Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for the creation of a strategic authority for Surrey, and whether it will have an elected mayor.

On 12 February, the government wrote to all local authorities – including in Surrey – that do not currently have a devolution agreement inviting them to come forward with proposals for a non-mayoral, Foundation Strategic Authority across a sensible geography. Delivering this over the Surrey footprint to an April 2027 timetable would ensure that functions such as transport and adult skills continue to be delivered on a Surrey footprint. We are now reviewing responses. We see Foundation Strategic Authorities as a crucial way to build local capacity and partnerships, as a stepping stone towards mayoral devolution in the future.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2026, to Question 116749, on Local Government: Elections, whether the Secretary of State was advised that he was pre-determined.

It is a longstanding principle that the government does not comment on or publish legal advice.

Communities and Local Government, what was the cost of the Islamophobia definition working group, including staff costs.

The Working Group members were not remunerated. A small amount of secretariat support was provided by staff in the department.

Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation on the new anti-Muslim hostility definition.

As is standard practice in government policy making, officials undertook limited and focused informal engagement with selected stakeholders as the government considered the advice submitted by the Working Group.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 9 Match 2026, to Question 116479, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether the cash withdrawal cards that will be accepted as identification will include reloadable, non-bank-account-linked payment cards.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the Representation of the People Bill 2026, which sets out the requirements that a card must meet in order to be accepted at the polling station – they must be a physical credit card, charge card, debit card or prepaid card; they must display the individual’s first name and last name, or first initial and last name; the card must be issued by a person who is regulated or authorised by either the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority. It may be possible for a reloadable, non-bank-account-linked payment card to meet these criteria.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2026, to Question 116488, on Absent Voting: British Nationals Abroad, what consideration has been made of using a QR code.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 116488 on 9 March 2026; the government has no plans to allow electors to use a QR code to download and print their own ballot papers. The government also has no plans to introduce online voting in the UK or introduce QR codes to link to an online voting system. At present, there are serious concerns - shared internationally - about the risks of online voting, including cyber threats, fraud, and the challenge of ensuring a fully secure and anonymous ballot.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on the change of use and conversion of former school buildings to residential accommodation.

My Department has not issued specific guidance on the change of use and conversion of former school buildings to residential accommodation.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the new Chinese Embassy (a) follows its planning permission and conditions and (b) complies with building regulations.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 110795 on 12 February 2026.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 38, if he will make it his policy to publish the organisations that are subject to a policy of non-engagement.

This government does not comment on specific groups. It is up to each department to carry out due diligence when choosing to engage with, or fund, any organisation or individual and, if asked, we will advise and share information to help others inform their decisions. As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication last week, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.We will also publish an annual ‘State of Extremism’ report will support public sector staff to tackle extremism. This will include information on what extremism looks like today in the UK – groups, narratives and ideologies, including Islamist and Extreme Right – as well as the action this government is taking to disrupt these extremist threats. The first iteration of this will be published by the end of 2026.

Communities and Local Government, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) challenging and (b) tackling antisemitic attacks against retail branches of Gail’s.

Antisemitism is abhorrent and has no place in our society. The government remains committed to tackling all forms of hatred and ensuring that everyone in the UK can live free from fear of discrimination or violence. Work is ongoing across government on tackling antisemitism in all its forms, and as set out in our recent Protecting What Matters publication. To deliver this, we will continue to work with the Antisemitism Working Group and ministers are in regular discussions on antisemitism and antisemitic attacks.Where incidents involve criminal behaviour, this is an operational matter for the police.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 38, whether he plans to update the 2024 engagement principles.

As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication last week, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.

Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for the publication of the social cohesion strategy, and whether there will be a consultation or green paper.

We published Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive, and resilient United Kingdom on Monday 9 March 2026. This publication sets out this government’s vision for a fair, tolerant and decent country and the steps we are taking to tackle threats to social cohesion.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his plans to require enhanced due diligence for political donations, whether there will be a safe harbour provision, for following advice from the regulator.

The Know Your Donor regime will introduce statutory guidance issued by the Electoral Commission, which will set out how recipients of donations may assess the relevant risk factors, the kinds of circumstances that may signal a heightened level of risk and the steps they may take to reduce that risk. Following the Commission’s guidance will help recipients ensure they are conducting an appropriate level of risk assessment. Adhering to the guidance will therefore support parties and campaigners in demonstrating that they have taken reasonable steps when evaluating the permissibility and potential risk of donations.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to correspondence from his Department entitled Council tax information letter 2/2026: Carers disregard, local council tax support schemes and other matters, published on 18 February 2026, whether the higher income from the removal of the two child limit in Universal Credit and working-age Housing Benefit will be liable to reduce the amount of local council tax support for working age households.

Local authorities are responsible for designing and reviewing their council tax support schemes for working-age residents. This includes assessing income and eligibility. The referenced council tax information letter encourages local authorities to consider the interaction of their council tax support schemes with changes in the wider benefit system. The government does not prescribe the requirements for working-age council tax support schemes. It is ultimately for local authorities to decide whether the higher income from the removal of the two-child limit in Universal Credit and working-age Housing Benefit will be liable to reduce the amount of local council tax support for working age households.

Communities and Local Government, what number and proportion of planning appeals were decided through the Rosewell Inquiry Process in 2025.

In 2025, 167 planning appeals were decided through the Rosewell Inquiry Process. This represents 93% of the total planning appeals decided by inquiry.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the UK anti-corruption strategy 2025, CP 1454, of December 2025, para 88, what is the separate agreement relating to (a) the Code of Conduct and (b) Independent Oversight on local government standards.

The Government published its response to the consultation “Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England” in November 2025. The response sets out the Government’s intention to introduce measures including a mandatory Code of Conduct for councillors and strengthened oversight of the local government standards regime.We intend to legislate on local government standards reforms when parliamentary time allows.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 102399 on Local Government: Elections, whether the new unitary councils will be elected (a) in full and (b) by (i) halves and (ii) thirds.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 74954 on 15 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 9 February 2026 on Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29, whether he has allocated additional funding to MHCLG.

The final 2026-27 to 2028-29 Local Government Finance Settlement confirmed £740 million in new grant funding additional to the provisional Settlement, taking the total new grant funding delivered through the multi-year Settlement to over £4 billion. Local authority funding allocations across the three years can be found here: Core Spending Power table: final local government finance settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29 - GOV.UK.The £740 million of additional funding is comprised of unallocated budgets for the Spending Review period and additional Exchequer funding. The Barnett formula applies to all increases or decreases to UK Government Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL).

Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the administrative cost per year of (a) valuing and (b) collecting the Council Tax surcharge.

The Government has set out, in its guidance, that it will carry out a new burdens assessment to ensure local authorities are fully funded for these costs.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 89939 on Leasehold: Fees and Charges, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to (a) the cap on ground rent calculations for lease extensions and (b) the changes to marriage value provisions for leases with 80 years or less remaining on the market value of leasehold properties (i) with 80 years or less and (ii) between 80 and 100 years on the lease.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 75605 on 16 September 2025.