David Simmonds MP: written questions
1010 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Secret BallotMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Election Strategy document, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, July 2025, para 113, for what reason the Governm
Answer: The Government is taking decisive action to strengthen and protect UK democracy, including strengthening the Electoral Commission’s powers and extending its remit to ensure that it can effectively enforce the political finance framework. We have listened ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral Register: EU NationalsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the most recent estimate is of the number of qualifying EU citizens on the local election roll in England.
Answer: The government does not hold data on the number of qualifying EU citizens on the local government electoral register in England.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) previously published estimates of the number of EU citizens eligible to vote in Local ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBest Value: SurreyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120065More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what will happen to the Best Value interventions in Surrey when the district councils are abolished; and whether there will be any central government monitoring or intervention i
Answer: The current Best Value arrangements for Woking and Spelthorne Borough Councils will lapse on West Surrey’s vesting day, due in April 2027, as these councils will be abolished. Commissioners are developing robust handover plans to facilitate a smooth trans...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral RegisterMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120064More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for the implementation of automatic voter registration, (a) pilots and (b) implementation, and whether it will be rolled out nationally in part by (i) area
Answer: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working on the design of direct registration pilots, including timetable and approach, which will be set out in secondary legislation subject to the affirmative procedure. This will give the opp...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral Register: CommonwealthMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120063More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the most recent estimate of the number of qualified Commonwealth citizens on the UK Parliamentary electoral roll in (a) England and (b) the United Kingdom.
Answer: While there are no official statistics specifically on qualifying Commonwealth citizens currently living in the UK who are registered to vote, Electoral Commission figures estimate that 66% of this group may be registered to vote (as at 2023). Further inf...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Advisers: ElectionsCabinet OfficeTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120062More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2025, to Question 70559, on Special Advisers: Elections, and with reference to May 2026 Elections: guidance on conduct for civil servants, published on 2 March 2026, and th
Answer: The guidance on conduct for civil servants in relation to the May 2026 elections makes clear that civil servants - including special advisers - should not use official resources for party political purposes. This guidance is available on gov.uk. The Code ...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAbsent Voting: FraudMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120061More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of postal voting fraud in elections since the 2024 general election.
Answer: Data on allegations and outcomes of electoral fraud is collected by police forces across the UK and provided to the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission then publishes this information annually on its website. The Government continues to work cl...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120060More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the final version of the Section 106 agreement for the Chinese Embassy planning permission.
Answer: All Inquiry documents for this case are publicly available on Tower Hamlets’ website here.
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public AppointmentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2025to Question 96897 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Appointments, when and where he will publish this thi
Answer: The Cabinet Office has created a gov.uk page for departments to publish Direct Ministerial Appointments (DMAs). In line with their guidance, MHCLG now publishes details of all new appointments and extensions, and extant appointments will be published in d...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPolling Stations: MosquesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120058More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with local authorities on representations by the Muslim Council of Britain to place polling stations in mosques.
Answer: The selection of polling station locations is a matter for the independent Returning Officer. The independent Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers, including on polling station selection. The Electoral Commissio...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120057More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2026 to Question 111135 on Council Tax, what is the estimated average Band D council tax in England if based on his Department's council tax
Answer: The department has not made an estimate of the average band D council tax for core spending power calculations. The department’s council tax requirement forecasts in core spending power exclude the precepts of police and crime commissioners and parish and...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Ministers' Private OfficesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120056More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2026 to Question 78241 on MHCLG: Ministers’ Private Offices, whether there are any (a) direct ministerial appointments or (b) external paid
Answer: MHCLG ministers are advised by civil servants employed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Given the technical nature of this work, the Department does procure some technical planning advice. All Ministerial advice from within th...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Flexible WorkingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120055More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the required hours of working are for staff in his Department on full-pay who work a compressed four-day week.
Answer: Staff who work full-time, have the following conditioned hours per week:36 hours net – if their normal place of work is in London and if appointed before 1 June 201337 hours net – if their normal place of work is elsewhereIf they were appointed to the Civ...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Flexible WorkingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of his Department's staff are on full-time pay with compressed hours.
Answer: At 31 January 2026 there were 760 active payroll staff, 19% of total headcount, who worked full‑time hours over a compressed period, meaning they received full pay. This figure includes a range of different compressed full‑time working arrangements.
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSecond Homes: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120053More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance on whether the second homes premium should be levied on empty dwellings that are undergoing repairs or major refurbishment.
Answer: Councils have the power to apply a council tax premium on dwellings which are no one’s sole or main residence and substantially furnished (second homes) and dwellings which have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for 1 or more years (long-term ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: Disposable IncomeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120052More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of above-inflation council tax increases in each year of the multi-year finance settlement on family disposable incomes.
Answer: Council tax levels are decided by local authorities. For the vast majority of councils, the government intends to maintain a core 3% referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept for each year of the multi-year settlement. Councils are required ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: Windsor and MaidenheadMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120051More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to revise its council tax requirement estimates for Windsor and Maidenhead in the context of the revised council tax referendum threshold for 2026-27
Answer: The government annually makes assumptions of council tax levels for the next financial year as a part of its estimates of Core Spending Power. In line with previous years, council tax estimates in Core Spending Power will not be adjusted to reflect higher...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Small BusinessesMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support defence SMEs.
Answer: We’re delivering on our Defence Industrial Strategy; we have created the Office for Small Business Growth; we are simplifying defence sector processes under commercial pathways. We aim to make the UK a top location for defence businesses, pledging an extr...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook, 3 March 2026, para 2.38, what information his Department provided to the OBR to assist them with their forecasts on net a
Answer: OBR forecasts have no bearing on the government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament which remains in place.My Department supports the OBR’s forecasting by sharing the latest dat...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119523More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook, 3 March 2026, para 2.38, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the OBR forecasts on UK net additions to
Answer: OBR forecasts have no bearing on the government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament which remains in place.My Department supports the OBR’s forecasting by sharing the latest dat...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSecret BallotMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to amend electoral law to introduce statutory guidance for Returning Officers to protect the secrecy of the ballot in polling stations, including st
Answer: The Electoral Commission is responsible for providing Returning Officers with guidance on the administration of elections; they provide extensive advice, including how polling staff should respond if they suspect offences are being committed, such as fami...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPolling Stations: LocationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119521More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the press release, Weekend voting and shopping centre polling stations to be trialled, on 2 March 2026, who would determine the specific locations that mobile voting s
Answer: The choice of polling station is a matter for the independent Returning Officer. The Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers and do so on the selection of appropriate polling stations. The Electoral Commission is a...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPolling Stations: LocationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119520More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance is in place on the location of polling stations to prevent a partisan advantage for any specific candidate or political party when determining the location.
Answer: The choice of polling station is a matter for the independent Returning Officer. The Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers and do so on the selection of appropriate polling stations. The Electoral Commission is a...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Freedom of InformationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119519More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will place the substantive Environment Principal Assessment documents disclosed under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 – EIR2026/00658 response of 3 March 202
Answer: I will deposit a copy of the relevant documents in the House of Commons Library. The hon. Member should note that there are some redactions to the assessment for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-2036 that fall within the exception to disclos...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPolling Stations: Religious BuildingsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the press release entitled Weekend voting and shopping centre polling stations to be trialled, on 2 March 2026, whether the plans for mobile voting stations will inclu
Answer: The choice of polling station is a matter for the independent Returning Officer. The Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers and do so on the selection of appropriate polling stations. The Electoral Commission is a...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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