Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 51874 on Planning Permissions: Impact Assessment, if she will publish the equality impact assessment produced for each of the changes listed.

There is no legal duty to publish equality impact assessments. The impact assessments relating to revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework on 12 December 2024 can be found here. The Secretary of State complied with her public sector equality duty (PSED) under s149 of the Equality Act 2010 in issuing the planning practice guidance updates.

With reference to the policy paper entitled The plan for drivers, published on 2 October 2023, whether she plans to publish a consultation on revising guidance on the public’s right to challenge local authority parking policies.

Local traffic authorities in England are responsible for providing on-street parking facilities ensuring that their parking strategy takes account of transport and planning policies to meet the needs of various road users. They have an explicit duty under section 16 of the Traffic Management Act (TMA) 2004, to manage their road network to reduce traffic congestion and disruption. To help them achieve this, in 2015 the Government published statutory guidance to local authorities. This was to ensure that local businesses, the residential community and other road users have a recognised voice, in the exercise of the Network Management Duty in relation to parking. That guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-challenge-parking-policies.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 52812 on Affordable Housing, what her definition of a generation is.

In line with common usage, a generation is taken to mean around 25 years.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 52712 on Local Government: Elections, whether the proposed abolition of a council would meet the criteria.

If the Secretary of State decides to implement a council’s proposal for unitary local government, secondary legislation, which will be subject to Parliamentary approval, will be required to abolish existing councils, establish new structures and make transitional arrangements. Those transitional arrangements, consistent with precedent, would include replacing scheduled local elections with elections for the new councils. Those councils will operate initially as new unitary authorities, before going live the following April.

Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to support the freedom to pray.

Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right, and one which underpins many of the others.  Any individual or group is free to express and practice religion, views and beliefs, but they have a duty to behave responsibly and to respect other people’s rights.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the her Department's publication entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2025, published on 28 April 2025, what the goods or services commissioned from Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd entitled Consultancy were.

Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd is providing technical planning advice relating to a small number of planning decisions to be taken by the Department.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 97 of the National Planning Policy Framework, published on 7 February 2025, what criteria are used to designate a town centre.

Town centres are defined in the National Planning Policy Framework Annex 2: Glossary.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local planning authorities on ensuring (a) Section 106 and (b) Community Infrastructure Levy revenues are spent; and what requirements they have to publish details of (i) received revenues and (ii) unspent revenues.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, what services were commissioned from Livewire Consultancy Limited in relation to the Devolution Priority Programme.

Livewire Consultancy Limited were contracted by this Department to collate, analyse and report on the responses to the six consultations we led on the Devolution Priority Programme.Government is now carefully considering the evidence collected, including these reports, in order to decide whether statutory tests have been met and proceed with the legislation required to establish mayoral institutions in each of the areas.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's document entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, for what services her Department paid 23 RED Limited for New Towns Event Planning; and what were the events.

The New Towns Taskforce delivered a series of public engagement events in existing new towns to understand from those with lived experience the legacy of the post-war new towns. 23 RED Limited provided event management services for these events. Findings from the public engagement events will be used in the Taskforce’s Final Report, due to be submitted to ministers this summer.

Communities and Local Government, what the expected timeline is for the consideration of the appeal to the Planning Inspectorate of the planning enforcement notice issued by the London Borough of Greenwich against the Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich; and if she will make it her policy to recover the appeal.

This appeal (reference APP/E5330/C/25/3364847) against the issue of an Enforcement Notice was received as valid on 29 April 2025. The appeal is proceeding by way of a Hearing. In letters to the main parties dated 1 May, the timetable for the receipt of various documents from them was set out in accordance with the legislative requirements. An Inspector has been appointed and the hearing is scheduled to open on 5 August 2025 and expected to last one day. A decision is therefore likely to be issued on behalf of the Secretary of State, well within the ministerial measures range of 24 – 26 weeks from receipt of a valid appeal; those dates being 14-28 October.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for drivers, published on 2 October 2023, whether her Department has taken steps to remove local authorities’ access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency data.

