Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026, to Question 113641, on Parish and Town Councils: Council tax reduction schemes, what assessment has been made of (a) whether principal local authorities have reduced their financial support for parish councils, in relation to the application of local council tax support on parish precepts, in (a) 2025-26, and (b) 2026-27 budgets and (b) the associated effects on parish council precepts.

Local council tax support schemes are designed by local authorities in consultation with council taxpayers. It is the responsibility of principal authorities to work with parish and town councils on council tax matters, including support schemes and to agree appropriate funding arrangements to avoid large increases in parish precepts.

Communities and Local Government, how will councils be expected to finance the remaining 10% cumulative Dedicated Schools Grant SEND deficit.

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Statutory Override will remain in place until the end of 2027-28. While it remains in effect, all DSG deficits including any proportion of the historic deficit up to 2025-26 not covered by grant (“the residual deficit”) will remain in the associated statutory reserve (“the unusable reserve”) and will not affect local authorities’ wider financial positions. The DSG Statutory Override will end on 31 March 2028. Therefore, local authorities will need to plan to be able to meet the cost of the residual deficit from their own resources in 2028-29, including setting aside appropriate reserves in the preceding years.The Government recognises that some local authorities will continue to have concerns about the pressures of their DSG deficits and the sufficiency of a 90% grant. The Government committed as part of the publication of the Final Local Government Finance Settlement that it would work with local authorities with these challenges, as part of supporting the development of Local SEND Reform Plans.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 25, which of the recommendations of the Colin Bloom’s Independent Faith Engagement Review have been (a) adopted and (b) not adopted by his department.

The Bloom Review on Faith Engagement is one of the many evidence bases that inform the work of my department, including in relation to supporting community cohesion. This includes our commitment set out in Protecting What Matters to boost Faith and Belief literacy (informed by Colin Bloom’s recommendation to do so), in addition to our ongoing commitment to regular and consistent engagement with Faith and Belief groups. The insights of Faith and Belief groups continue to play an important role in shaping policies that promote inclusivity, understanding, and respect across our society.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026, to Question 119298, Absent Voting: British Nationals Abroad, if the Commission will take steps to raise awareness amongst Hon Members of registered overseas electors and their status as constituents.

The House of Commons Commission is independent of government, and it is therefore not for the government to comment on or instruct, the Commission in respect of its activities.As noted by the honourable member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney in response to PQ 119298, it is for honourable members to consider how best to represent their constituents.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report by the Electoral Commission on voter ID at the 2024 General Election, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of allowing vouching or attestation in polling stations on levels of (a) family voting and (b) impersonation.

The government has not made a specific assessment of the impact that allowing vouching or attestation at polling stations would have on levels of family voting or personation and has no plans to introduce such measures as alternatives to the requirement for voters to show identification.

Communities and Local Government, further to the policy paper, Amplify: The Local Media Action Plan, published 17 March 2026, paragraph 115, what steps are being taken to stop councils hindering public scrutiny by journalists, and whether he will make it his policy to strengthen guidance in his area.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 84641 on 29 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, of 25 March 2026, whether the cryptocurrency ban will apply to crypto donations that are off-ramped (a) by the donor or (b) by the receiving political party or regulated donee.

The Government will introduce a moratorium on the acceptance of political donations made using cryptoassets to any regulated recipient, in order to safeguard the integrity of the UK’s political finance system.This moratorium will apply to cryptoasset donations of any value, including those valued under existing donation thresholds in law of £500 (or £50 for candidates).Further details on the operation of the moratorium will be set out in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of increasing the weighting given to deprivation figures to funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement on council incentives to reduce welfare dependency.

The cuts of the 2010s were felt across local government, but it was deprived local authorities with weaker tax bases and greatest reliance on government funding that were most affected. This eroded the link between funding, deprivation and need, but this Local Government Finance Settlement will turn this pattern around.We know deprivation is a factor that drives the level of spending on children’s social care services, as well as for many non-social care services. Therefore, including data on deprivation within the Foundation Formula and Children and Young People’s Services Formula enhances the effectiveness of how we assess local authorities’ relative demand for services.As a result of our reforms, by 2028-29, the top 10% most deprived areas will receive 45% more funding per head than the least deprived. Local authorities have the flexibility to use funding in a way that responds to local needs, and can prioritise based on their own understanding of the needs of their local communities.

Communities and Local Government, whether the secondary legislation to give pensions to (a) councillors and (b) mayors will be by the negative or affirmative procedure; and what the implementation timetable is.

The secondary legislation to give councillors and mayors access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is made by the negative procedure and the coming into force date will be 11th May 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what requirements there are for council meetings in England to be conducted in English.

