David Simmonds MP: written questions 2024
175 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Local Government: CorrespondenceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish any correspondence sent to councils on local government restructuring since 16 December 2024.
Answer: I wrote immediately after the publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December to leaders of all councils in areas where there is a two-tier structure of local government, and to leaders of neighbouring unitary councils. My letter set out ...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the policies set out in her Department’s policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees, publi
Answer: The government believe that planning committees have an integral role in providing local democratic oversight of planning decisions. It is however vital that in exercising that democratic oversight, planning committees operate as effectively as possible.T...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWarm Homes Plan: InsulationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20291More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 16276 on Warm Homes Plan: Insulation, whether the Warm Homes Plan will support investment in loft insulation protection.
Answer: The Government’s Warm Homes Plan will support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other home improvements to cut bills. We will set out full details in due course.
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees, published on 9 December 2024, what say ward councillors would have on
Answer: The government’s planning reform working paper on planning committees invites views on three options for a national scheme of delegation. If we determine to take forward any of those options, each of which would require primary legislation through the Pla...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees, published on 9 December 2024, which individual would decide whether or not an applica
Answer: The government’s planning reform working paper on planning committees invites views on three options for a national scheme of delegation. If we determine to take forward any of those options, each of which would require primary legislation through the Pla...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees, published on 9 December 2024, whether it is her policy that Councill
Answer: The government’s planning reform working paper on planning committees invites views on three options for a national scheme of delegation. If we determine to take forward any of those options, each of which would require primary legislation through the Pla...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 17009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 21 November 2024 on G20 and COP29 Summits, Official Report, columns 371-373 and pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 202
Answer: The decision to call in the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy was made by the Deputy Prime Minister, in line with current policy on call-in.
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRegional Planning and DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 23 of the King’s Speech Background Briefing Notes, published by the Prime Minister's Office on 17 July 2024, whether strategic planning will operate at the
Answer: Yes. The Government is proposing that all combined authorities will oversee the development and agreement of strategic plans for their areas. This will be formalised in legislation.
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 3005 on Housing: Greater London, what discussions he has had with the Greater London Authority on the reasons for housing d
Answer: The Government is committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, boroughs and the sector to significantly increase housing delivery in the capital. My department, both ministers and officials, meet regularly with the Greater London Authorit...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: MarketingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1329 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Marketing, what the final cost of the re-branding was; and wheth
Answer: Changing the name of the department did not attract a significant cost as we returned to a department name which had been previously used. Most of the work was completed internally. Details of expenditure are published on gov.uk.
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArden Strategies: Special AdvisersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether special advisers in her Department have had meetings with (a) representatives and (b) clients of Arden Strategies since 5 July 2024.
Answer: In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of external meetings held by Special Advisers are published in line with the requirements set out in guidance here.
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil of the Nations and RegionsCabinet OfficeTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16550More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) individuals and (b) organisations attended the first meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions.
Answer: The inaugural Council of the Nations and Regions met on 11 October in Edinburgh to discuss growth and investment. On 17 October the UK Government published a communique for the meeting on gov.uk which sets out the attendees and their organisations. The go...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many homes (a) in total and (b) by type of tenure have been financed under the Levelling Up Home Building Fund.
Answer: Since the Levelling Up Home Building Fund launched in 2022, it has committed funding to support the delivery of 35,695 new homes against its target of 42,000.Tenure breakdown information is only available once construction is started on site, so is not av...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBuildings: InsulationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16548More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the publication of the new cladding remediation plan.
Answer: On Monday 2 November we announced a Remediation Acceleration Plan which sets out key measures to remove unsafe cladding from buildings faster, identify remaining buildings still at risk and ensure that residents are supported through the remediation proce...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPermitted Development Rights: Public ConsultationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16547More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6190 on Permitted Development Rights, whether her Department has made an assessment of the extent to which that consultation
Answer: While we cannot comment on the actions of the previous government, the consultation document sets out how it was planned to adhere to the consultation principles issued by the Cabinet Office.
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16546More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that vacant homes built under section 106 agreements are occupied.
Answer: The government is well aware of concerns about reduced appetite from Registered Providers of social housing to buy affordable homes delivered under Section 106 agreements. We will continue to work with housebuilders, local authorities, and Registered Prov...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGrenfell Tower InquiryMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for responding to the policy paper entitled Publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report, published on 4 September 2024.
Answer: We are considering the recommendations set out in the Grenfell Inquiry report. The Prime Minister has committed to respond in full to the Inquiry’s recommendations within six months.
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLand Use: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16544More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper, entitled Brownfield Passport: Making the Most of Urban Land, published in September 2024, whether it is her policy that planning
Answer: The government’s planning reform working paper regarding a brownfield passport invites views on further action the government could take through the planning system to support the development of brownfield land in urban areas. It proposes options for a fo...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: Carbon EmissionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16543More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on whether the embodied carbon of an existing building is a material consideration in the planning process.
Answer: The government’s Planning Practice Guidance on Climate Change, National Design Guide and National Model Design Code provide general guidance on how carbon impacts can be taken into account in the planning process.In our recent consultation on proposed ref...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncillors: Data ProtectionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16542More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to remove the requirement for councillor’s home addresses to be published.
Answer: Primary legislation is needed to remove the requirement for local government members’ home addresses to be included in published versions of registers of interests. We intend to legislate at the first available opportunity.There are also limited circumsta...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordOffices: Change of UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her (a) housing and (b) planning policy is on encouraging councils to turn (i) empty and (ii) redundant office space into residential accommodation.
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including the development of under-utilised land and buildings to meet the need for homes and oth...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: Energy Performance CertificatesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of planning restrictions on the ability of private rented homes to meet the new Energy Performance Certificate C requirement.
Answer: The Government will shortly consult on implementing a minimum energy efficiency standard of Energy Performance Certificate Band C or equivalent in the private rented sector by 2030. The consultation will be accompanied by an Options Assessment, which will...
Answered 27 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNational SecurityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 5674 on National Security, if she will list the key stakeholders who her Department is working with; and whether this include
Answer: As set out in our manifesto, the Government is committed to strengthening our democracy, upholding the integrity of elections and widening participation in the democratic process.The department will work closely with key stakeholders, including local auth...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMayors: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 5414 on Local Government: Elections, whether she plans to lay the associated legislation to allow the combined authority mayo
Answer: There are two scheduled combined authority mayoral elections in 2025: the Mayor for West of England Combined Authority, which includes the local authority areas of Bristol City, Bath and North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire; and the Mayor for Ca...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 5417 on Housing: Construction, if she will list the 60 local authorities affected by nutrient neutrality rules.
Answer: At the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced £45 million for seven local authority areas for Round 2 of the Local Nutrient Mitigation fund. The allocations were awarded to authorities affected by nutrient neutrality on the basis of bids submitted...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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