Written questions by Simmonds.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy statement on new towns, published on 31 July 2024, what her target is for the number of new homes that will be completed in this Parliament under the New Towns programme.

We are committed to delivering a new generation of new towns, with locations informed by the recommendations of an independent, expert New Towns Taskforce. New towns will include large-scale new communities built on greenfield land and separated from other nearby settlements, but also a larger number of urban extensions and urban regeneration schemes. Each new settlement will contain at least 10,000 homes, although we expect a number to be far larger in size. Collectively, we expect they could provide hundreds of thousands more homes in the decades to come, with some homes delivered within this Parliament. Any assessment of how many homes will be delivered within this Parliament will need to be informed by the locations selected, in line with the recommendations of the Taskforce.In relation to engaging local communities, we have been clear that the Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities wherever possible, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest. New towns will be delivered in partnership with local leaders and communities. We will set out further details of the Taskforce in the coming weeks, ahead of the appointment of the other Taskforce members and its first meeting in the autumn.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy statement on new towns, published on 31 July 2024, whether the support of (a) the local planning authority and (b) local MPs will be a requirement for a new town proposal being taken forward.

We are committed to delivering a new generation of new towns, with locations informed by the recommendations of an independent, expert New Towns Taskforce. New towns will include large-scale new communities built on greenfield land and separated from other nearby settlements, but also a larger number of urban extensions and urban regeneration schemes. Each new settlement will contain at least 10,000 homes, although we expect a number to be far larger in size. Collectively, we expect they could provide hundreds of thousands more homes in the decades to come, with some homes delivered within this Parliament. Any assessment of how many homes will be delivered within this Parliament will need to be informed by the locations selected, in line with the recommendations of the Taskforce.In relation to engaging local communities, we have been clear that the Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities wherever possible, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest. New towns will be delivered in partnership with local leaders and communities. We will set out further details of the Taskforce in the coming weeks, ahead of the appointment of the other Taskforce members and its first meeting in the autumn.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of planning officers needed to manage Development Consent Orders for energy infrastructure under the 2030 decarbonisation target.

Examining Development Consent Orders for energy projects is one of a range of workstreams which the Planning Inspectorate will need to undertake. As part of the Spending Review, the Planning Inspectorate is considering the overall funding and resources it will require over the spending review period and will work closely with MHCLG on priorities and available funding.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2024 to Question 1758 on Social Rented Housing, whether she made an assessment of the potential merits of restricting social housing allocations for people convicted of (a) anti-social behaviour and (b) terrorism.

The Government published a response to the consultation on reforms to social housing allocations on 2 September. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-response-to-the-consultation-on-changes-to-social-housing-allocation-tests

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the Investment Opportunity Fund on trends in (a) domestic growth and (b) direct investment into the UK.

Economic growth is the number one mission of this Government. The Government has committed to delivering productivity growth in every part of the country, making everyone, not just a few, better off. As part of this, Government will work in partnership with local leaders to develop ambitious, long-term Local Growth Plans reflecting their local strengths and opportunities to support the national growth mission and new Industrial Strategy.Immediate action to fix the foundations of the economy is the only way to rebuild Britain and make every person and every part of the country better off. We are being honest about those schemes that we cannot afford to deliver so that we can fix the foundations of our economy by addressing spending pressures and repairing the public finances.The Investment Opportunity Fund, which was launched at Autumn Statement 2023, has yet to provide support to any projects.

Communities and Local Government, when she will publish the new devolution framework for England.

The Secretary of State wrote to local leaders on 16 July 2024 to confirm that the government will publish a new devolution framework. The King’s Speech confirmed on 17 July that the English Devolution Bill will put the new framework into legislation. MHCLG is now working across Whitehall and with Mayors to develop the content of the new framework. The new framework will be developed in co-operation with the sector and will be published in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed planning changes on the capacity of local planning authorities; and whether she will provide additional funding to those authorities.

The Department has a dedicated Planning Capability and Capacity programme to support planning reform.We are currently reviewing how best to deploy additional support made available as a result of our plans to increase the rate of the stamp duty surcharge paid by non-UK residents.In the recently launched consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system, the Government set out proposed changes to planning application fees and also sought views on the localisation of such fees.The Government is committed to achieving full local plan coverage as part of wider planning reforms. Funding will be made available to support those authorities who will be required to undertake additional work to take account of the updated NPPF once this is published in the Autumn.

Communities and Local Government, if she will update the list of ministerial responsibilities for her Department.

Details of ministerial responsibilities for the department are published on gov.uk.