Written questions by Wrigley.

Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make public toilet provision a statutory duty for local authorities.

Government does not propose to introduce a statutory duty at this time. We recognise the importance of toilet provision and have taken steps to support local leaders. At the 2025 Spending Review, we committed over £5 billion in new grant funding over the next three years for essential local services such as toilets. In addition, we continue to provide 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant of the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 58761; how will the government support unparished areas in Devon like a) Exeter and b) Torbay in the Local Government Re-organisation process.

All two tier authorities and their neighbouring unitaries must have regard to the statutory guidance on local government reorganisation. Criterion six states that new unitary structures should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.We understand communities should have their say on the future of local government in their area and we have been clear on the importance of councils engaging with local residents and organisations as they develop their proposals.The power to create and restructure town and parish councils is devolved to principal local authorities, which can review and make changes to local governance arrangements through Community Governance Reviews. In doing so, they are expected to take the views of local people into account, and they should also consider the financial and administrative requirements.Following the submission of proposals for unitary local government in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay on 28 November, it will be for the government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute. Responses from residents, town and parish councillors and local businesses to that consultation will be welcome.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help reduce the number of private parking scams.

This government is taking action to protect motorists. The Department for Business and Trade provides annual funding to Citizens Advice to deliver general consumer information, education and to raise awareness. This includes the Annual Scams Awareness campaign which Citizens Advice run on behalf of the Consumer Protection Partnership. The October 2024 campaign was focused on financial fraud, including Parking QR code scams. Further to this, in accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government has recently outlined its proposals for a new code of practice for private parking operators. This code will drive up standards across the private parking industry and protect motorists.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 48653 on Parking: Private Sector, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of local councils transferring their parking facilities to private parking companies on a) council finances and b) people parking there.

Local authorities are responsible for their own parking arrangements, and it is for them to determine what is best for their own area. As such, my department has not conducted an assessment of these potential impacts. Authorities that outsource any area of parking enforcement to private companies should ensure that the contractor fulfils all the requirements set down for the authority itself. We do, however, recognise the concerns many people have with private parking companies. That is why we are working on implementing the new Private Parking Code of Practice. This initiative aims to address these concerns and ensure fairer and more transparent practices within the private parking sector.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 45236 on Parking: Private Sector, what meetings he has had with private parking companies between June and October 2025.

The Secretary of State has had no meetings with private parking companies during the period of June to October 2025. On 9th June, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Alex Norris MP chaired a round table meeting with the two parking Trade Associations and motorist groups to hear their views and proposals for the government’s Code of Practice. As part of the government’s work to introduce this new Code of Practice and raise standards across the private parking industry, my officials have regular monthly meetings with both the two parking trade associations and with motorist representatives. In addition to these regular sessions, officials have ad hoc meetings with both groups, dependent on business needs.

Communities and Local Government, when the brownfield land release fund will be made available to councils.

The Brownfield Land Release Fund Round 2, Year 4, will be made available to local authorities before the end of 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle homelessness in Newton Abbot constituency.

The government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million to a total of over £1 billion in 2025/26. Funding allocations are published on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of making the qualification of Certificate in Local Council Administration (a) mandatory and (b) included in training in the first year of employment for town and parish clerks.

Town and parish council clerks play a crucial role in enabling councils to effectively serve and represent their communities. There are currently no plans to make the Certificate in Local Council Administration mandatory for town and parish council clerks, as this would place an undue burden on the sector. Town and parish councils operate independently of central government and are best placed to understand their staff’s development needs.

Communities and Local Government, if he will publish a consultation on (a) reducing and (b) abolishing the 10% commission charge on the sale of park homes.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 69040 on 24 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a 10% commission charge on the sale of park homes on park home owners.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 69040 on 24 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to respond to the email from the hon. Member for Newton Abbot dated 24 July 2025.

The former minister responded to the hon. Member’s enquiry via correspondence on 29 August. I have sent a copy of the response to his office for reference.

Communities and Local Government, what contracts their Department has with Palantir.

Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the enforcement of the local government code of conduct.

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

Communities and Local Government, what what steps she is taking to help ensure consistency in standards of (a) ethics, (b) training and (c) reporting in (i) parish, (ii) town and (iii) district councils.

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

Communities and Local Government, what statutory powers are available to local standards committees to investigate and sanction councillors for breaches of the Nolan Principles.

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

Communities and Local Government, how many complaints were referred to local standards committees in the last year; and what proportion of those complaints led to sanctions.

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

Communities and Local Government, what accountability mechanisms exist for private landlords who receive public funds through (a) Housing Benefit and (b) Universal Credit.

Local authorities have a wide range of enforcement tools to take action against private landlords who fail to comply with regulations, including those who receive public funds through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit. They can, for example, issue improvement notices and civil penalties, prosecute landlords, and apply to have landlords banned from letting properties for serious offences.The Renters' Rights Bill, currently before Parliament, includes a range of measures designed to strengthen landlord accountability. These include a requirement for all landlords to sign up to the new Private Rented Sector Database; a new independent Landlord Ombudsman which will provide binding resolutions for tenant complaints; the extension of the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector; and the application of Awaab’s law to the private rented sector.The Bill also strengthens rent repayment orders, including doubling the maximum amount that a landlord can be ordered to pay from 12 to 24 months’ rent. Where a landlord commits certain offences and rent has been paid through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, local authorities can claim back rent through a rent repayment order.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increased social housing investment on reducing reliance on private landlords.

Over time, increased investment in social housing will reduce reliance on the private rented sector. At the Spending Review the Chancellor announced £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to compare best practice in (a) the UK and (b) other countries on reducing public expenditure on private rents.

My Department uses both domestic and international evidence to inform policy development in relation to a wide range of issues, including in respect of public expenditure on private rents.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure local authorities are able to require standards in excess of legal minimums as conditions for planning approval.

Planning conditions attached to the grant of planning permission can be used to require development to meet certain standards. However, as the National Planning Policy Framework states, such conditions should only be imposed where they are necessary, relevant to planning and to the development to be permitted, enforceable, precise and reasonable in all other respects. They should also not duplicate the role of other regulatory regimes.