Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, how many permanent civil servants in her Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register, (d) talent pool and (e) skills match hub in the most recent period for which data is available.

Less than 1% of the department are in a redeployment position within MHCLG. There are currently 27 individuals in a redeployment position out of a workforce of c.3900 FTE.

Whether any gender-neutral toilets have been removed from the Government estate since 4 July 2024.

A number of gender-neutral toilets have been repurposed into alternative toilet types within the Government Property Agency’s managed estate since 4 July 2024, in response to feedback from users of those buildings about the provision of single-sex and gender neutral toilets, and to ensure compliance with changes to Building Regulations.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45696 on Planning Permission, what the topic was of each equality impact assessment that has been produced by her Department since 4 July 2024.

The following topics of planning practice guidance have been updated or introduced since 4 July 2024: Enforcement and post-permission mattersNatural environmentHousing supply and deliveryViabilityPlan-makingHousing and economic needs assessmentEffective use of landGreen BeltCrown Development and Urgent Crown DevelopmentFees for planning applications The Secretary of State considered the Public Sector Equality Duty in issuing these updates.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, whether funds raised through the Nature Restoration Fund must be allocated to Environmental Delivery Plans (a) in the same local authority as the development or (b) within any specified geographical proximity to the development.

Each Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) will address one or more specified environmental features, which will be either a protected species, or a protected aspect of a protected site. Under an EDP, Natural England will be required to deliver conservation measures that contribute to an overall improvement to the environmental feature(s) specified. When delivering conservation measures through an EDP, Natural England will look to deliver these in the area where development is taking place. The Bill allows for those circumstances where it may be appropriate to deliver conservation measures aimed at the same environmental feature but at another site outside of where the development is taking place. For example, if Natural England deem that this may deliver a better outcome for a protected species to create new habitats or enhance existing habitats further afield.

Pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46900 on Asylum: Housing, if she will provide a national figure.

I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on the 30 April 2025 to UIN 46900.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to repeal any retained EU environmental regulations in the context of her proposed planning reforms.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill proposes targeted amendments to the Habitats Regulations, with Schedule 4 including changes necessary to enable the nature restoration fund to address environmental impacts from development in place of the Habitats Regulations.The previous government secured powers to reform existing environmental assessment legislation, to create a new system of environmental outcomes reports in place of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations. This government is considering how to utilise these powers as part of our wider efforts to deliver economic growth and secure better environmental outcomes.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Office for Environmental Protection publication entitled OEP gives advice to Government on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 1 May 2025.

The government welcomes that the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) share our view that the Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to secure better outcomes for nature whilst also unlocking and accelerating necessary development.We are giving careful consideration to the advice the OEP have provided on proposed changes to environmental law contained in Part 3 of the Bill.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to make a submission to the Women and Equalities Committee's inquiry on gendered Islamophobia.

We welcome the Committee's inquiry on this topic and ministers will take a keen interest in its findings. The Government recognises that religious hatred is not specific to one place and can manifest in varying areas, such as online spaces and in public and educational settings. Certain characteristics, for example gender, sexuality and race, can often compound individual’s experiences of religious hatred. British Muslim women are pivotal to our wider communities. They are often the driving force behind interfaith and community initiatives, yet they face specific challenges, with discrimination and intolerance often directed at them. The Government has established a new working group to provide government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia. This work will consider views from a cross-section of society, including those of Muslim women, to improve understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities, supporting wider and ongoing government-led efforts to tackle religiously motivated hate crime and foster cohesion.

Communities and Local Government, what the locations were of the official visits she undertook on 10 April 2025.

The Deputy Prime Minister was undertaking official and political business from multiple locations on 10 April . This included a departmental visit to Birmingham.

Communities and Local Government, on what date she last used her office in 70 Whitehall.

Yesterday.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 on Question 47705 on Client Earth, (a) when and (b) how his Department has engaged with Client Earth since July 2024.

The Department engages with Client Earth in a range of ways. Myself and Client Earth attended a United Nations General Assembly event on 25 September 2024. Client Earth participated in an online Collective Intelligence debate as part of our Environmental Improvement Plan review, in March 2025. We responded to Client Earth letters on 7 January, 23 January and 5 February 2025, and to further correspondence to which Client Earth were co-signatories, since July 2024. Client Earth staff also receive Departmental newsletters.

How does the Valuation Office Agency determine the area size of a dwelling in (a) England and (b) Wales; and how does it determine the size of a non-standard plot.

I refer the hon. member to the following answer UIN 48452, tabled on 28 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47709 on Permitted Development Rights, whether her Department has issued guidance to local planning authorities on making Article 4 directions publicly accessible.

The regulations require local planning authorities to publicise all Article 4 directions made. My Department has not issued any guidance on this.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 45023 on Fast Food, how the Food Standard Agency defines fast food outlets.

The term ‘fast food outlet’ is not one that is used or defined in retained European Union or domestic food hygiene and safety legislation. In addition, there is nothing in terms of food standards regarding the definition of a fast-food outlet.Any food business that sells, cooks, stores, handles, prepares, or distributes food may be considered a food business and will need to register with their local authority.When a food business registers, they confirm what type of business they are, including if they supply take away food. They would be regulated in a similar way to restaurants, cafés, and canteens.

Communities and Local Government, on what topics her Department has produced an environmental principles assessment since 4 July 2024.

The Environment Act 2021 requires Ministers to have ‘due regard’ to the policy statement on environmental principles when making policy. This is to ensure that environmental considerations are at the heart of policymaking across government. Since this duty came into force in November 2023, my Department has produced environmental principles assessments on a range of different topics. While the Department does not maintain a running list of environmental principles assessments it has undertaken, assessments have included those for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the December 2024 update to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) MI5, (b) GCHQ or (c) MI6 are able to make representations to (i) the planning inspector and (ii) her as part of the planning inquiry on the proposed Chinese Embassy without such representations being made available to the applicant.

Representations on planning applications will be dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, whether she will have access to the unredacted plans for the proposed Chinese Embassy when the Planning Inspector’s report is submitted.

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

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to support Historic County Flag Day; and which public body organises the event.

The department will continue its annual celebration of Historic County Flag Day in July 2025 by flying all registered historic county flags of Great Britain in Parliament Square. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for organising and overseeing the event.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling in Mead Realisations Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWCA Civ 32.

The government has noted the view of the Court of Appeal in Mead Realisations Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWCA Civ 32 that the Planning Practice Guidance can in principle amend national policy. It remains the case that Planning Practice Guidance will continue to be used in a supporting role to, and consistent with, national policy. The government did not appeal this decision within the applicable time period.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with the Welsh Government on automatic electoral registration in Wales.

UK Government and Welsh Government officials are in regular contact on a range of electoral conduct and registration topics, including the Welsh Government’s pilots on automatic electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on the manifesto commitment to improve electoral registration including making greater use of public data and digital services. We are following the Welsh pilots with interest.