Written questions by Holmes.

Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to reintroduce Article 5 certificates, in the context of trends in the number of cases where Tree Protection Orders are removed at the request of insurance companies; and what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (b) Forestry England and (c) the Association of British Insurers on the proposed new protocol to protect trees at risk of felling.

The Tree Preservation Order system is the primary method of protecting trees and woodlands in England. Anyone applying to a local authority to cut down, top, lop or uproot trees subject to an Order because of tree-related subsidence damage is required to set out evidence which demonstrates that the tree is a material cause of the problem and that other factors have been eliminated as potential influences so far as possible. A local authority is only liable to pay compensation for loss or damage incurred as a result of refusing any consent under an order, and not for loss or damage attributable to the claimant's failure to take reasonable steps to avert the loss or damage or mitigate its extent. I have had no recent discussions with Defra, the Forestry Commission or the Association of British Insurers on this matter and the Government has no immediate plan to amend the current legislation for Tree Preservation Orders.

Communities and Local Government, what changes have been made to (a) funding for individual projects and (b) the total quantum of funding for cultural projects allocated levelling up funding prior to July 2024; and if he will list the projects for which funding was cancelled.

The Levelling Up Fund committed £4.8 billion to mixed use projects under the themes of regeneration, transport and culture. In September this government announced the consolidation of the Levelling Up, Towns and Pathfinder funds into a single, consolidated funding pot, the Local Regeneration Fund. This fund honoured all funding from the constituent programmes; providing local authorities with greater flexibility, more local control and less bureaucracy, freeing them up to get on with delivery impacts in our communities across the UK. An additional £99.8 million of funding was awarded to Levelling Up cultural projects announced by the previous administration at the Spring Budget 2024. Due to the extremely challenging fiscal legacy and unfunded commitments this government inherited these projects were consulted upon, confirming £67 million of funding to 10 projects across the UK and withdrawing funding for six Local Authorities: Maldon, Redditch, High Peak, Erewash, Somerset and Northamptonshire being withdrawn. In September this government announced the consolidation of the Levelling Up, Towns and Pathfinder funds into a single, consolidated funding pot, the Local Regeneration Fund. This fund honoured all funding from the constituent programmes; providing local authorities with greater flexibility, more local control and less bureaucracy, freeing them up to get on with delivery impacts in our communities across the UK.

Communities and Local Government, what research has been (a) commissioned or (b) undertaken since July 2024 on the cost of unitary local government restructuring.

We know unitarisation can unlock significant savings and efficiencies when councils are of appropriate size and structure to be sustainable, deliver efficiencies and provide high-quality public services. Exact costs and savings will vary depending on the area and the final decisions on which proposals, if any, are implemented. Local areas are best placed to bring forward proposals that reflect their circumstances. We will analyse and assess proposals against the criteria we have set out. This includes sustainability, and how they will deliver efficiencies and high-quality public services. We have specifically said that proposals should be supported by robust evidence, including of estimated costs/benefits.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 69456 on British Muslim Trust, if he will publish the application submitted on 18 May 2025.

The prospectus for the Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund did not indicate that applications would be made public and were not submitted on that basis; publishing these would prejudice the commercial interests of applicants.

Communities and Local Government, whether the departmental funding provided to Great South West pan-regional partnership has conditions on funding being used for lobbying activity.

Following consultation, in March 2025 the government announced its intention to end funding for Pan-Regional Partnerships, with an exceptional, time-limited award of £281,250 for the Great South West Pan-Regional Partnership for the 2025/26 financial year. Four key milestones were agreed for the 25/26 financial year, for which the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is responsible for monitoring performance against. These are:Provision of economic intelligence and insight;Plan for long term sustainability and funding options;Regional business voice; andStrategic collaboration for growth and inward investment.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 69050 on Local Government Finance, whether his Department is informed of the type of asset being disposed of.

The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts direction was introduced in 2016 by the previous government and remains substantively unchanged. It permits eligible councils to use the proceeds of asset sales to fund transformation and activities that produce ongoing savings and efficiencies. Use of the flexibility is at the discretion of councils, but the government is clear that its use should represent value for money and be in the best interests of local residents. The direction requires that councils must send their plans to use the flexibility to the Secretary of State for MHCLG. The direction specifies minimum information requirements that must be provided, including the value and purpose of capitalisation, and details of relevant efficiency savings. It is not a requirement for councils to provide details of asset disposals, though councils may include these details in their plans. Further details on disposals may be included in councils’ annual accounts and capital strategies.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69680 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, whether the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners supported changing the voting system to supplementary vote.

The government has engaged with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), on the proposals set out in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The government firmly believes the Supplementary Vote system works better for electing people to single executive roles and ensures a wider range of support than First Past The Post.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance on incumbent (a) district, (b) unitary and (c) county councillors standing for election for (i) combined authority and (ii) county combined authority mayorships; and whether people can serve as councillors and elected mayors simultaneously.

