The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 462 tabled · 456 answered

Written questions by Whately.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by Helen Whately this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.

Department:All (462)Department for Work and Pensions (258)Treasury (44)Department for Transport (44)Department of Health and Social Care (31)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (26)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (18)Home Office (13)Department for Business and Trade (8)Department for Education (8)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (6)Cabinet Office (4)Ministry of Defence (1)

Showing 118 of 18 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

12 Nov 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, when the new consumer protections for residential freeholders contained in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 will be implemented.

Reply

I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440).

12 Nov 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, when his Department's consultation on legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements will be published.

Reply

I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440).

17 Apr 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to implement the secondary legislation enabling the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to fully come into force.

Reply

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),

17 Apr 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, for what reasons she has yet to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on (a) providing a comprehensive rights of redress to homeowners on (i) private and (ii) mixed tenure estates and (b) the ability to appeal the reasonableness of those charges.

Reply

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),

17 Apr 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, for what reasons she has yet to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on (a) providing freeholders with equivalent rights to leaseholders on estate charges transparency and (b) allowing leaseholders to takeover the management of their property.

Reply

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),

5 Feb 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to respond to the independent report entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population, published on 26 November 2024.

Reply

The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce.We are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year.

19 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, how many hectares of the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land are (a) protected, (b) under consideration for development and (c) approved for consent in each (i) local autho

Reply

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17576 11 December 2024.

19 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, how the commitment to safeguard the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land will be applied to planning decisions called in by the Secretary of State .

Reply

The government places great importance upon our agricultural land and food production.The National Planning Policy Framework sets out how the best and most versatile agricultural land should be reflected in planning policies and decisions. We are maintain...

3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, how she plans to report on the effectiveness of her safeguarding of the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land in line with the National Planning Policy Framework.

Reply

This Government places great importance on the value of our agricultural land. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out how the best and most versatile agricultural land should be reflected in planning policies and decisions. The Framework is clear...

3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish how many hectares of the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land are (a) protected, (b) under consideration for development and (c) approved for consent in

Reply

The information requested is not held by the Department.

3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, how the commitment to safeguard the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land is applied to planning decisions.

Reply

This Government places great importance on the value of our agricultural land. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out how the best and most versatile agricultural land should be reflected in planning policies and decisions. The Framework is clear...

3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, for what reason she called in Highsted Park outline planning applications 21/503906/EIOUT and 21/503914/EIOUT.

Reply

Call-in decisions are inherently about process and not the merits of any given planning application.I refer the hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 26 March 2019 (HCWS1452), and on 26 October 2012, columns 71WS-72WS.All relevant matter...

3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, how safeguarding the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land will be taken into account when she considers the Highsted Park development.

Reply

Call-in decisions are inherently about process and not the merits of any given planning application.I refer the hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 26 March 2019 (HCWS1452), and on 26 October 2012, columns 71WS-72WS.All relevant matter...

3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to safeguard the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land.

Reply

This Government places great importance on the value of our agricultural land. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out how the best and most versatile agricultural land should be reflected in planning policies and decisions. The Framework is clear...

3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, what criteria she uses to call in planning applications before they are discussed by local councillors.

Reply

Call-in decisions are inherently about process and not the merits of any given planning application.I refer the hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 26 March 2019 (HCWS1452), and on 26 October 2012, columns 71WS-72WS.All relevant matter...

19 Nov 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to decide on the proposed (a) M2 motorway junction and (b) Highsted Park outline planning applications.

Reply

The decision to call in this application was made on the basis of the policy set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 October 2012. In line with the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 March 2019, we do not give specific reasons for calling in p...

19 Nov 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has had discussions with the developers of the Highsted Park outline planning applications.

Reply

The decision to call in this application was made on the basis of the policy set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 October 2012. In line with the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 March 2019, we do not give specific reasons for calling in p...

19 Nov 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, for what reason she called in the Highsted Park outline planning applications.

Reply

The decision to call in this application was made on the basis of the policy set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 October 2012. In line with the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 March 2019, we do not give specific reasons for calling in p...

Sources
SourceUK Parliament Members API
MethodQuestion and answer text as published. Question preamble (“To ask the…”) trimmed for readability; answers shown in full.