James Cleverly MP: written questions 2025
637 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Empty Property and Second homes: Council TaxTreasuryTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95067More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the charging of (a) second homes and (b) empty homes council tax premiums on a dwelling will affect the calculation of the high value council tax surcharge liability.
Answer: The second homes and empty homes premiums will not affect the calculation of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge liability.
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: ValuationTreasuryTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95066More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the 2026 business rates revaluation is revenue neutral (i) in the first year, or (ii) over the valuation cycle.
Answer: At Budget 2025, the Government announced updated property values independently assessed by the Valuation Office. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values (RVs) of properties are updated in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to ref...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Pension Scheme: CouncillorsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95065More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025, to Question 88665, on Local Government Pension Scheme: Councillors, if he will make it his policy to amend secondary legislation to en
Answer: The government believes transparency in local government is the foundation of local accountability, and this extends to councillors. The consultation on pensions for mayors and councillors is still open and so no final decisions have been taken, but I wil...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: EssexMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95064More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025, to Question 89916, on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether the existing council elections within the area described as Greater Es
Answer: There are no plans to introduce such legislation to cancel any May 2026 elections for any of the areas listed in the written statement. The only area where currently scheduled elections will be cancelled is in Surrey, where, subject to Parliamentary agree...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLand Use: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95063More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 23 October 2025, HCWS991, on Housing Delivery, and pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question HL9484 on Green Belt: Greater Lon
Answer: Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in the London Plan. Policy relating to the designation is entirely a matter for the Mayor and is not set out within the National Planning Policy Framework or Planning Practice Guida...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95062More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to created a deferment scheme for council tax.
Answer: Local councils are responsible for the administration of council tax and they have discretionary powers to agree on alternative payment plans including deferrals. The department encourages taxpayers in hardship to contact their local authority to discuss ...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95061More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 68405 on Housing: Construction, whether he is on course to meet the 374,000 net additions per year target by 2027.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 55284 on 10 June 2025.
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95060More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 20 November 2025, on Multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement and Fair Funding Review, of 20 November 2025, what assessment he has made
Answer: It is for individual councils to set their own level of council tax. The government intends to maintain a core 3% referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept and will consult on this at the provisional local government finance settlement. The ...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Authorities: RecruitmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 15 September 202, to Question HL10015, Planning Permission, and with reference to paragraph 3.25 of the Budget 2025, HC1492, 26 November 2025, in
Answer: At the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor 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 t...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncillors: Dual MandateMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95058More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend electoral law to prevent councillors standing for election in overseas countries.
Answer: The Government is clear that any councillor elected by local people to serve their interests must continue to do so as their highest priority. I am considering whether a change in legislation is needed to address the rare instances where serving councillo...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: Working HoursMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95057More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will re-issue Best Value intervention notices against councils operating four day working weeks on full pay.
Answer: This Government is committed to working in partnership with local authorities and will not micromanage their day-today running. However, the Government does not support the use of part-time work for full-time pay by local authorities.Best value notices ma...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSites of Special Scientific Interest: EbbsfleetMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95056More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 14 November 2025 to Question HL11496 on Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Ebbsfleet, what the purpose was of the site visit to the Swanscombe
Answer: The purpose of the visit in question was to share knowledge and expertise between DEFRA, MHCLG, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) and Natural England about how to best to harmonise development and nature recovery, drawing on insights from EDC and Na...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: ExpenditureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95055More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2025 to Question 87323 on Affordable Housing: Expenditure, how much funding was allocated to the Affordable Housing Programmes in (a) 2023-2
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 73795 on 15 September 2025.On 5 November, Homes England published an updated summary of their total allocations from the Affordable Homes Programme for 2021 to 2026 (AHP 2021 to 2026). It can ...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 19 November 2025, HCWS1071, on Local Government Reorganisation, whether he plans to introduce structural changes secondary legislation
Answer: There are no plans to introduce such legislation to cancel any May 2026 elections for any of the areas listed in the written statement. The only area where currently scheduled elections will be cancelled is in Surrey, where, subject to Parliamentary agree...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025, to Question 88278, on Travellers: Caravan Sites, if he will make it his policy to undertake research into the issue of unauthorised tr
Answer: My Department has no plans to undertake research into this specific issue at this time.
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care ServicesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025, to Question 90709, on Shops: Planning Permission, and the Answer of 7 November 2025, to Question 86776, on Retail Trade: Urban Areas,
Answer: As we have set out, there are a range of measures to tackle this issue. This government has since announced further action to crack down on illegal high street activity in premises such as mini-marts, barbershops, vape shops, nail bars and car washes. The...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Council TaxTreasuryTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94693More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the HMT guidance entitled High Value Council Tax Surcharge published on 26 November 2025, for what reason social housing is exempt from the new council tax surcharge.
Answer: The High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) applies to the highest-value properties to make taxation fairer. It affects less than 1% of homes in England and ensures those with the broadest shoulders contribute their fair share towards funding local gover...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: BirminghamMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025, to Question 91362, on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, what proportion of the 9.8% increase in core spending power in Birmingham in 2025-26
Answer: Information on Core Spending Power for Birmingham Council, including how much is available from Council Tax, can be found here.
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral Answer of 24 November 2025 on East Sussex County Council: Elections, what is the Secretary of State's definition for the length of time which represents a ve
Answer: We are clear that the starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification otherwise.There is precedent for postponing local elections where local government reorganisation is in progress. That postponement can prevent cost...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the overnight visitor levy will apply to Christian retreat accommodation where a commercial charge is levied on the visitor.
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.The Visitor Levy Consultation, running until...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the Chief Planner newsletter of 24 November 2025, whether an (a) Impact Assessment, (b) Equality Impact Assessment and (c) Environmental Principles Assessment was unde
Answer: The letter in question has already been superseded by changes to national planning policy, including the changes made to Green Belt policy as set out in the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024.The relevant impact asses...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: SurchargesTreasuryTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94688More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the banding thresholds for the high value council tax surcharge will be uprated each year in line with changes to (a) inflation or (b) the house price index.
Answer: Properties will be revalued every 5 years and banding thresholds will be kept under review alongside the revaluations.
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the press release, Levy on overnight trips will help mayors invest in local growth, of 25 November 2025, for what reason the press release was distributed via gov.uk b
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.The Visitor Levy Consultation, running until...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94195More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the press release, Levy on overnight trips will help mayors invest in local growth, of 25 November 2025, what is the estimated increase to the cost of an average famil
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.The Visitor Levy Consultation, running until...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the press release, "Levy on overnight trips will help mayors invest in local growth", of 25 November 2025, whether the overnight visitor levy will be levied in additio
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.The Visitor Levy Consultation, running until...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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