The Department provided funding to councils to support the development of local government reorganisation proposals. Details of allocations, including for Kent and Medway, are available at: Proposal development contributions: Proposal development contributions: area allocations - GOV.UK.

On 7 September 2026 the Secretary of State announced to Parliament that a review of the local government reorganisation programme would be undertaken and that reorganisation activity in affected areas should be paused while the Government considers next steps. The Government wants to ensure that the programme is aligned with its wider ambitions for effective and sustainable local government and the devolution of power to local areas, including in rural areas.

In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body responsible for electoral arrangements for local authorities. It is a longstanding principle that the Government does not comment on or publish legal advice.

On 7 September 2026 the Secretary of State announced to Parliament that a review of the local government reorganisation programme would be undertaken and that reorganisation activity in affected areas should be paused while the Government considers next steps. The Government wants to ensure that the programme is aligned with its wider ambitions for effective and sustainable local government and the devolution of power to local areas, including in rural areas.

In light of that position and the review, the Government is not currently progressing work on interim warding arrangements and will set out any future requirements relating to local government reorganisation following consideration of these matters. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body responsible for electoral arrangements for local authorities. It is a longstanding principle that the Government does not comment on or publish legal advice.

It has been the practice of successive governments not to comment, on grounds of both national security and staff safety, on the physical capacity or staffing numbers for individual buildings of the government estate.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

We have provided, for each office location, as at the week commencing 24 August 2026:

• the average office attendance of employees assigned to each office during the week commencing 24 August 2026; and
• the proportion of employees assigned to that office who attended an MHCLG office during the same week.

The attendance figures are not restricted to attendance at an employee's contractual office location. Both the average attendance and proportion attending measures include visits to any MHCLG office.

We would also note that the proportion attending measure does not take account of employees who were absent for legitimate reasons during the period, such as annual leave.

Employees are expected to meet their office attendance requirements over the course of a quarter, rather than in any single week.

Civil Servants who are permanently recruited to new departments move to the relevant terms and conditions of their new department. Number 10 North formally operates as part of the Cabinet Office and therefore any relevant pay and allowances for permanent positions recruited to in Number 10 North for staff moving from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) would be determined by Cabinet Office policies and practices rather than those applicable within MHCLG.

MHCLG does not pay a separate London weighting allowance. MHCLG does operate National and London pay bands, and has policies in place regarding the transfer to National pay bands from London pay bands upon a change in office location within the department. No relocation package is currently available in MHCLG at this point in time.

If there was a Machinery of Government change involving a formal transfer of staff and responsibilities under the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSoP) the relevant terms and conditions would be considered in light of legislative practice.

I am the minister responsible for late-night licensing in this department. However, the Home Office is the responsible department for licensing, more broadly.

The Government has consulted on the design of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, including proposed exemptions and support arrangements and will publish its response in due course.

MHCLG publishes monthly transparency expenditure data with details of all departmental spending over £25,000. Expenditure on Advertising, Marketing and Communications is captured in the data through the ‘Expense Type’ categories and narrative descriptions.

None.

The visitor levy will apply to short-term, commercially let overnight accommodation. National exemptions will apply to non-commercial accommodation or land uses. This includes Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sites, temporary accommodation, and charitable accommodation for shelter or refuge.