Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to activate the (a) Bellwin scheme and b) Flood Recovery Framework following Storm Darragh; and whether there is a deadline by which a decision must be made.

My thoughts remain with householders and business owners impacted by flooding after Storm Darragh at the start of December last year, flooding is a devastating experience for all those affected.The government is ready to consider local authority requests for Bellwin Scheme support. This can reimburse immediate eligible response costs for authorities affected by the recent storms, including Storm Darragh. Guidance is published online which sets out the procedures for the scheme. Government recovery support in the aftermath of flooding is only provided in exceptional circumstances. The scale of impacts after Storm Darragh was not sufficiently significant for the Flood Recovery Framework to be activated in any area. For comparison, when the Framework was activated following Storms Babet in October 2023 and Henk in January 2024, together over 8,500 homes and businesses were impacted across England.

Communities and Local Government, which provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 have not been implemented.

The government continues to review its policy inheritance from the last government, including in relation to specific provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act that have not been brought into force.

Communities and Local Government, whether any private sector companies contracted to her Department will receive increased payments for the increase in employer National Insurance contributions.

At Autumn Budget, the Chancellor made clear that raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax. That is why the government is asking employers to contribute more.The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments in the usual way, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.

Communities and Local Government, what representations she has received from the National Association of Local Councils on the potential effect of higher National Insurance contributions on (a) town and (b) parish councils.

Ministers and officials regularly meet with a wide range of stakeholders from the local government sector. Baroness Taylor, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State met with the National Association of Local Councils on Tuesday 28 February.The government recognises the important role town and parish councils have in improving the quality of life and wellbeing of their communities but has no direct role in funding parish and town councils, and therefore has not provided compensation, consistent with the approach taken by the previous government.We recognise that the increase in the rate of employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will lead to increased costs for some parish councils, which will require them to increase their precept. We recognise that decisions to increase precepts are not taken lightly by parish councils.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2024 to Question 14182 on Public Sector: Finance, whether local authorities will be able to bid to receive funds from the Public Sector Reform and Innovation Fund.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 11936 on 8 November 2024. The Public Sector Reform and Innovation Fund allocated £165 million to a range of projects in 2025-26, including support for foster care, delivering apprenticeships and planning reforms. Partnering with local leaders, the Budget allocated a further £100 million over the next three years to reform public services with a focus on experimentation and learning. To align with the Government’s manifesto commitment to step away from competitive bidding processes the programme will use an allocative approach to place selection. We are working with the Local Government Association to develop the programme and will announce more details in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17827 on Private Education: Business Rates, whether the draft Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 incorporates the expected funding from business rates on independent schools.

Business rates retention means that local authorities retain a proportion of all business rates revenue.As in previous years, the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement reflects local authority baseline funding levels. These are a core part of the business rates retention system which represent a measure of an authority’s need that is funded via business rates. This measurement does reflect not the totality of business rates or annual changes in business rate income from year to year.The increase in rates receipts due to the reduction in charitable rate relief for private schools will be shared between central and local government. The proportion of business rates that are retained locally and the proportion paid to central government are determined via business rates retention shares known as the local and central share.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals on nutrient neutrality reform.

As set out in my answer to Question UIN 26836 on 5 February 2025, proposals for a Nature Restoration Fund are under development for inclusion in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Further information will be set out when the Bill is introduced.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17826 on Local Government: Disadvantaged, which data metrics were used to compile the 2019 Index of Deprivation; and from which year each metric was derived from.

The data metrics used to compile the English Indices of Deprivation 2019, including sources and date, are published online in the English indices of deprivation 2019: technical report - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the commencement of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

The government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to preparing a code of practice in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.We are currently reviewing all options regarding the code and will announce our plans in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16546 on Housing: Construction, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on affordable housing provision of reduced demand for registered providers in acquiring homes built by private sector developers as a Section 106 requirement; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of greater flexibility on affordable tenure types to help increase take-up.

The government recognises the ongoing challenge posed by the reduced appetite of Registered Providers of social housing to buy affordable homes delivered under Section 106 agreements.Homes England's Section 106 Affordable Housing Clearing Service was launched in December with the aim of supporting buyers and sellers of Section 106 homes to find each other more effectively.We are calling on all developers with uncontracted Section 106 affordable homes, as well as registered providers and local planning authorities, to engage proactively with this new service.We will consider what further measures may be necessary to address this problem, informed by data from the new clearing service.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department issues guidance on the frequency of household rubbish and recycling collections.

