Wendy Morton MP: written questions
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026
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.
135 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Mayors: DevolutionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3252More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposals by combined authority mayors for further fiscal devolution powers, including powers over council tax precepts, lo
Answer: The Government recognises that proposals by combined authority mayors for further fiscal devolution - such as powers over council tax precepts, local business taxation and infrastructure levies - could strengthen local control, accountability and incentiv...
Answered 1 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMayors and Police and Crime Commissioners: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the provisions of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 relating to the reintroduction of the Supplementary Vote system for mayoral and police and cri
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS65) made on 21 May 2026.
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMayor of Greater Manchester: By-electionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of a by-election for the office of Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Answer: No assessment has been made by central government. Spend on mayoral elections for Strategic Authorities is a matter for those authorities.
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBy-elections: MakerfieldMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the parliamentary by-election in Makerfield; what proportion of that cost will be met by (a) central Government, (b)
Answer: The costs necessary for the efficient and effective running of UK parliamentary elections are met from the Consolidated Fund. The estimated cost of the parliamentary by-election in Makerfield is set out in the relevant schedule of The Parliamentary Electi...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Housing: Foreign NationalsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of social housing allocations made to households where the lead tenant is not a UK national in each of the last five years; what assessmen
Answer: Eligibility for social housing is already tightly controlled. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. Migrants arriving in the UK on ...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHouseboatsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend the National Planning Policy Framework to make explicit reference to residential boat communities and their accommodation needs.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHouseboatsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on safeguarding and expanding residential mooring provision as part of Development Plans.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHouseboatsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration he has given to whether residential boaters constitute a distinct housing group for the purposes of national planning policy.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHouseboatsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of people living permanently on residential boats in England; and what assessment he has made of the availability of suitable residential
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHouseboatsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consultation his Department has undertaken with representatives of residential boat communities on the development of national planning policy.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHouseboatsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of whether the National Planning Policy Framework adequately reflects the housing and planning needs of residential boaters; and whether he pla
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 28057 on 14 March 2025 and UIN 34853 on 11 March 2025.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultatio...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Audit OfficeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Finance Statement made on 23 February 2026, what the estimated annual operating cost of the proposed Local Audit Office will be; how it wil
Answer: The Local Audit Office will take on a remit and powers currently fragmented across the existing system with its statutory objectives and functions detailed in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We will confirm the estimated cost and fu...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: BorrowingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121353More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Finance Statement made on 23 February 2026, when he plans to publish the consultation on strengthening safeguards over local government bor
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions, within a statutory framework intended to ensure borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable.The government recognises the importance of local investment, including fo...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity RelationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the statement of 9 March 2026 entitled Social Cohesion Action Plan, what indicators he will include in the proposed Social Cohesion Measurement Framework; how f
Answer: The social cohesion action plan published last week, set out the steps that Government is taking to improve social cohesion. This includes the development of a social cohesion measurement framework and a social cohesion risk tool. Both of these are needed...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Relations and Pride in Place Programme: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the statement of 9 March 2026 on Protecting What Matters, what criteria he will use to determine the allocation of the £5.8 billion Pride in Place funding; whic
Answer: On Friday 20 March we announced a major expansion of the landmark Pride in Place programme. This follows the government’s action plan for social cohesion, “Protecting What Matters” which confirmed a further £800 million over ten years to 40 more areas whe...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: DebtsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Finance Statement made on 23 February 2026, what estimate he has made of the aggregate level of debt held by local authorities in relation
Answer: The government does not collect data specifically on debt incurred to finance commercial property. However, authorities are required to submit data on borrowing, capital spend and asset holdings to government as part of quarterly and annual returns. Borro...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDedicated Schools GrantMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121306More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Finance Statement made on 23 February 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of writing off 90% of Dedicated Schools Gra
Answer: The government has set out details of a reformed SEND system which meets needs earlier, before challenges escalate. All local authorities with a SEND deficit are eligible for a grant to resolve 90% of their historic deficits up to 2025‑26— projected to be...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Finance Statement made on 23 February 2026, what changes have been made to the assessment of relative need within the Settlement; whether i
Answer: The recent Local Government Finance Settlement is our most significant step yet to make English local government more sustainable. For the first time since 2013-14, the government is updating the relative needs formulas that form a key part of how local a...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the extent to which housing delivery shortfalls are being used to justify development on protected land; how many homes approved on appeal in the l
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out clear safeguards for land which is designated for its environmental or amenity value. While a poor score on the Housing Delivery Test (HDT) is a strong indicator of housing need in an area not being met suff...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the consistency of Planning Inspectorate decisions where local plans are absent, emerging or under review; how often inspectors have cited housing
Answer: My Department has made no such assessment. The Planning Inspectorate does not compile data on the number of instances Inspectors have cited Housing Land Supply shortfalls to allow an appeal on designated land, such as a protected site.
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the financial sustainability of local authorities that are implementing the maximum permitted council tax increase while also delivering more than
Answer: It is for individual local authorities to decide their level of council tax, including whether to use their full flexibility and balancing the extra spending with the impact on taxpayers. Local authorities are expected to manage their financial position p...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have forecast a structural budget deficit beyond 2026–27 at the same time as applying the maximum council tax increase; and what assessment he has made
Answer: The recent Local Government Finance Settlement is our most significant step yet to make English local government more sustainable. Our reforms are delivering a fairer Settlement which puts funding where it is needed most. Before our reforms, only around a...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the transparency of local authority budget-setting processes in instances where increases in council tax are accompanied by reducti
Answer: The Department has not made an assessment of the adequacy of the transparency of local authority budget-setting processes. It is for individual councils to decide their level of council tax, the discretionary services they deliver, and their fees and char...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCombined AuthoritiesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that funding allocated to mayoral combined authorities is delivering value for money; how often such authorities are subject to i
Answer: Mayoral Strategic Authorities are expected to follow the existing principles and processes described in the English Devolution Accountability Framework and Scrutiny Protocol, which sets out how Mayors will be held to account by central government, at loca...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCombined AuthoritiesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mayoral combined authorities in delivering regional growth plans; what metrics his Department uses to evaluate performance aga
Answer: Local Growth Plans are a key pillar of our regional growth agenda, and government continues to work with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to co-agree regional growth priorities.Mayoral Strategic Authority delivery, including on investment commitments and job...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
Explore activity by topic or department
Written questions by answering department
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
View as listWhat this shows and doesn't show
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →