Written questions by Hollinrake.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) fly-tipping and (b) uncollected household rubbish on the environment; and whether the Environment Agency has had discussions with Birmingham City Council on (i) fly-tipping and (ii) uncollected household rubbish.

A multi-agency coordinating group was established in response to the declaration of a major incident by Birmingham City Council due to the buildup of waste in Birmingham. The Environment Agency is supporting Birmingham City Council who have led on producing risk assessments and plans as part of the multiagency response. The Environment Agency’s remit is to investigate fly tipping or illegal dumping where there is a single waste deposit of more than 20 cubic metres, more than 5 cubic metres of fibrous asbestos, or 75 litres of potentially hazardous waste in drums or containers. If the offending is believed to be linked to criminal business activity or organised crime, then this may fall to the Environment Agency to investigate and will seek to work jointly with the Local Authority and other partner agencies to resolve the issue. Local Authorities are responsible for assessing, removing and disposing of all fly-tipped waste if it’s on relevant land, which includes land under their direct control and is publicly accessible. The Environment Agency regulates waste-permitted sites to ensure compliance with the conditions of their Environmental Permits and has proactively inspected permitted sites in Birmingham to ensure they are compliant with their permits and no issues arise from the ongoing clean up in the city.

Communities and Local Government, how many hectares of land were designated as green belt in each year since 1997.

The Department publishes an annual release entitled 'Local authority green belt statistics for England', which includes information on hectares of land designated as Green Belt in England, as well as by local authority. An accompanying live table entitled 'Area since 1997' describes the hectares of land in England designated as Green Belt since 1997, and is available here. Figures for the last year will be published in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has recused herself from discussions on the Birmingham City Council bin strike.

The Secretary of State, the department, and I have been in regular contact with Birmingham City Council since 31 March to support the Council’s efforts to clear the backlog of waste on the streets. However, any talks to settle the equal pay dispute are solely between the employer (Birmingham City Council) and trade union (Unite). The Government has rightly not been involved in these negotiations.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to commission research on the potential impact of the (a) second homes and (b) higher empty homes premium on (i) house prices, (ii) housing markets, (iii) the local economy and (iv) tourism.

It is for councils to decide whether it is appropriate or effective to use the premium. The government collects data on the use of premiums and the number of empty and second homes, which is published in the government’s council taxbase statistics. However the data does not make any other assessment based on the use of the premiums.

Communities and Local Government, how many homes are empty due to probate.

The government does not collect data on the number of properties which are empty due to probate. However, we do collect data on the number of dwellings which are exempt from council tax due to the death of the occupant. As of the latest available data, 132,883 dwellings were receiving this exemption.

Media and Sport, with reference to the press release entitled Multi-billion-pound investment secured as Universal theme park and resort set to be built in Bedford, bringing thousands of jobs, published on 9 April 2025, whether (a) Government funding and (b) bespoke tax relief is being provided to (i) Universal Studios and (ii) the local council to support the deal.

Details of negotiations between private investors and the Government are currently confidential but will be set out in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to increase the delegation rate for planning applications.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a regulation-making power to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation. The government intend to formally consult on proposals relating to the delegation of planning decisions in England alongside the Bill’s passage.

Communities and Local Government, how many dwellings were built on green belt land in each year since 1997.

The Department does not collect or publish the requested dataabsolute numbers of dwellings built on Green Belt land. The proportions of new residential addresses that were created on Green Belt land in each year from 2013-14 to 2021-22 are published here. Figures for 1989 to 2011 are published here. Figures for 2022-23 and more recent years will be published in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 April 2025 to Question 43564 on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, if she will publish the minutes of the meeting with Unite.

In line with normal practice, the minutes of the meeting will not be published.

Media and Sport, whether her Department's planned national mandatory registration scheme will apply to (a) second homes and (b) second homes which are let occasionally.

The registration scheme for short-term lets legislated for in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 will apply to specified short-term rental properties in England. The detailed scope of the scheme, including how it will apply to second homes, and second homes which are let occasionally, is still being determined and details will be announced in due course.

If he will ensure that Environmental Information Regulation requests are treated equally to Freedom of Information requests.

All access to information requests are answered on a case by case basis and in adherence with the relevant legal framework. Guidance on the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk

Whether HMRC policy requires Government Ministers to pay an income tax charge for political gifts given to them of (a) clothes, (b) glasses and (c) accommodation from party political donors.

Ministers are employees for the purposes of Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions. The normal rules for employment-related benefits apply to employment-related gifts, as set out in HMRC’s guidance at www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim20020 There is an exemption for small gifts costing a total of £250 or less per year to provide, HMRC guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim21715

Whether the trade union recognition provisions in the Employment Rights Bill will apply to town and parish councils.

Guidance on the trade union recognition scheme is at Gov.uk. This sets out that the scheme is available to unions where the workplace has 21 or more workers. Therefore the smallest workplaces that have 20 or less workers not in scope of the scheme. There are no specific exemptions for town and parish councils.

With reference to the Certification Officer's corporate reports entitled Unite the Union: annual returns (PDF format), for what reason Unite have provided partial annual returns between 2021 and 2023.

Responsibility for trade union annual returns lies with the Certification Officer. They have been in communication with Unite the Union regarding its annual returns for 2021 to 2023. The Certification Officer is currently satisfied that the delay in providing full returns is due to issues identified during the auditing process. The Certification Officer continues to engage with Unite the Union to ensure that full annual returns are submitted as soon as possible, after which they will be published in full on their website.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 44224 on Employment Rights Bill: Local Government Services, if he will consult each (a) local authority and (b)town and parish council.

We will continue to undertake comprehensive engagement and consultation on the implementation of the Plan to Make Work Pay and the Employment Rights Bill, and we will be engaging closely with employers, including local authorities as the policy develops. We will consult extensively on the implementation of the legislation, to ensure it works for workers and employers alike.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the trade union recognition provisions in the Employment Rights Bill on SMEs.

The Government has published a final stage impact assessment on strengthening workers’ rights to access, recognition and representation (see paragraphs 61 to 66 in relation to trade union recognition in particular). This is available at: Impact assessment: Strengthening workers’ rights to trade union access, recognition and representation.The statutory trade union recognition scheme is available to unions where the workplace has 21 or more workers. Therefore the smallest workplaces that have 20 or less workers are not in scope of the scheme.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41458 on Admiralty House, what the nature was of the logistical support provided by civil servants.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 41458 on 3 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on consultancy services from McKinsey since 4 July 2024.

As part of a wider suite of support arrangements MHCLG has a zero commitment call off contract with McKinsey, which started on 6 January 2025. There have been neither any commissions nor spend to date.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41057 on Homes England: Consultants, what the organisational change was that Deloitte and Touche provided external advice and support for.

To respond to ministerial ambitions for the Agency of embedding a place-based approach to the delivery of housing, Homes England has been developing a new operating structure, responding to the priorities set out in the letter to the Chair sent in September 2024. To ensure that the Agency can deliver effectively on the government’s Plan for Growth Homes England’s new operating structure will support the development of a flexible and responsible organisation able to respond to future policy and strategic challenges, including deepened engagement with Mayors across the country.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Biggest building boom in a generation through planning reforms, published on 11 March 2025, what steps she plans to take to help ensure that proposed requirements for Environmental Delivery Plans do not increase the cost of developments.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 39021 on 18 March 2025.