Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 12 February 2025 on Further support for social and affordable housebuilding and next steps on supported housing, HCWS447, what the estimated average grant subsidy per unit is by tenure type for the Local Authority Housing Fund third round.

The amount of grant provided under the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund is calculated relative to local property prices. We provide a grant of 40% of the median house price in the local authority area, or 50% for larger homes.On the 12 February the government committed a further £50 million in new funding and around £30 million of reallocated funds taking the total funding available to £530 million. Based on the total expected commitment and outcomes, the average grant rate for each home delivered will be c. £196k.We do not provide different grant rates for tenures under the Local Authority Housing Fund, but we do require that all homes delivered under the fund are affordable.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26838 on Local Government: Debts, whether councils which are (a) in two-tier areas and (b) have high levels of unsustainable debt will have those debts ringfenced during local government restructuring to the council area which originally generated the debt.

It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt, which they will do in the normal course of business. In general, as with previous restructures including those very recently, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation. For areas where there are exceptional circumstances where there has been failure linked to capital practices, proposals should reflect the extent to which the implications of this can be managed locally, including as part of efficiencies possible through reorganisation. We will work in partnership with local areas to work through the implications of this.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to continue to publish statutory notices in local newspapers.

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.

Communities and Local Government, whether national security considerations relating to (a) foreign interference and (b) spying are a valid material consideration in the planning process.

National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 102 sets out how planning policies and decisions should promote public safety and take into account wider security and defence requirements. Each case is considered on their own merits.

With reference to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's consultation entitled Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update, published on 7 February 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the suitability of pre Second World War housing stock for (a) cavity wall insulation and (b) external wall insulation.

Cavity Wall Insulation and External Wall Insulation when installed correctly is a cost-effective means of improving energy efficiency in homes. All work carried out under current Government energy efficiency schemes, must be installed by a retrofit professional who is certified to Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2030, with work carried out in accordance with PAS 2035. Installers must also be registered with TrustMark and required to provide a TrustMark approved 25-year insurance backed guarantee. This ensures the highest quality installations. Government does not specify which types of insulation should be installed in any particular property, only that the installations should be carried out by TrustMark registered installers in accordance with the relevant standards and consumer protection requirements.

If she will publish the independent review into the Valuation Office Agency’s Automated Valuation Model.

As outlined in the response to PQ UIN 15200, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will publish further information on the model and its use in supporting the Welsh Government’s Council Tax reform ambitions on GOV.UK before April 2025.The information that will be published will be more up to date and cover similar content to the International Association of Assessing Officers presentations from 2023, so there is no intention to publish these.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23146 on Local Plans, how many times local planning authorities will be required to update their local development plans during this Parliament.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20841 on 7 January 2025 and the answer to UIN 23146 on 21 January 2025.Local planning authorities should review local development plans once every five years from their adoption date to ensure that policies remain relevant and that they address the needs of the local community.However, there will be occasions where there are significant changes in circumstances which may mean it is necessary to review the relevant strategic policies earlier.

Communities and Local Government, what the status is of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in UK (a) law and (b) governance.

The European Charter of Local Self-Government is an international legal instrument, and as such, the principles of local self-government which it enumerates are recognised in the domestic legislation that makes provision for the powers and procedures of local government. We will continue to fully comply with our obligations under the Charter.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to hold local referendums on proposed local government mergers.

There are no plans to make a policy to hold local referendums on proposed local government mergers. Proposals for unitary local government must meet local needs and be informed by local views. It is for councils to decide how best to engage locally in a meaningful and constructive way and this engagement activity should be evidenced in a proposal.Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the Government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) unitary structures and (b) fewer councillors on the workload of councillors.

Unitary councils can lead to better outcomes for residents, save significant money which can be reinvested in public services, and improve accountability with fewer politicians, but more empowered who are more able to focus on delivering for residents. My department will continue to work closely with councils, and with the Local Government Association (LGA), the District Councils Network, the County Councils Network and other local government partners to plan how best to support councils through this process.

