Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29001 on Local Government: Elections, whether the scheduled 2026 district council elections will be cancelled if a decision is taken in the two-tier area to move ahead with unitary local government restructuring.

There are no plans to cancel district council elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification. The date of any unitary council elections will depend on the nature of proposals for local government reorganisation and progress on development of those proposals. Members could review the numerous examples of reorganisations which took place under the previous government to better understand the practical steps taken as the programme progresses.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23351 on Regulator of Social Housing: Translation Services, which document includes guidance to registered providers of social housing on supplying information in different languages.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 23351 on 21 January 2025 and the answer given to Question UIN 30140 on 18 February 2025.I also refer the hon. Member to the Regulator of Social Housing’s Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard, which can be found on gov.uk here and the consumer standards Code of Practice which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what the target number of affordable homes provided through the 2021-26 Affordable Housing Programme is; and how many of those homes are (a) social rent, (b) affordable rent, (c) affordable home ownership, (d) supported housing and (e) rural housing across (i) England and (ii) London.

The Department published an update on targets in respect of the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme on 30 July 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here. The Greater London Authority (GLA) has shared targets for the programme in London. These can be found on gov.uk here. Homes England set out their target for the programme outside of London in their annual report and accounts. This can be found on gov.uk here. As set out in my answer to Question UIN 16935 on 16 December 2024, the government will continue to work with Homes England and the GLA to support them to deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and home-ownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 23793 on National Identity, for what reason establishing strategic authorities will augment (a) pride in England and (b) the English national identity.

We want to see all of England benefit from devolution, with full devolution coverage across the country, with an ambition for all areas to have a Mayor. Mayors will be able to come together at the Mayoral Council to consider issues that affect England, and will represent England at the Council of Nations and Regions. Further the creation of the Mayoral Council as a England wide body, together with the Leaders Council allows for senior elected members in the country to demonstrate collective leadership.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make use of Legislative Reform Orders to deliver changes to primary legislation.

Ministers consider a range of legislative and non-legislative options to deliver the Government’s Plan for Change.All legislation will be presented before Parliament to consider in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025,to Question 26561 on HM Land Registry: Buildings, how many Land Registry staff assigned to work in the Croydon office attended that office in person on average in December 2024.

359 staff assigned to work in the Croydon office attended that office in person in December 2024. No adjustment has been made to attendance numbers to account for those on short term leave.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30361 on Local Government: Elections, whether she had discussions with the district councils in (a) East Sussex, (b) West Sussex, (c) Essex, (d) Norfolk, (e) Suffolk, (f) Hampshire and (g) Surrey prior to the announcement of the cancellation of elections in those areas in May 2025.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question MHCLG: 23916 on MHCLG: Legal Costs, whether it is her Department's policy that (a) organisations may be classified as extremist but will not be publicly named as such, (b) organisations will not be classified as extremist, (c) Ministers may name organisations as extremist when covered by Parliamentary privilege.

It has been a long standing rule under successive governments that the Home Office does not comment on specific groups or individual cases.The government’s focus is to reduce and disrupt the influence of high-harm groups and individuals and the spread of extremist ideologies that can lead to community division and to radicalisation into terrorism. Where there is evidence of purposeful actions that are potentially radicalising others into terrorism or violence, proportionate legislative action will be considered.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question HL4177 on Local Government: Devolution and Elections, whether advice from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England will be public.

The Local Government Boundary Commission England (LGBCE) is responsible for electoral reviews for local government, reviewing wards, and setting the council size in terms of number of councillors. When a full electoral review of a newly established authority is carried out, the LGBCE will follow its guidance (which is available on its website), and the electoral review process includes a local consultation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 13622 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Industrial Disputes, what the issue relating to office attendance between HM Land Registry and PCS is.

