Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her polices of the affordability of the average band D Council Tax bill, in the context of recent increases.

Local authorities are responsible for setting council tax levels, taking account of local circumstances. The government continues to set referendum principles to give taxpayers a final say over excessive increases. The council tax system contains a range of discounts and exemptions to reflect personal circumstances. Furthermore, every council is required to put in place a Local Council Tax Support scheme which reduces the bill of low-income households.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34287 on Unitary Councils, what criteria she plans to use to decide whether to request a formal review by the Local Government Boundary Commission England, following the receipt of restructuring proposals by local authorities of the unitary wards and boundaries in a proposed new unitary council.

As previously set out, my department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England so that they are involved at the appropriate time to ensure fair electoral arrangements across the area of any new unitary local authorities. The process set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 allows the Secretary of State to seek the advice of the LGBCE on any matter relating to a proposal that has been submitted in response to an invitation. No criteria have been set for seeking advice, which will depend on the proposals received, as appropriate at the time.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34283 on Freeports: Trade Unions, whether freeport boards members are subject to a similar fiduciary duty.

Freeport boards have a clear and specific remit for delivering the public policy objectives of the Freeports Programme and the resultant responsibilities of individual board members (both full members and observers) are defined in articles of association, where the Freeport is incorporated, or terms of reference for the board, where it is not.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34284 on Empty Property: Shops, how many programmes in addition to the High Street Rental Auction fund are operating bidding schemes for local authorities to receive funding.

The design of the High Street Rental Auction Fund was set by the previous administration. This Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed a partnership approach with local authorities and an intention to stabilise the funding system by providing multi-year funding settlements and ending competitive bidding.We will set out a refreshed approach to local growth funding at the multi-year Spending Review in the Spring. An approach that includes more integrated settlements, over longer term, with less central direction, more local choice and no competitive bidding.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 3 March 2025 on Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, HCWS487, to which Minister that group will report; and if the report will be laid before the House.

The Terms of Reference for the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group have now been published. The group will report to the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and provide advice to Ministers on appropriate and sensitive language to describe, understand and define unacceptable treatment, prejudice, discrimination and hate targeting Muslims or anyone who is perceived to be Muslim. Once the Government has reviewed this advice, it will consider its next steps.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34874 on Combined Authorities, for what reason that consultation asks respondents for their gender rather than their sex; and what her Department's policy is on the use of the phrase gender, as opposed to the phrase sex.

Collecting demographic information as part of conducting consultations helps us to understand whether the responses we receive are representative of those who live and work in the areas involved in the consultations. This will also help MHCLG conduct an equality impact assessment to ensure compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. We are not asking for information that identifies individuals in consultation responses, and the demographic information provided is anonymous. We followed agreed guidance on how demographic questions are phrased, as laid down by the GOV.UK Design System for all government consultations.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2025 to Question 34877 on Local Government: Reorganisation, for what reason Surrey’s unitary reorganisation has been placed on a quicker timetable than other two-tier areas.

As set out in the letter sent to Surrey leaders inviting them to develop proposals for local government reorganisation, given the urgency of creating sustainable unitary local government for Surrey, the decision was taken to work towards reorganisation to the most ambitious timeframe possible. This will also enable Surrey to benefit from devolution as quickly as possible once new unitary local government is in place.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 97 of the National Planning Policy Framework, last updated on 7 February 2025, whether her Department categorises (a) Greggs, (b) Pret a Manager and (c) Subway as a fast food outlet.

It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application from any of the providers named in the question, to consider whether, given the type of food and service to be provided at the location proposed, they consider the outlet to be either a hot food takeaway or a fast food outlet.

Communities and Local Government, whether measures included in Environmental Delivery Plans are funded through (a) her Department or (b) income from the Nature Restoration Fund.

The Nature Restoration Fund will operate on a full cost recovery basis. The government may in some instances provide upfront funding to Natural England to commence actions identified in Environmental Delivery Plans in advance of levy payments, with costs recovered over time as development comes forward.

Communities and Local Government, whether she consulted with external organisations on the content of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill before it was published.

Various government departments, including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, have engaged with external organisations during the development of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Furthermore, specific measures have been subject to dedicated public consultation and calls for evidence. These include, but are not limited to, local fee reforms, compulsory purchase order reforms, and judicial review reforms. Stakeholder feedback was also sought through a series of published working papers concerning planning committees, nature recovery, and critical infrastructure reforms, alongside the English Devolution White Paper and the Clean Power Action Plan.

Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of her Department’s (a) staff and (b) outsourced contractors are paid (i) below, (ii) at and (iii) above the London Living Wage.

The department engages a small number of Interns each year whose full-time equivalent rate of pay is less than the London Living Wage (LLW) rate. Salaries for these roles are set centrally by Cabinet Office with contracts typically lasting up to 12 weeks. There were fewer than five internships as of 17 March. All other permanent and fixed-term staff are paid a full-time equivalent rate which is above the LLW.The department engages a small number of contractors who are currently below the LLW rate, for data protection purposes exact numbers are not released as they number fewer than five, all other engagements are above the LLW rate.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34282 on MHCLG: Cost Effectiveness, if she will itemise the individual efficiency savings made on communications in the 2024-25 financial year.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has made marketing efficiencies in 2024/25, which include media campaigns that were halted following the election.

Communities and Local Government, if she will hold discussions with (a) the Parliamentary Parties Panel, (b) usual channels and (c) Privy Council on political finance reform before publishing her proposals on that matter.

The Government will engage with all key stakeholders in due course as part of our work to deliver on our commitment to strengthen the rules on political donations.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to re-introduce the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill.

The government will not be reintroducing the Bill.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34282 MHCLG: Cost Effectiveness, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of her Department's use of consultants in the 2024-25 financial year.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 22042 on 14 January 2025 and Question UIN 25703 on 14 February 2025.In line with the government’s overall ambition, we are targeting a 50% reduction in consulting spend by the end of financial year 2025-26, and expect to demonstrate material progress towards achieving this following financial year 2024-25. MHCLG publishes spend on consultancy as part of its annual report and accounts, and the figures for FY2024-25 included in the accounts will therefore be assembled immediately following the end of the financial year.

Communities and Local Government, with reference the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 11 March 2025, whether she has made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced.

My Department has had a constructive engagement with the sector regarding our proposals for mandatory training for planning committee members and we will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders in respect of the details of the proposed training and how this will be delivered. We have not made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced. We will, however, consult on the right level to set the size of planning committees to reflect best practice.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to clause 45 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 11 March 2025, who will deliver planning training for councillors.

My Department has had a constructive engagement with the sector regarding our proposals for mandatory training for planning committee members and we will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders in respect of the details of the proposed training and how this will be delivered. We have not made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced. We will, however, consult on the right level to set the size of planning committees to reflect best practice.

Communities and Local Government, what access rights asylum seekers with refugee status have to social housing; and whether homeless asylum seekers with refugee status are entitled to emergency housing.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 34617 on 10 March 2025 and Question UIN 11929 on 8 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the indirect impact of local government restructuring on the appointment and boundaries of the High Sheriffs.

There is no intention that the priorities set out in the English Devolution White Paper will impact on the ceremonial counties or the important roles the High Sheriffs and Lord Lieutenants play as the Monarch’s representatives in those counties, and ceremonial counties will be retained. The Government recognises and values the work they do in relation to civic, business, social and community life in the ceremonial counties, and will ensure that the ceremonial rights and privileges of an area will be maintained after any reorganisation of local government.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to clause 45 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 11 March 2025, what training on planning matters councillors will receive.

My Department has had a constructive engagement with the sector regarding our proposals for mandatory training for planning committee members and we will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders in respect of the details of the proposed training and how this will be delivered. We have not made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced. We will, however, consult on the right level to set the size of planning committees to reflect best practice.