James Cleverly MP: written questions 2025
637 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Sewers: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61182 on Litter: Codes of Practice, whether guidance has been given to local authorities on issuing fines under the Section 33 of the
Answer: Guidance to councils on the use of their fixed penalty powers for littering and related offences is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-on-litter-and-refuse. The Government recently published a Pride in Place Strategy...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what are the internal areas within the proposed Chinese Embassy that would be exempt from UK inspection and verification.
Answer: All material planning considerations, including national and international law, will be taken into account in reaching a decision on this case. The full reasons for the decision will be set out in the final decision letter.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: PublicityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is his Department’s policy on commissioning publicity material in foreign languages aimed at individuals who permanently reside in the UK.
Answer: The department does not have a specific policy on commissioning publicity material in foreign languages. The department provides published content in additional languages where appropriate and on a case-by-case basis.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: ValuationTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87790More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 68418 on Business Rates: Valuation, how many hereditaments in the flexible workplace and serviced office sector have had their rateable values increased following
Answer: As a result of case law developments, the VOA have concluded that, rather than each room within a serviced office being assessed separately, many serviced offices may need to be assessed as a single property, unless clear evidence demonstrates a need to h...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals and Schools: Solar PowerTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87789More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 78960 on Hospitals and Schools: Solar Power, how many (a) schools and (b) hospitals have had their Rateable Values amended by the Valuation Office Agency due to
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency does not maintain records that specifically identify properties, including schools and hospitals, whose Rateable Value has been amended solely due to the installation of solar panels.
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87788More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 32153 on Airports: Business Rates, whether the Valuation Office Agency has made other changes to the methodology of airport valuations since the last revaluatio
Answer: There have been no changes to the method of assessing airports since the last revaluation.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordIndividual Savings Accounts: Fees and ChargesTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87787More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have received a Lifetime ISA 25% withdrawal charge in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Answer: In the latest year 2024-25, 129,200 individuals made unauthorised withdrawals from their Lifetime ISA, resulting in 25% withdrawal charges.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: ValuationTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87786More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the policy paper entitled Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report, updated 17 September 2025, whether the proposed reforms on moving from a slab to slice system will be implemented for the intr
Answer: The Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report, published on 11 September, sets out the Government’s next steps to deliver a fairer business rates system. The Interim Report brings together extensive feedback from a broad range of stakeholders and outlin...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: ApplicationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87785More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2025, to Question 81310, on Universal Studios: Bedfordshire, if he will make it his policy to publish all online written representations to p
Answer: Special Development Orders are a long-established part of the planning system, and each case is considered on its individual merits. In July 2025, my Department set out how it intends to inform the public of its decision on a request for planning permissi...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: TransportTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87784More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the HMRC guidance, Local authorities and similar bodies (VAT Notice 749), whether local authorities will be able to recover VAT on private hire for school transport.
Answer: Local authorities have a duty to provide free transport from home to school, in certain circumstances. This is a non-business activity for VAT and where a local authority purchases the services of private hire companies in order to fulfil their statutory ...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAttorney General's Office: Civil Society and Young PeopleAttorney GeneralTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87783More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 81790 on Democracy, what her Department's budget is for direct engagement with (a) civil society groups and (b) young people; and which organisations her Department has me
Answer: There is no single budget ring-fenced for direct engagement with (a) civil society groups and (b) young people within the Attorney General's Office as a department. Ministers and officials meet with many civil society groups and young people as you would ...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 28 October 2025, HCWS998, on Local government reorganisation, and with reference to the debt write-off of Woking Borough Council, wheth
Answer: In general, as with previous rounds of local government reorganisation, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation. Alongside Woking Borough Council, and as I set out on 13 October, Thurrock Co...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCity of London CorporationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78178 on City of London Corporation, for what reason the City of London will continue to operate under a committee-based sys
Answer: The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes provision to amend the Local Government Act 2000, which sets out the permissible governance arrangements for local authorities in England.Arrangements for the discharge of local authority functio...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSecond Homes: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Valuation Tribunal Service has issued (i) guidance and (ii) advice to local billing authorities on the changing of designations of secondar
Answer: The government has not issued guidance to councils on this. It is for individual councils to assess whether a dwelling is a sole/main residence or if it is a second or empty home. In doing this councils will consider a range of factors including; where th...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: StandardsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78227 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Standards, if he will provide the data for each of those met
Answer: The metrics currently used in the dashboard are mainly derived from datasets available on the Office for National Statistics and GOV.UK websites, supported by both additional internal analysis and data sources provided under licence by third party organis...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87778More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 81951 on Affordable Housing: Construction, whether grant funding will be provided under the Affordable Housing Programme for
Answer: The Social and Affordable Homes Programme will support the delivery of social and affordable housing additional to those that developers have committed to delivering through Section 106 agreements.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87777More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83343 on Elections: Pilot Schemes, what his planned timetable is for announcing which local authority areas will be selected
Answer: We are currently reviewing applications from local authorities wishing to pilot at the May 2026 elections and we will share further details in due course.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: EnergyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87776More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83285 on Private Rented Housing: Energy, whether he plans to provide guidance to (a) renters, (b) landlords and (c) tribunal
Answer: Once Part 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, tenants will have the right to apply to the First-tier Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’) to challenge a proposed rent increase.Where a tenant chooses to do so, the Tribunal will determine the open market re...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87775More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what discussions his Department has had with councils in Surrey on e
Answer: The Government believes the historic identity, rights and privileges of cities and counties in England are important and should be safeguarded and celebrated. There have been no specific discussions on this matter with councils in Surrey to date, but we h...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87774More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 October 2025 entitled Local Government Reorganisation, HCWS998, what estimate his Department has made of the upfront costs to (a) lo
Answer: I refer the Rt. hon Member to the answer given to UIN: 85785 on 4 November 2025. Exact costs and savings will vary depending on the area and the final decisions on which proposals, if any, are implemented.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87773More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to allow local referendums on (a) local government restructuring, (b) changes to the governance model of local councils and (c) the establishment of combined aut
Answer: Parliament has set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 the process for establishing unitary councils in two-tier areas, and a referendum is not part of the statutory process that has already begun. The process requires st...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPride in Place Programme: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83810 on Pride in Place Programme: Finance, how much funding has been allocated to each nation in the Spending Review period
Answer: Our Pride in Place programme will see up to £280 million shared among 14 places in Scotland, each receiving up to £20 million over 10 years. Up to £180m will be provided to a further 9 Welsh communities as part of the programme. These areas will join 10 a...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNational IdentityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 81315 on National Identity, whether his Department is taking steps to promote (a) English and (b) British identities in peop
Answer: The below answer refers to funding made by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government only for English language provision. The provisions described are in addition to what other departments offer. Councils receive a tariff of £5,900 per Hom...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Local PressTreasuryTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87326More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 75616 on Business Rates: Local Press, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of the relief for local newspapers in the 2024-25 financial year; and w
Answer: From April 2017 to 31 March 2025, Eligible newspapers received a £1,500 reduction in their business rates liabilities. This discount applied up to a maximum of one discount per local newspaper title and per property. The previous government took the decis...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDevolution: CornwallMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83816 on Devolution: Cornwall, whether he plans to require Cornwall to (a) join a combined authority with Devon and (b) have
Answer: Decisions on future devolution beyond the areas on the Devolution Priority Programme, including Cornwall, will be confirmed in due course and will be subject to further local engagement and ministerial decisions.
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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