Written questions by Morton.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Unite the Union, (b) Job & Talent and (c) Birmingham City Council following the ballot result confirming that agency refuse workers will join official strike action from 1 December 2025.

Further disruption to Birmingham’s waste service is in no one’s interest, and we remain in close contact with Commissioners and the Council as we continue to monitor the situation. Birmingham City Council and their contracted agency are independent employers, and the ongoing disputes are local issues and rightly being dealt with by the relevant employers. As such, my department has not held discussions with either Unite or the Council’s contracted agency following a ballot on industrial action among some agency refuse workers. It is for the Council to consider and manage all aspects of any dispute, including the financial impact. The government’s priority is Birmingham’s residents, and we will continue to support the council to keep streets clean during any disputes.A statutory intervention has been in place since October 2023, with Commissioners appointed to oversee and support the Council’s improvement journey. Commissioners continue to support the Council in their operational response to the ongoing dispute, and in developing much needed transformation plans for the waste service. They are experienced local government professionals, and they have powers relating to governance, finance and recruitment as laid out under the statutory directions. These powers can be used according to their expert judgment and discretion. Commissioners provide regular progress reports to the Secretary of State, and my department engages regularly with Councils under intervention. On 1 December my department published the Commissioners’ third report, together with my response, and updated the House via a written ministerial statement.

Communities and Local Government, if he will publish an authority-level assessment of the 2026 business rates retention reset, including (a) the financial implications of increasing the Safety Net to 100 per cent of Baseline Funding Levels before tapering back to existing levels, (b) the effect of the redesigned levy rate on local authorities with differing growth profiles, (c) the modelling behind the proposed approach to tax policy changes affecting specific property cohorts, and (d) the expected timetable for consulting Mayoral Strategic Authorities on the proposed new offer granting them a direct share of business rates growth to support Local Growth Plans.

Local authorities’ new allocations, accounting for the impact of the Reset, will be published at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement in December. The government has recently published plans for delivering the 2026 Reset: Resetting the business rates retention system from 1 April 2026.As this sets out, raising the safety net will provide increased certainty when authorities’ budget for business rates next year. Protections will be scaled back gradually to smoothly transition back to the standard levels of protection that the system has provided since 2013-14. To ensure safety net protections are affordable, a newly designed levy will continue to be applied to business rates growth, now applying to all local authorities proportionally as new growth builds. Again, as we have set out, the outcome of the 2026 business rates revaluation will be incorporated into the remeasurement business rates each local authority expects to collect from 1 April 2026.As confirmed in the Budget, the government will work with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to co-develop a new offer, starting in the coming months.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his proposal to determine certain called-in applications by written representations rather than inquiry, what assessment he has made of the implications for the level of scrutiny applied to large or complex applications on Green Belt land; and if he will issue criteria ensuring that proposals with significant Green Belt or environmental impacts will continue to receive a full inquiry where appropriate.

The Written Ministerial Statement of 2012 sets out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State will use his powers to intervene. All called in planning applications and appeals will continue to be considered against adopted local plans, in line with s38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, taking into account material planning considerations, which may include emerging Local Plans. Proposals to determine the appropriate procedure for called-in applications would be introduced by commencing existing provisions in the Planning Act 2008.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he will take to ensure that the expanded use of intervention and call-in powers does not weaken legitimate local democratic oversight of planning decisions, particularly in Green Belt-heavy areas such as Aldridge-Brownhills; and whether he will confirm that any called-in application will be assessed with full regard to adopted and emerging Local Plans.

The Written Ministerial Statement of 2012 sets out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State will use his powers to intervene. All called in planning applications and appeals will continue to be considered against adopted local plans, in line with s38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, taking into account material planning considerations, which may include emerging Local Plans. Proposals to determine the appropriate procedure for called-in applications would be introduced by commencing existing provisions in the Planning Act 2008.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has undertaken a risk review of the contractual arrangements underpinning the use of agency workers in local authority waste services, and whether such arrangements create vulnerabilities in service continuity during disputes.

