David Simmonds MP: written questions
457 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Asylum: HillingdonHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much central government funding was made available to the London Borough of Hillingdon in 2024-25 to compensate for costs relating to asylum.
Answer: The Home Office does not publicly publish grant payment levels by local authority, we do however provide funding to Local Authorities under the following grant agreements Asylum, Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking children & former unaccompanied asylum-seek...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96569More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025, to Question 86658, on Asylum: Housing, what specific function or role will the Greater London Authority have in relation to asylum housing.
Answer: The Home Office is working with local authorities to develop several potential asylum accommodation models that could ‘pilot’ a more sustainable, flexible and collaborative outcome. Decisions on the provision of alternative asylum accommodation sites will...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordIslamophobiaHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96568More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to her Department's press release entitled Review of public order and hate crime legislation, published on 15 November 2025, whether (a) anti-Muslim hatred and (b) the Government's proposed de
Answer: Following the horrific attack on a synagogue in Manchester on 2 October, the Home Secretary launched an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation on 5 October. The Review will be led by Lord Ken Macdonald KC of River Glaven, supported ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96567More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025, to Question 86658, on Asylum: Housing, if she will outline what specific responsibilities and powers will strategic authorities have in this regard; whether
Answer: The Home Office is working with local authorities to develop several potential asylum accommodation models that could ‘pilot’ a more sustainable, flexible and collaborative outcome. Decisions on the provision of alternative asylum accommodation sites will...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96566More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 86342, whether there is an internal document that sets out her Department's new accommodation strategy.
Answer: The Prime Minister has been clear he wants every asylum hotel closed by the end of this Parliament. In delivering that, every Department has been asked to look at what more it can do. Accordingly, we are reviewing the long-term strategy to reflect the wor...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96565More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a copy of the current version of the Home Office guidance entitled Hotel Contingency Asylum Accommodation: Local authority version.
Answer: Hotel Contingency Asylum Accommodation is procured under the Accommodation and Support Contracts (AASC). The AASC are published and set out our requirements for the sourcing and procurement of accommodation, including how providers should work and consult...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96564More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 86340, on Asylum: Housing, for what policy reason the monetary value of Grant 7 and Grant 6 payments to individual local authorities is confident
Answer: The Home Office do not publicly publish our grant payment levels by Local Authority to protect our relationship with Local Government.
Answered 31 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordReligious Freedom: Public PlacesHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96563More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support the freedom to pray silently in public places.
Answer: Freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights. The government is committed to ensuring that individuals are protected from discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, and that they are able to hold and manife...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 86772, on Asylum: Housing, whether the Home Office holds an unpublished guidance or manual on assessing suitability.
Answer: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer provided in PQ 86772.
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 85954, on Asylum: Housing, whether there is a guidance document that the Department follows when reviewing and considering a local authority obje
Answer: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer provided in PQ 85954.
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 86426, on Asylum: Housing, If she will publish a copy of the pre-procurement documentation sent to potential suppliers of asylum accommodation fo
Answer: The pre-procurement documentation for the Future Asylum Contract Transformation Project will not be published.
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHate Crime: InternetHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2025, to Question 86656, on Hate Crime: Internet, who is the National Police Hate Crime Coordinator and in which public body are they based.
Answer: The National Police Hate Crime Coordinator is Chief Constable Mark Hobrough of Gwent Police, who serves as the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Hate Crime.
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEspionage: ChinaHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the oral statement of 18 November 2025, Official Report, Column 614, on China Espionage: Government Security Response, how the proscription-type tool to disrupt proxy organisations will ope
Answer: Earlier this year, the Independent Reviewer for State Threats Legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, published a review evaluating what powers under terrorism legislation could be emulated to tackle state-based security threats to the UK. Mr Hall KC recommended i...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Dental ServicesHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2025, to Question 85951, on Asylum: Dental Services, which organisation provides the dental care for asylum seekers.
Answer: The Home Office has a statutory obligation to support asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. Asylum Support provisions are reviewed regularly to ensure that we remain compliant in meeting our legal obligations. The Home Office and its contractor...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Crowborough Training CampHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96555More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what planning permissions has the Home Office obtained, or intends to obtain, in relation to the asylum seeker accommodation being proposed at the Crowborough, East Sussex military site; and what disc
Answer: Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate, and compliant with th...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCounter-terrorism: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96554More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2025, to Question 86767, on Counter-terrorism: expenditure, what is the methodology by which local authorities are threat-rated for the purposes of Prevent fundin
Answer: Each year the Home Office conducts an annual prioritisation exercise to understand which Local Authorities (LAs) are facing the highest threat from radicalisation to terrorism. The model is data-led and incorporates both quantitative and qualitative eleme...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCity of Sanctuary UKHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has provided any support to the Sanctuary City and Sanctuary Council movement since July 2024.
Answer: After reasonable checks, the Home Office does not seem to have supported either organisation mentioned.
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRadicalism: ExpenditureHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2025, to Question 86768, on Radicalism: Expenditure, if he will list the individual sums given to each of those local authorities; and what was the methodology us
Answer: The individual sums provided to each local authority that received dedicated Home Office funds for Prevent in financial year 2024/25 was provided as part of the response to PQ 86768 of 14 November 2025.Funding for posts and dedicated projects is allocated...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPolicing and Crime BoardsHome OfficeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what will be the composition of Policing and Crime Boards following the abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners; whether they will contain independent members; how will they be politically balance
Answer: Policing and Crime Boards will bring together elected council leaders to oversee the force in their area. They are likely to include upper tier local authority council leaders as well as independent co-opted members, who will bring unique skills and exper...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordKent County Council: Best ValueMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he had had with Kent County Council on best value since May 2025.
Answer: My department monitors individual councils, including Kent, through a wide range of data and direct engagement. We continually review local authority governance, financial management, and sustainability, including through examining national data metrics, ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordParish and Town Councils: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether an assessment has been made of the potential impact of changes in parish council precepts on council tax.
Answer: Council tax levels are decided by local authorities wish to set, but increases above referendum principles set by the Secretary of State must be approved by voters. To date, no referendum principles have been set for town and parish councils. The Secretar...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCounter-terrorism: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95899More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2025, to Question 86767, on Counter-terrorism: expenditure, what was the policy reason for the number of local authorities receiving Prevent funding being reduced
Answer: The number of local authorities (LAs) that receive Home Office funding has varied over the years from 20 in 2012 to 44 areas at its peak in 2021, which was just under 25% of all single-tier and upper tier LAs in England and Wales. Irrespective of funding,...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Multiple OccupationHome OfficeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Home Office and its subcontractor are paying above market rates to hire Houses in Multiple Occupation for asylum accommodation.
Answer: This Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly. This includes our accommodation sites, as the Home Office continues to identify a range of options to minimise the use of hotels and ensure...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to page 122 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, what is her department’s estimated spending on asylum in 2024-25 and each year of the Spending Rev
Answer: Asylum support spend in FY 2024/25 was £4.0 billion and for 2025/26 the budget is £3.6 billion. As per the Spending Review, by FY 2028/29, we plan to reduce this by £1.1 billion, bringing the total spend down to £2.5 billion. The allocations process is on...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HillingdonHome OfficeTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95896More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much Home Office funding is being provided to the London Borough of Hillingdon in 2025-26 to assist with the costs of asylum seekers.
Answer: The Home Office does not publicly publish grant payment levels by local authority, we do however provide funding to Local Authorities under the following grant agreements Asylum, Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking children & former unaccompanied asylum-seek...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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