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 941–960 of 1,474 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department holds information on the number of employees in the Local Government Pension Scheme who make use of salary sacrifice arrangements.
The Local Government Pension Scheme is locally administered and the Department does not hold this data.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the trends in the number of unauthorised developments on land (a) owned by travellers and (b) not owned by travellers since July 2024.
It is for local planning authorities to determine whether to enforce against unauthorised development and to keep records of their enforcement activities. The government does not collect granular data on unauthorised development by type. We have published guidance on various planning enforcement matters, including Temporary Stop Notices, and this is available on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, whether he has a policy on the naming of new roads in housing developments supported by (a) Homes England's and (b) his Department’s housing schemes.
Street names are a local matter and are formally determined by the local authority for the area. Geoplace, an organisation created by local authorities and the Ordnance Survey, publishes guidance on how to go about naming new roads and streets.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 86231 on Local Government: Reorganisation, what his Department’s policy is on engaging with lobbying firms hired by local authorities to make representations on local government restructuring.
The Government and the Department policy is that any contact between civil servants and lobbyists should be conducted in accordance with the Civil Service Code and the principles of public life set out by the Nolan Committee.
Communities and Local Government, for what reason the Right to Shared Ownership has been disapplied to rented homes funded by the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026 to 2036.
The Right to Shared Ownership, uptake of which has been very low, has been removed as a contractual condition of funding from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-36 to protect much needed social and affordable housing stock and to increase certainty for social landlords in respect of long-term rental income.At their discretion, landlords will still be able to offer tenants the opportunity to purchase their home via Shared Ownership.This change does not impact tenants already living in homes funded by the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme, who will still be able to access the Right to Shared Ownership in their current properties.
Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of trends in the level of unauthorised traveller sites undertaking development on (a) weekends and (b) bank holidays to avoid Temporary Stop Notices; and if he will allow those notices to be (i) issued and (ii) enforced after that development.
It is for local planning authorities to determine whether to enforce against unauthorised development and to keep records of their enforcement activities. The government does not collect granular data on unauthorised development by type. We have published guidance on various planning enforcement matters, including Temporary Stop Notices, and this is available on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 86648 on Absent Voting: British Nationals Abroad, what steps his Department is taking to help support overseas electors in Australia.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to UIN 86648 on Absent Voting: British Nationals Abroad, the Government is clear that all legitimate electors should be able and encouraged to participate in democracy. This includes overseas electors, who should be able to exercise their vote without unnecessary barriers. The Electoral Commission is responsible for raising awareness to facilitate democratic participation. The EC also undertakes communication campaigns to engage with citizens and promote awareness of, for example, how to register to vote.As set out in the policy paper, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections published on 17 July 2025, the Government will introduce a package of measures intended to improve the resilience and capacity of the postal voting system overall. These measures include moving the postal vote application deadline three working days earlier in time. The deadline for candidate nominations will also be moved earlier in time in order to allow Returning Officers more time to proof the ballot papers for printers, giving more time for the next part of the process to get underway, and in particular to enable postal ballot papers to be printed and issued to postal voters at an earlier point.These changes will benefit all administrators and voters, including those living overseas.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85786 on Community Development: Finance, how much funding he plans to provide to each council.
The funding of councils through the Community Cohesion Resilience Programme is set out in my response to UIN 87321.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation outcome entitled Greater Essex devolution consultation, updated on 17 July 2025, how much funding his Department has allocated to the Mayoral Combined County Authority Investment Fund.
As specified in the English Devolution White Paper, the 30-year investment fund remains a core part of the offer to Devolution Priority Programme areas, who will receive this funding on their creation. An announcement on funding for Greater Essex and the other Devolution Priority Programme areas will be made in due course. New Strategic Authorities will also continue to receive Mayoral Capacity Funding to kickstart their organisations. As stated in the White Paper, we intend on standardising funding for new institutions to increase transparency and fairness.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85795 on MHCLG: Glenigan, what planning metrics are provided to his Department by Glenigan.
Glenigan provide data on residential development sites and planning applications. Data fields include site dimensions, date application submitted, date application decided, decision outcome, number of proposed units, application type, site location, and planning authority, among other details. My Department also receive a calculated metric on the number of homes granted planning permission at detailed and reserved matters stage each quarter. This is published in My Department’s quarterly planning applications statistics release.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85794 on Shops: Planning Permission, whether powers to block unwanted shops would apply to shops that are not otherwise long-term empty.
The Government is introducing a number of powers to block unwanted shops that are not otherwise long-term empty. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will provide powers for ministers to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products to support legitimate businesses. The scheme will be subject to consultation by the Department of Health and Social Care before regulations are introduced. Furthermore, we will introduce Cumulative Impact Assessments in gambling licensing, when parliamentary time allows. This will give councils greater control over the number of gambling outlets in their areas, helping to ensure a healthy mix of premises on their high streets. Wider powers, such as streamlined compulsory purchase orders and community right to buy, will support local control and curation of high streets.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85784 on Local Government Finance, which local authorities have submitted disposal flexibility requests and had them 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 set out in the general direction and guidance, local authorities intending to use the discretionary freedoms must provide the government with details of their planned use of the flexibility. This is to make sure that the government is adequately sighted on the use of the flexibility and can monitor how it is used. Government does not, however, approve the plans or any specific use of the flexibility. Local authorities remain responsible for appropriately complying with the direction and guidance, and ensuring their decisions are in the best interests of local residents. Government does not publish details of the plans submitted by local authorities, but authorities should, in accordance with the guidance that accompanies the direction, make their strategies publicly available, and use of the flexibility should be reported in the annual statement of accounts. The table below illustrates the total number of local authorities who submitted their strategies under the direction for the last three financial years: 2023-242024-252025-26738960
Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 85948 on Immigration: English Language, whether the English language requirements would apply to asylum seekers.
