Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 38372 on MHCLG: Cost Effectiveness, if she will list each of those individual media campaigns which were halted; and the previously estimated cost of each.

A number of 24/25 campaigns were halted or postponed following the election. The campaigns and estimated cost of each (excluding VAT) were:Levelling Up – up to £3.15mLeasehold Reforms campaign (planned but didn’t run) - £1mPrivate Rented Sector Reform campaign (planned but didn’t run) - £750,000 No costs were incurred for these campaigns.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36094 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, if she will consider a tapering system as part of the new multiplier arrangements.

The Autumn Budget 2024 announcements reflect the Government’s first steps to support the high street. We want to go further to modernise the business rates system, and so, we also published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for reform and inviting stakeholders to engage. As set out in the Discussion Paper, one of the areas the Government is interested in hearing about includes the presence of cliff-edges in the system. Stakeholder representations will be considered when developing options for reform. In summer, the government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at the Budget this Autumn.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2025, to Question 38621, on Combined Authorities, and with reference to the publication of the report by Professor Alice Sullivan, Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, published in March 2025, if she will ensure that questions about the sex of a respondent ask for their sex.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 38621 on 24 March 2025.

With reference to the new surcharge on hereditaments over £500,000 from April 2026, whether educational charities will be liable to pay the increase in business rates which is not covered by mandatory charitable rate relief.

We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.As part of its reforms, the Government intends to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on properties with rateable values of £500,000 or more.Mandatory charitable rates relief will be available to eligible properties that are subject to the higher rate.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, Eighteenth Report, 2024-25, HL Paper 84, para 32, what steps her Department is taking to to improve (a) consultation and (b) engagement with local residents.

On 5 February, the Government issued invitations to councils in two-tier areas in England and neighbouring unitary councils to prepare proposals for local government reorganisation. The invitation is clear on the importance of local engagement, and asks councils to ensure there is wide engagement with local residents as well as other public service providers, workforce and their representatives, Members of Parliament and businesses as they prepare their proposals for strong, stable unitary councils that are fit for the future. The guidance is clear that the final proposals put forward should include evidence of local engagement, an explanation of the views that have been put forward and how concerns will be addressed. Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the Government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Food Standards Agency on whether it has a working definition of a fast food outlet.

The Food Standards Agency and Defra Ministers meet regularly to discuss key issues.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of infrequent collections of household waste on public health.

Through Simpler Recycling, all households will receive a comprehensive and consistent set of waste and recycling services. This will enable households to recycle as much waste as possible and to frequently dispose of bad-smelling food waste, which will be collected from all households at least weekly.We recognise that as recycling services are expanded and improved, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met that’s why Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities meet household’s needs.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure consistency of approach in its engagement policy.

We take engagement seriously and adopt best practice as outlined by the Government's principles of engagement.These principles of engagement are published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 39632 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this ruling on unauthorised traveller sites.

The government is carefully considering the judgment issued by the High Court in May 2024 which found that particular sections of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, as amended by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, were incompatible with Convention rights.We acknowledge and respect the High Court’s decision, and the National Police Chiefs’ Council have written to forces in England and Wales advising them of the judgment. Forces will need to consider their own legal advice in to inform any related enforcement decisions, which are operationally independent of government.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has undertaken Environment Act environmental principles assessments when issuing (a) new and (b) revised planning practice guidance since July 2024.

Planning practice guidance published since July 2024 supports the implementation of matters that have been set through legislation or policy. Environmental principles assessments were undertaken for the changes to policy once the requirement for them had been commenced.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of houses that will be built in each year between 2025-26 and 2029-30.

As the hon. Member is aware, the government has not set interim annual targets in respect of its ambitious Plan for Change milestone of delivering 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. However, due to the reduced levels of housing supply that we inherited, the government has been clear that rates of housebuilding will have to increase significantly in the later years of the Parliament to meet that milestone.

Which retail, hospitality and leisure hereditaments have their rateable value assessed by the Valuation Office Agency using turnover expenditure as part of the metrics.

The hereditaments that have their rateable value assessed with reference to their trade are those where there is limited reliable rental evidence, and the nature of their occupation is primarily concerned with anticipated profit. In such cases, the rateable value would likely be based upon a consideration of the receipts and expenditure of the property.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39035 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, whether a retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) hereditament in receipt of the lower RHL multiplier will (a) lose that multiplier discount and (b) be levied the higher multiplier surcharge if their rateable value rises above £499,999 under the proposed regime from April 2026.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on the most valuable properties - those with a Rateable Value of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants. Ahead of these changes being made, we have prevented RHL relief from ending in April 2025 by extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and frozen the small business multiplier.

Communities and Local Government, whether there was a cost to the public purse for the hire of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club for the roundtable event she attended on 4 April 2025.

There was no cost to the public purse.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department engages with Palestine Action.

No, my department has not engaged with Palestine Action. The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37227 on Hospitality Industry and Retail Trade: Business Rates, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the new (a) lower and (b) higher multiplier for retail, hospitality and leisure above £500,000 Rateable Value from 2026-27 on the value of retail hospitality and leisure business rate relief in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with Rateable Values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from 2026-27 - those with Rateable Values of £500,000 and above. Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context. Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new, permanently lower tax rates are set at Budget 2025, the Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the minutes of her meeting with Birmingham City Council on 5 April 2025; and what the conclusions were of the meeting.

The government has been in frequent dialogue with the leadership of the City Council to ensure the welfare of Birmingham residents and a swift resolution to the dispute. The 5 April meeting provided an update on the clean-up of the waste backlog and industrial relations negotiations. The government will continue to support the Council in creating the sustainable, fair and reliable waste service that its residents deserve. In line with normal practice, the minutes of the meeting will not be published.

Communities and Local Government, what the value is of the baseline spending on (a) communications and (b) consultancy on which her Department's targets to reduce such spending is based.

Part A: The baseline for communications in 2024/25 was £8m. Part B on consultancy: The baseline against which reductions will be measured is £15.2m. This is based on the initial values included in the 24/25 Spending Review.

Whether the transitional relief scheme for the 2026 business rates revaluation will be financed by (a) direct funding, (b) downward phasing and (c) a higher multiplier.

The Government is legally required to introduce transitional relief for ratepayers to support those seeing the biggest increases at revaluations. The Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023 removed the requirement for transitional relief schemes to be self-funding. Only once we understand the complete 2026 revaluation picture will the Government be in a position to make final decisions, at Autumn Budget 2025, on the transitional relief scheme

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statutory guidance entitled, Best value standards and intervention: a statutory guide for best value authorities, published on 8 May 2024, if she will take steps to intervene in the bin collection strike in Birmingham City Council area.

The Department is closely monitoring the situation regarding the ongoing bin collection strike in the Birmingham City Council area and stands ready to play its part in supporting the Council where necessary. The Council should remain responsible for managing local service delivery, as is normal practice across local government, and is working to deal with the backlog of waste swiftly. Commissioners, who were appointed in October 2023 under the previous government to oversee the Council’s broader improvement journey, have been working constructively with the Council to ensure that a meaningful, sustainable resolution is found as quickly as possible. We recognise the importance of this issue for local people and are clear that this must be resolved, with regular services returned, and the accumulated waste and fly-tipping removed from the streets of the city as a matter of urgency.