Written questions by Cleverly.

What his policy is on local (a) consent and (b) support for radioactive storage facilities.

The UK Government’s policy states that nuclear operators’ proposed programmes and plans for the management and disposal of radioactive waste should be developed by including wide stakeholder engagement. This should include local authorities and communities which may be impacted by the plans, including any host community in the vicinity of a waste treatment, storage or disposal facility. In addition, the UK Government’s policy to deliver a geological disposal facility (GDF) for our most hazardous radioactive waste requires the explicit consent of the potential host community through a Test of Public Support.

What assessment he has made of trends in the (a) level of use and (b) frequency of visits to food banks in the last 12 months.

Statistics on the level of food bank use in the UK are published annually in the Households Below Average Income statistics report. The most recent publication is available here: Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2024 - GOV.UK We are committed to tackling poverty and reducing reliance on emergency food parcels. To inform this work, DWP officials have engaged with a range of organisations to better understand the complex food support landscape. To further support households in immediate need, we have extended the Household Support Fund in England with £742 million until 31 March 2026, enabling local authorities to continue to provide vulnerable households with immediate crisis support towards the cost of essentials, such as energy, water and food. Starting from 1 April 2026, we have announced a further £842 million a year to reform crisis support with the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, supporting our wider mission to reduce child poverty by reducing dependence on food parcels, preventing homelessness and making sure people can access urgent support when they need it.

With reference to the press release entitled £10 million boost to protect Muslim communities, published on 23 October 2025, over how many financial years the funding will be allocated; and whether it will be subject to a bidding mechanism.

In 2025/26, £29.4 million is available through the Protective Security for Mosques scheme and for security at Muslim faith schools. In addition, up to £10 million of emergency funding has been made available for Muslim communities to further strengthen security measures at their places of worship and other community sites.This additional funding is available for financial year 2025/26 only.Mosques and associated Muslim community centres where regular worship takes place are eligible to apply for the scheme through the application form on gov.uk. The Protective Security for Mosques Scheme provides protective security measures such as security personnel services, CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing.

What assessment he has made of (a) trends in the level of (i) delays and (ii) backlogs in the Planning Court and (b) the implications for his policies of the time taken to enforce a temporary stop notice.

Temporary Stop Notice (TSN) is a planning enforcement tool available to local planning authorities to halt breaches of planning control on a temporary basis while they consider whether more substantive enforcement action is required.While the initial stages of Planning Court proceedings are generally within expected timeframes, delays persist at later stages, and substantive hearings continue to experience backlogs. The number of live cases has gradually increased over the past year.The time taken to enforce a temporary stop notice has implications for the effectiveness of planning enforcement policy. These notices are intended to provide swift intervention to prevent unauthorised development, but delays in judicial processes can weaken their deterrent effect and undermine confidence in the planning system. Prolonged enforcement proceedings may increase costs for local authorities and frustrate wider policy objectives on development control.The Government is working with HM Courts & Tribunals Service and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure enforcement tools remain robust and planning policy continues to operate effectively.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75606 on Community Development: English Language, what estimate he has made of the cost of providing English language support in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

The following table shows the cost of providing English language interpretation and translation services for the 2024/25 financial year and the 2025/26 financial year to date:Financial yearAmount2024/25£9,8342025/26£28,619

For what reason air to air reversible heat pumps do not qualify for the (a) Clean Heat Market Mechanism and (b) Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

The Clean Heat Market Mechanism is focused on developing the market and supply chain for upgrading homes with hydronic heat pumps – a core technology for the UK’s transition to cleaner heating since around 90% of UK homes have water-based central heating systems. The Government will keep the scope of the scheme under regular review. The Government has published a response to the consultation on proposed Boiler Upgrade Scheme changes, confirming grants of £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps in domestic properties, starting in 2026. This will increase consumer choice and support the UK’s transition towards low carbon heating systems.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will list each date on which (a) Ministers and (b) Officials have had a meeting with Greenpeace since 4 July 2024.

Ministers have met with Greenpeace and discussions continue at an official level.

