Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 85168 on Council tax, whether he holds estimates for the change in precepts not in scope of his Department’s core spending power figures.

The level of Core Spending Power attributable to council tax for each local authority is available here. Explanations on how council tax and associated referendum principles are calculated as part of core spending power is set out here.At the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement the government set out the planned approach on council tax principles for authorities, including the approach for authorities not subject to referendum principles. This is available here.

What estimate she has made of the marginal increase in business rates liability for a retail, hospitality and leisure hereditament moving from £500,000 to £501,000 Rateable Value under the new 2026-27 business rate system.

In order to sustainably fund the permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000, the Government is introducing a higher tax rate for properties with RVs of £500,000 and above.At the Budget, the Valuation Office Agency announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties.While RVs have increased, the tax rates have decreased, so that all ratepayers, including those on the new high-value multiplier, will pay a lower tax rate than they do now. The Government appreciates that a lower tax rate does not necessarily mean a lower bill for everyone, which is why the Government has introduced a generous support package worth £4.3 billion over the next 3 years to help ratepayers to transition to their new bills.As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down.The ‘Business Rates and Investment: Call for Evidence’, published at Budget, builds on the findings of the Transforming Business Rates: Discussion Paper and asks stakeholders for more detailed evidence on how the business rates system influences investment decisions, including the impact of a ‘slab’ based structure where a higher multiplier applies to the entire RV once a threshold is crossed. The government believes there may be merit in moving to a ‘slice’ system for business rates, where the RV is split into slices (or brackets, bands) and each portion is taxed at its own, different rate.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 4 December 2025, HCWS1128, on Devolution Priority Programme, how much funding in each of the combined authorities in the devolution priority areas that was originally scheduled for (a) 2026-27 and (b) 2027-28 will be delayed as a consequence of the postponement of the 2026 mayoral elections.

We remain committed to the long-term funding offer announced on 4 December, confirming that once mayors are in post, the six mayoral strategic authorities on the Devolution Priority Programme will receive close to £200 million collectively per year for 30 years through their investment funds. Government will provide each area with a proportion of their investment funds to ensure they can start delivering on key local priorities and deliver the benefits of devolution on the ground, ahead of the mayors taking office. The new mayoral strategic authorities will also be supported to build core capacity to ensure they can deliver for local people. All six areas will receive £3 million each as a minimum flat payment over the next three financial years, in addition to an initial payment of £1 million each when the statutory instruments are laid in Parliament, to help with the costs of establishing the new authorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether the calculation of transitional relief for business rates is based on bills before the application of transitional relief in a previous revaluation cycle.

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 he plans to bring Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Government has no plans bring Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department receives and collates Infrastructure Funding Statements by local authorities.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 90718 on 21 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions the Government has had with the EU on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Under the terms of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK meets annually with the European Commission through the Level Playing Field Trade Specialised Committee to discuss the implementation of the Level Playing Field chapter within which Article 391 (non-regression from levels of environmental protection) sits. Last year’s meeting of the Trade Specialised Committee was held on 15 October. The Trade Partnership Committee also met on the 4 December 2025 under the EU-UK TCA. At both meetings, the UK provided an overview of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (now Act) and both parties agreed to ongoing engagement following Royal Assent, where the focus will shift to the implementation of the measures.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 18 November 2025, HCWS1062, on Next phase of planning reform, whether the land near train stations would (a) have Green Belt disapplied, (b) be treated as Grey Belt and (c) be treated as brownfield land in the Green Belt.

The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, sets out how different proposed policies would apply to land around stations, including those that are defined as well-connected and those that are within and outside of settlements. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 18 November 2025, HCWS1062, on Next phase of planning reform, what the geographical distance is around a train station that the policy would apply to; and whether the definition includes (a) Trams, (b) light-rail, (c) Metros and (d) the London Underground.

The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, sets out how different proposed policies would apply to land around stations, including those that are defined as well-connected and those that are within and outside of settlements. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what consultation the New Homes Taskforce has undertaken on the proposed Adlington New Town.

No such Taskforce exists.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 11 November 2025, on the Social and Affordable Housing Programme, whether the scheme will support the provision of housing to asylum seekers.

The Social and Affordable Homes Programme will not be used to provide accommodation for asylum seekers.

Whether she has a policy on naming organisations (a) regarded as extremist and (b) subject to non-engagement.

The Home Office cannot comment on specific groups or individual cases.This Government takes the threat from extremism very seriously. As a society we must not permit those that radicalise others into violence and terrorism to act with impunity. The Government is committed to tackling those who spread views that promote violence and hatred against individuals and communities in our society, and that radicalise others into terrorismEach department must consider their own due diligence when choosing to engage with any organisation or individual.

Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for the Islamophobia definition review to be published.

The group have now provided their advice to Ministers who are rightly taking the time to review and consider the advice carefully before confirming next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance on charging travellers for using transit sites for caravans.

The Department has not issued guidance on charging travellers for using transit sites for caravans. This would be a decision for the local authority to make.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 4 December 2025, HCWS1128, on Devolution Priority Programme, whether delays to scheduled combined authority mayoral elections will impact the implementation of the overnight visitors levy.

The government will set out its legislative priorities for the second session in the King's speech. We expect that local leaders will be able to introduce a levy before the end of this Parliament. It will be for Mayors, once elected, to decide whether a visitor levy is right for their area.The government intends to establish Mayoral Strategic Authorities in all the Devolution Priority Programme areas as soon as possible, to ensure sufficient time for meaningful preparatory work and continue to build local collaboration. We will work closely with each Devolution Priority Programme area to ensure they can start delivering on key local priorities and deliver the benefits of devolution on the ground ahead of the mayors taking office.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2025, to Question 46110, on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, whether he plans to request further support from military personnel in relation to this strike.

Currently, there is no build-up of waste in Birmingham and collection rates remain consistently high. A small number of office-based military personnel with logistical expertise were made available to the Council when it was dealing with a Major Incident earlier in the year but they returned to normal duties after a short period. We are in close contact with Commissioners and the Council as we continue to monitor the situation. The government’s priority is Birmingham’s residents, and we will continue to support the Council to keep streets clean during any disputes.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement on 19 November 2025, HCWS1071, on Local Government Reorganisation, by when legislation is needed to cancel local elections that were scheduled to take place in May 2026.

As set out in my statement of 18 December, councils are in the best position to judge their local capacity and the impact of potential postponements of local elections in their area. In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government will listen to them.We have therefore written to council leaders in the councils going through reorganisation with elections scheduled for May 2026, inviting them to set out their views by 15 January.If any legislation is required, it will be brought forward as soon as possible.

Communities and Local Government, what data his Department collates on instances of electoral fraud.

Data on allegations and outcomes of electoral fraud is collected by police forces across the UK and provided to the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission then publishes this information annually on its website. The Government continues to work closely with the Electoral Commission, the police and other partners to safeguard the integrity of elections and maintain public confidence in the democratic process.

Communities and Local Government, further to the press release of 25 November 2025, Levy on overnight trips will help mayors invest in local growth, on what date mayors were informed of that policy.

The government received representations from Mayors for a new visitor levy power earlier this year. Following consideration of these representations, Mayors were informed of the policy on 25 November.

Communities and Local Government, what his Department's timetable is for consulting political parties on measures to be included in the Elections Bill.

An Elections Bill will be introduced when parliamentary time allows. The Government will continue to work in partnership with key stakeholders to help ensure that proposed changes address the priorities of the sector. We have begun engagement with political parties on the detail of the proposals and will continue to do so in advance of introduction.