Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what disclosures her Department has made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on special adviser meetings with external organisations.

We have not received any such requests for disclosure under the FOI Act since 5 July 2024.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 24189 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, how many submissions to the Planning Inspectorate’s inquiry were accepted after the deadline for submissions.

Representations that were made to the inquiry subsequent to the deadline for submissions can be viewed in the inquiry library here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 December 2024 to Question 20226 on Environmental Impact Assessment, what her planned timetable is for (a) consultation and (b) secondary legislation.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 includes a number of duties to consult on the core elements of the new system of Environmental Outcomes Reports – including the setting of outcomes.The government will consult on draft regulations in due course following policy development and engagement with key stakeholders.While we want to realise the benefits of reform as quickly as possible, we recognise the need to manage the transition to the new system carefully. Until a new system is implemented, current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.

Communities and Local Government, whether renting out a dwelling on Airbnb for ongoing short-term lets constitutes a material change of use.

In London, primary legislation identifies where there is a material change of use from dwellings to temporary sleeping accommodation.In all other cases, whether there is a material change of use is a matter of fact and degree and will depend on the circumstances of any given case.

Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the use of Special Development Orders.

Special Development Orders are a long-established part of the planning system. Each case is considered on its individual merits. The government has no plans to change this arrangement.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 August 2024 to Question 1517 on Wind Power: Planning Permission, and with reference to the Environmental Information Regulations request with reference EIR2024/17924, for what reason the requested information was released under the EIR regime; and if she will now publish that substantive disclosure.

Environmental principles assessments are not routinely published. However, the information in question was released following a request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question HL4075 on Royal Mint: Buildings, what steps the Planning Inspectorate is taking to ensure that it receives advice on national security matters as part of its inquiry on the Chinese Embassy application; and whether such advice must be shared with the applicant.

When dealing with evidence relating to national security, or any other matters, the Inspector will exercise impartial judgment and must not be subject to any improper influence, nor appear to be subject to such influence.There should be no evidence before the Inspector, which is not also available to the parties, and it will be solely for the Inspector to decide what weight to attribute to any evidence when writing their report to the Secretary of State.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether (a) combined authorities and (b) combined county authorities will have different (i) funding and (ii) powers.

We will create in law the concept of a Strategic Authority, with three levels. Foundation Strategic Authorities, Mayoral Strategic Authorities and Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities. A Strategic Authority will typically be a combined authority, combined county authority or, in London, the Greater London Authority. The powers and funding areas receive will depend on which level of Strategic Authority it is, not whether it is a combined authority or a combined county authority. Local authorities, including combined authorities, are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must do so within the framework of legislation and guidance designed to support borrowing that is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government has responsibility for the framework and uses information and data from a range of sources to monitor sector behaviour, including levels of borrowing and debt, to determine if changes to the framework are needed to better constrain risk. Where excessive risk from borrowing practices is identified in an individual authority, the government will take direct action if necessary.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Russian and (b) Chinese citizens on the Scottish electoral register but not on the UK Parliamentary register are able to donate to UK (a) politicians and (b) political parties.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question UIN 25690 on 30 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to monitor municipal borrowing by (a) combined authorities and (b) combined county authorities.

We will create in law the concept of a Strategic Authority, with three levels. Foundation Strategic Authorities, Mayoral Strategic Authorities and Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities. A Strategic Authority will typically be a combined authority, combined county authority or, in London, the Greater London Authority. The powers and funding areas receive will depend on which level of Strategic Authority it is, not whether it is a combined authority or a combined county authority. Local authorities, including combined authorities, are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must do so within the framework of legislation and guidance designed to support borrowing that is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government has responsibility for the framework and uses information and data from a range of sources to monitor sector behaviour, including levels of borrowing and debt, to determine if changes to the framework are needed to better constrain risk. Where excessive risk from borrowing practices is identified in an individual authority, the government will take direct action if necessary.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the empty homes council tax premium on the number of dwellings categorised by local authorities as being empty.

Councils have the discretionary power to charge a council tax premium of up to 100% on homes left empty for one or more years, a change from the prior two years. It is for councils to decide whether to introduce the empty homes premium, and at what level, based on local circumstances. I have included a table showing the change in the number of dwellings classed as empty homes in the last five years (excluding those which are exempt). This is taken from the 2024 council taxbase data. 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total number of dwellings classed as empty479,336468,070478,928480,845502,263Number of dwellings classed as empty charged a premium69,20171,63072,34175,803119,606

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23909 on Council tax, whether Band D council tax set by the local authority will be taken into account in the assumed council tax metric; and how the taxbase will be calculated for precepting bodies which are not a local billing authority.

