David Simmonds MP: written questions
1010 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Political Parties: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8263More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the proposed retrospective ban on cryptocurrency donations will apply to unreportable donations below (a) £500 under the Political Parties Elections Act 2000 and (b) £50
Answer: As announced by the Secretary of State on 25 March 2026, the Government will introduce a moratorium on the acceptance of political donations made using cryptoassets. This moratorium will apply to cryptoasset donations of any value, including those valued ...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: West SurreyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2026, to Question 442, on Local Government Finance: West Surrey, if he will publish equivalent figures for the absolute monetary amount of core s
Answer: Funding allocations for all councils covering 2026-27 to 2028-29, including those which have been invited to undergo reorganisation, were set out in the final Local Government Finance Settlement in February. Where an area reorganises into multiple unitary...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTaxation: Greater ManchesterMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has received representations from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority or its mayor since July 2024 on (a) council tax reform and (b) land value taxat
Answer: The Government keeps all aspects of local government finance, including council tax, under review and engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholders, including combined authorities and mayors. The Department does not routinely comment on discussions ...
Answered 9 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness Improvement DistrictsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 2 June 2026, HCWS81, on Pride in Place – High Streets Update, whether the Business Improvement Districts rule book will involve changes
Answer: In the Pride in Place Strategy, published in September 2025, we committed to a range of measures to expand and improve Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) including enabling property owners to form BIDs outside of London. This package is subject to cons...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: BirminghamMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 29 May 2026 to Question 2008 on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, what discussions he has had with the Best Value Commissioners on the status of the bin colle
Answer: My department continues to engage with Commissioners in line with standard practice for statutory interventions. The industrial dispute in the Council’s waste service is a local issue that requires a local solution. We therefore continue to urge the Counc...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordStrategic Migration Partnerships: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8253More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will list each Strategic Migration Partnerships Grant Payment made in 2025-26by recipient and amount.
Answer: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is one of a number of Departments who fund Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs). These grant agreements are bespoke and agreed between the Department and each recipient organisation, dep...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElections: Pilot SchemesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8252More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the publication entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2026", on 26 May 2026, for what reason funding for flexible voting pilots was given to (a) Plymouth
Answer: Funding provided to Plymouth City Council, Stevenage Borough Council and Tamworth Borough Council relates to costs incurred in preparation for a flexible voting pilot activity prior to the withdrawal of their applications. The amounts provided reflect the...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Freedom of InformationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his department’s Freedom of Information Act response, of 22 April 2026, Internal Review Ref: IR2026/08860, who was the qualified person.
Answer: The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness.
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTreasury: Mayor of Greater ManchesterTreasuryTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8186More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Ministers in her Department have received written representations from the Mayor of Greater Manchester since July 2024.
Answer: All Mayoral Strategic Authorities are encouraged to make formal representations to HM Treasury around fiscal events – the majority of MSAs provided submissions ahead of Autumn Budget 2025, including Greater Manchester Combined Authority. More widely, HMT ...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHome Office: GreenpeaceHome OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8184More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 443 on Home Office: Greenpeace, whether her Department has had a policy of non-engagement with Greenpeace since 5 July 2024.
Answer: The Government does not comment on specific individuals or groups.As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication on the 9th March, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles and responsibility for decisions and due dil...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBy-elections: CostsSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7842More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has made an assessment of the average cost to a local authority of holding and administering a (a)
Answer: The Electoral Commission has not made an assessment on the average cost of holding and administering elections, as it is not responsible for funding elections. The UK Government, through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, provides ...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral RegisterSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7841More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has provided guidance to electoral registration officers on whether British citizens who have a dwe
Answer: The Commission’s guidance for Electoral Registration Officers in England, Scotland and Wales sets out eligibility requirements.A person must be resident at the address at which they want to be registered. Residence has a particular meaning in electoral la...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncillorsSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7840More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance or advice the Electoral Commission has given to local authorities on whether employees of a district or county council
Answer: The Electoral Commission outlines the disqualification criteria at each relevant election in its guidance for candidates and agents. Due to the complexity of the rules, it does not provide direct advice on whether someone is qualified or disqualified from...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordForestry Commission: AppealsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 124787 on Forestry Commission: Appeals, on how many instances appeal panels have recommended against upholding a Restocking No
Answer: Reference Committees have recommended the Restocking Notice should be withdrawn in five cases in 2025, and in one case to date in 2026.
