Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,441–1,460 of 2,926 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the number of second homes in each local billing authority in England.
The government annually publishes data on council taxbases, including the number of dwellings assessed as second homes for council tax purposes in England. The most recent data, taken from a snapshot in October 2024, is available here.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of Unite's statement entitled Birmingham council real plans laid bare as it now announces savage cuts for bin drivers, published on 29 April 2025.
The waste dispute between the employer (Birmingham City Council) and the trade union (Unite), remains a significant concern. The government has no formal role in these negotiations but we urge both parties to negotiate in good faith, reach a fair agreement, and bring this dispute to a close.
Communities and Local Government, what recent progress she has made on replacing the non-executive directors in her Department.
The open competition to recruit up to four Non-Executive Directors for the MHCLG Departmental Board is currently at interview stage, with the aim of appointing and announcing successful candidates in the coming months.
Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish interests of Departmental board members.
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, whether she has a target number of people to be supported under the Communities for Afghans phase 2 scheme.
Communities for Afghans phase 2 aims to accommodate 500 Afghan households (approximately 2,750 individuals) on Afghan resettlement schemes by the end of March 2031. Further detail on the scheme is here.
Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on (a) domestic and (b) international flights since 4 July 2024.
MHCLG has spent £39,114.79 on domestic flights and £68,513.31 on international flights since 4 July 2024.
Communities and Local Government, whether the scheduled local council elections in Surrey in 2026 will be (a) postponed and (b) cancelled.
The government considered requests to postpone local elections from May 2025 to May 2026 where it could be shown to help deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.The government will work with areas to hold elections for new unitary councils as soon as possible as is the usual arrangement in the process of local government reorganisation. For Surrey, our expectation is that the only elections that will take place in May 2026 are elections to new shadow unitary local government, with a view to going live in April 2027.
Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on (a) the number of charitable independent schools which received 20% discretionary business rate relief in 2024-25 and (b) the number of local authorities offering such discretionary rate relief; and whether her Department holds information on the number of local authorities which are continuing to provide such discretionary business rate relief in 2025-26.
The government does not collect data on discretionary rates relief awarded to charities at property level. As part of the annual National Non-Domestic Rates return, data is collected for total discretionary relief for all charitable occupation. The published forecast data shows an estimate of 281 Billing Authorities providing £48.7 million in discretionary relief for charitable occupation in 2024-25, and 280 Billing Authorities providing £48.9 million in 2025-26.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has recused herself from matters relating to licensing in the hospitality sector.
All ministers are recused from policy decisions where there are competing interests. The Deputy Prime Minister has declared her interests in the usual way.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 46271 on Hospitality Industry: Licensing, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of alcohol licensing fees on licensed (a) pubs and (b) restaurants that want to operate pavement licences.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 27 February.In addition, he will be aware that in early April the Department for Business and Trade announced a licensing policy taskforce to explore and evaluate options to create a licensing system that better supports business growth while ensuring public safety and community interests remain adequately protected under the Government’s Safer Streets Mission.The Home Office is playing an active role in that taskforce, further details of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/licensing-policy-taskforce/terms-of-reference-and-taskforce-member-list
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to conduct a post-implementation review of The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015.
The government has considered the wider assured tenancy system in the process of preparing the Renters’ Rights Bill.The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015 refer only to assured shorthold tenancies, which will cease to exist after the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill.The regulations will therefore cease to have any effect after implementation of the Bill, so we intend to repeal them by regulation.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of automatic voter registration.
The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of public data and online Government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.
What plans she has to (a) review and (b) increase the maximum level of parking fines that can be issued by councils outside London.
A number of parking sector stakeholders conducted research recently into this issue. It has been shared with the Department and officials will be reviewing the research and its findings in due course, and that will then inform decisions about next steps.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including technology-based solutions in proposed environmental delivery plans in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Environmental Delivery Plans would be able to consider a range of different types of conservation measures.This may include technology-based solutions, where such solutions could address potential negative effects of development on the environmental features with which the plan is concerned.
How much funding has been made available for apprenticeships for local authority planning staff since 4 July 2024; and whether her Department has made changes to the eligibility for that funding since that date.
The department does not allocate apprenticeship funding to specific apprenticeship standards or industry sectors.Employers, including local authorities, decide which apprenticeships they offer and when, and can then access funding for apprenticeships training and assessment costs.The department has not made changes to how employers access funding for apprenticeships since July 2024.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of deploying water efficiency technologies in the delivery of new homes as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Building Regulations require all new homes to meet a water efficiency standard of 125 litres per person per day (l/p/d). Local planning authorities can set higher standards through the preparation of local plans as set out in national planning guidance on Housing: Optional Technical Standards. This optional technical standard, of 110 litres l/p/d, can be implemented through local plan policies where there is a clear local need such as local water scarcity or other environmental considerations.We are working alongside Defra and the Building Safety Regulator to tighten water efficiency in new developments and retrofits. This will help meet the target set by the Environment Act 2021 to reduce the use of public water supply in England per head of the population by 20% by 2038.
Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 45034 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, whether her Department has had discussions with Historic England on proposals for a Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets.
DCMS officials have held discussions with Historic England on proposals for a Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets limited to the State of Conservation Report submitted in November 2024 and the inclusion of Historic England's advice to the Public Inquiry and Planning Inspectorate in the paragraph 172 notification submitted in February 2025.
Communities and Local Government, how much will be paid to each local authority through the Employer National Insurance Contribution Grant in the 2025-26 financial year; and whether payments will be made through that grant in the 2026-27 financial year.
The allocations for the Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant for each local authority are available on the GOV.UK page for the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, in the Core Spending Power table - Core Spending Power table: final local government finance settlement 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK. Spending decisions beyond 2025-26, including on Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant for 2026-27, are a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his letter to the Lead Commissioner of Birmingham City Council of 2 April 2025, what the remit of the Commissioners is on the failures of the Oracle IT system; and whether he expects there to be a wider inquiry in the IT system.
Commissioners appointed to Birmingham City Council have powers relating to governance, finance and recruitment, and bring expertise in local government improvement, finance, HR, housing, IT and commercial strategy. Their remit includes supporting the Council in the re-implementation of the Oracle-based Enterprise Resource Programme system. Commissioners have supported the Council in developing a recovery strategy and improving stability and accountability, as reflected in their second progress report which was published on 31 March 2025.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of equal pay legislation on the finances of (a) Birmingham City Council and (b) other local authorities.
Local authorities are independent employers responsible for complying with employment legislation and so the management of equal pay claims is a matter for councils. This includes conducting an assessment of the financial impact of such claims. The government does however, fund the Local Government Association to run a Sector Support Programme, which includes providing support and guidance for councils on equal pay issues. In addition, in line with the government’s wider approach to Exceptional Financial Support, we stand ready to speak to any council that is experiencing financial difficulties, including as a result of equal pay. As I confirmed last July (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament), Birmingham Council’s current estimate of the Equal Pay liability is £867m. The Government has provided in-principle Exceptional Financial Support to support the Council to set a balanced budget, including on the Equal Pay liability.