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 201–220 of 1,457 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, what will happen to the borough status of the district councils in Surrey following the establishment of the two unitary councils.
Where local government reorganisation takes place, arrangements are made to preserve civic identity and city or borough status when a council is abolished. We are working with local councils in Surrey on these issues.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026, to Question 111680, on Small Businesses: Business Rates, if he will make it his policy to publish a Plain English guide to claiming and calculating business rate relief, modelled on the document entitled Paying the right level of Council Tax: a plain English guide to Council Tax, originally published in May 2019.
Information on the range, type and value of reliefs available to ratepayers in England is already published on gov.uk and can be found here. The gov.uk pages are prepared to be accessible to all ratepayers and businesses.
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, what the provisional budget is for flexible voting pilots in (a) 2026 and (b) 2027.
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 17 March 2026, to Question 119517, on North Hertfordshire District Council: Elections, why the council was selected as a flexible voting pilot when it is not holding principal council elections in May 2026.
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, with reference to the revenue test being introduced for political donations from companies, what assessment has been made of the effect on the ability of political parties with holding companies with low or no trading income, to bequest property or investment assets to other party accounting units or to the central party.
The revenue test will form part of the donor permissibility requirements for companies and limited liability partnerships under provisions included in the Representation of the People Bill. It will apply to the donating entity for the purposes of determining whether a donation is permissible. Companies that do not make sufficient revenue to fund their donation will not be eligible.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer, of 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether bank cards issued in (a) Iran, (b) Pakistan and (c) China will be accepted as identification.
The Representation of the People Bill 2026 provides that only bank cards issued by UK‑regulated or authorised issuers will be accepted as voter identification. Consequently, cards issued by foreign banks that are not regulated or authorised in the UK, will not be able to be used.
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.
What assessment has been made of the effect of the Employment Rights Act on the (a) costs of providing adult social care and (b) associated effect on local authority finances and council tax.
The impacts of the Employment Rights Act have been assessed through a comprehensive package of published analysis, including the Impact Assessment ‘Establish a Fair Pay Agreements process in the Adult Social Care sector’. This is available here: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments. The government has taken a major step in boosting the wages and working conditions of adult social care workers across England, having announced a £500 million investment into the first ever Fair Pay Agreement in the sector. This £500m forms part of an increase of over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028-29, compared to 2025-26.
Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to consult on the technical implementation on the ban of the sale of new leasehold houses.
Through our Moving to commonhold: banning leasehold for new flats consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, the government is seeking views from industry and consumers on questions relating to scope, exemptions, timings, transitional arrangements, and the wider commonhold legal framework.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026, to Question 120065, on Best Value: Surrey, and with reference to the Woking Borough Council: Commissioners’ sixth report, published 24 March 2026, para 11, what the most recent estimate is of the remaining amount of debt that Woking Borough Council holds; what amount is borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board; what amount of debt will be left after the capital receipts referred to in paragraph 11, and what amount of the total debt is deemed to be unrecoverable.
Local authorities provide the Government with data on their borrowing, including source of borrowing. The data can be found at Live tables on local government finance - GOV.UK. The Government recognises that Woking Council cannot manage the entirety of its debt locally and has made an unprecedented commitment to repay in-principle £500m of the Council’s debt in 2026-27. This is a first tranche of support, and we will continue to explore what further debt support is required at a later point. Further, we remain committed to providing interim financial support to the new unitary council until a final decision is made on further support. It is crucial that any debt support must take into account value for money for local and national taxpayers, and the Council’s continued commitment to reduce debt as far as possible within their local capacity including via an ongoing asset disposal programme.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to his plans to commence Section 9 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009, what consideration has been made of whether the new Section 54A requirements can be fulfilled through electronic submissions and electronic consent.
The Government has committed to commencing section 54A of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, as inserted by section 9 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009, and intends to do so before the end of this Parliament. The Electoral Commission is responsible for producing guidance to support compliance with political finance rules. The Department does not intend to issue separate guidance. Matters relating to the practical operation of the declaration requirement, including whether declarations may be made electronically, are for the Electoral Commission to consider as part of its role in supporting compliance. There is presently no intention to commence sections 10 and 11 of the 2009 Act.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the New Towns Draft Programme of 23 March 2026, whether all the seven proposed locations for new towns are currently supported by their local planning authority.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the New Towns Draft Programme consultation launched on 23 March which can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer, of 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether cash, debit and credit cards issued by a foreign bank, not regulated or based in the United Kingdom, and based in a foreign currency, will be accepted as proof of identity.
The Representation of the People Bill 2026 provides that only bank cards issued by UK‑regulated or authorised issuers will be accepted as voter identification. Consequently, cards issued by foreign banks that are not regulated or authorised in the UK, will not be able to be used.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to Question 110416, on Government Departments: Publicity, whether there are any plans for HM Land Registry to remove the HM reference in its public branding.
The government has no plans to remove the HM reference in HM Land Registry’s public branding.
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the MHCLG Chief Planner planning newsletter, of 5 March 2026, page 9-10, what steps are being taken to address the appeal delays for Forestry Commission appeals.
The Government inherited a backlog of appeals to restocking notices, some cases dating back to 2020. We are making progress to reduce the delays by a comprehensive action plan improving how appeals are progressed. This includes through enlarging the number of panel members who can hear appeals and increasing oversight including monthly ministerial meetings. We are also working to improve the awareness of the felling licence regime. This includes asking local authorities to work with developers to make it clear that unlawful tree felling can risk development being delayed.
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 Written Statement of 18 November 2025, HCWS1062, on Next phase of planning reform, what the status and timetable is for the (a) new Consultation Direction and a change to legislation and (b) revised call-in and recovery policy.
A new Consultation Direction was published on 31 March 2026, following the legislative change made by the Town and Country (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/595). The Direction can be found on gov.uk here.A revised call-in and recovery policy will follow in due course. Until then, I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the policy set out in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 26 October 2012, which continues to apply and can be found here.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to Question 117891, on Electoral Register: EU Nationals, whether automatic registration systems will have access to Home Office immigration data.
We are working with departments across Whitehall to explore the range of data-enabled opportunities available to supporting the overall objective of improving registration. This includes working with the Home Office to explore whether its data could help to identify individuals who are eligible to register. We will work closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure that any use of data is supported by appropriate safeguards. Any permanent changes to the registration process will be informed by robust evidence, user research and careful testing before being implemented.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026, to Question 113730, on MHCLG: Administration of Justice, how many judicial review cases relating to his department have been determined since 4 July 2024, excluding planning cases.
The Department deals with a large variety of legal cases including judicial reviews, Information Tribunal cases and private law litigation. As explained in answer to Question UIN 113730 on 4 March 2026, the number and outcome of legal challenges and judicial reviews since July 2024 is not held centrally in the format requested.