Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, whether the secondary legislation to give pensions to (a) councillors and (b) mayors will be by the negative or affirmative procedure; and what the implementation timetable is.

The secondary legislation to give councillors and mayors access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is made by the negative procedure and the coming into force date will be 11th May 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 110793, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Flexible Working, what assessment has been made of the reasons for the rise in full time compressed 4 days FTE from January 2025 to January 2026; and what changes have been made to departmental policy on staff working compressed hours since July 2024.

Staff have a statutory right to apply for flexible working at any point during their employment. The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 (Commencement) Regulations 2024 were brought into force on 6 April 2024 making flexible working requests a day one right and this has likely driven changes as well as individual employee circumstances. Overall staffing levels in the Department have remained broadly stable and we are unable to comment on the decisions made by employees and managers throughout the flexible working application process.

Communities and Local Government, if he will list the (a) Key Performance Indicators and (b) social value requirements for Vistry Group’s contracts under the Affordable Housing Programmes.

Grant agreements with strategic partners under the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) are tracked by Homes England against delivery plans that incorporate particular milestones such as acquisitions, starts, and completions.All delivery is required to be compliant with the terms of the grant agreement and capital funding guide and completed homes are checked for value for money in line with the agreed grant allocation parameters. The capital funding guide can be found on gov.uk here and example Homes England grant agreements for the 2021-26 AHP can be accessed here.Delivery is also checked against the Programme's wider strategic objectives, including the use of Modern Methods of Construction, use of SME contractors, and improvement of the energy efficiency and sustainability of new affordable housing.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 25, which of the recommendations of the Colin Bloom’s Independent Faith Engagement Review have been (a) adopted and (b) not adopted by his department.

The Bloom Review on Faith Engagement is one of the many evidence bases that inform the work of my department, including in relation to supporting community cohesion. This includes our commitment set out in Protecting What Matters to boost Faith and Belief literacy (informed by Colin Bloom’s recommendation to do so), in addition to our ongoing commitment to regular and consistent engagement with Faith and Belief groups. The insights of Faith and Belief groups continue to play an important role in shaping policies that promote inclusivity, understanding, and respect across our society.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116474 on Combined Authority: Elections, what his Department's policy rationale is for aligning the Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria combined authority mayoral elections with the May 2027 council elections, but not aligning for the other Devolution Priority Programme combined authority mayoral elections and new unitary elections.

Following requests by the local authority leaders of Cheshire & Warrington and Cumbria, we agreed the inaugural mayoral elections for those two areas will take place in May 2027. The areas have issued public statements to explain their requests, highlighting that it would bring alignment with most local elections scheduled for 2027 – leading to significant savings and support higher turnout.The inaugural Mayoral elections for the remaining Devolution Priority Programme areas will be held in May 2028, so that they can complete the local government reorganisation process before Mayors take office. This will ensure that these institutions are built on firm foundations and that their Mayors are able to deliver for their regions and local communities from day one. Mayoral elections in Cheshire & Warrington and Cumbria will go ahead as planned in May 2027 as these areas are not currently undergoing local government reorganisation.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the UK Statistics Authority letter, Letter from Penny Young to Cllr Simon Hogg – Council Tax increases, of 23 March 2026, what steps his Department is taking to address misleading local government publicity on changes to the social care precept on council tax.

The government does not comment on individual cases or the work of the UK statistics authority. Councils are responsible for administering council tax in line with the legislation. It is the government’s expectation that the information councils provide is clear and accurate for taxpayers.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes, published on 1 November 2024, what guidance he has given to local authorities on whether a second homes resident is liable for the second homes premium if they do not own the dwelling.

The guidance which the Rt. Hon. Member references sets out what is considered a second home for council tax purposes and the conditions where a premium may be applied. Councils are responsible for assessing liability for council tax in line with the hierarchy of liability as set out in legislation.

Communities and Local Government, how many Parliamentary constituencies in each constituent nation of the United Kingdom (a) will and (b) will not receive Pride of Place funding.

The Pride in Place programme is providing up to £5.8 billion over 10 years to support 284 places across the UK. That covers 242 constituencies in England, 24 in Scotland and 13 in Wales. The Pride in Place Impact Fund also is providing up to £150 million to a further 95 local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, many spanning multiple constituencies. In Northern Ireland Phase 1 Pride in Place programme funding is being delivered in 2 constituencies. The Northern Ireland share of Phase 2 Pride in Place programme funding (years 25-26 to 28-29) and Pride in Place Impact Fund will be delivered as part of the Local Growth Fund across Northern Ireland.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets: Ministerial Envoys’ second report, published on 17 March 2026, paragraph 3.3.11, what the evidence basis is in relation to concerns of patronage in relation to (a) recruitment, (b) promotion and (c) performance management under the Mayoral administration.

Concerns regarding the London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ practices, including matters relating to alleged patronage, have been raised over a number of years by a range of stakeholders. The Ministerial Envoys are undertaking a deep dive project as part of the strengthened intervention package to provide assurance in relation to these long-standing concerns.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer, of 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether cash, debit and credit cards issued by a foreign bank, not regulated or based in the United Kingdom, and based in a foreign currency, will be accepted as proof of identity.

