Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2024 to Question 16892 on Regional Planning and Development: Finance, what her Department's policy is on the (a) Oxford to Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership and (b) coordination of planning across the OxCam Arc.

At Autumn Budget, the government announced its intention to end core funding for all Pan-Regional Partnerships and consult on the impacts of this decision, if it were taken forward. This public consultation is now live and accessible on Gov.uk and Government will consider all responses received by the deadline of Monday 16 December.The Government was clear in its manifesto that housing need in England cannot be met without planning for growth on a larger than local scale, and that it will be necessary to introduce effective new mechanisms for cross-boundary strategic planning. We are committed to a universal strategic planning system to meet housing needs, deliver infrastructure, grow the economy, improve the environment and climate resilience. Legislation will be introduced in 2025, based on London's Spatial Development Strategy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 16140 on Nightclubs: Closures, what steps his Department plans to take to measure the effectiveness of the five point plan for high streets.

Kickstarting economic growth is the number one mission for this government and thriving high streets are essential to supporting this. We have launched a new package to tackle late payments, backing small businesses and the self-employed, alongside measures to tackle retail crime and address the disproportionate business rates burden faced by high street businesses. The 100th banking hub has just been opened in Darwen, Lancashire, and High Street Rental Auctions, a new permissive power for local authorities to auction rental rights of commercial high street property that has been vacant for longer than 12 months in a 24-month period, came into effect on 2 December 2024. However, there is more to be done, and we are working across Whitehall to deliver a cross-government approach for revitalising high streets. We will set out more information in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues on whether embassies are subject to planning enforcement decisions by (a) local authorities and (b) the courts.

Embassies are required to apply for planning permission for development proposals, including those within the curtilage of their land, similar to other properties. They are expected to comply with the same planning regulations as other entities. Enforcement powers are available at the discretion of the relevant local planning authority.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the Planning Inspectorate's inquiry into the Chinese Embassy planning application; and what the target date is for (a) the inspector’s report to be submitted and (b) a final decision to be made.

An appointed Inspector is set to open a public inquiry in February 2025 which will hear a range of evidence for and against the proposals. After the close of the inquiry, the Inspector’s report and recommendation will be sent to the Department. The Secretary of State will have a target date of 13 weeks from receipt of the report to make her decision.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 6 December 2024, to Question HL2740 on English Language: Education, what steps the her Department is taking to help promote English language proficiency in the context of integration and community cohesion.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL2739 on 4 December 2024.

Communities and Local Government, what the deadline is for submitting representations to the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets; and if she will make it her policy to ensure that (a) each representation and (b) information on whether each representation is from a resident in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is published on the Planning Inspectorate website.

The deadline for submitting written representations in relation to this planning application was 2 December 2024. This is consistent with the timetabling arrangements set out in the Planning Inspectorate’s called-in planning applications: procedural guide which can be found on gov.uk here. The Planning Inspectorate does not publish representations received on its website. However, all representations will be taken into account before the application is decided.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to (a) amend and (b) repeal assimilated EU law on the Habitats Directive on (i) newts and (ii) other protected species.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. As the Prime Minister said in his speech on 5 December the Government will streamline development processes to meet new and ambitious targets to build 1.5 million homes and advance 150 major infrastructure projects. The Government will also use the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to establish a more efficient and effective way for obligations related to our most important sites and species to be discharged at a scale that has the greatest environmental benefits. The Government has committed to only act in legislation where we can confirm to Parliament that the steps we are taking will deliver positive environmental outcomes. Necessary amendments may be made to assimilated EU law on the Habitats Directive to secure the operability of the proposed new approach.

Whether her Department has a working definition of Islamism.

In the context relevant to the Home Office’s responsibility for tackling Islamist extremism or terrorism the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST says that Islamist terrorism is the threat or use of violence as a means to establish a strict interpretation of an Islamic society.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on publicly disclosing the (a) names and (b) addresses of those who submit representations on planning applications.

There is no requirement for local authorities to publish representations received on planning applications, but many do so to give transparency to the decision-making process. Where local authorities choose to publish representations they must comply with data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulations, which means they cannot publish personal details without consent.

Whether the higher business rate surcharge on hereditaments above £500,000 Rateable Value will apply to film studios; and how this change will interact with film studio rate relief.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties, including film studios, with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above. The Government has announced that it is proceeding with 40 per cent relief for eligible film studios in England on their gross business rates bills until March 2034. The costing was published at Spring Budget 2024 - . Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025.

Whether she plans to maintain small business rate relief from 2026-27.

Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) provides 100% rate relief for eligible properties with rateable values below £12,000 with tapered relief available for eligible properties with rateable values between £12,000 and £15,000. Further details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/small-business-rate-relief The government has no plans to withdraw SBRR. The discussion paper on business rates, published at Autumn Budget 2024, invites views on how it might best create a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. The discussion paper invites views on incentivising investment and growth and specifically invites views on potential ways in which SBRR might be improved. The discussion paper is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/675197b95692dd4c0c8d1dac/Transforming_Business_Rates__2_.pdf Any decisions on future tax policy will be announced by the Chancellor at a fiscal event.

