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 2,021–2,040 of 2,926 · this parliament
Pursuant to the Answer of (a) 31 July 2024 to Question 1331 and (b) 21 February 2025 to Question 29088 on Energy Performance Certificates: Housing, what his planned timetable is for publishing proposals on energy requirements on owner occupied housing.
The Government’s position on supporting owner occupiers remains as was set out in the Answer to Question 1331.
Communities and Local Government, what powers the Government has to enforce breaches of planning conditions by foreign embassies.
Responsibility for planning enforcement rests with local planning authorities. It is for them to decide how and when to use their enforcement powers depending on the particular circumstances of each case.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 31048 on Licensing Laws, what the evidential basis is that a unified consent regime for pavement licences did not prove workable.
In March 2024 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government made permanent changes to streamline applications for pavement licenses. In May 2024 the Home Office consulted on options to make permanent its existing temporary measures to streamline applications for alcohol licenses where a pavement licence is in effect. The Home Office published its analysis of responses in February 2025 and concluded that it would not take forward any of the options proposed and would instead allow temporary streamlining to end as of 31 March 2025.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29081 on Waste Disposal: Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of gate fees on local authorities' collection of household residual waste.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) publishes an annual gate fees report UK Gate Fees report 2023-24 | WRAP.
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29991 on Independent Commission into Adult Social Care, what his planned timetable is for responding to the 2028 Phase 2 report; and whether he plans that social care reforms will be (a) legislated for and (b) delivered in this Parliament.
Chaired by Baroness Casey, the Independent Commission on adult social care will be undertaken in two phases. Phase one, reporting in 2026, will identify the biggest challenges in adult social care and recommend practical changes to improve people’s lives over the next decade. Phase two, reporting by 2028, will make longer-term recommendations for the transformation of adult social care, addressing demographic change, how services should be organised to deliver this, and how to best create a fair and affordable adult social care system.The Government will consider and respond to the commission’s recommendations, including any legislative implications, when it reports. The Government recognises the pivotal role adult social care plays in nurturing local communities and helping people live as independent and fulfilling lives as possible.
Representing the House of Commons Commission, what guidance the Commission has provided on whether the provisions on hon. Members being required to report linked donations and declaring the identity of the ultimate donor, under Category 2(a), includes donations made through unincorporated associations or members' associations which in turn have been funded by a third party donor; and whether such ultimate donors should be permissible donors.
The Commission does not issue guidance on the registration of Members’ Financial interests. The Committee on Standards periodically reviews the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members and makes recommendations for changes for the House to consider.The rules on registering donations under both Category 2(a) and 2(b) are set out in paragraphs 14 to 20 of The Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members. Those rules do not require the provision of information on individuals or organisations that donate to unincorporated associations or members’ associations which in turn, make donations to Members.The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has issued an Advice Note on the transparency of registration of income, donations and other financial interests which explains the importance of transparency when registering financial interests. Advice Notes are designed to supplement, and not supersede or contradict, specific provisions of the Code.The permissibility of donors is a matter for the Electoral Commission, not the Commission.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29081 on Waste Disposal: Local Government, whether state taxes, charges or levies are placed on municipal incineration of household waste.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) publishes an annual gate fees report, including those for Energy from Waste (EfW). No taxes, charges or levies are placed on municipal incineration of household waste.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 29073 on FCDO: Flags, what flags have been flown at ground level but visible from the public highway since 5 July 2024.
The bisexual flag was flown in September 2024 and the Union flag was flown in November 2024 on the internal Quad flag poles.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 14 February 2025 to Question (a) 29078 and (b) 29080 on Property Development: Air Pollution, whether air quality assessments for developments subject to an Environment Impact Assessment are a statutory requirement.
The degree to which air quality is assessed depends on the likely significant effects of the development on the environment.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32543 on Sewers, whether the implementation of SuDS will be (a) subject to the 10 unit threshold previously proposed and (b) not apply to permitted development, including change of use.
The Government published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on 12 December 2024.This update expanded the requirement for applicants to take a more holistic approach so that it is clear that developments of all sizes are expected to make use of sustainable drainage techniques where they could have drainage impacts and take the opportunities which this offers to provide a range of benefits, but in a way which is proportionate to the nature and scale of the scheme.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 September 2024 to Question 4992 on Greenpeace, whether his Department engages with (a) Just Stop Oil and (b) Extinction Rebellion.
The Department has not engaged with Just Stop Oil or Extinction Rebellion.
Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 1 December 2020 to Question 119355 on Planning Permission: Local Press, what her Department's policy is on the continued role of statutory notices in local newspapers, in relation to (a) the revenue for local newspapers and (b) bringing matters of importance to the attention of local residents.
Public notices are important for ensuring that the public is kept informed of decisions made by their council which may affect their quality of life, local services or amenities, or their property. The independent 2019 Cairncross Review into sustainable journalism found that public notices are also an important source of revenue for local newspapers. The sector’s Public Notice Portal is a welcome innovation, intended to take advantage of print publishers’ growing digital audiences and provide a centralised resource for all types of public notice. We continue to monitor the progress of the Portal and the effect that it has on the audience reach of public notices.We also welcome the plans for expansion of the Portal, announced in December and funded by the Google News Initiative, including a fully searchable archive and new consultation functions to help public bodies and commercial entities engage with the public more effectively. We consider this type of industry innovation and collaboration to be integral to securing the sector’s future, and will seek to further support and incentivise it through our Local Media Strategy.With specific reference to the answer to Question 119355 on 1 December 2020, planning law requires local planning authorities to publicise planning applications through various means, including site notices, advertisements in local newspapers, and publishing information on their website. In addition to these requirements, we are exploring ways to enhance community engagement in the planning system, including by leveraging digital platforms.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether she plans to transfer powers from Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners to Mayors before the expiry of the terms of office of those Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners.
