Written questions by Hollinrake.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 50857, on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, whether (a) Parliament and (b) select committee chairs will be informed of a contingent liability on the Consolidated Fund, relating to government commitments being made to Universal Studios from the announced deal.

Further details on Government infrastructure investment around the site will be set out in due course and due process will be followed should any contingent liability arise.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 50857 on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, whether government guarantees are contingent on planning permission being awarded.

The proposals remain subject to a planning decision from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. As outlined when the Government announced the deal, further details will be set out in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department collects statistics based on gender rather than sex.

The Department collects and publishes a number of statistical releases - of these, a small number include questions relating to sex and/or gender identity where relevant. These follow the previous Office for National Statistics (ONS) best practice of recording both sex and gender identity except for occasional exceptions which collect gender instead of sex. These are where it is important to collect gender but due to reporting or collection constraints it is not possible to additionally collect sex. The Department continues to engage with the ONS’ wider sex and gender identity harmonisation work to ensure all of government works towards a consistent way of collecting data on sex and gender identity.

Whether the National Cyber Security Centre has provided advice on the proposed Chinese Embassy at Tower Hill, London.

In line with previous responses, the planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this quasi-judicial decision independent from the rest of Government.The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary submitted written representations to the planning inspector on 14 January. That letter is clear that the Home Office has considered the breadth of national security issues and where necessary, relevant agencies and departments have been consulted on the national security implications of the application. It would be inappropriate to provide any further specific detail.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51120 on Admiralty House, what is the council tax liability for each of the unoccupied Admiralty House Ministerial residences in 2025-26.

Admiralty House residences are valued in Council Tax Band H.

Communities and Local Government, if she will list the (a) title and (b) topic of each environmental principles assessment that has been produced since 4 July 2024

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 51403 on 19 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on the use of grampian conditions in planning permissions relating to the non-occupation of new build properties before sewage capacity is in place.

The Department’s Planning Practice Guidance provides guidance on the use of negatively-worded planning conditions (often termed Grampian conditions) which restrict the occupation of a development until a certain action has occurred such as the provision of infrastructure (like sewerage upgrades) required for the development.This is contained in the Use of Planning Conditions section which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on consulting on substantive changes to (a) practice and (b) policy in relation to the Planning practical guidance.

There is no statutory duty to consult prior to making changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and/or associated planning guidance. That said, the Secretary of State keeps the matter of consultation under active consideration ahead of making any changes to planning policy alongside any legal obligations including those under the Equality Act 2010 and the Environment Act 2021.

Food and Rural Affairs, which local authorities would be affected by Natural England's National Landscape area of outstanding natural beauty proposed designations for (a) the new Yorkshire Wolds, (b) the new Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, (c) extensions in the Surrey Hills and (d) extensions in the Chilterns; and how many hectares would be added.

The Local Authorities affected by the Yorkshire Wolds National Landscape designation are North Yorkshire Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority. At present, the proposed new National Landscape covers 465km² (46500ha). The Local Authorities affected by the Surrey Hills extension proposals are Waverley Borough Council, East Hampshire District Council, Guildford Borough Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Hampshire County Council, Mole Valley District Council, City of London, London Borough of Croydon, Tandridge District Council, London Borough of Bromley, Surrey County Council. The total proposed extension area is currently 129 km²(12900ha). The work on the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge National Landscape and the Chiltern National Landscape extension has been stopped.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help increase sewage capacity for new build homes.

Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 on 19 December, setting company expenditure and customer bills for 2025-2030. The £104 billion funding package is the highest level of investment in the water sector since privatisation and is set to be the second largest private sector investment programme in this parliament. This planned investment will support new home building.Under the Environment Act 2021, a new duty has been created for water companies in England to produce Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans. These explain how a water company intends to improve its drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many days Ministers in his Department have worked in (a) departmental offices and (b) Government hubs outside London since 5 July 2024.

As under the previous Government, Defra does not hold specific information regarding how many days Defra Ministers have worked in departmental offices and Government hubs outside of London since 5 July 2024.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50169 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, what changes have been made to those thresholds.

The thresholds have been aligned with Cabinet Office guidance.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51391 on Water Charges, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) progressive and (b) rising block metering tariffs on water bills for homes occupied by families with children.

As the water regulator, Ofwat regulates the charging trials by issuing rules that require companies to set fair charges for all customers, and to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Companies must also consult with the Consumer Council for Water in developing their trials to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place. Through these trials the sector will learn how to best support customers, including families, with their water bills.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51391 on Water Charges, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of seasonal water metering tariffs on water bills.

The Government supports innovative approaches aiming to make bills more affordable for their customers. Defra are not conducting separate assessments. Ofwat regulates the trials by requiring companies to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Companies must also consult with the Consumer Council for Water to protect or exclude vulnerable customers, which ensures customers are protected while these important trials take place.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52273 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Aviation, what journeys comprise the (a) £33,025 and (b) £1,878 spending on domestic flights.

I will arrange for this information to be deposited in the House of Commons Library.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49771 on Parking: Fines, which parking sector stakeholders shared research with her Department.

The Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL), British Parking Association (BPA) and Local Government Association (LGA) shared a report of their research with the Department. They carried out an online survey and received responses from 43 Local Authorities. We have placed a copy of the research in the Library of the House.

Whether motorcyclists are allowed to use bus lanes.

The decision on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes lies with the local authorities who have responsibility for them.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on the green belt review being undertaken by the Greater London Authority.

The Secretary of State meets with the Mayor of London regularly to discuss a range of matters.The government has awarded the Greater London Authority £770,000 to undertake a Green Belt review in conjunction with 11 London boroughs. A further six London boroughs have also each received £70,000 to undertake Green Belt reviews.The Green Belt Planning Practice Guidance issued on 27 February 2025 will assist Mayors and local planning authorities considering reviews of their Green Belt.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48449 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, which municipal green investment (a) bonds and (b) loans being offered by local authorities in England are regulated by the (i) Financial Conduct Authority, (ii) Prudential Regulation Authority, (iii) Financial Ombudsman Service and (iv) Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 establishes a framework whereby any person, whether an individual or firm, can only carry out a regulated activity by way of business if they are authorised by the appropriate regulator or are exempt from the authorisation requirement. Under this framework, the government determines which activities are regulated activities, by specifying them in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (RAO). Where local authorities are the issuers of bonds, or borrowers under loans, they themselves would not require authorisation from a financial services regulator to act in that capacity, and would not be subject to regulation by the financial services regulators. Financial services firms facilitating access to such funding by local authorities may, depending on the circumstances, be subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority, and investors may be eligible to refer disputes with the regulated firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Depending on the precise circumstances of any products offered, compensation in the case of default may be available under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, but this may not always be the case.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on Northern Powerhouse Rail.

As stated in the Autumn Budget, this government is committed to securing delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade and maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail by progressing planning and design work to support future delivery, with further details to be set out in due course.