Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Office for Environmental Protection publication entitled OEP gives advice to Government on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 1 May 2025.

The government welcomes that the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) share our view that the Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to secure better outcomes for nature whilst also unlocking and accelerating necessary development.We are giving careful consideration to the advice the OEP have provided on proposed changes to environmental law contained in Part 3 of the Bill.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to make a submission to the Women and Equalities Committee's inquiry on gendered Islamophobia.

We welcome the Committee's inquiry on this topic and ministers will take a keen interest in its findings. The Government recognises that religious hatred is not specific to one place and can manifest in varying areas, such as online spaces and in public and educational settings. Certain characteristics, for example gender, sexuality and race, can often compound individual’s experiences of religious hatred. British Muslim women are pivotal to our wider communities. They are often the driving force behind interfaith and community initiatives, yet they face specific challenges, with discrimination and intolerance often directed at them. The Government has established a new working group to provide government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia. This work will consider views from a cross-section of society, including those of Muslim women, to improve understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities, supporting wider and ongoing government-led efforts to tackle religiously motivated hate crime and foster cohesion.

Communities and Local Government, what the locations were of the official visits she undertook on 10 April 2025.

The Deputy Prime Minister was undertaking official and political business from multiple locations on 10 April . This included a departmental visit to Birmingham.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 on Question 47705 on Client Earth, (a) when and (b) how his Department has engaged with Client Earth since July 2024.

The Department engages with Client Earth in a range of ways. Myself and Client Earth attended a United Nations General Assembly event on 25 September 2024. Client Earth participated in an online Collective Intelligence debate as part of our Environmental Improvement Plan review, in March 2025. We responded to Client Earth letters on 7 January, 23 January and 5 February 2025, and to further correspondence to which Client Earth were co-signatories, since July 2024. Client Earth staff also receive Departmental newsletters.

Communities and Local Government, on what date she last used her office in 70 Whitehall.

Yesterday.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47709 on Permitted Development Rights, whether her Department has issued guidance to local planning authorities on making Article 4 directions publicly accessible.

The regulations require local planning authorities to publicise all Article 4 directions made. My Department has not issued any guidance on this.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to support Historic County Flag Day; and which public body organises the event.

The department will continue its annual celebration of Historic County Flag Day in July 2025 by flying all registered historic county flags of Great Britain in Parliament Square. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for organising and overseeing the event.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 45023 on Fast Food, how the Food Standard Agency defines fast food outlets.

The term ‘fast food outlet’ is not one that is used or defined in retained European Union or domestic food hygiene and safety legislation. In addition, there is nothing in terms of food standards regarding the definition of a fast-food outlet.Any food business that sells, cooks, stores, handles, prepares, or distributes food may be considered a food business and will need to register with their local authority.When a food business registers, they confirm what type of business they are, including if they supply take away food. They would be regulated in a similar way to restaurants, cafés, and canteens.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling in Mead Realisations Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWCA Civ 32.

The government has noted the view of the Court of Appeal in Mead Realisations Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWCA Civ 32 that the Planning Practice Guidance can in principle amend national policy. It remains the case that Planning Practice Guidance will continue to be used in a supporting role to, and consistent with, national policy. The government did not appeal this decision within the applicable time period.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with the Welsh Government on automatic electoral registration in Wales.

UK Government and Welsh Government officials are in regular contact on a range of electoral conduct and registration topics, including the Welsh Government’s pilots on automatic electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on the manifesto commitment to improve electoral registration including making greater use of public data and digital services. We are following the Welsh pilots with interest.

Communities and Local Government, whether she will have access to the unredacted plans for the proposed Chinese Embassy when the Planning Inspector’s report is submitted.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 45663 on 29 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47712 on Night-time economy: Greater London, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to transfer powers to the Mayor of London.

The government will work with the Greater London Authority to review strategic licensing powers and explore a pilot scheme, providing the Mayor of London with new powers over strategic licensing. The government and the Greater London Authority will work closely with local stakeholders to design the pilot scheme, including determining if legislation is required.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department holds information on the number of dwellings subject to a second homes council tax premium in each local authority area.

The Department will publish data on the number of second homes liable for a council tax premium in November as part of the annual council taxbase statistics.

How does the Valuation Office Agency determine the area size of a dwelling in (a) England and (b) Wales; and how does it determine the size of a non-standard plot.

I refer the hon. member to the following answer UIN 48452, tabled on 28 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, on what topics her Department has produced an environmental principles assessment since 4 July 2024.

The Environment Act 2021 requires Ministers to have ‘due regard’ to the policy statement on environmental principles when making policy. This is to ensure that environmental considerations are at the heart of policymaking across government. Since this duty came into force in November 2023, my Department has produced environmental principles assessments on a range of different topics. While the Department does not maintain a running list of environmental principles assessments it has undertaken, assessments have included those for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the December 2024 update to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) MI5, (b) GCHQ or (c) MI6 are able to make representations to (i) the planning inspector and (ii) her as part of the planning inquiry on the proposed Chinese Embassy without such representations being made available to the applicant.

Representations on planning applications will be dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions found on gov.uk here.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 48443 on Water Charges, whether the introduction of (a) progressive and (b) seasonal water metering tariffs would require Government (i) support and (ii) consent.

This Government supports the innovative approaches being taken to trial new charges aiming to make bills fairer and more affordable. All companies plan to trial new charging structures by 2030 and some of them plan to introduce them more widely for additional customers if the trials are successful. Companies can design their charges to provide benefits and incentives in a range of ways. 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. Information on Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 45642 on European Islamic Centre, in what capacity the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has engaged with the European Islamic Centre since being appointed.

The department does not engage with the European Islamic Centre. Members of Parliament routinely undertake engagements in their own constituencies, separate to any other roles held.

Which Department is responsible for paying the council tax bill for the empty Ministerial residences in Admiralty House.

The payment of Council Tax (Domestic Rates) costs relating to Admiralty House is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office.

Whether her Department has had discussions with the Bank of England on the proposed Chinese Embassy in London.

Treasury officials hold regular discussions with the Bank of England across various financial and economic matters. A final decision on the application for the new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets will be made in due course by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in her independent, quasi-judicial role. As such, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the case.