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Rushanara Ali
LAB✓ Current MP
🏛️ Bethnal Green and Stepney
📅 2010–2026
819 speeches on Hansard record
✅ Votes attended: 72.88% (#328 of 650 MPs)
🟢 Rebelled against party: 0.11%
📝 Topics: Burma, Syria, Teachers: Training
🤝 Member of 4 All-Party Parliamentary Groups
Written Answers
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Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Social media companies must keep people safe on their platforms and holding them accountable is a departmental priority. Under the Online Safety Act, services must tackle illegal content, including terrorist content and that which stirs up hatred based on religion or race, or incites violence. They…
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Department for Work and Pensions
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in relation to the statutory guidance on fiduciary duties announced during Report stage of the Pension Schemes Bill on 3 December 2025, when he intends to table this amendment to the Bill; whether he will consult on the guidance; and when he…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Minister for Pensions' oral contribution during the Report Stage of the Pension Schemes Bill on 3 December 2025, Official Report, column 1043, whether the proposed statutory guidance on fiduciary duties and subsequent…
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Investing in preventative services is critical for reducing the number of households and children in temporary accommodation. The Government has made the largest-ever investment in prevention services, increasing funding for homelessness services by £233 million to a total of £1 billion…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. We must address this and deliver long term solutions in all parts of England. The government is looking at these issues carefully and is developing a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us back on track to…
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Many of the recommendations made by the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Electoral Conduct have been implemented, including updating the offence of undue influence and rules on digital imprints. The government has published a strategy for modern and secure elections, part of which sets out a…
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The Home Office publishes data on individuals placed in accommodation in the gov.uk ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum seekers in receipt of support, individuals under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and those resettled via the Afghan Resettlement Programme,…
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Local authorities must ensure that temporary accommodation is suitable for the needs of the household and should keep the suitability of accommodation under review. The Homelessness Code of Guidance sets out what local authorities must consider when determining whether accommodation is suitable,…
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The government publishes statistics on homelessness including the number of children in temporary accommodation each quarter through gov.uk. You can find the data gov.uk here.
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As set out in the Elections Act 2022, where there is a discrepancy between the name shown on an elector’s identification document and how their name is recorded on the electoral register, that elector may still use that document if they are able to explain the discrepancy to the satisfaction…
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As set out in the written statement on Supported Housing Regulation (HCWS800) published on 10 July 2025, following the recent consultation on supported housing regulation the government is considering the responses received and will publish a full government response as soon as possible, in advance…
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Leases for shared ownership properties, whether these are grant funded or Section 106 delivery, must follow one of the shared ownership model leases provided by Homes England or the Greater London Authority. These model leases contain a fundamental clause which ensures that staircasing is…
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Shared ownership has an important role to play in supporting households into home ownership who would otherwise struggle to purchase a property on the open market that meets their needs. The Government is aware that some people who have entered shared ownership have faced significant challenges…
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The Department does not hold official data on the total number of first-time buyers over the past five years and is therefore unable to provide an official estimate.However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on the number of first-time buyer mortgage sales by Local Authority…
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The government has not commissioned research into the potential impact of universal basic income on homelessness rates and housing security. A universal basic income is not government policy.
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The government believes that enabling 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in all UK elections will foster early and sustained participation in civic life and enhance engagement in our democratic processes. We want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote. Registering to vote is a…
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As we work to fulfil our manifesto commitment to get the country back on track to ending homelessness, one principle must be clear – no one should be criminalised for simply sleeping rough. We will be the government that repeals the Vagrancy Act 1824.This government does not wish to target or…
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The government consulted on proposals to implement the measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act between 20 February 2025 and 15 May 2025. The government is assessing the responses to the consultation and will continue to work with supported housing providers, residents and…
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The legislation and guidance set out that in the first instance, local authorities should try to place individuals within their own area, and when this is not possible, they should place the household as near as possible to the original local authority. On 11 November 2024 the Deputy Prime Minister…
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The government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million in 2025/26, taking the total to a record £1 billion to prevent increases in the number of individuals and families in temporary accommodation. As announced at the Spending Review, the government is providing…
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The department will monitor the implementation of the exemption of victims of domestic abuse and young care leavers from local connection tests for social housing in all English local authorities through the Local Authority Housing Statistics data collection.