Communities and Local Government, whether embassies are required to apply for planning permission for development within the curtilage of their land; and whether the Government has issued guidance for embassies on planning law.

Embassies are required to apply for planning permission for development proposals, including those within the curtilage of their land, similar to other properties. They are expected to comply with the same planning regulations as other entities. Enforcement powers are available at the discretion of the relevant local planning authority.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2024 on Local Government Finance, HCWS265, what the (a) estimated and (b) assumed level in council tax receipts is in absolute terms in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 on which the settlement is based.

It is for local authorities to decide at what level they set their council tax. The government will maintain the previous government’s policy of a 3% core council tax referendum principle and the 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with OBR forecasting. The full set of proposed referendum principles is set out in the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.Based on these referendum principles, the assumed council tax requirement for Core Spending Power in 2024-25 is £36.2 billion. In 2025-26 it is £38.3 billion. These figures exclude parish precepts, police and fire authorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether embassies are subject to planning enforcement decisions.

Embassies are required to apply for planning permission for development proposals, including those within the curtilage of their land, similar to other properties. They are expected to comply with the same planning regulations as other entities. Enforcement powers are available at the discretion of the relevant local planning authority.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024 to Question 12772, if she will publish details of (a) discussions and (b) other meetings between officials and Hope Not Hate since 5 July 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 12772 on 15 November 2024. The department has no plans to publish further details.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the number of nightclub closures in the UK since 2020.

The government recognises the vital role night-time economy business plays in supporting local economies and our communities. Healthy night-time economy businesses play a key role in supporting our creative industries, including musicians, DJs and performance artists, as well as supporting tourism and strengthening day economy businesses.The government is creating a fairer business rate system and has extended RHL relief at 40% for 2025-26. Beyond this, the government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties from 2026-27. This reform, on which a Discussion Paper was published at Autumn Budget 2024, will provide certainty for businesses regarding their bills. The government is also reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products and transforming the apprenticeship levy to support businesses including in the nighttime economy.Following the Autumn Budget, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed it will continue to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) successful Supporting Grassroots Music Fund which provides grants to grassroots music organisations - including those that host or promote electronic music – such as venues, rehearsal and recording studios, promoters and festivals. ACE continues to engage with industry through targeted webinars and events to promote the Fund to the club sector and encourage applications.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of potential risks to investment returns from the proposed Local Government Pension Scheme reforms.

The Government is currently consulting on proposals to strengthen asset pooling in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) England and Wales. Asset pooling boosts the resilience and performance of investments by enabling administering authorities to diversify their portfolios across a wider range of asset classes, and to manage their assets more efficiently and at reduced risk. The consultation also makes proposals to ensure consistently high standards of governance across the scheme.LGPS members’ pension and benefits are guaranteed in statute and are not affected by the performance of investments, or by any other aspect of the Pensions Review.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement entitled Local Government Finance of 28 November 2024, Official Report, HCWS265, how she plans to manage the debts of councils subject to Section 114 notice following the proposed reorganisation of local government.

The decision to issue a Section 114 notice is for a council’s section 151 officer and government has no role in the process.Under the previous government, the then Secretary 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. Government is engaging closely with Best Value Commissioners and Panel Members to understand these councils’ plans to return to a sustainable position. The Government has confirmed that there will be a framework in place to support councils in the most difficult positions.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.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the requirements set out in the interim planning guidance on the consideration of the Environment Act PM2.5 targets in planning decisions, published in November 2024, on the (a) viability and (b) cost of new developments.

The interim planning guidance is expected to have minimal impact on the viability and cost of new developments. It is interim guidance whilst Defra develops substantive technical guidance, and as such an assessment is not required.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's notification entitled Update on Homes for Ukraine Thank You payments and the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, published on 6 December 2024, whether her Department has made changes to the level of (a) funding, (b) thank you payments for hosts and (b) other support for the Homes for Ukraine Scheme since 5 July 2024.

Applications will open on the 4 February 2025 for eligible Ukraine scheme visa holders to apply for further permission to remain in the UK for an additional 18 months under the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme.The department has recently confirmed that to support guests still in sponsorship under UPE and to thank sponsors for their continued generosity, thank you payments for eligible sponsors will be extended for 18 months under the new scheme where guests were previously on a Homes for Ukraine visa.Sponsors will continue to be eligible for thank you payments for the full duration of a Homes for Ukraine guest’s 18 month UPE visa period if they remain in sponsorship, but no further.To fund this support and ensure it is affordable within government budgets, from 1 April 2025, all thank you payments will be paid at a flat rate of £350 per month for all sponsors of guests on Homes for Ukraine and UPE visas, regardless of how long guests have been in the UK.To support this transition, we are signposting sponsors to the Government’s ‘rent a room’ scheme for those who wish to convert their lodging arrangements with their sponsors. If sponsors move to an arrangement where they charge rent, they will no longer be eligible for thank you payments.The department also confirmed that we are maintaining the existing local authority tariff arrangements of £5,900 (£10,500 for eligible minors) per Homes for Ukraine arrival. This should support local authorities with ongoing administration of the scheme and allow local authorities to continue supporting guests to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities.