Every parliamentary written question tabled by Paul Holmes this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 322 · this parliament
What steps he plans to take to ensure the Modern Service Framework for Palliative and End of Life Care is put into practice by ICBs.
We will publish an interim update on the Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care shortly. The final MSF will be published this autumn.The MSF will provide a clinically-led, evidence-based framework to support sustained impr...
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken to finalise infrastructure agreements for residential planning permissions.
Developers may be asked to provide contributions for infrastructure in several ways. Planning obligations, in the form of S106 agreements, should only be used where it is not possible to address unacceptable impacts through a planning condition. The government is aware that the negotiation of S106 agreements can create delays in the planning process and increase costs for developers and local planning authorities. As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 28 January 2026 (HCWS1286), the government intend to work closely with local planning authorities, registered providers and developers to deliver a series of measures that will provide for a simpler, more transparent and more resilient S106 system. These include a standardised template S106 agreement to speed up the process of drafting and concluding new S106 agreements. Section 278 agreements may also be required where developers need to carry out essential highways improvements to facilitate their projects. It is important that both developers and highways authorities engage early on the works needed to support development proposals to ensure timely decisions The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area. The levy only applies in areas where a local authority has consulted on, and approved, a charging schedule which sets out its levy rates and has published the schedule on its website. Where CIL is in place for an area, charging authorities should work proactively with developers to ensure they are clear about the authorities’ infrastructure needs. My Department’s published guidance on CIL can be found on gov.uk here. Any local planning authority that receives a developer contribution through CIL or S106 planning obligations is required to publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement at least annually, ensuring a transparent and accountable system. To support local planning authorities in negotiating and concluding agreements in a timely manner, the government is investing in their capacity and capability. At the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chanceller announced a £46 million package of investment into the planning system as a one-year settlement for 2025-2026. At the Budget on 26 November 2025, the Chancellor announced a further £48 million of investment over three years to support local planning authorities to attract, retain and develop skilled planners over a sustained period.Of this, £28.8 million has been allocated to MHCLG’s Planning Capacity and Capability Programme, equating to £9.6 million additional per year for the next three years. This allocation will supplement existing budgets. This funding supports the recruitment of new planners and targeted skills development through the Planning Advisory Service, helping local authorities manage S106 and CIL processes effectively and accelerate infrastructure delivery.
Whether his Department has produced guidance on whether the payment rules set out under Procurement Act 2025 will apply to Strategic Partners participating in the Affordable Homes Programme.
The UK government’s prompt payment policy aims to support UK economic growth and suppliers, including small and medium sized enterprises. The Procurement Act 2023 mandates 30 day payment terms into all public contracts. Where the Affordable Homes Programme is covered by the Act, these terms are included automatically if not explicitly stated. Additionally, public sector buyers must ensure that this payment term is passed down their supply chain.
Communities and Local Government, what data his department has available on the time taken by local authorities to finalise infrastructure (S106) agreements for residential planning permissions.
Research conducted under the previous government in 2019, which can be found on gov.uk here, found that the large majority of S106 agreements were agreed and signed immediately but that the main cause of delay related to S106 agreements was the time taken by legal teams acting for both the applicant and Local Planning Authority to review the S106 agreements to ensure they were robust, which took an average of four to five months.As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 28 January 2026 (HCWS1286), we want to simplify and strengthen the process for agreeing developer contributions through S106 agreements at the application stage of new developments. It is our intention to publish a template S106 agreement to speed up the process of drafting and concluding new S106 agreements.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2026 to UIN 120030, how much of the £252m allocated to Vistry has been paid; and how many of the 3,758 homes have been delivered.
As of 31 March 2026, Vistry has received a total of £202 million from the allocated grant payments in question. As of the same date, Vistry had completed 2,569 homes of the 3,578 allocated with 3,486 homes started on site.
Communities and Local Government, whether partnerships are the Government's preferred model for housing delivery.
Partnership models, in which housebuilders work with Registered Providers and Build to Rent operators to deliver a range of housing tenures, are an essential part of our housing market. They help to create diverse communities and meet a variety of local needs, while also building out between 30%-60% faster on average than mono-tenure schemes.A number of housebuilders are already adopting a partnership approach, creating greater diversity in the housing market and making an important contribution to housing supply.The government has no single preferred model for housing delivery but given the benefits it provides we do support increased uptake of the partnership approach. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) now makes clear that Local Planning Authorities should set a tenure mix on sites of over 150 units and we are providing direct support for partnerships through Home Building Fund equity investment and our new National Housing Bank.
Communities and Local Government, what Home England's financial commitment is to Vistry, including subsidiaries and joint ventures, in terms of (a) funding under the affordable homes programme, (b) loans and (c) equity investments.
