James Cleverly MP: written questions 2026
1515 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Administration of JusticeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) legal challenges and (b) judicial reviews his Department has (i) lost in court and (ii) conceded prior to the court hearing since July 2024.
Answer: The Department deals with a large variety of legal cases including judicial reviews, statutory challenges in planning cases, Information Tribunal cases and private law litigation. The number and outcome of legal challenges and judicial reviews since July ...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2026 to Question 108645 on Business Rates, what the aggregate (a) monetary and (b) percentage change in business rate receipts is in (i) each
Answer: The latest available data on business rates receipts relates to 2024-25. Data for England and each local authority can be found at the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/collection-rates-for-council-tax-and-non-domestic-rates-in-engla...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department holds information on business rate receipts from (a) Business Rate Improvement Districts levies and (b) the GLA Business Rate Supplement across (i) England
Answer: Information on receipts from the GLA Business Rate Supplement is collected and published on Revenue Outturn RS Line 793. The latest local authority and England level data from 2024 to 2025 can be found here.The Department does not hold data on Business Im...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFoot and Mouth Disease: ContaminationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113652More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether guidance has been given to (a) developers and (b) local planning authorities on development exclusion zones around former foot and mouth burial pits.
Answer: Defra does not issue guidance on development on, or near land, previously used as a FMD pit.
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ValuationTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113651More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what each (a) value significant and (b) dwellinghouse code used by the Valuation Office Agency for council tax valuations is in (1) England and (2) Wales; and whether any other codes are used.
Answer: For Council Tax valuations, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) uses ‘Value Significant Codes’ to indicate specific features that are likely to affect the value of a property. Dwelling house codes allow the VOA to classify dwellings by their architectural s...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113650More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Valuation Office Agency's business rates estimator tool was taken down.
Answer: The estimator tool for England has been removed ahead of business rates bills being issued by local councils.
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ValuationTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113649More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what Valuation Office Agency guidance exists on the council tax offences of (a) refusing access to a valuation officer who has given notice as required of the exercise of the power of entry, (b) failing to give info
Answer: Guidance is set out in Section 1, Part 7 of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) Council Tax manual: Council Tax Manual - Section 1: introduction and essential background - Guidance - GOV.UK
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax YieldsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113648More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what commissioned data was provided to the Office for Budget Responsibility for the calculation of recent business rate receipts forecasts.
Answer: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for producing the business rates forecast for England only. This is primarily based on estimates of national non-domestic rates, collected and published by the department, alongside ...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113647More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Treasury Select Committee, Work of HM Revenue and Customs - Oral evidence, HC 416, 13 January 2026, Question 480, if she will publish equivalent figures for the average change in Rateable value
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency published data relating to your request can be found here.
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: National SecurityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Intelligence and Security Committee press notice of 20 January 2026, what steps his Department is taking to improve clarity on the role that national securi
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should promote public safety and take into account wider security and defence requirements by anticipating and addressing possible malicious threats. Proposals ...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPlanning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026, to Question 102811, on Planning Permission, whether any other guidance has been given on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child i
Answer: Neither the government nor the Planning Inspectorate has issued guidance in respect of the treatment of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the planning system.
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113644More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026, to Question 106112, on Local Government: Elections, and with reference to his letter to local authorities of 22 January 2026, on what e
Answer: I refer the Rt.hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February (HCWS1349). All local elections will go ahead in May 2026.
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113643More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2026, to Question 104170, on Local Government: Reorganisation, and pursuant to the answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage of 26 January 2026,
Answer: The Government remains committed to the indicative timetable published in July, with elections to new councils in May 2027. This is with the exception of Surrey, where we have already announced two new councils with elections expected in May 2026.
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the correspondence, Local government reorganisation: further letter to council leaders with elections in May 2026, of 19 January 2026, for what reason those let
Answer: I refer the Rt hon. and hon. Members to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February 2026 (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that Government does not comment on or publish legal advice. The Government has no plans to publi...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordParish and Town Councils: Council Tax Reduction SchemesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113641More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to principal local authorities on providing financial support to town and parish councils for their contribution towards local council tax support; a
Answer: Successive government have been clear that it is the responsibility of principal authorities to work with parish and town councils on council tax matters, including support schemes and to agree appropriate funding arrangements so that large increases in p...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLegal Systems: IslamMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113640More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 August 2024, to Question HL394, on Legal Systems: Islam, what research has his department conducted on the operation of (a) shariah courts and (b) Mus
Answer: We have not conducted research on the operation of sharia courts and Muslim Arbitration Tribunals.In line with previous governments, the government’s position remains that individuals are free to practise their religion, including seeking religious guidan...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFoot and Mouth Disease: ContaminationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113639More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what planning guidance has been given to local authorities on land which is contaminated due to former foot and mouth burial pits.
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should ensure that a development site is suitable for its proposed use, taking account of risks arising from land contamination. This includes risks arising fro...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113638More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish each council response to the Ministerial letter on local government reorganisation of 18 December 2025.
Answer: I refer the Rt hon. and hon. Members to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February 2026 (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that Government does not comment on or publish legal advice. The Government has no plans to publi...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113637More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the correspondence entitled Public Letter on Called-in decision: Royal Mint Court, of 20 January 2026, whether the mitigation measures are reflected in planning
Answer: Full reasons for the decision in question are set out in the Secretary of State’s decision letter which can be found on gov.uk here. The letter and associated Inspector’s Report must be read in their entirety. Planning conditions are addressed at paragrap...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113636More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the correspondence entitled Public Letter on Called-in decision: Royal Mint Court, of 20 January 2026, whether the evidence provided to the Intelligence and Sec
Answer: Full reasons for the decision in question are set out in the Secretary of State’s decision letter which can be found on gov.uk here. The letter and associated Inspector’s Report must be read in their entirety. Planning conditions are addressed at paragrap...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Home Office oral statement on 20 January 2026, on the Chinese Embassy, whether the unredacted plans for the Embassy were subject to scrutiny by the planning
Answer: Full reasons for the decision in question are set out in the Secretary of State’s decision letter which can be found on gov.uk here. The letter and associated Inspector’s Report must be read in their entirety. Planning conditions are addressed at paragrap...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: Tax Rates and BandsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 104668, on council tax, if he will publish a table listing the notional Band D level for each local authority in England in
Answer: The notional council tax level for each authority in England is published on gov.uk here.
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish correspondence from each council requesting election delays in relevant areas.
Answer: I refer the Rt hon. and hon. Members to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February 2026 (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that Government does not comment on or publish legal advice. The Government has no plans to publi...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordWest Yorkshire Combined Authority: Lexington CommunicationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has has discussions with West Yorkshire Combined Authority on contract reference 20250627172243-103257, awarded to Lexington Communications; and whether his Department
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for the award of contracts in line with the procurement regulations at the time of the award.
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113630More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105226 on Small Businesses: Business Rates, whether the relevant Transitional Relief percentage cap under Supporting Small Business Relief scheme applies to smal
Answer: The 2026 supporting small business (SSB) scheme will support businesses who lose some or all of their small business rates relief, rural rates relief, or retail, hospitality and leisure relief in April. SSB will therefore apply in scenarios (a), (b) and (...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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