This was a commitment made by the previous Government which we have no plans to take forward.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the trends in the level of long-term rough sleeping in the last 12 months.

This Government inherited devastating record levels of homelessness and rough sleeping from the last Conservative government. There are multiple factors which can contribute to rough sleeping. Increases in living costs and limited suitable and affordable housing is driving overall increases in homelessness and rough sleeping, personal factors such as mental ill health and substance misuse can increase the risk of someone experiencing rough sleeping, including sleeping rough long-term.This is why the government is taking a joined-up approach working across government, and in partnership with local authorities and Mayors, to address the root causes of homelessness. The Deputy Prime Minister is chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness.The government has also increased funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services by £233 million compared to 2024/25, bringing the total spend to nearly a billion pounds in 2025/26. This includes £185.6 million via the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, providing local authorities with funding for rough sleeping services, including specialist support for those who have been sleeping rough long-term.

Whether she plans to respond to the consultation on Improving the effectiveness of the Money Laundering Regulations, published in March 2024.

Responses to the consultation have been invaluable in building the evidence base on potential reforms. In the coming months HM Treasury plans to respond and will bring forward a package of changes to the Regulations aimed at improving their effectiveness. This will include changes to close potential loopholes and ensure requirements are targeted at high-risk activity.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49918 on Hospitality Industry: Licensing, which Minister is responsible for late-night licensing.

As Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention, I hold responsibility for the Licensing Act 2003 which regulates four licensable activities - the sale of alcohol by retail, the supply of alcohol by members’ clubs, the provision of regulated entertainment and the provision of late night refreshment. Many of the premises carrying out these activities have operating hours that fall within the late night economy.

Whether she plans to issue guidance to political parties on the potential impact of the Supreme Court judgement in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers on all-women shortlists; and whether she plans to discuss this matter with the (a) Equality and Human Rights Commission, and (b) Electoral Commission.

The Supreme Court Judgment was clear that for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, biological sex determines whether a person is a woman or not. Accordingly, in relation to the Equality Act 2010’s provisions allowing political parties to use all-women shortlists to increase the number of women standing for election, parties will need to have regard to the recent ruling. A political party wishing to use these Equality Act provisions will need to be satisfied that any such shortlists are lawful.We regularly consult stakeholders, including the Equality and Human Rights Commission, on a range of issues, including where new guidance is proposed.

Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities offer Level 7 Apprenticeships.

MHCLG does not hold this data. Local authorities are independent employers and are responsible for managing the apprenticeships they offer to their workforce.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's document entitled Remote attendance and proxy voting in local authorities: consultation results and government response, published on 5 June 2025, whether she has considered the potential merits of proxy voting of quasi-judicial committees (a) and its compatibility with the principles of non-determination on those committees and (b) in general.

We stated in gov.uk here that we plan to require all principal councils in England to introduce proxy voting schemes for full council meetings. We also stated that for all other meetings, proxy voting may be used but will not be required, and that substitute or pairing schemes may be more appropriate. We trust councils to develop clear and sensible policies that will work for their local areas.

Whether he plans to bring forward regulation on vaping stores in (a) high streets and (b) town centres.

It is crucial that we reduce the visibility and accessibility of vapes to protect children from getting hooked on nicotine. That is why the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will ban the advertising and sponsorship of vaping and nicotine products and will provide powers to introduce future regulations on where and how vapes and other nicotine products can be displayed within shops. Analysis and consultation will take place before any specific restrictions are introduced to ensure we are bringing about the most impactful change possible.The bill will also provide powers for ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products. Introducing a licensing scheme will strengthen enforcement, acting as a deterrent to rogue retailers who breach the law, while supporting legitimate businesses. The scheme will be subject to consultation before regulations are introduced.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 89 of the drawings entitled CD 1.03C: Proposed Drawings, submitted by the Chinese Government to the Planning Inspectorate’s called-in planning inquiry for the Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint, what the security reasons are for redacting the internal floor plans of the Cultural Exchange building.

All Inquiry documents for this case are publicly available on Tower Hamlets website here. All material planning considerations will be taken into account when reaching a decision.