Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, how much funding his Department or Homes England for the Lancaster West Estate refurbishment; and what assessment he has made of the estimated £85 million shortfall in funding identified the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

The government is committed to supporting the community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy for the long term.In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government agreed to provide c£25m towards the refurbishment of the Lancaster West estate on the assumption that this funding was to be matched by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and that no further funding would be required from Government.My officials have been engaging with RBKC, who lead on the refurbishment of the estate, to fully understand the cause of the shortfall and the Council’s plans for delivery.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter entitled 5/2025: Confirmation of Budget package and the Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers for 2026/2027, of 26 November 2025, whether the calculation of the amount and capping of transitional relief is based on the previous business rates bill which includes the value of the previous Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief in 2025-26.

The 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme provides support for ratepayers losing certain reliefs including the current 40% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.The Supporting Small Businesses Relief is calculated from a base liability that takes into account the effect of eligible reliefs – Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2025/26 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief, or 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief. The government published guidance for local authorities on the administration of the scheme on 15 December. This can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75987 on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether he has a policy on the area that Charter Trustees should cover.

Government policy is to work with local leaders to ensure ceremonial rights are maintained through local government reorganisation.Charter trustees are one of the mechanisms available. Their role is simply to protect ceremonial rights and civic traditions, not to exercise wider powers. They may be established in unparished areas following the abolition of a council to ensure that historic property is maintained for an area where there is no parish or town council to take on those historic charters. Their area is therefore limited to the former chartered area.Further detail on charter trustees and how they work is set out in the Charter Trustee Regulations 2009. We will continue to work with local councils throughout reorganisation to consider if these are an appropriate mechanism for each area at the appropriate time.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation response entitled Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England – consultation results and government response, of 11 November 2025, whether the mandatory code of conduct will extend to conduct in a personal capacity.

The mandatory code the government intends to introduce as part of the full reform of the local government standards and conduct framework will ensure that every elected member in England is clear what standard of conduct and behaviour is demanded of them in all aspects of their public office.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2025, to Question 90719, on Local Government Finance, further to the figures listed for 2024-25 and 2025-26, which local authorities have had disposal flexibility requests approved since 4 July 2024.

The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts general direction was introduced in 2016 by the previous government and remains substantively unchanged. As in previous years, the government does not approve specific use of the flexibility.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter from the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness to council leaders on the local government publicity code, dated 19 November 2025, whether local authorities may fund public affairs consultants and public relations firms for statutory consultations on unitary local government restructuring.

The Publicity Code provision at paragraph 26 under the heading of the “appropriate use of publicity” principle states local authorities should not incur any expenditure in retaining the services of lobbyists for the purpose of the publication of any material designed to influence public officials, Members of Parliament, political parties or the government to take a particular view on any issue.

Communities and Local Government, further to the Local Authority Housing Fund: Round 4 prospectus and guidance, of 19 November 2025, what is the profile of the spending in each year; and what is the profile of competition of the units.

The £950 million fourth round of Local Authority Housing Fund will primarily support local authorities in England to increase the supply of better-quality temporary accommodation and drive down the use of Bed and Breakfasts for families with children.It will also provide safe and suitable housing for those on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), to fulfil the UK’s humanitarian duties to assist those who assisted British efforts in Afghanistan and are at risk of homelessness.The fund will run for four years (2026/27 - 2029/30) and it will support delivery of up to 5,000 homes.We have written to councils to inform them of their initial allocation offers. We will agree allocations and delivery profiles ahead of delivery commencing in April 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral answer of 24 November 2025, Official Report, on Social and Affordable Housing: South Shields, to the Hon Member for Orpington, what the value of that grant is in each year of this Parliament in real terms expressed in 2024 figures.

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

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2025, to Question 87785, on Planning Permission: Applications, whether (a) supporters and (b) objectors to a planning application proposed by a (i) called-in planning application and (ii) Special Development Order have access to the other representations made before the decision notice by the Secretary of State is published.

Post-inquiry representations are listed in the decision letter issued for any called-in planning application and are available on request after the decision is published. There is no statutory requirement to publish representations received in relation to Special Development Orders.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2025 to Question HL11495 on Housing: Construction, whether the net additional dwellings metric will include communal accommodation.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 78186 on 20 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2025 to Question 87323 on Affordable Housing: Expenditure, how much has been budgeted for the affordable housing programme in 2025-26.

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

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025, to Question 87319, and to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58975 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Remote Working, whether his Department holds data on levels of workforce attendance in each of those offices.