Local democracy depends on meetings being open, transparent and accessible. Councillors and mayors, as elected representatives, are expected to communicate clearly so that local authority decisions can be understood, scrutinised and reported on by the public. The government guidance, Open and accountable local government: plain English guide, promotes the use of clear language and recommends that formal local authority meetings should not be conducted in foreign languages to facilitate public scrutiny.Qualification for local government membership is already set out in legislation. Local authorities are independent of central government and, subject to the Local Government Act 1972, are best placed to regulate their own proceedings through standing orders and to provide training for members where appropriate. The public’s ability to hold councils to account relies on decisions being taken at local level.

Communities and Local Government, further to the "Changing Futures Lived Experience Support Grant: prospectus", of 26 March 2026, what his Department's definition of lived experience is.

The definition of lived experience in reference to the Changing Futures programme is direct, personal experience of multiple disadvantage which includes combinations of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system.

Communities and Local Government, how many Parliamentary constituencies in each constituent nation of the United Kingdom (a) will and (b) will not receive Pride of Place funding.

The Pride in Place programme is providing up to £5.8 billion over 10 years to support 284 places across the UK. That covers 242 constituencies in England, 24 in Scotland and 13 in Wales. The Pride in Place Impact Fund also is providing up to £150 million to a further 95 local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, many spanning multiple constituencies. In Northern Ireland Phase 1 Pride in Place programme funding is being delivered in 2 constituencies. The Northern Ireland share of Phase 2 Pride in Place programme funding (years 25-26 to 28-29) and Pride in Place Impact Fund will be delivered as part of the Local Growth Fund across Northern Ireland.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the DESNZ press release, Government to make “plug-in solar” available within months, of 24 March 2026, whether householders will be required to hire a certified electrician to connect to the main electricity supply and comply with BS 7671 UK Wiring Regulations; and whether building regulations will apply to the installation.

Part P of the Building Regulations 2010 and Approved Document P make clear electrical installations in dwellings should be designed and installed in such a way to protect people from electric shock and fire hazards. Approved Document P refers to the electrical installation standards in BS7671 as the way of showing compliance with Building Regulations. In domestic situations, if electrical work is notifiable, competent electricians can self-certify that their work is compliant with Part P of the Building Regulations. All electricians who have been authorised by a government approved Competent Person Scheme are listed on the Registered Competent Person Electrical Register All other functional requirements of Building Regulations, beyond electrical safety, must also be met.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2025, to Question 95065, on Local Government Pension Scheme: Councillors, and Further to the policy paper, Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales: Access for Elected Members - government response, of 24 February 2026, whether he has now taken a decision on the proposal to ensure that residents are informed of any pension payments in the annual statement of payments to councillors, following the Government response to the consultation.

Authorities will be required to publish employer pension contributions made to councillors, under Regulation 15 of the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Weekend voting and shopping centre polling stations to be trialled, updated 9 March 2026, for what reason are election pilots being piloted in North Hertfordshire in May 2026 in the absence of county or district elections that month.

The government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors. These pilots are part of the government’s commitment to encourage greater participation in our democracy and to modernise the voting process, this commitment extends to town and parish council elections, such as those being held in North Hertfordshire in May.The government did not receive any requests or expressions of interest that were rejected. Several local authorities expressed interest but did not make a formal application.There have been no prospectus documents, calls for evidence, bidding documents, consultations or pilot invitations published in the last twelve months on matters other than the flexible voting pilots.The flexible voting pilots are being funded by the Department.Regarding the government’s engagement with stakeholders for the flexible voting pilots, I refer the Rt Hon. Member to Question UIN 87029 on 12 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026, to Question 113730, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Administration of Justice, how many Information Tribunal cases relating to his Department has been determined since 4 July 2024 and if he will list the reference numbers of each case.

The Department does not routinely publish details of its Information Tribunal cases as these are listed both by the Tribunals Judiciary (here) and by The National Archives when determined (here).

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2026 to Question 113112 on MHCLG: Remote Working, whether his Department holds data on workplace attendance data and numeric staff attendances in each of its regional offices.

The department does hold data on workplace and staff attendance including in regional offices.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122203 on Local Government Pension Scheme, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of paying pensions to Local Government Pension Scheme members over the age of 55 who are made voluntarily or compulsorily redundant as a consequence of unitary local government restructuring.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 116484 on 16 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, of 25 March 2026, for what reason the legislation will be introduced on a retrospective basis.

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the government announced its intention to act upon two key recommendations from that Review, to introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets.We are applying these rule changes retrospectively, to ensure malign actors aren’t able to funnel illegitimate money into UK politics in advance of the change in law.The government will be introducing these measures by amendment to the Representation of the People Bill where there will be sufficient opportunity to scrutinise and debate the proposals.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment has been made of whether the Government is on track to deliver the 302,000 net completions target in 2026 set out in Table A2, page 70, of the Final stage impact assessment: Future Homes Standard published on 24 March 2026.

The housing supply estimates published in the Future Homes Standard Impact Assessment are for the purposes of appraisal only and do not represent an official forecast of housing supply.