Written questions by Badenoch.

Communities and Local Government, whether she is a member of the National Security Council.

Details of Cabinet Committees and their membership are published on gov.uk at the following link.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 3903 on Political Parties: Finance, what her policy is on (a) the regulation of and (b) reporting thresholds for donations to unincorporated donations.

As set out in our manifesto, the Government intends to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy. The policy development work to give effect to this commitment is ongoing, and we will engage with key stakeholders over the course of this work.

Communities and Local Government, how frequently she meets directors-general within her Department to discuss progress.

The Deputy Prime Minister has regular discussions with director generals in the department. As has been the case under successive administrations, details of internal discussion are not normally disclosed.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 3903 on Political Parties: Finance, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of political parties on the development of this policy.

As set out in our manifesto, the Government intends to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy. The policy development work to give effect to this commitment is ongoing, and we will engage with key stakeholders over the course of this work.

Communities and Local Government, what the net increase in the number of dwellings in 2023-24 in England was in (a) the Valuation Office Agency's dwelling list and (b) dwellings registered with an Energy Performance Certificate.

The Valuation Office Agency publishes official statistics on the number of domestic properties in the Council Tax list on GOV.UK. The latest publication is available under ‘Council Tax Stock of properties: Summary tables, 2024’.In England, there were 25,353,530 domestic properties in the Council Tax list in 2023, compared with 25,571,400 in 2024. This is a difference of 217,870, which is made up of 264,330 properties being added to the Council Tax list and 46,460 properties being deleted from the list.The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government publishes full statistics for EPCs produced in England every quarter since 2009. In 2023/24 1,579,865 new EPCs were produced for dwellings. Records are not maintained for the net change in dwellings with EPCs.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Written Ministerial Statement of 30 July 2024 on Building the Homes We Need, HCWS48, what steps she plans to take to provide new build affordable housing through social rent; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a rise in the number of social rent homes on the availability of affordable housing.

Between 2013 and 2023, the number of Social Rent homes owned by registered providers of social housing fell by over 205,000. The Government’s aspiration is to ensure that, in the first full financial year of this Parliament (2025-26), the number of Social Rent homes is rising rather than falling. We have therefore asked Homes England and the Greater London Authority to maximise the number of Social Rent homes in allocating the remaining Affordable Homes Programme funding.My department published an update on targets in the 2021-26 Programme on 30 July 2024. We have also proposed a number of changes to national planning policy that are designed to support the delivery of Social Rent homes. We will bring forward details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of levels remuneration of local authority chief executives.

This Government recognises the intense demands facing local authority chief executives, and is grateful for the excellent work they do. Local authorities are independent employers, and decisions on local pay and remuneration should be taken by those who are directly accountable to local people.

Whether the Deputy Prime Minister's remit includes responsibility for ethics and integrity in government.

Each minister is responsible for their personal conduct, including upholding the highest standards of propriety and integrity. Policy responsibility for propriety and ethics in government is held by the Cabinet Office.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of local authorities divesting their Local Government Pension Scheme assets from the oil and gas industry.

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) administering authorities are responsible for setting the investment strategy of their pension funds. Authorities must take investment decisions in the interests of their members and for the purpose of paying benefits.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the commencement of the Renters’ Rights Bill and the passage of associated secondary legislation, including any planned differences for the application of (a) new and (b) existing tenancies.

Following Royal Assent of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Government will implement the new system as soon as possible. The abolition of section 21 and the introduction of the new tenancy system will be applied to new and existing tenancies simultaneously. This approach will support tenants, landlords and agents to adjust to and understand the new rules, while making sure that tenants can benefit from the new system quickly. We will provide more details about our implementation plans and timetables during the passage of the Bill.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of requiring landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties to a EPC C rating by 2030 on (a) rent prices and (b) trends in the number of private sector landlords exiting the sector.

The Government has announced its intention to consult by the end of the year on implementing a minimum energy efficiency standard of Energy Performance Certificate Band C or equivalent in the private rented sector by 2030. The consultation will be accompanied by an Options Assessment, which will consider impacts arising from the policy proposals, including potential impacts on rent levels and the supply of properties in the sector.

Communities and Local Government, what the total (a) funding under the Build to Rent Fund and (b) finance supported from the Private Rented Sector Housing Debt Guarantee Scheme was; and what estimate she has made of the number of additional dwellings supported by these schemes.

