Written questions by Cleverly.

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.

With reference to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47703 on Civic Dignitaries and Members, what his policy is on Members of the House of Lords serving as (a) councillors, (b) council mayors, (c) Police and Crime Commissioners, (d) the Mayor of London and (e) combined authority mayors, including any restrictions on nominating as candidates.

Members of the House of Lords are not disqualified from serving as councillors, elected mayors of single authorities, combined authorities or combined county authorities, the Mayor of London or Police and Crime Commissioners.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve coordination between local authorities and the police in relation to (a) unauthorised traveller encampments and (b) unauthorised traveller development.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 118190, on Local Government Finance, what proportion of the £740 million of funding was comprised of unallocated MHCLG budgets for the Spending Review period; and what is the allocation over each year of Spending Review 2025.

By the end of the multi-year Settlement (2028-29), the government will have provided a 15.5% increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, worth over £11.4 billion, compared to 2025-26. At the final Settlement, £740 million of additional grant funding was confirmed, compared to the funding set out at the provisional Settlement. This £740 million was comprised of unallocated funding secured by the Department at the Spending Review (£113 million in 2026-27, £100 million in 2027-28 and £102 million in 2028-29) and funding changes agreed with the Exchequer between the provisional and final Settlement, comprising of £185 million in 2026‑27, £120 million in 2027‑28 and £120 million in 2028‑29. These changes related to adjustments to the treatment and funding profile of existing schemes, rather than new policy decisions taken after the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, if he will provide a breakdown of the £63 million of funding to support local elections; which local authorities will receive it; what is the methodology; and whether the funding is being taken from any other programme at 2025-26 year end.

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, with reference to the letter sent by the Secretary of State to HM Opposition of 21 March 2026, on MHCLG spending commitments, if he will provide a breakdown of the £62 billion of spending commitments, and the profile across each year and each programme.

Funding certainty is vital to give places the stability and confidence they need to plan, invest, and grow. The £62 billion of long-term funding commitments made by MHCLG comprises:£39 billion for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme;£14.8 billion to fund Mayoral Investment Funds across 19 Mayoral Strategic Authorities, including the six new areas due to be established via the Devolution Priority Programme;£5.5 billion for 288 of our most in-need communities through the Pride in Place programme;£1.7 billion to fund the 13 Investment Zones across the UK;£800 million for City Densification Funds, benefitting 6 Mayoral Strategic Authorities;£147 million for MHCLG’s portion of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Programme.We will continue to publish past year’s expenditure figures in the department's Annual Report and Accounts.

Communities and Local Government, whether special advisers have met or corresponded with (a) Criterion Capital or (b) Asif Aziz since July 2024.

Special Advisers at MHCLG have not met or corresponded with Criterion Capital or Asif Aziz since July 2024.

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, whether local authorities considering the Government’s letter on putting evidence to cancel local elections were (a) offering additional funding or (b) advised they may lose funding, by his Department, if the local authority (i) did or (ii) did not, make a request respectively.

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, 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, with reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question HL15625 on Islamophobia, if he will place a copy of the Equalities Impact Assessment on the definition of anti-Muslim hostility in the Library.

In line with the Public Sector Equality Duty, Ministers considered equalities impacts as part of the advice provided to them ahead of the publication of the non‑statutory definition of anti‑Muslim hostility. That analysis forms part of internal policy advice to Ministers and was not produced for publication.

Communities and Local Government, when he plans to reply to the correspondence from the Rt hon. Member for Braintree of 18 February 2026.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt. Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to Question 117300, tabled on 3 March 2026.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt. Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to Question 107991, tabled on 23 January 2026.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt. Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Communities and Local Government, which organisations responded to the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/ Islamophobia Definition call for evidence.

The Working Group launched a Call for Evidence which closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence. The government does not routinely publish the details of individual respondents to calls for evidence.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2026, to Question 99537, on Ministers: Official Residences, who holds the registered legal title of the Ministerial residence of 1 Carlton Gardens, according to information held by the Land Registry.

As at 23rd April 2026 the publicly available Land Registry records (https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry) for the Ministerial Residence at 1 Carlton Gardens shows both a Freehold Title (NGL849040) and Leasehold Title (NGL943358). The Registered Owner of the Freehold Title is The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Right of His Crown, 1 St. James's Market, London SW1Y 4AH and the Registered Owner of the Leasehold is The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Estates Directorate, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH.The Crown Estate administer 1 Carlton Gardens on behalf of His Majesty and have granted a lease to The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for which the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office are responsible.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026, to Question 113631, on West Yorkshire Combined Authority: Lexington Communications, and of 12 March 2026, to Question 117739, on Local Government: Lobbying, if the departmental Accounting Officer will undertake an assessment of whether departmental funding to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is being spent in a manner which is compliant with HM Treasury guidance of Managing Public Money by hiring a lobbying firm to lobby the government.

MHCLG is not aware of West Yorkshire Combined Authority breaching any grant conditions in relation to funds it provides. Mayoral Strategic Authorities are expected to follow the existing principles and processes described in the English Devolution Accountability Framework and Scrutiny Protocol, which sets out how Mayors will be held to account by central government, at local level and by the public. This includes a duty to ensure value for money.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his department's press release of 22 March 2026 entitled Seven new towns proposed to kickstart housebuilding push, whether the (a) chair of the National Housing Bank and (b) four interim advisers are (i) civil servants, (ii) regulated public appointments, (iii) special advisers or (iv) direct ministerial appointments; what their remuneration is; and whether they have made declarations of political activity.

The role of National Housing Bank Chair is not a civil servant, regulated public appointment, special adviser, or a direct ministerial appointment.The Chair is a non-executive director on the Board of Homes England and was appointed by that Agency, with the approval of the Secretary of State through a regulated public appointment.The Chair’s remuneration is currently £60,000 per annum inclusive of their role on both the Board of Homes England and the National Housing Bank.A declaration of interest was made by the Chair during their appointment to the Homes England Board. No declarations of political activity have been made.The four interim advisers supporting the New Towns programme are independent advisers, engaged on a time limited basis through the Public Sector Resourcing (PSR) framework to provide specialist advice, challenge, and engagement support to the programme.The roles are not civil servants, regulated public appointments, special advisers, or direct ministerial appointments.The advisers are remunerated at a rate of £135 per hour and have been appointed for a fixed period of up to nine months.As these advisers are not regulated public appointees or special advisers, they are not required to make formal declarations of political activity, and therefore such declarations are not held by the Department.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 107992, on Lichfields, whether their work was awarded by open competition, or via direct award.

The contract in question was awarded directly following failed competitions. This information was published within the contract award notice which can be found on gov.uk here.