Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Building Safety Regulator.

MHCLG and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) both recognise the concerns about the impact of Gateway delays on investment decisions in high-rise projects and are taking significant measures to address the current challenges. The Gateways for building control approval set out under Building Safety legislation have been operational since October 2023 and are a departmental priority to facilitate both new homes and remediation projects and to ensure that failings that led to the Grenfell Tower tragedy do not happen again. MHCLG and BSR jointly keep BSR’s operational set up under review and are undertaking a further programme of enhancements. MHCLG is exploring all possible options with the BSR to ensure it is equipped for the high demand of applications. The Department has already provided additional funding to bring further capacity into the BSR for building control caseworkers and in-house technical specialists. The benefits of this additional funding will continue to scale up in the coming months. The BSR is conducting a systematic review of all of its building safety guidance and service content to identify where improvements are needed. This includes understanding themes emerging from user and stakeholder feedback. User testing will form an integral part of any changes made. The BSR will also continue to work with the Construction Leadership Council and other representative bodies to support industry written guidance. A significant number of poor quality applications that do not meet the regulatory standard are contributing to overall processing times resulting in delays. MHCLG recognises that changes are still bedding in. However, it is clear that the sector must also take responsibility for the projects it delivers. The BSR is supporting applicants to ensure they are meeting the functional requirements of the building regulations. On 28 April, the Minister for Building Safety, Fire & Local Growth hosted a roundtable with the BSR and developers to discuss industry’s concerns. The BSR meets weekly with the Construction Leadership Council to work through, address and resolve issues associated with the new Gateway processes for building control applications. Both MHCLG and the BSR welcome direct engagement with industry and are prioritising the need to improve the rate in which applications can progress through the system first time, lessening the rate of invalidated and rejected applications.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional resources to the Building Safety Regulator.

MHCLG and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) both recognise the concerns about the impact of Gateway delays on investment decisions in high-rise projects and are taking significant measures to address the current challenges. The Gateways for building control approval set out under Building Safety legislation have been operational since October 2023 and are a departmental priority to facilitate both new homes and remediation projects and to ensure that failings that led to the Grenfell Tower tragedy do not happen again. MHCLG and BSR jointly keep BSR’s operational set up under review and are undertaking a further programme of enhancements. MHCLG is exploring all possible options with the BSR to ensure it is equipped for the high demand of applications. The Department has already provided additional funding to bring further capacity into the BSR for building control caseworkers and in-house technical specialists. The benefits of this additional funding will continue to scale up in the coming months. The BSR is conducting a systematic review of all of its building safety guidance and service content to identify where improvements are needed. This includes understanding themes emerging from user and stakeholder feedback. User testing will form an integral part of any changes made. The BSR will also continue to work with the Construction Leadership Council and other representative bodies to support industry written guidance. A significant number of poor quality applications that do not meet the regulatory standard are contributing to overall processing times resulting in delays. MHCLG recognises that changes are still bedding in. However, it is clear that the sector must also take responsibility for the projects it delivers. The BSR is supporting applicants to ensure they are meeting the functional requirements of the building regulations. On 28 April, the Minister for Building Safety, Fire & Local Growth hosted a roundtable with the BSR and developers to discuss industry’s concerns. The BSR meets weekly with the Construction Leadership Council to work through, address and resolve issues associated with the new Gateway processes for building control applications. Both MHCLG and the BSR welcome direct engagement with industry and are prioritising the need to improve the rate in which applications can progress through the system first time, lessening the rate of invalidated and rejected applications.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in approving Gateway 2 applications by the Building Safety Regulator on housebuilding targets.

MHCLG and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) both recognise the concerns about the impact of Gateway delays on investment decisions in high-rise projects and are taking significant measures to address the current challenges. The Gateways for building control approval set out under Building Safety legislation have been operational since October 2023 and are a departmental priority to facilitate both new homes and remediation projects and to ensure that failings that led to the Grenfell Tower tragedy do not happen again. MHCLG and BSR jointly keep BSR’s operational set up under review and are undertaking a further programme of enhancements. MHCLG is exploring all possible options with the BSR to ensure it is equipped for the high demand of applications. The Department has already provided additional funding to bring further capacity into the BSR for building control caseworkers and in-house technical specialists. The benefits of this additional funding will continue to scale up in the coming months. The BSR is conducting a systematic review of all of its building safety guidance and service content to identify where improvements are needed. This includes understanding themes emerging from user and stakeholder feedback. User testing will form an integral part of any changes made. The BSR will also continue to work with the Construction Leadership Council and other representative bodies to support industry written guidance. A significant number of poor quality applications that do not meet the regulatory standard are contributing to overall processing times resulting in delays. MHCLG recognises that changes are still bedding in. However, it is clear that the sector must also take responsibility for the projects it delivers. The BSR is supporting applicants to ensure they are meeting the functional requirements of the building regulations. On 28 April, the Minister for Building Safety, Fire & Local Growth hosted a roundtable with the BSR and developers to discuss industry’s concerns. The BSR meets weekly with the Construction Leadership Council to work through, address and resolve issues associated with the new Gateway processes for building control applications. Both MHCLG and the BSR welcome direct engagement with industry and are prioritising the need to improve the rate in which applications can progress through the system first time, lessening the rate of invalidated and rejected applications.

Communities and Local Government, if she will issue guidance to local authorities on the potential impact of local circumstances on the application of a (a) second homes and (b) empty homes premium to council tax.

The government has published guidance on the implementation of the empty and second homes council tax premiums which encourages councils to consider local circumstances when deciding whether to apply a premium. The guidance can be found here - Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes - GOV.UK It is for councils to decide where it is appropriate to apply the premiums and assess their effectiveness at a local level.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on the consultation process in the planning system; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that guidance on the (a) efficiency and (b) cost of the planning application process.

Guidance on consultation within the planning application process is set out in the relevant planning practice guidance. The government keeps planning practice guidance under review.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Bill on traveller pitches.

The Renters' Rights Bill is focused on the assured tenancy regime.Traveller pitches do not fall within the assured tenancy regime and an assessment is unlikely to provide significant new insights into the issues affecting those who occupy traveller pitches.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 43904 on Local Government Pension Scheme, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of local government restructuring on upfront costs of (a) early retirement and (b) redundancy.

Councils will be responsible for implementing local government reorganisation including taking decisions at a local level on the restructuring of the workforce.In our invitations to councils to submit proposals for unitary local government we said that proposals should set out how an area will seek to manage transition costs. We expect that areas will be able to meet potential costs, including those related to redundancies or early retirement, over time from existing budgets, including the flexible use of capital receipts and invest-to-save projects, and the efficiencies from reorganisation.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what plans the Electoral Commission has to provide a substantive response to the internal review request to the Freedom of Information Act response reference 137-24, submitted for internal review in February 2025.

The Electoral Commission responded to the internal review request on 30 April.

How the Valuation Office Agency obtains data on plot sizes of the (a) curtilage and (b) square area of a dwelling.

The VOA refers to scaled plans and maps when determining the plot size or ‘curtilage’ of a dwelling.The square area of a dwelling may be calculated by direct measurement of the actual property. The VOA will also use scaled plans and may refer to the dimensions of a ‘house type’ when dealing with new housing developments, which comprise multiple dwellings of the same design.

Communities and Local Government, how often the Deputy Prime Minister has used her office in Room 111 in 70 Whitehall in the last six months.

This information is not held centrally.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41060 on Asylum: Temporary Accommodation, with which local authorities her Department is working.

The Home Office works with all local authorities, devolved administrations and other stakeholders to meet our statutory obligations, and deliver our commitments to reduce overall asylum accommodation costs, and end the use of hotels over time.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations his Department has received on (a) progressive and (b) seasonal water metering tariffs.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, and representatives, on various issues, including progressive and seasonal water metering tariffs. We welcome companies’ willingness to trial innovative new approaches to charging customers, to achieve greater affordability and water efficiency.

Communities and Local Government, what progress the Best Value intervention has made on improving Birmingham City Council’s oracle and income management system.

The Best Value Intervention has supported substantial progress in addressing key issues relating to Birmingham City Council’s Oracle ERP system. A new re-implementation strategy is set, with the Council committed to adopting the best practice processes of the new system. The programme is currently in the design phase, with Council officers engaged in understanding system requirements and developing a formally agreed process model. Commissioners have noted improved leadership, staff engagement and collaboration. The Council, supported by Commissioners, will continue their efforts during this crucial period – the system build is expected to commence once the design phase concludes in May and the Council formally agrees the way forward, with a currently planned implementation in 2026.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on (a) the trade union action in Birmingham and (b) industrial action in general.

In October 2024 the government published impact assessments on the trade union-related measures within the Employment Rights Bill. The impact assessments covering the Bill’s repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 and the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 included an assessment of the expected impact on industrial action.

Communities and Local Government, if she will issue guidance to local authorities on communicating levels of risk associated with green investment products to consumers; and whether municipal green investment trust products are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Under the current system, councils are free to determine their own investment strategies. In doing so they must, however, have regard to statutory guidance that sets out best practice to ensure decisions are prudent, affordable and sustainable, and comply with their Best Value Duty. Investments should represent value for money and not place tax payers’ money at excessive risk. If a firm offering an investment product in question was authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) or Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), is no longer solvent and cannot pay for a claim, the FSCS may offer compensation up to a certain limit. The firm must also be undertaking an activity regulated by the PRA or FCA in relation to that investment product.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the increase in employers National Insurance contributions on the number of staff directly employed by local authorities.

We recognise the pressures local authorities are under as demand for vital services grows. Government is providing £2 billion of additional grant funding through the Settlement, including £502 million to manage the impact of employer National Insurance Contribution changes on council budgets, and £13 million for combined authorities, totalling £515 million. Payments to councils will be unringfenced to give local authorities discretion over the use of funds in their area. This funding can be used to support councils to mitigate the additional costs of employer National Insurance Contributions within direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services, for example. Additional funding for employer NICs has been determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff. The grant distribution methodology has been published in an explanatory note on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-explanatory-note-on-the-employer-national-insurance-contribution-grant-2025-to-2026.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the increase of employers National Insurance contributions on (a) commissioned and (b) externally provided council services.

We recognise the pressures local authorities are under as demand for vital services grows. Government is providing £2 billion of additional grant funding through the Settlement, including £502 million to manage the impact of employer National Insurance Contribution changes on council budgets, and £13 million for combined authorities, totalling £515 million. Payments to councils will be unringfenced to give local authorities discretion over the use of funds in their area. This funding can be used to support councils to mitigate the additional costs of employer National Insurance Contributions within direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services, for example. Additional funding for employer NICs has been determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff. The grant distribution methodology has been published in an explanatory note on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-explanatory-note-on-the-employer-national-insurance-contribution-grant-2025-to-2026.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41059 on Energy: Shops, whether Energy Performance Certificate is a positive material consideration for the Valuation Office Agency in the (a) council tax banding and (b) valuation of a property.

The impact of Energy Performance Certificates alone is unlikely to be significant in increasing a property’s Council Tax band. To band a property for Council Tax the Listing Officer of the VOA assesses a property’s value as being within a broad range of values as at 1 April 1991 in England, and 1 April 2003 in Wales. Whether a property has an Energy Performance Certificate is one of the many factors that may be taken into consideration but unless the value is close to the boundary between two bands, the effect of any energy efficient improvements is unlikely to result in a higher band. Valuation of a property for other purposes may have regard to any Energy Performance Certificate relating to the property. Whether it is a material consideration will depend on the purpose of the valuation and the circumstances of the case.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of introducing compulsory water metering of homes paying water bills based on rateable value.

Currently, individual water companies decide the best way to manage water demand issues, including their approach to metering. However, to inform their decisions, Defra issues guiding principles that set out our priorities, including our expectations of water companies to increase metering where appropriate. There are conditions that need to be met before a water company can compulsorily charge via a water meter. These conditions include a change of occupier, if the property is new, on the request of the householder and when the water company is in an area designated as under serious water stress. Water companies in areas of serious water stress are already able to implement water metering programmes. Areas of “water stress” are outlined in the Environment Agency’s 2021 classification Water stressed areas – 2021 classification - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). These programmes must be justified by water companies and achieve customer support, striking the right balance between the need to protect water supplies and the importance of water companies reducing leakage before expanding the use of water meters.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 44484 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, whether her Department considered (a) appealing the judgement and (b) bringing forward legislative proposals to reverse it.

We are carefully considering the judgment issued by the High Court in May 2024.The letter was sent by the NPCC.