The Representation of the People Bill 2026 provides that only bank cards issued by UK‑regulated or authorised issuers will be accepted as voter identification. Consequently, cards issued by foreign banks that are not regulated or authorised in the UK, will not be able to be used.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given by (a) his Department and (b) LEASE relating to leasehold enfranchisement for (i) residential dwellings, (ii) non-residential hereditaments and (iii) hybrid properties, and what plans there are to update the guidance in light of legislative changes.

My Department publishes guidance on gov.uk for residential and commercial leaseholders, including a ‘How to Lease’ guide for residential leaseholders.The government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) provides extensive guidance and free initial legal advice for leaseholders on residential leasehold enfranchisement, including through its website here.The government is committed to implementing measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to make enfranchisement cheaper and easier.The Act sets the method for calculating the price of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition, known as the valuation process. It removes the requirement for marriage value to be paid, caps the treatment of ground rents in the valuation calculation at 0.1% of the freehold value, and allows government to prescribe the rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium.Valuation rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium will be set by the Secretary of State in secondary legislation. We will consult on valuation rates and commence the relevant provisions as soon as possible.As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), primary legislation will be required to rectify a small number of specific flaws in the 2024 Act before the Act’s enfranchisement provisions are commenced.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2026, to Question 120060, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, why the Section 106 agreement published on the Tower Hamlets website, INQ34, Royal Mint Court Completed S106, 1 May 2025, has not been updated with the amendments to the Section 106 agreement made in the Secretary of State’s decision notice on the called-in planning application.

The Secretary of State’s conclusions in respect of the S106 Agreement are at Paragraphs 111-121 of the published decision letter, which can be found on gov.uk here.Implementation of the said Agreement, in line with the Secretary of State's decision, is a matter for the parties to it.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his correspondence entitled Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, dated 25 March 2026, whether an impact assessment has been made on the two measures, including assymetric effects on political parties.

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the Government wrote to political party representatives to set out the immediate steps being taken to strengthen the UK’s political finance framework to address the risk of foreign financial interference. The Government announced its intention to introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets. Further policy detail will be set out as we bring forward these policies as amendments to the Representation of the People Bill.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026, to Question 113641, on Parish and Town Councils: Council tax reduction schemes, what assessment has been made of (a) whether principal local authorities have reduced their financial support for parish councils, in relation to the application of local council tax support on parish precepts, in (a) 2025-26, and (b) 2026-27 budgets and (b) the associated effects on parish council precepts.

Local council tax support schemes are designed by local authorities in consultation with council taxpayers. It is the responsibility of principal authorities to work with parish and town councils on council tax matters, including support schemes and to agree appropriate funding arrangements to avoid large increases in parish precepts.

Communities and Local Government, further to the OBR Economic and fiscal outlook, March 2026, para 3.41, what estimate has been made of the effect on the department’s forecast of average increase in Band D council tax from the uprated council tax referendum principles in (a) 2026-27, (b) 2027-28 and (c) 2028-29.

The average increase in Band D council tax excluding local precepts for 2026-27 is 4.8%, published here.Referendum principles for 2027-28 and 2028-29 will be confirmed in the Council Tax reports for 2027-28 and 2028-29 respectively.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether bank cards which only have a first name initial, such as “S.Dixon”, will be accepted as identification in polling stations; and whether the card must have a honorific to indicate the sex of the card holder.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the Representation of the People Bill 2026, which provides that bank cards must show either the elector’s first and last name or first initial and last name to be accepted as Voter ID. Bank cards will not be required to display an honorific to be accepted as Voter ID.

Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to consult on the technical implementation on the ban of the sale of new leasehold houses.

Through our Moving to commonhold: banning leasehold for new flats consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, the government is seeking views from industry and consumers on questions relating to scope, exemptions, timings, transitional arrangements, and the wider commonhold legal framework.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2026 to Question 117657 on Constituencies, whether his Department has assessed the potential asymmetric effect on parliamentary boundary reviews of rolling out automatic registration in different geographical areas to different timetables.

The sole aim of moving towards automated registration, as set out in the Representation of the People Bill, is to increase the completeness and accuracy of electoral registers. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will test automated registration in a range of different locations and settings, with different characteristics and challenges. We will be guided throughout by principles of fairness and open engagement.The Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are independent of Government. The timings of Parliamentary Boundary Reviews are set by legislation, which the Government has no plans to change.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the economic and social impact of the diversion of funds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Towns Fund to the Pride of Place programme, in relation to the ending of government funding for small towns and high streets that are not a designated constituency in the Pride of Place programme.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Towns Fund were time limited programmes with specific aims. No funding from these programmes has been diverted to the Pride in Place Programme. The Pride in Place Programme is helping to deliver this government’s ambition targeting support to the most in-need communities to have the biggest impact. Full details of the methodologies used for place selection have been published on gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's factsheet entitled Political Donations Overview: existing rules and what is changing, published on 2 March 2026, whether the new provisions on (a) crypto-currency, (b) overseas, (c) company and (d) due diligence donations will apply to donations to hon. Members.

Existing controls on political donations apply to Members of Parliament. The reforms we are making to political donation rules through the Representation of the People Bill will also apply to Members of Parliament.