Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on the access of journalists to council proceedings.

Transparency and openness should be fundamental to everything councils do. Under the Local Government Act 1972, all local authority meetings must be open to the public, including journalists, except in limited, defined circumstances. The most recent guidance remains the 2014 ‘Open and accountable local government: plain English guide’ that was designed to support members of the public, including journalists, accessing, recording, or reporting on local authority meetings and obtaining meeting documents.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77556 on Electoral Register, what user research he has commissioned; and from which organisations.

Pursuant to Answer of 13 October 2025 to UIN 77556, the Government continues to explore a range of options to improve electoral registration, with user research playing an important role in ensuring services are effective, inclusive, and meet the needs of the public.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of changing council tax into an annual property tax based on the capital value of the home.

The Chancellor makes tax policy decisions at fiscal events. The government remains committed to keeping all taxes and elements of the local government finance system under review. The government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the system and consider where there is clear evidence that change would deliver better outcomes for residents and councils alike.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of early voting pilots on turnout.

This Government is committed to improving participation in our democracy. To support this goal, as the world continues to evolve around us, we must continue to ensure our democratic processes keep pace with technology and the way in which people live their lives. The purpose of these pilots is to explore how to modernise the way polling stations operate by making voting more efficient, more convenient, and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors. The impacts of the pilot will be measured and evaluated by the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government and the Electoral Commission. The findings will be carefully considered and may inform future decisions on the delivery of elections.

Communities and Local Government, what the annual cost will be of the draft Local Government Pension Scheme (Fair Deal) Regulations 2026.

Some one-off costs to service providers and authorities are expected, relating to bringing a small number of workers providing local services under outsourced contracts into the Local Government Pension Scheme who are not currently members. These costs are expected to be offset over time by savings for service providers and authorities from improved risk-sharing arrangements, increased competition in the market, and simpler administration and actuarial funding arrangements.We will consider information on costs provided in response to the consultation launched on 13 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 73798 on Disinformation and Radicalism, if he will publish the most recent report from the National Community Tensions Scheme.

The reports provided by the National Community Tensions Team are not public and contain sensitive data and therefore cannot be published. This data gathered from this team forms part of the National Hate Crime statistics, which are made public.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77535 on Business Premises: Rents, what the names were of those (a) industry experts and (b) representatives of the retail, hospitality, and property sectors.

The government conducted considerable research and carried out engagement with numerous experts before deciding to ban upwards only rent reviews. A full Impact Assessment was published upon First Reading of the Bill on 10 July. It provides a summary of the economic analysis and research the government relied upon to reach the decision.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77627 on Eden Project: Morecambe, what the (a) £6.3 million and (b) £10.8 million will be spent on.

The £6.3 million and the £10.8 million referenced in the answer given to Question UIN 77627 is for the technical building / design work and site investigation works that will then lead to enabling and construction work on site. This is in line with the information provided by Lancashire City Council in their Q4 monitoring return, submitted 16 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2025, to Question 75442, on Housing: Portsmouth, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 on the Government's target to build 1.5 million houses by the end of this Parliament.

My Department has no current plans to undertake a specific assessment of the implications of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 on housing supply, but we continue to keep all policy under review as we progress toward our hugely ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in England in this Parliament. While it is the role of competent authorities to carry out an assessment under the Habitats Regulations to test whether a plan or project could adversely affect the designated features of a European site, the government is clear that the Habitats Regulations Assessment process should be applied appropriately and proportionately, with decisions based on the best available scientific evidence. We are working closely with stakeholders to improve the functioning of the Habitats Regulations. This includes acting on the recommendations of the Corry review and the Post-Implementation Review of the Habitats Regulations.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride, published on 24 September 2025, whether the funding will involve a bidding programme.

On 25 September, the government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, underpinned by two allocative funding programmes. The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. New areas have been selected using a robust metrics-based methodology, using Indices of Multiple Deprivation and the Community Needs Index. The full list of places and selection methodology is published here. The Pride in Place Impact Fund will provide £1.5 million of funding to a further 95 places over the next two years. Local Authorities will be responsible for the selection and delivery of projects. The full list of areas and place selection methodology is set out here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77635 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which organisations (a) supported and (b) did not support changing the electoral system to Supplementary Vote.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has engaged with a wide range of local government stakeholders during the development of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We engaged with both Mayors and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on changing the voting system for Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners back to the Supplementary Vote. As part of the usual parliamentary process, a range of stakeholders set out their views on the Bill to the Public Bill Committee, both via the Oral Evidence session on 16 September and in writing. The Government firmly believes the Supplementary Vote system works better for electing people to single executive roles and ensures a wider range of support than First Past the Post.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 24 of his Department's policy paper entitled Pride in Place Strategy, published on 25 September 2025, whether the allocation of funding for the 75 places will differ from the (a) 169 places and (b) Pride in Place Impact Fund.

