Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1,081–1,100 of 2,926 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local planning authorities on ensuring (a) Section 106 and (b) Community Infrastructure Levy revenues are spent; and what requirements they have to publish details of (i) received revenues and (ii) unspent revenues.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.
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 Livewire Consultancy Limited in relation to the Devolution Priority Programme.
Livewire Consultancy Limited were contracted by this Department to collate, analyse and report on the responses to the six consultations we led on the Devolution Priority Programme.Government is now carefully considering the evidence collected, including these reports, in order to decide whether statutory tests have been met and proceed with the legislation required to establish mayoral institutions in each of the areas.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's document entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, for what services her Department paid 23 RED Limited for New Towns Event Planning; and what were the events.
The New Towns Taskforce delivered a series of public engagement events in existing new towns to understand from those with lived experience the legacy of the post-war new towns. 23 RED Limited provided event management services for these events. Findings from the public engagement events will be used in the Taskforce’s Final Report, due to be submitted to ministers this summer.
Communities and Local Government, what the expected timeline is for the consideration of the appeal to the Planning Inspectorate of the planning enforcement notice issued by the London Borough of Greenwich against the Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich; and if she will make it her policy to recover the appeal.
This appeal (reference APP/E5330/C/25/3364847) against the issue of an Enforcement Notice was received as valid on 29 April 2025. The appeal is proceeding by way of a Hearing. In letters to the main parties dated 1 May, the timetable for the receipt of various documents from them was set out in accordance with the legislative requirements. An Inspector has been appointed and the hearing is scheduled to open on 5 August 2025 and expected to last one day. A decision is therefore likely to be issued on behalf of the Secretary of State, well within the ministerial measures range of 24 – 26 weeks from receipt of a valid appeal; those dates being 14-28 October.
With reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for drivers, published on 2 October 2023, whether her Department has taken steps to remove local authorities’ access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency data.
This was a commitment made by the previous Government which we have no plans to take forward.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s consultation on Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, published in December 2024, whether political parties will receive representation on the national body to consider appeals on standards matters.
The consultation to which the Honourable Member refers sought views from across the local government sector on the appropriateness of creating a national body to consider appeals, alongside a range of other proposed measures to strengthen the local government standards framework. The Government Response will be issued in due course. After its release, we will continue to work actively with local government on developing the detailed policies for implementation.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's document entitled Remote attendance and proxy voting in local authorities: consultation results and government response, published on 5 June 2025, whether she has considered the potential merits of proxy voting of quasi-judicial committees (a) and its compatibility with the principles of non-determination on those committees and (b) in general.
We stated in gov.uk here that we plan to require all principal councils in England to introduce proxy voting schemes for full council meetings. We also stated that for all other meetings, proxy voting may be used but will not be required, and that substitute or pairing schemes may be more appropriate. We trust councils to develop clear and sensible policies that will work for their local areas.
Whether he plans to bring forward regulation on vaping stores in (a) high streets and (b) town centres.
It is crucial that we reduce the visibility and accessibility of vapes to protect children from getting hooked on nicotine. That is why the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will ban the advertising and sponsorship of vaping and nicotine products and will provide powers to introduce future regulations on where and how vapes and other nicotine products can be displayed within shops. Analysis and consultation will take place before any specific restrictions are introduced to ensure we are bringing about the most impactful change possible.The bill will also provide powers for ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products. Introducing a licensing scheme will strengthen enforcement, acting as a deterrent to rogue retailers who breach the law, while supporting legitimate businesses. The scheme will be subject to consultation before regulations are introduced.
Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities offer Level 7 Apprenticeships.
MHCLG does not hold this data. Local authorities are independent employers and are responsible for managing the apprenticeships they offer to their workforce.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the trends in the level of long-term rough sleeping in the last 12 months.
This Government inherited devastating record levels of homelessness and rough sleeping from the last Conservative government. There are multiple factors which can contribute to rough sleeping. Increases in living costs and limited suitable and affordable housing is driving overall increases in homelessness and rough sleeping, personal factors such as mental ill health and substance misuse can increase the risk of someone experiencing rough sleeping, including sleeping rough long-term.This is why the government is taking a joined-up approach working across government, and in partnership with local authorities and Mayors, to address the root causes of homelessness. The Deputy Prime Minister is chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness.The government has also increased funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services by £233 million compared to 2024/25, bringing the total spend to nearly a billion pounds in 2025/26. This includes £185.6 million via the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, providing local authorities with funding for rough sleeping services, including specialist support for those who have been sleeping rough long-term.
