Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43882 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Industrial Disputes, what the dispute is between her Department and PCS on recruitment policies.

The Public and Commercial Service Union (PCS) had written to the department asking it to withdraw plans to “end location neutral recruitment”. The department has confirmed to PCS and the wider department that there are no plans to change our current approach to recruitment, as such we believe there is no reason for a dispute to exist on this issue.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 45656 on Government Departments: Legal Opinion, for what reason changes were made to the previous edition; and if she will publish the previous edition.

In November 2024, the Attorney General issued amended guidance for assessing legal risk across government to raise standards for calibrating legality and to ensure government lawyers can give full and frank advice to the Government.The updated legal risk guidance is focused on supporting Ministers in making policy and operational decisions.It does not give government lawyers any form of veto – decisions are for policymakers – a point the Attorney General’s guidance makes plain in express terms and a point the Attorney General has made clear publicly.Many elements remain unchanged from previous versions of the guidance, and it retains the same three elements of the risk assessment.All versions of the legal risk guidance were published at the time they were amended.The 2015 version remains available here: Legal_Risk_Guidance_-_Amended_July_2015.pdf.The 2022 version of the guidance is not currently available, but the Attorney General’s Office can provide a copy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2025 to Question 43484 on Independent Commission into Adult Social Care, what information his Department holds on which quarter of 2028 the phase two report will be published; when his Department plans to respond to the phase two report; and what estimate he has made of the subsequent timetable for consultation.

Chaired by Baroness Casey of Blackstock, the independent commission into adult social care will be split over two phases.Phase one, reporting in 2026, will focus on how we can make the most of the existing resources to improve people’s lives over the medium term. Phase two, reporting by 2028, will then consider the long-term transformation of adult social care, setting us on the road to fundamental reform that will build a social care system fit for the future.Baroness Casey’s commission is independent, but it has been tasked by the Government to report back by 2028. The quarter in which the phase two report will be published will be determined in due course. The Government will consider and respond to the commission’s recommendations, including whether there is a need for further consultation or legislation, when it reports.

Communities and Local Government, whether Non-Executive Board Members in her Department's interests are published bi-annually.

In line with established practice under successive administrations, the relevant interests of Non-Executive Board Members are updated and published bi-annually. This is consistent with the approach set out in previous responses (15 January 2025, Question 22321, and 22 January 2023, Question 25697). Further information is available on Non-Executive Board Member declaration of interests process - GOV.UK.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the extension of the Emissions Trading Scheme to the municipal incineration of waste on local authority finances.

The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority consulted on expanding the UK ETS to the waste sector in 2024, including the process for support local authorities until they have decarbonisation pathways in place. The Government understands the importance of supporting policies to ensure local authorities are not faced with unmanageable costs. Illustrative estimates of the costs to local authorities were published in the Analytical Annex [1] that accompanied the 2024 consultation. Before expansion of the UK ETS to the waste sector we will publish further analysis as part of an impact assessment accompanying the final Authority response. [1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/664dfb7d4f29e1d07fadccde/ukets-scope-expansion-consultation-waste-analytical-annex.pdf

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41588 on Private Rented Housing: Energy Performance Certificate, whether expenditure on the upgrading of an Energy Performance Certificate to a higher level of energy efficiency is a material consideration that allows for a higher market rent to be issued.

A market rent decision in the First-tier Tribunal is a judicial decision and expenditure on the upgrading of an Energy Performance Certificate to a higher level of energy efficiency is a material consideration which may result, in certain circumstances, in a higher market rent being determined by the First-tier Tribunal.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Regulatory Policy Committee's report entitled the Status of Post Implementation Reviews published on 24 April 2025, for what reason the post-implementation review of The Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2015 was delayed.

The government will meet the statutory requirement for a review of the Planning (Hazardous Substances Regulations) 2015.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025 and (b) the document by the Equality and Human Rights Commission entitled Interim update on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgment published on 25 April 2025 on the guidance published by her Department entitled Toilet accommodation: Approved Document T, published on 1 October 2024.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) are currently updating their Code of Practice to reflect the Supreme Court ruling of 16 April 2025. The Government will consider the EHRC’s updated guidance as necessary once it is published.The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) have a duty under the Building Safety Act 2022 to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review in England. The BSR continually reviews the suite of Approved Documents to ensure the statutory guidance remains relevant, as well as advising government on the safety and standards of all buildings.This Government is always keen to receive feedback on the real-world application of the Building Regulations and will consider comments received, monitor stakeholder experience, and keep the new Approved Document T under review.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance entitled Funding to support local authorities with the costs of Green Belt reviews: Successful local authorities, published on 27 February 2025, what changes have been made to the (a) allocations and (b) funding for Green Belt review since 27 February 2025.