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The Government does not directly commission homelessness shelters or services. In 2025/26 the Government is investing £1 billion in homelessness services, an increase of £233 million on the previous year. Local authorities can use this funding to provide a range of services to meet local…
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The government has recently consulted on proposals for implementing the measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. We are carefully considering all the responses and recognise that it is crucial that we get the details right to protect residents and minimise unintended…
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The government, in its manifesto, committed to increasing the engagement of young people in our democracy, by giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections. The government believes that enabling 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in all UK elections will foster early and sustained…
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When newly recognised refugees leave Home Office accommodation, they are entitled to help with finding accommodation from their local authority if homeless. If in priority need, they will be provided with temporary accommodation.The Government recognises the importance of a smooth transition out of…
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The Home Office’s current accommodation funding arrangements to support local authorities are published on gov.uk here.To support councils with homelessness, the Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million this year, taking the total for 2025/26 to £1…
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Homelessness levels are far too high, and this can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million in 2025/26 compared to last year, taking…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 52307 on 14 May 2025.
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The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government appointed a consortium of organisations, led by CFE Research and including Cordis Bright, Revolving Doors, and the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR) at The University of Sheffield, to undertake an independent…
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The Government has invested £1 billion in homelessness and rough sleeping services in 2025/26, a £233 million increase on the previous year. The 2025 Spending Review has protected this record level of investment. Where families do end up in temporary accommodation, it should be high…
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The Government is reviewing the formula for allocating Government Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding to local authorities in England to ensure the funding is better aligned with local needs. It is important that we take the time to consider the issues properly and have committed to consult on…
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This Government is committed to strengthening the UK’s democracy and upholding the integrity of elections. It has already taken steps in this area including the work undertaken to review and reform the voter identification policy, successfully passing legislation which allows use of the HM…
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In line with its manifesto commitment, the Government is currently considering a series of policy interventions, such as enhanced checks by recipients of donations and tighter controls on donors, including more restrictions around company donations. This will help enhance the protections of our…
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Local authorities are best placed to decide how their funding is spent locally. This Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement.…
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Begging is a complex issue, though where it causes a nuisance or distress to communities, local areas need appropriate tools to maintain community safety. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 already provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of…
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The government recognises the important role played by supported housing in helping disabled, older and other vulnerable people to live safely, well and independently, including autistic adults. The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme includes delivery of supported housing. Through the Spending…
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The Centre for Homelessness were commissioned to undertake a programme of ‘Test and Learn’ trials and a systems-wide evaluation of homelessness and rough sleeping.The principles guiding the government’s publication and release of social research can be found on gov.uk here. An…
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The Government has engaged with, and continues to engage with, various stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission, ahead of the publication of the Government's Strategy for Elections. As the independent regulator, the Electoral Commission offers valuable insight, and its contributions are…
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The expectation is that migrants coming into the UK should be able to maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds. This reflects the need to maintain the confidence of general public that immigration brings benefits to our country, rather than add costs to the public purse.…
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This Government inherited devastating record levels of homelessness and rough sleeping from the last Conservative government. There are multiple factors which can contribute to rough sleeping. Increases in living costs and limited suitable and affordable housing is driving overall increases in…
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This government has made it clear that intimidation and abuse of those participating in public life has no place in our society and cannot be tolerated. We value the work done by the Speaker’s Conference to bring attention to and investigate this important issue. We will carefully consider…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to…
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Government officials are in regular contact with the Electoral Commission on a range of electoral matters including registration topics. The government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including…
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The rules around political donations must be abided by regardless of the type of donation made, which includes donations made using cryptocurrency. Political donations can only be accepted from permissible sources, and the recipients of donations must make an honest assessment of the value of the…
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We are delivering the biggest increase to social and affordable housing in a generation. We have also invested almost £1 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. And we are developing a cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness.
