Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,521–1,540 of 3,003 · this parliament
What plans she has to (a) review and (b) increase the maximum level of parking fines that can be issued by councils outside London.
A number of parking sector stakeholders conducted research recently into this issue. It has been shared with the Department and officials will be reviewing the research and its findings in due course, and that will then inform decisions about next steps.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of deploying water efficiency technologies in the delivery of new homes as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Building Regulations require all new homes to meet a water efficiency standard of 125 litres per person per day (l/p/d). Local planning authorities can set higher standards through the preparation of local plans as set out in national planning guidance on Housing: Optional Technical Standards. This optional technical standard, of 110 litres l/p/d, can be implemented through local plan policies where there is a clear local need such as local water scarcity or other environmental considerations.We are working alongside Defra and the Building Safety Regulator to tighten water efficiency in new developments and retrofits. This will help meet the target set by the Environment Act 2021 to reduce the use of public water supply in England per head of the population by 20% by 2038.
Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 45034 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, whether her Department has had discussions with Historic England on proposals for a Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets.
DCMS officials have held discussions with Historic England on proposals for a Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets limited to the State of Conservation Report submitted in November 2024 and the inclusion of Historic England's advice to the Public Inquiry and Planning Inspectorate in the paragraph 172 notification submitted in February 2025.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his letter to the Lead Commissioner of Birmingham City Council of 2 April 2025, what the remit of the Commissioners is on the failures of the Oracle IT system; and whether he expects there to be a wider inquiry in the IT system.
Commissioners appointed to Birmingham City Council have powers relating to governance, finance and recruitment, and bring expertise in local government improvement, finance, HR, housing, IT and commercial strategy. Their remit includes supporting the Council in the re-implementation of the Oracle-based Enterprise Resource Programme system. Commissioners have supported the Council in developing a recovery strategy and improving stability and accountability, as reflected in their second progress report which was published on 31 March 2025.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of equal pay legislation on the finances of (a) Birmingham City Council and (b) other local authorities.
Local authorities are independent employers responsible for complying with employment legislation and so the management of equal pay claims is a matter for councils. This includes conducting an assessment of the financial impact of such claims. The government does however, fund the Local Government Association to run a Sector Support Programme, which includes providing support and guidance for councils on equal pay issues. In addition, in line with the government’s wider approach to Exceptional Financial Support, we stand ready to speak to any council that is experiencing financial difficulties, including as a result of equal pay. As I confirmed last July (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament), Birmingham Council’s current estimate of the Equal Pay liability is £867m. The Government has provided in-principle Exceptional Financial Support to support the Council to set a balanced budget, including on the Equal Pay liability.
Communities and Local Government, how much will be paid to each local authority through the Employer National Insurance Contribution Grant in the 2025-26 financial year; and whether payments will be made through that grant in the 2026-27 financial year.
The allocations for the Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant for each local authority are available on the GOV.UK page for the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, in the Core Spending Power table - Core Spending Power table: final local government finance settlement 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK. Spending decisions beyond 2025-26, including on Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant for 2026-27, are a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23428 on Flats: Fire Prevention, how many under 11 metre buildings were unable to access an independent audit of a Fire Risk Appraisal of the External Wall between July 2024 and March 2025; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the inability to access those audits on leaseholders.
Thirteen buildings were awaiting audits of their fire risk appraisal of external walls (FRAEWs) between July 2024 and March 2025. A new contract is now operative, audits are being urgently processed and officials are engaging regularly with property managers, freeholders and leaseholders about all low-rise buildings requiring audits.The department has not made an assessment of the potential impact on leaseholders.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of judicial reviews by Client Earth to her Department in the last three years.
We have not identified any judicial reviews by ClientEarth against the Department (or its predecessor or Ministers) in the last three years.
Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of residential buildings requiring remediation of life-critical non-cladding defects (a) in scope and (b) not in scope of the developer remediation contract.
The department does not hold the information requested on the total number of residential buildings requiring remediation of non-cladding defects. It collects related data for some buildings as part of wider surveys of developers and of registered providers of social housing.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43882 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Industrial Disputes, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate the potential impact of the industrial action.
