David Simmonds MP: written questions
363 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Remote WorkingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5413More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 3260 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Remote Working, if she will list (a) the individual offices
Answer: MHCLG offices in Hemel Hempstead, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Wolverhampton do not currently have enough space for people to meet 60% attendance. Instead, people in these offices are expected to attend for 40% of their working time over a 3-mon...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public ConsultationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5412More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 3001 on MHCLG: Public Consultation, if she will list the consultations issued by her Department before 24 May 2024 that are
Answer: This information relating to the previous administration cannot be provided as it is not held centrally and collating it would result in a disproportionate cost to the department.
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWaste ManagementDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5411More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2316 on Equality, whether the socio-economic duty will apply to local authority decisions on the configuration of household waste
Answer: Local authorities must comply with all relevant Equalities Act duties and in England this will include the socio-economic duty in due course.
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ProbateMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of holding a consultation on the potential merits of removing the council tax exemption for homes in probate in the context
Answer: Council tax is a devolved policy issue, the devolved governments therefore take decisions on council tax policy independent of central government. The Government does not currently have any plans to reform council tax in England.
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5409More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to implement the policies set out in Annex A of the Government response to the consultation on Consistency in household and business recycling in England, updated on 2
Answer: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. By default, the primary legislation requires that the recyclable waste streams are collected in separate containers, unless this is technically or economically impra...
Answered 20 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceWomen and EqualitiesTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5233More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2316 on Equality, whether the socio-economic duty will apply to (a) the Government determining council tax referendum principles and (b) councils setting
Answer: The duty will require public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to actively consider how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage. Guidance will be developed that will help relevant authoritie...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will list the (a) local council and (b) council mayoral and (c) combined authority mayoral elections that will take place in May 2025.
Answer: This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council respectively. Instead, Government will continue discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver ...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordDevolution: East of EnglandMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2991 on Devolution: East of England, whether mayoral or directly elected leader elections will take place in (a) Suffolk an
Answer: This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council respectively. Instead, Government will continue discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver ...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordDevolution: East of EnglandMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2991 on Devolution: East of England, whether (a) mayoral and (b) directly-elected leader elections will take place in (i) S
Answer: This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council respectively. Instead, Government will continue discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver ...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEmpty Property and Second Homes: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report entitled Summary of responses and government’s response to the consultation on proposals to exempt categories of dwellings from the council tax premi
Answer: This Government intends to introduce the exceptions to council tax premiums as set out in the consultation response published on 11 March 2024.
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 3748 on Private Education: Business Rates and to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2980 on Private Education: Busi
Answer: There are currently no plans for the referenced Bill to include measures beyond those indicated in the technical note published on 29 July 2024. I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 3748 on 5 September 2024 and Question UIN 2980 on 9...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWood-burning StovesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) banning and (b) further regulating wood burning stoves in domestic dwellings.
Answer: Domestic wood burning stoves make a significant contribution to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions nationally, with implications for the health of everyone exposed to smoke. Defra is currently considering options for action to reduce the impact of ...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: GardensDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 30 August 2024 to Question 1516 on Housing: Gardens, what the timetable is for the review of the effectiveness of all available options to manage unplanned in
Answer: Defra is considering how best to take forward the review of the effectiveness of all available options to manage unplanned increases in impermeable or hard surfaces.
Answered 16 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordDomestic Waste: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to limit the number of bins into which councils require householders to separate their rubbish.
Answer: The Government is committed to delivering the Collection and Packaging Reforms to the announced timelines, including the Simpler Recycling policy in England, subject to spending review outcomes. Ministers are reviewing final policy positions relating to S...
Answered 20 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: WalesTreasuryTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5224More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) artificial intelligence and (b)machine learning were used in the automated valuation model in the Valuation Office Agency’s work for council tax revaluation in Wales.
Answer: The Automated Valuation Model (AVM) utilises supervised machine learning, where a model is trained using known transaction values. Statistical techniques are used to calculate the impact of the property’s inherent characteristics and location on the value...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: WalesTreasuryTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5223More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what advice the Center for Appraisal Research and Technology provided to the Valuation Office Agency for its work on an automated valuation model for council tax revaluation in Wales.
Answer: To support the model development, VOA let a short-term advisory contract with the Centre for Appraisal Research and Technology (CART) who provided advice on:Specific statistical and modelling techniques employed by VOA to ensure appropriate use, focusing ...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: WalesTreasuryTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5156More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the cost to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) of the council tax revaluation in Wales; and what payments the Welsh Government has (a) made and (b) agreed to make to the VOA to finance t
Answer: The Welsh Government have previously responded on this matter in June 2024.The answers can be viewed here:Written Question - WQ93146 - Welsh Parliament (senedd.wales)Written Question - WQ93148 - Welsh Parliament (senedd.wales) Written Question - WQ93350 ...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: WalesTreasuryTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5155More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will list (a) each of the variables and (b) the source of data for each variable used in the new Automated Valuation Model for the Valuation Office Agency's council tax revaluation in Wales.
Answer: The variables used in the AVM model include property attributes, locations, and sales details. While much of this data is sourced from VOA records, the VOA supplement this with data available across Government and through the Public Sector Geospatial Agre...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordValuation Office Agency: WalesTreasuryTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5154More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, If she will publish (a) the agreement and (b) the terms of reference between the Welsh Government and the Valuation Office Agency in relation to (i) the Agency's work for a council tax revaluation in Wales and (ii)
Answer: The Welsh Government have previously responded on this matter in June 2024.The answers can be viewed here:Written Question - WQ93146 - Welsh Parliament (senedd.wales)Written Question - WQ93148 - Welsh Parliament (senedd.wales) Written Question - WQ93350 ...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBereavement Support PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will (a) extend the duration of Bereavement Support Payments beyond 18 months and (b) uprate those payments in line with inflation.
Answer: Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) helps people through the immediate period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit ha...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSewersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's timetable is for implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing thresh
Answer: The Government is considering how best to implement its ambitions on sustainable drainage.
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Plans: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3830More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on the London Plan 2021.
Answer: The Deputy Prime Minister met with the Mayor of London in July to discuss housing delivery challenges in the capital and agree priority areas for partnership working.The Government will continue to work with the Mayor to increase the supply of homes withi...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordIslamophobiaMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3829More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the use of the term Islamophobia; and whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of adopting the working definition of Islamophob
Answer: There is no place in our society for religious or racial hatred of any kind. Tackling Islamophobia is a priority for this Government, especially in light of last month’s violent disorder, where we saw mosques and Muslim communities targeted. This is deplo...
Answered 11 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordFreeportsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it is her policy to (a) maintain existing and (b) increase the number of freeports.
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 2702 on 4 September 2024.
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBuildings: SafetyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a building safety levy.
Answer: Yes. The Building Safety Act 2022 gives the Secretary of State powers to make regulations which charge a levy on building control applications for the purpose of meeting building safety expenditure. We will bring forward regulations to make sure that thos...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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