Written questions by Hollinrake.

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.

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 (a) Norfolk and (b) Suffolk in 2026 will be (i) postponed and (ii) 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.

How many days each Minister in his Department has worked in (a) Departmental offices and (b) Government hubs outside London since 5 July 2024.

The Cabinet Office does not hold specific information regarding how many days Cabinet Office Ministers have worked in departmental offices and government hubs outside of London since 5 July 2024.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Valuation Tribunal Service has produced guidance on the (a) council tax premium on empty homes and (b) definition of an empty dwelling.

The government has published comprehensive guidance on the implementation of council tax premiums, including how empty homes are defined for council tax purposes. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 48979 on 7 May 2025.The Valuation Tribunal Service has not published specific guidance on council tax premiums on empty homes but has issued a general council tax guidance manual for taxpayers.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of written parliamentary questions submitted to the Table Office have been carded in this session.

The total proportion of written parliamentary questions carded in this Session of Parliament because they do not comply with the rules of order is just over 19%. Most card queries are resolved quickly by a conversation with the tabling Member. The Table Office offers training to hon. Members and their staff on the rules of order and the drafting of orderly WPQs.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Table Office will meet the staff of Conservative Members of Parliament to discuss their work.

While hon. Members alone have the right to table questions, the Table Office routinely deals with Members’ staff, acting with the authority of their Member, about the tabling and drafting of questions, as part of the Office’s responsibility to ensure that questions adhere to the rules of order and practices of the House.Most issues concerning the drafting of questions are resolved quickly, but where it is not possible to do so with a member of staff, the Table Office will ask to deal directly with the Member concerned. This reflects the fact that responsibility for tabling questions resides with the hon. Member personally and ensures that the Table Office’s resources are used in an effective manner.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of local government restructuring on the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Local government reorganisation will have impacts on the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and may require the transfer of various functions, including the responsibility for administering an LGPS fund to a different authority. We would expect councils to work with relevant administering authorities on any implications of restructuring on the LGPS.

If he will make an estimate of the (a) capital and (b) notional market rent of the Deputy Prime Minister's residence in Admiralty House.

Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency for commercial and residential use. There is not an up-to-date assessment of market rent for residential space within this.

How much has been spent on (a) refurbishment and (b) fixtures and fittings for the Deputy Prime Minister’s flat in Admiralty House since 4 July 2024.

The maintenance of Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency with costs accrued in the usual way, as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers.

For how long each of the unoccupied dwellings in Admiralty House has been empty.

For security and operational reasons we do not disclose occupancy timings of individual residences.

Whether any services are provided to the Deputy Prime Minister’s residence in Admiralty House; and who is responsible for paying for those services.

The maintenance of Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency with costs accrued in the usual way, as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the publication of the Community Cohesion strategy.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is leading cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address deep-seated issues. This is a priority for the Deputy Prime Minister, who has stood up a cross-government ‘Communities & Recovery Steering Group’ to oversee this work. One of its first acts was to launch a new Community Recovery Fund, providing £15 million for places most impacted by last summer’s disorder.

How many bedrooms the Deputy Prime Minister's residence in Admiralty House has.

For security and operational reasons we do not disclose the layout of individual residences.

Communities and Local Government, if she will create an English language strategy within the Community Cohesion strategy.

The government recognises that the ability to speak English is key to helping people integrate into life in the UK, as well as supporting people to access education, employment and other opportunities. For example, we have launched a competitive process to continue our support for Ukrainians and Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas), providing intensive English language lessons and employment support for up to 4,000 individuals. This builds on the success of the STEP Ukraine pilot which has supported over 13,000 Ukrainians, with an impressive 84% successfully completing the programme and 73% achieving a 100% in their English language test. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is leading cross-government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address deep-seated issues.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49394 on Buildings: Co-ownership, for what reason she does not plan to publish the call for evidence.

The call for evidence undertaken by the previous government was targeted specifically at joint owners of leasehold properties, and did not find evidence that the position of those jointly owning properties is sufficiently different from those solely owning properties to justify changing our current policy. This Government is not currently considering any expansion of the leaseholder protections but is looking very closely at how to address the enduring question of the “in perpetuity” status on non-qualifying leases.

With reference to her Department's publication entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether she plans to make changes to English language requirements for (a) asylum seekers and (b) their dependents.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues – including English language requirements – details of which will be set out in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48442 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, whether he considered appealing the High Court judgment of May 2024.

As with all judgements of this nature, we are reviewing the ruling in detail.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Land Registry compiles data on the prices of second homes.

HM Land Registry does not compile data on the prices of second homes.

Whether she monitors the (a) work and (b) activities of the Chinese United Front Work Department on foreign interference.

We keep all potential threats to the UK under constant review, and when we encounter foreign interference or espionage, we are swift in using all available tools, including prosecutions, exclusions, sanctions and diplomacy, to keep our country safe.

What type of (a) tenancy and (b) licence (i) her Department and (ii) its contractors use to house asylum seekers.

The Home Office’s Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract providers grant licences for the occupation of accommodation under section 4 or Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.