The disputed issue between PCS and HM Land Registry on the matter of office attendance relates to the government’s requirement for civil servants to attend the office for 60% of the time and HM Land Registry’s implementation of the requirement. Talks with PCS to conclude the dispute are ongoing.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of (a) 7 February 2025 to Question 27249 and (b) 11 February 2025 to Question 28154 on MHCLG: Staff, if she will publish figures for (a) each individual departmental office and (b) the number of aggregate, numeric staff attendances there were in an average week, for December 2024.

MHCLG publishes quarterly HQ Occupancy Statistics for its headquarters at 2 Marsham Street, London (not proportional attendance). We do not intend to publish regional information or numeric staff attendances.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department engages with Greenpeace.

The department does not currently engage or is intending any engagement with Greenpeace.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 27157 on Council of the Nations and Regions: National Identity, what role Ministers have in determining the size and geography of a region where local stakeholders do not consent to such a classification.

The government will consider proposals for future devolution agreements against the criteria set out in the White Paper. A vital element of successful devolution is the ability for local residents to engage with and hold their devolved institutions to account – and local identity is therefore one of these criteria.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 28051 on Affordable Housing: Construction, what the level of sub-market rents should be in properties that are not for social rent; and whether sub-market rents are included within the affordable rent model.

Affordable or Intermediate Rent is defined as homes let at least 20% below local market rents (affordable rental properties) or let at rates set between market rents and social rents (intermediate rental properties). Social Rent is set through the National Rent Regime in England at around 50% of market rents. Affordable housing may also be targeted to address a specific need, such as specialist housing for vulnerable, older or disabled people, known as “supported housing”. Further information can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29001 on Local Government: Elections, whether the 2027-2028 go-live dates are after a period of operation as a shadow authority; and what her preferred period of time is that a body should be in shadow status to prepare for its establishment.

We have been clear in the invitation letter that we will work with areas to move to elections to new ‘shadow’ unitary councils as soon as possible, as is the usual arrangement in the process of local government reorganisation. Detailed timings will depend on the proposals submitted, but we envisage a period of operation as a shadow authority , ahead of go-live on 1 April the following year.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 26030 on Radicalism, what his planned timetable is for the publication; and when the steering group next plans to meet.

We plan to publish this information as soon as possible. We expect to meet next in the coming months.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her proposals for local government reorganisation on the division of costs for public services between principal and town and parish councils (a) during and (b) after the restructuring process.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, we will want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level. We will also rewire the relationship between town and parish councils and principal Local Authorities, strengthening expectations on engagement and community voice. It will be for local councils to consider the delivery of public services as they develop their proposals for reorganisation. In our invitation we have set out guidance to support councils as they develop proposals that are in the best interests of their areas. This includes guidance on issues of size, sensible geographies, efficiencies and financial sustainability, public service delivery, community engagement and devolution.

Communities and Local Government, what obligations local authorities have to provide state-subsidised housing to people with refugee status; and what priority they have.

Eligibility for social housing in England is tightly controlled. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. Among those eligible for social housing, priority is determined according to need. Refugees are not automatically granted a priority need. If an asylum seeker receives a positive decision on their claim, asylum-pathway refugees have their housing needs considered on the same basis as other eligible applicants in accordance with the local authority’s housing allocation scheme. Local authorities supporting resettled refugees who arrive in the UK via the UK Resettlement Scheme do so on a voluntary basis. The previous government consulted on changes to social housing allocation tests. This government’s response was published on 2 September and can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question HL4406 on Local Government: Reorganisation, how many individual Ministerial direction powers she plans to legislate for across the (a) English Devolution Bill and (b) the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

All Ministerial direction powers legislated across the English Devolution Bill and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will be set out during introduction and passage of each Bill through Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 27157 on Council of the Nations and Regions: National Identity, whether there is a requirement of a sense of regional identity to qualify as a recognised region.

The government will consider proposals for future devolution agreements against the criteria set out in the White Paper. A vital element of successful devolution is the ability for local residents to engage with and hold their devolved institutions to account – and local identity is therefore one of these criteria.