Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,381–1,400 of 1,583 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's publication entitled English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, if she will make it her policy to ensure elections to principal and strategic authorities take place concurrently.
The Government has no plans to change the timing of elections for principal and strategic authorities to ensure that they take place concurrently.
Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the implementation of the proposals in the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024.
The deadline for application to the Devolution Priority Programme was 10 January and we will confirm participants shortly after. The English Devolution Bill will be introduced in the first session, subject to parliamentary time. Integrated funding settlements will be provided to Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities at the start of the next financial year (25/26) and four more Mayoral Combined Authorities will follow in the 26/27 financial year. Further changes to funding and programmes will be delivered through the Spending Review process.We intend to formally invite reorganisation proposals in January 2025 from all relevant councils. We expect to deliver new unitary authorities in April 2027 and 2028.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce replacement legislation for the Vagrancy Act 1824.
The Government views the Vagrancy Act as antiquated and no longer fit for purpose. No one should be criminalised for simply sleeping rough on the streets.We will carefully consider the Vagrancy Act and other relevant legislation in developing our new cross-government homelessness strategy.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2024 to Question 16892 on Regional Planning and Development: Finance, what her Department's policy is on the (a) continuation of the Thames Estuary Growth Board and (b) coordination of planning across the Thames Estuary area.
At the Autumn Budget, the Government confirmed that it would consult on its minded to decision to cease funding for pan-regional partnerships at the end of this financial year. The consultation sought to gather views from all interested parties on the impacts of this decision, should it be taken forward, and closed on 16 December. The Department is currently considering the responses received and will confirm a final decision shortly.The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, published in December 2024, confirmed our commitment to strategic planning through the production of Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs) covering all of England. Legislation to enable this will be introduced in 2025 through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on the 16 December 2024, what discussions she had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer before setting the population threshold to 500,000 or more for newly formed councils.
Ministers regularly have meetings with colleagues across government.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15453 on Local Government: Accountability, if she will take steps to make the data published under the Transparency Code more (a) accessible and (b) shareable as open data.
We are keeping the Code under review in the context of work to fix the foundations of local government and ensuring that it continues to support local accountability. Our approach to reforming local government is set out in the English Devolution White Paper. This includes fundamentally reforming the local audit system, rebuilding the vital early warning system to recover a key part of our assurance mechanisms, restoring local government standards, and ensuring transparency.We are supporting the Office for National Statistics to lead a refresh of the government’s subnational data strategy, including supporting “ONS Local to gather user needs and understand data gaps, provide data access, analytical support, and capability to local data leaders”.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what the evidential basis is for the decision to set new unitary council sizes at 500,000 or more.
The overall case for local government reorganisation is set out the English Devolution White Paper. New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answers of 3 December 2024 to Question (a) 15923 and (b) 15934 on Mayors: Elections, for what reason Greater Lincolnshire is not listed as having a mayoral election in 2025.
Questions UIN 15923 and UIN 15934 concerned combined authorities. Greater Lincolnshire will be established as a combined county authority under legislation currently before Parliament. When that legislation is approved by Parliament, and made, the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election will be added to the published list of elections.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions on (a) construction and (b) housebuilding.
The government considered the cost pressures facing all employers as part of the Spending Review process.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15439 on Local government finance, if she will list each of the bidding schemes that have operated in her Department in 2024-25.
The government is committed to pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to return the local government sector to a sustainable position. This will be done in partnership with local government. We are inviting views on our objectives and principles for local government funding reform via a consultation that is open until the 12 February.In regard to Local Growth funding, this Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed a partnership approach with local authorities and an intention to stabilise the funding system by providing multi-year funding settlements and ending competitive bidding which was the requirement for funds such as Future High Streets Fund, Town Deals and the Levelling Up Fund.
Communities and Local Government, on what dates the public hearings will be held for the Planning Inspectorate's inquiry into the Chinese Embassy planning application; and which planning inspector will be chairing the inquiry.
The desired information can be found here on the Appeals Casework Portal reference APP/E5900/V/24/3353754.
Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of new dwellings built in (a) England and (b) London were flats in the last year for which figures are available.
Annual estimates of the proportion of building control reported new build purpose-built flats in England and London are shown in Live Table 254, which can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release on building, published on 5 December 2024, what the mechanism is by which she plans to meet the target of 150 infrastructure decisions to be decided; and whether this target relates to (a) national infrastructure planning and (b) major developments under the Town and Country Planning Act.
As part of its Plan for Change, the government has pledged to make decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects within this parliament. This target is aimed at projects of a certain type and over a certain size as set out under the Planning Act 2008, which are considered by government to be of national importance and therefore should be consented at a national level through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6408 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Photography, whether her Department has recruited a photographer.
As is the case already in other government departments, official photographers help to share the work of the department and ministers with the public.Photography and videography - for external use or on the department's corporate channels - can help to give the public and civil servants a greater sense of accessibility and transparency over the activities of government.MHCLG has recruited a Chief Photographer.
Communities and Local Government, what the (a) job title, (b) unit or division and (c) grade is of each job advertised on Civil Service Jobs but not to the public since 4 July 2024.
For the period, 4 July to 31 December 2024, 179 vacancies (67.6%) were advertised externally. 58 job vacancies (32.4% of total advertised) were advertised as Across Government only campaigns.This data set reflects campaigns that were advertised and appointments made within this period – it does not include expressions of interest.Further detail of across government campaigns, job titles and grade:Departmental groupGrade breakdownJob titleGradeCorporate Group3x Grade 6 5x Grade 7 6x SEOCareers and Development LeadGrade 7Physical Security LeadSEOWorkforce TeamGrade 6StatisticianGrade 7Ministerial Team Security AdvisersSEOHead of Programme DeliveryGrade 6Deputy Head of ProfessionGrade 7Product ManagerSEOAssistant Departmental Records OfficerSEOSenior Product ManagerGrade 7Private Secretary & Business ManagerSEOLive Services ManagerSEOSubject Matter ExpertGrade 7Local Government and Public Services1x HEOCommunications OfficerHEOLocal Growth, Communities and Devolution6x Grade 6 5x Grade 7 5x SEO 3x HEODelivery ManagerSEOHead of UnitGrade 6Head of UnitGrade 6Policy LeadGrade 7Head of PolicyGrade 7Business Support OfficerHEOHead of OfficeGrade 7Programme ManagerGrade 6Programme Management Office ManagerGrade 7Senior Policy AdvisorSEORisk and Issue ManagerSEOStrategy Policy AdvisorHEOPolicy leadGrade 6Fund EvaluatorSEOHead of Elections DataGrade 6Policy & Funding AnalysisGrade 6Policy AdvisorSEOSenior Strategy AdvisorGrade 7Policy AdvisorHEORegeneration, Housing and Planning4x Grade 6 7x Grade 7 4x SEO 1x HEOPolicy Team LeadGrade 7Head of StrategyGrade 6Senior Policy AdvisorGrade 7Senior Policy and Strategy AdvisorsGrade 7Head of Housing Insights & Strategic PolicyGrade 6Social Housing Directorate SEOsSEOProperty Technology Strategy AdvisorGrade 7Policy AdvisorSEOPolicy OfficerHEOPolicy AdvisorSEOSenior Policy AdvisorGrade 7Private SecretaryGrade 7Head of Programme Management OfficeGrade 6Project ManagerSEOHead of Evaluation & InsightGrade 7Head of Economic AnalysisGrade 6Senior Policy AdviserSEOSafer and Greener Buildings1x Grade 6 3x SEO 1x HEOConstruction Products Policy AdviserSEOCommunity Relationship ManagerSEOPolicy AdvisorHEOPolicy and Briefing AdvisorSEOLead Technical ArchitectGrade 6Strategy and Communications1x Grade 6 1x Grade 7 1x HEOHead of Data ScienceGrade 6VideographerHEOSenior Private Secretary/Head of OfficeGrade 7
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2024 to Question 17009 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, whether she had discussions with (a) the Prime Minister or (b) 10 Downing Street on the proposed Chinese Embassy prior to her decision to call-in the planning application.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 17009 on 6 December 2024.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the target of 1.5 million new homes in the context of net migration.
