Written questions by Simmonds.

Communities and Local Government, what is the latest assessment of the number of homes that have been (a) started and (b) completed in the Old Oak Common site in West London since July 2024, and what steps are (i

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, how many headcount staff are assigned to work in his London departmental HQ building.

At 31st May 2026 there were 2041 (1991.6FTE) payroll active employees assigned to our 2 Marsham street office in London.

Communities and Local Government, if he will list the names of the organisations that have (a) had his department’s Civil Servants seconded to them since July 2024, and (b) seconded their staff to the department.

Organisations of secondments both in and out of the department that have commenced since July 2024 are included in the tables below. Secondment In from July 2024 onwards. Birmingham City CouncilBristol City CouncilEast Sussex Fire and RescueEnvironment Ag...

Communities and Local Government, whether West Surrey Council will receive exceptional support funding given its inherited debt and legacy debt payments.

We have committed to significant and unprecedented debt repayment support for Woking Borough Council, recognising that the council holds unsupported debt that they can never fully repay locally. We will repay in-principle £500m of Woking’s debt in 2026-27...

Communities and Local Government, whether his Ministerial Envoys were consulted over the mayoral and councillor allowance increases in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

The detail of day-to-day discussions between ministerial appointees and their local authority is not routinely reported to ministers, and I am not in a position to comment on those conversations. The Envoys are continuing to work comprehensively within th...

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the Tribunal Service to handle the number of rent reviews following recent legislative reforms.

The Ministry of Justice has and continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) has the capacity to handle the number of rent appeals following commencement...

Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for legislation on creating a new standards body for local government.

The Government Response to the ‘Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England’ consultation, published on 11 November 2025, states our intention to legislate for whole system reform of the local government standards re...

Communities and Local Government, on what date does the ban on councils adopting the Committee system of governance take effect, and whether councils will be required to phase out existing use of the Committee sy

All councils currently operating the committee system, unless they are protected, must adopt the Leader and Cabinet model within the period of one year after commencement of relevant provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act. Thos...

Communities and Local Government, how many staff were recorded as entering his London departmental HQ building on Friday 29 May 2026 based on (a) pass or (b) Wifi access data.

Based on Wi-Fi access data, 295 individuals were recorded working from our 2 Marsham Street office on Friday 29 May 2026. This figure is slightly lower than typical levels, reflecting reduced attendance during the half-term period.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the council tax surcharge on (a) housebuilding and (b) house prices.

The Government expects a minimal effect on properties subject to the new charge and very little impact on properties below the threshold. House prices are affected by a range of factors, the Surcharge is targeted at fewer than 1% of the highest value prop...

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve the provision of nursery places in and near large new developments.

The importance of ensuring that a sufficient choice of early years places is available to meet the needs of existing and new communities is recognised in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). It makes clear that local planning authorities should ...

Communities and Local Government, what number and proportion of existing planning applications considered by local authority Planning Committees relate to householder (a) loft extensions and (b) conservatories.

My Department does not hold the information requested.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2026, to Question 198, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Departmental Responsibilities, what amount and proportion of the

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60128 on 4 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to amend permitted development rights relating to householder (a) loft extensions and (b) conservatories.

The government has no such current plans.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of completed flats which are unsold.

My Department has made no such estimate.

Communities and Local Government, what representations his Department has received from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority or its mayor on (a) Supplementary Vote and (b) Proportional Representation since J

We have not received any representations from Greater Manchester Combined Authority or its mayor on Supplementary Vote or Proportional Representation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2026 to Question 2010 on Flags: Palestine, and with reference to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 88668 on Flags: Palestine, whether th

The United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine as an independent sovereign state. The Palestinian flag is a country’s national flag and would therefore come under category a) of the guidance in question i.e. flags which can be flown without...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 28 April 2026, to Question HL16533, on Treaties: Parliamentary Scrutiny, whether any Memorandums of Understanding and other non-legally binding ag

The information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 9 September 2024, to Question 3012, on Road Signs and Markings, what is the status of his Department's monitoring of the partly commenced legislat

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 63029 on 4 July 2025 and UIN 90725 on 21 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the interaction of the provisions of the Representation of the People Bill on corporate donations with the proposed draft guidance by t

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) sets out a comprehensive framework governing political donations and controls on permissible sources of funding. This includes provisions relevant to sponsorship and other forms of support ...