Oliver Dowden MP: written questions
4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025
How these years work
Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
57 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Multiple OccupationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61178More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of Houses in Multiple Occupation on local communities.
Answer: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) can play an important part in the housing market, providing relatively low-cost accommodation for rent. Local planning authorities already have powers to limit the proliferation of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMultiple Occupation: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral contribution from the Leader of the House in response to a question from the Rt hon. Member for Hertsmere on 5 June 2025, Official Report, col 462, how
Answer: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) can play an important part in the housing market, providing relatively low-cost accommodation for rent. Local planning authorities already have powers to limit the proliferation of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMultiple Occupation: HertsmereMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with Hertsmere Borough Council on houses in multiple occupation.
Answer: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) can play an important part in the housing market, providing relatively low-cost accommodation for rent. Local planning authorities already have powers to limit the proliferation of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMultiple OccupationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in demand for houses in multiple occupation accommodation on (a) England and (b) Hertsmere.
Answer: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) can play an important part in the housing market, providing relatively low-cost accommodation for rent. Local planning authorities already have powers to limit the proliferation of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen BeltMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 143 of the National Planning Policy Framework, if she will ensure that grey belt land is assessed against the five green belt purposes.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 39471 on 26 March 2025.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local plans will need to be updated following local government reorganisation.
Answer: Where reorganisation occurs, new unitary authorities are expected to promptly prepare a local development plan covering the whole of their area. Until that new plan is adopted, existing constituent local plans remain in force as part of the development pl...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will formalise the role of representative community groups in local planning decisions.
Answer: A key objective of our planning reforms is to improve certainty and decision making in the planning system. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes provisions to that end, including a national scheme of delegation and requiring planning committee me...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on consistency in local planning decisions.
Answer: A key objective of our planning reforms is to improve certainty and decision making in the planning system. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes provisions to that end, including a national scheme of delegation and requiring planning committee me...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Green BeltMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement entitled Building the Homes We Need, of 30 July 2024, HCWS48, what steps she has taken to ensure local authorities are reviewing their gre
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework was published on 12 December 2024, following extensive consultation, including with local planning authorities.I otherwise refer the hon. Members to the answers given to questions UIN 26508 on 5 February 2025...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: Green BeltMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement entitled Building the Homes We Need, of 30 July 2024, HCWS48, what steps she has taken to ensure that development on the green belt will o
Answer: Through the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system last year, the government sought views on implementing ‘Golden Rules’ to ensure development in the Green Belt is in the public ...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHertsmere Borough Council: Green BeltMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertsmere Borough Council on protecting the green belt.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework was published on 12 December 2024, following extensive consultation, including with local planning authorities.I otherwise refer the hon. Members to the answers given to questions UIN 26508 on 5 February 2025...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHertsmere Borough Council: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertsmere Borough Council on the application of the Golden Rules in local planning decisions.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 includes ‘Golden Rules’ for major development involving the provision of housing on land that is situated within, or released from, the Green Belt. The NPPF must be taken ...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHertsmere Borough Council: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertsmere Borough Council on local planning decisions.
Answer: Officials from my Department have had recent discussions with Hertsmere Borough Council regarding the fact it did not meet the required performance threshold for decision-making quality during the assessment period from April 2022 to March 2024, including...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will bring in further guidance on how local authorities can uphold the Golden Rules in local planning decisions.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 includes ‘Golden Rules’ for major development involving the provision of housing on land that is situated within, or released from, the Green Belt. The NPPF must be taken ...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take if local authorities do not comply with the (a) Golden Rules and (b) revised NPPF in local planning decisions.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 includes ‘Golden Rules’ for major development involving the provision of housing on land that is situated within, or released from, the Green Belt. The NPPF must be taken ...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on applying the Golden Rules in local planning decisions.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 includes ‘Golden Rules’ for major development involving the provision of housing on land that is situated within, or released from, the Green Belt. The NPPF must be taken ...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on the revised NPPF.
Answer: MHCLG Ministers and officials engage regularly with local planning authorities to ensure the government’s priorities are understood.
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of local authorities in upholding the Golden Rules under the revised NPPF.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 includes ‘Golden Rules’ for major development involving the provision of housing on land that is situated within, or released from, the Green Belt. The NPPF must be taken ...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: HertfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28526More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertfordshire County Council on local government reorganisation.
Answer: There has not been a meeting with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Hertsmere Borough Council or Hertfordshire County Council on local government re-organisation. Officials do meet regularly with councils and followi...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: HertsmereMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28525More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertsmere Borough Council on local government reorganisation.
Answer: There has not been a meeting with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Hertsmere Borough Council or Hertfordshire County Council on local government re-organisation. Officials do meet regularly with councils and followi...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, what plans she has to introduce legislative proposals for a ministerial directive to
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper set out the government’s ambition for universal coverage of Strategic Authorities with access to devolution in England. We are committed to introducing the English Devolution Bill in this session, subject to parliamentar...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28523More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, what guidance she has issued on deciding between alternative local government reorga
Answer: I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries on 5th February to formally invite unitary proposals from all these councils. The invitation includes guidance on issues of local identity among other matters, all of which will...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, what steps she is taking to ensure local identity is respected in local government r
Answer: I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries on 5th February to formally invite unitary proposals from all these councils. The invitation includes guidance on issues of local identity among other matters, all of which will...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant of the Answer of 24 October 2024 to Question 9472, what progress her Department has made on supporting leaseholders at Horizon Place in Borehamwood affected by cladding
Answer: The Ministry continues to work with developers to ensure that buildings are remediated, at no cost to leaseholders, under the developer remediation contract. On 2 December, we published a joint plan to accelerate developer-led remediation and improve resi...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2024 to Question 1688 on Planning, what progress her Department has made on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Answer: Drafting of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill continues apace. We plan to introduce the Bill in Parliament in the coming months.
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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