Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on the amount of (a) Metropolitan Open Land and (b) Green Belt land in Greater London, broken down by (i) electoral ward and (ii) division.

Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan. Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor. The Department does not hold data or produce maps on the amount of Metropolitan Open Land in London. Figures for the amount of Green Belt in Greater London as at 31 March 2024 are published within the ‘Area by LA’ accompanying table here. The Department does not hold figures broken down by electoral ward or division.

Communities and Local Government, if there will be a mayoral election for Lancashire County Combined Authority in May 2026.

We are continuing to work with Lancashire Combined County Authority to deepen their existing devolution agreement and, dependent on their ongoing governance review, we will explore a path towards mayoral devolution for the region.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a copy of the Section 106 agreement that was submitted to the planning inquiry for the proposed Chinese Embassy in London.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 45663 on 29 April 2025.

What discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on whether changes to minimum energy performance standards for the private rented sector will apply to fixed-term accommodation for irregular migrants procured by the Home Office.

The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation closed on 2nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and the evidence submitted. Whether accommodation falls within scope of new standards will depend on the type of tenancy. Currently, if a property is let on an assured tenancy, regulated tenancy, or domestic agricultural tenancy, and is legally required to have an EPC, then it will need to meet the minimum energy efficiency standard, unless a valid exemption applies.

Innovation and Technology, what work Innovate UK has undertaken in relation to (a) cyber-security and (b) cyber-physical infrastructure in the last five years.

Innovate UK have delivered a number of programmes and grants relating to cyber security and cyber-physical infrastructure over the past five years. A comprehensive list can be found below. These initiatives represent a significant investment in the cyber sector.Cyber Security InitiativesCyberASAP – Supports commercialisation of academic cyber research.Cyber Local – Builds local cyber ecosystems and skills.Digital Security by Design – Develops secure hardware/software foundations.Cyber AI Hub (Belfast) – Advances AI-driven cyber security in NI.SDTaP – Demonstrates IoT cyber security solutions.Smart Grants – Funds high-impact innovations, including cyber security. Cyber-Physical Infrastructure ProjectsDigital Twin Energy Grids – Enhances energy grid resilience via digital twins.Cyber-RIAST – Develops a cyber risk awareness tool.Grid-Enigma – Enables secure, low-cost energy data transmission.REDGE – Secures energy systems using digital twins and cyber tech.TwinEDGE – Detects intrusions via edge-based digital twins.EV Grid Cybersecurity – Secures EV charging infrastructure with digital twins.SPACES – Tests safe autonomous vehicle control systems.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 45683 on Waste Management: Birmingham, if he will publish the (a) advice and (b) assessments provided by the Environment Agency as part of the multi-agency response.

The Environment Agency (EA) has been a core member of the multi-agency response from the outset. This has not required the production of any risk assessments or written advice in connection with the ongoing incident. The EA is committed to the ongoing support to our partners and has confirmed support for the risk assessments and plans produced by Birmingham City Council as part of the multiagency response.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 38621 on Combined Authorities, if she will make it her departmental policy to ask for sex not gender in future consultations.

We will be guided by the revised EHRC Code of Practice when it becomes available.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what information the Electoral Commission holds on the average cost to local authorities for holding (a) Parliamentary and (b) local authority by-elections, broken down by local authority ward.

The Electoral Commission does not hold data on the average cost to local authorities for holding elections. Local authorities are responsible for managing the costs of elections within their area and hold their own local data. The cost of conducting UK parliamentary elections is paid for by the UK Government through the Consolidated Fund, while local elections are paid for directly from the individual local authority budgets.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) produces a report on the costs of each UK parliamentary general election, including a breakdown of costs by category, such as staff costs and equipment. The report for the 2024 UK parliamentary general election will be published in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the accredited official statistics entitled Local authority green belt statistics for England: 2023 to 2024, published on 5 December 2024, whether these statistics include metropolitan open land.

The local authority green belt statistics publication issued by my Department does not include figures for metropolitan open land.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local billing authorities on whether a second homes council tax premium can be applied where a person claims a job-related second homes council tax discount.

