Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 2,701–2,720 of 2,858 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of appeal hearings considered by the Planning Inspectorate were conducted virtually in 2024.
The Planning Inspectorate undertakes public hearings and inquiries across all its casework services. Most take place in person, but some are held wholly or partly virtually.Reliable data on the number and proportion of virtually held events is not available.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (England) Order 2024 on levels of home ownership.
The Government’s review of Right to Buy discounts was published alongside the Budget on 30th October, and new maximum cash discounts came into force via the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (England) Order 2024 on 21 November. As set out in the review, our modelling suggests a long-run average of c. 1,700 sales annually under the new maximum discounts.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2024 on Local Government Finance, HCWS265, whether her Department has carried out an equality impact assessment on repurposing the Rural Services Delivery Grant.
The Government took into consideration the Public Sector Equality Duty when making decisions regarding the Rural Services Delivery Grant.This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities. Places with a significant rural population will on average receive around a 5% increase in their Core Spending Power next year, which is a real terms increase. No council will see a reduction – and new funding will be available to rural areas in 2025-26 through guaranteed EPR payments.The Government will set out more detail on all measures set out at the provisional Settlement in December where we will consult on allocations for 2025-26, alongside launching a consultation on the objectives and principles of local government funding reform. The Settlement consultation will request views on the approach to changing how we deliver grant funding through the Settlement, and on equalities impacts. The Government welcomes views of rural councils in response to each of these consultations.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) take steps to allow local authorities to set unlimited fines for littering and fly-tipping offences and (b) make an assessment of the financial resources local authority refuse departments have available to collect fly-tipping.
The Government is currently not considering further increases to the maximum levels of fixed penalty notices that can be issued by local authorities. At present these stand at £500 for littering and £1000 for fly-tipping. Local authorities must spend this income on enforcement or clean up. Local authorities also have powers to prosecute anyone suspected of littering or fly-tipping. This can lead to potentially higher fines, criminal records or, for fly-tipping, a community sentence or even imprisonment The Government is not planning to make an assessment of local authority resources to collect fly-tipping. We recognise the challenges that local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. The Government have listened to voices across the sector, and we prioritised local government at the Budget, where we announced over £4 billion in additional funding for local government services, including £1.3 billion which will go through the Settlement.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact the planned increase in employer National Insurance contributions on external services commissioned by local government.
The Government has committed to provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer NICs costs. This applies to those directly employed by the public sector, including local government. We will set out further details at the provisional Settlement in December.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase scrutiny arrangements in mayoral combined authorities.
There is an existing system of accountability and scrutiny arrangements for Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) to ensure that public spending is achieving value for money with an array of monitoring and reporting processes for MCAs. The government is committed to strengthening the accountability and scrutiny arrangements that will enable central government, mayors, combined authorities and combined county authorities to shift gear into a new mode of genuine partnership. This will be set out in the upcoming English Devolution White Paper.
Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the provisional local government finance settlement for financial year 2025-26.
The Government will publish the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement in December where we will consult on allocations for 2025-26, alongside launching a consultation on the objectives and principles of local government funding reform.
With reference to paragraph 2.43 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, whether she has made an estimate of the average difference in the business rate bill of a hereditament eligible for retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief in the 2025-26 financial year, relative to the 2024-25 financial year.
Without any government intervention, Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief would have ended entirely in April 2025, creating a cliff-edge for businesses. Instead, the Government has decided to offer a 40 per cent discount to RHL properties up to a cash cap of £110,0000 per business in 2025-26 and has frozen the small business multiplier. By tapering RHL relief to 40%, rather than letting it end, the government has saved the average pub, with a rateable value (RV) of £16,800, over £3,300 in 2025-26. At Budget, the Government also announced that from 2026-27, it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties, with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on properties with rateable values of £500,000 or more, which includes the majority of large distribution warehouses, including warehouses used by online giants. The rates for any new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context.
Communities and Local Government, what her Department's timetable is for responding to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation that ended on 24 September 2024.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 7852 on 14 October 2024.
Communities and Local Government, how the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy near the Tower of London differs from the previous planning application for the Embassy turned down by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
The application in question is identical to the application submitted for the proposed scheme in June 2021. It was refused (against officer recommendation) in February 2023. The applicant chose not to appeal that decision.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential impact of calling in the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets on (a) diplomatic, (b) economic and (c) political relations with the People’s Republic of China.
I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17140 on 18 December 2024.
Communities and Local Government, (a) when and (b) how her Department became aware of the new planning application for the proposed new Chinese Embassy near the Tower of London.
Decisions on whether to call in a planning application routinely arise following a representation or notification from a third party. In this instance, the Department were notified of the new planning application by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials.
How much funding from the Spring Budget 2022 for the purchase of new electric vans via the plug-in vehicle grant remains available.
Over the last two financial years since Spring 2022, the Plug in Van Grant has supported the purchase over 30,000 zero emission vans. The Government continues to recognise the importance of grants, providing £120 million for next financial year to incentivise the uptake of zero emission vans and wheelchair accessible electric vehicles. All grants remain under review to ensure best value for money for the taxpayer.
What guidance she has issued on whether (a) supermarkets, (b) hotels and (c) department stores with a rateable value over £500,000 will be liable to pay the new business rates rateable value multiplier surcharge from 2026-27.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced its intention to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.
What assessment has the Valuation Office Agency made of the potential impact of the 2026 business rates revaluation on businesses, broken down by (a) special category code and (b) each English region.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has a statutory duty to compile and maintain accurate rating lists. The Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023 set the date of completion for the next revaluation as 1 April 2026. Valuation activity is now underway. In line with section 41 of The Local Government Finance Act 1988, the VOA will publish the valuation list in draft by 31 December 2025. Following the publication of the draft list, the VOA will also publish official statistics on changes to rateable value, including by special category code and billing authority.
What estimate she has made of the additional revenue to be raised from properties with rateable value of £500,000 or above in order to be able to set lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties below that threshold.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025. The Non-Domestic Ratings Bill due for Committee Stage sets out the parameters within which the government proposes the multipliers would be set by Treasury regulations.
If she will publish an impact assessment for the proposed reduction in business rate relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context. Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 58 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of local government restructuring on social care (a) delivery and (b) economies of scale.
The upcoming English Devolution White Paper will set out more detail on the government’s devolution plans, including on working with councils to move to simpler structures that make sense for their local areas, with efficiency savings from council reorganisation helping to meet the needs of local people.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision to apply a higher multiplier to all properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or above on (a) large supermarkets and (b) department stores.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced its intention to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.
If she will publish a list of the Rateable Value of each pub in England by (a) address, (b) local authority and (c) Rateable Value.
The VOA makes the Non-Domestic Rating (NDR) lists publicly available. This is to allow a person “access to information to enable them to establish the state of the list” and is set out under paragraph 8(1) of schedule 9 of the Local Government Finance Act (LGFA) 1988. To fulfil this statutory function the VOA publishes the Rating Lists at: www.gov.uk/find-business-rates The address, local authority and rateable value of each property is included within these lists. The advanced search function allows users to select properties by special category code and to filter by pubs using codes 226 and 227.