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 2,381–2,400 of 2,926 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure compliance with propriety guidance for the call-in of the proposed new Chinese Embassy.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to UIN 22643 on 27 January 2025.
Communities and Local Government, if she will publish all correspondence, including electronic communications, between 10 Downing Street and her Department on the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy.
As is longstanding practice, we do not normally disclose internal communications.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 18374 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Staff, how many and what proportion of staff attended each regional office for each week of November 2024.
Number and proportion of staff contractually assigned to each office with at least one office visit during the reference periodWC 4th NovemberWC 11th NovemberWC 18th NovemberWC 24th NovemberEast of England68 (56%)76 (62%)73 (60%)77 (63%)London1550 (70%)1578 (71%)1578 (71%)1534 (69%)Midlands290 (58%)306 (61%)259 (51%)290 (58%)Northern Ireland13 (62%)14 (67%)14 (67%)12 (57%)North East137 (71%)125 (64%)127 (65%)127 (65%)North West206 (60%)219 (63%)188 (54%)211 (61%)Scotland38 (73%)35 (67%)36 (69%)38 (73%)South East22 (81%)20 (74%)19 (70%)19 (70%)South West131 (56%)133 (57%)134 (58%)122 (52%)Wales33 (73%)30 (67%)26 (58%)25 (56%)Yorkshire and Humber145 (66%)133 (61%)137 (63%)130 (59%)Grand Total2633 (66%)2669 (67%)2591 (65%)2585 (65%)
Communities and Local Government, if she will commence the street votes programme through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.
The government continues to review its policy inheritance from the last government, including in relation to specific provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act that have not been brought into force.
Communities and Local Government, whether secondary legislation to implement the provisions on local referendums in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 has been drafted.
The government is still reviewing its policy inheritance from the last government, including in relation to street votes. We have already taken significant steps to fix the planning system and unlock new housing and we will set out our plans for further planning reform in due course.
Communities and Local Government, whether the establishment of a Mayoral Development Corporation requires her consent.
The Localism Act 2011 first introduced provisions permitting the Mayor of London to designate Mayoral Development Areas (MDAs) and Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs). These powers can now be conferred on elected mayors of Combined Authorities and Combined County Authorities.Mayors can designate MDAs, subject to the provisions in section 197 of the Localism Act 2011. If the Secretary of State receives a notification per section 197(6) of the 2011 Act, in accordance with section 198(2), she must by order establish an MDC for the area designated by the Mayor. In such cases, the Secretary of State has no discretion as to the establishment of the MDC and therefore her consent is not required.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 13624 on Road Signs and Markings and with reference to Section 81 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, what plans she has to bring forward secondary legislation to enable local referendums on changes to street names.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 13624 on 19 November 2024.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 17563 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, what guidance her Department has issued to planning decision-makers on how planning applications which have (a) previously been refused and (b) been resubmitted without any substantive changes should be considered.
The relevant Planning Practice Guidance can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15985 on Planning Permission: Publicity, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the income generated by publishing statutory notices on the financial viability of independent local newspapers.
The government has no plans to assess the impact of income generated from statutory notices on the viability of local newspapers.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18957 on Devolution: East of England, for what reason planning powers are being transferred to a regional level.
The government does not intend to transfer planning powers to a regional level. The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, published in December 2024, confirmed our commitment to implement strategic planning at a sub-regional level through the production of Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs).
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18960 on Council of the Nations and Regions: National Identity, what definition of (a) regions and (b) nations her Department uses within the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024.
The United Kingdom comprises four constituent nations. The English Devolution White paper sets out how powers will be devolved within England, to regions whose boundaries are to be agreed with local stakeholders.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 16 December 2024 on English Devolution, HCWS316, if she will place in the Library a copy of each substantive response by local authorities to the invitation sent to places without devolution in July 2024.
As has been the case under successive administrations, we do not generally publish private letters of correspondence sent to Government Ministers.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18952 on Local Government Pension Scheme, what assessment she has made of the potential risk (a) to investment returns from the proposed changes to the nature and types of investments and (b) of political interference in investment decisions.
The Government remains committed to fiduciary duty remaining with local pension funds, who are responsible for ensuring that assets are invested in the best interests of employers and scheme members. Fiduciary duty is key to limiting political interference in investment decisions. Under the Government’s proposals Local Government Pension Scheme administering authorities will retain the responsibility for setting an investment strategy for their fund, including high-level objectives on the required levels of risk and return, which is the key driver of investment returns.The Government published analysis in the Pension fund investment and the UK economy research paper, which illustrated that greater scale is able to generate greater economies and efficiencies, and to reduce investment risks.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to para 4.2.3 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, how the (a) debts and (b) surpluses of individual councils will be divided up in areas with local government restructuring; and whether debt liability will be transferred to all the taxpayers in the new unitary.
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. Local government re-organisation does not change this. Previous Secretaries of State used statutory powers to intervene in a small number of councils failing their Best Value Duty partly associated with high levels of unsustainable debt.We will work with local leaders to explore how best to support local government reorganisation where there has been failure. We will continue to work with Best Value Commissioners in these councils to support the councils’ financial recovery.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 3.2 of the Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, if she will make an estimate of the average change in Band D council tax in England from proposed changes to mayoral precepts.
Mayoral precepts are a matter for mayors, who are accountable to local taxpayers. Successive governments have not put in place measures to limit mayoral precepts. The measures in the English Devolution White Paper seek to provide consistent powers between Mayoral Combined Authorities.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the New Homes Bonus on the funding of district councils.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 19760 on 20 December 2024.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 16 December 2024 on English Devolution, HCWS316, whether local authorities will be able to impose selective licensing requirements on all private rented properties.
On 23 December 2024, a new General Approval for selective licensing came into force. This enables local authorities to introduce selective licensing schemes of any size without seeking approval from the Secretary of State. Under the previous 2015 General Approval, approval was required for schemes covering more than 20% of a local authority’s Private Rented Sector stock or geographical area.No changes have been made to the legislative requirements for introducing and managing a selective licensing scheme. Local authorities will still need to meet the requirements under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 and comply with the condition in the General Approval to consult for at least 10 weeks on any new schemes.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, what steps is she taking to ensure new housebuilding is prioritised over the protection of newts.
When it comes to development and the environment, we know we can do better than the status quo, which too often sees both sustainable housebuilding and nature recovery stall. Instead of environmental protections being seen as a barrier to growth, we want to unlock a win-win for the economy and for nature.Proposals for a Nature Restoration Fund are under development for inclusion in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Further information will be set out when the Bill is introduced.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 19702 on Housing: Construction, if the 1.5 million target will be backloaded in this Parliament.
As set out in our Plan for Change, lead times in planning, infrastructure and construction mean we are already constrained by the impact of decisions taken by the previous government, but we expect the number of new homes to start rising significantly in the third year of the Parliament once our reforms take effect.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18957 on Devolution: East of England, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to devolve decision-making powers to (a) parents in relation to local education policy and (b) local taxpayers in relation to the delivery of public services.
We committed in the English Devolution White Paper to look at the case for strengthening communities with greater rights to be involved in their local issues and there will be further announcements relating to communities later this year. It is for local leaders to decide to decide how best to engage with residents in their delivery of services.