Written questions by Wilson.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of playing fields that will be developed as a result of proposals to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) includes strong protections for existing open space, sports and recreational buildings, and land, including playing fields, setting out that they should not be built on unless they are no longer needed, equivalent or better provision is made, or the development is for alternative sports or recreational provision which offers benefits that clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use. The government recently consulted on a new NPPF that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation included updated policy on development affecting existing recreation facilities, including playing fields. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course. The government is committed to maintaining and improving our stock of playing fields. We recognise that Sport England can play a valuable strategic role in supporting local planning authorities in the development of local planning policy. However, we do not believe that statutory consultation on individual cases to a national body is proportionate. In our recent consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system, we proposed a series of mitigations which could minimise the potential impacts of removing Sport England’s statutory consultee status, while delivering the benefits of reducing regulatory requirements. These include the introduction of a new notification requirement in relation to housing and commercial development on playing fields. Under this approach, local planning authorities would be required to notify Sport England when such applications would result in the wholesale or substantial loss of playing fields. The consultation closed on 13 January 2026, and we are currently analysing the feedback received.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that developers in London allocate 20% of homes for affordable housing.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87275 on 28 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Budget 2025, if he will set out how the High Value Council Tax Surcharge will be collected.

The High Value Council Tax Surcharge will be collected from April 2028. Local Authorities will collect this revenue on behalf of central government. Revenue will be used to support funding for local government services, with further detail set to be set out at the next Spending Review. The government will work closely with local government and will undertake a new burdens assessment to ensure costs to local authorities are fully funded. Further details to be consulted on next year.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department includes purpose-built student accommodation in it's counting of affordable housing.

The definition of affordable housing used in statistical publications is the one included in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Any student accommodation that falls within that definition will be included, but it is not separately identified in the data collected for the Department’s affordable housing supply statistics.

Communities and Local Government, when the Minister for Housing and Planning plans to respond to the correspondence sent by the hon. Member for Twickenham on 2 July 2025, reference MC2025/19101.

A response was sent to the hon. Member on 3 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether he will introduce a legislative requirement that all fire risk assessors must have certification in order to carry out assessments of high-risk premises.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report recommended that the Government establish a system of mandatory accreditation to certify the competence of fire risk assessors (FRAs) by setting standards for qualification and continuing professional development and such other measures as may be considered necessary or desirable. The Government accepted this recommendation in full, committing to legislate to make it a mandatory requirement for FRAs to have the competence to perform this critical role. To support delivery of the Inquiry recommendation, we intend to consult shortly on proposals relating to the future of the FRA profession.

