Written questions by Tice.

Communities and Local Government, how many foreign nationals have been granted social housing in each of the last five years.

My Department’s annual Social Housing Lettings in England statistical series includes data on the number of the new social housing lettings in England each year to households by the self-reported nationality of the lead tenant. It can be found on gov.uk here. Data from 2006/07 to 2024/25 can be found in table 3e in the Social Housing Lettings in England, tenants summary tables: April 2024 to March 2025, which can be found here.

Communities and Local Government, how many foreign nationals have been granted social housing in each of the last five years.

I refer hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 85086 on 4 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what plans her Department has to bring forward legislative proposals to grant local authorities increased powers to remove unauthorised traveller encampments from public and private land.

Local planning authorities already have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development. We will keep the use of these powers under review.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will take steps to increase the use of swift bricks to provide cavity nesting habitat for birds reliant on buildings.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 22080 on 15 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with (a) local authority officers and (b) local authority elected representatives on the cancellation of the local elections in the Isle of Wight; and if she will publish those discussions.

The Secretary of State has not had discussions with these local authorities on the cancellation of the local elections. Discussions on the applications to the Devolution Priority Programme have been had with all upper tier and unitary councils in the preparation of the programme, and those discussions covered all matters related to the timetable and process by both officials and ministers, as you would expect.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with (a) local authority officers and (b) local authority elected representatives on the cancellation of the local elections in Surrey; and if she will publish those conversations.

The Secretary of State has not had discussions with these local authorities on the cancellation of the local elections. Discussions on the applications to the Devolution Priority Programme have been had with all upper tier and unitary councils in the preparation of the programme, and those discussions covered all matters related to the timetable and process by both officials and ministers, as you would expect.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that candidates standing in combined authority elections are not also responsible for (a) setting up and (b) overseeing those authorities.

Under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, all local authorities who are to be constituent members of a combined authority must consent to the combined authority’s establishment. This does not disqualify any constituent local authority members from running for the office of mayor in the combined authority.Please be assured that, in the case where the winning candidate in the election to role of mayor is also already a sitting councillor of a constituent authority, under Schedule 5B paragraph 7 of the 2009 Act, their council seat is automatically rendered vacant and regular by-election requirements for the council seat occur as normal.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that parishes in areas without a parish council are (a) consulted on and (b) have the opportunity to provide (i) local insights and (ii) detailed community knowledge during the Planning Inspectorate’s decision-making processes.

In areas with no Parish Council, Parish Meetings can make representations in relation to planning appeals and wider planning consultations.Beyond this, residents in these areas can engage directly with the various decision-making processes. Those that have already made representations to the local planning authority about a planning application or a local plan consultation, will have their representations forwarded direct to the Planning Inspectorate if there is an appeal or in advance of a local plan examination. They will also be notified of the appeal or examination, so that they can make further responses or appear at a hearing or inquiry to give evidence. Indeed, residents appear regularly at public hearings and inquiries, where they are afforded time to speak in front of the Planning Inspector.Community or action groups may also ask to have so-called “Rule 6” status, which entitles them to appear as a formal party to a public inquiry and to cross-examine witnesses.In the case of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, residents can also register to become “interested parties”. This allows them to make representations to the examining panel. They may also ask to speak at the public examination before the examining panel and to attend site visits.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the annual cost of providing (a) housing and (b) welfare support for people residing in the UK illegally; and what steps she is taking to reduce these costs.

The department has made no such estimate. Persons residing in the UK illegally who have no recourse to public funds are not eligible for an allocation of social housing or statutory homelessness assistance.More broadly, the Home Office is responsible for tackling illegal immigration.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the maximum level of commission charge paid to site owners for the sale of park homes on park home owners.

The park homes sector is an important part of the housing market and must be a safe and secure place for residents.The Government recognises that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.The Government will set out its position on this matter in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that parish meetings are (a) included and (b) consulted in the Planning Inspectorate’s decision-making process; and whether she plans to undertake a review of consultation practices.

Parish Councils are engaged already in the Planning Inspectorate’s decision-making processes.In the case of planning appeals, any submissions that a Parish Council, being a statutory consultee, made in relation to an appealed planning application will be available for a Planning Inspector’s consideration. In addition, Parish Councils may make direct representations on planning appeals. Representatives of Parish Council appear regularly at public hearings and inquiries, where they are afforded time to speak in front of the Planning Inspector. They may also ask to have so-called “Rule 6” status, which entitles them to appear as a formal party to a public inquiry and to cross-examine witnesses.In the case of Local Plans, Parish Councils can submit representations on drafts of plans. Their representatives can request to take part in round table sessions on issues of concern to them. It is very common for Parish Council representatives to take part in discussions, and to provide evidence, in this way. Parish Councils can, of course, produce Neighbourhood Plans, of which Planning Inspectors will take account when reaching decisions on planning appeals.In the case of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, Parish Councils, as statutory consultees, are engaged in the process from the start. Representatives can also register to have their say at the pre-examination stage, setting out full details of the issues that they which the examining authority to consider. They may also register to “have their say” at the public examination before the examining authority.The Planning Inspectorate has no immediate plans to review its practices.