David Simmonds MP: written questions 2025
375 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Asylum: Greater LondonHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on supporting London boroughs to house asylum seekers.
Answer: The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while seeking to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: CostsHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42878More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish representations received from (a) Hillingdon council, (b) Harrow council and (c) other local authorities on the cost of supporting asylum seekers.
Answer: The Home Office is in regular contact with local authorities throughout the country in relation to the accommodation and other support provided to asylum seekers in each area.
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42876More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with local authorities in (a) London and (b) England on the adequacy of funding to support asylum seekers.
Answer: The Home Office is in regular contact with local authorities throughout the country in relation to the accommodation and other support provided to asylum seekers in each area.
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordResettlement: ChagossiansHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42875More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of people of Chagossian descent who have arrived at Heathrow Airport since 1 July 2024.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 18 March to Question 37161.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordResettlement: ChagossiansHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure that people of Chagossian descent who are planning to move to the UK are offered help with finding permanent accommodation.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 18 March to Question 37161.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordResettlement: ChagossiansHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37161 on Resettlement: Chagossians, whether Hillingdon Council has claimed costs for the statutory provision of support for Chagossians who have rec
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 18 March to Question 37161.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordResettlement: ChagossiansHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37161 on Resettlement: Chagossians, if she will publish the costs for the provision of statutory support claimed by each local authority as of 31 Ma
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 18 March to Question 37161.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordResettlement: ChagossiansHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37161 on Resettlement: Chagossians, what information her Department holds on the costs incurred by local authorities for the provision of statutory
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 18 March to Question 37161.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordResettlement: ChagossiansHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with local authorities on the potential impact of migrants from the Chagos Islands on levels of service provision.
Answer: The Home Office has made funding available to support local authorities in meeting their statutory duties in relation to Chagossian British citizens arriving in the UK. Alongside other responsible departments, the Home Office continues to engage in discus...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordResettlement: ChagossiansHome OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support people of Chagossian descent who arrive in the UK.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 18 March to Question 37161.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Development: IsraelDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32006More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will require that organisations in receipt of funding from (a) her Department and (b) its arms-length bodies should not participate in boycotts against (i) Israel and (ii) the participatio
Answer: Sports, arts, and culture are powerful ways to bring communities together. As such, we do not support sports or cultural boycotts in principle, including in relation to Israel. The Secretary of State recently met with a delegation led by the Board of Depu...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32005More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to request an indicative vote from this House on the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Answer: The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the Government will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision making on ...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBeijing: EmbassiesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32004More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 22931 on Beijing: Embassies, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the steps required to secure pl
Answer: The Foreign Secretary has met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on three occasions so far. They have discussed the breadth of priority foreign policy and bilateral issues.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry and Retail Trade: MeasurementDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his Department’s policy is on the continued use of imperial measures in retail and hospitality settings.
Answer: UK law requires metric units to be used for all trade purposes, including in retail and hospitality settings, with only limited exceptions. While imperial units can be used alongside metric units, the imperial markings must not be larger or more prominent...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax AllowancesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 19680 on High Streets Task Force, what discussions his Department had with retailers on the impact of the reduction in retail, hospitality and leisu
Answer: Across Government, Ministers and officials meet with a range of retailers to understand the challenges they face. I have met with the Retail Sector Council where I heard members’ views about the impact of the Budget. More recently, I attended a roundtable...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNightclubs: ClosuresDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 18963 on Nightclub: closures, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increases in (a) business rates from the reduction in rat
Answer: An assessment of the changes to Employers' National Insurance has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note, including impacts on the exchequer, the economy, individuals, households and families, equalities, and businesses including ...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: AgeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to reduce the legal age to (a) buy Lottery tickets and (b) gamble.
Answer: The Government has no plans to reduce the legal age to buy lottery tickets or to gamble.
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCultural HeritageDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on (a) contested heritage and (b) retain and explain.
Answer: The policy relating to contested heritage is set out in the 2023 Guidance for custodians on how to deal with commemorative heritage assets that have become contested which was published under the previous government. I have no plans to change the guidance...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: FlagsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on departmental plans to fly flags other than the Union flag in 2025.
Answer: The flags other than the Union Flag that will be flown from the DCMS building in London in 2025 will be announced in due course. Currently, in addition to flying the Union Flag throughout the year, the Department flies a flag of Ukraine above the building...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: North WestDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide support for the proposed Liverpool to Manchester railway improvement project.
Answer: Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and the Government is committed to improving rail connectivity across the North, including boosting rail connectivity from East to West. As announced in the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Governme...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow AirportDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to revise the Airports National Policy Statement, published on 5 June 2018, in the context of the proposed Heathrow Airport expansion.
Answer: The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer and is clear that any scheme must be delivered in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations. Once proposals have been received, t...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: PoliceHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29614More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2024, to Question 8751, on Fire and Rescue Services: Police, for what reason her Department won't repeal Section 37 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004.
Answer: It is the Government’s priority to ensure the safety of firefighters across the fire and rescue sector. Section 37 of Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 re-enacts section 32 of the Fire Services Act 1947 and provides that no member of a police force (i.e. ...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: ContractsHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list each individual awarded contract to strategic suppliers for the provision of asylum accommodation and support services including the value of each contract.
Answer: The Home Office holds two contracts with SERCO for the provision of Asylum Accommodation and Support Services. Details of these agreements are published on Contract Finder at:NWAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NW - Contracts Fin...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Health ServicesHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether private healthcare has been provided to asylum seekers in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Home Office does not provide asylum seekers with private healthcare.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: ReviewsHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Oral Statement of 16 January 2025 on Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Official Report, how many civil servants have been assigned to support Baroness Casey's audit; and what
Answer: The Home Office is committed to supporting the National Audit and the necessary resources will be made available to Baroness Casey to complete her work. Staffing arrangements, including the involvement of Home Office civil servants, for the Audit will be ...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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