Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 53573 on Oxford Growth Commission: Public Appointments, what the level of remuneration is for the Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission.

The Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission’s (OGC) remuneration is commensurate with the seniority of the role and in line with current policy on senior pay levels. We understand that the Chair has written to Kevin Hollinrake to disclose his level of renumeration.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question HL7758 on Government Departments: Sanitation, if he will publish the Government Property Agency's guidance document that is now used in (a) new build and (b) refurbishment projects.

The Government Property Agency’s latest Workplace Design Guide (published March 2022) is available on GOV.UK. This is kept under review.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it a requirement for the new Spatial Development Strategies to be written in plain English.

The government would expect strategic planning authorities to ensure that Spatial Development Strategies are clear and easy to understand.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to local authorities on the delegation of decisions by councillors to council officers in (a) executive, (b) mayoral and (c) committee systems of governance; and whether she has provided guidance on whether the Carltona doctrine applies to local government.

The Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, as amended, set out what types of decisions are to be taken by a council’s executive (whether leader and cabinet or mayor and cabinet) and which are to be taken by the full council. Guidance was issued in 2000 and 2001 to assist the initial implementation of executive arrangements in local authorities; we do not consider guidance is currently required to assist authorities in their operation under the Regulations. The Local Authorities (Committee System) (England) Regulations 2012 set out the equivalent rules on delegations for councils operating the committee system. These Regulations were considered to be self-explanatory. The Secretary of State has not provided guidance on whether the Carltona doctrine applies to local government.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Bill on the (a) popularity and (b) take-up of Build to Rent new build.

My Department has engaged with a range of organisations, including Build to Rent operators, to understand their interests in the development of the Renters’ Rights Bill. We do not expect the Bill to have a destabilising effect on the rental market or the Build to Rent sector. We will continue to work with good landlords and their representative associations to ensure a smooth transition to the new tenancy system.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55304 on Government Departments: Sanitation, whether the Government Property Agency plans to repurpose more gender-neutral toilets into separate male and female toilets.

The Government Property Agency continues to monitor the requirements of its estate. Changes are made as necessary to provide the best delivery for our clients and in line with legislative requirements.

Whether the Office for National Statistics holds comparative data on new dwellings in each nation of the UK in each year since 2008-09.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 30th June is attached.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has provided to local councils on (a) discipline and (b) grievance in local government relating to senior officers.

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces. This includes managing their disciplinary and grievance procedures, complying with relevant legislation.

Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have introduced Article 4 directions which restrict office to residential conversion permitted development rights.

46 local authorities have made Article 4 Directions which remove the permitted development right which enables buildings in the Class E Commercial, Business and Service use class to change to residential use.

What the Energy Performance Certificate rating is of the Deputy Prime Minister’s residence in Admiralty House.

The residences at Admiralty House are not separately measured for Energy Performance. The Energy Performance Certificate Rating for Admiralty House is B.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 May 2024, to Question 53574, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, and with reference to page 26 of the Section 106 agreement, for what reason the agreement references Articles 13 and 141 of the EU Treaty Articles.

As the application in question is before ministers in MHCLG to determine, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific elements of it.

Communities and Local Government, what proportion of funding for the new Affordable Housing Programme will finance (a) additional, purpose-built new-build homes on land acquired for that purpose, (b) the acquisition of unsold new-build homes, (c) the purchase of homes from developers provided under section 106 agreements and (d) (i) remodelling and (ii) improving existing housing stock.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

Communities and Local Government, whether powers of entry for building inspectors apply to embassies.

The position in respect of diplomatic premises is covered by international treaties including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as applied in the UK through the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987.

With reference to the guidance entitled Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, which suppliers were used to provide Antisemitism and Anti-Islamophobia training.

HM Treasury volunteers coordinated 3 events on Antisemitism and Anti-Islamophobia with 2 paid for speakers- TellMAMA and Antisemitism Policy Trust (APT).

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the amount of capital (a) grant and (b) subsidy to build a new social rent dwelling.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).In awarding contracts under the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, Homes England and the GLA will assess the need for grant on the basis of bids from social housing providers, including local authorities, considering what is needed to make projects viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the findings by Savills Research entitled Housing Completions Forecast for England: May 2025, published on 9 June 2025.

The government does not recognise the analysis presented in the Savills’ research in question. The housing completions forecast it contains does not take into account the supply impacts of the measures announced at Spending Review 2025 or the further reforms to the planning system that we are committed to enacting, including the measures contained in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the forthcoming set of national policies for decision making.

Communities and Local Government, if she will commission research on the operation of shariah courts in England.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 50309 on 14 May 2025. Sharia Courts are not part of the judicial system in England and Wales.

Communities and Local Government, whether civil servants in her Department relocated outside of London will have their pay reduced, and whether civil servants employed in new locations outside London will lose their existing London weighting.

MHCLG has separate National pay ranges and London pay ranges. MHCLG has an established policy and salary change calculation that applies when colleagues transfer from the London to the National pay range or vice versa, this includes individuals being placed on the same relative position on their new pay range as they held on their old pay range, i.e. if the colleague was on the minimum of the London pay range they would move to the minimum of the National pay range.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 58761 on Parish and Town Councils: Devolution, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) local government restructuring and (b) the abolition of district councils does not lead to an increase in the overall level of council tax.

Decisions on council tax levels will be taken by new councils. Where new councils inherit different levels of council tax from their predecessors, legislation provides for them to be harmonised for up to seven years. The Secretary of States determines referendum principles each year to ensure residents have the final say over excessive increases. Council tax referendum principles are set on an annual basis and no decision have been taken about the principles for future years.

What estimate her Department has made of the cost of school transport for SEND children in each of the last five years.

The department knows that delivering home-to-school travel can be very challenging for local authorities and that costs have increased steeply over recent years. In particular, challenges within the wider special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system have created significant pressure on home-to-school travel. The SEND system inherited by the government has been failing to meet the needs of children and families for far too long, with a lack of early intervention and support in mainstream schools and unsustainable strain on local government finances. The department is grateful to local authorities for ensuring that transport is available for eligible children in the face of significant challenge.Section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 requires local authorities to submit information about their education expenditure, including expenditure on home-to-school travel. The information collected from local authorities is published on GOV.UK. Further details are available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/la-and-school-expenditure/2023-24.