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On 13 May 2025, MHCLG identified a software bug with the batch application upload functionality on the Electoral Registration Officer Portal (ERO Portal), which had existed since 21 March 2024. The bug could lead to misallocated signature images for certain elector records stored in local…
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The Electoral Commission is the statutory body responsible for overseeing elections and regulating political finance in the UK. It is independent of government and is accountable to – and funded by – the UK Parliament for its reserved functions through the Speaker’s Committee on…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. Youth homelessness will be considered as part of our long-term, cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness for good. Local authorities need to consider…
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The cost of UK Parliamentary elections is met directly by the Consolidated Fund. The estimated cost of a Parliamentary by-election is stated in the relevant Charges Order. The latest order can be found here. The Department does not hold any data on the costs of local authority elections and…
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Regulation 3 of the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 defines the public sector bodies to which the Regulations apply, and neither Returning Officers nor Electoral Registration Officers are defined as public sector bodies for these purposes. Consequently, the public are not able…
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The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for setting the national framework for housing, including the legislation and Homelessness Code of Guidance to which councils must have regard. Compliance with legislation, guidance, and the statutory homelessness duties rests…
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For 2025/26, the department has allocated over £3.6 million to Birmingham City Council across rough sleeping grants. The Government will develop a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 51474 on 19 May 2025.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 41457 on 3 April 2025.
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The English Housing Survey (EHS) contains details on the demographic profile of households in England. In the published figures for 2022-23, there were 99,000 owner occupied households where the Household Reference Person (HRP) identified as Sikh. Within the rented sectors, there were 7000 private…
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Homelessness levels are far too high, and this can have a devastating impact on those affected. The Government is looking at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to deliver the long-term solutions to get us back…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 51474 on 19 May 2025.
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The Government has increased funding for homelessness services across England by £233 million to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26. This includes funding allocations for Broxtowe and the East Midlands. Allocations have been published on gov.uk here.
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to…
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The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy. As…
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I refer the hon Member to my letter of 4 April 2025 to the Defence Committee on this subject. I will also share a copy of the letter with his office.As lead department for the Covenant, the Ministry of Defence also engages regularly with local authorities on implementation and delivery of the…
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Funding allocations for homelessness and rough sleeping in 2025/26 were published on 18 December 2024 here. In line with grant funding conditions, local authorities will report their spending at the end of financial year.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20895 on 19 December 2024.
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Future funding for homelessness services is subject to the outcome of phase 2 of the Spending Review. Councils can also draw from the wider local government finance settlement to help meet homelessness costs. We know that the sector has long called for long-term certainty on its budgets. That is…
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Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers. As part of the voter registration process, applicants must declare their nationality. EROs hold legal powers which allow them to request documentary evidence to confirm an applicant’s…
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As part of the development of the cross-Government homelessness strategy the Government has engaged representatives from across the homelessness and rough sleeping sector, local and combined authorities and wider experts, including those who have lived experience. The Government hosted a series of…
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My department has not provided any funding for contingency accommodation for asylum seekers, those granted asylum or those in the country illegally as the Home Office has departmental responsibility for the asylum system and irregular migration.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 51683 on 19 May 2025.
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At phase 1 of the Spending Review the Government announced a £233 million increase for homelessness services, taking total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26. This includes the largest-ever investment in prevention services, enabling councils to intervene earlier with targeted support,…
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The Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million this year, taking total investment to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26. This increased spending will help to prevent rises in the number of people and families in temporary accommodation. Future funding for…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. To reduce the numbers of people experiencing homelessness, we must stop people reaching crisis point by preventing homelessness before it happens. Youth homelessness will be…
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Local authorities are best placed to decide how their funding is spent locally. The Government has a delivered a Settlement that begins to fix the foundations of local government by providing significant investment redirecting funding towards the services and places that need it most. The…
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Homelessness levels are far too high, and I recognise the unique challenges young people face in securing stable housing. The Government has engaged with stakeholders within the youth homelessness sector to discuss the needs of this cohort as we work to develop a long-term, cross-Government…
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UK Government and Welsh Government officials are in regular contact on a range of electoral conduct and registration topics, including the Welsh Government’s pilots on automatic electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on the manifesto commitment to improve…
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The Department’s spending for each year is published through annual reports. You can find links to these here: 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24. The 2024/25 annual report will be published in due course. The Government spent over £873 million on homelessness and rough sleeping in…
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The Inter-Ministerial Group on homelessness meets as often as is required to develop the Government’s long-term homelessness strategy. The most recent meeting took place on Tuesday 13 May 2025.
