Written questions by Timothy.

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 officials have engaged with Hope not Hate since 5 July 2024.

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 reforms necessary to end the feudal leasehold system for good.

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) junior civil servants have had with representatives of Hope Not Hate since the general election.

(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 rights of local residents to approve or veto such changes.

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 determine they command ‘sufficient local support’ and sets an expectation of local engagement prior to any change. At present the Government does not consider there is a need for further guidance to support Local Authorities in doing so. The Government intends to monitor the operation of these arrangements.

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 involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps she plans to take to end each dispute.

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 expired with effect from 13 November 2024, no action has followed, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has not been notified of a further ballot.Further to the outcome of a ballot in December, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) members at HM Land Registry (HMLR) commenced Action Short of a Strike indefinitely on 21 January 2025. PCS has approximately 3,800 members in HMLR, out of a total headcount of approximately 7,000. The action consists of ‘’Work to rule, whereby members will not work longer than their contracted hours and will carry out only the work required by their contract’’. The action is in relation to a Trade Dispute regarding the issues of office attendance, use of individual performance data in performance management, and casework classification.HMLR is confident it will be able to manage its essential services effectively during this period of Action Short of a Strike, as it has done during previous disputes.

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 officials were present; and on what reports generated by Hope not Hate officials have been sighted.

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 Not Hate, but do not routinely get access to such reports prior to public release, contribute to their development, or engage directly in other ways on the production of such reports.

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.