James Cleverly MP: written questions 2025
637 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Local Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99204More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 4 December 2025, HCWS1128, on Devolution Priority Programme, how much funding in each of the combined authorities in the devolution pri
Answer: We remain committed to the long-term funding offer announced on 4 December, confirming that once mayors are in post, the six mayoral strategic authorities on the Devolution Priority Programme will receive close to £200 million collectively per year for 30...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99203More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which local authorities have notional council tax below £2,000 on Band D in 2025-26; and what the value of the notional Band D figure is in each case including the assumptions ma
Answer: As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0’s reforms, the government will better enable all local authorities to provide the same level of service to their residents by equalising for local authorities’ differing abilities to raise income from council tax.Thi...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99202More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the marginal increase in business rates liability for a retail, hospitality and leisure hereditament moving from £500,000 to £501,000 Rateable Value under the new 2026-27 business rate
Answer: In order to sustainably fund the permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000, the Government is introducing a higher tax rate for properties with RVs of £500,000 and above.At t...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99201More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 18 November 2025, HCWS1062, on Next phase of planning reform, whether the land near train stations would (a) have Green Belt disapplied
Answer: The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, sets out how different proposed policies would apply to land around stations, including those that are...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEmpty Property and Second Homes: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department advises councils to undertake an economic or housing market impact assessment prior to implementing (a) empty or (b) second home premiums on council tax.
Answer: The government does not prescribe any specific impact assessments that should be undertaken when councils decide to charge council tax premiums. However, we have published guidance setting out some of the steps they should take. This includes making an as...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDedicated Schools Grant: DebtsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99199More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government's plan to absorb the cost of SEND provision from 2028-29 within the Department for Education Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit, whether it is her Department's policy for l
Answer: To deliver these reforms, the department is putting more money into the education system, with £7 billion more being spent on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support compared to 2025/26. The department’s budgets will increase above previ...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax AllowancesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99198More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Base Liability for business rate transitional relief calculations from which the transitional cap applies in 2026/27 is based on the 2025-26 bill (a) after or (b) bef
Answer: Support for those facing increases in business rates bills at the 2026 revaluation is provided by the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.Transitional Relief is calculated from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill be...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99197More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 87 of the policy document entitled Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29, of 20 November 2025, what the maximum council tax per
Answer: This week the government published the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, which restated our commitment to review requests for additional flex. This aligns with precedent set by the previous government and is in recognition of the extremely ...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 85168 on Council tax, whether he holds estimates for the change in precepts not in scope of his Department’s core spending
Answer: The level of Core Spending Power attributable to council tax for each local authority is available here. Explanations on how council tax and associated referendum principles are calculated as part of core spending power is set out here.At the Provisional ...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordInfrastructure: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99195More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department receives and collates Infrastructure Funding Statements by local authorities.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 90718 on 21 November 2025.
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers: Freedom of InformationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to bring Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Answer: The Government has no plans bring Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax AllowancesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99193More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the calculation of transitional relief for business rates is based on bills before the application of transitional relief in a previous revaluation cycle.
Answer: Support for those facing increases in business rates bills at the 2026 revaluation is provided by the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.Transitional Relief is calculated from a base liability of the 2025/26 bill be...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning and Infrastructure BillMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99192More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions the Government has had with the EU on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Answer: Under the terms of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK meets annually with the European Commission through the Level Playing Field Trade Specialised Committee to discuss the implementation of the Level Playing Field chapter within whic...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordVisitor Levy: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99191More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the introduction of the overnight visitors levy will be a (i) material consideration and (ii) national change in circumstances in the valuation of hereditaments for business rates.
Answer: The government has published a consultation running until 18 February, so that the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy that will be devolved to local leaders. The precise design...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99190More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 18 November 2025, HCWS1062, on Next phase of planning reform, what the geographical distance is around a train station that the policy
Answer: The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, sets out how different proposed policies would apply to land around stations, including those that are...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: Income TaxTreasuryTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99189More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing income tax on income from rental property on the level of private sector rents.
Answer: The independent Office for Budget Responsibility does not expect that the reform to property income tax will have a significant impact on rental prices.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98816More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement on 19 November 2025, HCWS1071, on Local Government Reorganisation, by when legislation is needed to cancel local elections that were scheduled t
Answer: As set out in my statement of 18 December, councils are in the best position to judge their local capacity and the impact of potential postponements of local elections in their area. In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders, this government ...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: BirminghamMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98815More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2025, to Question 46110, on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, whether he plans to request further support from military personnel in relation to this
Answer: Currently, there is no build-up of waste in Birmingham and collection rates remain consistently high. A small number of office-based military personnel with logistical expertise were made available to the Council when it was dealing with a Major Incident ...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: FraudMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98814More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data his Department collates on instances of electoral fraud.
Answer: Data on allegations and outcomes of electoral fraud is collected by police forces across the UK and provided to the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission then publishes this information annually on its website. The Government continues to work cl...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98813More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance on charging travellers for using transit sites for caravans.
Answer: The Department has not issued guidance on charging travellers for using transit sites for caravans. This would be a decision for the local authority to make.
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Tenancy AgreementsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98812More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has a policy on social tenants in high-value social housing passing on lifetime tenancies to their children.
Answer: The assessed value of a social rent property has no bearing on tenants’ rights to pass down their tenancy to their children. Those living in high-value social rent homes will be subject to the same succession rights set out in legislation as other social ...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFlats: LeaseholdMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98786More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data (a) his Department and (b) the Land Registry holds on the proportion of leasehold flats that have a lease less than (i) 99 and (ii) 80 years.
Answer: Data on lease lengths at time of purchase are detailed on page 76 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 Impact Assessment, which can be found on gov.uk here.
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPolitical Parties: Public ConsultationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98785More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his Department's timetable is for consulting political parties on measures to be included in the Elections Bill.
Answer: An Elections Bill will be introduced when parliamentary time allows. The Government will continue to work in partnership with key stakeholders to help ensure that proposed changes address the priorities of the sector. We have begun engagement with politic...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the press release of 25 November 2025, Levy on overnight trips will help mayors invest in local growth, on what date mayors were informed of that policy.
Answer: The government received representations from Mayors for a new visitor levy power earlier this year. Following consideration of these representations, Mayors were informed of the policy on 25 November.
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: GleniganMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 90710 on MHCLG: Glenigan, whether the data received included unbuilt-out planning permissions.
Answer: I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 78185 on 20 October 2025.
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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