Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77636 on local government finance, if he will (a) list each local authority that has had a disposal flexibility request approved since 4 July 2025 and (b) the value of each.

The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts general direction was introduced in 2016 by the previous government and remains substantively unchanged. As set out in the general direction and guidance, local authorities intending to use the discretionary freedoms must provide the government with details of their planned use of the flexibility. This is to make sure that the government is adequately sighted on the use of the flexibility and can monitor how it is used. Government does not, however, approve the plans or any specific use of the flexibility. Local authorities remain responsible for appropriately complying with the direction and guidance, and ensuring their decisions are in the best interests of local residents. Since 4 July 2025, MHCLG has received new and updated plans from 16 local authorities. The government does not publish a list of authorities that have submitted plans or details that authorities have provided on the intended use of the flexibility – in some cases authorities may have chosen not to make this information public for reasons such as commercial sensitivity.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department subscribes to planning starts data produced by Glenigan.

My Department purchases data from Glenigan covering planning applications for residential developments. While the data contains some information on site starts, we do not judge this to be a robust and comprehensive picture of building starts and therefore do not use the data for this purpose.

Communities and Local Government, with reference his Department's policy paper entitled English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether he plans to amend the proposed (a) minimum population and (b) geographic area of new (i) unitary and (ii) combined authorities.

The English Devolution White Paper and the Statutory Invitation set a guiding principle that new unitary councils should have a population size of 500,000 or more. We have been clear on the need for flexibility and there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area. For the areas going through local government reorganisation, decisions will therefore be taken individually and proposals will be carefully considered against the criteria set out in the invitation letter of 5 February, alongside the responses to the consultation, all representations and all other relevant information to assess the proposals. The White Paper also set out that the default assumption is for Strategic Authorities to have a combined population of 1.5 million or above, but we accept that in some places, smaller authorities may be necessary. Decisions on strategic authorities will also be on a case-by-case basis. Instead of presenting a top-down solution for each area, our starting point is to support and empower local leaders and to respect their knowledge, expertise and insight.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77631 on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether his Department has commissioned research on the (a) costs and (b) impact of local government restructuring since 4 July 2024.

I refer the Rt. hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN: 77631 on 13 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has received recent representations from relevant stakeholders on the closure of the (a) Smithfield and (b) Billingsgate market.

The Secretary of State has not received recent representations from relevant stakeholders about Smithfield or Billingsgate market.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 76608 on Local Government: Elections, (a) what types of information cannot be shared and (b) which (i) regulators and (ii) enforcement authorities information is shared with.

The Electoral Commission currently lacks an explicit statutory gateway to share information with other regulators and enforcement authorities, making routine information-sharing burdensome and impeding effective cooperation.Alongside other proposals in the Elections Strategy, further details will be set out in legislation which will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.

Communities and Local Government, if he will set out the differences in (a) scope and (b) the terms and reference between the (a) Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme and (b) Community Recovery Fund in 2024-25; and if will list the local authorities that received funding from both in 2024-25.

The scope and terms of reference of the Community Cohesion Resilience Programme was set out in my response to Parliamentary Question UIN 78216. Those for the Community Recovery Fund are set out on GOV.UK Community Recovery Fund: Guidance - GOV.UK including the Councils receiving the funding. The Councils to receive funding through the Community Cohesion Resilience Fund were:Birmingham City CouncilBlackburn with Darwen Borough CouncilBolton Metropolitan Borough CouncilBrent London BoroughBurnley Borough CouncilBury Metropolitan Borough CouncilCalderdale Metropolitan Borough CouncilCity of Bradford Metropolitan District CouncilCity of Doncaster CouncilCoventry City CouncilDerby City CouncilDover District CouncilDudley Metropolitan Borough CouncilEaling London BoroughEnfield London BoroughGateshead Metropolitan Borough CouncilHaringey London BoroughHillingdon London BoroughHounslow London BoroughHull City CouncilHyndburn Borough CouncilKirklees CouncilLeeds City CouncilLeicester City CouncilLiverpool City CouncilLuton Borough CouncilManchester City CouncilMiddlesbrough CouncilNewcastle City CouncilNewham London BoroughNorth Lincolnshire CouncilOldham Metropolitan Borough CouncilPendle Borough CouncilRedbridge London BoroughRochdale Metropolitan Borough CouncilRotherham Metropolitan Borough CouncilSandwell Metropolitan Borough CouncilSheffield City CouncilSouth Tyneside CouncilStoke-on-Trent City CouncilSunderland City CouncilTower Hamlets London BoroughWalsall Metropolitan Borough CouncilWolverhampton City Council

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2025 to Question 75992 on Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund, which organisations submitted an application.

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government received 34 applications to the Combating Hatred Against Muslim Fund. All applicants were required to submit a detailed business plan as well as provide answers to questions related to 16 criteria. More information on the 16 criteria which applications were assessed against can be found on the fund’s prospectus here. The prospectus for the Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund did not indicate that the names of applicants would be made public and applications were not submitted on this basis.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77537 on Hotels: Taxation, if he will publish those representations.