Through Simpler Recycling, all householders will receive a comprehensive and consistent set of waste and recycling services. This will enable householders to recycle as much waste as possible and to frequently dispose of bad-smelling food waste, which will be collected from all households at least weekly. Defra recognises that as recycling services are expanded and improved, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The Government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met, and we expect local authorities to continue to provide services to a reasonable standard, as they do now. Building on existing and new legal duties, Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities consider certain factors when they review services, to ensure that reasonable standards are maintained.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 December 2024 to Question 20228 on Civil Society: Islam, whether his Department has engaged with (a) MEND, (b) CAGE, (c) the Muslim Association of Britain and (d) the Muslim Council of Britain since 5 July 2024.

The department does not engage with MEND, CAGE, the Muslim Association of Britain or the Muslim Council of Britain.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 December 2024 to Question 20228 on Civil Society: Islam, whether his Department has engaged with (a) MEND, (b) CAGE, (c) the Muslim Association of Britain and (d) the Muslim Council of Britain since 5 July 2024.

The Ministry of Defence does not hold any record of engagement with the listed organisations since 5 July 2024.

With reference to the reply by the Minister for Security to the urgent question of 28 January 2025 on the Extremism Review, if she will publish the (a) analysis and (b) capping paper from the Counter-Extremism Sprint reported in the report entitled Extremely confused, published by Policy Exchange on 28 January 2025.

Internal advice and analysis has never routinely been published, and there are no plans to change that practice. However, as I made clear in my reply on 29 January, these are not Government plans and this is not Government policy.

Communities and Local Government, whether secondary legislation to implement the provisions on local referendums in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 has been drafted.

The government is still reviewing its policy inheritance from the last government, including in relation to street votes. We have already taken significant steps to fix the planning system and unlock new housing and we will set out our plans for further planning reform in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether the establishment of a Mayoral Development Corporation requires her consent.

The Localism Act 2011 first introduced provisions permitting the Mayor of London to designate Mayoral Development Areas (MDAs) and Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs). These powers can now be conferred on elected mayors of Combined Authorities and Combined County Authorities.Mayors can designate MDAs, subject to the provisions in section 197 of the Localism Act 2011. If the Secretary of State receives a notification per section 197(6) of the 2011 Act, in accordance with section 198(2), she must by order establish an MDC for the area designated by the Mayor. In such cases, the Secretary of State has no discretion as to the establishment of the MDC and therefore her consent is not required.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 13624 on Road Signs and Markings and with reference to Section 81 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, what plans she has to bring forward secondary legislation to enable local referendums on changes to street names.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 13624 on 19 November 2024.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish all correspondence, including electronic communications, between 10 Downing Street and her Department on the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy.

As is longstanding practice, we do not normally disclose internal communications.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 18374 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Staff, how many and what proportion of staff attended each regional office for each week of November 2024.

Number and proportion of staff contractually assigned to each office with at least one office visit during the reference periodWC 4th NovemberWC 11th NovemberWC 18th NovemberWC 24th NovemberEast of England68 (56%)76 (62%)73 (60%)77 (63%)London1550 (70%)1578 (71%)1578 (71%)1534 (69%)Midlands290 (58%)306 (61%)259 (51%)290 (58%)Northern Ireland13 (62%)14 (67%)14 (67%)12 (57%)North East137 (71%)125 (64%)127 (65%)127 (65%)North West206 (60%)219 (63%)188 (54%)211 (61%)Scotland38 (73%)35 (67%)36 (69%)38 (73%)South East22 (81%)20 (74%)19 (70%)19 (70%)South West131 (56%)133 (57%)134 (58%)122 (52%)Wales33 (73%)30 (67%)26 (58%)25 (56%)Yorkshire and Humber145 (66%)133 (61%)137 (63%)130 (59%)Grand Total2633 (66%)2669 (67%)2591 (65%)2585 (65%)

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure compliance with propriety guidance for the call-in of the proposed new Chinese Embassy.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to UIN 22643 on 27 January 2025.