Whether she plans to respond to the consultation on Improving the effectiveness of the Money Laundering Regulations, published in March 2024.
Responses to the consultation have been invaluable in building the evidence base on potential reforms. In the coming months HM Treasury plans to respond and will bring forward a package of changes to the Regulations aimed at improving their effectiveness. This will include changes to close potential loopholes and ensure requirements are targeted at high-risk activity.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to respond to the consultation on Transparency of land ownership involving trusts, published in December 2023.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 30021 on 18 February 2025.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has issued a direction under section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in relation to the Chinese Embassy planning application.
There is no direction under section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in force in respect of this case.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 89 of the drawings entitled CD 1.03C: Proposed Drawings, submitted by the Chinese Government to the Planning Inspectorate’s called-in planning inquiry for the Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint, what the security reasons are for redacting the internal floor plans of the Cultural Exchange building.
All Inquiry documents for this case are publicly available on Tower Hamlets website here. All material planning considerations will be taken into account when reaching a decision.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 50158 on Polygamy, if she will make it her policy to commission research on this issue.
The department has no plans to commission research on this issue. It has been the policy of successive governments to prevent the formation of polygamous households in the UK.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, what the services commissioned from Verian Group UK Limited were.
The following sets out more detail of spend for Verian Group UK Ltd: The Rough Sleeping Questionnaire was carried out in 2019 to understand issues faced by those sleeping rough. The Department repeated the questionnaire in 2025 to update findings, and commissioned Verian to conduct the survey fieldwork with those sleeping rough. The PRS Place Based Quality Pilots are a set of pathfinder projects to improve enforcement of existing standards in the private rented sector. Verian have been commissioned to deliver an evaluation of the scheme, including a range of fieldwork and analysis of data. The Department commissioned Verian to research Demolition Planning Policy. Verian have conducted a survey of stakeholders across the industry to understand how and why decisions are made to demolish and redevelop or retrofit buildings, explore the role of national and local policy in decision-making and the tools and guidance used to inform decisions. The Department commissioned Verian to carry out focus groups and interviews about the levels of understanding around a number of policy areas relating to housing and infrastructure to help improve government communications to inform the Long Term Housing Strategy.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49918 on Hospitality Industry: Licensing, which Minister is responsible for late-night licensing.
As Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention, I hold responsibility for the Licensing Act 2003 which regulates four licensable activities - the sale of alcohol by retail, the supply of alcohol by members’ clubs, the provision of regulated entertainment and the provision of late night refreshment. Many of the premises carrying out these activities have operating hours that fall within the late night economy.
Communities and Local Government, what representations her Department has received on collection practices for the Community Infrastructure Levy by Waverley Borough Council.
My Department has received correspondence concerning the imposition of Community Infrastructure Levy charges by various levy charging authorities, including Waverley Borough Council. We are keeping the issues highlighted in this correspondence under review.The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure that new developments provide appropriate affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
Whether she plans to issue guidance to political parties on the potential impact of the Supreme Court judgement in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers on all-women shortlists; and whether she plans to discuss this matter with the (a) Equality and Human Rights Commission, and (b) Electoral Commission.
The Supreme Court Judgment was clear that for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, biological sex determines whether a person is a woman or not. Accordingly, in relation to the Equality Act 2010’s provisions allowing political parties to use all-women shortlists to increase the number of women standing for election, parties will need to have regard to the recent ruling. A political party wishing to use these Equality Act provisions will need to be satisfied that any such shortlists are lawful.We regularly consult stakeholders, including the Equality and Human Rights Commission, on a range of issues, including where new guidance is proposed.
Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been provided to the Independent Commission On Neighbourhoods; and whether the Commission is a public authority for (a) Freedom of Information and (b) environmental information regulation purposes.
The Independent Commission On Neighbourhoods has received no funding from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. It is independent and not a public authority and therefore does not fall within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.This government welcomes the establishment of the Independent Commission On Neighbourhoods (ICON) and the important work it is undertaking to understand how to build neighbourhoods that are more resilient, more empowered, and more capable of shaping their own futures.We look forward to engaging constructively with the Commission’s findings and insights as they emerge, and to learning from its work in helping communities take greater control of their futures.