David Simmonds MP: written questions 2026
460 published records · newest first.
Written questions
North Hertfordshire District Council: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 2 March 2026, HCWS1375, on Flexible Voting Pilots, and with reference to the list of councils with elections in the Cabinet Office purdah gui
Answer: North Hertfordshire District Council elections are not listed in the Cabinet Office pre-election period guidance because they do not have scheduled elections in 2026. The government remains committed to the indicative timetable for local government reorga...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVoting MethodsSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119516More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 84203 on Voting Methods, whether the Electoral Commission was consulted by the
Answer: The Government was required to consult the Electoral Commission before making the draft orders providing for flexible voting pilot schemes at the May 2026 elections in England. The Commission has a statutory duty to independently evaluate and report on th...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElections: MonitoringSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119515More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has issued guidance to Returning Officers on whether election observers can raise points of concern
Answer: The Commission’s guidance for Returning Officers notes that they have a legal duty to have regard to the Code of Practice for observers when managing the attendance of observers at polling stations. The Code states that observers may bring irregularities,...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElections: MonitoringSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119514More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's document entitled Accredited Observer Organisations, published in February 2026, for wh
Answer: The Commission is responsible under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 for accrediting individuals and organisations who wish to observe electoral processes at elections and relevant referendums held in the United Kingdom.Anyone ove...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElections: Local GovernmentSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119513More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102773 on Local Government: Elections, whether the Parliamentary Parties Panel
Answer: The Westminster Political Parties Panel was not consulted on the local election pilots.The Commission has a statutory duty to independently evaluate the May 2026 pilot schemes and will report on the pilots by August 2026. The Commission will also support ...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral RegisterSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119512More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's report entitled Automatic registration pilots evaluation, published in December 2025, h
Answer: Across the piloting local authorities 16,000 people were added to the registers automatically. At the time of publication of the Electoral Commission’s evaluation, data from piloting authorities showed that 83 of those electors had been removed during the...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to reply to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner of 11 November 2025.
Answer: Thank you for raising this matter. The department has investigated the case, and we have provided a response on Friday 13 March.
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: PolandMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 110482, on Poland: Children, what steps his Department has taken to ensure enforcement of return orders in cases of international parental child abduction in
Answer: The Ministry of Justice does not play a direct role in individual international child abduction cases in Poland. Whether a return order is made in Poland in respect of a child who has been taken to Poland, or what action should be taken in Poland in relat...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: PolandMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 110482 on Poland: Children, what role his Department plays in international parental child abduction cases in Poland.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice does not play a direct role in individual international child abduction cases in Poland. Whether a return order is made in Poland in respect of a child who has been taken to Poland, or what action should be taken in Poland in relat...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2026, to Question 110483, on Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders, what assessment he has made of the validity of Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders from Po
Answer: International parental child abduction cases involving Poland are dealt with under an international and domestic law framework which is entirely separate from the framework for reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders. When a court is dealing with a c...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his assessment is of the effectiveness of Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders.
Answer: The UK fully supports the operation of the international treaties which enable the cross-border enforcement of maintenance decisions. Children have a right to care and support, and parents have a responsibility to provide it. That responsibility endures r...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110483More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with her Polish counterparts on Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders.
Answer: There have been no recent discussions on Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders between the Secretary of State for Justice and Polish Ministers. Regular discussions take place between UK and Polish officials.
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPoland: ChildrenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110482More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with her Polish counterpart on outstanding cases of children abducted from the UK to Poland.
Answer: I recognise the distress of all those affected by international parental child abduction (IPCA). It is an issue this Government takes very seriously. Ministers and officials continue to raise IPCA with the Polish authorities at every appropriate opportuni...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ValuationTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109632More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Council Tax Valuation Operating System Evaluation, published by the Valuation Office Agency on 20 January 2026, what are the new geospatial tools, and which datasets is it populated with.
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency’s Valuation Operating System for Council Tax replaces multiple existing tools with a single case management system. This includes a mapping tool which utilises publicly available geographical data and government records to supp...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: ValuationTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109631More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026, to Question 104894, on business rates, and to the answer of 6 January 2025, to Question 20948, on Business Rates: Greater London, whether the Chief Statistician of the Valu
Answer: As part of its official statistics, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) publishes the number of hereditaments by Special Category Code and local authority. The percentage change in RV is also published by Special Category Code and by Local/Unitary authority...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ValuationTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109630More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the total budget for the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Valuation Operating System; and which contractors are being used to deliver the project.
Answer: Information about the Valuation Office Agency’s Valuation Operating System for Council Tax can be found on Contracts Finder.
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHotels: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109629More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the Treasury Select Committee, Work of HM Revenue and Customs - Oral evidence, HC 416, 13 January 2026, Question 480, what number and proportion of hotels have seen their Rateable Value increase above the
Answer: Statistics on changes in the rateable value of non-domestic properties as a result of the 2026 Revaluation and publication of the draft 2026 Rating List are published here: Change in rateable value of rating lists, 2026 Revaluation.
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMusic Venues and Public Houses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109628More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the business rate information letter, 1/2026: Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027, whether the new relief is subject to a state aid cap for chain pubs; and whether it will apply to venues subje
Answer: From April, every pub and live music venue will get 15% off its new business rates bill on top of the support announced at Budget and then bills will be frozen in real terms for a further two years. Final costings will be confirmed at a fiscal event in th...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMusic Venues and Public Houses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109627More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the business rate information letter entitled 1/2026: Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027, of 27 January 2026, what the cost is of the new relief in (a) 2026-27, (b) 2027-28 and (c) 2028
Answer: From April, every pub and live music venue will get 15% off its new business rates bill on top of the support announced at Budget and then bills will be frozen in real terms for a further two years. Final costings will be confirmed at a fiscal event in th...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: City of Westminster and WandsworthMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 106139 on Local Government Finance: City of Westminster and Wandsworth, what the change in core spending power is excluding
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 106139 on 20 January 2026. The provisional local government Settlement, published on 17 December 2025, sets out individual funding allocations for local authorities. The government consulted on th...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: FraudMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release of 24 September 2025 entitled Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride, how his Department plans to give councils powe
Answer: The Pride in Place Strategy set out how this government will empower communities to reclaim their high streets and restore pride to their communities. This includes powers to auction off vacant premises, a new Community Right to Buy for valued assets, and...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSecond Homes: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 105978 on second homes: council tax, whether he has made any assumption on changes in the adoption of (a) second and (b) emp
Answer: As part of the provisional local government finance settlement, the government has made estimates of changes to Core Spending Power between 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29. This includes estimates of council tax requirements councils will set for those years...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: City of Westminster and WandsworthMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 106139 on Local Government Finance: City of Westminster and Wandsworth, what assumption his Department made on the percentag
Answer: It is for individual councils to decide their level of council tax, taking into consideration a range of local factors, including the impact on taxpayers. As has been standard practise with previous governments, the government’s estimate of core spending ...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral statement of 22 January 2026, Official Report, Col. 486, on Local government reorganisation, what is the status of the one further representation.
Answer: A summary of the decision was provided through the Written Ministerial Statement and the letter sent to council leaders, both of which are publicly available. The Government has no plans to publish the names of respondents who made representations.
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 22 January 2026, HCWS1270, on Local government reorganisation, if he will list the names of the 350 respondents.
Answer: A summary of the decision was provided through the Written Ministerial Statement and the letter sent to council leaders, both of which are publicly available. The Government has no plans to publish the names of respondents who made representations.
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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