

Communities and Local Government, what recent guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the expiry dates of postal voting mandates for individual electors with postal votes.

The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuing guidance to Electoral Registration Officers on electoral registration, including on the expiry dates of postal voting mandates for individual electors with postal votes. The Government continues to support local authorities as they undertake activity related to the expiry of postal vote arrangements through New Burdens funding and engagement with the electoral sector.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to Electoral Registration Officers on the declarations that a potential elector must make to enter the electoral roll.

The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for publishing guidance for Electoral Registration Officers, including guidance on electoral registration. This guidance can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 114 of the policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2024, what types of information could be shared through the Electoral Commission's statutory gateway that it cannot currently (a) send and (b) accept.

The Electoral Commission currently lacks an explicit statutory gateway to share information with other regulators and enforcement authorities. At present, the Commission relies on other organisations’ statutory gateways or Memorandums of Understanding when sharing information, making routine information-sharing burdensome. The Government therefore intends to provide the Commission with an explicit statutory gateway to enable it to share information with certain regulators and enforcement authorities, for the purpose of assisting relevant bodies in carrying out their statutory functions. This will provide a solid legal foundation for the Electoral Commission to share information on cross-cutting issues such as foreign interference or data protection, nurturing a more collaborative and effective regulatory environment. Any disclosures will remain subject to UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Alongside other proposals in the Elections Strategy, we will legislate to bring forward this measure as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to consult with political parties formally on the political finance technical measures outlined in the policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2025.

The political finance measures are building on long-standing, well-established recommendations from expert stakeholders across the electoral landscape.In developing our measures for the Elections paper, we have worked closely with key stakeholders. We are keen to continue this important engagement with all stakeholders, including political parties, as we progress this work.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason the Land Registry has not updated the title deeds on the former Deputy Prime Minister’s dwelling in Ashton-under-Lyne following the changes made earlier this year.

HM Land Registry publishes information about processing times which can be found on gov.uk here. While the time taken to process this type of application is not out of the ordinary, HM Land Registry is committed to improving speed of service for its customers.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to DEP2025-0538/ MHCLG Flights July 5 2024- May 31 2025, deposited on 24 July 2025, for what reason his Department took flights from London to Newcastle.

These flights were taken as part of a Ministerial Visit. The former Deputy Prime Minister attended a joint visit with the Department of Business and Trade, and the inaugural meeting of the Mayoral Council in Newcastle on 10 October 2024.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to with reference to DEP2025-0538/ MHCLG Flights July 5 2024- May 31 2025, deposited on 24 July 2025, for what reason his Department travelled from London to Boston.

A senior official in the Department travelled to Boston for external training as part of a year-long leadership course, approval for which followed normal processes.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to with reference to DEP2025-0538/ MHCLG Flights July 5 2024- May 31 2025, deposited on 24 July 2025, for what reason his Department travelled from London to Islamabad.

Earlier this year, the then Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement visited Pakistan on official government business to undertake diplomatic and humanitarian engagements, including meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to with reference to DEP2025-0538/ MHCLG Flights July 5 2024- May 31 2025, deposited on 24 July 2025, for what reason his Department took flights from Manchester to London.

A flight was taken from Manchester to London on 9 March 2025 by a member of staff to attend a mandatory training course on the following day.The trains were on strike at the time of the booking attempt (14 February 2025), as a result, none of the Manchester-to-London routes were shown on the government booking platform.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 114 of the Elections Strategy, published in July 2024, what types of information will be shared through the Electoral Commission's statutory gateway for the purpose of assisting the relevant body to carrying out its functions that it is not currently able to share.

The Electoral Commission currently lacks an explicit statutory gateway to share information with other regulators and enforcement authorities, making routine information-sharing burdensome and impeding effective cooperation. The Government therefore intends to give the Commission an explicit statutory gateway to share information with certain regulators and enforcement authorities, provided that it is for the purpose of assisting the relevant body in carrying out its statutory functions. Providing a solid legal foundation for disclosing relevant information will nurture a collaborative regulatory environment on cross-cutting issues like data protection and digital campaigning. Any disclosures will remain subject to UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Alongside other proposals in the Elections Strategy, we will legislate to bring forward this measure as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Communities and Local Government, if he will amend the online electoral registration form to ask if applicants live at three addresses.

There are currently no plans to change the online electoral registration application form, to ask whether applicants live at three addresses.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to introduce higher council tax premiums on periodically occupied homes.

Since April this year, councils in England have had the discretionary power to charge a council tax premium of up to 100% on dwellings occupied periodically (often referred to as second homes premium). The premium is not a mandatory requirement. It is for individual councils to decide whether to implement the premium, and if so, at what level up to the maximum 100%. The government will continue to keep this policy under review.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has a definition of a second home.

There is not a single statutory definition of a second home. For data collection purposes, the English Housing Survey defines a second home as a property that is primarily used as a holiday home (either by the owner or let to others) or a property occupied by the owner while working away from home. For the purposes of council tax, a second home is considered a dwelling which is no one’s sole or main residence but is substantially furnished and occupied periodically.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 9 July 2025 on Local Government Best Value, HCWS796, what remuneration has been provided to the Ministerial envoys.

The fees for Ministerial Envoys at Warrington Borough Council are in line with the standard fees set by the department and covered by the Council, with full details provided in the appointment letters on gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, whether new unitary councils will be elected (a) all-out and (b) by thirds.

Our expectation is to provide for whole council elections, consistent with the approach taken in previous unitarisations where new councils were established under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 58020 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission and further to the correspondence from the MHCLG Planning Casework Unit to DP9 of 6 August 2025, for what reason the unredacted drawings were not requested from the applicant until 6 August 2025.

The Planning Inspector's Report was received by the Department on 10 June. Following careful analysis of the report, the Secretary of State referred back to parties on a number of matters, including the redacted drawings, on 6 August.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has received representations from the Mayor of London on the provision in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to disqualify a person from being a mayor and a Member of Parliament simultaneously.

My department has engaged with Mayors and the local government sector ahead of publication of the English Devolution White Paper, where this policy was introduced. The post of mayor is a significant role at the forefront of delivering change and demands the full attention of any post holder. That is why the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will prohibit individuals from holding the office of Member of Parliament (or being a member of the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and mayor simultaneously. This is already the case for Mayors who hold Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62882 on Elections: Essex, for what reason Castle Point district council is listed as having elections in May 2026.

Since responding to Question UIN 62882 on 30 June 2025, it has been drawn to our attention that Castle Point Borough Council has resolved to change from electing by thirds to holding whole council elections every four years and is not therefore due to hold elections in May 2026. There is no duty on councils to inform government when they change their scheme of elections and I am grateful for the opportunity to correct the record.