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 2,721–2,740 of 2,858 · this parliament
With reference to paragraph 3.80 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October, what proportion of the £120 million is new funding.
The £120m of funding announced in the Budget for 2025/26 is in addition to the existing funding of £120m in 2024/25, and will continue to support the purchase of new electric vans as well as the manufacture of wheelchair accessible electric vehicles (EVs).
What estimate she has made of the number of properties that the proposed new multiplier above £500,000 Rateable Value will apply to by (a) special categories and (b) sector.
The VOA regularly publishes official Non-Domestic Rating statistics on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/valuation-office-agency-non-domestic-rating-statistics. The number of properties over £500,000 in rateable value, broken down by property sector is published in table 2.2 here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66695d2cf5e751f1b786db07/ndr_stock_of_properties_2024.xlsx The highest rateable value band where the VOA publishes a breakdown of properties by special category code, mean and median is £51k. The VOA does not currently publish a further breakdown of data for properties with a rateable value over £500k but plans to do so in an ad hoc publication. The publication date is expected to be announced within the next two weeks, and information published by 31 March 2025.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the debate on the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill of 25 November 2024, Official Report, column 594, whether the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure multipliers from 2026 will (a) be in addition to and (b) replace the small business rate relief multipliers.
To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties, including those on the high-street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from 2026-27 - those with Rateable Values of £500,000 and above.The government has no plans to abolish small business rates relief which is a permanent relief set down in legislation. In our paper 'Transforming Business Rates' we have committed to exploring whether and how small business rates relief can be improved to better support business investment and expansion.
What is the (a) mean and (b) median Rateable Value of hereditaments over £500,000.
The VOA regularly publishes official Non-Domestic Rating statistics on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/valuation-office-agency-non-domestic-rating-statistics. The number of properties over £500,000 in rateable value, broken down by property sector is published in table 2.2 here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66695d2cf5e751f1b786db07/ndr_stock_of_properties_2024.xlsx The highest rateable value band where the VOA publishes a breakdown of properties by special category code, mean and median is £51k. The VOA does not currently publish a further breakdown of data for properties with a rateable value over £500k but plans to do so in an ad hoc publication. The publication date is expected to be announced within the next two weeks, and information published by 31 March 2025.
What estimate she has made of the level of the (a) lower multiplier for retail, hospitality and leisure hereditaments from April 2026 and (b) higher multiplier for hereditaments above £500,000 Rateable Value; and whether she has a target for the average (i) decrease and (ii) increase in business rates as a (A) proportion and (B) number.
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 application of a higher multiplier to properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or above.
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, what guidance her Department issues on whether a planning application previously been rejected by a planning authority can be resubmitted without substantive changes.
Planning Practice Guidance found on gov.uk here, sets out the position on this matter. The guidance makes clear that section 70A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allows local planning authorities to decline planning applications for recently refused proposals and sets out the circumstances in which this applies.
Communities and Local Government, what the material considerations were that satisfied the call-in criteria for the proposed Chinese Embassy near the Tower of London.
Call-in decisions are inherently about process and not the merits of any given planning application.I refer the hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 26 March 2019 (HCWS1452) which outlines the broad criteria for calling-in planning applications, but makes clear it is not restrictive in its application.
Communities and Local Government, which provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2024 have (a) been and (b) are due to be commenced.
Following Royal Assent of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) in October 2023, a small number of provisions were commenced by the previous government, for example relating to pavement licensing, planning enforcement and certain reforms to the compulsory purchase process.Building on these measures, in September last year, a power enabling local authorities to bring forward affordable housing, national health or educational facilities through the use of compulsory purchase without paying ‘hope value’ compensation was fully commenced.We have also made clear that we intend to commence powers contained in the LURA to improve the transparency of build out rates for residential development, including the introduction of commencement notices and progress reports. This was announced alongside the government’s response to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation, published on 12 December.We do not intend to commence provisions from the LURA that would cut across our commitments to streamline the planning process and unlock development, such as the Infrastructure Levy.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans not to commence provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.
Following Royal Assent of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) in October 2023, a small number of provisions were commenced by the previous government, for example relating to pavement licensing, planning enforcement and certain reforms to the compulsory purchase process.Building on these measures, in September last year, a power enabling local authorities to bring forward affordable housing, national health or educational facilities through the use of compulsory purchase without paying ‘hope value’ compensation was fully commenced.We have also made clear that we intend to commence powers contained in the LURA to improve the transparency of build out rates for residential development, including the introduction of commencement notices and progress reports. This was announced alongside the government’s response to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation, published on 12 December.We do not intend to commence provisions from the LURA that would cut across our commitments to streamline the planning process and unlock development, such as the Infrastructure Levy.
Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides on the processes to be followed by other Government departments making representations on the potential call-in or recovery of a planning application or appeal.
There is no separate guidance provided to other government departments regarding making representations on the potential call-in or recovery of a planning application or appeal. Processes are laid out in the House of Commons Library research briefing ‘Call-in of planning applications (England)’ (2024). Advice on these matters may also be requested from this department’s Planning Casework Unit.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6385 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Flags, if she will publish guidance on whether the flying of a flag which does not have deemed consent and is flown from the ground but visible from a public highway requires planning permission.
The relevant government guidance, Flying flags: a plain English guide, sets out the planning rules for the display of flags.
What information the Valuation Office Agency holds on the average proportionate reduction in rateable value for special category code 226 (pubs) in the 2023 business rates revaluation.
Statistics on the change in rateable value of non-domestic properties as a result of the 2023 Revaluation are published here:Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2023 Revaluation (compiled list) - GOV.UK Table 4.0 of the ‘non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, Revaluation 2023 compiled list’ shows the mean rateable value for the 2017 and 2023 rating lists by SCAT code including 226: public houses/pub restaurants. This also shows the change and percentage change in rateable value between the two lists.
Communities and Local Government, how many dwellings were liable for council tax in (a) England and (b) Wales in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) the most recent financial year for which figures are available.
Council tax is a devolved matter. You will appreciate therefore it would only be appropriate for me to comment on council tax data for England. Data on the number of dwelling liable for council tax in 2009 is available here. Data for 2024 is available here.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4.63 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October, HC 295, whether the £1.3 billion new grant funding includes central government funding for (a) freezing of the small business rate relief multiplier, (b) retail, hospitality and leisure relief and (c) compensation for changes to employer National Insurance contributions for public bodies in 2025-26.
On 28 November we published a policy statement setting out details on the Local Government Finance Settlement for the next year for councils across England, as well as the government’s wider intentions to fix the foundations of local government over the course of this Parliament.The £1.3 billion of new grant funding, does not include grant compensation that will be paid to local government for the decisions to freeze the small business rates multiplier, and to award relief to eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in 2025-26. Compensation for these tax policy measures will be paid to local authorities during through the normal business rates retention system processes.Additional to the £1.3 billion of new grant funding, the Government has committed to provide support for public sector employers for changes to employer National Insurance Contribution 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 assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to employer National Insurance contributions on the cost of outsourced local government services.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 11851 on 8 November 2024.
Communities and Local Government, what progress she has made on a devolution deal for Essex; and whether she plans to amend the date of the local elections scheduled for May 2025.
In July, the Deputy Prime Minister invited places without devolution agreements, such as Essex, to come forward with proposals for their areas. This process closed in September and we are engaging closely with local leaders and stakeholders to review proposals.The Government will shortly publish a white paper setting out an ambitious new framework for English devolution.No plans have been made to amend the date of the local elections scheduled for May 2025.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 6 June 2016 to Question 38442 on Local Government: Public Private Partnerships, what steps her Department has taken to assess compliance with the Local Government Transparency Code since 2016.
The purpose of the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the Code) is to make it easier for the public to directly hold their councils to account, not as a means for central government to check up on local authorities. Therefore, the government does not monitor compliance with the Code.If there were concerns about a local authority’s compliance with the Code, a complaint could be made to the authority’s Monitoring Officer, or via their complaints procedure. It is possible to make a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman where the usual complaints procedures have been exhausted, or to make a Freedom of Information request if local authorities continue to fail in fulfilling their duties under the Code.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the total value of local government procurement of (a) goods and (b) services in the most recent year for which figures are available.
MHCLG does not collect data on the procurement activities of individual local authorities. They are independent contracting authorities and accountable to their own electorates.
Communities and Local Government, which types of hereditament are eligible for the retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief by Valuation Office Agency special category code.
The eligibility criteria for the 2024-25 retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief are set out in guidance published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Guidance for the 2025-26 scheme will be published in due course. The criteria for this scheme do not reference Valuation Office Agency special category codes, which are used principally for the purposes of valuation.