The English language requirements will not apply to asylum seekers. As a signatory to the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), we are legally obliged to consider all asylum claims admitted to the UK asylum system and to consider people’s human rights in all circumstances where a person would be removed from the UK. This is irrespective of a person’s ability to speak English, and it ensures that we do not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they would face persecution or serious harm. Every asylum claim admitted to the UK asylum system is carefully considered on its individual merits. Protection is normally granted where a claimant has a well-founded fear of persecution under the Refugee Convention, or a claimant faces a real risk of serious harm. Those found not to need protection are refused. Once appeal rights are exhausted, they are expected to leave the UK. Otherwise, they will be liable for enforcement action and removal. English language proficiency is a requirement across a range of other immigration routes. Full details, including the list of routes and acceptable evidence, is available in the official guidance on Assessing the English Language requirement (accessible version) - GOV.UK.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written evidence submitted by the Home Office to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry on the Home Office's management of asylum accommodation, AAC0141, HC 580, which local authorities are participating in pilots relating to the Accommodation Strategy.
This Government is committed to ending the use of asylum hotels. To support that goal, we are investing £500 million in a new, more sustainable asylum accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This will help make available basic alternative accommodation so that it can be used on a temporary basis to house asylum seekers waiting for their cases to be processed. Our ambition is that this investment will leave a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduce pressure on local housing markets. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels. MHCLG and the Home Office are working closely with councils and devolved partners to co-design this approach. Funding allocations to local authorities are yet to be finalised and will be confirmed in due course.
Communities and Local Government, which local authorities are participating in asylum seeking housing pilots; and how much funding has been allocated to those pilots.
This Government is committed to ending the use of asylum hotels. To support that goal, we are investing £500 million in a new, more sustainable asylum accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This will help make available basic alternative accommodation so that it can be used on a temporary basis to house asylum seekers waiting for their cases to be processed. Our ambition is that this investment will leave a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduce pressure on local housing markets. This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels. MHCLG and the Home Office are working closely with councils and devolved partners to co-design this approach. Funding allocations to local authorities are yet to be finalised and will be confirmed in due course.
Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of recommendation four of the Licensing policy sprint: joint industry and HM government taskforce report, published on 31 July 2025, on the newspaper industry.
Following the Licensing taskforce report, the Government published a Call for Evidence on reforming the licensing system on 7 October, which closed on 6 November. The Call for Evidence invited views on the impact of licensing reforms, including in relation to Recommendation 4 of the taskforce on ending the requirement for printed statutory notices in local newspapers for alcohol licences. The reforms collectively aim to create a modern, proportionate, and enabling system that supports economic growth, revitalises high streets and fosters vibrant communities.More broadly, the Government is concerned about the sustainability of local journalism and DCMS is developing a Local Media Strategy, in recognition of the importance of this vital sector. We also recognise that local press continues to play a central role in informing local communities, and that statutory notices can be important in helping inform the public of decisions made by their council which may affect their quality of life, local services or amenities, or their property.Additionally, the sector’s Public Notice Portal is a welcome innovation, taking advantage of print publishers’ growing digital audiences and providing a centralised resource for all types of public notice. We also welcome the Portal's current expansion to include archive and consultation functions to help public bodies and commercial entities engage with the public more effectively.DCMS is monitoring the progress of the Portal, and the effect that it has on the audience reach of public notices. This type of industry innovation and collaboration is integral to securing the sector’s future. It will be taken into account in our planned review of statutory notices as part of the Local Media Strategy, which will more broadly consider the merits of making changes to existing requirements to place statutory notices in print local newspapers, including the impact this has on local transparency and the newspaper industry, including in Hertfordshire. The review will also take forward final decisions on the future of alcohol licence notices. More will be announced on the Strategy and the review in due course.
Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2025 to Question 71483 on MHCLG: Government Art Collection, if she will provide this information.
The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75606 on Community Development: English Language, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing English language support in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
The information on actual spend is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.
What estimate she has made of the number of (a) shops, (b) sports stadiums, (c) film studios and (d) airports that would be liable for the surcharge on Rateable Values above £500,000.
As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026/27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government is sustainably funding this by introducing a higher multiplier on properties with RVs of £500,000 and above.The Valuation Office Agency has published data on the number of properties with current RVs of £500,000 or above.Every three years, all non-domestic properties are revalued. The next revaluation will take effect on 1 April 2026. This may affect which properties are in scope of the new higher multiplier. Further detail will be published at the Budget.
Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance has her Department been to local highways authorities on the use of pesticides to ensure that pavements are safe and accessible for pedestrians.
There is a legal requirement to minimise the use of pesticides along roads and in areas used by the public. It is for each Local Authority to decide the best way of delivering cost-effective weed control in its operations while protecting people and the environment.