The government has published guidance on the implementation of council tax premiums and exceptions. This guidance sets out there is a mandatory exception from the second home premium for dwellings which are job-related, or where the person concerned is living in another dwelling with is job-related. Where a discount applies due to a dwelling’s job-related status, the premium also would not apply.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on whether incumbent Police and Crime Commissioners can stand for election to be (a) combined authority and (b) county combined authority mayors where those mayors do not have policing powers; and vice versa.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.We will explore, in time for the English Devolution Bill, the possibility of a single Mayor taking on Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities across two or more Police Force boundaries where boundaries align, as would be the case in Suffolk and Norfolk. Legislation currently allows for an incumbent Police and Crime Commissioner to stand for Mayor where they do not hold Police and Crime functions, provided the elections do not run concurrently. We will issue guidance on future mayoral eligibility criteria in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution has policy responsibilities to help tackle grooming gangs.

The Home Office are leading the Government’s work to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation. The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution does not have specific responsibilities in this regard, but is responsible for local government finance and policy. The Department has robust arrangements in place to avoid any crossover with constituency interests.

Communities and Local Government, how many hectares of metropolitan open land there are in each local authority in Greater London; and whether there is an (a) electronic and (b) hard copy map of metropolitan open land.

Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan. Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor. The Department does not hold data or produce maps on the amount of Metropolitan Open Land in London. Figures for the amount of Green Belt in Greater London as at 31 March 2024 are published within the ‘Area by LA’ accompanying table here. The Department does not hold figures broken down by electoral ward or division.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49921 on Elections: Surrey, whether the scheduled local council elections in Hampshire in 2026 will be (a) postponed and (b) cancelled.

There are no plans to postpone local elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.

Communities and Local Government, whether the proposed combined authority mayor for Suffolk and Norfolk will have policing powers.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.We will explore, in time for the English Devolution Bill, the possibility of a single Mayor taking on Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities across two or more Police Force boundaries where boundaries align, as would be the case in Suffolk and Norfolk. Legislation currently allows for an incumbent Police and Crime Commissioner to stand for Mayor where they do not hold Police and Crime functions, provided the elections do not run concurrently. We will issue guidance on future mayoral eligibility criteria in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether proposed (a) combined authority and (b) county combined authority mayors will take on the roles and duties of Police and Crime Commissioners where the boundaries of those police forces align with those of the combined authority.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.We will explore, in time for the English Devolution Bill, the possibility of a single Mayor taking on Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities across two or more Police Force boundaries where boundaries align, as would be the case in Suffolk and Norfolk. Legislation currently allows for an incumbent Police and Crime Commissioner to stand for Mayor where they do not hold Police and Crime functions, provided the elections do not run concurrently. We will issue guidance on future mayoral eligibility criteria in due course.

Whether she has considered providing Income Tax relief for party political donations.

The Government is not considering an income tax relief for party political donations.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her comments to the Convention of the North in Preston on 28 February 2025, on what evidential basis she said that the whole of the North will have elected mayors by May 2026.

Earlier this month, inaugural mayoral elections were held in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire. They now join the rest of Yorkshire, the North East, Tees Valley, Liverpool City and Greater Manchester as mayoral combined authorities. Continuing our ambition to see the benefits of devolution extended across the North, the Deputy Prime Minister announced six places on the Devolution Priority Programme with a fast-track ticket to drive real change in their area – including Cumbria, and Cheshire and Warrington – which are receiving the full backing of government. Finally, we are continuing to work with Lancashire Combined County Authority to deepen their existing devolution agreement and, dependant on their ongoing governance review, we will explore a path towards mayoral devolution for the region. Clearly it is for local leaders to organise and secure consensus in each of these areas, but as has always been the case, the government stands ready to work as partners in achieving this.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49921 on Elections: Surrey, whether the scheduled local council elections in Sussex in 2026 will be (a) postponed and (b) cancelled.

There are no plans to postpone local elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 48445 on Picketing, whether there is a statutory basis for the six person limit in the Code of Practice on Picketing, published in March 2024.

There is no statutory limit on the number of people attending a picket. The Code of Practice on Picketing, which is issued by the Secretary of State under section 203 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, recommends a 6 person limit as a way of enabling unions to ensure they can adhere to the legal requirement that the picket be peaceful and therefore does not intimidate others, including workers who may seek to cross it to go to work.