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 1,421–1,440 of 1,583 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter to her from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China of 4 December 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of involvement of the United Front Work Department in the planning process for the called-in Chinese Embassy planning application.
I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question HL3240 on 19 December 2024.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2024 to Question 16572 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission and with reference to paragraphs 18 and 19 of her Department's Guidance on planning propriety: planning casework decisions, whether the call-in representations are being made available to the interested parties in the called-in planning application.
We do not routinely make requests to call in planning applications available to interested parties.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 July 2024 to Question 1315 on environmental assessments, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of repealing the environmental assessment regimes originating from the (a) EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and (b) Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Directive.
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 16 December 2024 (HCWS317), the government will, in due course, replace the current systems of environmental assessment with Environmental Outcomes Reports.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15209 on Holiday Accommodation: Taxation, whether she has received representations from local authorities on providing powers to impose additional (a) surcharges, (b) licensing fees and (c) taxes on (i) hotels and (ii) short-term lets other than through council tax, business rates and business improvement districts.
Whilst both hotels and short-term lets are vital to many local economies, some Mayors have called for the introduction of a tourist levy and some local authorities have called for further powers to manage the impacts of short-term lets where they are affecting the affordability and availability of housing to buy and rent.Areas can introduce a form of voluntary levy on businesses providing overnight accommodation (such as hotels) through setting up an Accommodation Business Improvement District.The government have also committed to introducing a short-term let register and abolishing the furnished holiday lets tax regime. We are considering what further powers we might give to local authorities to help them respond to excessive concentrations of short-term lets.As with all aspects of the tax system, any decisions on future tax changes will be taken by the Chancellor in the context of wider public finances.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2024 to Question 17299 on Muslim Council of Britain, whether her Department engages with (a) MEND, (b) CAGE and (c) the Muslim Association of Britain.
The department does not engage with MEND, CAGE or the Muslim Association of Britain.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15447, on Empty Property and Second Homes: Council Tax, what steps he plans to take if a local authority does not meet the requirement in guidance to advertise in at least one local newspaper; and whether failure to advertise would make the scheme invalid.
Councils have a duty to set their determinations in line with the government’s regulations. As the government has set out in the guidance, a council’s determination to charge the premium will not be invalidated where they do not publish this notice.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 24 of the document entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, what her target is for the number of net additional dwellings that need to be delivered in each year to meet the 1.5 million homes target by the end of this Parliament.
I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 19066 on 20 December 2024.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 25 of the document entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, which National Policy Statements she expects to update by next summer.
Consenting departments are working closely with MHCLG and Treasury to explore which National Policy Statements can be updated.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment Homes England has made of the viability of delivering the Government’s 1.5 million housebuilding target in this Parliament.
The government’s Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament is hugely ambitious but achievable.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of council tax on Real Household Disposable Income per person.
Local authorities are responsible for deciding the level of council tax, and as such the government has not undertaken such an assessment of impact on disposable income.
Communities and Local Government, whether (a) her Department and (b) its agencies have had recent discussions with representatives of INTERREG on INTERREG programmes.
MHCLG officials continue to work with 2014-20 INTERREG programmes as required to support the delivery and closure of INTERREG programmes, following the terms established in the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.
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) Oxford to Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership and (b) coordination of planning across the OxCam Arc.
At Autumn Budget, the government announced its intention to end core funding for all Pan-Regional Partnerships and consult on the impacts of this decision, if it were taken forward. This public consultation is now live and accessible on Gov.uk and Government will consider all responses received by the deadline of Monday 16 December.The Government was clear in its manifesto that housing need in England cannot be met without planning for growth on a larger than local scale, and that it will be necessary to introduce effective new mechanisms for cross-boundary strategic planning. We are committed to a universal strategic planning system to meet housing needs, deliver infrastructure, grow the economy, improve the environment and climate resilience. Legislation will be introduced in 2025, based on London's Spatial Development Strategy.
Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues on whether embassies are subject to planning enforcement decisions by (a) local authorities and (b) the courts.
Embassies are required to apply for planning permission for development proposals, including those within the curtilage of their land, similar to other properties. They are expected to comply with the same planning regulations as other entities. Enforcement powers are available at the discretion of the relevant local planning authority.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2024 on Local Government Finance, HCWS265, what the (a) estimated and (b) assumed level in council tax receipts is in absolute terms in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 on which the settlement is based.
It is for local authorities to decide at what level they set their council tax. The government will maintain the previous government’s policy of a 3% core council tax referendum principle and the 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with OBR forecasting. The full set of proposed referendum principles is set out in the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.Based on these referendum principles, the assumed council tax requirement for Core Spending Power in 2024-25 is £36.2 billion. In 2025-26 it is £38.3 billion. These figures exclude parish precepts, police and fire authorities.
Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the Planning Inspectorate's inquiry into the Chinese Embassy planning application; and what the target date is for (a) the inspector’s report to be submitted and (b) a final decision to be made.
An appointed Inspector is set to open a public inquiry in February 2025 which will hear a range of evidence for and against the proposals. After the close of the inquiry, the Inspector’s report and recommendation will be sent to the Department. The Secretary of State will have a target date of 13 weeks from receipt of the report to make her decision.
Communities and Local Government, whether embassies are subject to planning enforcement decisions.
Embassies are required to apply for planning permission for development proposals, including those within the curtilage of their land, similar to other properties. They are expected to comply with the same planning regulations as other entities. Enforcement powers are available at the discretion of the relevant local planning authority.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024 to Question 12772, if she will publish details of (a) discussions and (b) other meetings between officials and Hope Not Hate since 5 July 2024.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 12772 on 15 November 2024. The department has no plans to publish further details.
Communities and Local Government, what the deadline is for submitting representations to the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets; and if she will make it her policy to ensure that (a) each representation and (b) information on whether each representation is from a resident in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is published on the Planning Inspectorate website.
The deadline for submitting written representations in relation to this planning application was 2 December 2024. This is consistent with the timetabling arrangements set out in the Planning Inspectorate’s called-in planning applications: procedural guide which can be found on gov.uk here. The Planning Inspectorate does not publish representations received on its website. However, all representations will be taken into account before the application is decided.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 6 December 2024, to Question HL2740 on English Language: Education, what steps the her Department is taking to help promote English language proficiency in the context of integration and community cohesion.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL2739 on 4 December 2024.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on publicly disclosing the (a) names and (b) addresses of those who submit representations on planning applications.
There is no requirement for local authorities to publish representations received on planning applications, but many do so to give transparency to the decision-making process. Where local authorities choose to publish representations they must comply with data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulations, which means they cannot publish personal details without consent.