Written questions by Turner.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to policy S5 of the draft National Planning Policy Statement, how he will define reasonable walking distance.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out a number of proposals to support development in sustainable locations, including a “default yes” for suitable proposals that develop land around rail stations within existing settlements, and around ‘well-connected’ train stations outside settlements, including on Green Belt land.It makes clear that such development should be limited to land physically well-related to the station and within reasonable walking distance of it.Reasonable walking distance is not quantified in the consultation document itself but following the Oral Statement I made on 16 December 2025 I referenced 800 metres (approximately 10 minutes at moderate walking speed) as the government’s working assumption of how it might be defined. The consultation sought views on all aspects of the policy, including how reasonable walking distance should be defined.We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to policy S5 of the draft National Planning Policy Statement, if he will consider the potential merits of including bus interchanges in that policy.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out a number of proposals to support development in sustainable locations, including a “default yes” for suitable proposals that develop land around rail stations within existing settlements, and around ‘well-connected’ train stations outside settlements, including on Green Belt land.It makes clear that such development should be limited to land physically well-related to the station and within reasonable walking distance of it.Reasonable walking distance is not quantified in the consultation document itself but following the Oral Statement I made on 16 December 2025 I referenced 800 metres (approximately 10 minutes at moderate walking speed) as the government’s working assumption of how it might be defined. The consultation sought views on all aspects of the policy, including how reasonable walking distance should be defined.We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, how many approvals for the disposal of allotments were made under section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 between 7 May 2010 and 4 July 2024; and what the (a) location and (b) reference number of each disposal was.

Between July 2018 and 4 July 2024 the sitting Secretary of State approved 58 allotment disposals. The location, town, reference number where available and date of disposal are listed in the table below. Due to a change in case management systems, records for the number of allotment disposals do not go back further than July 2018.LocationTownReferenceDateDene Park AllotmentsHexhamN/A13/06/2024Land North of Courteenhall RoadBilsworthNA12/04/2024Redbridge Lane West AllotmentsLondonRedbridge Lane West Allotments02/01/2024Central Avenue AllotmentsKirby in AshfieldW300503/08/2023Leadgate Bradley Bungalows Allotment Site. Adjacent to 50Bradley Bungalows, ConsettLeadgate Bradley Bungalows28/06/2023Land at Saltings AllotmentsGrimsbyB200207/06/2023Castlefield AllotmentsDartfordN/A24/03/2023Windmill Lane Allotment Site,GreenfordLegal/RK/0068486502/02/2023Milner Royd AllotmentsSowerby BridgeSP/100921702/02/2023Bellfield AllotmentsGuildford12401253.1/674661.0202208/11/2022Tursdale Allotment siteCassop-cum-QuarringtonN/A23/09/2022Grazing Land at Beech AllotmentsGrayshottN/A16/08/2022Land at Cliff RoadWakefieldxxxxxx03/08/2022The AllotmentsColchesterN/A06/07/2022Bulbourne RoadTringN/A04/07/2022Land fronting Bowes Road AllotmentsEnfieldQ5300030/06/2022Land at Beever RoadTiptonN/A23/05/2022Jerome AllotmentsActonN/A18/05/2022Bellfields AllotmentsGuilldfordN/K10/02/2022Furge Lane FieldHenstridgeHenstridge19/11/2021Melbourne Park AllotmentsChelmsfordN/A25/08/2021Wesley Street AlotmentsKirkby-in-AshfieldN/K08/07/2021Middleton AllotmentsMilton KeynesN/A08/06/2021Part of Silver Acre Allotments, off Scott Road, Kettering NN16 9NSKetteringn/a17/02/2021Harcourt Road AllotmentsMiddlesbroughN/K16/02/2021Brandon Road and Wilton RoadFeltwelln/a20/08/2020Club TerracePontefractUnknown09/07/2020Newland RoadBristolN/A08/06/2020Wolf Field Allotments,Norwoodn/a02/06/2020Bushey CroftHarlowN/K26/05/2020Stones Road Allotment SiteEpsomN/A06/05/2020Bulborne AllotmentsTringTBC26/03/2020Lillands AvenueBrighouseN/A23/03/2020Hamm Moor AllotmentsAddlestoneNA18/03/2020Beechwood AllotmentsMiddlesbroughN/A09/03/2020Redfield Hill AllotmemntsBristoln/a05/03/2020Lockleaze AllotmentsBristolN/K08/01/2020Coneybeare Allotment SiteAshfordN/A07/10/2019White Hart Allotment SiteSwindonTBC03/10/2019Portobello/Grove AllotmentsKingston- Upon_HullHS34332805/09/2019Meadway AllotmentsDunstablexxxxx/xxxx/xcxx03/09/2019Lampits AllotmentsHoddesdonLampits Allotments15/08/2019Eldon Road AllotmentsRotherhamn/a20/05/2019Grammar School Road AllotmentsBriggN/A07/05/2019Farnham Road AllotmentsBishops StortfordN/A27/03/2019Fleet Meadow,OxfordshireDidcotC Wayman14/03/2019Merry Hill Allotment, SmethwickBirminghamn/a14/03/2019Redesdale PlaceMoreton-in-MarshN/A05/03/2019Silverdale AllotmentsDinnington St JohnN/A26/02/2019Bardney AllotmentsLincolnN/A14/02/2019Spaxton allotment fieldSpaxtonn/a25/01/2019Acton Allotment, Hanbury RoadEalingP/2012/070821/01/2019Land off East Anglian Way / Land on the west side of Church RoadGorlestonEE/EE-GYBC/3871412/12/2018Marlpool AllotmentsHeanorN/A30/11/2018Leys Allotment SiteHigh Peakn/a26/11/2018Schofield StreetMexboroughN/A15/11/2018Butt FieldGoggeshallN/A24/10/2018Ilchester CrescentBristolN/A02/08/2018

