David Simmonds MP: written questions 2025
375 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Tell MAMA: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54412More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is funding the Tell MAMA service in Q1 and Q2 of 2025-26.
Answer: We thank Tell MAMA for their many years of work in monitoring anti-Muslim hatred and supporting victims. We offered Tell MAMA funding for Q1 and Q2 of 2025-26 – and are disappointed that they have declined this offer.
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Ministers' Private OfficesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54411More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she attended her Ministerial offices in Marsham Street in person on (a) 22, (b) 23, (c) 24 and (d) 25 April 2025.
Answer: The DPM works across multiple locations each week, including 2 Marsham Street and 70 Whitehall. The details of ministerial routines are not shared for security reasons.
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMo BainesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Mo Baines disclosed membership to the (a) Chair, (b) Chief Executive and (c) her Department of any significant political activity in her application for the non-executive
Answer: Mo Baines provided a full declaration of interests to MHCLG prior to her appointment as Interim Lead Non-Executive Director. This was shared with the Department in line with the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies.
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact AssessmentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54409More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21626 on Renters' Rights Bill, for what reason the Impact Assessment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was not publish
Answer: The Department aims to publish Impact Assessments in a timely manner, in line with the ‘Better Regulation Framework’ guidance, which states that an Impact Assessment ‘should be published alongside relevant legislation when it is laid before Parliament.’In...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRecruitment: EqualityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54408More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what her Department's policy is on the Rooney Rule when drawing up shortlists for employing staff.
Answer: The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO) is aware of what has come to be known as the Rooney Rule, but this is a US initiative and we have not adopted a policy on it. As both employer and custodian of the policy as set out in the Equality Act 2010 (T...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic Visits: Cambridgeshire ConstabularyCabinet OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54407More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any external contractors were procured by (a) Downing Street and (b) the Cabinet Office in relation to the Prime Minister’s visit to Cambridgeshire Police headquarters on 10 April 2025.
Answer: The Neighbourhood Policing announcement was made by the government on 9 April. A link to the announcement made on 9 April can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-to-put-neighbourhood-bobbies-back-on-beat The visit in question on...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic Visits: CambridgeshireCabinet OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54406More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Downing Street (a) photographers, (b) videographers and (c) special advisers accompanied the Prime Minister on his Cambridgeshire visit of 10 April 2025.
Answer: The Neighbourhood Policing announcement was made by the government on 9 April. A link to the announcement made on 9 April can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-to-put-neighbourhood-bobbies-back-on-beat The visit in question on...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCambridgeshire Constabulary: Domestic VisitsHome OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any external contractors were procured by her Department in relation to her press conference at the Cambridgeshire Police headquarters on 10 April 2025.
Answer: No.
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCambridgeshire Constabulary: Domestic VisitsHome OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47267 on Cambridgeshire Constabulary: Domestic Visits, whether special advisers in her Department wrote her speech at this event.
Answer: No.
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: BirminghamMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54046More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials in her Department and (c) Best Value Commissioners have had any involvement in the interlocutory injunctions in relation to the industrial ac
Answer: The response to the ongoing disruption in Birmingham’s waste services rightly continues to be led at the local level. Best Value Commissioners are not directly involved in negotiations between the Council and Unite but continue to work constructively with...
Answered 4 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: BirminghamMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54045More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to expand the remit of her Best Value Commissioners in Birmingham City Council and instruct them to suspend the council trade union facility time g
Answer: The response to the ongoing disruption in Birmingham’s waste services rightly continues to be led at the local level. Best Value Commissioners are not directly involved in negotiations between the Council and Unite but continue to work constructively with...
Answered 4 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordElectoral Register: EU NationalsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to the Electoral Registration Offices on the mechanisms by which qualified EU nationals should be verified for their eligibility to join the
Answer: 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 evide...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordElectoral Register: CommonwealthMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has provided to Electoral Registration Offices on the mechanisms by which qualified Commonwealth citizens should be verified for their eligibility to
Answer: 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 evide...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria will her Department use to determine whether scheduled elections in 2026 (a) will and (b) will not be postponed in the context of the ongoing two-tier local governm
Answer: There are no plans to postpone council elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.
Answered 28 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: EthiopiaMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether a business case was prepared for her visit to Ethiopia; and whether she plans to make other foreign visits.
Answer: All ministerial visits are assessed against the government’s domestic and international priorities in the normal way. As set out on gov.uk, the Deputy Prime Minister’s role includes acting in support of the government’s international agenda, including thr...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordVE Day: Licensed PremisesHome OfficeTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 23 April 2025, HCWS593, on Extending licensing hours for the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe Day, whether her Department made an assessment of th
Answer: Licensing hours in England and Wales were extended on Thursday 8 May to mark the 80th anniversary of VE day.
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: ElectionsHome OfficeTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on whether the (a) College of Policing and (b) National Police Chiefs’ Council has provided guidance to police forces on election purdah.
Answer: The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) ‘Pre-Election Period Guidance’ provides advice to officers and staff on maintaining impartiality and managing interactions with candidates during the pre-election period. The guidance covers principles of conduct...
Answered 29 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDoors: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 2 September 2024 on Building Safety, HCWS62, what the evidential basis is for the proposition that the European standard (BS EN 13501)
Answer: The withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards (BS 476) from Approved Document B in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501) aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within the guidance. This change makes it easier...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDoors: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed transition period for moving from the BS 476-22 national fire door safety testing standard to the EN1634-1 st
Answer: On 2 September 2024, the Government announced the withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards from Approved Document B, ending the dual classification system in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501). This change aimed to enhance fire pro...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDoors: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an estimate of the testing site capacity required to carry-out fire door tests for the new European Standard (EN1634-1) classification within the
Answer: On 2 September 2024, the Government announced the withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards from Approved Document B, ending the dual classification system in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501). This change aimed to enhance fire pro...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDoors: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to pause the proposed move from the British fire door safety testing standard (BS 476-22) to the European Standard (EN 1634-1) until the current revi
Answer: On 2 September 2024, the Government announced the withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards from Approved Document B, ending the dual classification system in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501). This change aimed to enhance fire pro...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDoors: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50589More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the evidential basis is for proposals to remove the national BS 476-22 classification for fire door resistance from Approved Document B.
Answer: On 2 September 2024, the Government announced the withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards from Approved Document B, ending the dual classification system in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501). This change aimed to enhance fire pro...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) refugees are housed in accommodation procured by Clearsprings Ready Homes by local authority.
Answer: Under the current Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts, Serco provides accommodation in the North West and Midlands and East of England regions; Mears provides accommodation in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber;...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: ProtectionDepartment for EducationTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what type of public body the child protection authority will be; what powers it will have; how it will be funded; whether it will subsume existing (a) public bodies and (b) regulators; and what powers it will h
Answer: The government has committed to consulting on a roadmap to establish a Child Protection Authority for England. The design and delivery of this Authority requires consultation, including with child protection experts and victim groups to ensure it has the ...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) refugees are housed in accommodation procured by Mears by local authority.
Answer: Under the current Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts, Serco provides accommodation in the North West and Midlands and East of England regions; Mears provides accommodation in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber;...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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