Written questions by Holmes.

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, 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 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 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 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 paragraph 4.2.3 of the Devolution White Paper (CP 1218), published on 16 December 2024, at what administrative level social care will be administered in areas where counties and districts are replaced with new unitaries.

Where there is a single tier of local government unitary councils are responsible for delivery of adult social care.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question HL3199 on Government department: cost effectiveness, what requirements local authorities will have to make efficiency savings as part of the Spending Review Phase 2.

The government has committed to a multi-year Spending Review in Spring 2025.The government is committed to pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to return the local government sector to a sustainable position. This will be done in partnership with local government and on the principle of giving forward notice and certainty to allow time for councils to plan.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17826 on Local Government: Disadvantaged, what plans she has to update the 2019 Index of Deprivation.

The Department is producing an update to the English Indices of Deprivation 2019. Publication is provisionally planned for later this year and will be pre-announced on the GOV.UK website in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 20129 on Unitary councils, whether her Department has evidential basis for unitary restructuring what has not been funded by organisations supporting unitary restructuring.

The English Devolution White Paper sets out the case for local government reorganisation, which is that there are significant opportunities available to areas from the creation of suitably sized unitary councils. For North Yorkshire Council, established in April 2023, unitarisation has enabled the council to manage financial pressures through structural changes and service transformation which are expected to achieve more than £40 million in savings by March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 4 of her Department's College of Experts recruitment pack, published in December 2024, whether strengthening and consolidating employment rights is a formal Ministerial responsibility of her Department.

Strengthening employment rights is a key priority across Government. The Deputy Prime Minister is the Chair of the Future of Work Cabinet Committee, which is responsible for considering and taking decisions on matters related to the Make Work Pay package of reforms to the Employment Law framework. The Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with the Department for Business and Trade, and other government departments, to deliver the Employment Rights Bill. There has been no change to formal departmental responsibilities.

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

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16948 on Planning Permission, what previous guidance has been provided by (a) her Department and (b) the Planning Inspectorate on whether representations made advocating a planning call-in or planning recovery must be publicly disclosed.

No guidance exists which requires that representations advocating a planning call-in or planning recovery be published.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 64 of the Devolution White Paper (CP 1218), published on 16 December 2024, whether Spatial Development Strategies will (a) include targets and (b) propose sites for authorised traveller pitches by local planning authority.

The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, sets out that Spatial Development Strategies will guide development for the local planning authorities in any given area, and that local plans will need to be in general conformity with them. Spatial Development Strategies will identify the infrastructure that is needed and strategic locations for development. Further detail will be set out in legislation in due course.

Communities and Local Government, which councils which received Rural Services Delivery Grant in 2024-25 will not receive Recovery Grant in 2025-26.

The government recognises that there is a long road to recovery ahead.The Recovery Grant is intended to be a short-term, interim measure to lay the groundwork for more fundamental reform from 2026-27 which is part of our longer-term plan to fix the foundations of local government.We have published a full methodology alongside the provisional Settlement. We consulted with local authorities on proposals for the 2025-26 Settlement, including on the Recovery Grant and the repurposing of the Rural Services Delivery Grant. The consultation launched on 18 December 2024 and closed on 15 January 2025. The Government is considering responses and will publish a response in the usual way at the final Settlement.

Communities and Local Government, which individual funding streams to local government in 2025-26 are ring-fenced.

The provisional 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. The consultation on the provisional settlement launched on 18 December 2024 and closed 15 January 2025. The Government is considering responses and will publish a response at the final settlement. As with previous years, the majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities. As set out in the consultation on the provisional settlement, it is our intent to ringfence a number of the social care grants and we will set out details in due course.The government has committed to simplifying the wider local funding landscape, reviewing and reducing the number of grants and ringfences, and consolidating grants into the Local Government Finance Settlement wherever possible. This will support local authorities to plan budgets more effectively and have greater freedom to deliver local priorities. We are inviting views until 12 February 2025 on our principles and objectives for local government funding reform through a consultation.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Local Audit Office will have the authority to (a) undertake inspections of individual local authorities, (b) commission external research and (c) exercise best value powers.

As outlined in the Local Audit Strategy, the government has committed to establish the Local Audit Office (LAO) to streamline and simplify the system. The LAO will have responsibility for co-ordinating the local audit system, contract managing and appointments, the code of audit practice, quality and oversight, and reporting and insights (which could include undertaking or commissioning research related to local audit).While the LAO will oversee the quality of the local audit regime, it will not be responsible for carrying out inspections of local authorities. The government is consulting on the need for public provision to supplement private market capacity and whether this function should be delivered by the LAO which could result in the LAO undertaking some audits of individual local authorities.Best value powers (under the Local Government Act 1999) will remain with the Secretary of State and the department.