David Simmonds MP: written questions 2026
460 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Council Tax: Greater ManchesterMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the core spending power figures of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026 to 2027, published on 17 December 2025, for what reason his Departme
Answer: As part of the government’s calculation of Core Spending Power we assume each authority’s council tax base increases in line with the average annual growth in their council tax base between 2021-22 and 2025-26. This is in line with the approach in previou...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCharities: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109619More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the business rates revaluation 2026, whether the base liability for charity shops' (a) transitional rate relief and (b) Supporting Small Business Relief includes the application of mandatory charit
Answer: The base liability for charity shops within the transitional relief scheme does not include the application of mandatory or discretionary charitable rate relief. However, charitable relief where applicable is awarded against the bill after Transitional Ra...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for laying secondary legislation to cancel the May 2026 local elections for specific local authorities; and whether it will be by negative or affirm
Answer: The Statutory Instrument to postpone elections for specified local authorities was laid before Parliament on 5 February. The instrument will be considered by the negative resolution procedure.
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLicensed Premises: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109274More
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 will be available to (a) licensed premises which have a members’ clubs premises licence
Answer: This relief will be awarded to pubs and live music venues at the discretion of Local Authorities, who will determine eligibility using guidance published by the Government and based on existing definitions.
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLicensed Premises: Business RatesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109273More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the business rate information letter, 1/2026: Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027, whether the reduction in business rate revenue from the new relief will a
Answer: On 27 January, the department confirmed to local authorities that they will be fully compensated for the loss of income associated with granting the pubs and live music venues relief and the government will fund the associated new burdens, including the a...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDemocracy and ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials had meetings with (i) the Venice Commission and (ii) the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on (A) elections and (B) dem
Answer: MHCLG ministers and officials have not held any meetings with either the Venice Commission or the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on elections or democracy since July 2024.
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPride in Place ProgrammeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking steps to help prevent the misuse of Pride in Place public funds in (a) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and (b) other local authorities.
Answer: On 25 September, the Government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, committing up to £5 billion in funding and support to 339 communities. The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support t...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which scheduled town or parish council elections will take place in May 2026 in localities where scheduled principal council elections will be postponed in May 2026 by district c
Answer: Parish and town council elections will be proceeding as planned, given they are outside of local government reorganisation. Information on town and parish councils elections is held by the relevant district councils.
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department undertook verification of local authorities’ representations which noted insufficient capacity because of the scheduled May 2026 elections.
Answer: Representations were received from councils with elections scheduled in May, including from councillors and political groups, and from other councils, interested organisations, Member of Parliament, and members of the public.The Secretary of State ran a l...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish an equality impact assessment on the postponement of local elections in 2026.
Answer: An equality impact assessment has been completed in line with normal practice.
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109267More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the new pub relief will apply to (a) business rate supplements levied by the Mayor of London and (b) business improvement district levies on business rates.
Answer: Decisions around the determination and application of local Business Rates Supplement are for relevant local authority, must ensure they follow the requirements set out in the Business Rates Supplement Act 2009 and the policies set out in their final pros...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109266More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the local government finance settlement on councils in London on the sustainability of their existing local council tax s
Answer: Council tax support for working age households is designed by councils in consultation with their residents, taking into account the resources available to them and the needs and circumstances of their local communities. Each year, councils must consider ...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109265More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he received representations on delaying local elections from Labour (a) MPs, (b) councillors and (c) council groups that were separate from formal representations from th
Answer: Representations were received from councils with elections scheduled in May, including from councillors and political groups, and from other councils, interested organisations, Member of Parliament, and members of the public.The Secretary of State ran a l...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRadicalismHome OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department names organisations that are (a) regarded as extremists and (b) subject to a policy of non-engagement; and how is the Muslim Council of Britain classified.
Answer: Although The Home Office does not comment on specific groups or individual cases, I would like to reassure the Hon. Gentleman that we are committed to addressing the full range of threats that we currently face as a country and tackling anyone who spreads...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMusic Venues and Public Houses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109263More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's correspondence entitled 1/2026: Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) pub and (b) live music hereditaments that will benef
Answer: The number of pubs and live music venues that will benefit from this relief will be determined, ultimately, by the relief decisions made by councils in line with the guidance published.
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109262More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's correspondence entitled 1/2026: Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027, published on 27 January 2026, whether a gastro-pub categorised by the Valuation Office Agency as a r
Answer: This relief will be awarded to pubs and live music venues at the discretion of Local Authorities, who will determine eligibility using guidance published by the Government and based on existing definitions.
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLicensed Premises: Business RatesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109261More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's correspondence entitled 1/2026: Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027, published on 27 January 2026, whether the new scheme disapplies
Answer: Properties eligible for the pub and live music venue relief scheme will benefit from a 15% relief in 2026/27. Thereafter they will see their rates bill frozen in real terms in 2027/28 and 2028/29 provided the pub remains occupied. Any improvements to the ...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Business RatesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's correspondence entitled 1/2026: Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027, published on 27 January 2026, for pubs eligible for the £800 Su
Answer: Properties eligible for the pub and live music venue relief scheme will benefit from a 15% relief in 2026/27. The 15% relief will be applied after the existing Supporting Small Business Relief scheme. The Treasury have published examples of how the pub an...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 8777, on Local Government: Elections, whether local authorities which submitted bids to hold a May 2026 election pilot sche
Answer: In August 2025, local authorities were invited to apply to pilot a range of flexible voting methods at the May 2026 elections in England. A number of local authorities expressed interest in participating, and we are currently engaging with those local aut...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAngela RaynerMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Rt Hon Member for Ashton-under-Lyne has an official car provided.
Answer: The Rt Hon Member for Ashton-under-Lyne is not provided with an official government car.
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the telecommunication cables by the Royal Mint site will be amended or moved when the Chinese Embassy is built.
Answer: Details of the development for which planning permission has been granted in the case in question are set out in the relevant decision letter which can be found on gov.uk here.
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRapid Transit Systems: West YorkshireDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to ensure the review conducted by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority into the West Yorkshire Mass Transit Programme, issued to the West Yorkshire Combined Au
Answer: On 18 December, Mayor Brabin announced a revised plan for development and delivery of Mass Transit, following an independent peer review by NISTA in September 2025. The changes aim to strengthen delivery and reduce risk, and do not result from any delay b...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on Local roads and highways, published on 12 January 2026, HCWS1232, whether she plans to respond to the letter sent to her Department by the Leader of the Ro
Answer: A reply to the letter from the Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will be sent in due course. The full methodology and data sources used to produce the ratings has been published online, at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-road...
Answered 25 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on Local roads and highways, published on 12 January 2026, HCWS1232, whether the exercise carried out by her Department assessed physical road conditions.
Answer: This information, and the full methodology and data sources used to produce the ratings, has been published online, at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-road-maintenance-ratings/local-road-maintenance-ratings-2025-to-2026.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal roads and highwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on Local roads and highways, published on 12 January 2026, HCWS1232, what discussions she had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local G
Answer: Department for Transport ministers and officials regularly engage with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of issues including in relation to local roads maintenance. At the Autumn Budget, the government confirmed a record...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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