Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rupert Lowe this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 107 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that people entering the UK illegally can never vote in elections.
Only those foreign nationals who are eligible to vote and who have leave to enter or remain, or who do not require such leave, are entitled to register and vote in elections over which the UK Government and Parliament have responsibility.
Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that the Norfolk County Council elections take place on 1 May 2025.
As set out in my letter of 16 December to all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitaries, I will consider requests to postpone local elections where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. I am currently considering such a request from Norfolk County Council for their election scheduled in May 2025 to be postponed for one year. I will announce my decision on this request in due course, recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible.My letter and a list of local authorities who have made requests that involve postponing their election from 2025 to 2026 can be found here.
Communities and Local Government, when a final decision on elections to Norfolk County Council will be made.
As set out in my letter of 16 December to all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitaries, I will consider requests to postpone local elections where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. I am currently considering such a request from Norfolk County Council for their election scheduled in May 2025 to be postponed for one year. I will announce my decision on this request in due course, recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible.My letter and a list of local authorities who have made requests that involve postponing their election from 2025 to 2026 can be found here.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of encouraging council tax discounts for residents in authorities without elections on 1 May 2025 due to participation in the Devolution Priority Programme.
The assumption is that elections in most places where scheduled will take place as planned. Where I take a decision to postpone elections scheduled for May 2025, this will be where the councils concerned have requested it alongside a clear commitment to delivering both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. This is a high bar to reach and it is not expected that all councils who have applied to be on the priority programme will go forward as a result.The terms of sitting councillors whose seats would otherwise have been up for election will be extended accordingly and they will remain in post, representing their community and taking decisions as members of their authority. Further, council services will continue as usual delivering hundreds of vital local public services every day. It is for councils to set the level of council tax in their area.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing an alternative title for county councillors who remain in office after 1 May 2025 due to their authority’s participation in the devolution priority programme.
There are no plans to provide an alternative title for county councillors whose authority participates in the devolution priority programme.
Communities and Local Government, what impact the Devolution Priority Programme will have on elections to Norfolk County Council.
As set out in my letter of 16 December to all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitaries, I will consider requests to postpone local elections where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. I am currently considering such a request from Norfolk County Council for their election scheduled in May 2025 to be postponed for one year. I will announce my decision on this request in due course, recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible.My letter and a list of local authorities who have made requests that involve postponing their election from 2025 to 2026 can be found here.
Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of officials in her Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year.
All Civil Service departments work within the Recruitment Principles, as regulated by the Civil Service Commission, to recruit using a fair and open process and appoint on merit.Departments will only limit a campaign to a specific group as a form of positive action as a proportionate response to achieve a legitimate aim as defined in section 159 of the Equality Act 2010.The Civil Service is committed to a diverse workforce and culture of openness and inclusivity - not as ends in themselves but as means of delivering better outcomes to the citizens we serve.The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-25 Promoting Fairness and Performance, published in February 2022, is positioned as an essential lever to deliver a Modern Civil Service, where our values are to serve with integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality; driving our vision to be a skilled, innovative and ambitious Civil Service equipped for the future. This strategy sets out a broader definition of diversity, to include geographical, social and career backgrounds alongside the protected groups.As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024-2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds, to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.
Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to put proposed changes to the structure of local government in Norfolk to voters in that county.
The English Devolution White Paper sets out the Government’s plans for local government reorganisation, and that the Government will write to council leaders as soon as possible to formally invite proposals, setting out information on our criteria for sustainable unitary structures, how and when to submit proposals and how the government intends to respond to proposals.
Communities and Local Government, if she will have discussions with local authorities on increasing the level of consultation with local residents when calculating housing targets.
Following consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, the government has implemented a new mandatory standard method for assessing housing needs which aligns with our ambition to build 1.5 million new homes in this parliament.National planning policy and guidance is clear that when developing their local plan, local planning authorities should carry out robust consultations with their local communities and ensure views are taken into account. Local planning authorities must also comply with the specific requirements in regulation 18 and 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 on consultation and representations as well as with the commitments in their Statement of Community Involvement.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of houses planned to be built during this Parliament that will home new arrivals to this country.
My Department does not collect data on the nationalities of people buying homes for private sale on the open market.Eligibility for social housing is already tightly controlled. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. Migrants arriving in the UK on student or work visas are not eligible and nor are those who arrive in the country illegally with no leave to remain.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that infrastructure investment is in place before any new building of homes.
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.The Government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through the Housing Infrastructure Fund.The changes to the National Planning Policy Framework announced on 12 December will also support the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.The Government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of planned housing development that will be located within the green belt.
The amount of development that occurs in any given Green Belt will depend on local circumstances.The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December makes clear that before concluding that exceptional circumstances exist to justify changes to Green Belt boundaries, the relevant authority should be able to demonstrate that it has examined fully all other reasonable options for meeting its identified need for development. Where it is necessary to release Green Belt land for development, plans should give priority to previously developed land, then consider grey belt which is not previously developed, and then other Green Belt locations.It is for local planning authorities to assess whether Green Belt land should be released, with their decisions informed by Green Belt reviews undertaken at a local level. The government recognises the need to provide further guidance, to ensure a consistent approach to Green Belt Reviews and the identification of grey belt land. We will be providing further guidance in January 2025 to assist in this.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing restrictions on foreign (a) nationals and (b) companies purchasing new houses.
The government made clear in its manifesto that we would increase the non-resident Stamp Duty Land Tax surcharge by one percentage point.At the Budget, we decided to go further and instead increased the Higher Rate for Additional Dwellings by 2 percentage points to 5%. This will raise £310 million by 2029-30 and go further than the manifesto commitment to rebalance the housing market.Overseas entities who want to buy, sell, or transfer property or land in the UK, must register with Companies House and tell us who their registrable beneficial owners or managing officers are.
Communities and Local Government, if she will introduce legislation to prohibit non-resident foreigners from purchasing residential property in the UK.
The government made clear in its manifesto that we would increase the non-resident Stamp Duty Land Tax surcharge by one percentage point.At the Budget, we decided to go further and instead increased the Higher Rate for Additional Dwellings by 2 percentage points to 5%. This will raise £310 million by 2029-30 and go further than the manifesto commitment to rebalance the housing market.Overseas entities who want to buy, sell, or transfer property or land in the UK, must register with Companies House and tell us who their registrable beneficial owners or managing officers are.
Communities and Local Government, if she will (a) make an assessment of the adequacy of local infrastructure in Great Yarmouth constituency and (b) reassess the housing target for that constituency following that assessment.
Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward, including in Great Yarmouth.When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.I understand that Great Yarmouth Council intend to adopt the Community Infrastructure Levy to help secure contributions towards local infrastructure.The government has no intention of reassessing the recently implemented new standard method for assessing housing needs.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statistics entitled Social housing lettings in England, tenancies: April 2023 to March 2024, published on 5 December 2024, what the ten most common non-UK nationalities were in social housing since 2007.
The Department does not hold this data.While the accredited official statistics, Social Housing Lettings in England 2023/24, published on 5 December 2024, provides information on the nationality of the lead tenant in new social lettings grouped by UK, Republic of Ireland, Other EEA, Rest of world, data is not collected on individual nationalities.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statistics entitled Social housing lettings in England, tenancies: April 2023 to March 2024, published on 5 December 2024, if she will make an estimate of the number of people from (a) EEA countries and (b) other nationalities who have purchased social housing through right-to-buy schemes since 2007.
Detailed information relating to sales of social housing, including Right to Buy, is collected on a voluntary basis by local authorities.The Department does not hold robust data on the nationality of those who have purchased social homes through Right to Buy.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statistics on Social housing lettings in England, April 2023 to March 2024, published on 5 December 2024, whether her Department is taking steps to reduce the number of (a) EEA and (b) other nationals entering social housing.
People are generally eligible for social housing if they have leave to remain in the UK and have recourse to public funds.Only individuals that are eligible can join housing registers and be given a social housing tenancy.The Home Office decides whether persons from abroad have leave to remain in the UK and whether they have recourse to public funds.Where foreign nationals are eligible, they will have their housing needs considered on the same basis as other eligible applicants in accordance with the relevant local authority’s housing allocation scheme.The government response to the January 2024 consultation on changes to social housing allocation tests can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statistics entitled Social housing lettings in England, tenancies: April 2023 to March 2024, published on 5 December 2024, if she will breakdown other in table 3g by (a) home country left by refugee, (b) discharged from prison and (c) housed by national asylum support service in each year since 2007.
People are generally eligible for social housing if they have leave to remain in the UK and have recourse to public funds.Only individuals that are eligible can join housing registers and be given a social housing tenancy.The Home Office decides whether persons from abroad have leave to remain in the UK and whether they have recourse to public funds.Where foreign nationals are eligible, they will have their housing needs considered on the same basis as other eligible applicants in accordance with the relevant local authority’s housing allocation scheme.The government response to the January 2024 consultation on changes to social housing allocation tests can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statistics on Social housing lettings in England, April 2023 to March 2024, published on 5 December 2024, if she will make an estimate of the number of social housing properties in which the lead tenant was a (a) UK, (b) EEA and (c) other national in each year since 2010.
People are generally eligible for social housing if they have leave to remain in the UK and have recourse to public funds.Only individuals that are eligible can join housing registers and be given a social housing tenancy.The Home Office decides whether persons from abroad have leave to remain in the UK and whether they have recourse to public funds.Where foreign nationals are eligible, they will have their housing needs considered on the same basis as other eligible applicants in accordance with the relevant local authority’s housing allocation scheme.The government response to the January 2024 consultation on changes to social housing allocation tests can be found on gov.uk here.