Written questions by Cocking.

If she will set out the the policy of the Valuation Office Agency on amending the valuation of (a) schools and (b) hospitals following the installation of rooftop solar panels.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) applies the law as it stands when valuing domestic and non-domestic properties. In relation to solar panels, the legal position is set out in the Rating Manual, which is published on gov.uk: Section 5a: valuation of all property classes - Power generators - Guidance - GOV.UK, in particular Appendix 1: rateability of microgeneration schemes refers.

What assessment the National Audit Office has made of the adequacy of local authority audit in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland.

The National Audit Office has not assessed the adequacy of local authority audit in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The audit of such bodies is conducted under devolved audit arrangements in accordance with relevant statute, and the NAO has no remit to assess its adequacy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 59605 on Neurological Diseases: Primary Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that GP practices do not replace traditional methods of access with online triage services.

General practices are independent business that hold contracts with the National Health Service to perform essential services to the public. The GP contract is clear that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person. Practice receptions should be open so that patients have a choice in access and so that patients who struggle to access telephone or online services are in no way disadvantaged.As a part of this contract, we also require general practices to provide an online consultation tool as an option for patients to contact their general practice throughout core hours. We are clear that all online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a general practitioner.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2025 to Question 30146 on Business Rates, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reducing relative to the 2024-25 scheme the value of the retail, hospitality and leisure relief per hereditament in 2025-26 to offset increased costs arising from the removal of the £110,000 per business cap.

The existing retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) relief has been repeatedly extended year-by-year as a temporary stopgap measure. We recognise that this creates cliff-edges and uncertainty for businesses, as well as significant fiscal pressure. That is why, from 2026/27 we will introduce permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties with rateable values (RVs) under £500,000. Like all business rates multipliers, these lower RHL multipliers will not be subject to a cash cap. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support. We also recognise that RHL businesses will need support during the interim period for 2025/26, and so we are providing 40 per cent relief to RHL properties up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. The rates for the new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Whether she plans to increase (a) regulation or (b) taxation on second homes.

The government keeps all taxes under review as part of the usual tax policy making process.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that patients are aware that they will continue to have the option to arrange GP appointments by (a) telephone and (b) visiting a practice in-person.

General practices are independent business that hold contracts with the National Health Service to perform essential services to the public. The GP contract is clear that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person. Practice receptions should be open so that patients have a choice in access and so that patients who struggle to access telephone or online services are in no way disadvantaged.As a part of this contract, we also require general practices to provide an online consultation tool as an option for patients to contact their general practice throughout core hours. We are clear that all online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a general practitioner.

What her policy is on reforming stamp duty; and what representations she has received on introducing an annual tax on the capital value of primary residences.

SDLT continues to be an important source of government revenue, raising around £12 billion each year to help pay for the essential services the government provides. Any changes to taxes such as SDLT would therefore have to be carefully considered given the potential effect on public finances. The government keeps all taxes under review as part of the usual tax policy making process.

Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on the (a) use of Special Development Orders to obtain planning approval, (b) planning application call-in and (c) planning appeal recovery for asylum seeker accommodation.

The Secretary of State’s powers relating to Special Development Orders are set out in section 60 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Policies on calling in planning applications and recovering appeals are set out in the Written Ministerial Statements of 26 October 2012 and 30 June 2008 respectively.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on whether an elector can register to vote in three different localities.

In the UK, citizens are entitled to be registered at more than one address in certain circumstances. It is the responsibility of the local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to consider each application to register to vote on its own merits and to be satisfied that a person meets the residence criteria for each address.The Electoral Commission as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuing guidance on electoral registration.

Communities and Local Government, how many dwellings in each local authority in England are classified as Class F under regulation 2 of the Council Tax (Liability for Owners) Regulations 1992.

The Department publishes local authority level data on the number of dwellings receiving the Class F exemption as part of the Council Taxbase statistics. The latest data is based on a snapshot taken in October 2024 and can be found at the following link Council Taxbase Local Authority Level Data 2024 in the ‘Supplementary_Data’ tab.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help tackle fraudulent electoral registration.

The Government is committed to upholding the integrity of electoral registers. A robust system of identity verification forms part of the electoral registration process. This includes the ability to match an applicant’s data with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) records, or to request documentary evidence to verify their identity. The Electoral Commission, which is responsible for issuing guidance on electoral registration, has also published guidance for Electoral Registration Officers on identifying suspicious registration applications and working with local police to investigate any potential registration fraud.

Communities and Local Government, what the average amount of time is for the Land Registry to update the title deeds on gov.uk following a purchase of a dwelling.

HM Land Registry’s processing times are publicly available on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on whether public disturbances outside asylum hotels are a material consideration in relation to (a) planning harm and (b) change of use from a hotel into asylum hostel accommodation.

My Department has not issued any such guidance.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with (a) district and (b) county councils in Norfolk and Suffolk on cancelling the planned local elections in May 2026.

The Department has had no discussions with district or county councils in Norfolk or Suffolk about cancelling the planned local elections in May 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 40156 on Green Belt, whether allotments are deemed to be Grey Belt land.

My Department published updated guidance on Green Belt policy on 27 February 2025 to assist local authorities and other decision-makers in determining whether land is grey belt. It can be found on gov.uk here. It is for decision-makers to consider how to apply this to particular local circumstances and assess whether a site constitutes grey belt, as it will depend upon the circumstances of each case. The government does not maintain a definitive list of land uses or categories which constitute grey belt land.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations have been made to his Department from the Dutch (a) Government and (b) Parliament on the proposed Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is not aware of any representations being made to the FCDO by the Dutch Government or Parliament regarding the proposed new Chinese Embassy in London.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Chinese Government has accepted the request from the UK Government that the Chinese Government’s diplomatic premises within the United Kingdom should be consolidated into the new Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint if permission is granted for that development.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 September to Question 74189.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with (a) Brighton and Hove council, (b) Tower Hamlets council and (c) Birmingham City Council on the taking down of St George’s flags.

The Prime Minister has been clear that he supports the flying of flags across the country. Flags should be an embodiment of bringing our country and our communities together. Decisions about whether flags should be removed are devolved to local authorities and it is for them to assess the impacts of removing or allowing flags to remain. My Department engages with local authorities on a regular basis across numerous meetings. Where the subject has been raised we have been clear that everyone can make their own decisions, including local councils, on flying flags and that guidance exists to support them, such as ‘Flying flags: a plain English guide” - as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 (as amended in 2012 and 2021) – which outlines the regulations related to the flying of flags in England. It is important that the decisions taken by local authorities reflect the character and values of the communities they serve. Where symbols are used in ways that threaten public safety, it is right that action is taken to address this.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions the Government had with the US Government on the definition of Islamophobia.

The government does not have an official definition of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia and so it has not engaged with any foreign government on this. However, we have established a working group to advise government on a definition of anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, including on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims. Alongside drawing on their own expertise, the working group have engaged widely to ensure the definition accounts for the variety of backgrounds and experiences of communities across the United Kingdom.

With reference to page 20 of the Valuation Office Agency's document entitled Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, published on 17 July 2025, if she will set out the changes to the methodology for valuing (a) petrol filling stations and (b) public houses in the 2026 business rates revaluation.

There has been no change to the valuation methodology for pubs or petrol filling stations for the 2026 business rates revaluation. Our approach to valuing pubs has been established in collaboration with industry experts from the British Beer & Pub Association, UK Hospitality, British Institute of Innkeeping and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations. Our approach to valuing petrol stations has been established in collaboration with industry experts, including the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) and Fuels Industry UK. The Rating Manual guidance will be updated on 1st April 2026 when the 2026 list takes effect.