It is not for the Department to issue guidance for candidates standing in combined authority or combined county authority mayoral elections. Guidance for all candidates standing in these elections is published by the Electoral Commission: Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Combined Authority Mayoral elections | Electoral Commission and Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Combined County Authority Mayoral elections | Electoral Commission. As set out in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (schedule 2) for Combined County Authorities, and the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (schedule 5B) for Combined Authorities, these Mayors cannot also serve as a constituent council member within their authority but there is nothing in legislation preventing them from serving as a councillor in an unrelated council simultaneously.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on whether individuals can have three entries on the electoral roll.

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, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2025 to Question 33500 on Eden Project: Morecambe, how much government funding has been spent on supporting the project to date; and on what date were the funds released.

The MHCLG Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals, and Simplification Pathfinder Pilot have been consolidated into the Local Regeneration Fund. This new fund will give local authorities more local control, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and maximising freedom and flexibility to get on with delivery. As of March 2025, £6,336,514 has been released to support the Eden project: Morecambe. Department officials contacted Lancaster City Council on 11 September to confirm details for a payment to cover forecasted activity for the remainder of the 2025/26 financial year. A further payment, of £10,814,457, is due to be paid in September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 69054 on Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme: Finance, for what reason the programme has been discontinued.

The Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme was a 2024/25 funding stream, ending as scheduled in March 2025, after providing £3.6m of funding to build stronger, more integrated communities and reduce harmful division in 44 places. The UK Government continues to work closely with community groups, charities, and public sector partners to strengthen communities. This includes our recent announcement at Spending Review, that we are investing in up to 350 deprived communities across the UK, to fund interventions including community cohesion, regeneration and improving the public realm. Future funding for communities will be announced in due course, to ensure places receive the support and resources they need to thrive.

Communities and Local Government, what research his Department has commissioned on (a) land value capture and (b) land valuation taxation since 4 July 2024.

In summer 2024, my Department commissioned the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to provide a viability study to support proposals for new ‘Golden Rules’ for Green Belt development. These proposals were set out in the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system, published in July 2024. The revised NPPF and a response to the public consultation was published in December 2024.

Communities and Local Government, if she will provide guidance to local authorities on ensuring mobile network operators are informed for large-scale developments.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. Chapter 10 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government’s current policy on supporting high quality communications infrastructure and the latest national planning policy on how telecommunications and mobile network infrastructure should be considered. In addition, the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England (April 2022) sets out the considerations that operators should follow when deploying infrastructure, including how infrastructure should be sited.

Communities and Local Government, if she will increase permitted development rights for telecommunications applications.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. We continue to keep permitted development rights under review.

Communities and Local Government, if she will update the NPPF to include guidance on the importance of telecommunications infrastructure in any major planning decisions.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. Chapter 10 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government’s current policy on supporting high quality communications infrastructure and the latest national planning policy on how telecommunications and mobile network infrastructure should be considered. In addition, the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England (April 2022) sets out the considerations that operators should follow when deploying infrastructure, including how infrastructure should be sited.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report by the Office for Budget Responsibility entitled Economic and fiscal outlook, published in March 2025, CP 1289, whether the forecast of 1.3 million homes in the next five years applies to (a) England and (b) the UK.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 41927 on 1 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether the target of 1.5m homes this Parliament applies to England only.

The government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament applies to England only. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) recently forecast approximately 1.3 million cumulative net additions to housing stock between 2025-26 to 2029-30 as a result solely of the impact of the changes the government made to the National Planning Policy Framework on 12 December 2024. This forecast applies to the UK as a whole. The OBR does not provide a breakdown between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that critical cavity nesting bird habitat is mandated in new developments in line with nature recovery targets.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22080 on 15 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's letter to Leaders of all two-tier councils and neighbouring unitary authorities of 16 December 2024, what is the (a) process and (b) timetable for secondary legislation to postpone local council elections from May 2025 to May 2026.

A number of councils have responded to my letter of 16 December, making requests involving postponement of their May 2025 elections. A list of those councils can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-letter-to-two-tier-areasIn my letter I set out that requests will only be considered where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. A decision will be made in due course, recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible. If I decide to make secondary legislation to postpone elections from May 2025 to 2026, such legislation would be subject to the negative resolution procedure.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the draft Local Government Finance Settlement published on 18 December 2024, HCWS342, what her Department's estimated increase in council tax receipts is in 2025-26 compared to 2024-25; and what proportion of the increase in core spending power will be funded through higher council tax receipts.

The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available £69 billion for local government, which is a 3.5% real terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. An estimated 55% of the increase to CSP is a result of increased council tax income.Further information on Core Spending Power, including council tax, is available at Core Spending Power table: provisional local government finance settlement 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK