Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what functions the Army are undertaking in Birmingham; and how long they will be assigned for.

The government has been supporting Birmingham City Council in its efforts to address the backlog of waste that had been building up on the city’s streets, and significant progress has been made in the last fortnight. This support has included the three office-based military personnel with logistical expertise that were made available to the council to assist with planning. They have now returned to normal duties. We are grateful to our colleagues in the MoD for their support. We are working with the Council on options to address further costs arising from the industrial action

What steps she is taking to help prevent the debanking of people and organisations by financial institutions due to (a) their lawful political views and (b) domestic Politically Exposed Persons status or affiliation.

Banking services fulfil a vital role in the lives of millions of people and businesses across the UK, and the government is committed to ensuring high standards of consumer protection and financial inclusion across the financial services sector. Banks are already prohibited from discriminating against UK consumers based on their lawful political opinions when accessing a payment account. The government has on 28 April published new legislation that strengthens customer protection standards in cases where their account is terminated by their provider. These new rules will require banks to give customers 90 days’ notice before closing accounts and provide a clear explanation. These changes will prevent banks closing accounts without a clear reason, while giving people and businesses the time and information needed to challenge decisions. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-people-and-businesses-protected-against-debanking FCA guidance is clear that financial institutions should not be applying a blanket approach to the treatment of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs). The government has been working closely with the FCA to follow up on the findings of its review into the treatment of PEPs by financial institutions, and to ensure firms improve their practices where necessary, including to treat domestic PEPs and their relatives and close associates proportionately in line with the level of risk.

What the amount of funding being allocated by the UK Government to each of the devolved administrations to fund the direct and indirect cost of higher National Insurance Contributions on local government is in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland; and what proportion of the direct and indirect costs must be funded by the devolved Administrations.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor agreed to provide funding to the public sector to support them with the additional cost associated with changes to employer National Insurance Contributions policy. The devolved governments will receive funding through the Barnett formula in the usual way in 2025-26, including on this support. This is the normal operation of the funding arrangements as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy. The outcome of the Barnett formula will be confirmed, and funding provided for all devolved governments at Main Estimates 2025-26. It is for the devolved governments to allocate their funding in devolved areas as they see fit, including on workforce. They can therefore take their own decisions on managing and investing available resources, reflecting their own priorities and local circumstances, and they are accountable to the devolved legislatures for these decisions.The devolved governments’ Phase 1 Spending Review 2025 settlements are growing in real terms in 2025-26 and are the largest spending review settlements in real terms of any settlements since devolution. The devolved governments are each receiving at least 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK. That translates into over £16 billion more in 2025-26.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39028 on Housing: Pylons, whether the Valuation Office Agency has made an assessment of the potential impact of a pylon being erected within 500 metres on the capital value of a dwelling.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has not made a general assessment on the potential impact on a dwelling’s capital value from a pylon being erected within 500 metres of a dwelling. If the VOA receives a proposal seeking a change in the Valuation List citing the erection of a pylon in the locality, the Listing Officer will assess any valuation impact always having regard to the specific facts of the case. This will include the characteristics of the dwelling, the position of the pylon, and features of the surrounding area. The Listing Officer would then determine whether the changed physical state of the locality would have affected the dwelling’s value at the relevant valuation date. The valuation date for England is 1 April 1991, and for Wales is 1 April 2003.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question HL6432 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Contracts, whether her Department has had requests from suppliers for rates to be reviewed.

To date no requests have been made to MHCLG Commercial Directorate to review contracted rates due to the recent changes in National Insurance contribution rates. Any changes to contracts held by MHCLG require approval from Commercial Directorate.

How many armed forces personnel have been assigned to provide Military Aid to the Civil Authorities to Birmingham City Council.

Following a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request from the Ministry of Housing, Community, and Local Government, three military personnel deployed to support Birmingham City Council on 9 April for a period of seven days. This support, which was focused on operational planning only, concluded on 16 April.

Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with Ofcom on removing its use of historic data from European Parliamentary elections in its most recent publication entitled Evidence of past electoral support and evidence of current support ahead of the various elections taking place on 1 May 2025, published on 6 March 2025.

We do not intend to discuss this with Ofcom, as it is operationally independent from the government and responsible for its own publications.

Communities and Local Government, when assessing new byelaw applications which relate to areas of land which are in (a) public and (b) private ownership, what assessment her Department makes of the potential regulatory impact on (i) people and (ii) businesses.

Under the Byelaws (Alternative Procedure) (England) Regulations 2016, local authorities are required to submit a regulatory assessment when making a byelaw. This sets out the rationale for the proposed byelaw and its anticipated impact. It is for the local authority to demonstrate that proposed byelaws are necessary, proportionate, and justified, including consideration of any implications for those affected.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42254 on Licensing Laws, whether licensed premises must apply for variations to their licence to continue to serve alcohol within the curtilage of a pavement licence area.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 27 February.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42254 on Licensing Laws, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of continuing the alcohol licensing easement for (a) pavement licences and (b) takeaway pints.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 27 February.