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including the decision to use agency workers to fill vacancies and the accompanying contractual arrangements.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the potential financial cost to Birmingham City Council of agency refuse workers joining official industrial action from 1 December; and what assessment he has made of the impact on the council’s recovery plan.

Further disruption to Birmingham’s waste service is in no one’s interest, and we remain in close contact with Commissioners and the Council as we continue to monitor the situation. Birmingham City Council and their contracted agency are independent employers, and the ongoing disputes are local issues and rightly being dealt with by the relevant employers. As such, my department has not held discussions with either Unite or the Council’s contracted agency following a ballot on industrial action among some agency refuse workers. It is for the Council to consider and manage all aspects of any dispute, including the financial impact. The government’s priority is Birmingham’s residents, and we will continue to support the council to keep streets clean during any disputes.A statutory intervention has been in place since October 2023, with Commissioners appointed to oversee and support the Council’s improvement journey. Commissioners continue to support the Council in their operational response to the ongoing dispute, and in developing much needed transformation plans for the waste service. They are experienced local government professionals, and they have powers relating to governance, finance and recruitment as laid out under the statutory directions. These powers can be used according to their expert judgment and discretion. Commissioners provide regular progress reports to the Secretary of State, and my department engages regularly with Councils under intervention. On 1 December my department published the Commissioners’ third report, together with my response, and updated the House via a written ministerial statement.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for service continuity of agency refuse workers voting to join official industrial action in Birmingham from 1 December 2025; and what steps his Department is taking to support the maintenance of essential waste collection services.

Further disruption to Birmingham’s waste service is in no one’s interest, and we remain in close contact with Commissioners and the Council as we continue to monitor the situation. Birmingham City Council and their contracted agency are independent employers, and the ongoing disputes are local issues and rightly being dealt with by the relevant employers. As such, my department has not held discussions with either Unite or the Council’s contracted agency following a ballot on industrial action among some agency refuse workers. It is for the Council to consider and manage all aspects of any dispute, including the financial impact. The government’s priority is Birmingham’s residents, and we will continue to support the council to keep streets clean during any disputes.A statutory intervention has been in place since October 2023, with Commissioners appointed to oversee and support the Council’s improvement journey. Commissioners continue to support the Council in their operational response to the ongoing dispute, and in developing much needed transformation plans for the waste service. They are experienced local government professionals, and they have powers relating to governance, finance and recruitment as laid out under the statutory directions. These powers can be used according to their expert judgment and discretion. Commissioners provide regular progress reports to the Secretary of State, and my department engages regularly with Councils under intervention. On 1 December my department published the Commissioners’ third report, together with my response, and updated the House via a written ministerial statement.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his written statement of 20 November 2025 on a more active use of ministerial call-in and recovery powers, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of these changes on local authorities with significant areas of Green Belt, including Walsall Council; and whether he will publish guidance confirming that the protection of Green Belt land in constituencies such as Aldridge-Brownhills will be treated as a material consideration of substantial weight in any called-in decision.

The Written Ministerial Statement of 2012 sets out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State will use his powers to intervene. All called in planning applications and appeals will continue to be considered against adopted local plans, in line with s38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, taking into account material planning considerations, which may include emerging Local Plans. Proposals to determine the appropriate procedure for called-in applications would be introduced by commencing existing provisions in the Planning Act 2008.

Communities and Local Government, if he will publish an assessment of the cumulative impact on the protection of Green Belt land of reducing the number of planning applications requiring advice from statutory consultees such as National Highways and Active Travel England; and what steps he will take to ensure that streamlining does not reduce the scrutiny of infrastructure, transport, or environmental pressures in constituencies such as Aldridge-Brownhills.

On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closes on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.A consultation will also be carried out in due course seeking views on plans to amend and expand the 2024 Consultation Direction currently in force.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she intends to issue updated guidance to local councils on maintaining minimum service levels in waste operations during periods of industrial disruption.

Defra does not plan to update guidance to local councils on prioritising services in periods of disruption in waste operations. Defra’s current guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-collection-services-guidance-for-local-authorities/waste-collection-services-guidance-for-local-authorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential environmental impact of prolonged interruptions to refuse collection in Birmingham, including consequences for air quality, pest control, and neighbourhood cleanliness.

Defra has not made an assessment of the potential impact of prolonged interruptions to refuse collection in Birmingham. The ongoing waste dispute is a local issue and rightly being dealt with by Birmingham City Council. Commissioners appointed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government continue to support the Council in their recovery and improvement journey and provide regular progress reports to the Secretary of State.

Communities and Local Government, whether Commissioners for Birmingham provided advice to the council on contingency arrangements ahead of the announcement that agency refuse workers will join the bin strike.

Further disruption to Birmingham’s waste service is in no one’s interest, and we remain in close contact with Commissioners and the Council as we continue to monitor the situation. Birmingham City Council and their contracted agency are independent employers, and the ongoing disputes are local issues and rightly being dealt with by the relevant employers. As such, my department has not held discussions with either Unite or the Council’s contracted agency following a ballot on industrial action among some agency refuse workers. It is for the Council to consider and manage all aspects of any dispute, including the financial impact. The government’s priority is Birmingham’s residents, and we will continue to support the council to keep streets clean during any disputes.A statutory intervention has been in place since October 2023, with Commissioners appointed to oversee and support the Council’s improvement journey. Commissioners continue to support the Council in their operational response to the ongoing dispute, and in developing much needed transformation plans for the waste service. They are experienced local government professionals, and they have powers relating to governance, finance and recruitment as laid out under the statutory directions. These powers can be used according to their expert judgment and discretion. Commissioners provide regular progress reports to the Secretary of State, and my department engages regularly with Councils under intervention. On 1 December my department published the Commissioners’ third report, together with my response, and updated the House via a written ministerial statement.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities that will (a) require 100 per cent income protection, (b) receive real-terms protection, and (c) fall within the 95 per cent funding floor due to being assessed as significantly above their Fair Funding Allocation; and whether he will publish (i) the assumptions used to determine the 2025–26 income baseline, including the treatment of locally retained business rates growth since 2013–14, (ii) the modelling used to calculate the cumulative impact of phasing in new allocations in thirds over the three-year Settlement, and (iii) the projected year-by-year funding changes for each authority once transitional protections, council tax flexibility assumptions, and business rates reset adjustments have been applied.

We expect the vast majority of local authorities with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement, and most other authorities will see their income increase in cash terms.We will support local authorities to manage their updated funding positions through a package of transitional arrangements. We will introduce changes over the multi-year Settlement and protect councils’ income, including locally retained business rates growth, through a range of funding floor levels appropriate to specific groups of authorities’ circumstances.Further details on the proposed operation of these transitional arrangements, including the detail of the income baseline, is set out in the local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29. Plans for delivering the business rates retention reset were also published alongside the policy statement. This sets out a full method of how current business rates income will be measured for the 2025-26 income baseline.We will publish multi-year local authority allocations, including funding for transition and year-on-year Core Spending Power changes, at the upcoming provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this month.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the risk that the combination of expanded intervention powers and reduced statutory consultee involvement may incentivise speculative applications in small Green Belt communities such as Aldridge-Brownhills; and whether he will consider bespoke protections for such areas in the forthcoming revised National Planning Policy Framework.

On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closes on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.A consultation will also be carried out in due course seeking views on plans to amend and expand the 2024 Consultation Direction currently in force.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Commissioners appointed to Birmingham have been granted additional powers to intervene in operational waste decisions during periods of industrial action.

