Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled CCC advises 81% reduction in emissions by 2035, published by the Climate Change Committee on 26 October 2024 and the letter from the Committee of that date to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the National Determined Contribution, what steps she is taking to remove planning barriers for (a) heat pumps and (b) electric vehicle chargers.

Nationally set permitted development rights enable the installation of air and ground source heat pumps and electric vehicle charge points without the need to submit a planning application. The rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations to protect local amenity.The previous government consulted on proposed changes to these rights, and on 21 November we announced our intention to amend the existing permitted development right for air source heat pumps to allow more flexibility in installation and size of heat pumps. Further information is available at: Warm Homes Plan and heat pumps – MHCLG in the Media.Further announcements on electric vehicle charge points will be made in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to footnote 2 of her Department's Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes, published on 1 November 2024, what steps she plans to take to prevent local authorities from disregarding the requirement to advertise in at least one newspaper circulating in its area.

The government’s published guidance clearly set out the responsibilities of councils when making a determination to charge a council tax premium. The time limited exceptions to council tax premiums can be applied in succession where the dwelling is eligible.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has received representations on the call for a boycott of Israel’s book industry and Israeli cultural institutions.

No records of such representations have been located.

What estimate her Department has made of revenues to the Exchequer from business rates in England in each of the next five financial years.

The Office for Budget’s Responsibility’s (OBR) October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook includes forecasts for UK business rates receipts. This is available online: https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/OBR_Economic_and_fiscal_outlook_Oct_2024.pdf.

Whether value significant codes are used by the Valuation Office Agency in the Automated Valuation Model for Wales.

Value Significant Codes (VSCs) indicate the existence of specific features that are likely to affect the value of a property either positively or negatively. The Automated Valuation Model utilises some VSCs, as published in PQ UIN 19500.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the level of employer's National Insurance contributions at the Autumn Budget 2024 on the average cost of a pint of beer in a pub.

A Tax Information and Impact Note on the changes to employer NICs was published on 13 November alongside the legislation when it was introduced to Parliament. The latest forecasts for tax revenues were published alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook. These forecasts are based on economic determinants, including wage growth and employment levels. Pubs and breweries make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system. At the Budget, the Chancellor cut alcohol duty on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This represents an overall reduction in duty bills of over £85m a year and is equivalent to a 1p duty reduction on a typical pint. This reduction increased the relief available on draught products to 13.9%.

How many hereditaments in England have a rateable value over £500,000 broken down by Special Category Code.

The VOA publishes official statistics on Non-Domestic Rating on gov.uk. The number of properties over £500,000 in rateable value broken down by property sector is published. This can be found in table 2.2 here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66695d2cf5e751f1b786db07/ndr_stock_of_properties_2024.xlsx The total rateable value by special category code and area of properties with a rateable value over £51,000 is published here at table ‘SOP_SCAT_LA_rv_51000_plus.csv’: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6662e0a8a8f98e4a64ca94d9/ndr_stock_scat_la_2024.zip

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 7829 on Council Tax: Wales, what information the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish before April 2025.

As outlined in the response to PQ UIN 7829, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will publish further information on the model and its use in supporting the Welsh Government’s Council Tax reform ambitions on its website before April 2025. In addition, the VOA will publish any related third-party reports on its website by April 2025.

What her Department’s definition of a working person is for the purposes of policy development.

A working person is someone who goes out to work and works for their income. The government has committed to not increase taxes on working people, protecting their payslips against higher taxes. This means no increase in the basic, higher or additional rates of Income Tax, Employee National Insurance contributions or VAT.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to allow for an above-inflation rise in the council tax referendum threshold for 2025-26 for the Greater London Authority to increase revenue for Transport for London.

Details of the proposed council tax referendum principles for 2025-26 will be set out in the local government finance policy statement in late November.

Innovation and Technology, whether he intends to meet with the Advertising Standards Authority to discuss the advertising of part-copper broadband as fibre.

I refer the right Hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton to the answer of 21 November to question UIN 14700.

Communities and Local Government, in which local authority areas combined authority mayoral elections will take place in 2025.

There are two scheduled combined authority mayoral elections in 2025; the Mayor for West of England Combined Authority which includes the local authority areas of Bristol City, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and the Mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority which includes the local authority area of Peterborough City Council and the local authorities in Cambridgeshire. Subject to parliamentary approval to the legislation establishing a new Mayoral Combined Authority for Hull and East Yorkshire, their first mayoral election will also take place in 2025 including the local authority areas of Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of hereditaments that will qualify for retail, hospitality and leisure business rates relief in financial year 2024-25.

The latest local authority data on the number of hereditaments in receipt of reliefs is published here: National non-domestic rates collected by councils in England: forecast 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK. The supplementary data tables provide the relevant breakdown and show the number of hereditaments in receipt of reliefs as of 31 December 2023.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2024 to Question 10847 on Leisure Centres: Government Assistance, whether she plans to hold further rounds of the Swimming Pool Support Fund.

The Government recognises that sports facilities in communities up and down the country help to support more people to get active wherever they live.The previous Swimming Pool Support Fund was a targeted, one-time, urgent package which has now closed, and further funding rounds were not built into the programme by the previous government.The responsibility of providing access to public swimming pools lies at Local Authority level. The Government continues to encourage Local Authorities to support swimming facilities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11179 on Local Government: Equality, whether her Department holds copies of the Local Government Association’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion learning resources and tools.

The Local Government Association’s (LGAs) Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion learning resources and tools are available on the LGA website: https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/equalities-hub, which could have been easily found online without the need for a parliamentary question.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report entitled Summary of responses and government’s response to the consultation on proposals to exempt categories of dwellings from the council tax premiums in England, published on 11 March 2024, whether the exclusions for properties that are actively marketed for sale and let, apply for up to (a) 12 and (b) 24 months after the property first became unoccupied; and whether the sale and let exclusion can be applied and stack after the probate exemption expires if a home that has exited probate is then marketed for sale or rent.

This Government has published guidance for councils and taxpayers on the application of council tax premiums and exceptions. This guidance is available here. The exception for properties actively marketed for sale or let will apply for up to 12 months from which the dwelling has first been marketed for sale or let. Exceptions can be applied in succession.

Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to postpone local government elections due to be held in 2025.

We have no plans to postpone local government elections due to be held in 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to reform the leasehold law on forfeiture.

Yes, the government is committed to removing the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture as a means of ensuring compliance with a lease agreement.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to allow local authorities to impose local taxes on (a) hotel and (b) short-term let stays.

For the purposes of local taxation, all property is either domestic or non-domestic and is generally subject to either council tax or business rates. Whether any discounts or exemptions may apply will depend on the specific circumstances of each property.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to create an elected mayor in Cheshire.

The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution met with Leaders from Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington Councils on 3 September to discuss next steps for devolution in the area.The government will continue to work closely with the area to agree a way forward to deliver an ambitious devolution agreement for Cheshire and Warrington.This government believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined authorities supported by a mayor with a strategic role across a wider geography, working closely with council leaders.The English Devolution White Paper will set an ambitious new framework for English devolution, moving power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best.