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 1,661–1,680 of 3,003 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, whether (a) amended and (b) new planning practice guidance requires a (i) public sector equality duty and (ii) environmental principles assessment.
The Secretary of State keeps her duties under the Environment Act 2021 and Equality Act 2010 under consideration regarding any guidance updates. Relevant assessments are undertaken as required.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 41460 on MHCLG: Equality, what was included within the Inclusion Allies training.
Expenditure of £4,184 was approved by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 29 October 2024 in line with Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance. This training equipped 26 staff within the Department to provide support for marginalised or vulnerable colleagues. The training consisted of webinars, group learning, and hands-on exercises. Materials associated with this training are the intellectual property of the provider, and cannot be published by the Department for contractual reasons.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department engages with Client Earth.
The responsibility for decisions around who officials within MHCLG engage with sits with those policy teams.
Communities and Local Government, how many gender neutral toilets there are in her Department's offices in (a) Marsham Street, (b) Wolverhampton and (c) Darlington Economic Campus.
MHCLG occupies five floors of Fry Building at Marsham Street. There are no gender-neutral toilets in Fry Building. There are no toilets designated as gender-neutral at either the Darlington or Wolverhampton offices. At Darlington, however, there are five single-person toilet rooms and Wolverhampton four single-person toilet rooms. MHCLG is a minor tenant in all the buildings it occupies. It is for the landlord or lead tenant to decide on which toilets are provided.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43306 on Birmingham City Council: Finance, whether the cost for the Commissioners has been paid by Birmingham City Council.
Yes, Birmingham City Council pays the Commissioners’ fees and expenses which are published on Birmingham City Council’s website at regular three-month intervals.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to her oral Answer of 7 April 2025, Official Report, column 577, on what evidential basis she said that the number of homes approved on green belt land increased tenfold since 2009.
Figures published by CPRE: the Countryside Charity in Table 1 of the State of the Green Belt 2023, which can be found here, show that the number of homes approved on greenfield land within the Green Belt in 2021-22 was almost ten times the number approved in 2009-10.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending the National Planning Framework, published in December 2024, to require people planning to use houses for (a) second homes and (b) short-term lets to seek planning permission.
Whilst second homes and short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government appreciate that excessive concentrations in some areas of the country can impact the availability and affordability of homes, both to rent and buy. We remain committed to introducing a registration scheme for short-term lets and removing the furnished holiday lets rules to ensure all income from property will be treated the same for tax purposes. We also recognise that more needs to be done and are considering what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by short term lets.
Communities and Local Government, what functions the Army are undertaking in Birmingham; and how long they will be assigned for.
The government has been supporting Birmingham City Council in its efforts to address the backlog of waste that had been building up on the city’s streets, and significant progress has been made in the last fortnight. This support has included the three office-based military personnel with logistical expertise that were made available to the council to assist with planning. They have now returned to normal duties. We are grateful to our colleagues in the MoD for their support. We are working with the Council on options to address further costs arising from the industrial action
What the amount of funding being allocated by the UK Government to each of the devolved administrations to fund the direct and indirect cost of higher National Insurance Contributions on local government is in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland; and what proportion of the direct and indirect costs must be funded by the devolved Administrations.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor agreed to provide funding to the public sector to support them with the additional cost associated with changes to employer National Insurance Contributions policy. The devolved governments will receive funding through the Barnett formula in the usual way in 2025-26, including on this support. This is the normal operation of the funding arrangements as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy. The outcome of the Barnett formula will be confirmed, and funding provided for all devolved governments at Main Estimates 2025-26. It is for the devolved governments to allocate their funding in devolved areas as they see fit, including on workforce. They can therefore take their own decisions on managing and investing available resources, reflecting their own priorities and local circumstances, and they are accountable to the devolved legislatures for these decisions.The devolved governments’ Phase 1 Spending Review 2025 settlements are growing in real terms in 2025-26 and are the largest spending review settlements in real terms of any settlements since devolution. The devolved governments are each receiving at least 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK. That translates into over £16 billion more in 2025-26.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39028 on Housing: Pylons, whether the Valuation Office Agency has made an assessment of the potential impact of a pylon being erected within 500 metres on the capital value of a dwelling.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has not made a general assessment on the potential impact on a dwelling’s capital value from a pylon being erected within 500 metres of a dwelling. If the VOA receives a proposal seeking a change in the Valuation List citing the erection of a pylon in the locality, the Listing Officer will assess any valuation impact always having regard to the specific facts of the case. This will include the characteristics of the dwelling, the position of the pylon, and features of the surrounding area. The Listing Officer would then determine whether the changed physical state of the locality would have affected the dwelling’s value at the relevant valuation date. The valuation date for England is 1 April 1991, and for Wales is 1 April 2003.
How many armed forces personnel have been assigned to provide Military Aid to the Civil Authorities to Birmingham City Council.
Following a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request from the Ministry of Housing, Community, and Local Government, three military personnel deployed to support Birmingham City Council on 9 April for a period of seven days. This support, which was focused on operational planning only, concluded on 16 April.
When the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish the draft council tax bandings for dwellings in Wales as part of the council tax revaluation in Wales.
The Local Government Finance (Wales) Act 2024 states that the Welsh Ministers can specify, in an order, the date by which listing officers must send a copy of the proposed valuation list to their billing authorities. If the Welsh Ministers do not make such an order, the deadline will be the 1 September before the date on which the list is to be compiled. Therefore, for a compiled list date of 1 April 2028, the proposed valuation list would be made available on or before 1 September 2027.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the size of London boroughs on their effectiveness at delivering public services.
There are no current plans to assess the potential impact of the size of London boroughs on their effectiveness at delivering public services.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41450 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, whether data has been shared between Companies House and the Electoral Commission; and how data sharing requests can be made by the Electoral Commission.
Companies House has not shared data with the Electoral Commission using powers conferred on it under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). Companies House makes a range of company information available through its online public register, including details about the company itself, its directors, and People with Significant Control (PSCs). This data is accessible free of charge via their online services. Companies House also works with law enforcement agencies and other public authorities to share information not available on the public register using the powers introduced by the ECCTA. This activity takes place via a dedicated team.
What steps she is taking to help prevent the debanking of people and organisations by financial institutions due to (a) their lawful political views and (b) domestic Politically Exposed Persons status or affiliation.
Banking services fulfil a vital role in the lives of millions of people and businesses across the UK, and the government is committed to ensuring high standards of consumer protection and financial inclusion across the financial services sector. Banks are already prohibited from discriminating against UK consumers based on their lawful political opinions when accessing a payment account. The government has on 28 April published new legislation that strengthens customer protection standards in cases where their account is terminated by their provider. These new rules will require banks to give customers 90 days’ notice before closing accounts and provide a clear explanation. These changes will prevent banks closing accounts without a clear reason, while giving people and businesses the time and information needed to challenge decisions. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-people-and-businesses-protected-against-debanking FCA guidance is clear that financial institutions should not be applying a blanket approach to the treatment of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs). The government has been working closely with the FCA to follow up on the findings of its review into the treatment of PEPs by financial institutions, and to ensure firms improve their practices where necessary, including to treat domestic PEPs and their relatives and close associates proportionately in line with the level of risk.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42254 on Licensing Laws, whether licensed premises must apply for variations to their licence to continue to serve alcohol within the curtilage of a pavement licence area.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 27 February.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42254 on Licensing Laws, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of continuing the alcohol licensing easement for (a) pavement licences and (b) takeaway pints.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 27 February.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question HL6432 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Contracts, whether her Department has had requests from suppliers for rates to be reviewed.
To date no requests have been made to MHCLG Commercial Directorate to review contracted rates due to the recent changes in National Insurance contribution rates. Any changes to contracts held by MHCLG require approval from Commercial Directorate.
Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with Ofcom on removing its use of historic data from European Parliamentary elections in its most recent publication entitled Evidence of past electoral support and evidence of current support ahead of the various elections taking place on 1 May 2025, published on 6 March 2025.
We do not intend to discuss this with Ofcom, as it is operationally independent from the government and responsible for its own publications.
Communities and Local Government, when assessing new byelaw applications which relate to areas of land which are in (a) public and (b) private ownership, what assessment her Department makes of the potential regulatory impact on (i) people and (ii) businesses.
Under the Byelaws (Alternative Procedure) (England) Regulations 2016, local authorities are required to submit a regulatory assessment when making a byelaw. This sets out the rationale for the proposed byelaw and its anticipated impact. It is for the local authority to demonstrate that proposed byelaws are necessary, proportionate, and justified, including consideration of any implications for those affected.