The government has awarded 134 local authorities a share of £9.38 million of Green Belt review funding. A full list of LPAs in receipt of funding is available on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document by the Regulatory Policy Committee entitled Status of Post Implementation Reviews, published on 24 April 2025, when her Department plans to undertake a post-implementation review of The Town and Country Planning (Permission in Principle) Order 2017.

We will meet the statutory requirement for a review of the Permission in Principle Order 2017.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to chapter 2 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, for what reason the strategic planning authority must consider notifying bodies which represent the interests of different racial, ethnic or national groups in the strategy area.

New section 12H(3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 as inserted by clause 47 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill sets out a range of community-based bodies and interest groups that a strategic planning authority must consider notifying about the publication of the draft strategy. The bodies listed under this provision are by no means exhaustive nor exclusive. The decision as to which bodies and groups to ultimately notify remains at the discretion of the strategic planning authority. This provision closely matches the equivalent provision in the Greater London Authority Act 1999 regarding the Mayor of London’s London Plan.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on facility time processes in her Department.

As with any changes to employment legislation, the department will review the position on facility time as appropriate and in line with the Employment Rights Bill 2024 and any applicable Cabinet Office guidance. As the Impact Assessment accompanying the Employment Rights Bill highlighted, facility time provides significant benefits to employers and employees.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to publish declarations of interest for non-Ministerial board members on her Department's webpage entitled Our governance: Information on the MHCLG board and its sub-committees.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published an updated register of board members’ interests on Gov.uk on 07 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Tony Blair since 1 July 2024.

The Deputy Prime Minister joined Tony Blair for a Q&A event in December 2024 at the Tony Blair Institute. They discussed delivering the government’s ambitious agenda on Housing and Devolution.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41453, if he will make it her policy to ensure the Mayoral Renewables Fund does not operate by a bidding process.

Further to the response provided to Question 41453, the Mayoral Renewables Fund (MRF) is a one-off scheme in 2025/26, designed to enable Great British Energy (GBE) to build early relationships with as many Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) as possible during this transitional year, and to enable all MSAs to benefit from the funding allocated to early GBE delivery in 25/26. The MRF is not a competitive process; all MSAs were invited to submit proposals and all MSAs will receive funding as long as scheme eligibility criteria are met. There are no plans for the MRF to continue in its current form beyond 25/26.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made changes to the thresholds for publishing spending data since 4 July 2024.

MHCLG made changes to its thresholds for publishing spending date in January 2025. This change bought MHCLG’s publication of spending data in line with Cabinet Office requirements and in line with the rest of government.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document by the Regulatory Policy Committee entitled Status of Post Implementation Reviews, published 24 April 2025, when Department plans to publish its post-implementation review of The Infrastructure Planning (Compulsory Acquisition) (Amendment) Regulations 2017.

It is a matter of regret that under the previous government my Department did not manage to carry out and publish the required post-implementation reviews of regulatory provisions in these Regulations in a timely manner.I reassure the hon. Member, and the Regulatory Policy Committee, that this government will proceed to review these regulatory provisions and publish a report setting out the conclusions as soon as we can.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 45389 on New Towns, whether new towns will be designated where the local planning authority does not support the (a) designation or (b) proposed development.

As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Regulatory Policy Committee's report entitled Status of Post Implementation Reviews published on 24 April 2025, why the post-implementation review of The Infrastructure Planning Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2017 was delayed.

It is a matter of regret that under the previous government my Department did not manage to carry out and publish the required post-implementation reviews of regulatory provisions in these Regulations in a timely manner.I reassure the hon. Member, and the Regulatory Policy Committee, that this government will proceed to review these regulatory provisions and publish a report setting out the conclusions as soon as we can.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of polygamous marriages approved by sharia law courts in the most recent period for which information is held.

This information is not held.