Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms her Department plans to put in place to help detect (a) fraudulent and (b) incorrect claims for retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief relief in the context of the (i) cash cap and (ii) minimal financial assistance limit; and whether any public body is responsible for cross-local authority checks.

The administration of business rates, including billing, enforcement and decisions on the award of relief, is the responsibility of local billing authorities. They do so having regard to the guidance published by the government As the guidance sets out, the government and billing authorities will not tolerate any business falsifying their records or providing false evidence to gain a discount on their business rates bill, including claiming support above the cash cap. Local authorities have powers to combat fraud, and any ratepayer who falsely applies for any relief, or who provides false information or makes false representation to gain relief, may be guilty of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006. The government is committed to making further progress to tackle business rates avoidance, in line with the ambitions of Transforming Business Rates.

Communities and Local Government, with which principal local authorities Ministers in her Department have not had meetings with since 4 July 2024.

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

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2025, to Question 29928, on Proof of Identity: Children, whether an external researcher has been commissioned.

Officials are currently exploring the research options for a robust sample and the procurement routes to achieve this. No decision has been made at this time.

How her Department plans to share services between the (a) fire and rescue and (b) police services; and if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of establishing Police and Fire Service Commissioners.

The Policing and Crime Act 2017 requires ambulance trusts, fire and rescue bodies and police bodies in England to consider collaboration opportunities.These include, where appropriate, sharing estates and assets where it is considered that it would result in improved efficiency or effectiveness for one or more partner.Police and Crime Commissioners in several areas have also taken responsibility for governance of local fire and rescue services, and the Government is bringing forward legislation to establish more mayoral authorities which could be responsible for both police and fire and rescue.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 27567 on Affordable Housing: Construction, how many units of affordable housing are in Homes England’s Section 106 Affordable Housing Clearing Service.

Since Homes England's Section 106 Affordable Housing Clearing Service was launched in December 2024, 411 organisations have registered. This includes 113 housebuilders, 184 Registered Providers of social housing and 114 Local Authorities. The number of affordable homes registered currently stands at 800.The government continues to call on all developers with uncontracted Section 106 affordable homes, as well as registered providers and local planning authorities, to engage proactively with this new service.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21697 on Voting Rights: Foreign Nationals, whether she has considered amending the franchise for elections to (a) the UK Parliament, (b) Northern Ireland Assembly, (c) local government elections in England and Northern Ireland and (d) Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21697, the Government has no plans to amend the voting rights of foreign nationals for elections to the UK Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly, local government elections in England and Northern Ireland and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales. In common with most other democracies, voting rights are limited to citizens. In addition, in UK elections for which the UK Government and Parliament have responsibility (that is, not devolved elections in Scotland and Wales), Commonwealth and Irish citizens can vote, while eligible EU citizens can vote in elections which use the local government register.

Communities and Local Government, whether new mayors in combined county authorities will have powers to (a) revoke, (b) amend or (c) disregard the agreed local plans of local planning authorities.

Mayors in combined county authorities will not be given any new powers to revoke, amend or disregard adopted local plans. There are existing provisions set out in Schedule A1 to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, which allow the Secretary of State to invite the Mayor of London or a combined authority to prepare or revise a local plan where a local planning authority are failing to do anything that it is necessary for them to do in connection with the preparation, revision or adoption of a local plan. These powers are also extended to combined county authorities by the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023, although the relevant provisions are not yet in force.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of pupils transferring from private to state schools on the cost to local authorities of home school transport.

Local authorities are required to arrange free home-to-school travel for children of compulsory school age who attend their nearest school and would be unable to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or because the route is unsafe. As such, most pupils do not need home-to-school transport. Departmental officials work closely with local authorities in relation to home-to-school transport and will continue to engage on this. As set out in HMT’s impact assessment, we expect the level of movement from private to state-funded schools following tax changes to be very small. We have not seen any evidence to contradict our expectations. Most central government funding for home-to-school travel is provided through the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) administered by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The provisional LGFS makes £69 billion available to local authorities in the 2025/2026 financial year, the majority of which is not ringfenced. Together with local income from council tax and business rates, this will provide a real-terms increase in core spending power of around 3.2%.

Communities and Local Government, if she will published (a) the process and (b) her Department's timetable for determining how the new unitary councils will be awarded local business rates for retention.

Under the Business Rates Retention System, a share of business rates is retained by local government. The distribution of business rates income between local authorities is determined by the relationship between each authority’s funding need compared with its ability to collect business rates locally. Figures known as Baseline Funding Levels and the Business Rates Baselines were set for all authorities at the outset of the system.When reorganisation takes place, these baselines need to be recalculated for any new authorities as part of a range of changes necessary to take account of new structures within the local government finance system. The Department will engage with reorganising authorities to determine the basis for these changes.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22385 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Cost Effectiveness, if she will itemise efficiency savings in 2024-25.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has already outlined savings found as part of the Fixing the Foundations: Public Spending Audit 2024-25. This included an agreement to £154 million in savings in response to the HM Treasury (HMT) Savings Commission - for an itemised list please refer to the answer given to Question UIN 2635 on 5 September 2024.

Communities and Local Government, on what date she expects the Planning Inspectorate to submit its report on the Chinese Embassy planning inquiry.

The Inspector’s report and recommendation on the Chinese Embassy planning inquiry is currently expected to be submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in June. The Planning Inspectorate will inform the application parties when the report has been submitted.

Communities and Local Government, what the level of debt is of each local authority in England (a) in absolute terms and (b) as a percentage of annual budget.

The Ministry of Housing of Communities and Local Government collects data returns from local authorities. These returns are collated and published by MHCLG on the .gov website. Budget data is located in the Revenue Outturn reports which can be located here - Local authority revenue expenditure and financing - GOV.UK There are various metrics by which debt can be measured. Links to relevant information along with a summary what is available in each are set out below: Borrowing and investment live tables - Live tables on local government finance - GOV.UKThis dataset shows all UK local authorities’ borrowing and investment on a quarterly basis. The data is split by each authority dating back to 2014. There is also an annual summary table which shows the cumulative balances on an annual basis. Capital expenditure, receipts and financing - Local authority capital expenditure, receipts and financing - GOV.UK This dataset is an annual return collected from English authorities only and dates back to 2000. These returns explain in more detail the expenditure of each authority and how these are financed, including each authority’s year end debt position, individually and in aggregate.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) empty home premiums on council tax, (b) second home premiums on council tax and (c) planning conditions against the use of new build homes as secondary residences on (i) house prices and (ii) housing markets in (A) England and (B) Wales.

The use of council tax premiums is at local authorities’ discretion. The government does collect data on the use of premiums and number of empty and second homes, which is published in the government’s council taxbase statistics. However, it does not make housing market assessments based on premiums. The government does not monitor the number of planning permissions granted that are subject to conditions that restrict the use of a property. It is for local planning authorities to consider what planning conditions are appropriate for a development on a case-by-case basis.These are devolved policy areas, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on policy for Wales.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 26697 on Local Government: Reorganisation, when she expects the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to become involved in reviewing electoral arrangements of the proposed new unitary councils; whether the role of the Commission will be (a) formal or (b) advisory; whether there will be public consultation on the electoral arrangements for the new councils; and whether the Commission will be involved in determining the (i) number of and (ii) external boundaries for the unitary councils.

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. In terms of the number of and external boundaries of new unitary councils, the process set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 is that following the receipt of proposals for a single tier of local government the Secretary of State may request the LGBCE to advise on any matter that relates to the proposal. The Secretary of State may by order implement the proposal, with or without modification; if she has received an alternative proposal from the LGBCE, by order implement that alternative proposal with or without modification; or decide to take no action.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has appointed a foreign affairs adviser.

As set out on gov.uk, the Deputy Prime Minister’s role includes acting in support of the government's international agenda.While the Deputy Prime Minister does not have a specific foreign affairs adviser, officials in the department are working closely with officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Cabinet Office to ensure she has the necessary support to carry out that role.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025, to Question 28309 on Freeports: Trade Unions, whether freeport board members are subject to fiduciary duty to shareholders.

Freeports are either incorporated as Companies Limited by Guarantee or sit within the governance structures of a Mayoral Combined Authority; in either case, they do not have shareholders. Freeport boards have a clear and specific remit for delivering the public policy objectives of the Freeports Programme and the resultant responsibilities of individual board members (both full members and observers) are defined in articles of association, where the Freport is incorporated, or terms of reference for the board, where it is not.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25695 on Empty Property: Shops, by what date she plans to end funding on a bidding scheme basis.

The High Street Rental Auction fund application period runs from the 15 January 2025 to 31 January 2026, or until the funds are fully allocated.

Communities and Local Government, what (a) research and (b) evaluation she has undertaken on the impact of the number of empty homes on empty home premiums for council tax.

The government annually publishes data on the number of dwellings liable for a premium, and the number of dwellings classed as empty homes for council tax purposes. The government monitors this data with interest and will keep this policy under review. However, it is ultimately for councils to decide whether to make use of the premium. In doing so they will consider relevant local factors and how this will shape their approach to empty homes.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 23789 on the Eden Project: Morecambe, what estimate she has been made of any change in the (a) build and (b) operating costs of the project in light of the delay in opening date.

The final full business case for the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Round 2 project “Eden Project North” was received by the department on the 23 September 2024. A memorandum of understanding was issued to Lancaster City Council on the 18 November 2024 and signed by the department on the 19 November 2024.It is expected that this project will have full match funding of £50 million making the total LUF project cost £100 million.I can confirm that all allocated funding will be available from Quarter one of 2026.The latest delivery milestones timetable is for each milestones including dates is set out below. Full design stage – (RIBA 2-4) March 25 - October 26 Initial enabling works during design - August 2025 - November 2025Main site enabling works commences - March 2026 - July 2026Main construction commences - March 2026 - July 2028 Main Construction Practical Completion – July 2028 - August 2028Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition – May 2028 - October 2028

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 23789 on Eden Project: Morecambe, when her Department expects the project to be (a) completed and (b) open to visitors.

The final full business case for the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Round 2 project “Eden Project North” was received by the department on the 23 September 2024. A memorandum of understanding was issued to Lancaster City Council on the 18 November 2024 and signed by the department on the 19 November 2024.It is expected that this project will have full match funding of £50 million making the total LUF project cost £100 million.I can confirm that all allocated funding will be available from Quarter one of 2026.The latest delivery milestones timetable is for each milestones including dates is set out below. Full design stage – (RIBA 2-4) March 25 - October 26 Initial enabling works during design - August 2025 - November 2025Main site enabling works commences - March 2026 - July 2026Main construction commences - March 2026 - July 2028 Main Construction Practical Completion – July 2028 - August 2028Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition – May 2028 - October 2028