Written questions by Hollinrake.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51391 on Water Charges, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of seasonal water metering tariffs on water bills.

The Government supports innovative approaches aiming to make bills more affordable for their customers. Defra are not conducting separate assessments. Ofwat regulates the trials by requiring companies to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Companies must also consult with the Consumer Council for Water to protect or exclude vulnerable customers, which ensures customers are protected while these important trials take place.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52273 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Aviation, what journeys comprise the (a) £33,025 and (b) £1,878 spending on domestic flights.

I will arrange for this information to be deposited in the House of Commons Library.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49771 on Parking: Fines, which parking sector stakeholders shared research with her Department.

The Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL), British Parking Association (BPA) and Local Government Association (LGA) shared a report of their research with the Department. They carried out an online survey and received responses from 43 Local Authorities. We have placed a copy of the research in the Library of the House.

Whether motorcyclists are allowed to use bus lanes.

The decision on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes lies with the local authorities who have responsibility for them.

Whether the Bank of England has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed Chinese Embassy on security in the City of London.

It is not the Bank of England’s role to undertake this sort of impact assessment. National security is the first duty of Government and has been HM Government’s core priority throughout this process. A final decision on the application for the new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets will be made in due course by ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.

What data HM Revenue and Customs holds on the house prices of second homes.

The VOA has a statutory duty to maintain the Council Tax lists in England and Wales by assessing the value of a domestic property and placing them in a Council Tax band. Whether a domestic property is a taxpayer’s second home is not considered during this process. The VOA obtains sales data to assist in their functions, but this data does not distinguish between whether a purchase is of a second home or not.

What information the Valuation Office Agency holds on the number of (a) private sector and (b) municipal public conveniences there are in each local authority in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

The VOA assess public conveniences for business rates purposes but they do not consider whether they are owned by a local authority or the private sector. The number of public conveniences is published in the VOA’s Non- Domestic Rating stock of properties. The most recent release is at 31 March 2024 and can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024 The number of public conveniences assessed by the VOA in each local authority can be found by clicking ‘Stock SCat Tables by region, county, local authority district and rateable value band, 2024 (CSV)’ and viewing column ‘KY’ in the file named ‘SOP_SCAT_LA_counts_all’.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48452 on Housing: Valuation, where the Valuation Office Agency obtains scaled (a) plans and (b) maps to determine plot size.

In addition to plans derived from the direct measurement of the property, the VOA uses plans and maps from online digital mapping platforms, ONS surveys, planning portals, property developers, estate agents and other data within the public domain.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on the green belt review being undertaken by the Greater London Authority.

The Secretary of State meets with the Mayor of London regularly to discuss a range of matters.The government has awarded the Greater London Authority £770,000 to undertake a Green Belt review in conjunction with 11 London boroughs. A further six London boroughs have also each received £70,000 to undertake Green Belt reviews.The Green Belt Planning Practice Guidance issued on 27 February 2025 will assist Mayors and local planning authorities considering reviews of their Green Belt.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48449 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, which municipal green investment (a) bonds and (b) loans being offered by local authorities in England are regulated by the (i) Financial Conduct Authority, (ii) Prudential Regulation Authority, (iii) Financial Ombudsman Service and (iv) Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 establishes a framework whereby any person, whether an individual or firm, can only carry out a regulated activity by way of business if they are authorised by the appropriate regulator or are exempt from the authorisation requirement. Under this framework, the government determines which activities are regulated activities, by specifying them in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (RAO). Where local authorities are the issuers of bonds, or borrowers under loans, they themselves would not require authorisation from a financial services regulator to act in that capacity, and would not be subject to regulation by the financial services regulators. Financial services firms facilitating access to such funding by local authorities may, depending on the circumstances, be subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority, and investors may be eligible to refer disputes with the regulated firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Depending on the precise circumstances of any products offered, compensation in the case of default may be available under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, but this may not always be the case.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on Northern Powerhouse Rail.

As stated in the Autumn Budget, this government is committed to securing delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade and maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail by progressing planning and design work to support future delivery, with further details to be set out in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to review of her plans to close regional offices, in the context of her Department's press release entitled Thousands of Civil Service roles moved out of London in latest reform to the state, published on 14 May 2025.

There are no plans to review the decision to close six MHCLG offices by the end of 2026. The Department will continue to progress toward having 50% of staff based outside of London by 2030 compared to 23% in 2020. In doing so MHCLG will maintain at least one office in every English region and in each nation of the United Kingdom.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48451 on Shops: Valuations, how the Valuation Office Agency determines whether an improved energy efficiency rating results in an enhanced valuation.

For business rates, it is unlikely that an improved Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) alone would result in an increased Rateable Value (RV). However, the extent and type of works that resulted in the improved EPC rating, would be considered when determining whether they have an impact. If the works were considered to have an impact on the rental value on the property, then the RV may be amended. For example, new installations such as heating and air conditioning are considered an improvement, and their installation may result in an increase.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance entitled Guidance for the management of Private Office information and records, published on 29 December 2023, whether her Department is archiving Ministers' official diaries; and whether official diaries include a record of a Minister's location.

The Department keeps, and archives, Ministerial diaries in line with the published guidance.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48449 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of investing in municipal green investment (a) bonds and (b) loans being offered by local authorities on customers.

The Government recognises the significant progress made through the use of local municipal green bonds. So far fourteen councils have launched these bonds, mobilising over £11.5 million and giving thousands of investors the opportunity to invest in improvements to their local communities. We acknowledge that local authorities are free to determine their own investment strategies. In doing so they must, however, have regard to statutory guidance that sets out best practice to ensure decisions are prudent, affordable and sustainable, and comply with their Best Value Duty. Investments should represent value for money and not place tax payers’ money at excessive risk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50518 on Government Departments: Legal Opinion, if she will publish a copy of the 2022 version of the guidance.

I will ensure that a copy of the 2022 version of the legal risk guidance is placed in the library shortly.

Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on (a) taxis and (b) other private hire vehicles since 5 July 2024.

MHCLG has spent £69,021.26 on taxis and private hire vehicles since 5th July 2024. We are unable to report separately on private hire vehicles and taxis.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) collating and (b) publishing how much Vehicle Excise Duty is collected by local authority area.

Information on how much Vehicle Excise Duty is collected by local authority area, is not held. Significant technical changes would be needed to capture and maintain such data and there are no plans to do so.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of joining up Heathrow Airport’s railway lines with the South West Rail network to facilitate Heathrow expansion.

The Government supports airport expansion and has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow. It expects any proposals to be brought forward by the summer and is clear that any scheme must be delivered in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations. The Department would expect promoters of Heathrow expansion to develop surface access proposals and work closely with local stakeholders to develop masterplans and surface access strategies.

What steps she is taking to upgrade rail transport provision to Gatwick Airport to facilitate the airport expansion.

The Secretary of State’s letter of 27 February 2025 set out her initial views and that she was ‘minded to approve’ but has not yet taken a final decision on Gatwick Airport’s planning application. As this is live planning application that is yet to be decided, unfortunately I cannot comment in detail at this time.