Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, whether she received representations from the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on the Non Domestic Ratings (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act 2025 prior to the Bill receiving Royal assent.

The Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 13 November 2024 and received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government did not receive representations from the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on the Act prior to the Bill receiving Royal assent.

Whether her Department plans to publish amended guidance on the enforcement of moving traffic offences.

The Department for Transport has no current plans to update its statutory guidance on moving traffic enforcement outside London.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, what services were commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Council with reference WWC LEG Payment 24-25.

MHCLG make an annual financial contribution to the Economic and Social Research Council to part fund the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth.

Communities and Local Government, whether a dwelling subject to a Class G exemption on a second homes council tax premium can apply for a Class H exemption after 12 months of applying a Class G exemption; and whether the reverse is the case.

Exceptions to council tax premiums may apply in succession where the dwelling meets the necessary criteria as set out in regulations. It is for individual councils to assess whether an exception applies to a dwelling

How many state secondary school places are available within (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 miles of Escrick.

School level data on state-funded schools with capacity in any of the year groups from reception to year 11 is published in the annual ‘School capacity’ statistical publication. The most recent publication is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity/2023-24. This publication contains the latest available data as at 1 May 2024.School level data on secondary school capacity and unfilled places can be found in the ‘capacity_school_200910-202324.csv’ data file. Data on secondary school capacity and unfilled places is inclusive of sixth form places. School level data on sixth form places and sixth form pupils is published in the ‘sixth-form-capacity_school_201718-202324.csv’.The ‘School capacity’ data can be combined with information from ‘Get Information about Schools’, which has the functionality to download data on the schools and colleges within the stated distances from Escrick.The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places sits with local authorities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54410 on Mo Baines, if she will publish that declaration.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 50166 on 14 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what the average (a) cash grant and (b) subsidy per unit is for a unit of (i) social rent housing, (ii) affordable rent and (iii) affordable home ownership.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to questions UIN 15764 on 3 December 2024, UIN 23794 on 22 January 2025, UIN 31045 on 25 February 2025 and UIN 31046 on 25 February 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Cities and Local Growth Unit has been closed.

The Cities and Local Growth Unit, a joint Unit with the Department for Business and Trade, ended on 31 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48129 on Birmingham City Council, what information her Department holds on which contractors are collecting domestic rubbish from households in Birmingham.

The government has been working intensively with Birmingham City Council to tackle the backlog and clean up the streets in the interests of Birmingham residents and public health. Birmingham City Council believe the amount of waste on the streets is broadly back to 'normal' for the city, with households receiving one collection per week per household. Details about operational arrangements in relation to the waste service are a matter for Birmingham City Council.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answers of (a) 4 June 2025 to Question 54046 on Waste Disposal: Birmingham and (b) 7 May 2025 to Question 48129 on Birmingham City Council, what information (i) her Department and (ii) Best Value Commissioners hold on legal injunctions successfully awarded by Birmingham City Council against Unite the Union on refuse collection industrial action.

A negotiated outcome is in everyone’s interest and the government remains committed to supporting Birmingham’s long-term transformation, for the benefit of residents. The details of the civil injunction are a matter for Birmingham City Council. Following the issuance of the Section 114 notice in 2023, the government appointed commissioners to exercise certain functions of the council, including governance, finance, and recruitment. Commissioners are working to ensure the council is meeting the requirements of the Best Value Duty and operate independently within the framework of their statutory responsibilities.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Rooftop solar for new builds to save people money, published on 6 June 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the capital cost of installing solar panels on a new build family home.

As part of the previous government’s consultation on the Future Homes Standard, an impact assessment estimating the costs and wider impacts of the proposals, including solar installations, was published. It can be found on gov.uk here.This government intend to introduce a Future Homes Standard in autumn this year and will publish an updated impact assessment alongside it.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 53925 on Green Belt: Planning, what definition her Department uses for a built-up area; and what level of density or rurality provides that development on residential gardens is considered construction on brownfield land.

The definition of Previously Developed Land is set out in Annex 2: Glossary of the National Planning Policy Framework. It excludes land in built-up areas such as residential gardens, parks, and allotments. The National Planning Policy Framework, and associated Green Belt guidance, do not introduce a definition of a built-up area.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 53912 on Asylum: Housing, if she will make it her policy to issue planning practice guidance on changing hotels to asylum hostel accommodation.

My Department has no plans to issue such guidance.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what discussions the Electoral Commission has had with the (a) Scottish and (b) Welsh government on spending limits for the (i) Scottish Parliament and (ii) Welsh Senedd elections in 2026; and what the Commission’s planned timetable is for the ratification of the spending limits.

Each government, through the appropriate parliament, sets the spending limits for each relevant election. The Commission provides advice on the potential impact of any changes to the spending limits, and if necessary, consent. Any changes should be supported by rigorous analysis of relevant data and evidence to understand the likely impacts on parties and candidates, to maintain a level playing field, and on transparency and voter confidence. The Commission will monitor how recent changes made by governments function and their impact at the elections in 2026.It is the role of individual parliaments to ratify their respective spending limits. The Commission offers proactive advice to the regulated community to ensure parties, campaigners and candidates understand the spending rules they must follow. It will update its guidance to reflect any changes.

Communities and Local Government, who the members of the Reorganisation Advisory Group in her Department are; and what the terms of reference for that group are.

The Department has convened a Local Government Reorganisation Advisory Group. It is made up of a number of senior sector representatives to provide expert advice relating to the Local Government Reorganisation Programme. It has an advisory role. We will publish further details on the group’s membership and terms of reference shortly.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 530393 on Picketing, whether the 6 person limit on picketing will be (a) retained or (b) removed when the Code of Practice on Picketing is revised.

There is no statutory limit on the number of people attending a picket. The Code of Practice on Picketing, which is issued by the Secretary of State under section 203 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, recommends a 6 person limit.At this time, we do not plan to change the 6 person recommendation in the Code of Practice.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, if she will publish the specification of the research commissioned from the Department for Education on research services.

No such payment exists in the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over 25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what funding her Department has provided to Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Housing Investment Loans Fund; and whether (a) guidance and (b) conditions were attached to that funding.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) provided Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) with a £300m Housing Investment Loan Fund in 2015, as part of its devolution deal. The requirements of the fund, including the conditions, are set out in a Facility Agreement – executed as a deed – between MHCLG and GMCA. Summaries of how the fund operates are publicly available at gov.uk https://democracy.manchester.gov.uk/Data/Executive/20150318/Agenda/21_GMHousingInvestmentFund_2.pdf and https://democracy.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=34289 On 17 June 2025 we announced that the fund will be extended to deliver thousands of new homes over the next ten years.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54299 on Motorcycles: Bus Lanes, if she will make it her policy to issue guidance to (a) local highways authorities and (b) combined authorities on an England-wide approach to allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes.

Any decision on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes is a matter for the relevant local highway authority. In 2024 the Department for Transport ran a consultation on allowing motorcycles to access bus lanes by default, as is the case for pedal cycles. The responses did not provide a robust evidence base on which to amend the current policy, but highlighted issues regarding the current approach to permitting access. In urban areas permissions can change frequently at borough boundaries and this can lead to uncertainty. Following this consultation, the Department is considering whether to update Traffic Advisory Leaflet 1/24 to include advice that local authorities should work with neighbouring authorities to achieve consistency of provision across boundaries, particularly in urban areas. The Department will also consider how best to work with the metro mayors, combined authorities and Transport for London, to encourage a more joined up approach to motorcycle access in these areas.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has given guidance to (a) political parties and (b) Reform UK Ltd on whether the provision of research is a donation in kind.

The Electoral Commission provides guidance for all political parties. The guidance states that any service – including research – provided to a party for free or on non-commercial terms is a donation. If the market value is above £500, the donor must be permissible, and if the value is above the reporting threshold (£11,180 for donations to central parties, or £2,230 for donations to accounting units or subsequent donations from the same source), it must also be reported to the Commission.If the party pays for the service, it would not be a donation.