Written questions by Timothy.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government press release entitled Rooftop solar for new builds to save people money, published on 6 June 2025, if she will make it her policy to require rooftop solar panels installed on new homes under the Future Homes Standard to be fitted by individuals with proven competency in both (a) electrical and (b) roofing.

The government will publish the Future Homes Standard (FHS) this autumn to ensure new homes are zero carbon ready, meaning they will require no future retrofit work as the electricity grid fully decarbonises.The FHS will apply to all new homes and will ensure they have low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. We will set out appropriate transitional arrangements for the FHS in due course to ensure a smooth adoption of the new standards.To ensure the quality and safety of installations, including the requirements around structural safety, fire safety and electrical safety, works must be approved by building control or carried out by someone registered as part of the competent persons scheme.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of transferring Police and Crime Commissioner powers to combined authorities on communities.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) functions. By enabling more Mayors to take on PCC functions, we aim to provide efficient, accountable, and visible local leadership. More Mayors with public safety functions means strengthening Mayors’ accountability and enables them to forge stronger links and partnerships for the good of people in their areas. It will also enable them to better join up local services and take an integrated approach to improving local outcomes.

Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on contingency accommodation for (a) asylum seekers, (b) those granted asylum, and (c) those in the country illegally in each year since 2020.

My department has not provided any funding for contingency accommodation for asylum seekers, those granted asylum or those in the country illegally as the Home Office has departmental responsibility for the asylum system and irregular migration.

Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on homelessness and rough sleeping in each year since 2020.

The Department’s spending for each year is published through annual reports. You can find links to these here: 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24. The 2024/25 annual report will be published in due course. The Government spent over £873 million on homelessness and rough sleeping in 2024/25.You can find details of homelessness and rough sleeping allocations for 2025/26 here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517, on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what steps her Department is taking to tackle unlawful street vendors on Westminster Bridge; and if she will initiate discussions with the relevant responsible authority.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 9942 on 22 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish internal analysis produced by her Department on the impact of asylum accommodation in hotels on violent disorder in summer 2024.

The Government is committed to understanding the factors which influenced the violent disorder in the summer, and its harmful impact on many communities. This is a priority, which is why the Deputy Prime Minister stood up a cross-government Communities and Recovery Steering Group to oversee this work.Officials from my department have carried out extensive engagement with the places affected by the violence. The insights from this ongoing work are informing the Government’s long-term, strategic approach to building social cohesion, and ensuring communities across the country are safe, resilient and united.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to home efficiency regulations on house prices.

The Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. It set out proposals for improving the energy efficiency of new homes and buildings. An impact assessment estimating the costs and wider impacts of the proposals was published concurrently and the consultation invited consultees to offer their views on this assessment.We are carefully considering the feedback received. We intend to introduce new energy efficiency standards later this year and will publish an updated impact assessment at that time.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) her Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies.

The Art displayed within MHCLG is part of the Government Property Art Collection. Our only heritage asset is New Burlington House, and the day to day management including decisions on cultural issues falls to the tenants who occupy the building.As separate entities, the responsibility for creating policy and guidance for artwork sits with each individual Arm’s Length Body, rather than with the Department.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department have had with the Muslim Council of Britain since 5 July.

There has been no change to HMG policy on engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024 to Question 12772 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: HOPE not hate, if she will list the issues on which officia

I refer the hon member to the answer to Question UIN 12772 on 15 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to (a) implement the measures against unfair costs in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and (b) expand protections for homeowners on private estates.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244) which sets out further detail on the steps the government intends to take to implement the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and to progress the wider set of re...

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8195 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: HOPE not hate, what meetings (a) special advisors and (b) jun

(a) I refer the honourable member to the answer to Question UIN 8195 on 22 October 2024. (b) I refer the honourable member to the answer to Question UIN 12772 on 15 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on the renaming of street signs to remove colonial or imperialist references; and what guidance her Department issues local authorities on the rig

Changes to street names are a local matter. Section 81 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 replaced the previously inconsistent arrangements for the renaming of streets. It enables local authorities to make changes to street names if they determ...

Communities and Local Government, what industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) her Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to her Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are in

The Public and Commercial Services trade union (PCS) had a mandate to call strike action between May and November 2024, PCS having notified the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government of a dispute over pay, pensions and jobs. That mandate ex...

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8195, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: HOPE not hate, what the forums were at which departmental of

MHCLG officials have engaged with Hope Not Hate on various issues related to departmental policy interests, from incidents of unrest or community tensions, to hate crime and beyond.Officials can and do access publicly available reports generated by Hope N...

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has provided funding to Hope Not Hate since the general election.

MHCLG has not provided any funding to Hope Not Hate since the election.