Written questions by Simmonds.

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 metrics she plans to use to monitor the building of 1.5 million homes in this Parliament; and whether she will monitor housing (a) starts and (b) completions.

The Government is committed to building 1.5 million homes over the duration of the parliament. We will update Parliament on our progress in the usual manner. The Ministry publishes a quarterly release entitled ‘Housing supply: Indicators of New Supply, England’, which includes estimates of new build starts and completions, by local authority, in each financial year since 1980-81, shown in Live Table 253 at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building. Live tables on housing supply: net additional dwellings. The latest data tables on housing supply: net additional dwellings.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on the planning classification of a disused (a) petrol station and (b) car park as (i) brownfield and (ii) greenfield land.

The definition of previously developed land is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The definition sets out some specific exceptions, including residential gardens in built up areas. The Government’s proposed reforms to the NPPF include relaxing the restrictions that are currently applied to Previously Developed Land (PDL) and limited infilling in the Green Belt in paragraph 154g of the current NPPF, to make clear that development is ‘not inappropriate’ where it would not cause substantial harm to the openness of the Green Belt. The requirements of our golden rules are intended to apply to release of PDL.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, what (a) changes she plans to make to planning fees and (b) the total planning fees would be for a (i) lawful development certificate and (ii) retrospective planning application for a householder development.

The consultation in question includes proposals to increase householder fees and other planning fees. We will consider the responses received and use them to inform continued policy development.

Communities and Local Government, whether it is her policy to maintain the 10-unit threshold for affordable housing.

The Government are not proposing to change Paragraph 65 of the National Planning Policy Framework which makes clear that provision of affordable housing should not be sought for residential developments that are not major developments, other than in designated rural areas (where policies may set out a lower threshold of 5 units or fewer).

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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help secure the release of people taken hostage by Hamas.

This government has prioritised working to end this conflict and secure the safe release of hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas since day one.  During their joint visit to the region, the Foreign Secretary and French Foreign Secretary Stéphane Séjourné met with Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz to reiterate the need to end the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of hostages. Both the Foreign Secretary and I have met with hostage families with links to the UK whose loved ones have been murdered or taken by Hamas and reiterated our commitment to using all diplomatic avenues to secure their release.We welcome the tireless efforts of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States, and fully endorse their joint statement calling for the immediate resumption of ceasefire negotiations and a hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.  This deal is the best way to get the remaining hostages out. We are urging all sides to show flexibility.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to monitor the likelihood of his Department's funding reaching Hamas through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Foreign Secretary noted in his statement to the House of Commons on 19 July 2024, that the UN had taken the allegations that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack seriously. He is reassured after Catherine Colonna's independent review, that UNRWA is ensuring the highest standards of neutrality.£1 million of the £21 million of new UK funding to UNRWA will support it to implement the management reforms recommended by the review. We continue to monitor UNRWA's implementation. Separately, a Memorandum of Understanding governs UK financial support to UNRWA. The FCDO carries out due diligence assessments and conducts an annual assessment of UK funding to UNRWA.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what conditions he has placed on the restoring of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Foreign Secretary noted in his statement to the House of Commons on 19 July 2024, that the UN had taken the allegations that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack seriously. He is reassured after Catherine Colonna's independent review, that UNRWA is ensuring the highest standards of neutrality.£1 million of the £21 million of new UK funding to UNRWA will support it to implement the management reforms recommended by the review. We continue to monitor UNRWA's implementation. Separately, a Memorandum of Understanding governs UK financial support to UNRWA. The FCDO carries out due diligence assessments and conducts an annual assessment of UK funding to UNRWA.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the reported treatment of released Israeli hostage Andrey Kozlov.

The treatment of hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas is a matter of international concern. We are clear in our call - Hamas must release all hostages immediately. This government has prioritised working to end this conflict and secure the safe release of hostages since day one. The Foreign Secretary and I have both recently met with families with links to the UK whose loved ones have been murdered or taken by Hamas and reiterated our commitment to using all diplomatic avenues to secure their release.We welcome the tireless efforts of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States, and fully endorse their joint statement calling for the immediate resumption of ceasefire negotiations and a hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. This deal is the best way to get the remaining hostages out. We are urging all sides to show flexibility.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department will disapply the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

A healthy natural environment is critical to a strong economy. This government is committed to delivering for nature and will work with stakeholders, including nature conservation organisations, to develop an approach that both restores nature and enables economic growth. We will only legislate where we can confirm to Parliament that the steps we are taking will deliver positive environmental outcomes.

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.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of her policies on (a) the mitigation credit market and (b) investor confidence in nature markets.

This government was elected on a mandate to get Britain building again, alongside protecting and restoring the natural environment. We are determined to transform the system to ensure a win-win for people and nature. The existing nutrient mitigation market plays an essential role in enabling housing to go ahead in areas affected by nutrient neutrality without making pollution worse. The Government is continuing to support mitigation provision through Natural England’s Nutrient Mitigation Scheme and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund, which work with and alongside private sector providers.

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.