Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22042 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Consultants, what firms have had their consultancy (a) work and (b) contracts discontinued since 5 July 2024; and what her Department's monetary target is for reduction in spending on consultancy fees in 2024-25.

Addressing our biggest consultancy spends, since 5 July 2024 we have: a) achieved significant reductions in expenditure ahead of re-procuring our Neighbourhood Planning contract; b) we have also chosen not to re-procure another large spending contract for the Community Ownership Fund. Concerning the future publication of the corresponding MHCLG annual consultancy spend, I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to UIN 22042 on 14 January 2025. C) In line with the Government’s overall ambition, we are targeting a 50% reduction in consulting spend by the end of financial year 2025-26, and we expect to be able to demonstrate material progress towards achieving this at the end of financial year 2024-25.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 22034 on Candidates: Expenditure, whether such notional invoices need to provide detail on (a) how items have been split between different candidates and (b) which individual suppliers were used and at what cost.

There is no leal requirement for an invoice for notional spending where it is reported in a candidate return. The requirement is for agents to make a declaration of the value of the notional spending. However, additional information about the nature of the spending could be included to show that the value declared accurately represents the services received and used by the campaign. This could include how the items have been split between different candidates and the costs of individual suppliers.This information may be included with the return in a notional invoice from the party or any other organisation providing the items. If a return does not include evidence for the value of notional spending, and there is a question about its accuracy, the police, may need to seek this information through an investigation, to ensure that the amount decared is accurate.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the oral answer of 15 January 2025, Official Report, House of Lords, Columns 1123-1124, on Political Parties: Funding, what guidance the Commission has issued on whether (a) Russian, (b) Iranian and (c) Chinese citizens can donate to UK (i) political parties, (ii) registered third parties and (iii) regulated donees if they reside in (A) Wales and (B) Scotland.

Qualifying foreign citizens residing in Scotland and Wales are eligible to register to vote in local government and devolved elections, and are therefore permissible donors for those elections. The Commission provides guidance to Electoral Registration Officers on the eligibility criteria. Political parties, campaigners and regulated donees are responsible to carry out checks on donations they receive to ensure they are from permissible sources, and for properly and accurately reporting them. The Commission has published guidance about who is and is not a permissable donor.If the Commission is made aware of evidence that donations may have been misreported or have come from an impermissable source, it will consider it in line with its Enforcement Policy.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what plans the Commission has to consult on changes to electoral (a) law, (b) practice, (c) guidance and (d) policy in 2025.

The Electoral Commission develops guidance in consultation with electoral administrators and parties and campaigners, to ensure it is clear and meets their needs. The Commission has upcoming statutory consultations on the new digital imprint guidance in Scotland, non-party campaigner Code of Practise in Scotland, and candidate, party, and non-party campaigner Codes in Wales. It is also planning to run a consultation on guidance around accessibility measures in elections.Consultations on legislative changes, such as electoral law, are a matter for the Government. It is important that relevent stakeholders are properly consulted to ensure any changes are workable. The Commission is currently engaging with the UK Government on its manifesto commitments around electoral policy, and will consult on any necessary changes to its guidance arising from those legislative changes.The Commission also develops its own policy proposals based on it experience of overseeing and regulating elections. It gathers data on experiences of voters, electoral administrators and campaigners at each election, and has regular discussions with the electoral community, governments, and other regulators on how the law could be updated or practice improved.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, on what topics the Commission has (a) open consultations (i) through the Parliamentary Parties Panel and (ii) generally and (b) consultations that are closed but not yet had a response.

The Electoral Commission has no open consultations with the Parliamentary Parties Panel, and no consultations that are closed but have not yet been concluded.The Commission hold regular discussions with the Westminster Parliamentary Parties Panel, and each of the devolved panels, on its work and guidance. It is an important forum to gather feedback and views from political parties who provide expert insight on how the law is applied in practise and their experiences at elections.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 22034 on Candidates: Expenditure, whether the Commission has given unpublished advice on the use of notional invoices for paid-for campaigning in election expense returns in cases where multiple elections are held concurrently in the last three years.

The Electoral Commission offers advice to all candidates and parties in reponse to their queries and in line with its published guidance. For notional spending, the law states that no invoice is required in a candidate return. The Commission advises that additional information about the nature of the spending could be included to show that the value declared is accurate.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to answer Questions 23789, 23790 and 23791 on Eden Project: Morecambe, tabled on 14 January 2025.

I responded to the Hon Member on 23 January 2024.

What national security mitigations she plans to take in the context of the Chinese embassy planning application.

