Written questions by Morton.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 60503 on Housing: Construction, what steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) prevent future cost pressures on materials that may impact housebuilding targets.

The government is working with industry to ensure the housebuilding sector has access to the construction materials needed to build 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this parliament.We expect suppliers to increase capacity to meet demand and there is evidence that they are doing so. For example, we have seen deliveries of bricks in England, Scotland and Wales increase by 23% in the year to May 2025.Construction materials prices are stable, rising only 1% between January 2024 and January 2025, far below the rate of inflation for the wider UK economy.We will continue to closely monitor the cost of building materials.

Communities and Local Government, how many meetings Ministers in her Department have had with (a) Birmingham City Council and (b) Unite since the start of the waste collection industrial dispute in Birmingham.

Since Birmingham City Council’s declaration of a ‘major incident’ on 31 March, Ministers have been in regular contact with the Council to tackle the backlog of waste on the city’s streets.Ministers have not met with Unite.

Communities and Local Government, what steps is she taking to encourage the development of affordable homes on brownfield sites.

The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that planning policies and decisions should give substantial weight to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements for homes and other identified needs – such as affordable housing – and support development that makes efficient use of land.The government has also committed to strengthening the system of developer contributions to ensure that new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure, including on suitable brownfield sites. Further details will be set out in due course.At the Spending Review, the Chancellor announced £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36.This new Social and Affordable Homes Programme will give Registered Providers a decade of certainty over the capital funding they will have available to build new, more ambitious housing development projects.Outside of London, Homes England will be able to use this funding to support the development of affordable homes, including on suitable brownfield land across the country.The programme will not have numerical targets or ringfenced budgets for particular regions or types of home beyond the GLA’s portion, but we will ensure that established Mayoral Strategic Authorities (EMSAs), including the Mayor of the West Midlands, can set its strategic direction in their areas and indicative upfront spend subject to suitable projects.

Communities and Local Government, how much and what proportion of the funding announced for the 10‑year Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review 2025 will be spent in the West Midlands.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771).

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with UK brick manufacturers on meeting the demand for new homes.

The government is working with industry to ensure the housebuilding sector has access to the construction materials needed to build 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this parliament.We expect suppliers to increase capacity to meet demand, and we have seen deliveries of bricks in England, Scotland and Wales increase by 10% in the year to April 2025.Added to that, construction materials prices are stable, rising only 1% between January 2024 and January 2025, far below the rate of inflation for the wider UK economy.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she had made of the potential impact of a new national scheme of delegation in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on local democratic oversight.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes regulation-making powers to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation. The government intend to formally consult on these proposals alongside the Bill’s passage.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has consulted with (a) local authorities and (b) planning professional bodies on the proposed delegation reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

On 13 February 2025, the government published a Planning Committees Planning Reform Working Paper inviting views on models for a national scheme of delegation, which the government has committed to introduce to support better decision making in the planning system. We received feedback to the working paper from a range of stakeholders including local authorities and planning professional bodies such as the Royal Town Planning Institute.My Department continues to engage with a wide range of stakeholders as we progress detailed proposals for consultation alongside the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a new oversight board at the West Midlands Fire Service on the quality of service provided.

I am responding as the Minister now with responsibility for Fire. It is the government’s priority to drive meaningful culture change across the fire and rescue sector.  Our fire professionals work under significant pressure and in challenging circumstances, so it is important that the Fire and Rescue Authorities and the Fire and Rescue Services create a culture where every member of the team can thrive.The West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority have established, through working with the Local Government Association, the corporate governance improvement board. The board provides challenge and support to the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority and works to identify potential areas of improvement.I am supportive of the board’s work and my officials remain in regular contact with the Local Government Association to keep abreast of its ongoing work.To further support the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service, in December 2024, the Home Secretary decided to commission a ‘Best Value Inspection’ of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority to ascertain whether the authority is meeting its Best Value obligations, particularly regarding governance. We will ensure partners are kept updated on the development of this Best Value Inspection.

What steps she is taking to help ensure whistleblowing protections are in place for staff who report (a) misconduct and (b) discriminatory behaviour in the West Midlands Fire Service.

