Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, which international conferences were attended by Homes England in the 2024-25 financial year; and what the cost was of attending each conference.

Homes England attended two international conferences in the 2024-25 financial year, MIPIM and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). The total cost to attend MIPIM was £25,213.91 which included flights, hotels and tickets for all attendees. The total cost to attend ULI was £319.20 which included flights and hotel.

Communities and Local Government, whether the British Muslim Trust will be contractually obliged to use the Government's new definition of Islamophobia when recording anti-Muslim hatred under Combating Hate Against Muslims fund; and if he will publish a copy of the contract.

The British Muslim Trust and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have signed a Grant Funding Agreement, rather than a contract. It is not a stipulation of the Grant Funding Agreement that any specific definition is used by the British Muslim Trust. The prospectus set out that to apply for funding an organisation must ‘be willing to record and monitor instances of anti-Muslim hate crime in such a way that is consistent with the government’s working definition of anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia, should the government choose to adopt a definition in future’.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68060 on Islamophobia, whether the Working Group has had a meeting with MCB; and whether they have received evidence from the MCB.

The Working Group is an independent, non-statutory body which will provide advice to ministers on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred/islamophobia. Ministers will consider the advice that the independent working group provides. The Working Group have engaged with a range of stakeholders and proposed definition by the independent Working Group should reflect a wide range of perspectives from different communities. The terms of reference set out that the Working Group should work within HMG’s published engagement standards. The Government has a non-engagement policy with the MCB and that position has not changed. The Group launched a Call for Evidence to build on the extensive engagement they’ve already undertaken. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 69674 on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, if he will amend the terms of reference of the working group such that representations submitted by organisations which (a) are subject to the Government’s policy of non-engagement and (b) condone criminal activity should not be considered by the working group.

As per their Terms of Reference, the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group should work within HMG’s published engagement standards and will inform the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in writing of all external engagement prior to it taking place. The Working Group has engaged extensively to inform their independent advice to Ministers on a definition and have not met with any organisations subject to the Government’s policy of non-engagement. The Working Group launched a Call for Evidence to build on the extensive engagement they’ve already undertaken. The Call for Evidence closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was able to submit evidence.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 69064 on Councillors' Interests, whether the requirement to declare sponsorship towards election expenses includes raising funds for expenses which will be incurred in forthcoming local government elections.

The response to Question UIN 69064 was clear that the guidance and law require councillors to be transparent in disclosing their pecuniary interests such as sponsorships, which includes financial benefits received towards their election expenses.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 10 of her Department's publication entitled MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025, published on 22 July 2025, what metrics are monitored by the Ministerial Delivery Dashboard.

MHCLG uses a wide range of metrics and data to monitor and track delivery progress on key departmental priorities as well as support policy development and decision-making. Metrics are drawn from sources such as national statistics from the ONS and government datasets on GOV.UK. Examples include figures on new housing starts and ONS data on permanent dwellings started; government statistics on homelessness and rough sleeping figures; expectational financial support (EFS) allocations issued to local authorities; and results from both the ‘Community Life’ and ‘Trust in Government’ surveys.

When he plans to reply to the correspondence from the Rt hon. Member for Braintree of 18 June 2025.

The Rt.hon Member’s correspondence has been transferred to the Department of Health and Social Care as the department responsible for the topic of enquiry.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 95 of the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024-25, published in July 2025, what the historic issue was to which additional budget cover was sought.

The department had identified a group of assets listed as ‘assets under construction’ where the descriptions and associated capitalisation dates indicated they may already have been in use in prior years. This meant the department may have needed to make a correction in its accounts for this missing historic depreciation. This would lead to an additional depreciation charge in the accounts. To be cautious, we agreed additional budget cover with HMT based on the highest possible cost this might involve. However, after further work was carried out, the actual impact was much smaller than expected. As a result, we did not need to use all the extra budget that had been approved.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document entitled Secretary of State opinion on Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI) to Portsmouth City Council, published on 14 August 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of that opinion on (a) economic development and (b) housebuilding in Portsmouth.

The Secretary of State ‘opinion’ on Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI) to Portsmouth City Council can be found on gov.uk here. It sets out the Secretary of State’s consideration of IROPI together with full reasons in respect of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Having issued this decision, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of dwellings there are with extant planning permission that have not been started.

My Department does not collect data on the number of dwellings with extant planning permission that have not yet started construction.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statutory guidance entitled Flexible use of capital receipts: direction, updated on 26 March 2025, whether the sale of a local authority allotment would qualify under those rules as a capital receipt.

The government has not changed the rules with respect to disposing of allotments. There remain in place strict criteria to protect allotments, whereby councils must seek approval from the Secretary of state to dispose of a statutory allotment and only sell it where a defined legal threshold is met. From 2016, the previous government introduced a general flexibility that allows councils to use capital receipts to pay for transformation. We are clear that councils should only do this where it provides value for money and it is in the interests of residents. This flexibility does not override any statutory restrictions that may exist on certain types of assets including allotments.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2025 to Question 44234 on Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners, what her planned timetable is for incorporating the policing powers of the Police and Crime Commissioners in (a) Suffolk and (b) Norfolk into the powers of the new combined authority mayor; and how this process will interact with the passage of (i) the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and (ii) associated secondary legislation.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will provide a route to allow a single Mayor to be the Police and Crime Commissioner for two or more Police areas, provided that there are coterminous boundaries between the Strategic Authority and the Police areas when taken together. All future transfers of Police and Crime Commissioner functions will take place via powers in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and will be subject to a confirmatory Statutory Instrument which will set out the date of transfer. In Suffolk and Norfolk, we expect the Strategic Authority to be set up and inaugural Mayoral elections to be held in 2026 with the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions for the start of the financial year in 2027.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued on whether (a) nutrient credits, (b) biodiversity net gain payments, (c) Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space payments and (d) mitigation payments under the Habitats Regulations are required for development which is covered by permitted development rights that have not been removed by Article 4 directions.

