Written questions by Hollinrake.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57280 on Local Government: Reorganisation, what estimate she has made of the change in public sector net borrowing from local government reorganisation in each of the next four financial years; and whether she plans to limit the levels of that reorganisation.

HM Treasury has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on local authority borrowing nor the impact on public sector net borrowing. The OBR will continue to update its forecast for overall local government borrowing at each fiscal event, in line with standard practice. The government announced its plans for local government reorganisation in the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December 2024. The ambition is to replace two-tier authorities with suitably sized unitary councils to create simpler structures, strengthen disjointed services and help councils pursue efficiencies. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government received interim plan responses from all areas in March. Surrey councils submitted their final proposals on 9 May 2025, and all other areas invited will be submitting their final proposals later this year. The government will set out next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 52627 on Night Time Industries Association, what correspondence her Department has received from the Night Time Industries Association since 4 July 2024.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Night Time Industries Association wrote to the Department on 29 October 2024. Their letter was passed to the Department for Business and Trade for a response.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59321 on Police: Finance, what the grant funding to police is in cash terms in each financial year between 2024-25 and 2028-29.

The police settlement is an annual process and allocations will be confirmed for 2026-27 later this year.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 57269 on Planning Permission, if she will introduce a policy requiring plain English in planning documents produced by her Department.

The government has no plans to introduce a specific policy related to the use of plain English in planning documents. We would expect local planning authorities to ensure that planning documents are clear and easy to understand.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58054 on Fast Food, whether local authority powers under the National Planning Policy Framework to block new fast-food outlets near schools applies to sandwich shops.

It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application, 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, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59314 on Local Government Finance, what the grant funding to local government is in cash terms in each financial year between 2024-25 and 2028-29.

The Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) for 2024-25 made available £64.7 billion for local government, a cash increase in core spending power of 7.5% compared with 2023-24. The LGFS for 2025-26 made available over £69 billion, a cash increase in core spending power of 6.8% compared with 2024-25. This year’s Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the LGFS within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29, an average overall cash increase in local authority core spending power of 4.5% per year. Further information will be made available as part of the provisional LGFS later this year, which will provide the first multi-year settlement for local government in a decade.

Communities and Local Government, how many Homes England staff are undergoing redeployment.

Homes England have no staff currently undergoing redeployment.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 53573 on Oxford Growth Commission: Public Appointments, what the level of remuneration is for the Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission.

The Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission’s (OGC) remuneration is commensurate with the seniority of the role and in line with current policy on senior pay levels. We understand that the Chair has written to Kevin Hollinrake to disclose his level of renumeration.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question HL7758 on Government Departments: Sanitation, if he will publish the Government Property Agency's guidance document that is now used in (a) new build and (b) refurbishment projects.

The Government Property Agency’s latest Workplace Design Guide (published March 2022) is available on GOV.UK. This is kept under review.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it a requirement for the new Spatial Development Strategies to be written in plain English.

The government would expect strategic planning authorities to ensure that Spatial Development Strategies are clear and easy to understand.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to local authorities on the delegation of decisions by councillors to council officers in (a) executive, (b) mayoral and (c) committee systems of governance; and whether she has provided guidance on whether the Carltona doctrine applies to local government.

The Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, as amended, set out what types of decisions are to be taken by a council’s executive (whether leader and cabinet or mayor and cabinet) and which are to be taken by the full council. Guidance was issued in 2000 and 2001 to assist the initial implementation of executive arrangements in local authorities; we do not consider guidance is currently required to assist authorities in their operation under the Regulations. The Local Authorities (Committee System) (England) Regulations 2012 set out the equivalent rules on delegations for councils operating the committee system. These Regulations were considered to be self-explanatory. The Secretary of State has not provided guidance on whether the Carltona doctrine applies to local government.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Bill on the (a) popularity and (b) take-up of Build to Rent new build.

My Department has engaged with a range of organisations, including Build to Rent operators, to understand their interests in the development of the Renters’ Rights Bill. We do not expect the Bill to have a destabilising effect on the rental market or the Build to Rent sector. We will continue to work with good landlords and their representative associations to ensure a smooth transition to the new tenancy system.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55304 on Government Departments: Sanitation, whether the Government Property Agency plans to repurpose more gender-neutral toilets into separate male and female toilets.

The Government Property Agency continues to monitor the requirements of its estate. Changes are made as necessary to provide the best delivery for our clients and in line with legislative requirements.

Whether the Office for National Statistics holds comparative data on new dwellings in each nation of the UK in each year since 2008-09.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 30th June is attached.

Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have introduced Article 4 directions which restrict office to residential conversion permitted development rights.

46 local authorities have made Article 4 Directions which remove the permitted development right which enables buildings in the Class E Commercial, Business and Service use class to change to residential use.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has provided to local councils on (a) discipline and (b) grievance in local government relating to senior officers.

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces. This includes managing their disciplinary and grievance procedures, complying with relevant legislation.

What the Energy Performance Certificate rating is of the Deputy Prime Minister’s residence in Admiralty House.

The residences at Admiralty House are not separately measured for Energy Performance. The Energy Performance Certificate Rating for Admiralty House is B.

Communities and Local Government, what proportion of funding for the new Affordable Housing Programme will finance (a) additional, purpose-built new-build homes on land acquired for that purpose, (b) the acquisition of unsold new-build homes, (c) the purchase of homes from developers provided under section 106 agreements and (d) (i) remodelling and (ii) improving existing housing stock.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 May 2024, to Question 53574, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, and with reference to page 26 of the Section 106 agreement, for what reason the agreement references Articles 13 and 141 of the EU Treaty Articles.

As the application in question is before ministers in MHCLG to determine, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific elements of it.

Communities and Local Government, whether powers of entry for building inspectors apply to embassies.

The position in respect of diplomatic premises is covered by international treaties including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as applied in the UK through the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987.