David Simmonds MP: written questions 2025
375 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Chinese Embassy: Planning PermissionHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Metropolitan Police on the application for a new Chinese Embassy.
Answer: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this quasi-judicial decision independent from the rest of Government.It would not be appropriate to comme...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCrime Prevention: WhitehallHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what role HM Government plays in relation to policing within Whitehall’s Government Secure Zone area.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to my response to PQ 26886, asked on 28 January 2025, on this matter.
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: ReviewsHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's news story entitled, Survivors of sexual abuse to be empowered in closed case reviews, published on 16 January 2025, if she will publish the full terms of reference
Answer: The complete terms of reference for the review will be made available on gov.uk. Baroness Casey is leading the review in her role as the Government's lead Non-Executive Director (NED). This is a paid position, and all necessary due diligence has been cond...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505, how many people were housed in asylum accommodation in the last 12 months.
Answer: Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505 on Asylum: housing, what is the expected cost to the public purse of accommodation for asylum seekers in 2025.
Answer: The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505 on Asylum: housing, what the estimated spending is on accommodation for asylum seekers in 2025.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 22 January 2025 to UIN 24505.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505 on Asylum: housing, in what types of accommodation asylum seekers will now be housed.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 22 January 2025 to UIN 24505.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: Council TaxHome OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the written statement of 30 January 2025, HCWS407, on Police Funding Settlement 2025-26, what estimate he has made of the (a) increase in council tax receipts in monetary terms, (b) absolu
Answer: Forces will be able to raise up to £329.8 million in funding from council tax precept, based on current forecasts and assuming all PCCs maximise their precept flexibility of £14 for a Band D property.Precept levels are a decision that must be taken by eac...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: MeasurementDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has received representations from health professionals have they received on shrinking the default size of the pint glass in licensed premises.
Answer: The Government has no plans to restrict the size of a pint of beer served in pubs. Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. The Department ...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Performance Certificates: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 30 August 2024 to Question 1331 on Energy Performance Certificates Housing, whether this will include banning the (a) sale and (b) purchase of privately occupied dwe
Answer: The Government’s position on supporting owner occupiers remains as was set out in the Answer to Question 1331. The Government has since published separate proposals to raise minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in England and Wal...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timetable is for the delivery of the £300 reduction to household energy bills.
Answer: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWind Power: Seas and OceansDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 October 2024, HCWS168, on Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024, what requirements there will be for t
Answer: Local content requirements are not permitted within the UK’s international trade agreements, however, the Government does offer incentives to invest in supply chains: the Clean Industry Bonus (CIB) as part of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme will...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordClean Air Zones: Local GovernmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29083More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21148 on Air Pollution, which local authorities his Department is discussing Clean Air Zones with.
Answer: The Government has agreed local plans with all areas in the NO2 programme except for Stoke-on-Trent/Newcastle-under-Lyme. Seven Clean Air Zones have been implemented by local authorities under the previous Government where local plans had evidenced them t...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNature Conservation: EU LawDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 19349 on Nature Conservation: EU law, what amendments to assimilated EU law are being considered.
Answer: Future plans for the reporting period 24 June to 23 December 2025 will be included in the fourth Assimilated Law Parliamentary Report. Past reports can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/retained-eu-law-reul-parliamentary-report.
Answered 21 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: Local GovernmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how local authorities are charged for the costs of residual waste disposal through (a) incineration and (b) landfill.
Answer: For too long the nation has seen recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning or burying waste. The Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy, a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate t...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: Air PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23346 on Property Development: Air Pollution, how many new developments and dwellings currently undertake air quality assessments;
Answer: All developments subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment are required to undertake air quality assessments. Air quality assessments may also be required for developments where national assessment indicates that relevant limit values for air pollutan...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: Air PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23346 on Property Development: Air Pollution, for what reason a Regulatory Impact Assessment is not required for that guidance.
Answer: Applicants are advised to consider the interim planning guidance as part of their planning application, but the interim guidance is not statutory. Therefore, it is not a regulatory provision and as such a Regulatory Impact Assessment is not currently requ...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNoise: Pollution ControlMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22329 on Noise: Pollution Control, what guidance her Department has issued on noise complaints about established use, includ
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22329 on 17 January 2025.
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChina: EmbassiesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29076More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Chinese Government on the granting of planning permission for the proposed new Chinese Embassy in London; and on what dates t
Answer: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role. Officials...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions the Government had with the Chinese Government in 2020 on the works to the Chinese Consulate in Belfast in breach of planning controls in a conservation area
Answer: An appointed independent Planning Inspector will hold a public inquiry into the proposal for the new Chinese Embassy in London, after which the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will make a decision on planni...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: FlagsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23888 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Flags, which flags other than the Union and Ukraine flags have be
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's flag flying policy is that any additional flags flown on the estate are considered on a case-by-case basis and must have a compelling reason for inclusion in the flag flying schedule. Since 5th July 2024,...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28033More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 24220 on Local Government: Elections, whether she plans to bring forward other secondary legislation relating to local gover
Answer: As set out in my Statement on 5 February 2025 (HCWS418), I will make secondary legislation to postpone elections to nine local authorities from May 2025 to 2026. No further secondary legislation is planned before May 2025.Where elections have been postpon...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: Public TransportDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25344More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide additional funding to improve public transport networks to Heathrow Airport.
Answer: DfT expects airports, including Heathrow, to work closely with local stakeholders and Government to develop and update their masterplans and surface access strategies every five years. Improvements to surface access to airports are generally funded by the...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25343More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of expanding Heathrow Airport on the economy.
Answer: There is currently no live Development Consent Order application from Heathrow Airport.The Government would carefully consider any planning application in line with the relevant planning processes.
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: NoiseDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25342More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate she has made of the number of people impacted by increased noise pollution from proposed expansion at Heathrow.
Answer: There is currently no live Development Consent Order from Heathrow Airport.The Government would carefully consider any application for expansion at Heathrow Airport in line with the relevant planning processes.
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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