China’s planning application to convert the former Royal Mint buildings into its new UK embassy has been called-in by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in line with established planning policy. The planning decision sits solely with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in her independent, quasi-judicial role.We are clear that national security is the first duty of Government. It has been our core priority throughout this process. The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary submitted written representations to the Planning Inspector on 14 January. That letter is clear that the Home Office has considered the breadth of national security issues but within those conditions would not be appropriate to comment in further detail on any specific matters relating to national security.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22322 on Housing: Pylons, whether her Department is taking steps to help increase awareness of the right to submit a proposal to alter the Council Tax list.

Guidance on the right to submit a proposal (formal challenge) against a Council Tax band and changes that may affect a property’s band is published at the following links:Challenge your Council Tax band: Overview - GOV.UK.How Council Tax works: Working out your Council Tax - GOV.UK.The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) proactively raises awareness of the guidance, and in addition has created and promotes other bespoke content clearly explaining how customers can challenge their Council Tax band. This is shared on social media, gov.uk and with partner organisations, e.g. local authorities, on a regular on-going basis.

Communities and Local Government, how she plans to respond to representations from Cheshire East Council to set a council tax referendum threshold of 10% in 2025-26.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 24234 on 22 January 2024.

Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to implement the provisions on design codes of Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 6867 on 15 October 2024 and to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 12 November 2024 (HCWS209).

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) abolition of the Office for Place and (b) removal of the beauty criteria in the National Planning Policy Framework on public support for new housing.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 6867 on 15 October 2024 and to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 12 November 2024 (HCWS209).

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the correspondence entitled Local government reorganisation: letter to two-tier areas, published on 15 January 2025, if she will publish the correspondence from each council that responded to the letter.

The department has no plans to publish the correspondence from each council that responded to the letter published on the 15 January. A decision on the requests made by councils to postpone local elections will be made in due course, recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible. As set out in my letter of 16 December, these requests will only be considered where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.

Communities and Local Government, when she expects the Planning Inspectorate to publish the written representations received to planning application APP/E5900/V/24/3353754 on its website.

The Planning Inspectorate does not publish written representations received on its website as I explained in the answer to written Question UIN 19351 on 20 December 2024.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral answer of 15 January 2025, Official Report, House of Lords, Col. 1123, on Political Parties: Funding, what steps her Department is taking to obtain views and evidence from stakeholders.

As set out in our manifesto, the Government intends to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy. The work to give effect to this commitment is ongoing, and we are engaging with key stakeholders, such as the Electoral Commission. We are reviewing all relevant evidence from stakeholders.

What assessment she has made of the impact of family-owned businesses on the local economy; and what assessment has she made of the potential impact of changes to the Business Property Relief on local communities.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government took a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to restore economic stability, fix the public finances, and support public services. These were tough decisions given the situation we inherited from the previous administration, but the Government has taken them in a way that makes the tax system fairer and more sustainable.The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Questions 19351 and 19356 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if she will place in the House of Commons Library each written representation that will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate’s inquiry.

Written representations submitted to the Planning Inspectorate’s inquiry will not be placed in the House of Commons Library. However, inquiry documentation, including written representations submitted to the inquiry, is available to view in the inquiry library here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the £515 million of new funding to support councils with the costs associated with the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, announced on 18 December 2024, whether she plans to continue this funding in local government finance settlements beyond 2025-26.

Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax, which is why the government is asking employers to contribute more. All of us rely on good public services.We recognise the challenges that local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services.Taken together, the additional funding announced by the Chancellor at the Autumn Budget at the 2025-26 provisional Local Government Finance Settlement will provide over £5 billion of new funding for local services over and above local council tax. This includes an additional £2 billion of grant through the Settlement in addition to a guarantee that local authorities in England will receive at least £1.1 billion in total in 2025-26 from the new Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) scheme, and a further £233 million of additional funding for homelessness services.Local authority funding decisions beyond 2025/26 are a matter for the multi-year spending review, which is due to conclude in Spring 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on when planning permission is required to rent out a dwelling as a short-term let.

The guidance sought can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of limits on the amount that local authorities can spend on temporary accommodation from the Homelessness Prevention Grant on costs to local authorities.

This Government has inherited record levels of temporary accommodation, and we recognise the pressure this has put on councils. The Homelessness Prevention Grant was never intended to meet all of councils’ temporary accommodation costs. Councils can and do draw from the wider settlement to meet temporary accommodation costs. The government regularly takes a wide range of evidence into account when determining the overall level of funding available for local government services, including expected temporary accommodation pressures in 2025-26.The majority of funding provided through the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced in recognition that local councils are best placed to understand the needs of their communities. The Government has confirmed there will be over £5 billion additional government grant funding available for local government services in 2025-26, over and above increases to council tax. Of this, over £2 billion is being made available through the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26.