With reference to the press release entitled Government calls ‘last orders’ on red tape choking pubs, clubs, and restaurants in major boost to the British night out, published on 4 April 2025, whether she plans to amend her Department's guidance entitled Revised guidance issued under section 182 of Licensing Act 2003, updated on 27 February 2025.

On 4 April the Government established a Taskforce to consider how the licensing regime may be strengthened to help facilitate a business environment that supports the Government’s growth mission whilst continuing to deliver the current licensing objectives relating to public safety, crime and disorder.The Taskforce met for the first time on 9 April and the Government will consider its recommendations

When the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish the draft council tax bandings for dwellings in Wales as part of the council tax revaluation in Wales.

The Local Government Finance (Wales) Act 2024 states that the Welsh Ministers can specify, in an order, the date by which listing officers must send a copy of the proposed valuation list to their billing authorities. If the Welsh Ministers do not make such an order, the deadline will be the 1 September before the date on which the list is to be compiled. Therefore, for a compiled list date of 1 April 2028, the proposed valuation list would be made available on or before 1 September 2027.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the size of London boroughs on their effectiveness at delivering public services.

There are no current plans to assess the potential impact of the size of London boroughs on their effectiveness at delivering public services.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41057 on Homes England: Consultants, what the organisational change was that Deloitte and Touche provided external advice and support for.

To respond to ministerial ambitions for the Agency of embedding a place-based approach to the delivery of housing, Homes England has been developing a new operating structure, responding to the priorities set out in the letter to the Chair sent in September 2024. To ensure that the Agency can deliver effectively on the government’s Plan for Growth Homes England’s new operating structure will support the development of a flexible and responsible organisation able to respond to future policy and strategic challenges, including deepened engagement with Mayors across the country.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41466 on Electronic Cigarettes and Smoking: Byelaws, what her policy is on requests from local authorities to try to ban (a) smoking and (b) vaping in or adjacent to licenced premises through byelaws.

The Department has not issued guidance on whether byelaws may be used to prohibit (a) smoking or (b) vaping in or around licensed premises. It is for local authorities to ensure that any byelaws they propose are appropriate, enforceable, and consistent with relevant legislation and national policy.

What steps he is taking to help tackle intimidatory practices by trade unions when on strike.

The Government is clear that there is no place for intimidation in any workplace. Our trade union legislation provides for picketing to lawfully take place, but this picketing must be peaceful and those on picket lines must not harass or intimidate workers that choose to attend work. The Code of Practice on Picketing remains in effect and this will continue to be the case.In the event of non-striking workers being intimidated or harassed, there is a wide range of criminal and civil sanctions that are applicable in this area including in common law and in various acts of Parliament.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for the private rented sector on the number of empty homes.

The Government is consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation includes proposals for rented homes to achieve EPC C or equivalent by 2030, unless a valid exemption applies, and is accompanied by the Department’s impact assessment. The assessment makes clear that we are unable to quantify the extent to which this will impact the supply of properties as landlords may take different approaches. We encourage stakeholders to feed in views and evidence on the potential impact of these proposals. Following the consultation process, a government response and full impact assessment will be published.

Communities and Local Government, whether the (a) water and waste, (b) airport and (c) national networks National Policy Statements will be updated by summer 2025.

On 8 July 2024, the Chancellor committed to updating relevant National Policy Statements within 12-months.The government recently launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the Energy National Policy Statements (NPSs) 1, 3 and 5 and intends to consult shortly on other draft amended National Policy Statements.These draft amended NPSs will be laid in Parliament for consideration as prescribed by the Planning Act 2008. Completion of the update processes is subject to the outcome and timings of those consultation and Parliamentary timings.The National Networks NPS is not included in this as it was designated in May 2024. The government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports NPS, which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent. Further to this, we are introducing legislation through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to make at least five-yearly reviews of all NPSs a legal requirement. This would include a transitional period in which NPSs that are currently out of date (i.e. more than 5 years old at the time of Royal Assent) will have two years from the bill being enacted to update their NPSs in line with the legislation. All other NPSs will be required to be updated within 5 years of their designation of latest update.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 41460 on MHCLG: Equality, if she will publish the associated training materials for the Inclusion Allies training; who signed off the expenditure on the Inclusion Allies training; and what the cost was of the Inclusion Allies training.

Expenditure of £4,184 was approved by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 29 October 2024 in line with Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance. This training equipped 26 staff within the Department to provide support for marginalised or vulnerable colleagues. The training consisted of webinars, group learning, and hands-on exercises. Materials associated with this training are the intellectual property of the provider, and cannot be published by the Department for contractual reasons.

Whether his Department plans to make changes to the permitted size of a serving of beer or cider.

This Government has no plans to change the permitted size of a serving of beer of cider.Draught beer or cider can be served in a 1/3 pint, 1/2 pint, full pint, or multiples of those sizes as defined in the specified quantities set out in the Weights and Measurers legislation.We have stated our commitment to preserving the pint, and the amendment to the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill put forward by Lord Fox, and supported by the Government, ensures any future government could not use the powers in the Bill to change the uses or size of the pint.