The department has well-tested and thorough plans in place to support business continuity in the event of events which may disrupt regular business. Existing business continuity plans have been reviewed, core functions engaged to ensure that any impacts are mitigated, and regular communications have been issued to prepare for and manage industrial action.
Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of enforcement actions against (a) enfranchised and (b) leaseholder-owned buildings for non-cladding fire safety defects.
The department does not hold information on the number of enforcement actions against (a) enfranchised and (b) leaseholder-owned buildings for non-cladding fire safety defects, and we have no requirement to maintain this information.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce a formal mechanism to remove non-qualifying lease status after confirmation by a professional fire engineer assessment that no further remediation work is required.
As expressed at a recent Select Committee session the department is looking very closely at what can be done to sunset the “in perpetuity” status of leases which do not qualify for the leaseholder protections.This can be found at Oral evidence: Grenfell and Building Safety (1 April 2025, Q55 https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/15662/pdf/).
Communities and Local Government, if her Department will publish the findings of the call for evidence entitled Jointly owned properties which closed on 7 April 2024.
A call for evidence on jointly owned residential leasehold properties was undertaken by the previous administration and we do not intend to publish it. However, the government is reviewing how to better protect leaseholders from costs relating to building safety.All leaseholders, including those who hold leases which do not qualify for the leaseholder protections, (whether as joint or sole owners) benefit from qualifying lease status for their principal (main) residence.
Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has provided to Surrey councils on drawing up proposals for a single unitary council for Surrey.
In our unitary invitation we have set out guidance to support councils as they develop proposals that are in the best interests of their areas. This includes guidance on issues of size, sensible geographies, efficiencies and financial sustainability, public service delivery, community engagement and devolution. Proposals should be for a sensible geography which will help to increase housing supply and meet local needs. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. We have not asked Surrey to include a single unitary proposal. As part of the feedback process, it was suggested that Surrey councils may wish to consider an options appraisal that could include a counter factual of a single unitary, which could be helpful as a benchmark.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce a transition period for the introduction of the provisions of the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The Renters' Rights Bill delivers the government's manifesto commitment to overhaul the regulation of the private rented sector, including by abolishing Section 21 'no fault' evictions.We want to see tenants benefit from these reforms as quickly as possible. We have therefore decided to introduce the new tenancy system for the private rented sector in one stage. Upon the commencement date, the new tenancy system will apply to all private tenancies - existing tenancies will become periodic, and any new tenancies will be governed by the new rules. We will provide sufficient notice and will work closely with tenants groups and the landlord and lettings sector ahead of implementation.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of capping rent-in-advance at one month on prospective tenants.
Demands for extortionate rent in advance put financial strain on tenants and can exclude certain groups from renting all together.The Renters’ Rights Bill will prohibit a landlord or letting agents from inviting, encouraging or any payment of rent before a tenancy has been entered into. In addition, a landlord will only be able to require up to one month's rent in the window between a tenancy agreement being signed and that tenancy beginning. Once the tenancy starts, landlords will be unable to enforce any terms in a tenancy agreement that require rent to be paid in advance of agreed due dates.The effect of these measures will be that tenants can be certain that the financial outlay to secure a tenancy will not exceed the cost of a tenancy deposit and the first month’s rent, and that they will not be required to pay their rent earlier than agreed.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued recent guidance to local authorities on charging for pest control (a) removal and (b) prevention.
The government has not issued any recent guidance to local authorities on charging for pest control removal and prevention.
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 44484 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the ruling on local authorities.
The government is carefully considering the judgement issued by the High Court in May 2024, including the potential impact on local authorities.Local authorities retain the powers they need to manage caravan sites and unauthorised encampments. If enforcement action is required, it would be a matter for the police as part of their operational decision making, working with local authorities.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41456 on Parish and Town Councils: Council tax, whether her Department holds data on the precepts set by individual (a) town and (b) parish councils.
The 2024-25 council tax statistics on the precepts set by individual town and parish councils, in England, are published here. The 2025-26 statistics are provisionally scheduled to be published on 7 May 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the buy-to-let lending sector on implementing the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The Department has engaged with a range of organisations, including those representing buy-to-let lenders, to understand their needs in the development of the Renters’ Rights Bill. We will continue to work with the sector to ensure a smooth transition to the new tenancy system.