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBiodiversity: Property DevelopmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the departmental blog entitled Biodiversity Net Gain: what's changing and what it means for you, published 20 April 2026, for what reason the existing exemption for s
Answer: Government consulted on removing the exemption for small scale self-build and custom build development in the 2025 consultation on Improving the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain for minor, medium and brownfield development. Most respondents support...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: ValuationTreasuryTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7835More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 23 April 2026 to Question HL16234 on Housing: Valuation, if she will break down those figures by each individual value significant code.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN118189 on 13 March 2026.
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ValuationTreasuryTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7834More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 26 February 2026 to Question 113649 on Council tax: valuation, whether the HMRC Valuation Office plans to undertake site visits to assist with the valuations of the council tax surcha
Answer: The VO will draw on the best available information when valuing properties, combining a range of data sources with industry-standard techniques to produce accurate and consistent valuations. As with Council Tax, the VO may contact property owners to reque...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: West SurreyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 442 on Local Government Finance: West Surrey, what are the (a) amounts, (b) length of borrowing and (c) prevailing interest rate
Answer: Government does not publish individual local authority loans and interest rates , however, data on loans issued from the Public Works Loan Board is published as Historical Data. Further, authorities are required to report their financial position in their...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCharities: RadicalismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 121321 on Charities: Radicalism, whether the Charity Commission will have any enhanced powers in relation to charities with links to host
Answer: DCMS will consult on measures to automatically ban individuals convicted of hate crimes from serving as charity trustees or senior managers. Further changes will require primary legislation and are subject to parliamentary timetables. The Charity Commissi...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCharities: RadicalismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7808More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 121321 on Charities: Radicalism, what the timetable is for the implementation of the new Charity Commission powers.
Answer: DCMS will consult on measures to automatically ban individuals convicted of hate crimes from serving as charity trustees or senior managers. Further changes will require primary legislation and are subject to parliamentary timetables. The Charity Commissi...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7807More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list each of the organisations that have been added to the Home Office's skilled worker register of sponsors since July 2024.
Answer: We do not publish the date when a sponsor is granted their licence.However, the sponsorship transparency data, which can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK, provides data on the number of new sponsor applications made in each route and the ...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesHome OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7806More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve co-ordination between local authorities and the police in relation to (a) unauthorised traveller encampments and (b) unauthorised traveller development.
Answer: The Government expects police and local planning authorities to work proactively and collaboratively to respond to unauthorised encampments and unauthorised developments. Decisions on operational coordination and enforcement are a matter for the police an...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department's tender, Provision of Asylum Support and Accommodation Services, Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-016078, is open to local authorities.
Answer: Yes, the Provision of Asylum Support and Accommodation Services (Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-016078) is open to local authorities to express an interest, in accordance with the instructions set out in the Prior Market Engagement Notice (PMEN). An assess...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordStrategic Migration Partnerships: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 119316 on Strategic Migration Partnerships: Finance, for what reason the amount of funding given to Strategic Migration Partnerships is deemed
Answer: Funding is allocated individually to each SMP and vary according to local operational pressures, delivery requirements, and regional arrangements. As these agreements are bespoke and subject to individual arrangements between the Home Office and the recip...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordStrategic Migration Partnerships: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 5 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 119316 on Strategic Migration Partnerships: Finance, what was the total spending on Strategic Migration Partnerships in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 20
Answer: The Home Office does not publish the amounts due to the sensitive nature of the grant scheme.Previous years funding can be found here Government Grants Data and Statistics Government grants data and statistics - GOV.UK.
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →