questionText: 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 to commercial property acquisition; how many councils hold commercial property investments exceeding 100% of their annual core spending power; what exposure the Public Works Loan Board has to such investments; and whether he plans to use statutory capital powers to prevent debt-financed commercial activity.
answerText: 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...
heading: Local Government: Debts