Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cost of pavement licences on the operating costs of hospitality businesses.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for agreeing the principal and geography of a combined authority for Surrey.

On 28 October 2025, we committed to working with partners across Surrey to establish a strategic authority for the area, to avoid service disaggregation when new unitary authorities go live in April 2027. Establishing a strategic authority in Surrey to that timeline would make sure that functions held by the County Council, such as transport and adult skills, continue to be delivered on a Surrey footprint where possible. The establishment of any strategic authority will be subject to the relevant statutory tests being met and local consent.

Communities and Local Government, whether flying the Palestinian flag has deemed planning consent.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what was the budget for the local election pilot schemes in the May 2026 local elections.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will add a metric on the frequency of household waste collections to the Environment, Circular Economy and Climate Change metrics in the Local Outcomes Framework.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, if he will set out the meetings his Department's special advisers have had with Labour Together since he was appointed.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what powers (a) shadow unitary authorities and (b) new unitary authorities have to change their formal new name without recourse to the Secretary of State.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, whether the new councils of (a) West Surrey and (b) East Surrey will be given Borough status.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, how many homes need to be built in London for the Government to meet its 1.5 million target; and how many have been delivered to date.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the (a) Gardener’s Lodge, (b) Royal Lodge, (c) Chief Clerks Apartment, (d) Surgery Flat, (e) Crown Equerry’s House, (f) The Royal Guard Room and (g) Royal Residence in Buckingham Palace will be liable to pay the council tax surcharge.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, how many homes will be (a) started and (b) completed in this Parliament under the New Towns Programme.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124686 on Tower Hamlets Council, what work the Tower Hamlets Ministerial Envoys are taking in relation to reviewing grants given by the mayoral administration to third parties in Tower Hamlets.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the introduction of commonhold as the default tenure for flats on the (a) property price and (b) saleability of leasehold flats.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, when the Rt. Hon Member for Braintree will receive a response to his correspondence dated 18 February 2026.

We are considering the points raised by the Rt Hon member in his correspondence and will respond in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, pages 35 and 40, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the definition of anti-Muslim hostility being adopted by (a) the police and (b) Crown Prosecution Service; and which body will be responsible for the practical guidance.

The definition is non-statutory and does not create any new tests around the “public interest”. The term should be understood in its ordinary, commonly used meaning in UK legislation and policy: matters that serve society’s wider interests. There is also no single personal or authority who decides whether conduct is within the public interest. As with all non-statutory guidance, application of the definition will always depend on the context. We encourage adoption of the definition across the public, private and third sectors. Public bodies applying the definition should do so through their current processes for assessing context, proportionality and impact. As part of our next steps, we will work with sectors to consider practical approaches to provide guidance and support effective implementation.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral statement of 23 February 2026, Official Report, Column 78, on Local Government Reorganisation, how much of the £63 million in funding for councils is to be allocated to Retuning Officers to assist them with the cancelled, but then re-affirmed, local elections.

The £63 million capacity funding is to support councils going through local government reorganisation, with each new unitary authority receiving at least £900,000. It will be for councils to decide how to spend allocations, and this extra funding will help complete reorganisation effectively and sustainably.As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2026 on Local Government Reorganisation (HCWS1455), this transition funding is intended to support the reorganisation process and to establish effective services and governance arrangements. Further detail on allocations in areas where decisions have been taken is set out in that Statement and in letters to council leaders, published on gov.uk.Local government elections are the responsibility of local authorities, which appoint and fund Returning Officers and meet the costs of administering local polls. Spending on local elections therefore remains a matter for local councils.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with political parties on the Rycroft review recommendations since the Rycroft report was published.

On the day the review was published, on 25 March 2026, the Secretary of State sent a letter to political party representatives setting out the Government’s intention to immediately accept two of the recommendations via amendments to the Representation of the People Bill: (1) an annual £100,000 cap on total political donations and regulated transactions made by each overseas elector; and (2) a moratorium on political donations made using crypto assets, of any amount. These changes are intended to strengthen protections against foreign financial interference in UK democracy and to maintain confidence in the transparency and integrity of political donations. The government is committed to responding formally and in full to the Rycroft Review in advance of the Commons report stage of the Representation of the People Bill. As part of this, the Government will continue to engage across the sector, including with political parties. We have received correspondence from parties in response to the Secretary of State’s letter and look forward to discussing the issues raised in the near future.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance, A Definition of Anti-Muslim Hostility, section 6, of 9 March 2026, which body or authority will determine or interpret the public interest test.

The definition is non-statutory and does not create any new tests around the “public interest”. The term should be understood in its ordinary, commonly used meaning in UK legislation and policy: matters that serve society’s wider interests. There is also no single personal or authority who decides whether conduct is within the public interest. As with all non-statutory guidance, application of the definition will always depend on the context. We encourage adoption of the definition across the public, private and third sectors. Public bodies applying the definition should do so through their current processes for assessing context, proportionality and impact. As part of our next steps, we will work with sectors to consider practical approaches to provide guidance and support effective implementation.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of unauthorised traveller development taking place on (a) weekends and (b) bank holiday weekends, when local authority planning departments are closed.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on consulting (a) HM Opposition and (b) minority opposition parties, in relation to departmental spending pledges that go beyond the Spending Review.

Funding certainty is vital to drive progress and sustainable change in places. MHCLG has a series of major funding programmes which extend beyond the current Spending Review period – giving communities the certainty to plan, invest, and grow over the long term. These are programmes that all tiers of government, and therefore all political parties, will have a role in delivering across the country.