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 981–1,000 of 1,044 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of dwellings there are with extant planning permission that have not been started.
My Department does not collect data on the number of dwellings with extant planning permission that have not yet started construction.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 10 of her Department's publication entitled MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025, published on 22 July 2025, what metrics are monitored by the Ministerial Delivery Dashboard.
MHCLG uses a wide range of metrics and data to monitor and track delivery progress on key departmental priorities as well as support policy development and decision-making. Metrics are drawn from sources such as national statistics from the ONS and government datasets on GOV.UK. Examples include figures on new housing starts and ONS data on permanent dwellings started; government statistics on homelessness and rough sleeping figures; expectational financial support (EFS) allocations issued to local authorities; and results from both the ‘Community Life’ and ‘Trust in Government’ surveys.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 69064 on Councillors' Interests, whether the requirement to declare sponsorship towards election expenses includes raising funds for expenses which will be incurred in forthcoming local government elections.
The response to Question UIN 69064 was clear that the guidance and law require councillors to be transparent in disclosing their pecuniary interests such as sponsorships, which includes financial benefits received towards their election expenses.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document entitled Secretary of State opinion on Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI) to Portsmouth City Council, published on 14 August 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of that opinion on (a) economic development and (b) housebuilding in Portsmouth.
The Secretary of State ‘opinion’ on Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI) to Portsmouth City Council can be found on gov.uk here. It sets out the Secretary of State’s consideration of IROPI together with full reasons in respect of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Having issued this decision, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2025 to Question 44234 on Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners, what her planned timetable is for incorporating the policing powers of the Police and Crime Commissioners in (a) Suffolk and (b) Norfolk into the powers of the new combined authority mayor; and how this process will interact with the passage of (i) the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and (ii) associated secondary legislation.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will provide a route to allow a single Mayor to be the Police and Crime Commissioner for two or more Police areas, provided that there are coterminous boundaries between the Strategic Authority and the Police areas when taken together. All future transfers of Police and Crime Commissioner functions will take place via powers in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and will be subject to a confirmatory Statutory Instrument which will set out the date of transfer. In Suffolk and Norfolk, we expect the Strategic Authority to be set up and inaugural Mayoral elections to be held in 2026 with the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions for the start of the financial year in 2027.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statutory guidance entitled Flexible use of capital receipts: direction, updated on 26 March 2025, whether the sale of a local authority allotment would qualify under those rules as a capital receipt.
The government has not changed the rules with respect to disposing of allotments. There remain in place strict criteria to protect allotments, whereby councils must seek approval from the Secretary of state to dispose of a statutory allotment and only sell it where a defined legal threshold is met. From 2016, the previous government introduced a general flexibility that allows councils to use capital receipts to pay for transformation. We are clear that councils should only do this where it provides value for money and it is in the interests of residents. This flexibility does not override any statutory restrictions that may exist on certain types of assets including allotments.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 59 of the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC1062, published on 22 July 2025, what the business case was for the increase in the total cost of trade union facility time between 2023-24 and 2024-25; and whether Ministers authorised the increase.
Trade union representatives have a legal right to be given time off to undertake their duties. Facility time is granted in line with Cabinet Office guidance and remains within 1% of our overall paybill.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 10 of the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC1062, July 2025, which (a) private and (b) public bodies received funding from the Community Recovery Fund; what information her Department holds on how the funds were spent; and whether her Department spent any funding directly.
The Community Recovery Fund (CRF) was provided to 20 local authorities affected by the violent disorder that took place between July and August 2024, to rebuild and repair fractured communities and bring people back together. More details on recipients can be found here: Community Recovery Fund: Guidance - GOV.UK. The Department has not spent any funds directly. Funding from the Community Recovery Fund (CRF) has been used for a range of activities, including community cohesion work such as strategy development, engagement events and community campaigns. It has also been used to support youth and vulnerable groups through activities such as mentoring and resilience-building programmes, and the development of orientation and inclusion toolkits.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2025 to Question 43889 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, what the total aggregate monetary amount spent by her Department on electronic purchasing card solution was including transactions which were below the reporting threshold in each month since July 2024.
Cabinet Office guidance on Transparency Reporting advises Departments publish £500 and above. In compliance with this MHCLG currently publishes details of all spending over £500 using an electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS) on a monthly basis. This gives a good balance between transparency to the taxpayer and reducing the administrative burden on departments
Communities and Local Government, whether she has issued guidance to local authorities on purchasing empty homes for the purpose of housing asylum seekers.
The department has not issued any guidance at this stage to local authorities on purchasing empty homes for the purpose of housing asylum seekers. We continue to work closely with the Home Office and local authorities to develop a more sustainable model of asylum accommodation supply which will ensure basic accommodation is made available for asylum seekers on a temporary basis.
Communities and Local Government, what her timetable is for implementation of automatic voter registration.
As set out in the July 17 policy paper ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’, the Government is committed to creating a more automated approach to electoral registration over the coming years. Before implementing any changes, we will test a range of automated approaches including more effective use of data and better join-up across public services. This will ensure that any interventions or changes to the registration process are effective at improving the accuracy and completeness of the register and offer value for money.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, June 2025, published on 31 July 2025, what was the purpose of the funding to Cambridge University of 4/6/25, marked increase in chief CSA salary; and what position does this relate to.
This spend was a recharge to the University of Cambridge for the salary of the current Chief Scientific Adviser who is a Professor of Engineering at Cambridge.
Communities and Local Government, if she will hold discussions with the Mayor of London on making an assessment of the reasons for trends in the level of housing starts in London.
The government recognises the significant challenges affecting housing delivery challenge in London. We are committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, boroughs, and others to significantly increase rates of housebuilding in the capital. My Department, both at a Ministerial level and official level, meet regularly with the Greater London Authority to discuss issues relating to housing delivery in London.
Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on what the average Band D council tax was in parished areas in (a) England, (b) unitary council areas, (b) London, (c) two-tier areas and (d) metropolitan council areas in the 2025-26 financial year.
The Department publishes annual council tax level statistics, including town and parish council precepts. Statistics for 2025-26 can be found on gov.uk here. Table 2 shows council tax by class of authority and Table 6 shows the average Band D parish precept for England. The Band D council tax figures by local authority from 1993-94 to 2025-26 are published on gov.uk here. These show Band D council tax including and excluding parish precepts for all local authorities. Information on individual parish precepts has been collected by the Department annually since 2010-11.Data for 2016-17 to 2025-26 are available here: Live tables on Council Tax - GOV.UK. Data for 2010-11 to 2015-16 are available here: Council Tax statistics - GOV.UK.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to issue updated guidance to public bodies not to translate into foreign languages for domestic audiences.
I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 31875 on 10 March 2025.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to meet representatives of the Public and Commercial Services Union to discuss the industrial action affecting her Department.
There is ongoing dialogue between representatives of Public and Commercial Services Union representatives and departmental officials. Departmental officials are responsible for employment related matters and are best placed to engage with the Trade Union. The relevant ministers are updated regularly.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of banning upward-only rent reviews for commercial leases on the valuations of commercial property owned by local authorities.
The Government has carefully assessed the evidence for banning upwards only rent reviews and published full details in the Impact Assessment for the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.Based on the data and evidence-base we have available, we have assessed that any costs incurred by landlords will be outweighed by the benefits to tenants and the wider economy of a fairer, more dynamic property market.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to amend national planning policy guidance to explicitly exclude sandwich shops from the fast food outlet ban in paragraph 97 of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2024.
It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application, to consider whether, given the type of food and service to be provided at the location proposed, they consider the outlet to be either a hot food takeaway or a fast-food outlet. We intend to consult on a set of national policies for decision making later this year, which will cover policy on hot food takeaways.
Communities and Local Government, what role the precautionary principle plays in the planning system.
The National Planning Policy Framework sets clear expectations that a precautionary approach should be taken across a range of issues including where development could occur in locations affected by flood risk, coastal change or various other natural or man-made hazards, or where it could affect areas or assets that are protected for their natural or historic value. The Environmental Principles Duty, established by the Environment Act, requires Ministers to consider the precautionary principle whilst developing policy on planning.
Communities and Local Government, if she will publish each Electronic Purchasing Card transaction on her department's cards since 4 July 2024, listing the (a) merchant name, (b) date, (c) volume and (d) transaction type for every transaction, including those under £500.
In line with Cabinet Office guidance MHCLG currently publishes details of all spending over £500 using an electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS) on a monthly basis.