Written questions by George.

Communities and Local Government, if he will review election regulations.

This government is committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of our elections. Between October 2024 and April 2025, the government worked in partnership with the electoral sector to carry out a strategic review of electoral registration and conduct, focused on improving resilience, reducing risk in the delivery of elections, and supporting voters. The outcomes of the Review were set out in the Government’s Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections, published in July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure that (a) incoming and (b) existing Mayors of combined authorities are set targets for community-led housing in local growth plans.

Local Growth Plans provide a long-term strategic framework for growth in their regions, and all mayors will be required to produce and publish one. The plans articulate a ten-year vision for growth, identifying shared priorities to be taken forward with the UK Government. As locally led plans, MSAs may identify priorities in relation to housing where relevant in their Local Growth Plans. In addition, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill enables mayors of combined authorities to specify an amount of housing (of any kind) in their spatial development strategies, where they consider it to be of strategic importance to the strategy area.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help raise awareness in local communities on the concept of community-led housing delivery via community land trusts.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 74018 on 16 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) small business rate relief since 2012, (b) Restart Grants in 2021 and (c) the Recovery Loan Scheme and (d) Covid Grants to eligible properties that are classified as Holiday Lets in the Non-Domestic Rating List in 2021 and 2022 for holiday home owners per local authority area.

The Department does not hold data on the amount of small business rates relief that has been granted to businesses that operate as holiday lets.The Department for Business and Trade leads on Restart Grants, the Recovery Loan Scheme and Covid Grants.

Communities and Local Government, how much public funding has been granted to provide subsidies to holiday homes which have applied for small business rate relief in each year since 2012, broken down by local authority area.

The department does not hold data on the amount of small business rates relief that has been granted to businesses that operate as holiday homes.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the use of (a) rural exceptions planning policies and permissions and (b) S106 agreements on the successful delivery of (i) secure and (ii) affordable homes which meet a registered or demonstrable need.

Our manifesto committed to increasing the supply of affordable, including social rented, housing. It is up to local planning authorities to identify and evidence their affordable housing need at the plan-making stage. The Government publishes affordable housing statistics annually. In 2022/23, 30,048 affordable homes (completions) were delivered in England through section 106 (nil grant) agreements, which is 47% of the total affordable homes delivered, compared to 44% in the previous year.Local authorities that receive developer contributions are required to publish Infrastructure Funding Statements annually. These report on what the authority has received and spent through developer contributions, including section 106 agreements. This provides transparency for communities and allows for scrutiny on how councils have chosen to spend funding.The National Planning Policy Framework states that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas. This includes supporting housing developments that reflect local needs and going further with opportunities to bring forward small sites for affordable housing in rural areas, such as through rural exception sites. These sites should help meet the local housing needs of rural communities, enabling local people, those with a family connection or those with an employment connection, to live locally and help sustain thriving places.We are working at pace on various revisions to the NPPF and will launch a public consultation on a new draft Framework, including those aspects that relate to rural housing.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to invite representatives of (a) Cornwall and (b) the Isles of Scilly to the Council of the Nations and Regions.

The Council of Nations and Regions will bring together the Prime Minister, the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and the Mayors of Combined Authorities. On 16 July 2024 the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all areas that do not have a devolution deal to invite them to come forward with a proposal. New Mayors established through this process would be eligible to sit on the Council of Nations and Regions. The Government is committed to working productively with local government in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, including as part of regular, sustained engagement with councils across England.