On 25 September, the government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, committing up to £5 billion in funding and support to 339 communities. The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. This includes the 75 places announced in March, alongside new funding for an additional 169 neighbourhoods. New areas have been selected using a robust metrics-based methodology, which focused on smaller geographies, targeting hyper-local pockets of deprivation. The full methodology is published here. In addition, the newly established Pride in Place Impact Fund will offer £1.5 million each to 95 places, aimed at developing shared spaces, revitalising local high streets, and enhancing the public realm. The place selection methodology is set out here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride, published on 24 September 2025, what his definition is of a fake barber; and how he plans to block them.

The government is taking a tough stance against illicit trading which suffocates high streets. ‘Fake’ barbers are an example of cash-intensive businesses that are trading illicitly. In March, the National Economic Crime Centre coordinated a three-week crackdown against such businesses. We are taking further steps to tackle this problem. Companies House has introduced enhanced checks and identity verification requirements, and used new powers to remove false and misleading information from the companies register. Through the Pride in Place strategy, we are empowering communities to reclaim their high streets with powers to auction off vacant premises, a new Community Right to Buy for valued assets, and streamlined compulsory purchase orders.

What guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on how many bedrooms should be provided to benefit claimants with children.

There is support through the social security system for low-income households renting in the private or social rented sector which is paid to those in receipt of either Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. The number of bedrooms required to calculate housing support is determined using a size criterion. The criterion takes account of the number of people in a household and their ages. These size criterions provide a bedroom for a couple, a single person aged 16 or over, two children of the same sex under the age of 16, two children of the same or opposite sexes under the age of 10 and a sole or remaining child. There are exceptional circumstances where support for an additional room can be awarded. The latest guidance to local authorities was issued following changes to the size criterion in 2017 Housing Benefit Circular: A3/2017. The criteria has not changed since. Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities to those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77627 on Eden Project: Morecambe, whether he plans to allocate £100 million to the Eden Project North.

The department has committed £50 million towards the total project cost of £100 million for Eden Project Morecambe. The Memorandum of Understanding for the full £50 million grant, was fully signed on 19 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride, published on 24 September 2025, whether the Pride in Place funding replaces an existing funding stream.

On 25 September, the government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, committing up to £5 billion in funding and support to 339 communities. The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. This includes the 75 places announced in March, alongside new funding for an additional 169 neighbourhoods. New areas have been selected using a robust metrics-based methodology, which focused on smaller geographies, targeting hyper-local pockets of deprivation. The full methodology is published here. In addition, the newly established Pride in Place Impact Fund will offer £1.5 million each to 95 places, aimed at developing shared spaces, revitalising local high streets, and enhancing the public realm. The place selection methodology is set out here.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued advice on ensuring (a) community cohesion and (b) integration, in the context of Operation Raise the Colours during summer 2025.

The Prime Minister has been clear that he supports the flying of flags across the country. Flags should be an embodiment of bringing our country and our communities together. Decisions about whether flags should be removed are devolved to local authorities and it is for them to assess the impacts of removing or allowing flags to remain. My Department engages with local authorities on a regular basis across numerous meetings. Where the subject has been raised we have been clear that everyone can make their own decisions, including local councils, on flying flags and that guidance exists to support them, such as ‘Flying flags: a plain English guide” - as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 (as amended in 2012 and 2021) – which outlines the regulations related to the flying of flags in England. It is important that the decisions taken by local authorities reflect the character and values of the communities they serve. Where symbols are used in ways that threaten public safety, it is right that action is taken to address this.

Communities and Local Government, how many national significant infrastructure planning decisions have been made (a) within and (b) outside the statutory time frame in this Parliament; how many applications have been made but not yet had a decision; and what estimate his Department has made of the number that would be needed to be approved each year to meet the Government's target.

The government made 21 decisions on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) in the first year of this Parliament. This compares with the first year of the last Parliament in which only 15 decisions were made and represents the highest number of annual decisions made since the NSIP programme was introduced in 2011. 27 NSIP decisions have been made so far since the start of this Parliament. Of these, 13 were within the statutory timeframes and 14 were not. A number of those 14 decisions made outside of statutory timeframes exceeded the limit during the previous Parliament. This government swiftly made decisions on those projects in July 2024. To date in this Parliament, 33 projects have submitted an application but have not yet had a decision. Through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, we are seeking to reduce the average time it takes reach a decision on an NSIP project from its peak of 4.2 years under the previous government. To achieve our Plan for Change milestone of fast-tracking 150 planning decisions, we will need an average of 32 decisions per year from July 2025. While we have not achieved this in our first year, we expect the rate of decisions to continue to accelerate alongside the already seen increase in projects entering the pipeline.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77558 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Aviation, whether his Department has a policy on undertaking domestic flights where direct train journeys are available.

MHCLG has a Travel and Expenses Policy which requires colleagues to consider cost, business need, sustainability and practicability when planning journeys. Low carbon options, such as Rail travel, must be considered first.

Communities and Local Government, what reporting his Department has received under Schedule 3 of the Management Information of the Housing Investment Fund Facility Agreement from the (a) City of Manchester Council and (b) Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

In line with the terms of the Housing Investment Fund Facility Agreement, my Department is not obliged to monitor, verify, or check how funds provided by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) through the Fund are used. Management information set out in Schedule 3 of the said Agreement is collected by GMCA and provided to MHCLG upon request.