As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force and fire and rescue geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.The timing of the transfer of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner functions, and therefore plans for future elections, will be determined in due course.
How many asylum seekers have obtained refugee status since 4 July 2024.
The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on initial decisions on asylum claims is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’.Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to 2024.
Pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28151 on Offences against Children: Inquiries, how the £5 million will be allocated to local authorities; and whether local authorities must bid for such funding.
On 16 January 2025, the Home Secretary announced a funding package to deliver stronger national support for locally-led work on tackling group-based child sexual exploitation. This includes supporting Oldham Council who have confirmed work to undertake a local inquiry that has already begun. We are in the process of consulting with local authorities and relevant stakeholders on the design and delivery of this package and will update the House in due course.Baroness Casey is leading the National Audit in her role as the Government's lead Non-Executive Director. She is therefore not receiving additional remuneration for the Audit.
With reference to the Written Statement of 27 February 2025 on Consultation Results: Alcohol in licensed pavement areas, HCWS477, how many licensed premises will need to obtain licensing variations when easements expire.
As explained in the written statement of 27 February 2025, those businesses with an on-sales only licence that have taken advantage of the Covid era easement and wish to continue off-sales after 31 March will need to obtain a licensing variation. According to recent statistics published on GOV.UK, as of October 2024, 2490 premises were taking advantage of the easement. To minimise the impact on businesses, the Government has amended statutory licensing guidance to make it easier and cheaper for businesses to apply for this variation. This guidance advises licensing authorities to initially treat applications for such amendments as a minor variation to the licence. This will minimise any transitional cost and bureaucracy for those affected by making the process quicker and much cheaper – costing £89 - than major licence variations.As we made clear in the Written Statement, the Government will monitor the decisions made around the country by local authorities on these requests for licence variations, in liaison with the beer and pub industries, and will assess any evidence that pubs where the current easements have been working successfully are being denied the opportunity to continue making off-sales beyond April 2025 without reasonable cause. In those circumstances, and notwithstanding the results of last year’s consultation exercise, we will consider what further steps may need to be taken through the licensing regime to support our local pubs.
Pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025, to Question 29613, on Asylum: Contracts, whether her Department holds contracts with non-strategic suppliers for the provision of asylum accommodation and support services; and which organisation provides asylum accommodation and support services outside the (a) North West, (b) Midlands and (c) East of England.
The Home Office holds five contracts with non-strategic suppliers for the provision of Asylum Accommodation and Support Services, outside of the North West, Midlands and East of England. These services are provided by Mears and CRH.Details of these agreements are published on Contract Finder at:NEYHAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NEYH - Contracts Finder ScotlandAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Scotland - Contracts Finder NIAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NI - Contracts Finder WalesAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Wales - Contracts Finder SouthAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract South - Contracts Finder
With reference to the Written Statement of 27 February 2025 on Consultation Results: Alcohol in licensed pavement areas, HCWS477, whether pubs and restaurants with pavement licences will need to vary their Licensing Act 2023 premises licence to continue to serve alcohol in designated pavement areas.
As explained in the written statement of 27 February 2025, those businesses with an on-sales only licence that have taken advantage of the Covid era easement and wish to continue off-sales after 31 March will need to obtain a licensing variation. According to recent statistics published on GOV.UK, as of October 2024, 2490 premises were taking advantage of the easement. To minimise the impact on businesses, the Government has amended statutory licensing guidance to make it easier and cheaper for businesses to apply for this variation. This guidance advises licensing authorities to initially treat applications for such amendments as a minor variation to the licence. This will minimise any transitional cost and bureaucracy for those affected by making the process quicker and much cheaper – costing £89 - than major licence variations.As we made clear in the Written Statement, the Government will monitor the decisions made around the country by local authorities on these requests for licence variations, in liaison with the beer and pub industries, and will assess any evidence that pubs where the current easements have been working successfully are being denied the opportunity to continue making off-sales beyond April 2025 without reasonable cause. In those circumstances, and notwithstanding the results of last year’s consultation exercise, we will consider what further steps may need to be taken through the licensing regime to support our local pubs.
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025, to Question 29607, on Offences against Children: Reviews, what remuneration is being given to Baroness Case of Blackstock for leading the review; and whether this remuneration is in addition to her remuneration as the Government’s lead Non-Executive Director.
On 16 January 2025, the Home Secretary announced a funding package to deliver stronger national support for locally-led work on tackling group-based child sexual exploitation. This includes supporting Oldham Council who have confirmed work to undertake a local inquiry that has already begun. We are in the process of consulting with local authorities and relevant stakeholders on the design and delivery of this package and will update the House in due course.Baroness Casey is leading the National Audit in her role as the Government's lead Non-Executive Director. She is therefore not receiving additional remuneration for the Audit.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, December 2024, whether she plans to transfer the powers of current (a) Police and Crime and (b) Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners to new Mayoral Combined Authorities in the areas where they are being created.
As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force and fire and rescue geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.The timing of the transfer of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner functions, and therefore plans for future elections, will be determined in due course.