What estimate has the Office for National Statistics made of the (a) cash terms and (b) percentage terms increase in private rent prices since July 2024 in (i) each local authority and (ii) England.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th November is attached.

If she will publish a list of the training videos produced by the Valuation Office Agency.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) produces a range of videos for publication on its YouTube channel, including information about working at the VOA, and guidance and information videos on Council Tax and Business Rates. Please see: www.youtube.com/@VOAgovuk.

Pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2025, to Question 86766, on Admiralty House: Council Tax, on what council tax (a) discounts, (b) premiums, (c) exemptions and (d) disregards, were applied to the Government’s council tax bill for the occupied Ministerial residence in Admiralty House (i) between November 2024 and March 2025 for the year 2024-25 and (ii) in March/April 2025, for the year 2025-26, according to records held by the Government Property Agency.

The second homes premium was applied to the council tax bill for the former Deputy Prime Minister’s residence at Admiralty House for 2025-2026. No other premiums, discounts, exemptions, or disregards were applied.

If she will publish the Valuation Office Agency’s training manual for the Automated Valuation Model.

Details on the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) Automated Valuation Model (AVM) including its development, testing and data are published here: More_information_on_mass_appraisal_and_AVM.pdfModel_specification_document.pdf

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency: July 2025 transparency data, published on 31 August, what the contracted out services to Eunoia Consulting Ltd costing £83,705.52 are.

I refer the rt hon Member to the response to UIN 66194.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to require Local Government Pension Scheme investments to not assist breaches of international law.

Local Government Pension Scheme administering authorities set the investment strategies for their funds, and must follow relevant legislation and guidance. Authorities are legally required to comply with UK sanctions, including restrictions on dealings with designated individuals, entities, and countries.

Communities and Local Government, whether councillors who sign up to the Local Government Pension Scheme will have it listed in the annual statement of payments to councillors.

Currently, the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 does not require local authorities to publish information relating to pension payments in the annual statement of payments to councillors. A consultation was launched on 13 October on providing access to the Local Government Pension Scheme to mayors and councillors and remains open until 22 December.

Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on Local Government Pension Scheme investments in fossil fuels.

Investment strategies for Local Government Pension Scheme funds are set by administering authorities, and must include how social, environmental and corporate governance considerations, such as the environmental impact of fossil fuels, are taken into account. Authorities must have regard to their fiduciary duty to scheme members and employers, must consider factors that are financially material to the performance of their investments when setting their investment strategy, and must follow relevant legislation and guidance.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 84928 on Local Government: Elections, if he will make it his policy to include political parties in the gateway.

I refer the Rt. hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 84928 on 3 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the empty homes council tax premium on financial incentives to councils to leave homes empty.

It is the government’s clear expectation that councils will take reasonable steps to bring empty homes in their area back into use. The premium is one of several levers councils have, to encourage owners of empty homes to bring them back into use. As we outlined in the English Devolution White Paper, we intend to strengthen the ability of councils to take over the management of empty homes. Further details will follow in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what the forecast cost was of retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

The forecast costs of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief for 2024-25 and 2025-26 is published on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for reviewing the legal framework on the protection of open spaces; and whether he plans to publish a (a) call for evidence and (b) consultation on this matter.

Open and green spaces are an essential part of local social infrastructure and must be protected for future generations. The current system of protections for public recreational green space is fractured and complex, and that is why government intend to review to clarify the current protections for public recreational green spaces. We intend to analyse the effectiveness and usability of those protections, to simplify the system, ensure consistency for developers and local authorities and empower communities to protect valued spaces. The government is committed to working at pace on this to ensure clarity is brought to the system. Details of the review will be announced in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the research and analysis entitled Electoral Resilience and Democratic Engagement Programme: Voter identification research, published on 3 November 2025, whether other research has been commissioned but is not published under that programme.

The research was conducted using the same criteria that was previously used for the research and evaluation for the Elections Act 2022. The researchers use industry standard methods which allows for the comparison of data across demographic groups. All research commissioned by the programme is published in line with the Government Social Research Publication Protocol.