Written questions by Pochin.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of homelessness across England.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of population growth on housing demand in England.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications were approved in England in each of the last five years.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential barriers to home ownership for first-time buyers.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, how many households are living in temporary accommodation in each region of England.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the UK’s ability to meet future housing and infrastructure demand using domestically produced construction materials.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, how many new homes have been built in each region of England in each of the last five years compared with local housing targets.

My Department publishes an annual release entitled ‘Housing supply: net additional dwellings, England’, which is the primary and most comprehensive measure of housing supply. This includes estimates of new homes built in each region, in each financial yea...

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of electricity resale arrangements on residents of park home sites who are unable to switch energy supplier.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 110494 on 11 February 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of second-home ownership on housing availability in coastal and rural communities.

The government recognise that excessive concentrations of short-term lets and second homes impact on the availability and affordability of homes for local residents to buy and rent, as well as local services. Local authorities are now able to apply a prem...

Communities and Local Government, how many households are currently on social housing waiting lists in each region of England.

The number of households on social housing registers (waiting lists) in England, including breakdowns by local authority and region, can be found in live table 600 on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on capping parish council precepts.

To date, no referendum principles have been set for town and parish councils. The Government reviews this decision on an annual basis, taking into account the increases set by the sector. The Government consults on its proposed package of referendum princ...

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of extending the terms of office of councillors following the cancellation of local elections on democratic accountability.

Where local elections are scheduled to be postponed to release essential capacity for delivering local government reorganisation, democratic accountability remains with the elected member whose term will be extended for an additional year. These councillors were elected to their seats and continue to hold a democratic mandate.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on informing electors when a scheduled local election is cancelled or postponed.

In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. We have been transparent about this process and the Secretary of State considered the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received and other relevant matters. I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January 2026. We are preparing the necessary order, which will be laid in both houses when parliamentary time allows. The order will use section 87 of the Local Government Act 2000 to change the years in which the ordinary elections of councillors of those specified local authorities are to be held. The Secretary of State also has powers to implement proposals for local government reorganisation using the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. These allow him to legislate for electoral matters. These powers are used to replace elections to councils which are shortly to be abolished with elections to the new councils for the area. An order using these powers is currently before the House in relation to local government reorganisation in Surrey. Councils communicate regularly with the public they serve and will issue information as appropriate.

Communities and Local Government, what criteria his Department applies when determining whether a local authority election should be cancelled or postponed; and whether those criteria are applied consistently across England.

In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. We have been transparent about this process and the Secretary of State considered the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received and other relevant matters. I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January 2026. We are preparing the necessary order, which will be laid in both houses when parliamentary time allows. The order will use section 87 of the Local Government Act 2000 to change the years in which the ordinary elections of councillors of those specified local authorities are to be held. The Secretary of State also has powers to implement proposals for local government reorganisation using the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. These allow him to legislate for electoral matters. These powers are used to replace elections to councils which are shortly to be abolished with elections to the new councils for the area. An order using these powers is currently before the House in relation to local government reorganisation in Surrey. Councils communicate regularly with the public they serve and will issue information as appropriate.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 103696, how any proposed non statutory definition of anti Muslim hatred or Islamophobia may be used by public authorities outside the criminal justice system.

Ministers are taking the time to review and consider the independent Working Group’s advice before confirming next steps in due course. As per the Working Group's Terms of Reference, a definition could provide the government and other relevant bodies with a greater understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities.

Communities and Local Government, on what statutory basis local elections may be (a) cancelled and (b) postponed once they have been scheduled.

In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. We have been transparent about this process and the Secretary of State considered the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received and other relevant matters. I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January 2026. We are preparing the necessary order, which will be laid in both houses when parliamentary time allows. The order will use section 87 of the Local Government Act 2000 to change the years in which the ordinary elections of councillors of those specified local authorities are to be held. The Secretary of State also has powers to implement proposals for local government reorganisation using the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. These allow him to legislate for electoral matters. These powers are used to replace elections to councils which are shortly to be abolished with elections to the new councils for the area. An order using these powers is currently before the House in relation to local government reorganisation in Surrey. Councils communicate regularly with the public they serve and will issue information as appropriate.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of postponing local elections in England on democratic participation in those elections.

In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. We have been transparent about this process and the Secretary of State considered the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received and other relevant matters. I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January 2026. We are preparing the necessary order, which will be laid in both houses when parliamentary time allows. The order will use section 87 of the Local Government Act 2000 to change the years in which the ordinary elections of councillors of those specified local authorities are to be held. The Secretary of State also has powers to implement proposals for local government reorganisation using the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. These allow him to legislate for electoral matters. These powers are used to replace elections to councils which are shortly to be abolished with elections to the new councils for the area. An order using these powers is currently before the House in relation to local government reorganisation in Surrey. Councils communicate regularly with the public they serve and will issue information as appropriate.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 103696, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of any proposed definition on evidential thresholds used in the (a) recording and (b) investigation of hate incidents.

The independent anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia definition working group submitted their findings for Ministers to consider. As we have made clear, Government will consider this advice in a way that protects our fundamental right to free speech. Any definition would be non-statutory and compatible with relevant legislative frameworks, and Government will confirm next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 103696, whether his Department has sought legal advice on the compatibility of any proposed definition with existing criminal law.

The independent anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia definition working group submitted their findings for Ministers to consider. As we have made clear, Government will consider this advice in a way that protects our fundamental right to free speech. Any definition would be non-statutory and compatible with relevant legislative frameworks, and Government will confirm next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 103696, what criteria were used by the Working Group to assess and weigh evidence submitted through the Call for Evidence.

The independent anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia definition working group submitted their findings for Ministers to consider. As we have made clear, Government will consider this advice in a way that protects our fundamental right to free speech. Any definition would be non-statutory and compatible with relevant legislative frameworks, and Government will confirm next steps in due course.