Written questions by Hollinrake.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency: May 2025 transparency data, published on 30 June 2025, what the spending on consultancy by (a) Eunoia Consulting Ltd and (b) Posterity Milestone Consortium was for.

Details of these contracts are available on Contracts Finder at the following links:Supply of Professional Services in support of VOA's Digital Transformation & Policy Reform Programme - Contracts Finder· Professional Services: Client Side Delivery Partner to Support Initial Beta Stage, NDR Reforms Programme - Contracts Finder

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 20 June 2025 on Fair Funding Review 2.0 and Modernising and Improving the Administration of Council Tax, HCWS724, how much was allocated to the New Homes Bonus including legacy payments by tier of local government in England in 2024-25.

New Homes Bonus allocations are published online, and the amounts awarded in 2024-25 can be found gov.uk here. The then government ended new legacy payments in 2020-21, with final payments made in 2022-23. The totals allocated by tier in 2024-25 are as follows: Authority typeTotalShire District£101,455,702London Borough£50,146,660Metropolitan District£35,078,441Unitary Authority£78,760,516Shire Counties£25,363,926

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60137 on Council tax and Police: Finance, what her Department's assumption is of the amount that will be raised in council tax from police precepts in England only in each year of the Spending Review period.

As set out in the Spending Review (SR) 2025 document, published 11 June 2025, the Phase 2 settlement provides an average 1.7% real terms increase per year in police spending power. Over the SR period, police spending power is projected to increase by an average 2.3% per year in real terms.Police spending power includes projected spending from additional income, including estimated funding from the police council tax precept. However, this remains subject to final decision on precept levels and individual police and crime commissioner decisions. The final police precept level and core government funding will be set out in the annual police funding settlement in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 59354 on Planning Permissions: Carbon Emissions, how she plans to update the climate change guidance to provide additional advice on taking carbon emissions into account.

The updated guidance will be published in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 54290 on Chinese Embassy, whether the Bank of England has any role in relation to the cyber-security of financial institutions in and near the City of London.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the UK's technical authority for cyber security, including helping to protect the UK's critical infrastructure and services from cyber-attacks. The Bank of England, through the Prudential Regulation Authority and working closely with the NCSC, requires PRA-regulated financial institutions to have rigorous cyber-security frameworks in place and requires regular assessment of financial institutions’ cyber security measures.

What guidance Companies House has provided on whether political parties may be incorporated as (a) unlimited and (b) limited companies.

Companies House has not issued general guidance on whether political parties may be incorporated as (a) unlimited and (b) limited companies.

What assessment has she made of the potential risk of cultural exchanges of embassies of hostile states being used as a base for espionage in the United Kingdom.

We continually assess potential threats to the UK and take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and the security of our information extremely seriously.Anyone seeking to conduct hostile acts against the UK, steal our information for commercial advantage, or interfere in our society covertly is liable to prosecution under the National Security Act 2023.More broadly, diplomatic activity in the UK is governed through the principles of the Vienna Conventions which allows for legitimate diplomatic activity. Where we find evidence of any activity that goes beyond what is accredited for, this could invalidate the accreditation, and the UK would take appropriate action.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 12.3 of the consultation outcome entitled Local authority funding reform objectives and principles consultation: summary of responses, published on 20 June 2025, what the fees named in the 65 consultation responses were.

Responses to the December funding reform consultation highlighted several fees and charges where local authorities felt they were unable to recover the cost of the service. These included alcohol licensing, planning and building control. Through the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is now consulting on proposals to review local authority fees and charges and consider where there is a case for reform. We welcome views on this, including the scope of proposed reforms.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 9.4.7 of the publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what the assumed net growth is in the number of dwellings in each year of the multi-year settlement.