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Local housing authorities report their homelessness activities under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by completing the quarterly Homelessness Case Level Information Collection (H-CLIC) statistical return. You can find a link to the…
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The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuance of guidance for local authorities on electoral registration and voting.This can be found at - Our guidance | Electoral Commission.The Electoral Commission also worked (and has continued to work) with…
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An e-Visa is accepted as a form of identification at the polling station, as a digital version of ‘a biometric immigration document issued in accordance with regulations under section 5 of the UK Borders Act 2007’. All electors may also choose to apply to their local authority for a…
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This government has increased funding for homelessness services in 2025/26 by £233 million to nearly £1 billion. This includes more than £277 million for London, an increase of more than £78 million from 2024/25.Councils can draw from the wider local government finance…
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Between 2022/23 and 2024/25, Bedford Borough Council were allocated funding to tackle rough sleeping through the Rough Sleeping Initiative, Accommodation for Ex-Offenders, Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme and Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment. Bedford Borough Council were allocated…
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The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of public data and online Government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20895 on 19 December 2024.
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EU citizens who were legally resident in the UK prior to withdrawal from the EU, or whose countries have a bilateral reciprocal voting rights agreement with the UK, can vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland. Citizens of EU Member States have never been able to vote in UK general…
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The Disabled Facilities Grant allocation to South West Norfolk constituency, Norfolk and East Anglia for the last ten years is shown below. This information is not available prior to 2015-16: YearKings Lynn and West Norfolk Norfolk County Council East Anglia (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and…
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The most recent statutory homelessness statistics (July – September 2024) is available at: Homelessness statistics - GOV.UK, which includes former asylum seeker households that are owed a homelessness duty.
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I refer the Hon Member to (a) the answer given to Question UIN PQ 32038 on 28 February 2025, and (b) the answer given to Question UIN PQ 18947 on 20 December 2024.
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Matters related to domestic abuse, including provision of safe accommodation, are devolved in Northern Ireland and managed by the Northern Ireland Executive. The Northern Ireland Executive received £18.2 billion from the UK Government for 2025-26, the largest financial settlement in real terms…
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The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own. Boosting the supply of homes of all…
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This Government has inherited record levels of homelessness, and we recognise the cost pressures this has put on councils. That’s why we have increased funding for homelessness services in 2025/26 by £233 million to nearly £1 billion, alongside a local government finance settlement…
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I refer the Hon Member to the answers given to Question UIN 31735 on 13 February 2025 and Question UIN 15811 on 3 December 2024.
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The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own. Boosting the supply of homes of all…
View full answer ↗
Government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. This is why government awarded an £86 million in-year uplift to the DFG for 2024-25, bringing the total funding for 2024-25 to £711…
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I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 39537, tabled on 19 March 2025.
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I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 40375 on 27 March 2025.
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The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term…
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This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse, including male victims. Local authorities, under their statutory duties under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, are required to assess the need for and provide support for all victims of domestic abuse and their children…
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The Government notes the UN Committee's recommendations on ensuring safe and adequate living conditions in temporary accommodation. Our Homelessness Code of Guidance provides a summary of the homelessness legislation duties, powers and obligations on local housing authorities, including the quality…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 903640 on 7 April 2025.
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The majority of funding in the local government finance settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities. It is at the discretion of each local authority as to how much is allocated to the packages of support they provide to families in crisis,…
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The safeguarding of arrivals, including children, under the Homes for Ukraine scheme is a priority and we will ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place for the duration of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
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The Government has no plans to amend the timing of the next Parliamentary Boundary Review.
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The Government engages with a broad range of stakeholders including local authorities, Civil Society Organisations and electoral bodies including the Electoral Commission, the Association of Electoral Administrators, The Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and the Scottish Assessors’…
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As part of the current Spending Review, the government will be reviewing all spending across government, including spend on tackling homelessness. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending homelessness.…
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I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 23541 on 22 January 2025.
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Local authorities in England must ensure that support is available in safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims who need it. My Department has allocated £160 million for 2025-26, a £30 million uplift from the previous year. That funding is for local authorities to commission…
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This government is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and supporting victims of domestic abuse. Since 2021, local authorities in England have a duty under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 to ensure victims of domestic abuse and their children have access to support within safe…
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We have increased funding for homelessness services and supported veterans to access social housing by exempting them from local connection tests for social housing in England. The Deputy Prime Minister is chairing an Interministerial Group, which includes the Veterans Minister, to develop a…
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The government has not issued any guidance to local authorities on issues relating to campaigning. The Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance directly to candidates and campaigners.
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The Government has not issued guidance on including Returning Officers or Electoral Registration Officers within the definition of local authorities for the Re-use of Public Sector Information. The Government has not made an assessment of the potential merits of including Returning Officers of…
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The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 introduced changes which enable Companies House to disclose information with any person for the purpose of exercising its functions. Companies House can also share information with any public authority for the purpose of exercising the…
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I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 23541 on 22 January 2025.
