Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the frequency at which local authorities can issue local newspapers.

The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity provides guidance to local authorities on the appropriate use of publicity. This includes the frequency of newsletters, newssheets or similar communications which seek to emulate commercial newspapers in style or content. Councils should not issue such communications more frequently than quarterly, apart from parish councils which should issue them no more frequently than monthly.Local authorities are required to have regard to this guidance in coming to any decision on publicity.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 13 October 2023 to Question 201037 on Rivers: Environment Protection, what steps his Department has taken to support the implementation of the Chalk Stream Recovery Pack.

For too long, water companies have pumped record levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top Government priority. That is why on 23 October, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works. Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution and physical modifications of habitats. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our holistic programme of reforms for the water sector. Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. In 2024/2025, there are over 45 chalk stream projects receiving funding from the Government's Water Environment Improvement Fund, each leveraging private investment.

Whether she plans to make the Chartered Town Planner Level 7 Apprenticeship exempt from any reforms in access to the new Growth and Skills Levy.

The government is committed to creating opportunities and economic growth supported by a strong skills system.There are tough choices that need to be taken on how funding should be prioritised in order to generate opportunities for young people, who too often have been locked out of accessing these opportunities that enable them to make a start in good, fulfilling careers. Following reforms to apprenticeships, including the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in 2017, apprenticeship starts by young people under 25 fell by almost 40% between the 2015/16 and 2023/24 academic years. The department will therefore be asking more employers to step forward and fund a significant number of Level 7 apprenticeships themselves outside of the levy-funded growth and skills offer.The department is taking advice from Skills England, who engaged with employers on funding for Level 7 apprenticeships over the autumn, and the department expects to make a final decision on affected apprenticeships shortly.The department recognises that for some employers, Level 7 apprenticeships form an important part of their workforce and career development offers. Employers will still be able to offer and invest in these apprenticeships where they feel they provide a good return on their investment.Learners who have started these apprenticeships will be funded through to completion.

With reference to the guidance entitled Council of the Nations and Regions: Terms of Reference, published on 17 October 2024, in which Department is the (a) secretariat and (b) delivery group for that council based.

The Secretariat for the Council of the Nations and Regions is located in the Cabinet Office. The Secretariat’s responsibilities include organising meetings of the Delivery Group, which is comprised of representatives of Council attendees, to plan and deliver meetings, and track any agreed actions.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question HL3612 on Unitary Councils, what she classes as a small unitary authority.

In writing to all two-tier areas, on publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December, I also wrote to their neighbouring small unitaries as well to provide further detail on the Government's plans for local government reorganisation.

What steps she is taking to prevent potential intimidation of people of the Jewish faith during protest marches past synagogues.

This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship.The police have a range of powers to deal with any behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to others. They also have the power to impose conditions on protests where the purpose of the protest is to intimidate others. The Metropolitan Police utilised these powers this weekend, placing conditions on a planned protest to ensure it did not interrupt or interfere with Shabbat services and other communal events at central London synagogues.While the use of these powers is of course an operational decision for police, the Government is in regular contact with the police on a range of issues, including on the steps they are taking to prevent intimidation to communities.The Government currently provides support to Jewish communities through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant which is managed on behalf of the Home Office by the Community Security Trust. This grant provides protective security measures at synagogues, such as security personnel services, CCTV and alarm systems. The Community Security Trust will receive funding of £18 million per year through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant from 2024/25 to 2027/28.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 20841 on Local Plans, what parts of the local development scheme will local planning authorities be required to update by March 2025.

Local planning authorities must 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. Reasons might include changes to national policy, the adoption or updating of a spatial development strategy or local government re-organisation. As a result of the revised National Planning Policy Framework published in December 2024, all councils have been asked to review and update their Local Development Schemes and send a copy of their new timetable to the Ministry by no later than 6 March 2025. They should do this in line with the well-established obligations under s.15 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the planning practice guidance on plan-making.

Communities and Local Government, how many times local planning authorities will be required to update Local Plans following (a) the new National Planning Policy Framework, (b) the creation of Strategic Development Strategies and (c) unitarisation in two-tier areas.

Local planning authorities must 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. Reasons might include changes to national policy, the adoption or updating of a spatial development strategy or local government re-organisation. As a result of the revised National Planning Policy Framework published in December 2024, all councils have been asked to review and update their Local Development Schemes and send a copy of their new timetable to the Ministry by no later than 6 March 2025. They should do this in line with the well-established obligations under s.15 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the planning practice guidance on plan-making.