Under the Affordable Homes Programme 2016-23, Homes England allocated Vistry over £24m to deliver 670 homes, with the last payment in 2023/24.Under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26, Vistry have been allocated over £252m to deliver 3,578 homes.Homes England has made two loans to entities of which Vistry are part: The Sherford Consortium, which Vistory own 66.67% of, has a loan from Homes England of £32,000m. Stanton Cross Developments LLP, in which Vistry has a 50% share, has a loan from Homes England of £35,000m.In terms of equity investments, Homes England and Countryside Properties (part of Vistry Group) contracted the £150m Joint Venture PlacePoint LLP in September 2025. Homes England’s investment in that venture totalled £60m.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department and Homes England audit the number of homes delivered by strategic partners participating in the Affordable Homes Programme.
It is not the role of Homes England to undertake liquidity tests on strategic partners participating in the Affordable Homes Programme.The Regulator of Social Housing considers whether Registered Providers (RPs) of social housing are delivering the outcomes set out in the regulatory standards, which include viability as well as governance.As part of the strategic partner onboarding process, Homes England check with the Regulator of Social Housing the gradings of any given RP, including their viability to access capital funding.Non-registered providers, as part of the Investment Partner Qualification process, are required to provide financial information, which is assessed by Homes England’s Financial Due Diligence team. This is assessed on the pass or fail basis. Guidance on Investment Partner Qualification can be found on gov.uk here.Homes England also conduct Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions checks. The information they ask for in relation to this can be found on gov.uk here.As part of their Programme Management processes, Homes England monitor all homes delivered by Strategic Partners. Their compliance audit processes are set out in the Capital Funding Guide on gov.uk here.No checks are undertaken on the off-balance sheet liabilities. As a grant programme the Affordable Homes Programme does not carry hard credit risk exposure, such as debt provision, so a purposely high-level review is undertaken.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment Homes England has made of the level of off-balance sheet liabilities amongst strategic partners participating in the Affordable Homes Programme.
It is not the role of Homes England to undertake liquidity tests on strategic partners participating in the Affordable Homes Programme.The Regulator of Social Housing considers whether Registered Providers (RPs) of social housing are delivering the outcomes set out in the regulatory standards, which include viability as well as governance.As part of the strategic partner onboarding process, Homes England check with the Regulator of Social Housing the gradings of any given RP, including their viability to access capital funding.Non-registered providers, as part of the Investment Partner Qualification process, are required to provide financial information, which is assessed by Homes England’s Financial Due Diligence team. This is assessed on the pass or fail basis. Guidance on Investment Partner Qualification can be found on gov.uk here.Homes England also conduct Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions checks. The information they ask for in relation to this can be found on gov.uk here.As part of their Programme Management processes, Homes England monitor all homes delivered by Strategic Partners. Their compliance audit processes are set out in the Capital Funding Guide on gov.uk here.No checks are undertaken on the off-balance sheet liabilities. As a grant programme the Affordable Homes Programme does not carry hard credit risk exposure, such as debt provision, so a purposely high-level review is undertaken.
Whether Integrated Care Boards are required to publish the (a) evidence base, (b) modelling assumptions and (c) workforce capacity assessments used to determine commissioned elective activity levels against projected population demand.
There is no current requirement for integrated care boards (ICBs) to publish either the evidence base, modelling assumptions, or workforce capacity assessments used to determine commissioned elective activity levels against projected population demand.National Health Service funding for local services, including elective activity, is allocated to ICBs using NHS England’s Fair Share model and the NHS resource allocation formula.Medium Term Planning Framework has set clear expectations for improvements in access, levels of performance, and financial discipline. In 2026/27, every NHS trust must deliver a minimum 7% improvement in 18-week performance or be at a minimum of 65%, whichever is greater, to deliver national performance target of 70%. In line with this expectation, NHS England has engaged with systems on the development, assurance, and sign-off of ICB and NHS trust plans to ensure delivery of this ambition alongside the others set out in the planning framework.
Communities and Local Government, if he will set out the liquidity tests undertaken by Homes England on strategic partners participating in the Affordable Homes Programme.
It is not the role of Homes England to undertake liquidity tests on strategic partners participating in the Affordable Homes Programme.The Regulator of Social Housing considers whether Registered Providers (RPs) of social housing are delivering the outcomes set out in the regulatory standards, which include viability as well as governance.As part of the strategic partner onboarding process, Homes England check with the Regulator of Social Housing the gradings of any given RP, including their viability to access capital funding.Non-registered providers, as part of the Investment Partner Qualification process, are required to provide financial information, which is assessed by Homes England’s Financial Due Diligence team. This is assessed on the pass or fail basis. Guidance on Investment Partner Qualification can be found on gov.uk here.Homes England also conduct Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions checks. The information they ask for in relation to this can be found on gov.uk here.As part of their Programme Management processes, Homes England monitor all homes delivered by Strategic Partners. Their compliance audit processes are set out in the Capital Funding Guide on gov.uk here.No checks are undertaken on the off-balance sheet liabilities. As a grant programme the Affordable Homes Programme does not carry hard credit risk exposure, such as debt provision, so a purposely high-level review is undertaken.
