Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cleverly this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 861–880 of 1,044 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had meetings with Henham Strategy since 4 July 2024.
Details of ministers’ and senior officials’ meetings are published on gov.uk on a quarterly basis. No meetings with Henham Strategy have taken place since 4 July 2024.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press notice entitled Chancellor appoints infrastructure and planning adviser to clear path for new investments, published on 12 September 2025, whether (a) he and (b) the Minister for Housing and Planning have met the Chancellor’s Infrastructure and Planning Adviser since 12 September 2025.
Both the Secretary of State and I regularly engage with ministerial colleagues and advisors on a range of matters. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2025 to Question 75625 on Building: Safety, if he will make it his policy to intervene in the London Plan to remove regulatory requirements on new build housing in London that do not apply across the rest of England.
Building regulations are set nationally under the Building Act 1984 and apply uniformly across England, but local authorities, including those in London may apply additional planning or enforcement measures. The Department continues to work closely with the Greater London Authority and other stakeholders to ensure that building safety reforms are implemented consistently and proportionately across all regions. We keep regional impacts under review as part of our ongoing engagement with the Building Safety Regulator and future updates to guidance.
Communities and Local Government, how many special advisers of the former Deputy Prime Minister have (a) left and (b) remained in government.
The government publishes an annual statement to Parliament setting out the numbers, names and pay bands of special advisers, the appointing minister and the overall paybill.
Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on the use of Article 4 directions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for (a) houses in multiple occupation and (b) asylum accommodation.
My Department has not issued any such guidance.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69298 on Electoral Register: Young People, if he will make it his policy to consult with political parties on the elections strategy at an early stage prior to bringing forward legislative proposals on this matter.
Pursuant to the answer given to Question [69298] on Electoral Register, the Government will continue to work closely with our partners in local and devolved government and wider stakeholders to deliver on our strategy for modern and secure elections. This will include engagement with political parties, the electoral sector, education and civil society, and with citizens themselves to ensure impacts are thoroughly considered and changes successfully delivered.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 to require planning permission for the use of hotels as accommodation for asylum seekers.
Whether or not use of a hotel or a house in multiple occupation to accommodate asylum seekers would constitute a material change of use requiring planning permission is a matter of fact and degree and will be for the local planning authority to determine on the individual merits of a case.
Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on requiring (a) short-term lets and (b) second homes to have planning permission; and what plans he has to bring forward legislation on this matter.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 72633 on 15 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75617 on Homes England: Conferences, how many Homes England staff attended the MIPIM conference; and which hotel they stayed at.
Seven Homes England colleagues attended MIPIM in April 2024. The delegation that attended MIPIM stayed at the Hotel Cannes Montfleury, 25 Av. Beauséjour, 06400 Cannes, France. Details of the travel and subsistence usage by Homes England staff is set out in their Annual Report.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 66939 on Council Tax: Tax Yields, if he will publish the FOI disclosure reference FOI2025/22431.
It is not MHCLG policy to routinely publish FOI responses. The Information Tribunal views disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a release into the public domain.
Communities and Local Government, with reference the Written Statement of 24 June 2025 entitled Simplified Local Leadership Structures, HCWS736, whether he plans to abolish the committee-based governance system in the City of London Corporation.
The government has no current plans to abolish the committee-based governance system in the City of London Corporation.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 71482 on Green Belt: Planning Permission, whether the Planning Inspectorate holds information on decisions made in relation to green belt land since December 2024.
The Planning Inspectorate does hold information on decisions made in relation to green belt land. This information is released under management information in our Casework Database which can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights, which closed on 12 April 2023.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 72633 on 15 September 2025.
Communities and Local Government, further to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's press release entitled Ombudsman writes to Secretary of State after council refuses to accept recommendation on abuse survivor’s complaint, published on 10 September 2025, what steps he is taking further to the letter from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman relating to Leicester City Council.
The Department is aware of the concerns raised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. We continue to monitor Leicester City Council’s compliance with its Best Value Duty, in line with our wider oversight of local authority risk.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to amend the General Permitted Development Order to require an application for planning permission in all cases of repurposing a house in multiple occupation as accommodation for asylum seekers.
Whether or not use of a hotel or a house in multiple occupation to accommodate asylum seekers would constitute a material change of use requiring planning permission is a matter of fact and degree and will be for the local planning authority to determine on the individual merits of a case.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69680 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, with which mayors his Department has held discussions on the supplementary vote.
Before the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was introduced on 10 July 2025, all Mayors were invited to a briefing on the Bill, which included discussions on the change back to the supplementary vote.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 69050 on Local Government Finance, what the aggregate value was of the capitalised costs in 2024-25.
Since 2016, under a general direction initially put in place by the previous government, local authorities have the flexibility to use eligible capital receipts to fund the costs of projects that produce ongoing savings or efficiencies.Local authorities are required to provide annual returns to Government, including data on revenue expenditure. The latest return was published on 18th September 2025: Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2024 to 2025 – first release - GOV.UK. The data includes reported revenue spend funded by capital receipts under the general direction.These values may be subject to revision as authorities provide further or updated information.
Communities and Local Government, what the average difference is in Band D council tax rates between parished and non-parished areas in 2025-26.
The Department does not hold data on the average Band D council tax for parished and non-parished areas.
Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce planning restrictions on the opening of (a) betting shops, (b) vaping shops and (c) Turkish barbers.
My Department currently has no plans to introduce such restrictions. An application for planning permission will always be required for an additional betting office. In the Pride in Place Strategy, we committed to introduce Cumulative Impact Assessments in gambling licensing, which will allow councils to take data-driven decisions on premises licences, particularly in areas that have been identified as being vulnerable to gambling-related harm. Furthermore, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will provide powers for ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products.
Communities and Local Government, whether Essex county council elections will take place in May 2026.
I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60731 on 24 June 2025.