The Build to Rent Fund provided over £606 million in debt financing to support the construction of 6,262 homes. The Fund closed in 2016, and all loans have now been repaid. The Private Rented Sector Guarantee Scheme has thus far supported the delivery of 7,660 Build to Rent homes, utilising c£1.5 billon of guarantees capacity.We recognise that the Build to Rent sector plays an important role in driving up quality and delivering additional homes in the Private Rented Sector. We continue to offer support to new schemes alongside institutional investors and operators via the Levelling Up Home Building Fund.

Communities and Local Government, what the estimated cost to (a) councils and (b) housing associations is of requiring all social housing to be EPC 'C' compliant by 2030; and what (i) funding and (ii) loans her Department plans to provide to these organisations.

The Government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm and free from damp and mould. We have committed to bringing forward the regulations necessary to introduce Awaab’s Law in the Social Rented Sector this Autumn, and to consulting on and implementing a new Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. We will set out the costs and impacts of the relevant requirements alongside each consultation.The Government’s Warm Homes Plan offers grants and low interest loans which support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other improvements. Social landlords are responsible for improvements to their properties to ensure they meet the required standards.As we set out in July, details of future government investment in social and affordable housing will be brought forwards at the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5229 on Empty Property and Second Homes: Council Tax, whether she plans to publish a response to the consultation; and what her planned timetable is for bringing forward (a) secondary legislation and (b) updated guidance to local billing authorities.

Secondary legislation to introduce these regulations were laid before Parliament on 8 October and will come into effect from 1 April 2025. The Government intends to publish guidance prior to these regulations coming into effect.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2024, to Question 2979, on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Departmental Responsibilities, if she will list the job title of each member of the Policy and Strategy Unit.

The Policy and Strategy Unit is comprised of two Deputy Directors, supported by a team of policy advisers and senior policy advisers. Staffing roles are in line with the approach taken for these central functions under the previous administration.

Communities and Local Government, how many photographers her Department has hired as (a) staff and (b) contractors since since 4 July 2024; from what dates; and what estimate she has made of the annual cost of those photographers.

As is the case already in other government departments, official photographers help to share the work of the department and ministers with the public. Photography and videography - for external use or on the department's corporate channels - can help to give the public and civil servants a greater sense of accessibility and transparency over the activities of government. Members of MHCLG’s communications team already demonstrate a broad range of written and digital / visual media skills to help communicate with the public, the media and stakeholders.MHCLG does not currently employ a photographer on a part or full-time basis. The department has recently advertised a role within the Civil Service for a chief photographer (Grade 7).We do not comment on individual staffing matters.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Table 2 of HM Treasury's publication entitled Fixing the foundations: public spending audit 2024-25, CP 1133, published in July 2024, what plans her Department has to reduce spending on (a) communications and (b) Government Communications Service staff.

As stated in the HM Treasury report, all departments will stop non-essential spending on communications. This includes the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.A review of planned government communications and marketing has recently concluded and the department is now updating our campaign plans to ensure that they are effective and in line with government priorities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 5232 on Local Government: Elections, whether her Department holds a list of (a) councils, (b) mayors and (c) combined authority mayors subject to elections in May 2025.

The department publishes our understanding of the years in which each council’s elections will be held. That list can be found here.In accordance with legislation, councils are required to post notice of any election or by-election taking place which they administer, and this can be found on council websites.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 900289 on Affordable Housing, whether her Department has made changes to the (a) tenure, (b) stock profile and (c) proportion of homes available for (i) social rent and (ii) other affordable housing types for new homes planned under the 2021-26 Affordable Housing Programme.

Between 2013 and 2023, the number of Social Rent homes owned by registered providers of social housing fell by over 205,000. The Government’s aspiration is to ensure that, in the first full financial year of this Parliament (2025-26), the number of Social Rent homes is rising rather than falling. We have therefore asked Homes England and the Greater London Authority to maximise the number of Social Rent homes in allocating the remaining Affordable Homes Programme funding.My department published an update on targets in the 2021-26 Programme on 30 July 2024. We have also proposed a number of changes to national planning policy that are designed to support the delivery of Social Rent homes. We will bring forward details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Home upgrade revolution as renters set for warmer homes and cheaper bills published on 23 September 2024, what account the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the changes to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards will take of the Renters' Rights Bill.

We have announced our intention to publish consultations on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector and the social rented sector by the end of the year. DESNZ and MHCLG are working closely together to take account of the impact of MEES and the Renters’ Rights Bill on the private and social rented sectors. The impact of potential changes to the wider policy landscape for private and social landlords will be considered in the respective Impact Assessments.