Permitted development rights (PDRs) are subject to national conditions and limitations and therefore do not remove the need to comply with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Where a development that benefits from PDR is likely to have a significant effect on a habitats site, a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) must be carried out, and mitigation may be required. Where appropriate this could be delivered through nutrients credits or through payments which contribute towards the delivery of Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space. Further advice is available at Habitats regulations assessments: protecting a European site and via Planning Practice Guidance: When is permission required? - GOV.UK. Government guidance confirms Biodiversity net gain (BNG) does not apply to development granted permission by General Permitted Development Order. See: Understanding biodiversity net gain - GOV.UK.

With reference to the press release entitled Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars, published on 26 July 2025, whether hospitality zones can be designated in cumulative impact areas.

Designating zones and cumulative impact policies are a matter for local authorities, and the two are not mutually exclusive. The Government’s considers that both designating zones and implementing cumulative impact policies should be fully considered, clearly evidenced, monitored, and subject to review to ensure they remain effective and proportionate.We are committed to working with councils, businesses and local partners to understand how these approaches are being applied and to ensure councils have the tools they need to create and maintain designated zones effectively. We will issue a Call for Evidence to gather insights and inform policy discussions shortly.

With reference to the press release entitled Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars, published on 26 July 2025, who will decide (a) where the new dedicated hospitality zones will be introduced and (b) what their boundaries will be; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of these proposals on the (i) licensing hours and (ii) wider operation of (A) new and (B) existing (1) pubs, (2) clubs and (3) restaurants that are not in designated hospitality zones.

The Government wants to ensure we have a licensing system that not only addresses crime and protects communities but supports businesses and promotes growth. Councils already use designated zones to preserve hospitality, leisure, and cultural areas, and we are keen to work collaboratively to understand how these approaches are working and explore whether Councils have the tools they need to create and maintain designated zones effectively. Businesses within and outside designated zones will benefit from a more balanced licensing regime. We will issue a Call for Evidence to gather insights and inform policy discussions shortly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 59 of the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC1062, published on 22 July 2025, what the business case was for the increase in the total cost of trade union facility time between 2023-24 and 2024-25; and whether Ministers authorised the increase.

Trade union representatives have a legal right to be given time off to undertake their duties. Facility time is granted in line with Cabinet Office guidance and remains within 1% of our overall paybill.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance (a) her Department and (b) Natural England has issued on whether a habitats regulation assessment screening is required for the exercise of 28 day camping allowed by permitted development rights.

Permitted development rights (PDRs) are subject to national conditions and limitations and therefore do not remove the need to comply with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. HRAs require an evaluation of whether a plan or project, including those benefiting from PDR, is likely to adversely affect any habitat site designated under the Habitats Regulations and/or its qualifying feature(s), and for any harm to be mitigated before the plan or project proceeds (unless there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest, no alternatives and necessary compensation is secured). Guidance on the HRA process is available on Habitats regulations assessments: protecting a European site - GOV.UK, and via Planning Practice Guidance: When is permission required? - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 10 of the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC1062, July 2025, which (a) private and (b) public bodies received funding from the Community Recovery Fund; what information her Department holds on how the funds were spent; and whether her Department spent any funding directly.

The Community Recovery Fund (CRF) was provided to 20 local authorities affected by the violent disorder that took place between July and August 2024, to rebuild and repair fractured communities and bring people back together. More details on recipients can be found here: Community Recovery Fund: Guidance - GOV.UK. The Department has not spent any funds directly. Funding from the Community Recovery Fund (CRF) has been used for a range of activities, including community cohesion work such as strategy development, engagement events and community campaigns. It has also been used to support youth and vulnerable groups through activities such as mentoring and resilience-building programmes, and the development of orientation and inclusion toolkits.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2025 to Question 43889 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, what the total aggregate monetary amount spent by her Department on electronic purchasing card solution was including transactions which were below the reporting threshold in each month since July 2024.

Cabinet Office guidance on Transparency Reporting advises Departments publish £500 and above. In compliance with this MHCLG currently publishes details of all spending over £500 using an electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS) on a monthly basis. This gives a good balance between transparency to the taxpayer and reducing the administrative burden on departments

Communities and Local Government, whether she has issued guidance to local authorities on purchasing empty homes for the purpose of housing asylum seekers.

The department has not issued any guidance at this stage to local authorities on purchasing empty homes for the purpose of housing asylum seekers. We continue to work closely with the Home Office and local authorities to develop a more sustainable model of asylum accommodation supply which will ensure basic accommodation is made available for asylum seekers on a temporary basis.