Further disruption to Birmingham’s waste service is in no one’s interest, and we remain in close contact with Commissioners and the Council as we continue to monitor the situation. Birmingham City Council and their contracted agency are independent employers, and the ongoing disputes are local issues and rightly being dealt with by the relevant employers. As such, my department has not held discussions with either Unite or the Council’s contracted agency following a ballot on industrial action among some agency refuse workers. It is for the Council to consider and manage all aspects of any dispute, including the financial impact. The government’s priority is Birmingham’s residents, and we will continue to support the council to keep streets clean during any disputes.A statutory intervention has been in place since October 2023, with Commissioners appointed to oversee and support the Council’s improvement journey. Commissioners continue to support the Council in their operational response to the ongoing dispute, and in developing much needed transformation plans for the waste service. They are experienced local government professionals, and they have powers relating to governance, finance and recruitment as laid out under the statutory directions. These powers can be used according to their expert judgment and discretion. Commissioners provide regular progress reports to the Secretary of State, and my department engages regularly with Councils under intervention. On 1 December my department published the Commissioners’ third report, together with my response, and updated the House via a written ministerial statement.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of (a) the expected financial impact on household budgets of assuming full take-up of council tax referendum flexibilities when calculating transitional protections, (b) the number of local authorities that have requested or are expected to request additional council tax flexibility beyond the core principles in light of ongoing financial pressures, (c) the criteria his Department will apply when assessing such requests, including the treatment of authorities already above average council tax levels, and (d) the implications of these assumptions for the overall distribution of Core Spending Power over the multi-year Settlement; and if he will publish the Department’s analysis of alternative scenarios in which councils do not fully utilise the 3 per cent core limit and 2 per cent adult social care precept.

a) Council tax is managed by local authorities, which decide what level of council tax they wish to set. The government intends to maintain a core referendum threshold of 3%, and a 2% adult social care precept and will consult on the principles in the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement. Any authority that wishes to set an increase above its threshold must seek the approval of voters in its area.The government will continue the existing policy that any protection available through funding floors assumes local authorities use the full council tax flexibility available to them, which will be set out through the Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) Report at the provisional Settlement. Assuming full take up of council tax flexibility balances allocating funding to support authorities adjust to their new allocations and targeting funding to places with higher needs.The government expects councils to consider all levers at their disposal to manage their financial position ahead of making requests for Council Tax flexibilities, which should be a last resort and will only be granted where levels are below average.b) The Department expects that a small number of authorities may seek additional council tax flexibility in exceptional circumstances. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, as has been the approach in previous years. No decisions have yet been taken on individual requests.C) In assessing requests for additional flexibility, the government will consider evidence of significant financial difficulty and whether additional increases are critical to managing financial risk. Requests will not be granted where council tax levels are already above the national average. Taxpayers will remain at the forefront of Ministers’ considerations.d) We will publish multi-year local authority allocations, including funding for transition and year-on-year Core Spending Power changes, at the upcoming provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this month.

What assessment he has made of the potential public health risks arising from the withdrawal of waste collection services in Birmingham following the decision by agency refuse workers to take industrial action from 1 December 2025.

The Director of Public Health for Birmingham continues to monitor the situation locally, including any public health risks from uncollected waste. The UK Health Security Agency, working closely with relevant partner organisations, would contribute to any risk assessment and provide health protection advice and support as requested.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how sanctions against Russia applied under UK human rights, chemical weapons, cyber and hybrid threat regimes complement the UK’s broader Russia sanctions framework.

Extensive guidance on all aspects of the UK's sanctions regime against Russia can be found on GOV.UK at the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-sanctions-on-russia.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of EU proposals for a €140 billion reparations loan backed by Russian state-owned assets; and whether she is considering a similar mechanism.

The Chancellor is committed to exploring a reparations loan to enable the value of sanctioned Russian sovereign assets held in the UK to be directed to supporting Ukraine. The government continues to work in partnership with international partners including the G7 and European Union to achieve this. To date, the UK has provided £21.8bn in support for Ukraine. This includes the commitment to the provide £2.26bn as part of the $50bn Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Scheme for Ukraine, which utilised the extraordinary profits generated from immobilised Russian Sovereign Assets held in the EU.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent sanctions evasion by Russia through third countries, including through shadow fleet vessels and international financial networks.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement on Ukraine made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 15 October, where she set out in detail the UK's approach on these issues. We will provide further updates to the House in due course.