The Department regularly monitors Office Attendance for its employees and is able to assess utilisation of available capacity in its offices.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has received representations from (a) the Welsh Government and (b) members of the Welsh Senedd over the use of the Internal Market Act 2020 to deliver the Pride in Place programme.

I recently wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government in the Welsh Government to express my commitment to greater collaboration between the UK and Welsh Governments on areas of shared interest.In Wales, we have set out the requirement for Pride in Place Neighbourhood Boards to consider how their plans align with the objectives of the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government, the Well-being of Future Generations Act, the Transforming Towns programme, and the Future Wales: National Plan 2040 planning framework, as well as other relevant strategies. We believe the close collaboration within communities and across government will make these neighbourhood boards stronger and more effective.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the (a) planning application success rate and (b) the number of planning appeals being considered by the Planning Inspectorate relating to mansard extensions since the changes in national policy in 2023.

My Department does not collect data on planning applications or planning appeals relating specifically to mansard roof extensions.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 87327 on National Identity, whether he is taking steps to promote (a) Britishness and (b) Englishness.

MHCLG is co-ordinating cross-Government efforts to consider a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion. The Prime Minister has made clear that he is proud of our flag, which represents our history, our heritage, and our values; it is a great symbol of our nation and should not be devalued and belittled. Flags should be an embodiment of bringing our country and our communities together. Where flags or other materials are fly posted without permission, councils have powers to remove unauthorised advertisements. In addition, where there is evidence of threatening or intimidating behaviour, such incidents should be reported to the police. We should reclaim the flag from those who want to use it to cause conflict: it belongs to all of us, and we should be proud of it.

Communities and Local Government, whether the calculation of transitional relief for business rates is based on bills before the application of transitional relief in a previous revaluation cycle.

Support for those facing increases in business rates bills at the 2026 revaluation is provided by the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.Transitional Relief is calculated from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill before all other reliefs. However, the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme calculates support from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill including eligible reliefs. For the 2026 scheme, those ratepayers losing some or all of their Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2025/26 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief, or 2023 Supporting Small Business Rate Relief will be eligible for the 2026 Supporting Small Business Scheme.The statutory instrument to take forward the 2026 Transitional Relief scheme was laid on 15 December 2025. The Department issued the guidance for local authorities to implement the 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme on 15 December. The Treasury has also published a factsheet, Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Factsheet, which includes case studies and example rates bills.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to bring Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Government has no plans bring Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to publish a plain English guide to transitional relief and supporting small business relief.

Support for those facing increases in business rates bills at the 2026 revaluation is provided by the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.Transitional Relief is calculated from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill before all other reliefs. However, the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme calculates support from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill including eligible reliefs. For the 2026 scheme, those ratepayers losing some or all of their Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2025/26 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief, or 2023 Supporting Small Business Rate Relief will be eligible for the 2026 Supporting Small Business Scheme.The statutory instrument to take forward the 2026 Transitional Relief scheme was laid on 15 December 2025. The Department issued the guidance for local authorities to implement the 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme on 15 December. The Treasury has also published a factsheet, Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Factsheet, which includes case studies and example rates bills.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 4 December 2025, HCWS1128, on Devolution Priority Programme, how much funding in each of the combined authorities in the devolution priority areas that was originally scheduled for (a) 2026-27 and (b) 2027-28 will be delayed as a consequence of the postponement of the 2026 mayoral elections.

We remain committed to the long-term funding offer announced on 4 December, confirming that once mayors are in post, the six mayoral strategic authorities on the Devolution Priority Programme will receive close to £200 million collectively per year for 30 years through their investment funds. Government will provide each area with a proportion of their investment funds to ensure they can start delivering on key local priorities and deliver the benefits of devolution on the ground, ahead of the mayors taking office. The new mayoral strategic authorities will also be supported to build core capacity to ensure they can deliver for local people. All six areas will receive £3 million each as a minimum flat payment over the next three financial years, in addition to an initial payment of £1 million each when the statutory instruments are laid in Parliament, to help with the costs of establishing the new authorities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 85168 on Council tax, whether he holds estimates for the change in precepts not in scope of his Department’s core spending power figures.

The level of Core Spending Power attributable to council tax for each local authority is available here. Explanations on how council tax and associated referendum principles are calculated as part of core spending power is set out here.At the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement the government set out the planned approach on council tax principles for authorities, including the approach for authorities not subject to referendum principles. This is available here.