I refer the hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 2451 on 5 September 2024.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether the decision to suspend councillors will be taken by (a) the full council or (b) the local authority's standards committee; and what right of appeal will there be.
On 18 December the Government launched a consultation to seek views from local authorities, sector bodies, and the public on a range of proposals to strengthen the local government standards regime and ensure there is a stronger, more consistent, and more accountable framework for addressing member misconduct.The results of this consultation will help to inform any policy and legislative change, including in relation to the possible introduction of the sanction of suspension and related safeguards, and the appropriate arrangements for an appeals process.
Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of job vacancies in her Department have been externally advertised since 4 July 2024.
For the period, 4 July to 31 December 2024, 179 vacancies (67.6%) were advertised externally. 58 job vacancies (32.4% of total advertised) were advertised as Across Government only campaigns.This data set reflects campaigns that were advertised and appointments made within this period – it does not include expressions of interest.Further detail of across government campaigns, job titles and grade:Departmental groupGrade breakdownJob titleGradeCorporate Group3x Grade 6 5x Grade 7 6x SEOCareers and Development LeadGrade 7Physical Security LeadSEOWorkforce TeamGrade 6StatisticianGrade 7Ministerial Team Security AdvisersSEOHead of Programme DeliveryGrade 6Deputy Head of ProfessionGrade 7Product ManagerSEOAssistant Departmental Records OfficerSEOSenior Product ManagerGrade 7Private Secretary & Business ManagerSEOLive Services ManagerSEOSubject Matter ExpertGrade 7Local Government and Public Services1x HEOCommunications OfficerHEOLocal Growth, Communities and Devolution6x Grade 6 5x Grade 7 5x SEO 3x HEODelivery ManagerSEOHead of UnitGrade 6Head of UnitGrade 6Policy LeadGrade 7Head of PolicyGrade 7Business Support OfficerHEOHead of OfficeGrade 7Programme ManagerGrade 6Programme Management Office ManagerGrade 7Senior Policy AdvisorSEORisk and Issue ManagerSEOStrategy Policy AdvisorHEOPolicy leadGrade 6Fund EvaluatorSEOHead of Elections DataGrade 6Policy & Funding AnalysisGrade 6Policy AdvisorSEOSenior Strategy AdvisorGrade 7Policy AdvisorHEORegeneration, Housing and Planning4x Grade 6 7x Grade 7 4x SEO 1x HEOPolicy Team LeadGrade 7Head of StrategyGrade 6Senior Policy AdvisorGrade 7Senior Policy and Strategy AdvisorsGrade 7Head of Housing Insights & Strategic PolicyGrade 6Social Housing Directorate SEOsSEOProperty Technology Strategy AdvisorGrade 7Policy AdvisorSEOPolicy OfficerHEOPolicy AdvisorSEOSenior Policy AdvisorGrade 7Private SecretaryGrade 7Head of Programme Management OfficeGrade 6Project ManagerSEOHead of Evaluation & InsightGrade 7Head of Economic AnalysisGrade 6Senior Policy AdviserSEOSafer and Greener Buildings1x Grade 6 3x SEO 1x HEOConstruction Products Policy AdviserSEOCommunity Relationship ManagerSEOPolicy AdvisorHEOPolicy and Briefing AdvisorSEOLead Technical ArchitectGrade 6Strategy and Communications1x Grade 6 1x Grade 7 1x HEOHead of Data ScienceGrade 6VideographerHEOSenior Private Secretary/Head of OfficeGrade 7
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2024 to Question 16480 on Community Cohesion, if she will publish the (a) membership and (b) terms of reference of the Communities and Recovery Steering Group.
Membership and Terms of Reference for the Community and Recovery Steering Group will be published in due course.