Written questions by Hollinrake.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41453, if he will make it her policy to ensure the Mayoral Renewables Fund does not operate by a bidding process.

Further to the response provided to Question 41453, the Mayoral Renewables Fund (MRF) is a one-off scheme in 2025/26, designed to enable Great British Energy (GBE) to build early relationships with as many Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) as possible during this transitional year, and to enable all MSAs to benefit from the funding allocated to early GBE delivery in 25/26. The MRF is not a competitive process; all MSAs were invited to submit proposals and all MSAs will receive funding as long as scheme eligibility criteria are met. There are no plans for the MRF to continue in its current form beyond 25/26.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Tony Blair since 1 July 2024.

The Deputy Prime Minister joined Tony Blair for a Q&A event in December 2024 at the Tony Blair Institute. They discussed delivering the government’s ambitious agenda on Housing and Devolution.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Regulatory Policy Committee's report entitled Status of Post Implementation Reviews published on 24 April 2025, why the post-implementation review of The Infrastructure Planning Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2017 was delayed.

It is a matter of regret that under the previous government my Department did not manage to carry out and publish the required post-implementation reviews of regulatory provisions in these Regulations in a timely manner.I reassure the hon. Member, and the Regulatory Policy Committee, that this government will proceed to review these regulatory provisions and publish a report setting out the conclusions as soon as we can.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document by the Regulatory Policy Committee entitled Status of Post Implementation Reviews, published 24 April 2025, when Department plans to publish its post-implementation review of The Infrastructure Planning (Compulsory Acquisition) (Amendment) Regulations 2017.

It is a matter of regret that under the previous government my Department did not manage to carry out and publish the required post-implementation reviews of regulatory provisions in these Regulations in a timely manner.I reassure the hon. Member, and the Regulatory Policy Committee, that this government will proceed to review these regulatory provisions and publish a report setting out the conclusions as soon as we can.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 45389 on New Towns, whether new towns will be designated where the local planning authority does not support the (a) designation or (b) proposed development.

As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of polygamous marriages approved by sharia law courts in the most recent period for which information is held.

This information is not held.

Communities and Local Government, what recent progress she has made on replacing the non-executive directors in her Department.

The open competition to recruit up to four Non-Executive Directors for the MHCLG Departmental Board is currently at interview stage, with the aim of appointing and announcing successful candidates in the coming months.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of Unite's statement entitled Birmingham council real plans laid bare as it now announces savage cuts for bin drivers, published on 29 April 2025.

The waste dispute between the employer (Birmingham City Council) and the trade union (Unite), remains a significant concern. The government has no formal role in these negotiations but we urge both parties to negotiate in good faith, reach a fair agreement, and bring this dispute to a close.

Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the number of second homes in each local billing authority in England.

The government annually publishes data on council taxbases, including the number of dwellings assessed as second homes for council tax purposes in England. The most recent data, taken from a snapshot in October 2024, is available here.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 46271 on Hospitality Industry: Licensing, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of alcohol licensing fees on licensed (a) pubs and (b) restaurants that want to operate pavement licences.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 27 February.In addition, he will be aware that in early April the Department for Business and Trade announced a licensing policy taskforce to explore and evaluate options to create a licensing system that better supports business growth while ensuring public safety and community interests remain adequately protected under the Government’s Safer Streets Mission.The Home Office is playing an active role in that taskforce, further details of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/licensing-policy-taskforce/terms-of-reference-and-taskforce-member-list

Communities and Local Government, whether the scheduled local council elections in Surrey in 2026 will be (a) postponed and (b) cancelled.

The government considered requests to postpone local elections from May 2025 to May 2026 where it could be shown to help deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.The government will work with areas to hold elections for new unitary councils as soon as possible as is the usual arrangement in the process of local government reorganisation. For Surrey, our expectation is that the only elections that will take place in May 2026 are elections to new shadow unitary local government, with a view to going live in April 2027.

Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on (a) the number of charitable independent schools which received 20% discretionary business rate relief in 2024-25 and (b) the number of local authorities offering such discretionary rate relief; and whether her Department holds information on the number of local authorities which are continuing to provide such discretionary business rate relief in 2025-26.

The government does not collect data on discretionary rates relief awarded to charities at property level. As part of the annual National Non-Domestic Rates return, data is collected for total discretionary relief for all charitable occupation. The published forecast data shows an estimate of 281 Billing Authorities providing £48.7 million in discretionary relief for charitable occupation in 2024-25, and 280 Billing Authorities providing £48.9 million in 2025-26.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has a target number of people to be supported under the Communities for Afghans phase 2 scheme.

Communities for Afghans phase 2 aims to accommodate 500 Afghan households (approximately 2,750 individuals) on Afghan resettlement schemes by the end of March 2031. Further detail on the scheme is here.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish interests of Departmental board members.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published an updated register of board members’ interests on Gov.uk on 07 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has recused herself from matters relating to licensing in the hospitality sector.

All ministers are recused from policy decisions where there are competing interests. The Deputy Prime Minister has declared her interests in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on (a) domestic and (b) international flights since 4 July 2024.

MHCLG has spent £39,114.79 on domestic flights and £68,513.31 on international flights since 4 July 2024.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to conduct a post-implementation review of The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015.

The government has considered the wider assured tenancy system in the process of preparing the Renters’ Rights Bill.The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015 refer only to assured shorthold tenancies, which will cease to exist after the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill.The regulations will therefore cease to have any effect after implementation of the Bill, so we intend to repeal them by regulation.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of automatic voter registration.

The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of public data and online Government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.

How much funding has been made available for apprenticeships for local authority planning staff since 4 July 2024; and whether her Department has made changes to the eligibility for that funding since that date.

The department does not allocate apprenticeship funding to specific apprenticeship standards or industry sectors.Employers, including local authorities, decide which apprenticeships they offer and when, and can then access funding for apprenticeships training and assessment costs.The department has not made changes to how employers access funding for apprenticeships since July 2024.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including technology-based solutions in proposed environmental delivery plans in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Environmental Delivery Plans would be able to consider a range of different types of conservation measures.This may include technology-based solutions, where such solutions could address potential negative effects of development on the environmental features with which the plan is concerned.