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to improve the regulation of supported exempt accommodation; and what information her Department holds on levels of supported exempt accommodation in (a) Birmingham and (b) Birmingham Northfield constituency.

As set out in the written statement on Supported Housing Regulation (HCWS800) published on 10 July 2025, following the recent consultation on supported housing regulation the government is considering the responses received and will publish a full government response as soon as possible, in advance of consulting on draft regulations in early 2026. The department does not hold data on supported exempt accommodation. The most recent estimates of national levels of supported housing were published in the gov.uk Supported Housing Review 2023 on 4 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, whether local authorities are able to prevent new employees from joining the Local Government Pension Scheme.

It is unlawful for local authorities to prevent their new employees from joining the Local Government Pension Scheme. Local authorities are scheduled bodies, as defined by part 1 of Schedule 2 of the LGPS Regulations 2013, and scheduled bodies must offer the LGPS to directly employed staff.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 07 April 2025 to Question 43306 on Birmingham City Council: Finance, when the transparency publication referred to in that Answer will next be updated.

The Commissioners’ fees and expenses up to and including March 2025 have now been published on Birmingham City Council’s website.

Communities and Local Government, what the process is for amending an enterprise zone's boundaries.

Enterprise Zone sites were carefully selected and are designated in law. We currently have no plans to allow for boundaries to be redrawn

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 46451 on Birmingham City Council: Finance, what the estimated cost of providing central support to that intervention was in (a) 2023-2024, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26 to date.

It is established practice for MHCLG to provide a Chief of Staff function to support Commissioners appointed to local authorities in statutory intervention. In line with normal practice, the Department does not comment on the detail of civil service staffing or pay arrangements.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 46451 on Birmingham City Council: Finance, whether her Department has made an inexact estimate of the cost of providing central support to that intervention.

It is established practice for MHCLG to provide a Chief of Staff function to support Commissioners appointed to local authorities in statutory intervention. In line with normal practice, the Department does not comment on the detail of civil service staffing or pay arrangements.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43306, on Birmingham City Council: Finance, how many officials in her Department provide support to that intervention on a (a) headcount and (b) full-time equivalent basis; and if she will make an estimate of the cost of departmental support to the intervention since October 2023.

It is established practice for MHCLG to provide a Chief of Staff function to support Commissioners appointed to local authorities in statutory intervention. There are currently two full-time equivalent roles attached to the intervention in Birmingham City Council. These costs are contained within existing departmental budgets, and in line with standard practice. No separate estimate of exact costs has been made.As is standard practice for Councils under intervention, Birmingham City Council has not reimbursed the department for any costs associated with the Chief of Staff function, but does cover the Commissioners’ fees.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43306 on Birmingham City Council: Finance, whether Birmingham City Council has reimbursed her Department for any costs associated with that intervention; and if she will publish details of any such costs, broken down by heading.

It is established practice for MHCLG to provide a Chief of Staff function to support Commissioners appointed to local authorities in statutory intervention. There are currently two full-time equivalent roles attached to the intervention in Birmingham City Council. These costs are contained within existing departmental budgets, and in line with standard practice. No separate estimate of exact costs has been made.As is standard practice for Councils under intervention, Birmingham City Council has not reimbursed the department for any costs associated with the Chief of Staff function, but does cover the Commissioners’ fees.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of her Department's intervention at Birmingham City Council since October 2023.

The Commissioners’ fees and expenses are published on Birmingham City Council’s website at regular three-month intervals. There are additional costs associated with the admin support team provided by Birmingham City Council. Commissioners’ fees and expenses for one year were just over £1.3m.

Communities and Local Government, what contracts (a) BFS Group Limited and (b) subsidiary companies of BFS Group Limited hold with (i) her Department and (ii) agencies of her Department.

Information about contracts awarded by Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government and its agencies is available on Contracts Finder or Find a Tender Service, as required under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.Details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder and https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2024 to Question 11851 on Employers' Contributions: Local Government, whether local authorities will be compensated in full for the additional cost of employers' national insurance contributions; and when she plans to announce details of each local authority's allocation of the support for additional employer NICs costs.

As per our response to Question UIN 11851 on 8 November 2024, the Government has committed to provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer NICs costs. This applies to those directly employed by the public sector, including local government. We will set out further details of how this support will be delivered in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether local government commissioners appointed by her Department are classified as civil servants.

No, they are not classified as Civil Servants.