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 1,021–1,040 of 1,474 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's website entitled Make things right, published in October 2025, what was the cost to the public purse of the translation into six languages; and on what basis were those languages chosen.
The cost of translations for the Make Things Right campaign website was £1,081.20. Translations were made of the languages social housing tenants who have English as a second language are most likely to speak.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2025 to Question 76268 on MHCLG: Travel, how much was spent in each of the last six months.
Spend on ministerial travel in taxis and private hire vehicles between June and November 2025 is listed below:June 2025 £4,443.03July 2025 £3,610.92August 2025 £1,885.79September 2025 £1,861.51October 2025 £114.44November 2025 £746.16
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61182 on Litter: Codes of Practice, whether guidance has been given to local authorities on issuing fines under the Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for pouring liquids down a municipal drain.
Guidance to councils on the use of their fixed penalty powers for littering and related offences is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-on-litter-and-refuse. The Government recently published a Pride in Place Strategy in which we committed to putting this guidance on a statutory footing and bringing forward equivalent enforcement guidance for fly-tipping. Fly-tipping is an offence under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61182 on Litter: Codes of Practice, and with reference to paragraphs 78 and 79 of the Pride in Place strategy, published on 25 September 2025, whether her Department intends to respond to the consultation; and whether the proposed measures in the previous consultation to stop the abuse of litter fines for profit will now be implemented.
The consultation on statutory littering enforcement guidance was carried out under the previous Government. In the Pride in Place strategy, we have committed to publishing such guidance and intend do so early next year. Councils will remain responsible for their enforcement activity but will have a duty to have regard to the guidance once it comes into force.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84635 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, if he will list each organisation that the Government discussed the Supplementary Vote with prior to the introduction of the Bill.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government engaged with a wide range of local stakeholders during the development of all the measures in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We engaged with local stakeholders on all the measures in the Bill ahead of the Bill’s introduction, including the Supplementary Vote change.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the incidence of unauthorised travellers frustrating Temporary Stop Notices by subdividing land into multiple plots.
My Department has not made a specific estimate of the incidence of unauthorised travellers frustrating Temporary Stop Notices by subdividing land into multiple plots.
Communities and Local Government, what are the internal areas within the proposed Chinese Embassy that would be exempt from UK inspection and verification.
All material planning considerations, including national and international law, will be taken into account in reaching a decision on this case. The full reasons for the decision will be set out in the final decision letter.
Communities and Local Government, which types of asylum seekers accommodation provided under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are subject to (a) council tax and (b) business rates; and what exemptions exist.
All properties are generally liable for either council tax or business rates. Whether a property is assessed for council tax or business rates will depend on whether it is assessed being primarily domestic (council tax) or non-domestic (business rates). There is no mandatory exemption in the council tax system for dwellings which are used for asylum purposes. To the extent that any asylum seekers accommodation is in a non-domestic use, no specific exemption is provided from business rates for such purposes.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78283 on Councillors: Misconduct, and with reference to the Cabinet Office consultation principles, for what reason the Government has not yet published its response to the December 2024 consultation.
The Government response to the Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England consultation was published on 11 November.
Communities and Local Government, what is his Department’s policy on commissioning publicity material in foreign languages aimed at individuals who permanently reside in the UK.
The department does not have a specific policy on commissioning publicity material in foreign languages. The department provides published content in additional languages where appropriate and on a case-by-case basis.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84643 on Infrastructure: Planning Permission, if he will publish a list of planning applications that have been submitted in this Parliament but not yet had a decision by (a) name of the project, (b) local authority, (c) application date and (d) target date for a decision.
Data on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, including details such as project name, location, application date, and target decision date, is published and regularly updated on the Planning Inspectorate’s website here.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84636 on Eden Project: Morecombe, if he will publish the Memorandum of Understanding; and what proportion of the £50 million of funding is conditional on matched funding.
We have no plans to publish the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 19th November 2024 as the project information is published by the local authority responsible for the project. Available on gov.uk here.The grant funding provided to the project is not conditional on match funding; however, the Local Authority is responsible for securing the additional funds required to deliver the benefits for which the funding was granted.
Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the submission for a May 2026 election pilot from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets; and whether the Best Value Envoys were consulted on or have reviewed that application.
We are currently reviewing applications from local authorities wishing to pilot at the May 2026 elections and we will share further details in due course. An application from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is not being considered.
With reference to the HMRC guidance, Local authorities and similar bodies (VAT Notice 749), whether local authorities will be able to recover VAT on private hire for school transport.
Local authorities have a duty to provide free transport from home to school, in certain circumstances. This is a non-business activity for VAT and where a local authority purchases the services of private hire companies in order to fulfil their statutory obligations, the VAT can be recovered under the section 33 refund scheme for local authorities.However, if a VAT-registered local authority is charging for transport services, and VAT is due on the fee, that is a taxable business activity. In these circumstances, the local authority can reclaim the VAT on its costs as input tax, under the normal rules.Guidance on when a local authority’s activities are regarded as non-business for VAT purposes is covered in section 2 of VAT Notice 749, which is available on GOV.UK. Section 4 of the Notice provides guidance on the section 33 refund scheme.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83285 on Private Rented Housing: Energy, whether he plans to provide guidance to (a) renters, (b) landlords and (c) tribunals on whether landlords recouping upfront costs of energy efficiency measures may be a legitimate material consideration in determining the market rent for the purposes of a rent tribunal.
Once Part 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, tenants will have the right to apply to the First-tier Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’) to challenge a proposed rent increase.Where a tenant chooses to do so, the Tribunal will determine the open market rent. This is the rent that the landlord could expect to receive for the property, if they were to let it on the open market the next day.The Tribunal has experts who are experienced in understanding the different factors which result in the open market rent and determining whether a proposed rent is reflective of this.Section 14 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the factors that must be considered or disregarded by the Tribunal when determining rents. It would not be appropriate to provide guidance beyond this to the Tribunal as to how the legislation should be interpreted, as this is a matter for the judiciary.When considering the proposed rent, the Tribunal must look at the rent the property could command on the open market, rather than costs borne by the landlord. However, the open market rent of the property could be affected by the condition of the property, among other factors. It will be for the Tribunal to make a determination in each case.We will publish guidance for landlords and tenants before Part 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78178 on City of London Corporation, for what reason the City of London will continue to operate under a committee-based system of governance.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision to amend the Local Government Act 2000, which sets out the permissible governance arrangements for local authorities in England.Arrangements for the discharge of local authority functions by City of London Corporation are enabled separately by the Local Government Act 1972. Given the broader range of public and private functions for which the City of London Corporation is responsible, the Government has no current plans to amend these arrangements.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what discussions his Department has had with councils in Surrey on establishing charter trustees.
The Government believes the historic identity, rights and privileges of cities and counties in England are important and should be safeguarded and celebrated. There have been no specific discussions on this matter with councils in Surrey to date, but we have confirmed that we will work together on the further legislation that we expect will be needed to cover matters such as ceremonial issues.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what estimate his Department has made of the upfront costs to (a) local government and (b) central Government of the restructuring.
I refer the Rt. hon Member to the answer given to UIN: 85785 on 4 November 2025. Exact costs and savings will vary depending on the area and the final decisions on which proposals, if any, are implemented.
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 81790 on Democracy, what her Department's budget is for direct engagement with (a) civil society groups and (b) young people; and which organisations her Department has met.
There is no single budget ring-fenced for direct engagement with (a) civil society groups and (b) young people within the Attorney General's Office as a department. Ministers and officials meet with many civil society groups and young people as you would expect, in line with workstream priorities, and these are declared and publicised in the normal way. For example, the Attorney General was pleased to attend a recent event at Cumberland Lodge to engage with young people learning about human rights and looks forward to undertaking a series of school visits in due course.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2025, to Question 81310, on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, if he will make it his policy to publish all online written representations to planning applications for Special Development Orders.
Special Development Orders are a long-established part of the planning system, and each case is considered on its individual merits. In July 2025, my Department set out how it intends to inform the public of its decision on a request for planning permission for an Entertainment Resort Complex and associated development in Bedford. There is no statutory requirement to publish representations received in relation to Special Development Orders and the government has no plans to change this.