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The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has no plans at present to conduct electoral pilots under the powers in the Representation of the People Act 2000 in England.
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The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment. As set out in our response to the Electoral Commission’s evaluation of the 2024 general election, published last month (Electoral…
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The government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. This is why the government has awarded an £86 million in-year uplift to the DFG for 2024-25, bringing the total funding for 2024-25…
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Supported housing can play an important role for young people transitioning into independent living, particularly where they have no or limited family support, including those leaving care. It can help them to build emotional wellbeing, skills and confidence and to develop their independence ready…
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Our Homelessness Code of Guidance provides a summary of the homelessness legislation duties, powers and obligations on local housing authorities, including the quality standards of temporary accommodation.Legislation is clear that temporary accommodation must be suitable for the needs of the…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected.We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Government is looking at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country…
View full answer ↗
Homelessness levels are far too high and this can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. We will look at these issues carefully and will consider youth homelessness as we develop our long-term, cross-government strategy working with Mayors and councils across the…
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The Department does not hold information on the number of overseas voters that did not receive a ballot in time to vote at the general election in 2024.As set out in our response to the Electoral Commission’s evaluation of the 2024 general election, published last month (Electoral…
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If a household is in Temporary Accommodation, local authorities must ensure it is suitable in relation to the applicant and to all members of their household who normally reside with them, or who might reasonably be expected to reside with them and there is a right of appeal. Although it will not…
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Future spending on specific programmes in 2025-26, including for the Supported Housing Improvement Programme (SHIP), is yet to be determined. SHIP local authorities will be notified as soon as possible. The government is currently consulting on proposals for implementing the measures in the…
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The Government will engage with all key stakeholders in due course as part of our work to deliver on our commitment to strengthen the rules on political donations.
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The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of home ownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own. The most sustainable long-term method…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question UIN 25690 on 30 January 2025.
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Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers. EROs hold legal powers which allow them to request documentary evidence to confirm an applicant’s nationality, if they are not satisfied as to any applicant's nationality. The application form…
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Homelessness levels are far too high, and we are taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, grant funding for homelessness services is increasing this year by £233 million compared to last year (2024/25). This increased spending will help to…
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The government is currently in the process of consulting with various stakeholders, ahead of setting out our approach to elections and electoral reform for this Parliament.
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Drawing electoral boundaries is the responsibility of the independent parliamentary and local boundary commissions.When they next conduct their reviews, they will update boundaries where necessary to reflect any changes in the electorate that have occurred since their last review.
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This government has increased homelessness and rough sleeping funding by £233 million in 2025/26, taking total investment to nearly £1 billion. This includes a further £3.5 million for the Night Shelter Transformation Fund extension in 2025-26. NSTF projects that were in receipt of…
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For 2025-26, we are consolidating our main rough sleeping and single homelessness focused grants (Rough Sleeping Initiative, which includes Housing First funding, and Accommodation for Ex Offenders) into a single Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant. The Rough Sleeping Prevention and…
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Government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. People of all ages and tenures, including in the private rented sector, can apply to their local authority for a Disabled Facilities Grant…
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The government is clear levels of homelessness and rough sleeping are too high. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25). This increase brings total homelessness grant funding to nearly £1 billion…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 34617 on 10 March 2025 and Question UIN 11929 on 8 November 2024.
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The government has published consumer guidance on how to sell a home which sets out that sellers should leave their property in the condition they wish to find their next home. We know that the overall process of buying and selling a home is far too time consuming and costly for consumers. On 9…
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The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of home ownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own. The most sustainable long-term method to…
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Funding for homelessness and rough sleeping in England will increase by £233 million in 2025/26. Allocations of funding in 2025/26 can be found here and future funding will be subject to the Spending Review. Through our grant programmes, we will continue to support charities, such as Shelter,…
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The Electoral Commission provide a comprehensive tool to support electors in finding their local polling station address at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information. Electors enter their postcode, and the tool shows them where their nearest polling station is.…
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The Government provides guidance for Ukrainian guests on renting private accommodation at Renting private accommodation: Homes for Ukraine - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Councils receive a tariff of £5,900 per Homes for Ukraine arrival in their area to support guests to rebuild their lives and fully…
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This government is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and supporting victims of domestic abuse, including children.Since 2021, local authorities in England have had a duty under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 to ensure victims and their children have access to support in safe…
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The Homes for Ukraine scheme supports eligible unaccompanied minors to safely arrive, and to live and thrive in the UK without their parent or legal guardian, supported by a sponsor that they know and trust. Eligible Minors are protected by robust safeguarding measures. Parental or legal guardian…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 34375 on 7 March 2025. As stated in our previous answer, we do not hold data on how many people have been disqualified. This includes data on the number of people prosecuted.
