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 441–460 of 1,474 · this parliament
Pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 108091 on MHCLG: Repairs and Maintenance, on what date the PFI contract for 2 Marsham Street expires; and which organisation will own the building on expiry.
The PFI expiry date is 2nd April 2031. It is anticipated an option will be called to allow the property to revert to His Majesty’s Government ownership from that date.
For what reason the council tax surcharge and the ordinary council tax charge for new builds will be based on different antecedent valuation dates from April 2028.
Council Tax bands are based on the price a property could have sold for on a fixed date set in law. The High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) is in addition to Council Tax. This will be a new charge on owners of residential property in England worth £2 million or more in 2026, taking effect in 2028. The precise antecedent valuation date for HVCTS has not yet been set in legislation.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107987 on Planning Permission, whether his Department holds a list of (a) councils with Article 4 directions in force and (b) types of development Article 4 directions apply to.
While Local Planning Authorities are required to send a copy of all Article 4 directions to the Secretary of State when made, my Department does not hold a record of those currently in force. A full list of permitted development rights is set out in Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.
Whether organisations subject to a policy of non-engagement are barred from (a) applying for and (b) receiving government funding.
Organisations who do not meet due diligence checks will not be eligible for government funding. It is up to each department to carry out due diligence when choosing to engage with, or fund, any organisation or individual and, if asked, we will advise and share information to help others inform their decisions.As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication last week, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.
Communities and Local Government, whether local billing authorities will be compensated for the cost of the new 15% pub relief if they grant the pub relief to the (a) business rate supplements levied by the Mayor of London and (b) business improvement district levies on business rates over and above the main business rate liability.
The department will publish the cost of compensating local authorities for the relief as part of the 2026-27 NNDR3 outturn data reconciliation, following the end of the 2026-27 financial year. Local authorities will be fully compensated for the loss of income associated with granting the pubs and live music venues relief they award against the main business rates liability. The Greater London Authority is not reimbursed for the lost revenue arising from government funded discretionary reliefs awarded under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, such as the 15% Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief, when this relief is applied to a Business Rates Supplement (BRS). While these reliefs are applied on a parallel basis to reliefs on Non-Domestic Rates, the Greater London Authority bears the entire cost in respect of the resulting reduction in BRS revenues. Business Improvement District (BID) levies are established under separate legislation from the business rates system and are payable in addition to non-domestic rates. Business rates reliefs granted under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, such as the Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief, apply only to a ratepayer’s liability for non-domestic rates and do not apply to BID levies. These reliefs therefore reduce a ratepayer’s liability to non-domestic rates only. Individual BIDs may allow for a reduction in a levy in line with their own schemes but this is a matter for individual BIDs to determine. Where a billing authority grants discretionary business rates reliefs (including reliefs under section 47 of the 1988 Act), the authority is compensated for the resulting loss of non-domestic rates income via grant paid under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003. This compensation relates solely to reductions in non-domestic rates liability and does not extend to BID levies. Accordingly, there is no provision for central reimbursement in respect of BID levy amounts.
Communities and Local Government, whether he discussed Departmental business at the Labour YIMBY dinner on 28 October 2025.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt. Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the Planning Inspectorate to deal with (a) national planning policy framework changes and (b) measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 112059 on 24 February 2026.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2026 to Question 107021 on Housing: Asylum, how the basic accommodation will differ from council housing; and whether the asylum accommodation will be council owned.
I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103182 on 13 January 2026. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2026 to Questions 107021 on Housing: Asylum, whether the derelict buildings to be converted into asylum accommodation will be (a) residential, (b) commercial, (c) communal and (d) industrial.
Details of the fund are yet to be finalised. Once these details have been finalised, we will communicatethis to the local government sector and Parliament in the usual way.
Communities and Local Government, whether the Chinese Embassy development at the Royal Mint will be subject to the oversight of the Building Safety Regulator.
Full reasons for the decision in question are set out in the Secretary of State’s decision letter which can be found on gov.uk here. The letter and associated Inspector’s Report must be read in their entirety. Fire safety matters are addressed at paragraphs 100-102.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of restrictions on ground rents on levels of service charges for leaseholders.
Ground rent is a payment set out in a lease with no clear service provided in return. It is legally distinct from service charges. Service charges are financial contributions made by leaseholders towards the costs of the management and maintenance of their buildings. Where they relate to a service, they must be reasonable. Leaseholders who wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges can make an application to the First-tier Tribunal.
Communities and Local Government, what proportion of the 1.5 million homes to be delivered in this Parliament will be flats.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 33286 on 3 March 2025.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2026 to Question 109262, whether pubs which have (a) rooms and (b) conference and wedding facilities for private hire will be able to receive the full amount of the new pub relief on their full Rateable Value; and whether local authorities may (i) refuse the pub relief from being applied and (ii) only apply it in part.
It is for local authorities to determine whether properties are eligible for the Pub and Live Music Venues Relief as per the definitions provided by government in the guidance for local authorities published on 18 February. This can be found on gov.uk at here. A local authority may refuse the relief if in its view the property in question does not meet the definitions as per the guidance. The relief cannot be applied to only part of the property.
Communities and Local Government, what proportion of any increase in business rate receipts will be retained by local authorities.
