Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason she has placed a limit on the amount local authorities can spend on temporary accommodation costs from Homelessness Prevention Grant.

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.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 20226 on Environment Impact Assessment, what her planned timetable is for replacing the system of environmental assessment.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to question UIN 20226 on 24 December 2024.

What assessment she has made of the potential role of long-term fixed-rate mortgages in enabling more first-time buyers to get on the property ladder.

While the design and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene, this Government welcomes innovation in the mortgage market, particularly where this provides borrowers with the greatest choice possible about the level of interest rate risk that they are willing to take on. Lenders in the UK already do offer this type of mortgage product, and any borrowers, including first-time buyers, looking to take out a long-term fixed rate mortgage are encouraged to shop around and speak to a broker to find the best possible product for their circumstances.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16495 on Local Government and Mayors: Elections, what her timetable is for updating the list with combined authority mayoral elections.

In response to the Hon. Member’s question tabled on 27 November (UIN 16495), I arranged for the addition of combined and county combined authority mayoral elections to the list of local elections published by the Government; for ease of reference, that list can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-timetable-in-england/election-timetable-in-england.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her guidance entitled Explanatory note on the National Insurance Contribution compensation 2025 to 2026, published on 18 December 2024, on what methodological basis the figure of £515 million was reached to help local authorities mitigate the additional impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions; and what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's polices of representations from the Local Government Association on its estimate of (a) direct and (b) indirect costs for local government.

The additional £515 million made available by the government to compensate local government in England as a whole for the impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs), has been determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff across the public sector. We will confirm final positions on the methodology and approach to allocations following the conclusion of the consultation on the provisional settlement currently underway. Final allocations will be provided at the latest as part of the final local government finance settlement in early 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's explanatory note entitled, Employer National Insurance Contributions funding, published on 18 December 2024, for what reason the funding is being based on net current expenditure.

The additional £515 million made available by the government to compensate local government in England as a whole for the impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs), has been determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff across the public sector. We will confirm final positions on the methodology and approach to allocations following the conclusion of the consultation on the provisional settlement currently underway. Final allocations will be provided at the latest as part of the final local government finance settlement in early 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question HL3294 on Parish and Town Councils: Employers’ contributions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the increase in the rate of employers' National Insurance contributions on (a) parish councils and (b) parish precepts.

The government recognises the important role town and parish councils have in improving the quality of life and wellbeing of their communities. We recognise that the increase in the rate of employers’ National Insurance Contributions will lead to increased costs for some parish councils, which may require them to increase their precept. We recognise that decisions to increase precepts are not taken lightly by parish councils.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 99 of the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, whether councils would be allowed to outsource the enforcement of council byelaw breaches to private companies.

The government will work with councils to determine how byelaws should be made and enforced as set out in the English Devolution White Paper.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased availability of long-term fixed-rate mortgages on first-time buyers.

While the design and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene, this Government welcomes innovation in the mortgage market, particularly where this provides borrowers with the greatest choice possible about the level of interest rate risk that they are willing to take on. Lenders in the UK already do offer this type of mortgage product, and any borrowers, including first-time buyers, looking to take out a long-term fixed rate mortgage are encouraged to shop around and speak to a broker to find the best possible product for their circumstances.

Communities and Local Government, what her timetable is for releasing funds for the Eden Project North.

I can confirm that in November 2024 the department approved the Full Business Case for the £50 million of HM Government funding.We are all keen to see the delivery impact of this investment as soon as possible. Funding will be released in line with delivery milestones.The £2.5 million relates to the development phase funding to assist in detailed design and other activities that enable Lancaster City Council to progress delivery. This development funding decision was made in February 2024 and forms part of the approved grant for the project.Lancaster City Council are currently progressing with the detailed design and cost assessment of the project. Key resources such as design teams and projects managers have been procured, and the project is progressing in line with key milestones. My officials continue to work closely with Lancaster City Council to support delivery.

Communities and Local Government, from what source the £2.5 million released for Eden Project North in July 2024 came; and whether the decision to release the funding was taken by the previous administration.

I can confirm that in November 2024 the department approved the Full Business Case for the £50 million of HM Government funding.We are all keen to see the delivery impact of this investment as soon as possible. Funding will be released in line with delivery milestones.The £2.5 million relates to the development phase funding to assist in detailed design and other activities that enable Lancaster City Council to progress delivery. This development funding decision was made in February 2024 and forms part of the approved grant for the project.Lancaster City Council are currently progressing with the detailed design and cost assessment of the project. Key resources such as design teams and projects managers have been procured, and the project is progressing in line with key milestones. My officials continue to work closely with Lancaster City Council to support delivery.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the additional cost to Eden Project North of delays to that project.

I can confirm that in November 2024 the department approved the Full Business Case for the £50 million of HM Government funding.We are all keen to see the delivery impact of this investment as soon as possible. Funding will be released in line with delivery milestones.The £2.5 million relates to the development phase funding to assist in detailed design and other activities that enable Lancaster City Council to progress delivery. This development funding decision was made in February 2024 and forms part of the approved grant for the project.Lancaster City Council are currently progressing with the detailed design and cost assessment of the project. Key resources such as design teams and projects managers have been procured, and the project is progressing in line with key milestones. My officials continue to work closely with Lancaster City Council to support delivery.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18951 on Local Government Finance, whether the debt of Woking Borough Council will be redistributed to a new unitary local authority covering Woking.

The English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December announced that the Government will facilitate local government reorganisation for two-tier areas and for unitary councils where there is evidence of failure, or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality public services.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 the policy paper entitled Oxford-Cambridge Arc, published 18 February 2021, whether that policy paper remains her policy.

This government has put sustained economic growth at the heart of its agenda and recognises that Oxford to Cambridge has a key role to play in delivering on these ambitions. The Oxford to Cambridge region adds over £110 billion to the economy each year, which is underpinned by the area’s world class research, development and innovation strengths. I recognise the region’s potential to make even more of a contribution to the UK economy and government is determined to make this happen. Our commitment to deliver East West Rail, which will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge, will be central to this ambition.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, and pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 20226 on Environmental Impact Assessment, whether Environmental Outcomes Reports will involve carbon reporting of (a) proposed new construction and (b) embedded carbon in existing buildings.

The powers secured through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 would allow Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment to be replaced with a new framework of Environmental Outcomes Reports.The government is committed to securing better environmental outcomes alongside securing the development we need and will consider how best to reform environmental assessment with this objective in mind. Alongside, reforming building regulations, we will carefully consider how Environmental Outcomes Reports can be used to support our wider carbon reduction targets. In the meantime, the current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20283 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, on what date officials met representatives of the People’s Republic of China; whether special advisers were in attendance; whether representatives of other Departments were in attendance; and whether minutes were kept of the meeting.

MHCLG officials attended meetings with representatives of the People’s Republic of China in January, April and December 2024, alongside officials from the FCDO. No special advisers were in attendance.The purpose of attending these meetings was to explain the operation of the UK planning system and answer related queries. The merits of the proposed application for a new embassy were not discussed. Other clarification meetings took place with London-based embassy staff between May and October 2024.

Communities and Local Government, what data her Department collects on resident satisfaction with local government.

The Local Government Association carries out a triannual survey of resident satisfaction with local government across Great Britain. The data is published and available here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16496 on Housing: Construction, how many homes are being delivered under each round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund (a) 1 and (b) 2; and what is the target deadline for delivery in each (i) fund and (ii) round.

The Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) is supporting the release of land that will deliver up to 20,789 homes. A breakdown of funding tranches and delivery deadlines is set out below. Name of roundFundingHousing Capacity of Land ReleasedLand release deadlineBLRF1£65m6,564March 2024BLRF2/1£35m2,407March 2027BLRF2/2£67m6,531March 2027BLRF2/3£68m5,287March 2028

Communities and Local Government, what the average grant per unit was for a social rent dwelling in the 2015-18 Affordable Housing Programme.

The Affordable Housing Programme for 2015-2018 was extended to 2020 at the Autumn Statement 2014.However, the programme was interrupted at the 2015 Spending Review and the remaining programme budget was consolidated into the Affordable Homes Programme for 2016-2023.Delivery data for the 2015-18 programme is set out in the National Audit Office (NAO) Report: The Affordable Homes Programme since 2015. The report can be found on the NAO website here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 18 December 2024 on Local Government Finance Settlement, HCWS342, whether the Local Audit Office will itself undertake local government audits; and whether local audit will be undertaken by the private or public sector.

The government’s local audit strategy is seeking views on whether and how to grow public provision, including how to ensure that provision achieves overall growth without reducing private sector capacity.Consideration is also being given as to whether the Local Audit Office (LAO) should have the power to provide some level of public provision or if the provision should sit separately, and to the role of the Secretary of State and LAO in determining the appropriate proportion of public provision for the market.