The government does not intend to publish representations from Mayors relating to further funding, powers, partnerships or pilots. It is a matter for Mayors to decide if they want to make their representations public.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2025, whether he received representations from the Co-operative Party prior to the publication of that document.

The Government has worked closely with its partners in local and devolved government, with the electoral sector, with education providers and civil society, and with citizens themselves in the development of the strategy for modern and secure elections. We will continue to engage with a range of stakeholders, including with political parties and sector representative organisations such as the Association of Electoral Administrators, to ensure these changes are delivered successfully.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75613 on Central Government: Supply Estimates, whether his Department has produced an internal 2025-26 outcome delivery plan.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 75613 on 16 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 7560, on Sheffield City Council, whether he has received written representations from Sheffield City Council on the proposed abolition of the committee system of local authority governance.

I have not received any written representations from Sheffield City Council on the proposed abolition of the committee system of local authority governance. The Government remains open to hearing views from local authorities and others as the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill progresses through Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75627 on Byelaws, what his planned timetable is for that consultation.

The government is considering its approach and timetable for consultation on byelaws system reform.

Communities and Local Government, whether Cornwall Council will have a (a) single foundation elected mayor or (b) council elected mayor.

As set out in the Written Statement of 24 June 2025 (Simplified Local Leadership Structures, HCWS736), the Government is taking steps to prevent the creation of any further directly elected local authority mayors in England. In addition, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision for the Secretary of State to designate a unitary council or county council, which is not covered by an existing strategic authority, as a single foundation strategic authority without a mayor, subject to the consent of the council involved. The English Devolution White Paper makes clear that non-mayoral devolution arrangements for single local authorities will only be considered by exception, and that the Government’s preference is for councils to combine with one or more neighbouring councils in order to be designated a strategic authority. The Government remains committed to working in partnership with local government, including Cornwall Council, to explore how devolution can best be delivered in each area

Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) percentage and (b) area of (i) grey belt land within the green belt and (ii) green belt land that is grey belt.

My Department does not hold the requested information. It is for individual local planning authorities to undertake the necessary assessments to identify if land is grey belt, either through plan making or through considering specific applications that come forward. Similarly, it is for authorities to determine whether and how to evidence, justify, amend, and set out Green Belt boundaries through the preparation or updating of statutory plans.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's document entitled Initial government response - September 2025, published on 28 September 2025, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of homes that will be (a) started and (b) completed in new towns during this Parliament.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the government’s initial response to the New Towns Taskforce’s final report which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75621 on Elections: Reform, whether the Code of Conduct will be mandatory for registered political parties.

As set out in the Restoring Trust in our Democracy strategy, we will work with the Speaker and the Electoral Commission to develop a code which is fit for purpose. The code will not be mandatory; however, we will work closely with political parties and other stakeholders to ensure it is effective, proportionate and reflective of the needs of candidates and campaigners across the political spectrum.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75447 on Trade union Officials: Facilities Agreements, whether the increase in facility time was (a) requested by trade unions and (b) approved by Ministers.

Trade union representatives have a legal right to be given time off to undertake their duties and this is requested in line with MHCLG policy. Facility time is granted in line with Cabinet Office guidance and remains within 1% of our overall pay bill. Ministerial approval is not required for facility time.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department collates information on which local authorities have introduced (a) boycotts, (b) divestment or (c) sanctions against firms which (i) trade or (ii) are based in (A) Israel or (B) the Occupied Territories.

The Department does not collate information on which local authorities have introduced boycotts, divestment or sanctions against firms trading with or based in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Cabinet Office has published guidance to public authorities prohibiting procurement boycotts against Israeli firms and firms which trade with Israel.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Freedom of Information Act response with reference FOI2025/22431, published on 18 September 2025, what estimates his Department made of the revenue from the (a) town and parish council, (b) police, (c) the Greater London Authority and (d) combined authority precept in gross cash terms (i) in the Spending Review 2025 and (ii) in financial planning since the publication of the Spending Review annually from 2024-25 to 2029-29.

The Core Spending Power estimates produced at the 2025 Spending Review use the same methodology as the previous government: starting with Council Tax Requirement (CTR) figures from the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement; forecasting growth in the tax base using the average growth in the tax-setting tax base in each local authority over the previous five-year period (also from published CTR figures); and then assuming councils increase their council tax levels by the maximum allowable before triggering a council tax referendum. This is 5% for social care authorities, the greater of 3% or £5 for shire districts, £5 for fire authorities and £14 for the police element of the Greater London Authority. These estimates do not therefore include the following precepting authorities: town and parish councils; police and crime commissioner authorities; and the non-fire element of mayoral combined authorities, as they are not in scope of the Local Government Finance Settlement. Further detail on local government Core Spending Power will be published at the upcoming multi year Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.