The business rates retention system was set up in 2013-14 and enables local authorities to retain a proportion of the increase in business rates income – or growth – in their local areas, above a baseline set according to individual level of need, on implementation. For most local authorities, the proportion they retain is 50% across the local area, subject to a levy on that growth. Some authorities have arrangements meaning they retain a higher proportion of growth of up to 100%, and may pay no levy on this amount. In 2026-27, the system was reset, meaning growth is redistributed between local authorities in line with need, as part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, delivered through the local government finance settlement. From 2026-27, local authorities will continue to retain their proportion of new growth above their new baseline funding need, subject to a levy. I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 107993 on 28 January 2026, and to Question UIN 113106 on 26 February 2026 on the specific interaction of business rates tax changes (the 2026 Revaluation, and the introduction of additional multipliers from 2026-27) on local authority income.
Communities and Local Government, whether Birmingham City Council receives Pride in Place funding.
The Government’s Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £5.8 billion over 10 years to 284 places, with each receiving up to £20 million in funding and support. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities.Eight neighbourhoods within Birmingham City Council’s area have been selected under Phase 2 of the Pride in Place Programme, each receiving up to £20 million over 10 years. The neighbourhoods are Hawkesley, Druids Heath, Glebe Farm, Kingstanding South East, Woodgate, Sparkbrook North, Fox Hollies and Nechells. In each area, a Neighbourhood Board made up of local residents will determine how this funding is spent, working with the local MP and Birmingham City Council to agree a Pride in Place Plan that reflects local priorities. Birmingham City Council will act as the accountable body for the funding.Birmingham City Council has also been awarded £1.5 million through the Pride in Place Impact Fund over two years. In total, the Government has announced up to £161.5 million funding for Birmingham through the Pride in Place Programme and the Pride in Place Impact Fund. This investment will help build stronger communities, create thriving places, and enable residents to take back control of their neighbourhoods. Funding will support locally led Pride in Place plans shaped around local priorities, with each area guided by a Neighbourhood Board representing the local community to ensure that investment reflects local needs and ambitions. The Pride in Place Impact Fund will provide more immediate support over the next two years, helping to revitalise high streets and community spaces while visible improvements are delivered on the ground.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026 to Question 108227 on Combined Authorities: Surrey, whether other strategic authorities will be given the transport and adult skill functions held by county councils; and whether its role will include adult social care.
The English Devolution framework and legislation set out the powers and functions to be held by strategic authorities. Where they exist, strategic authorities become the Local Transport Authority and exercise some public transport functions, including bus franchising and responsibility for developing and implementing an area-wide Local Transport Plan. Local Authorities remain the Highways Authority for their areas. Strategic authorities are also responsible for the core Adult Skills Fund. When a new strategic authority is created, they will be conferred with the relevant functions and funding. In some cases there is a transition period where functions are held concurrently between the SA and LAs for a period. The devolution framework does not confer any social care powers on strategic authorities. Local authorities will retain responsibility for social care provision and the changes brought about by the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will not alter this in any way.
Communities and Local Government, what business rate reliefs and multipliers apply to pubs in the City of London from 2026-27.
From April 2026, the government is introducing two lower business rates multipliers for qualifying Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties (including pubs) with rateable values below £500,000. As a Special Authority, the City of London is able to levy an additional premium on top of the national multipliers. It is for the City of London to determine the additional levy. In addition, the Greater London Authority is levying a business rate supplement of £0.02 on all properties with a rateable value of more than £92,000 from 1 April 2026, in relation to its contribution to the Crossrail project. More information on this and the city premium can be found on here: How your bill is calculated - City of London. Pubs in the City of London will be eligible to receive the 15% Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief in 2026/27 if they meet the eligibility criteria. Further information on this relief can be found here: Business rates: Pubs and live music venues relief - GOV.UK Pubs in the City of London may also be eligible for other reliefs. Further information on business rates reliefs can be found on GOV.UK - Business rates relief: Types of business rates relief - GOV.UK.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 9 February 2026 on Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29, what the profile is of the additional £740 million in grant funding over each year of the settlement; whether the funding has come from (a) unallocated budgets for the Spending Review period, (b) a reduction in other funding programmes and (c) additional Exchequer funding; and whether there will be Barnett consequentials.
The final 2026-27 to 2028-29 Local Government Finance Settlement confirmed £740 million in new grant funding additional to the provisional Settlement, taking the total new grant funding delivered through the multi-year Settlement to over £4 billion. Local authority funding allocations across the three years can be found here: Core Spending Power table: final local government finance settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29 - GOV.UK.The £740 million of additional funding is comprised of unallocated budgets for the Spending Review period and additional Exchequer funding. The Barnett formula applies to all increases or decreases to UK Government Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL).
Communities and Local Government, how much business rates revenue is placed into business rates pools in (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26 and (c) 2026-27.
As part of the Business Rates Retention scheme, local authorities can formally seek designation as a pool. Business rates revenue is not placed separately for these authorities, rather they are treated as a single body with the Business Rates Retention system. This allows sharing of risk and reward across a group of local authorities. In 2024-25, there were 24 pools composed of 183 authorities. In 2025-26, there were 25 pools composed of 188 authorities. No pools have been designated for 2026-27. National Non-Domestic Rating income for each authority in England, including those in business rates pools, is published here. Key information tables are also available for 2024-25 and 2025-26, setting out details on adjustments in the Business Rates Retention system for each pool.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2026 to Question 111126 on Licensing Premises: Business Rates, whether there is a statutory basis for the application of the pubs and live music rate relief.
The 2026/27 Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief is administered by local authorities using the powers they have to provide discretionary rate relief under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. As set out in the local authority guidance published on 18 February 2026, the government will fully reimburse billing authorities and major precepting authorities for their loss of income under the business rates retention scheme as a result of awarding the relief.