We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation on funding reform which ran from 18 December 2024 – 12 February 2025 and sought views on how we will account for differences in locally raised resources. A response has not yet been published, but the consultation does not propose that the Band D level set by a local authority will be accounted for in the assumed council tax metric. It is standard practice to calculate the taxbase of precepting authorities using the taxbases of the billing authorities in its area, and the consultation did not propose to change this.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to (a) ensure the standardisation of the administration of and (b) review her Department's (i) guidance and (ii) backdating policy in relation to Council Tax (A) discounts, (B) exemptions and (C) disregards for people (1) with severe mental impairments and (2) living with people with severe mental impairments.

Local councils are responsible for the administration of council tax discounts, disregards and exemptions, including those relating to people with a severe mental impairment. The government understands the importance of these provisions and keeps all council tax policies and relevant guidance under review.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 23792 on Social Rented Housing: Construction, how many social rent homes were funded under the 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programme; and what the total amount of grant allocated to those homes was.

Allocations data for 2016-2023 and 2021-2026 published by Homes England can be found on gov.uk here.The Greater London Authority (GLA) publish all approvals for grant under the affordable housing programmes in their delegated approvals log on the GLA website. The latest quarterly published figures are available on gov.uk here.In awarding contracts under the programme Homes England and the GLA assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis. In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme. The most recent publication, with data reflecting grant allocations by tenure and region, to the end of March 2023, can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 23792 on Social Rented Housing: Construction, and with reference to page 45, note 4, of the National Audit Office report entitled The Affordable Homes Programme since 2015, what the average grant funding was per social rent home by region, under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021–2026 strategic bidding round, which occurred in 2021.

Allocations data for 2016-2023 and 2021-2026 published by Homes England can be found on gov.uk here.The Greater London Authority (GLA) publish all approvals for grant under the affordable housing programmes in their delegated approvals log on the GLA website. The latest quarterly published figures are available on gov.uk here.In awarding contracts under the programme Homes England and the GLA assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis. In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme. The most recent publication, with data reflecting grant allocations by tenure and region, to the end of March 2023, can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, whether it is her Department's target to build 1.5 million houses by July 2029.

The government’s Plan for Change includes an ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament. Progress will be measured through the number of net additional dwellings, and we will continue to update Parliament in the usual manner.

Communities and Local Government, what responsibilities Strategic Authorities will have for setting (a) locations and (b) targets for new traveller pitches in the spatial areas for which they have planning oversight.

The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, sets out that all strategic authorities will have a duty to produce a Spatial Development Strategy.Spatial Development Strategies will guide development for the local planning authorities in any given area, and their local plans will need to be in general conformity with them. Further detail will be set out in legislation in due course.It is too early at this stage to make a firm commitment as to their role in relation to authorised traveller pitches.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure the continued operation of late-night venues in central London in relation to (a) business rates, (b) planning, (c) licensing; and what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the number of closures of (i) late-night venues and (ii) late-night venues for LGBT customers.

The night-time industry plays an important role in high streets and town centres across the country. To help high street businesses, as set out at Autumn Budget 2024, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27.We recognise planning and licensing decisions can impact the continued operation of late-night venues. The Licensing Act 2003 aims to strike the right balance between providing safeguards to prevent nuisance, crime and disorder, while recognising the contribution licensed premises make to thriving night-time economies. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that existing businesses and facilities should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result of development permitted after they were established.Research has indicated a decline in the number of night-time economy venues in the UK between 2018 and 2023. We are working with the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the resilience of hospitality businesses, including those operating in the night time economy.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2024 to Question 25392 on Local Government: Devolution, whether her Department plans to undertake a Regulatory Impact Assessment in relation to its proposals on local government reorganisation.

The potential impact of local government reorganisation on individual areas will be a matter for local councils to consider as they develop their proposals for reorganisation. As set out in the published criteria for proposals, unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens; proposals should show how new structures will improve local government and service delivery and should avoid unnecessary fragmentation of services.Following submission, I will consider any and all proposals carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England published on 18 December 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her proposals on standards in local government on free speech.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 30628 on 19 February 2025, which noted that the results of the ongoing consultation on a range of proposals to strengthen the local government standards regime will help to inform any policy or legislative change.The Government will take into account the full range of views and considerations raised by consultation respondents, including local authorities, council members and officers, sector representative bodies, and members of the public, when developing and finalising its proposals for local government standards reform.