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is inviting views and evidence on projecting Council Tax base growth in the context of supporting the government’s objective to build 1.5 million new homes.There are several options for how we could project Council Tax base growth, two of which are outlined in paragraph 9.4.8 of the publication.The consultation is open until 15th August. We will publish our response in the autumn, followed by the provisional multi-year Settlement.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 9.4.6 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what the assumed increase is in the notional Band D council tax in each year of the multi-year settlement.

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. In 2025-26, data published by MHCLG shows that councils expect to generate £653.6m from the use of the ASC Precept in 2025-26, which adds £34 to average band D bills. The data is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680a37fc7a11df940be1aaa2/Table_10_2025-26.ods. For 2026-27 to 2028-29, the Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement each year, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way. The government is inviting views and supporting evidence on projecting a notional Council Tax level, to ensure places less able to raise tax locally are not left behind. The consultation is open until 15th August.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question HL8020 on Embassies: Planning Permission, whether his Department holds such information.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not record such information.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will submit a copy of the China Audit to the designated Planning Minister who is now considering the called-in planning application for the Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint, London.

The Foreign Secretary will not be submitting a copy of the China Audit to the designated Planning Minister. However, on 14 January, the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary submitted written representations to the Planning Inspector to ensure national security concerns are fully considered. These representations are publicly available on the Tower Hamlets website and form part of the evidence that will be reviewed by the Planning Minister.

If she will make it her policy to increase £500,000 threshold for the new surcharge on business rates in line with the increase in aggregate rateable values from the 2026 business rates revaluation.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce a higher business rates multiplier for all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 or above in April 2026 to fund permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with RVs below £500,000.The final details of the higher multiplier will be announced at Autumn Budget 2025 in light of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation, which is currently ongoing.

Communities and Local Government, what the projected (a) size on average Band D council tax and (b) total receipts of the social care precept is from each year from 2025-26 to 2028-29.

It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. In 2025-26, data published by MHCLG shows that councils expect to generate £653.6m from the use of the ASC Precept in 2025-26, which adds £34 to average band D bills. The data is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680a37fc7a11df940be1aaa2/Table_10_2025-26.ods. For 2026-27 to 2028-29, the Spending Review assumed a 3% core referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept over the period, in line with OBR forecasts. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement each year, subject to approval by the House of Commons, in the usual way. The government is inviting views and supporting evidence on projecting a notional Council Tax level, to ensure places less able to raise tax locally are not left behind. The consultation is open until 15th August.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 54905 on MHCLG: Public Expenditure, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of raising the thresholds for the publication of transparency data on (a) transparency and (c) accountability.

MHCLG publishes its spend data in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance. There is no requirement for departments to undertake impact assessments of the nature specified when implementing changes to meet central guidance.

Communities and Local Government, whether a Senior Responsible Owner has been appointed to the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia secretariat.

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Group is supported by a small secretariat function based within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with Senior Civil Servant-level oversight provided in the usual manner.

Communities and Local Government, how many full time equivalent staff are assigned to the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia secretariat.

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Group is supported by a small secretariat function based within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with Senior Civil Servant-level oversight provided in the usual manner.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.3.1 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of lower funding allocations to local authorities with stronger council taxbases on levels of council tax.

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, the government is inviting views on using some grant for a funding floor, to ensure that local authorities’ income is protected by a specified amount across the multi-year Settlement. We propose continuing the existing policy that any protection offered through a funding floor assumes local authorities use their full council tax flexibility. The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases. We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the Settlement in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 9.3.3 of her Department's publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, whether councils at the 0% funding floor which do not charge the highest council tax increases permitted without a referendum will have a cash terms reduction in funding.

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, the government is inviting views on using some grant for a funding floor, to ensure that local authorities’ income is protected by a specified amount across the multi-year Settlement. We propose continuing the existing policy that any protection offered through a funding floor assumes local authorities use their full council tax flexibility. The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases. We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the Settlement in the usual way.

How many times the Deputy Prime Minister has chaired Cabinet in the absence of the Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister chaired Cabinet on 17 June 2025.