Communities and Local Government, what the cost to the public purse is for the work of the New Towns Taskforce since it was established in September 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Questions UIN 22561 on 27 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has undertaken any post-implementation evaluation of previous local government reorganisations.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper we will learn from the experience and successes of others who have been through the process. We welcome the partnership approach that is being taken across the sector to respond to the ambitious plans set out in the White Paper, including sharing expertise on delivering reorganisation effectively given each areas’ unique circumstances. For North Yorkshire Council, established in April 2023, unitarisation has enabled the council to manage financial pressures through structural changes and service transformation which are expected to achieve more than £40 million in savings by March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21621 on Unitary Councils, whether there is a recommended (a) minimum and (b) maximum geographical area for the size of a unitary council.

In our unitary 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. Proposals should be for a sensible geography which will help to increase housing supply and meet local needs. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme 2025 carbon price on the (a) housebuilding sector and (b) her Department's housebuilding targets.

The housebuilding sector is not covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme so the effects on the sector are not assessed.

Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the regeneration of estates.

The government is committed to supporting estate regeneration schemes to transform neighbourhoods by delivering high-quality, well-designed places, more homes, and opportunities for residents.Tenants are key partners in estate regeneration, and their engagement is essential in any successful scheme.Since 2023, the Affordable Homes Programme funding has been available to deliver estate regeneration schemes where there is a positive impact on overall housing supply.In London, government is delivering additional funding through the £50 million London Estate Regeneration Fund, working in partnership with the Greater London Authority.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to her oral statement of 5 February 2025 on English Devolution and Local Government, Official Report, Column 766, whether she plans to follow article six of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in the context of her proposals to change two-tier councils to unitary structures.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, sets out the process we will follow in undertaking local government reorganisation. The undertakings in the Act are consistent with the UK’s commitments under the European Charter of Local Self Government and we will continue to fully comply with all our obligations under the Charter. In formulating proposals for local government reorganisation we expect local leaders to ensure there is wide engagement with their Members of Parliament, local partners and stakeholders, residents, workforce and their representatives, and businesses in working up their proposals. Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the Government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute. Once established, the new unitarities will determine the structure of their own administrative services and terms of employment.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 27566 on Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, if she will list each substantive policy measure in that Act that has not yet (a) commenced and (b) been implemented.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 27566 on 7 February 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 12 February 2025 on Further support for social and affordable housebuilding and next steps on supported housing, HCWS447, what the estimated average grant subsidy per unit is for funding provided for local authority temporary accommodation.

The amount of grant provided under the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund is calculated relative to local property prices. We provide a grant of 40% of the median house price in the local authority area, or 50% for larger homes.On the 12 February the government committed a further £50 million in new funding and around £30 million of reallocated funds taking the total funding available to £530 million. Based on the total expected commitment and outcomes, the average grant rate for each home delivered will be c. £196k.We do not provide different grant rates for tenures under the Local Authority Housing Fund, but we do require that all homes delivered under the fund are affordable.

Communities and Local Government, how her Department enforces breaches of flag flying regulations; and what guidance her Department has produced on enforcement of advertising regulations.

Responsibility for the enforcement of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007, which control the display of adverts including flags, rests with local planning authorities.It is for authorities to decide when and how they use their enforcement powers.The department publishes general guidance on the advertisement consent regime which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 24230 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Appointments, whether her Department has had discussions with the office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments on the reasons for which the Departmental board was unable to meet.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates public appointments and provides independent assurance in relation to these. We wrote to the Commissioner on 2 October 2024 to consult him on the appointment of an interim Lead Non-Executive Director to ensure non-executive representation at the departmental board. This is in line with central governance requirements for government departments. We report on the activities of the departmental board as part of our standard annual reporting processes, which include the Annual Report and Accounts.