Written questions by Duncan-Jordan.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has put enforcement procedures in place for local authorities that do not follow their statutory duties under the Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities, published on 22 February 2018.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for setting the national framework for housing, including the legislation and Homelessness Code of Guidance to which councils must have regard. Compliance with legislation, guidance, and the statutory homelessness duties rests with local councils. It is the responsibility of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman to investigate individual complaints and take action where they consider councils have not applied their duties correctly.

Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to review cross-Government spending on tackling homelessness, in the context of the Spending Review.

As part of the current Spending Review, the government will be reviewing all spending across government, including spend on tackling homelessness. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Child Poverty Taskforce on (a) furnished tenancies and (b) the potential impact of the Decent Homes Standard on levels of furniture poverty.

The government will consult this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors. The Deputy Prime Minister is part of the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, which is aiming to publish a Child Poverty Strategy in Spring 2025. As part of the development of the strategy, the Taskforce is considering the impacts of living in poor quality housing. People in need may be able to get help for essential furniture from their local council through the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a timeframe for updating the Decent Homes Standard.

The government will consult this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors. The Deputy Prime Minister is part of the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, which is aiming to publish a Child Poverty Strategy in Spring 2025. As part of the development of the strategy, the Taskforce is considering the impacts of living in poor quality housing. People in need may be able to get help for essential furniture from their local council through the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to update the Decent Homes Standard to ensure that a minimum of 10% of homes for social rent are offered furnished.

The government will consult this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors. The Deputy Prime Minister is part of the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, which is aiming to publish a Child Poverty Strategy in Spring 2025. As part of the development of the strategy, the Taskforce is considering the impacts of living in poor quality housing. People in need may be able to get help for essential furniture from their local council through the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to halve the number of non-decent (a) social and (b) private rented homes by 2030.

The government will consult this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors. The Deputy Prime Minister is part of the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, which is aiming to publish a Child Poverty Strategy in Spring 2025. As part of the development of the strategy, the Taskforce is considering the impacts of living in poor quality housing. People in need may be able to get help for essential furniture from their local council through the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of moving into unfurnished homes on (a) prison leavers, (b) people escaping domestic violence and (c) people in poverty.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 32408 on 11 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Older People’s Housing Taskforce entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population, published on 26 November 2024.

The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce. We are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year. I regularly engage with my Ministerial colleagues to ensure that work across government delivers housing designed for specific groups, including older people.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her statement of 30 July 2024 entitled, Building the homes we need, what steps she has taken to help ensure that the needs of an older population form part of her long-term housing strategy.

The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce. We are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year. I regularly engage with my Ministerial colleagues to ensure that work across government delivers housing designed for specific groups, including older people.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to help promote age-appropriate homes.

The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce. We are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year. I regularly engage with my Ministerial colleagues to ensure that work across government delivers housing designed for specific groups, including older people.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of implementing a cross-Government approach to older people's housing.

The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce. We are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year. I regularly engage with my Ministerial colleagues to ensure that work across government delivers housing designed for specific groups, including older people.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to introduce a moratorium on Section 21 eviction notices until Parliamentary consideration of the Renters' Reform Bill is concluded.

The Renters’ Rights Bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on Tuesday 4 February. The Bill delivers the government’s manifesto commitment to overhaul the regulation of the private rented sector, including by abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.We want to see tenants benefit from these reforms as quickly as possible. We have therefore determined to introduce the new tenancy system for the private rented sector in one stage. Upon the commencement date, the new tenancy system will apply to all private tenancies – existing tenancies will become periodic, and any new tenancies will be governed by the new rules.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase regulation of private car park companies.

The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is working with both consumer groups and the two parking trade associations to raise standards and deliver better protection and support for motorists.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. The Government will announce plans for the Code of Practice in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to (a) revise the National Planning Policy Framework and (b) redefine affordable housing.

The government published a revised National Planning Policy Framework on 12 December 2024, including an amended definition of affordable housing in its glossary.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to invest in the Affordable Homes Programme after 2026.

We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take legislative steps to allow local authorities to reject planning applications for (a) new and (b) expanding factory farms.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment. National planning policy in this area needs to be taken into account when determining applications relating to factory farms.The planning system is concerned with whether proposed development is an acceptable use of land, rather than the control of processes or emissions subject to separate pollution control regimes. The Environmental Permitting Regulations apply to the largest intensive pig (2000+ pigs) and poultry (40,000+ birds) farms and require such farms to hold an environmental permit to operate, and to adopt Best Available Techniques to reduce pollution to air, land and water. This is regulated by the Environment Agency.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle antisemitism.

The appalling rise in antisemitism we have seen over the last year is a stain on our society, and the Government is absolutely committed to rooting out this abhorrent form of hatred. We have been working closely with the Independent Adviser on Antisemitism Lord Mann along with Jewish community voices such as the Community Security Trust on the most effective methods to tackle antisemitism.Government has committed further funding of £54 million for the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to provide protective security measures (such as security personnel services, CCTV and alarm systems) at synagogues, Jewish educational establishments and community sites until 2028. We are in the process of finalising a more integrated and cohesive approach to tackling antisemitism and will announce more on this soon.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Housing First pilot schemes; and whether she plans to expand those schemes.

I refer my Hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 15811 on 3 December 2024.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help end child homelessness.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This Government recognises the devastating impact this can have on those affected. We are already taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25) and brings total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26. Allocations for individual local authorities in England will be set out later in December, which will include Slough, West Dorset, the Thames Valley region and wider rural communities.The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to tackle the underlying causes of homelessness and deliver long-term solutions to end all forms of homelessness, including rural and child homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across Government to develop a long-term homelessness strategy.We have also established an Expert Group to bring together representatives from across the homelessness and rough sleeping sector, local and combined authorities and wider experts. The role of this expert group is to provide knowledge, analysis and challenge to help Government understand what is working well nationally and locally and where improvements are needed.The department also has a lived experience forum to ensure the voices of those with lived experience of homelessness are reflected in the homelessness strategy.More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness by delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament.The Government is also abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, preventing private renters being exploited and discriminated against, and empowering people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to increase the funding for services supporting victims of domestic abuse.

On 28 November, the Government announced a funding increase of £30 million to the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant, bringing the total investment in this Grant to £160 million in 2025-26. This funding will enable local authorities in England to continue to invest in essential support within frontline safe accommodation services, ensuring victims of domestic abuse can access the support they need.This is part of the Government’s commitment to tackling domestic abuse, and our manifesto commitment to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, with improved support for victims.Funding from April 2026 will be a matter for the Spending Review.