Communities and Local Government, how many Fire and Rescue Authorities successfully required (a) freeholders, (b) management companies and (c) managing agents to issue Fire Safety Assessments to residents in (a) 2022-23, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, there is a requirement on responsible persons (those responsible for fire safety such as a building owner, landlord or managing agent) to undertake and record a fire risk assessment for their premises. Article 21A also makes clear that the responsible person must communicate the risks identified in the fire risk assessment to residents (including whenever this is updated). They are not required to share the whole assessment as there is an expectation that they summarise the risks given the potentially technical nature of the assessment. Fire and rescue services are not in a position to compel responsible persons to share the whole fire risk assessment and the Government does not hold data on enforcement or breaches of Article 21A. If the risks highlighted in the assessment are not being shared with residents they should request this from their responsible person, and if they continue to not receive this information then they could report this to their fire and rescue service. In guidance we publish on these requirements, titled Check your fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, we advise that those responsible for fire safety communicate this information alongside the instructions to residents on what to do in the event of a fire which they are required to provide on an annual basis. This advice is repeated in the statutory guidance on fire safety in blocks of flats which we aim to publish in the first half of 2026. There is a regulatory power under Article 21A (4) allowing the Government to mandate the frequency of this information. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation to identify if such a mandate is necessary. In addition, on 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services which can be found on gov.uk here. This included proposals to give leaseholders the right to access specific information relating to the condition of their building, including on fire safety. The consultation closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access of leaseholders to information about fire safety.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, there is a requirement on responsible persons (those responsible for fire safety such as a building owner, landlord or managing agent) to undertake and record a fire risk assessment for their premises. Article 21A also makes clear that the responsible person must communicate the risks identified in the fire risk assessment to residents (including whenever this is updated). They are not required to share the whole assessment as there is an expectation that they summarise the risks given the potentially technical nature of the assessment. Fire and rescue services are not in a position to compel responsible persons to share the whole fire risk assessment and the Government does not hold data on enforcement or breaches of Article 21A. If the risks highlighted in the assessment are not being shared with residents they should request this from their responsible person, and if they continue to not receive this information then they could report this to their fire and rescue service. In guidance we publish on these requirements, titled Check your fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, we advise that those responsible for fire safety communicate this information alongside the instructions to residents on what to do in the event of a fire which they are required to provide on an annual basis. This advice is repeated in the statutory guidance on fire safety in blocks of flats which we aim to publish in the first half of 2026. There is a regulatory power under Article 21A (4) allowing the Government to mandate the frequency of this information. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation to identify if such a mandate is necessary. In addition, on 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services which can be found on gov.uk here. This included proposals to give leaseholders the right to access specific information relating to the condition of their building, including on fire safety. The consultation closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure leaseholders are able to access information about fire safety.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, there is a requirement on responsible persons (those responsible for fire safety such as a building owner, landlord or managing agent) to undertake and record a fire risk assessment for their premises. Article 21A also makes clear that the responsible person must communicate the risks identified in the fire risk assessment to residents (including whenever this is updated). They are not required to share the whole assessment as there is an expectation that they summarise the risks given the potentially technical nature of the assessment. Fire and rescue services are not in a position to compel responsible persons to share the whole fire risk assessment and the Government does not hold data on enforcement or breaches of Article 21A. If the risks highlighted in the assessment are not being shared with residents they should request this from their responsible person, and if they continue to not receive this information then they could report this to their fire and rescue service. In guidance we publish on these requirements, titled Check your fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, we advise that those responsible for fire safety communicate this information alongside the instructions to residents on what to do in the event of a fire which they are required to provide on an annual basis. This advice is repeated in the statutory guidance on fire safety in blocks of flats which we aim to publish in the first half of 2026. There is a regulatory power under Article 21A (4) allowing the Government to mandate the frequency of this information. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation to identify if such a mandate is necessary. In addition, on 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services which can be found on gov.uk here. This included proposals to give leaseholders the right to access specific information relating to the condition of their building, including on fire safety. The consultation closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to next publish an updated version of the Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate enforcement register, published on 26 April 2023.

The Crown Premises’ Fire Safety Inspectorate’s enforcement register will be updated again by 31st May 2025

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February to Question 27485, tabled on 29 January 2025 on Parking: Private Sector, if she will issue revised guidance on the operation and management of private parking facilities to private car park companies operating at (a) airports, (b) local authority car parks, (c) NHS sites, (d) supermarkets, (e) rail companies, (f) universities and (g) private residential areas.

The Government is aware of the concerns about the poor practice and behaviour of some parking operators and is determined to drive up standards.The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.This Code will contain guidance for all off-street privately managed car parking facilities.This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector and will announce its plans for the new Code in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a regulatory and competition authority for private carpark operators.

The Government is aware of the concerns about the poor practice and behaviour of some parking operators and is determined to drive up standards. We are exploring ways to give motorists the best protection and support and continue to engage with both consumer groups and the two parking trade associations. MHCLG does not hold information on the ownership of private car parks, as this is private land not managed or overseen by Government. We will announce our plans regarding the Government code in due course. In the meantime, however, I can confirm that we will consult and assess the impacts of any new measures before those are implemented.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 27485 on Parking: Private Sector, if she will restrict access to DVLA records by private parking companies that consistently issue unfair parking notices.

The law permits the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to release the contact details of the registered keeper of a vehicle where the requester can demonstrate “reasonable cause” for requesting that information, and where a parking operator is a member of a trade association and adheres to sector’s code of practice. The disclosure of keeper details to private parking companies is subject to a range of safeguards to ensure the information is requested and used appropriately. We are exploring ways to give motorists the best protection and support and continue to engage with both consumer groups, two parking trade associations and DVLA.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to review legislation on Assets of Community Value.

Community spaces have a significant role to play in developing social networks, encouraging community participation, and promoting civic pride. The Assets of Community Value scheme in England provides communities with a route to protect cherished community assets, furthering social wellbeing and the interests of the community.As part of the Government's commitment to introduce a new Community Right to Buy in the English Devolution Bill, we will consider what associated changes need to be made to the existing Assets of Community Value legislation.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a Community Right to Buy scheme.

The Government is committed to creating thriving high streets and community spaces. Through the English Devolution Bill, we will introduce a new Community Right to Buy to help local people to acquire valued community spaces if they come up for sale, keeping these assets in the hands of the community. These new powers will further empower communities to tackle the blight of high street vacancy, bringing more spaces back into use and rejuvenating local high streets across the country. We will provide more detail on the planned measures in due course.