Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter from the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness to council leaders on the local government publicity code, dated 19 November 2025, whether local authorities may fund public affairs consultants and public relations firms for statutory consultations on unitary local government restructuring.

The Publicity Code provision at paragraph 26 under the heading of the “appropriate use of publicity” principle states local authorities should not incur any expenditure in retaining the services of lobbyists for the purpose of the publication of any material designed to influence public officials, Members of Parliament, political parties or the government to take a particular view on any issue.

Whether the council tax bands, banding thresholds and multipliers for the new council tax surcharge will be set in (a) primary or (b) secondary legislation.

The government expects that the implementation of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) will require both primary and secondary legislation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2025, to Question 90719, on Local Government Finance, further to the figures listed for 2024-25 and 2025-26, which local authorities have had disposal flexibility requests approved since 4 July 2024.

The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts general direction was introduced in 2016 by the previous government and remains substantively unchanged. As in previous years, the government does not approve specific use of the flexibility.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation response entitled Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England – consultation results and government response, of 11 November 2025, whether the mandatory code of conduct will extend to conduct in a personal capacity.

The mandatory code the government intends to introduce as part of the full reform of the local government standards and conduct framework will ensure that every elected member in England is clear what standard of conduct and behaviour is demanded of them in all aspects of their public office.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2025, to Question 87785, on Planning Permission: Applications, whether (a) supporters and (b) objectors to a planning application proposed by a (i) called-in planning application and (ii) Special Development Order have access to the other representations made before the decision notice by the Secretary of State is published.

Post-inquiry representations are listed in the decision letter issued for any called-in planning application and are available on request after the decision is published. There is no statutory requirement to publish representations received in relation to Special Development Orders.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025, to Question 87319, and to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58975 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Remote Working, whether his Department holds data on levels of workforce attendance in each of those offices.

The Department regularly monitors Office Attendance for its employees and is able to assess utilisation of available capacity in its offices.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2025 to Question HL11495 on Housing: Construction, whether the net additional dwellings metric will include communal accommodation.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 78186 on 20 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral answer of 24 November 2025, Official Report, on Social and Affordable Housing: South Shields, to the Hon Member for Orpington, what the value of that grant is in each year of this Parliament in real terms expressed in 2024 figures.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60128 on 4 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2025 to Question 87323 on Affordable Housing: Expenditure, how much has been budgeted for the affordable housing programme in 2025-26.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 60128 on 4 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has received representations from (a) the Welsh Government and (b) members of the Welsh Senedd over the use of the Internal Market Act 2020 to deliver the Pride in Place programme.

I recently wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government in the Welsh Government to express my commitment to greater collaboration between the UK and Welsh Governments on areas of shared interest.In Wales, we have set out the requirement for Pride in Place Neighbourhood Boards to consider how their plans align with the objectives of the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government, the Well-being of Future Generations Act, the Transforming Towns programme, and the Future Wales: National Plan 2040 planning framework, as well as other relevant strategies. We believe the close collaboration within communities and across government will make these neighbourhood boards stronger and more effective.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the (a) planning application success rate and (b) the number of planning appeals being considered by the Planning Inspectorate relating to mansard extensions since the changes in national policy in 2023.

My Department does not collect data on planning applications or planning appeals relating specifically to mansard roof extensions.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 87327 on National Identity, whether he is taking steps to promote (a) Britishness and (b) Englishness.

MHCLG is co-ordinating cross-Government efforts to consider a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion. The Prime Minister has made clear that he is proud of our flag, which represents our history, our heritage, and our values; it is a great symbol of our nation and should not be devalued and belittled. Flags should be an embodiment of bringing our country and our communities together. Where flags or other materials are fly posted without permission, councils have powers to remove unauthorised advertisements. In addition, where there is evidence of threatening or intimidating behaviour, such incidents should be reported to the police. We should reclaim the flag from those who want to use it to cause conflict: it belongs to all of us, and we should be proud of it.

With reference to the Government's plan to absorb the cost of SEND provision from 2028-29 within the Department for Education Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit, whether it is her Department's policy for local government to absorb the estimated historic £14 billion of Dedicated Schools Grant deficits.

To deliver these reforms, the department is putting more money into the education system, with £7 billion more being spent on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support compared to 2025/26. The department’s budgets will increase above previously planned funding at Autumn Budget 2025 by £3.5 billion in 2028/29 to support investment in the SEND system. In every year of this parliament, core funding for schools and SEND is expected to increase, subject to future Spending Reviews. As we invest in the system, we will update the SEND Code of Practice and legal requirements for support to be provided in all mainstream education settings from early years to post-16, thereby strengthening the law to make sure children and young people receive the help and support they need.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing income tax on income from rental property on the level of private sector rents.