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I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 20895 on 19 December 2024.
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Homelessness levels are far too high which can have a devastating impact on those affected. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated…
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Statutory homelessness statistics can be found here. Tables: A4P, A4R provide information on number of households who are owed a prevention or relief duty, broken down by accommodation at the time of application, including rough sleeping.
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The government has recently published our response to the Electoral Commission’s reports on the 2024 General Election, and this is available here: Electoral Commission’s reports on the 2024 elections: government response - GOV.UK.As set out in that response, we are presently undertaking…
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Thank you payments have been extended for the full 18-month period under Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme to support Homes for Ukraine guests to remain in sponsorship and to thank sponsors for their continued generosity. We hope that the extension of this support will provide enough time…
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The £233 million uplift in homelessness funding has been provided to get back on track to ending homelessness. This brings total for funding for homelessness services to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26.The Government has also announced £502 million in funding to protect local government…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question UIN 901650 on 5 December 2024.
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Electors who wish to apply for a postal vote can choose to make their application on paper, or online for reserved elections in Great Britain.Giving electors the choice to apply for an absent vote through a paper application or online gives electors more control over their voting arrangements,…
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Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21697, the Government has no plans to amend the voting rights of foreign nationals for elections to the UK Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly, local government elections in England and Northern Ireland and Police and Crime Commissioner…
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Officials are currently exploring the research options for a robust sample and the procurement routes to achieve this. No decision has been made at this time.
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Government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding helps adapt around 55,000 homes annually, helping disabled people and their families to live…
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This government is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and supporting victims of domestic abuse. Since 2021, local authorities in England have a duty to ensure domestic abuse victims and their children who need to flee their homes have access to support within safe accommodation…
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Under UK law, those convicted of intimidation or abuse of candidates, campaigners or elected office holders, may be subject to a five-year ban from standing for, or holding, elective office, in addition to any standard punishment for the underlying criminal offence. The disqualification can be…
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Providing essential information upfront is important in supporting potential buyers to make important decisions about whether a property is suitable for them early in the process. There is already a requirement under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 that any property…
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Homelessness levels are far too high, and we are taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, grant funding for homelessness services is increasing this year by £233 million compared to last year (2024/25). This increased spending will help to…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. There are far too many living in temporary accommodation - including 560 families and 839 children in Thurrock as of the 30 September 2024. This is symptomatic of the housing crisis we have inherited and is not acceptable. We know being in temporary…
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The Interministerial Group met on 12 February 2025 and the communique will be published in due course.
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The government is not responsible for issuing guidance on campaign expenditure. From 2001, it has been the role of the independent regulator, the Electoral Commission, to issue guidance on campaign expenditure, including notional expenditure. Retrieving the information on the position prior to 2001…
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Homelessness levels are far too high which can have a devastating impact on those affected.The Government is looking at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness once…
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The work to give effect to this commitment is ongoing, and we are engaging with key stakeholders, such as the Electoral Commission. My department has not consulted political parties on these proposals yet.
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The Government is consulting with various stakeholders ahead of setting out our approach to elections and electoral reform for this Parliament.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 33335 answered on 27 February 2025.
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Effective regulation of political finance is crucial for maintaining public trust in our electoral systems. The Government is committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of elections and, as stated in our manifesto, we intend to strengthen the rules around donations to…
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Funding for homelessness services is increasing by £233 million in 2025/26. This will help prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation, taking total spend to nearly £1 billion. Our £8 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots will target 20 local…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question UIN 23153 answered on 29 January 2025.
