Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 38622 on Council tax, whether there is a (a) minimum and (b) maximum level of average Band D council tax in England that the she plans to achieve in this Parliament.

The government does not set council tax levels. The government sets referendum principles to give residents the final say over excessive increases. Decisions on council tax referendum principles are taken annually.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39015 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if she will have discussions with Historic England on its approach to engaging with the public inquiry on the Chinese Embassy planning application.

Neither I, nor the Secretary of State, have any plans to discuss this matter with Historic England.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, published on 17 March 2025, what steps her Department is taking to review the compliance costs related to planning regulations.

My Department is progressing a bold set of reforms to the planning system to support the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure. These reforms will streamline planning procedures and reduce the cost of planning for developers, local planning authorities and others engaged in the planning system. Key measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill include a faster and more certain Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, a new strategic approach to nature recovery for development, and the modernisation of planning committees. We are also reviewing the role of statutory consultees. All reforms to planning law and regulations which affect businesses are subject to Impact Assessments to identify the costs and benefits of those reforms.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 March 2025 to Question 39475 on the Aarhus Convention, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that convention on the effective operation of the planning system.

The Aarhus Convention sets out obligations on Parties to guarantee certain procedural rights for the public relating to access to environmental information, participation in environmental decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters. The United Kingdom Government remains committed to the effective implementation of its international obligations under the Aarhus Convention, and we consulted on one aspect of this, the cost caps regime last year. Major infrastructure projects are vital in this Government’s mission to deliver growth across the country, and we want to see them built quicker. Earlier this year we announced part of our response to Lord Banner’s report which set out our reforms to speed up the planning process while making sure people still have the opportunity to bring challenges in court.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to freeze council tax.

Council tax levels are decided by individual local authorities. The government sets referendum principles to give residents the final say over excessive increases. Decisions on council tax referendum principles are taken annually. The government will set out its proposed principles for 2026-27 as part of the local government finance settlement in the usual way later this year.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2025, to Question 38621, on Combined Authorities, and with reference to the publication of the report by Professor Alice Sullivan, Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, published in March 2025, if she will ensure that questions about the sex of a respondent ask for their sex.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 38621 on 24 March 2025.

With reference to the new surcharge on hereditaments over £500,000 from April 2026, whether educational charities will be liable to pay the increase in business rates which is not covered by mandatory charitable rate relief.

We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.As part of its reforms, the Government intends to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on properties with rateable values of £500,000 or more.Mandatory charitable rates relief will be available to eligible properties that are subject to the higher rate.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36094 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, if she will consider a tapering system as part of the new multiplier arrangements.

The Autumn Budget 2024 announcements reflect the Government’s first steps to support the high street. We want to go further to modernise the business rates system, and so, we also published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for reform and inviting stakeholders to engage. As set out in the Discussion Paper, one of the areas the Government is interested in hearing about includes the presence of cliff-edges in the system. Stakeholder representations will be considered when developing options for reform. In summer, the government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at the Budget this Autumn.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, Eighteenth Report, 2024-25, HL Paper 84, para 32, what steps her Department is taking to to improve (a) consultation and (b) engagement with local residents.

On 5 February, the Government issued invitations to councils in two-tier areas in England and neighbouring unitary councils to prepare proposals for local government reorganisation. The invitation is clear on the importance of local engagement, and asks councils to ensure there is wide engagement with local residents as well as other public service providers, workforce and their representatives, Members of Parliament and businesses as they prepare their proposals for strong, stable unitary councils that are fit for the future. The guidance is clear that the final proposals put forward should include evidence of local engagement, an explanation of the views that have been put forward and how concerns will be addressed. Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the Government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 38372 on MHCLG: Cost Effectiveness, if she will list each of those individual media campaigns which were halted; and the previously estimated cost of each.

A number of 24/25 campaigns were halted or postponed following the election. The campaigns and estimated cost of each (excluding VAT) were:Levelling Up – up to £3.15mLeasehold Reforms campaign (planned but didn’t run) - £1mPrivate Rented Sector Reform campaign (planned but didn’t run) - £750,000 No costs were incurred for these campaigns.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Ministerial residence in Admiralty House pays council tax as a (a) sole or main residence, (b) single person discount or (c) second home.

The council tax arrangements for Admiralty House are as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers occupying it as an official residence. The Deputy Prime Minister’s council tax responsibility is properly discharged.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Food Standards Agency on whether it has a working definition of a fast food outlet.

The Food Standards Agency and Defra Ministers meet regularly to discuss key issues.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of infrequent collections of household waste on public health.

Through Simpler Recycling, all households will receive a comprehensive and consistent set of waste and recycling services. This will enable households to recycle as much waste as possible and to frequently dispose of bad-smelling food waste, which will be collected from all households at least weekly.We recognise that as recycling services are expanded and improved, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met that’s why Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities meet household’s needs.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure consistency of approach in its engagement policy.

We take engagement seriously and adopt best practice as outlined by the Government's principles of engagement.These principles of engagement are published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 39632 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this ruling on unauthorised traveller sites.

The government is carefully considering the judgment issued by the High Court in May 2024 which found that particular sections of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, as amended by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, were incompatible with Convention rights.We acknowledge and respect the High Court’s decision, and the National Police Chiefs’ Council have written to forces in England and Wales advising them of the judgment. Forces will need to consider their own legal advice in to inform any related enforcement decisions, which are operationally independent of government.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has undertaken Environment Act environmental principles assessments when issuing (a) new and (b) revised planning practice guidance since July 2024.

Planning practice guidance published since July 2024 supports the implementation of matters that have been set through legislation or policy. Environmental principles assessments were undertaken for the changes to policy once the requirement for them had been commenced.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of houses that will be built in each year between 2025-26 and 2029-30.

As the hon. Member is aware, the government has not set interim annual targets in respect of its ambitious Plan for Change milestone of delivering 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. However, due to the reduced levels of housing supply that we inherited, the government has been clear that rates of housebuilding will have to increase significantly in the later years of the Parliament to meet that milestone.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37227 on Hospitality Industry and Retail Trade: Business Rates, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the new (a) lower and (b) higher multiplier for retail, hospitality and leisure above £500,000 Rateable Value from 2026-27 on the value of retail hospitality and leisure business rate relief in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with Rateable Values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from 2026-27 - those with Rateable Values of £500,000 and above. Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context. Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new, permanently lower tax rates are set at Budget 2025, the Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39035 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, whether a retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) hereditament in receipt of the lower RHL multiplier will (a) lose that multiplier discount and (b) be levied the higher multiplier surcharge if their rateable value rises above £499,999 under the proposed regime from April 2026.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on the most valuable properties - those with a Rateable Value of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants. Ahead of these changes being made, we have prevented RHL relief from ending in April 2025 by extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and frozen the small business multiplier.

Which retail, hospitality and leisure hereditaments have their rateable value assessed by the Valuation Office Agency using turnover expenditure as part of the metrics.

The hereditaments that have their rateable value assessed with reference to their trade are those where there is limited reliable rental evidence, and the nature of their occupation is primarily concerned with anticipated profit. In such cases, the rateable value would likely be based upon a consideration of the receipts and expenditure of the property.