Whether Integrated Care Boards are required to (a) undertake and (b) publish (i) equality and (ii) patient impact assessments when commissioning decisions may result in reductions to (A) planned service activity and (B) access to care.
Commissioners must comply with duties placed on them under the Equality Act 2010 regarding the public sector equality duty and the duty to reduce health inequalities, and to secure public involvement and consultation in the planning, development, and decisions about commissioning arrangements.NHS England has published guidance to support commissioning decisions and the impact on service users forms a key part of the assurance process. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/planning-assuring-and-delivering-service-change-for-patients/
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill, whether an election offence of intimidating council staff can apply after the close of poll, including to election counts.
Provisions in the Representation of the People Bill will empower courts to give tougher sentences to those who abuse candidates, campaigners, elected representatives and electoral staff by introducing a new statutory aggravating factor. The Bill will also extend the disqualification order regime, so that intimidatory offences against electoral staff can now lead to the application of a disqualification order. As drafted, a relevant offence committed after the close of poll would lead to the application of the aggravating factor and a disqualification order, as long as the offender can be shown to have been motivated by hostility towards electoral staff.
Whether she plans to review the legal age at which an individual may enter into consumer credit and legally binding contracts.
Capacity to contract is a core principle in British contract law and is designed to protect people who lack the necessary capacity to enter into a binding agreement. Most adults, typically those who are aged 18 and over, are presumed to possess contractual capacity. The Consumer Credit Act (1974) makes it a criminal offence to offer credit to a minor.
Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to obtain Legislative Consent from devolved Administrations in Wales and Scotland for the Representation of the People Bill.
As is usual, the government has written to counterparts in the devolved governments asking for their consent to the Bill where this interacts with devolved competence. The Secretary of State confirmed this at Second Reading of the Bill.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill, what his Department’s definition is of a British citizen usually resident in the United Kingdom; and what (a) immigration and (b) domiciled status this requires.
The British Nationality Act 1981 sets out who is a British citizen and how British citizenship may be obtained. Section 5 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 lays down general principles of residence for electoral purposes, which a registration officer must follow when deciding whether a person is resident at a particular address. The Electoral Commission’s guidance sets out clearly that each decision about residence should be made by the registration officer on a case-by-case basis.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a scheme to assist political parties with the implementation costs of the Representation of the People Bill.
The Government has no plans to introduce a scheme to support political parties with the implementation costs of the Representation of the People Bill.
What guidance HM Prison and Probation Service has issued on political restrictions for Crown Servants by grade, including restrictions on standing for (a) local and (b) Parliamentary elections.
HM Prison and Probation Service employees are civil servants and are bound by the Civil Service Code, which requires them to serve the government of the day with integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.In HMPPS, this is reinforced through the Outside Activities Policy and the Conduct and Discipline Policy. These policies set out the political restrictions that apply to Crown Servants and require employees to seek permission before taking part in certain political activities. The level of restriction varies by grade and role.Employees must not undertake political activity while on duty, in uniform or on official premises. Employees who wish to stand for election to local authorities or to Parliament must seek prior approval in line with the Civil Service Management Code and HMPPS policies.Employees are signposted to guidance on conduct for civil servants at each election period and during party conference season to ensure clear expectations of behaviour.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, February 2026, Table 8, what proportion of the donation value that would now be impermissible was made to (a) Reform Party, (b) Brexit Party and (c) the regulated donors from that party.
As set out in Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, Table 8, we estimate that around 26% - 29% of donations from companies made in the year prior to the 2024 General Election would not meet the permissibility criteria. All businesses, including small businesses, will need to meet strict new criteria in order to make political donations. Requiring donors to demonstrate a genuine UK connection is key in protecting against foreign actors from using shell companies to channel foreign or illlicit money into UK politics. Impacts have not been assessed at an individual party level. We are not restricting donations to specific parties; the measures apply equally to recipients of political donations. This ensures that donees adhere to the same standards, thereby safeguarding all UK political parties from foreign interference. The vast majority of businesses do not make political donations and therefore will not be affected by these rule changes.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, February 2026, Table 8, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that bill on levels of permissible donations.
As set out in Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, Table 8, we estimate that around 26% - 29% of donations from companies made in the year prior to the 2024 General Election would not meet the permissibility criteria. All businesses, including small businesses, will need to meet strict new criteria in order to make political donations. Requiring donors to demonstrate a genuine UK connection is key in protecting against foreign actors from using shell companies to channel foreign or illlicit money into UK politics. Impacts have not been assessed at an individual party level. We are not restricting donations to specific parties; the measures apply equally to recipients of political donations. This ensures that donees adhere to the same standards, thereby safeguarding all UK political parties from foreign interference. The vast majority of businesses do not make political donations and therefore will not be affected by these rule changes.