Written questions by Hollinrake.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, what requirements re-elected Members of Parliament have to declare political donations received in the period from the dissolution of Parliament to their swearing in as a Member of Parliament.

This is not a matter for the House of Commons Commission.The rules are set out in the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the House on 12 December 2022 (HC 1083).https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmcode/1083/1083-1.pdfMembers seeking advice on the registration of specific interests should contact the Registrar of Members’ Interests.

Communities and Local Government, whether any elections scheduled for May 2026 will be postponed.

We have no plans to postpone elections scheduled for May 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants have had with the Welsh Government on council tax (i) revaluation and (ii) re-banding.

The government maintains regular engagement with the Welsh Government on a range of issues. Council tax is a devolved matter, but we are aware that the Welsh Government has set out its intention to introduce a revaluation of council tax bands from 2028 and has consulted on wider reforms.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed abolition of two-tier local government in Surrey on the debt held by Woking Borough Council.

On 5th February, I wrote to all councils in Surrey to formally invite proposals for unitary local government. As set out in the criteria in the statutory guidance accompanying that invitation, it is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of the whole area. For areas where there are exceptional circumstances where there has been failure linked to capital practices, such as in Woking Borough Council, proposals should reflect the extent to which the implications of this can be managed locally, including as part of efficiencies possible through reorganisation. We are working with Woking in the context of reorganisation in Surrey to understand what support may be required for the exceptional debt as part of the upcoming Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 41460 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Equality, how many (a) staff and (b) Ministers are members of the Inclusion Allies network.

MHCLG’s Inclusion Allies network is comprised of 73 (a) staff members and zero (b) ministers. All expenditure by core MHCLG with this supplier since July 2024, and the purpose of that expenditure, is set out in the answer to Question UIN 45669 on 29 April 2025. No ALB sponsored by the MHCLG has made any payments to this supplier since July 2024, except for Homes England who made one payment for a 12-month corporate membership to support their EDI ambitions.

Innovation and Technology, whether the Information Commissioner has produced guidance on the inclusion of local Electoral Returning Officers within the definition of local authorities for the Re-use of Public Sector Information.

The Re-Use of Public Sector Information (RPSI) Regulations 2015 apply to public sector bodies in the UK, including local authorities. The ICO has produced guidance on the RPSI, which can be accessed on its website and includes details about the scope of the legislation. The National Archives also has detailed guidance available on its website.The ICO does not have specific plans to update this guidance.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the gross cost of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions for fire and rescue services.

Government funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) in the form of revenue support grant (RSG) and retained business rates. In recognition of the decision to increase employer National Insurance Contributions, the Government will provide £515 million to English local councils, including mayoral combined authorities and fire and rescue authorities, allocated based on an assessment of each council’s share of relevant net service expenditure. The 2025/26 LGFS was published on 3 February and sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue. Standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities will see an increase in core spending power of £65.5m in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25.

What resources from her Department were used to organise her visit to the Cambridgeshire Police headquarters on 10 April 2025.

In line with the normal rules for the pre-election period, the event in question was arranged and staffed by the political teams in the Home Office and 10 Downing Street.

Whether the Spending Review Phase 2 will include council tax.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given by Minister McMahon to PQ UIN 45028 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament on 22 April 2025.

Whether the Valuation Office Agency can increase council tax bands outside the sale of a property where the property owner has not challenged the existing valuation.

Outside the sale of a property, there are very limited circumstances where a listing officer (LO) can alter a Council Tax band. If an LO is satisfied there is an error in the valuation list, they have a statutory duty to correct that error. If that error results in an increase to the band, the increase would be effective from the date the list is altered. A reduction of a property’s band as a result of an error would be backdated as necessary.

What estimate she has made of employer National Insurance contributions paid by public sector organisations in (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26.

HM Revenue and Customs receipts figures are not separated into public and private sector employers. The requested figures are therefore not readily available.

Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans to issue updated land use in England statistics.

The Department will publish the updated land use statistics in due course. The publication date will be pre-announced on GOV.UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 20950 on Employers' Contributions: Public Sector, what progress she has made on estimating the assumed unit cost per (a) headcount and (b) FTE employee of the increase in National Insurance contributions on employers in the public sector.

At the Autumn Budget the Chancellor set aside £4.7 billion of funding for departments in order to support them with the increased costs as a result of the rise in employer national insurance contributions. This funding has been allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way, which is in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy. Updated departmental budgets for 2025/26 including allocations were published at the Spring Statement. The Government also plans to publish individual departments’ allocations as part of Mains estimates.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of combined authority models of mayoral governance with council-led scrutiny on the Greater London Authority.

The Government remains committed to engaging local authorities, including London Borough Councils, and the wider local government sector on the detail of our reforms set out in the English Devolution White Paper. As part of this process, it will be important to consider London’s unique devolution settlement, including drawing on existing ways of working between the Greater London Authority and London Boroughs.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 38618 on Freeports, whether trade unions participants in freeports governance will be subject to the same responsibilities and duties as ordinary board members.

The specific responsibilities and duties of Freeport board members are stipulated by the relevant articles of association/terms of reference for the Freeport Board and are for individual Freeports to define, giving due regard to relevant government guidance.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to give London boroughs a greater role in pan-London governance.

The Government remains committed to engaging local authorities, including London Borough Councils, and the wider local government sector on the detail of our reforms set out in the English Devolution White Paper. As part of this process, it will be important to consider London’s unique devolution settlement, including drawing on existing ways of working between the Greater London Authority and London Boroughs.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance the Government has provided to police forces on election purdah (a) rules and (b) restrictions on publicity during the pre-election period of local elections.

The government does not issue pre-election guidance to Police Forces.

Communities and Local Government, what proportion of dwellings were built on land designated as previously undeveloped Green Belt in England in each year since 1997 for which figures are held.

The Department publishes a statistical release entitled ‘Land use change statistics – new residential addresses’, which includes information on the proportion of dwellings built on land designated as previously undeveloped Green Belt in England. The live table P310 provides data from 2013-14 to 2021-22, and can be found here. The live tables P243 and P246 provide data from 1989 to 2011, and can be found here. Figures for 2022-23 will be published in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish responses from local authorities to the Devolution Priority Programme consultation.

The consultations for the six areas on the Devolution Priority Programme closed on 13 April 2025. The Government is now carefully considering all responses received, before taking a decision on whether to proceed. This decision, and a report on the consultation, will be published in due course.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43101 on Tower of London, whether her Department has received correspondence from (a) ICOMOS and (b) UNESCO in relation to the potential impact of the proposals for a Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint on the Tower of London World Heritage Site; and if she will place a copy of the paragraph 172 notification letter sent by her Department on 25 February 2025 in the Library.

No, the Department has not received any correspondence from ICOMOS or UNESCO regarding the potential impact of the proposals on the Tower of London World Heritage Site.Yes, a copy of the paragraph 172 notification sent by the Department on 28 February 2025 will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.