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 241–260 of 1,457 · this parliament
Pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026, to Question 111691, on Valuation Office Agency: Conference, if she will place in the Library a copy of any presentations from the Valuation Office Agency at the (a) December 2024, (b) March 2025 and (c) September 2025 international conferences.
We do not routinely publish presentations from conferences, so we do not intend to place them in the Library.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2026, to Question 119661, on Agriculture: Land, whether his department has received representations from (a) local authorities and (b) Hon Members, in relation to planning enforcement of unauthorised traveller encampments and development being frustrated by the subdivision of land into multiple small plots.
My Department has received no representations regarding enforcement against unauthorised development undertaken by travellers being frustrated by the subdivision of land into multiple small plots.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116474 on Combined Authority: Elections, what his Department's policy rationale is for aligning the Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria combined authority mayoral elections with the May 2027 council elections, but not aligning for the other Devolution Priority Programme combined authority mayoral elections and new unitary elections.
Following requests by the local authority leaders of Cheshire & Warrington and Cumbria, we agreed the inaugural mayoral elections for those two areas will take place in May 2027. The areas have issued public statements to explain their requests, highlighting that it would bring alignment with most local elections scheduled for 2027 – leading to significant savings and support higher turnout.The inaugural Mayoral elections for the remaining Devolution Priority Programme areas will be held in May 2028, so that they can complete the local government reorganisation process before Mayors take office. This will ensure that these institutions are built on firm foundations and that their Mayors are able to deliver for their regions and local communities from day one. Mayoral elections in Cheshire & Warrington and Cumbria will go ahead as planned in May 2027 as these areas are not currently undergoing local government reorganisation.
Communities and Local Government, further to the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) action plan: 2025 to 2028, published on 24 March 2026, whether his Department will be publishing an SME Action Plan.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published its Small and Medium sized Enterprises Action Plan 2025 to 2028 on 24 March 2026, the same day as the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury published their cross government Small and Medium sized Enterprises Action Plan.The Action Plan is publicly available on gov.uk here.
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, if he will list the (a) Key Performance Indicators and (b) social value requirements for Vistry Group’s contracts under the Affordable Housing Programmes.
Grant agreements with strategic partners under the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) are tracked by Homes England against delivery plans that incorporate particular milestones such as acquisitions, starts, and completions.All delivery is required to be compliant with the terms of the grant agreement and capital funding guide and completed homes are checked for value for money in line with the agreed grant allocation parameters. The capital funding guide can be found on gov.uk here and example Homes England grant agreements for the 2021-26 AHP can be accessed here.Delivery is also checked against the Programme's wider strategic objectives, including the use of Modern Methods of Construction, use of SME contractors, and improvement of the energy efficiency and sustainability of new affordable housing.
With reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 25, through what mechanism she intends to promote the role of the Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education.
Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (SACREs) already have a statutory role in advising local authorities on religious education and collective worship.As set out in Protecting What Matters, the government intends to promote the role of SACREs by supporting improved analysis of their annual reports to better understand the role they play in local communities, including in relation to cohesion. This will help inform future engagement with SACREs and wider sector stakeholders.
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, whether his Department or Homes England undertakes liquidity tests on strategic partners.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 119480 on 17 March 2026.
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, 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, further to the policy paper, Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales: Access for Elected Members - government response, of 24 February 2026, whether local authorities will be given any central government funding to pay for the cost of councillor pensions.
Local authorities will not be given specific funding to pay for extending access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to councillors. The change should be seen in the context of the LGPS 2025 valuation and the strong funding position of the scheme.
Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given by (a) his Department and (b) LEASE relating to leasehold enfranchisement for (i) residential dwellings, (ii) non-residential hereditaments and (iii) hybrid properties, and what plans there are to update the guidance in light of legislative changes.
My Department publishes guidance on gov.uk for residential and commercial leaseholders, including a ‘How to Lease’ guide for residential leaseholders.The government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) provides extensive guidance and free initial legal advice for leaseholders on residential leasehold enfranchisement, including through its website here.The government is committed to implementing measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to make enfranchisement cheaper and easier.The Act sets the method for calculating the price of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition, known as the valuation process. It removes the requirement for marriage value to be paid, caps the treatment of ground rents in the valuation calculation at 0.1% of the freehold value, and allows government to prescribe the rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium.Valuation rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium will be set by the Secretary of State in secondary legislation. We will consult on valuation rates and commence the relevant provisions as soon as possible.As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), primary legislation will be required to rectify a small number of specific flaws in the 2024 Act before the Act’s enfranchisement provisions are commenced.
Pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 121394, on Radicalism, if the Government will make it their policy to ensure that (a) Departments, (b) working groups and (b) arm’s length bodies adopt a unified approach on non-engagement toward specific organisations.
As set out in ‘Protecting What Matters’, we are embedding the 2024 definition of extremism across Government to ensure a consistent understanding of extremism. We are reviewing the existing engagement principles to ensure they are still valid and in line with current legislation and guidance and cover the full range of threats that exist. This will support due diligence capabilities to ensure partners can take evidence-based decisions about engagement, including participants on forums such as working groups, which are in line with the updated principles.
Communities and Local Government, whether an Environmental Principles Assessment was produced for the Revised Planning Practice Guidance published in December 2024.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44485 on 22 April 2025.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance entitled Business rates: Pubs and live music venues relief - local authority guidance, 18 February 2026, paragraph 11, whether (a) restaurants and (b) hotels with pub-style bars are eligible for the new pub relief on the full Rateable Value of the hereditament.
Local authorities are responsible for the administration of business rates, including decisions on the awarding of various reliefs. Guidance for local authorities on the administration of the pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027 was published on 18 February 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here. It is for local authorities to determine whether individual properties meet the definitions contained within the guidance to be eligible for the Pubs and Live Music Venues relief.
Whether (a) combined authorities and (b) the Mayor of London are participating in asylum accommodation pilots; and what role they have in asylum accommodation under proposed reforms.
Responsibility for the provision of asylum support and accommodation remains with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and any pilot models have been designed to be delivered through local authorities. Strategic authorities, including combined authorities and the Mayor of London, may support local coordination where appropriate but have no formal delivery role.
With reference to the Home Office guidance, Funding Instruction for Local Authorities: Asylum Grant 2025 - 2026, updated 23 April 2025, how many councils are participating in the LA-led asylum accommodation pilots.
The Asylum Grant supports local authorities with a contribution to the costs and pressures of accommodating asylum seekers across all eligible accommodation types through a baseline payment of £1,200 per occupied bedspace and quarterly growth payments of £100 per net growth in newly occupied bedspaces. This grant started in 2021/22 and has been renewed yearly with the approval of HM Treasury. There is no unique link between this and local authority-led asylum accommodation pilots. No decisions have yet been made on which local authorities will participate in asylum accommodation pilots.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2026 to Question 110800 on MHCLG: Pakistan, for what the document has yet to be placed in the Library.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to Question UIN 121724 answered on 25 March 2026. There was an administrative error that resulted in a delay in placing the summary in the House Library alongside the commitment to deposit made on 27 February 2026. The summary was sent to the Library on 19 March 2026 and is now in the House Library.