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We recognise that the home buying and selling process in England and Wales is inefficient and costly for consumers and professionals with one in three property transactions falling through. On 9 February, we announced that we are launching a series of projects to improve the availability of…
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The Government has no plans to extend voting rights to unenfranchised migrant residents. In common with most other democracies, voting rights are limited to citizens. In addition, in UK elections for which the UK Government and Parliament have responsibility (that is, not devolved elections in…
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Our Homelessness Code of Guidance provides a summary of the homelessness legislation duties, powers and obligations on housing authorities and others towards people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, including young people. We keep the Homelessness Code of Guidance under review and…
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The government has recently published our response to the Electoral Commission’s reports on the 2024 General Election, and this is available here: Electoral Commission’s reports on the 2024 elections: government response - GOV.UK.As set out in that response, we will not be making any…
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The Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant is a consolidated rough sleeping fund aimed at tackling rough sleeping and is providing a total of £185.6 million to local authorities across England in 2025-26. Local authorities have the flexibility to choose to continue provision of their…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question UIN 25690 on 30 January 2025.
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Due to the difficult economic inheritance from the previous government, we had to take a number of difficult decisions on tax, welfare and spending to fix the public finances, fund public services, and restore economic stability. The Government has considered the implications of this policy change,…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Government is looking at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated…
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Published data on homelessness including number of people in temporary accommodation can be found here:Tables on homelessness - GOV.UK
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We will be setting out the Government’s approach to elections and electoral reform for this Parliament in a published document before summer recess. This will include our approach to the delivery of our manifesto commitments and the outcomes of our review of electoral registration and…
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224,106 applications for Voter Authority Certificates have been received between January 2023 and 13 February 2025. The decision to issue or reject an application is a matter for the relevant Electoral Registration Officer.
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This government is committed to reviewing and, where necessary, making changes to the voter identification policy to address any aspects that prevent or discourage legitimate electors from voting. This review includes assessing data from research and consulting with stakeholders such as the…
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The Secretary of State has not had discussions with this local authority on the cancellation of the local elections.
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated…
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The government committed to two projects to digitalise the home buying and selling process, including opening up local authority data and developing common data standards. These will be launched in the spring.
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We will be setting out the Government’s approach to elections and electoral reform for this Parliament in a published document before summer recess. This will include our approach to the delivery of our manifesto commitments and the outcomes of our review of electoral registration and…
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Our postal voting systems contain a range of measures that are designed to protect the security of postal voting, such as the requirement for postal voters to use personal identifiers when applying for and returning their ballot.We are currently carrying out a review of electoral registration and…
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As of 10 February 2025, the area covered by Bromsgrove District Council has received 163 arrivals through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Some may have moved out of the area since their arrival. We hold data on guests leaving the UK, not their location in the UK.Local authorities receive a tariff of…
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To fund our continued support through the 18 month Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme visa period, and ensure it is affordable within government budgets, we have taken the difficult decision to reduce the level of thank you payments.We recognise that this is a difficult time for many. Sponsors who…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated…
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Our Homelessness Code of Guidance provides a summary of the homelessness legislation duties, powers and obligations on housing authorities and others towards people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.We keep the Homelessness Code of Guidance under review and update it regularly to…
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Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. We have already taken the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this…
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Local authorities have a statutory duty under S20 of the Children Act 1989 to look after children in need in their area. This includes unaccompanied asylum seeking (UAS) children who either arrive in a local authority area or are transferred there under the mandated National Transfer Scheme (NTS).…
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The department issued an open consultation on Funding arrangements for the Homelessness Prevention Grant from 2026/27 onwards.Details of how to respond, including by post, can be found under the ‘Basic Information’ section of the consultation document.
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Homelessness levels are far too high and this can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. We will look at these issues carefully and will consider youth homelessness as we develop our long-term, cross-government strategy working with Mayors and councils across the…
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We are carefully considering the Vagrancy Act and other relevant legislation in developing our new cross-government strategy.
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The Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG) is allocated to councils across England based on local homelessness pressures and is used to meet local needs.HPG funding allocations for the period 2023 through 2025 are available online and can be accessed via the following link:…
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As our manifesto made clear, the government will address the inconsistencies in the voter identification policy so that all legitimate electors are able to vote. As part of our continuing assessment and review of the policy we are in the process of researching ID ownership amongst 16 and 17 year…
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The Government continues to engage with local authorities, following on from the sustained engagement and support provided ahead of last year’s elections. The Government takes care to understand the needs of Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers and ensure they have the…
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The government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of public data and online government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.
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These statistics are shocking. Homelessness levels are far too high and we are taking action to fix the current system that has left too many families without security or stability.The Homelessness Code of Guidance is clear that temporary accommodation should not be considered suitable for a family…
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