Written questions by Barclay.

Communities and Local Government, whether local planning authorities are required to (a) retain and (b) disclose DSEAR assessments for major infrastructure projects.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to prevent commercial landlords from leaving premises empty for long periods; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using (a) business rates reform, (b) penalties for vacancy, (c) tenant incentives and (d) other measures to bring unused units back into active use.

This Government is taking action to tackle long-term commercial vacancy and to support vibrant high streets. To address business rates avoidance and evasion we recognise the importance of a system where everyone pays their fair share and are committed to taking necessary action. Our forthcoming High Streets Strategy will explore a range of measures to support the high street and reduce the number of vacant premises. We have introduced High Street Rental Auctions which empower councils to require the letting of persistently vacant units where landlords fail to engage.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of enforcement powers available to local authorities in respect of developers who fail to comply with planning conditions on a site, while continuing to submit further planning applications within the same local authority area.

Guidance on local planning authorities’ enforcement powers can be found in the relevant planning practice guidance on gov.uk here. Enforcement is at the discretion of local planning authorities and it is for them to decide how and when they use their powers. The government believes the current powers remain appropriate but will continue to keep the operation of the enforcement system under review.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will issue guidance on the steps steps a local authority can take to compel a developer to comply with the conditions of their original planning consent relating to highway upgrades and adoption where the developer appears to be avoiding compliance by submitting further planning applications intended to delay or circumvent those obligations.

Guidance on local planning authorities’ enforcement powers can be found in the relevant planning practice guidance on gov.uk here. Enforcement is at the discretion of local planning authorities and it is for them to decide how and when they use their powers. The government believes the current powers remain appropriate but will continue to keep the operation of the enforcement system under review.

Communities and Local Government, what national formula will be applied in calculating national distribution of the debt from county councils that are disbanded; and by what date that will be published.

On 5 February 2025 I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt, which they will do in the normal course of business. Local government re-organisation does not change this.As set out in the invitation, the default position is that assets and liabilities remain locally managed by councils. In general, as with previous restructures, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation. For areas where there are exceptional circumstances where there has been failure linked to capital practices, proposals should reflect the extent to which the implications of this can be managed locally, including as part of efficiencies possible through reorganisation.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to explore alternative funding models of Internal Drainage Boards.

I refer to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43491 on Internal Drainage Boards: Finance.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 30616 on Asylum: Health Services, if she will make it her policy to collect information on the amount spent by local authorities on services to support (a) refugees and (b) people seeking asylum to access healthcare services.

As set out in my answer to Question 30616, the department does not hold this information to the level requested. At this time, line 49 in the local authority expenditure and financing statistics accounts for services or interventions for asylum seekers, including: Supported access to health, housing or education servicesLanguage/interpreter supportProviding advice and informationAccess to legal advice MHCLG engages with local authorities and other government departments to understand what data is a priority to capture within the local authority expenditure and financing statistics, and considers making changes on a case by case basis. At present, we do not have plans to collect additional information on local authority spend on refugees.

Communities and Local Government, on how many days she has worked from her Department's office in Wolverhampton since 4 July 2024.

The Deputy Prime Minister and ministerial team work from a number of locations and offices across the country. The Deputy Prime Minister does not regularly work from the Wolverhampton office or Darlington Campus.

Communities and Local Government, how many full time equivalent equality, diversity and inclusion positions are there in her Department including those unfilled.

We can confirm that the department holds this information, but we are withholding it as we cannot provide details where the numbers are five or fewer as the individuals concerned in this group or in other groups could be identifiable.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the amount that was spent by local authorities on services supporting (a) refugees and (b) people seeking asylum to access healthcare services in the last 12 months.

The department does not hold this information to the level of detail requested. The department releases data on local authority spend through the local authority revenue expenditure and financing statistics, in which line 49 accounts for services or interventions for registered asylum seekers, including: Supported access to health, housing or education servicesLanguage/interpreter supportProviding advice and informationAccess to legal advice The department has not yet published data for the 2024/25 financial year. The first revenue outturn release for 2024/25 will be released in September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase the transparency of charges levied on residents of new estates where freehold estate management fees apply.

I refer the Rt hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).