Written questions by Hollinrake.

How many applications for the disposal of school playing fields her Department has (a) approved and (b) rejected by (i) school and (ii) local authority since 4 July 2024.

The department has interpreted disposal in this context to mean the freehold sale, grant of a long-term lease of 30 years or more or appropriation of playing field land to another local authority use.A register of decisions to dispose of school playing field land is published on GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-land-decisions-about-disposals.

Whether transitional relief in the 2026 business rates revaluation will be funded by (a) the Exchequer, (b) higher multipliers, and (c) downward phasing.

The Government provides transitional relief to support ratepayers seeing large bill increases as a result of revaluations. Only once we understand the complete 2026 revaluation picture will the Government be in a position to make final decisions, at Budget 2025, on the transitional relief scheme.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 2 July 2025 on Social and Affordable Housing Renewal, HCWS771, if she will publish the full public sector equality duty assessment undertaken in relation to reductions in Right to Buy.

The government’s response to the Right to Buy consultation published on 2 July included a Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) assessment. This can be found on gov.uk here.

Whether she has made an assessment of the financial (a) risk and (b) cost to councils of controlling bus franchising.

As part of the bus franchising process, local transport authorities (LTAs) must develop a robust assessment of all elements of a move to franchising. This assessment requires LTAs to demonstrate a financial and economic case for franchising in their area which considers whether the authority would be able to afford to make and operate the scheme, and whether the scheme represents value for money. There is no one size fits all approach to bus franchising, and the cost of bus franchising and level of financial risk to LTAs will vary depending on the individual area and the model of franchising that LTAs wish to pursue. Government is working to provide more active support to LTAs, and is developing a tailored programme of support for LTAs wishing to franchise. In addition, work will continue to reduce the cost of franchising to help make it more accessible to LTAs. My Department is also engaging with LTAs and bus operators to identify potential alternative models of franchising to those pursued by Greater Manchester and other Mayoral Combined Authorities. At the Spending Review, the Government announced funding for bus franchising pilots, including in York and North Yorkshire and Cheshire West and Chester as part of additional funding to maintain and improve bus services from 26/27 onwards.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 63624 on Admiralty House: Energy Performance Certificates, if he will place the three EPCs for the Admiralty House flats in the Library.

Where a building has an EPC the information on EPC ratings can be found at https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate/Admiralty-House.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 63031 on Asylum: Private Rented Housing, whether her Department provides guidance on the factors that should be assessed when determining the suitability of a local area for asylum accommodation.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 8 July in response to Question 63031.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 63031 on Asylum: Private Rented Housing, whether community cohesion is a material consideration when assessing the suitability of a local area for asylum accommodation.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 8 July in response to Question 63031.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on (a) graffiti and (b) vandalism on the London Underground.

Department for Transport Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London on a range of issues, including London Underground maintenance requirements. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL who are responsible for the operation and maintenance of London Underground.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 57653, on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Islamophobia, what the company registration number or registered charity number is of the external training provider.

DESNZ does not routinely collect this information for services below a defined threshold, and this training provider does not meet that threshold, therefore we are unable to provide information regarding the company registration number or registered charity number of the training provider.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 17 April 2024, HCWS413, on Building Safety Update, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Greater London Authority on aligning policies in relation to (a) second staircases, (b) fire-safety requirements and (c) evacuation lifts.

The department regularly engages with the Greater London Authority and will continue to do so as the Mayor of London prepares the next London Plan, including on building and fire safety.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department made of the implications for her policies of the Molior London Quarterly Report published in April 2025.

The government is acutely aware of the housing delivery challenge in London. We are committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, London Boroughs, and other partners to significantly increase rates of housebuilding in the capital as part of our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has had discussions with local authorities on twinning with locations in the Occupied Territories.

Local authority twinning arrangements are matters for those authorities. The department does not routinely discuss such arrangements with local authorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce legislation to establish local versions of the Public Accounts Committee.

The government remains committed to enhancing accountability and scrutiny of local public spending in Strategic Authorities.The English Devolution White Paper outlines the government’s ambition to go further in this area, including exploring a Local Public Accounts Committee model. It remains our ambition to do this. We are developing policy options on this, working with Mayoral Combined Authorities to test our thinking. The Government will confirm its policy approach and any supporting legislation that may be required to advance these in due course.

Whether she plans to seek Parliamentary approval for the revised Airports National Policy Statement before submitting the infrastructure planning application for Heathrow Airport expansion.

The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the Government will review the Airports National Policy Statement. When conducting the review, the Secretary of State will comply with the requirements in the Planning Act 2008, including consultation, publicity and parliamentary requirements. When the ANPS has been reviewed, and depending on the outcome of the review, it will be for scheme promoters to submit a Development Consent Order application for a third runway scheme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 57653 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Islamophobia, what the cost was of the Islamophobia training.

DESNZ is committed to creating a culture where all colleagues feel valued and supported, in line with our ‘Inclusive’ value. DESNZ follows cross-Government guidance for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion expenditure, including reporting on all external spend. The training delivered by the Anti-Islamophobia Working Group cost £350.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54885 on Private Rented Housing: Energy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the increased Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards on private sector rents.

I refer the member to the answer I gave to him on 9 June to Question UIN 54885.

Communities and Local Government, how many new build homes were given an Energy Performance Certificate in 2024-25.

This data is publicly available here: Check how this service is performing – GOV.UK

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the introduction of RdSAP 10 on the unit cost of an Energy Performance Certificate.

The Introduction of RdSAP 10 improves the accuracy of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessments, helping households better understand their energy use. The fees charged are not set by government and reflect the commercial decisions of individual assessors or their employers. RdSAP 10 delivers more accurate assessments and clearer recommendations for property owners. This supports better outcomes for consumers and enhances the credibility of EPCs.

Communities and Local Government, on what date she resigned from Unite.

The list of Ministers’ Interests will be updated, and published, in the usual way.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 59360 on Driving: Standards, which policies from that plan she has discontinued.

Those policies in “The Plan for Drivers” that would have made no positive difference for drivers have been discontinued. These include the speculative suggestions for interfering in local authorities’ decisions about how best to manage local road networks and threats to remove their access to vehicle keeper information. The Government is committed to empowering local leaders and Mayors to make the right decisions for their communities, including on transport.