Every parliamentary written question tabled by Wendy Morton this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 227 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the principal causes of failed residential property transactions; whether his Department has modelled the potential impact of the proposed reforms on fall-through rates; what estimate his Department has made of the potential financial savings to (a) buyers and (b) sellers; and whether his Department has completed regional modelling.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have requested (a) Exceptional Financial Support, (b) capitalisation directions and (c) other forms of financial assistance during 2026–27; what estimate his Department has made of the value of those requests; how many remain under consideration; and whether the Department has made an assessment of the cumulative funding gap facing those authorities.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been issued to police forces and local authorities following repeal of the Vagrancy Act; whether additional funding has been allocated to support implementation; and whether Ministers received advice on potential operational risks or unintended consequences.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the repeal of the Vagrancy Act on levels of rough sleeping, anti-social behaviour and street begging; whether police forces, local authorities and homelessness charities provided differing assessments during consultation; whether regional impact modelling has been undertaken; and if he will publish the evidence informing the Government’s approach.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, what modelling he has undertaken of the potential impact of his Department’s AI planning tools on planning determination times, staffing requirements, planning costs and housing delivery; whether pilot evaluations have been completed; whether any local planning authorities have been identified as presenting implementation risks; and if he will publish any underlying evaluation.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department maintains an internal list or other assessment of local authorities considered to be at heightened risk of issuing a section 114 notice or requiring Exceptional Financial Support during the 2026–27 financial year; and whether Ministers have received advice identifying councils considered to present the greatest financial risk.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has established baseline performance measures against which the success of AI planning tools will be assessed; what key performance indicators will be monitored; and whether expected productivity improvements have been modelled by planning authority.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposals by combined authority mayors for further fiscal devolution powers, including powers over council tax precepts, lo
The Government recognises that proposals by combined authority mayors for further fiscal devolution - such as powers over council tax precepts, local business taxation and infrastructure levies - could strengthen local control, accountability and incentiv...
Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of a by-election for the office of Mayor of Greater Manchester.
No assessment has been made by central government. Spend on mayoral elections for Strategic Authorities is a matter for those authorities.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the parliamentary by-election in Makerfield; what proportion of that cost will be met by (a) central Government, (b)
The costs necessary for the efficient and effective running of UK parliamentary elections are met from the Consolidated Fund. The estimated cost of the parliamentary by-election in Makerfield is set out in the relevant schedule of The Parliamentary Electi...
Communities and Local Government, whether the provisions of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 relating to the reintroduction of the Supplementary Vote system for mayoral and police and cri
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS65) made on 21 May 2026.
Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend the National Planning Policy Framework to make explicit reference to residential boat communities and their accommodation needs.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of social housing allocations made to households where the lead tenant is not a UK national in each of the last five years; what assessmen
Eligibility for social housing is already tightly controlled. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. Migrants arriving in the UK on ...
Communities and Local Government, what consultation his Department has undertaken with representatives of residential boat communities on the development of national planning policy.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on safeguarding and expanding residential mooring provision as part of Development Plans.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Communities and Local Government, what consideration he has given to whether residential boaters constitute a distinct housing group for the purposes of national planning policy.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of people living permanently on residential boats in England; and what assessment he has made of the availability of suitable residential
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of whether the National Planning Policy Framework adequately reflects the housing and planning needs of residential boaters; and whether he pla
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Finance Statement made on 23 February 2026, what the estimated annual operating cost of the proposed Local Audit Office will be; how it will be funded; how its powers and remit will differ from the existing audit framework; and what timetable has been set for clearing the backlog of outstanding local authority audits prior to its establishment in autumn 2026.
The Local Audit Office will take on a remit and powers currently fragmented across the existing system with its statutory objectives and functions detailed in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We will confirm the estimated cost and funding mechanisms later in the year, ensuring that it provides greater value for money than the current failed system. Following the introduction of statutory local audit backstop dates in autumn 2024, the backlog of unaudited accounts has been cleared. The vast majority of opinions for financial years up to and including 2024/25 have been published. The government continues to engage with local bodies and audit firms to ensure that issues preventing the issuance of audit opinions are resolved, and that remaining opinions are published as soon as practicable.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Finance Statement made on 23 February 2026, when he plans to publish the consultation on strengthening safeguards over local government borrowing; whether statutory limits on debt-to-revenue ratios are under consideration; what assessment he has made of the potential impact of such restrictions on housing and regeneration delivery; and whether modelling of the effect on future capital investment will be published.
Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions, within a statutory framework intended to ensure borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable.The government recognises the importance of local investment, including for housing and growth. Under the previous government, however, weaknesses in the system allowed a minority of authorities to take on excessive debt for high-risk investment that have not represented value for money. In some cases, this has led to serious failures requiring government intervention and significant cost to taxpayers.The government is therefore bringing into effect the capital risk powers added to the Local Government Act 2003 in 2023. The aim is to safeguard the system to support essential investment while giving government the tools to address instances of excessive borrowing and investment risk before failure occurs.The government will work with the sector in developing use of the powers to ensure they are effective and to avoid unintended consequences. We will consult later this year.