I am responding as the Minister now with responsibility for Fire. It is the government’s priority to drive meaningful culture change across the fire and rescue sector.  Our fire professionals work under significant pressure and in challenging circumstances, so it is important that Fire and Rescue Authorities and the Fire and Rescue Services create a culture where every member of the team can thrive. This of course includes the staff at West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service.In December 2024, the Home Secretary decided to commission a ‘Best Value Inspection’ of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority to ascertain whether the authority is meeting its Best Value obligations or if it is failing to do so, particularly regarding governance. We will ensure partners are kept updated on the development of this Best Value Inspection.On 13 July 2023, the Home Office commissioned HMICFRS to undertake a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services in England, building on the outcomes of the spotlight report. This report was published on 1 August 2024 and made 15 recommendations, including one to ensure all staff understand how to raise a concern and use grievance and whistle-blowing processes and feel safe in doing so. MHCLG is working closely with services to determine the level of progress made against these recommendations and if there are any systemic barriers to progress that government may be able to offer support for.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure leaseholders in buildings under 11 metres with cladding issues are not excluded from safety remediation support.

The department reviews cases brought to its attention which includes undertaking audits of fire risk appraisals of external walls to make sure that proposed works are necessary and proportionate. We engage with freeholders and managing agents to reinforce our position that leaseholders should not face cladding remediation costs.

Communities and Local Government, how many times she has met with West Midlands Fire Service Chief Fire Officer between July 2024 and April 2025.

I am responding as the Minister now with responsibility for Fire. I can confirm that to my knowledge the Secretary of State for the Home Department did not meet with the West Midlands Fire Service Chief Fire Officer during that period. The Home Secretary decided to commission a Best value Inspection of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service. Any further announcements will be made on this in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of implementing a single standard for building safety remediation set independently by her Department on the process of remediation between developers and building owners.

The developer remediation contract sets the standard that developers must meet when remediating buildings covered by the contract. Remediation of external defects must be undertaken in line with PAS 9980 and remediation of internal defects must be undertaken in line with relevant industry standards and applicable law. Remedial works must reduce life-critical fire safety defects in the building to a tolerable level, in line with these standards.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to (a) support staff morale and (b) help tackle concerns from staff in the West Midlands Fire Service.

I am responding as the Minister now with responsibility for Fire. It is the government’s priority to drive meaningful culture change across the fire and rescue sector.  Our fire professionals work under significant pressure and in challenging circumstances, so it is important that Fire and Rescue Authorities and the Fire and Rescue Services create a culture where every member of the team can thrive. This of course includes the staff at West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service.In December 2024, the Home Secretary decided to commission a ‘Best Value Inspection’ of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority to ascertain whether the authority is meeting its Best Value obligations or if it is failing to do so, particularly regarding governance. We will ensure partners are kept updated on the development of this Best Value Inspection.On 13 July 2023, the Home Office commissioned HMICFRS to undertake a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services in England, building on the outcomes of the spotlight report. This report was published on 1 August 2024 and made 15 recommendations, including one to ensure all staff understand how to raise a concern and use grievance and whistle-blowing processes and feel safe in doing so. MHCLG is working closely with services to determine the level of progress made against these recommendations and if there are any systemic barriers to progress that government may be able to offer support for.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timeline is for publishing details of national guidance on when local planning committees should delegate decisions to planning officers.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 48951 on 7 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to reduce the size of local authority planning committees.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 48951 on 7 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42592 on Councillors: Planning, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of councillors on the planning process.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a regulation-making power to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation.The government intend to formally consult on proposals relating to the delegation of planning decisions in England alongside the Bill’s passage.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42592 on Councillors: Planning, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the role of councillors' (a) openness, (b) accountability and (c) scrutiny in the planning process.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a regulation-making power to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation.The government intend to formally consult on proposals relating to the delegation of planning decisions in England alongside the Bill’s passage.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on local democratic oversight of replacing individual local authority schemes with a national scheme for when planning committees should delegate decisions to planning officers.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a regulation-making power to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation.The government intend to formally consult on proposals relating to the delegation of planning decisions in England alongside the Bill’s passage.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, what her planned timetable is for publishing national guidance on when local planning committees should delegate decisions to planning officers.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a regulation-making power to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation.The government intend to formally consult on proposals relating to the delegation of planning decisions in England alongside the Bill’s passage.

Communities and Local Government, when recycling services will be restored in Birmingham; and what estimate she has made of the quantity of recycling material in Birmingham directed to landfill since the suspension of those services.

Birmingham City Council plans to restore household recycling collections when the waste dispute is resolved. The City Council has increased the opening hours of its 5 household waste recycling facilities which remain open to households. We understand that no recycling material has been sent to landfill since the suspension of household waste collections.