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility does not expect that the reform to property income tax will have a significant impact on rental prices.

Whether the introduction of the overnight visitors levy will be a (i) material consideration and (ii) national change in circumstances in the valuation of hereditaments for business rates.

The government has published a consultation running until 18 February, so that the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy that will be devolved to local leaders. The precise design and scope of the levy is therefore still under development.The introduction of the visitor levy will not constitute a material change of circumstances. It may be taken into account when setting property values for future revaluations, however this will depend on the final design which is subject to consultation and subsequent legislation.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to publish a plain English guide to transitional relief and supporting small business relief.

Support for those facing increases in business rates bills at the 2026 revaluation is provided by the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.Transitional Relief is calculated from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill before all other reliefs. However, the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme calculates support from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill including eligible reliefs. For the 2026 scheme, those ratepayers losing some or all of their Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2025/26 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief, or 2023 Supporting Small Business Rate Relief will be eligible for the 2026 Supporting Small Business Scheme.The statutory instrument to take forward the 2026 Transitional Relief scheme was laid on 15 December 2025. The Department issued the guidance for local authorities to implement the 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme on 15 December. The Treasury has also published a factsheet, Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Factsheet, which includes case studies and example rates bills.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department advises councils to undertake an economic or housing market impact assessment prior to implementing (a) empty or (b) second home premiums on council tax.

The government does not prescribe any specific impact assessments that should be undertaken when councils decide to charge council tax premiums. However, we have published guidance setting out some of the steps they should take. This includes making an assessment of impacts on the local population, its communities, and the local economy. Councils are required to have regard to this guidance, which is available here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 87 of the policy document entitled Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29, of 20 November 2025, what the maximum council tax percentage threshold is that his Department will except; and whether councils will be allowed to set a threshold above 5% over multiple years.

This week the government published the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, which restated our commitment to review requests for additional flex. This aligns with precedent set by the previous government and is in recognition of the extremely difficult financial situation that many councils are facing.We have not set out a maximum percentage threshold for each year, or set out limits on whether councils can request flexibility over multiple years. We encourage councils to provide this information when making requests to the Department, with detail on their financial position over multiple years.It is for local authorities to decide the level of council tax they wish to request and set. This will reflect the service needs of each area having taken account of their other sources of income. The government is clear that in doing so, they should put taxpayers first.Fairness for taxpayers is at the heart of this government’s decision making. We will not accept requests for additional flexibility where this would result in taxpayers paying bills above the average. For the vast majority of councils, the government intends to maintain a core referendum threshold of 3%, and a 2% adult social care precept over the multi-year Settlement.

Communities and Local Government, which local authorities have notional council tax below £2,000 on Band D in 2025-26; and what the value of the notional Band D figure is in each case including the assumptions made on the uniform split in two-tier areas.

As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0’s reforms, the government will better enable all local authorities to provide the same level of service to their residents by equalising for local authorities’ differing abilities to raise income from council tax.This includes accounting for the tax base in a local area, not the level of council tax set by each council – this is the same approach proposed by the previous government. The strength of the tax base comes from the number of homes in an area and the 1991 value of those homes. It is not generally a function of local government decision making.As confirmed in the response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0, within the resources adjustment the government will set the notional council tax level at the national average.The response also confirmed the government will split or allocate the resource adjustment in multi-tier areas by uniformly applying the average tier split. More detail can be found in the Technical Annex on the Resources Adjustment (measure of tax base).

Communities and Local Government, whether the Base Liability for business rate transitional relief calculations from which the transitional cap applies in 2026/27 is based on the 2025-26 bill (a) after or (b) before the 40% Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief was applied.

Support for those facing increases in business rates bills at the 2026 revaluation is provided by the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.Transitional Relief is calculated from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill before all other reliefs. However, the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme calculates support from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill including eligible reliefs. For the 2026 scheme, those ratepayers losing some or all of their Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2025/26 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief, or 2023 Supporting Small Business Rate Relief will be eligible for the 2026 Supporting Small Business Scheme.The statutory instrument to take forward the 2026 Transitional Relief scheme was laid on 15 December 2025. The Department issued the guidance for local authorities to implement the 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme on 15 December. The Treasury has also published a factsheet, Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Factsheet, which includes case studies and example rates bills.