Communities and Local Government, which local authorities responded to her Department's letter of 16 December 2024 on local government restructuring to (a) express a formal interest and (b) request that May 2025 local elections be cancelled.

I have welcomed the large number of areas that have responded to my letter of 16 December to recognise the benefits of mayoral devolution. A list of those county and unitary councils which have responded to my letter to make a request that involves postponing their May 2025 local elections can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-letter-to-two-tier-areas.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 17127 on Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, if she will list each section of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act that (a) has not yet been commenced and (b) she plans to commence (i) in 2025, (ii) in 2026 and (iii) after 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 17127 on 7 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 17127 on Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, if she will list each section of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 that she does not intend to (a) implement with secondary legislation and (b) substantively commence.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 17127 on 7 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 17565 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if she will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence between her Department and the Foreign, Commons and Development Office on the planning application for a proposed new Chinese Embassy.

The government does not routinely publish correspondence between departments or place copies of such correspondence in the Library.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees, published on 9 December 2024, whether the requirements for delegation to planning officers would apply to planning applications for traveller sites.

The working paper in question invites views on a number of proposals designed to support better decision making in the planning system, including proposals on a national scheme of delegation. We have made no decisions in relation to how a national scheme of delegation would work, including in relation to applications for traveller sites. Should we determine to take proposals for a national scheme of delegation forward they would be the subject of further detailed consultation in the normal way.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the section entitled timelines and next steps of her Department’s letter to local councils of 16 December 2024 on the devolution white paper, what the methodological difference is between (a) areas that need reorganisation to unlock devolution and (b) areas that are minded-to join the Devolution Priority programme.

Reorganisation should not delay devolution. We will shortly set out which areas will be included in our Devolution Priority Programme, aimed at places ready to come together under the sensible geography criteria set out in the White Paper and wishing to progress to an accelerated timescale. This is with a view to inaugural mayoral elections in May 2026. However, places will be in different stages of their devolution journey. While some will already have an existing strategic authority, others may be in the process of establishing one, and in other places reorganisation may be necessary to unlock devolution or open up new devolution options. Government is now reviewing responses to the 16 December letter and decisions will be made in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to publish a consultation on data sharing powers between relevant government agencies and political parties.

Effective regulation of political finance is crucial for maintaining public trust in our electoral systems. The Government has committed to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy. My department is developing proposals to give effect to these commitments and will make them public in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 20655 on Housing: Migrants, what information her Department holds on the potential impact of immigration on housing costs.

We do not routinely publish analysis on factors affecting housing costs.The government is determined to address the dire inheritance left by its predecessor and restore order to the asylum and immigration systems, delivering lower net migration.Boosting the supply of homes of all tenures must be at the heart of any strategy to improve housing affordability which is why the government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 22037 on Candidates: expenditure, whether the 20 pence per page prescribed fee can be charged for electronic information provided by email.

The charge to be supplied of copies of the election expenses is 20p per copy page, as set out in regulation 10 (3) of the Representation of the People Regulations 2001. The legislation does not specify whether this is in paper or electronc form.As the legislation does not specify format, and as the fee is intended to cover the administrative costs of providing these documents, it may be applied to electronic documentation provided by email.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 22035 on Candidates: Expenditure, what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to increase the transparency of (a) candidate spending and (b) donation returns in relation to the General Election 2024.

The Electoral Commission does not have regulatory or enforcement powers with regard to candidate spending and donations. It does, however, publish candidate returns together in one place in order to provide voters with greater transparency and a fuller picture of the money spent and recieved by the candidates at the election. It will publish headline figures from candidate spending returns at the 2024 general election in due course.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the number of people on the electoral roll in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Great Britain for each general election since 2010.

The Electoral Commission publishes data and research on elections taking place in the UK, including electorate figures.Figures on the number registered voters at each general election since 2010 are in the table below. Northern IrelandGreat Britain20101,169,18444,428,27720151,236,76545,117,43220171,242,69845,592,73520191,293,97146,273,78120241,363,96146,859,848

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the Electoral Commission's timetable is for publishing details of spending by Labour Together for the 2024 general election.

The Commission will publish returns recieved from registered non-party campaigners in two stages, with returns under £250,000 published shortly and those over £250,000 published in the coming months.Non-party campaigners are required to register with the Electoral Commission if they intend to spend more than £10,000 on regulated campaigning ahead of a general election. However, they are only required to report their spending and donations to the Commission if they spend more than £20,000 in England, or £10,000 in any other part of the UK.Labour Together registered with the Commission in March 2024. Following the election, they confirmed they did not exceed the reporting threshold. As a result, they are not required to submit a return.