David Simmonds MP: written questions 2024
175 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Valuation Office Agency: CognizantTreasuryTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14180More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish (a) the contract, (b) the agreed programme of work and (c) other side documentation for the Valuation Office Agency's agreement with Cognizant; and what the (i) value and (ii) length of that cont
Answer: Details of the contract can be found on Contracts Finder: Valuations Office Agency Programme - Valuations Cloud App - Contracts Finder. The published contract covers new services developed through the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) transformation program...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax YieldsTreasuryTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14179More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2024 to Questions 11930 and 11931 on Business Rates: Tax Yields, whether the real terms monetary value of the tax reduction from the new Retail, Hospitality and Leisure multiplie
Answer: The existing retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) relief has been repeatedly extended year-by-year as a temporary stopgap measure. The Government recognises that this creates cliff-edges and uncertainty for businesses, as well as significant fiscal pres...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDomestic Waste: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14178More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 20 September 2024 to Question 5409 on Recycling and to Question 5225 on Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal, whether it is her policy that the minimum residual fr
Answer: Simpler Recycling will mean that people across England will be able to recycle the same materials at home, work or school, ending the confusion over what can or cannot be recycled in different parts of the country.
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 1 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12276More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 3.16 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, where the proposed locations are of the three large housing development sites in
Answer: Information on the three housing development sites is as follows:a) Cambridgeshire: Permission for up to 1,000 new homes on land between Huntingdon Road and Histon Road, Cambridge, known as Darwin Green Phases Two and Three, was granted on 25 September 20...
Answered 12 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11937More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data the Valuation Office Agency holds on the rateable value of (a) farms and (b) farmland.
Answer: Farms and farmland, if used by the occupier for agricultural purposes, are exempt from non-domestic rating under Schedule 5 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988. Consequently, agricultural land and buildings are not included in rating lists and no rat...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector Reform and Innovation FundTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11936More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.99 of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, which public bodies can apply for funding from the new Public Sector Reform and Innovation Fund; whether public bodies wi
Answer: The Public Sector Reform and Innovation Fund allocates £165 million to a range of projects in 2025-26, including support for foster care, delivering apprenticeships and planning reforms. In addition, the Budget allocates a further £100 million over the ne...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11935More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.81 of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, what the assumed local government core spending power in cash figures is in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26: and what the ass
Answer: Local government core spending power (CSP) is £64,786m in 2024-25, and is forecast to be £68,459m in 2025-26. These figures for CSP are estimates and subject to data changes. Final figures will be published as part of the 2025-26 Local Government Finance ...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood Policing: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 4.20 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, how much funding will be provided to police forces to help increase the number of neighbourhood office
Answer: The Autumn Budget confirmed that the core government grant for police forces will increase. Further details and force level allocations will be set out at the provisional settlement in December.
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: FinanceTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11933More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.8 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, if she will publish the methodology used to forecast the delivery of savings of (a) £2.2 billion and (b) £4 billion on asylum in those years.
Answer: This government has already ended the Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership and is reforming the asylum system by streamlining capacity to process asylum seekers and returning those that do not have the right to stay in the UK. This will s...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax YieldsTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11932More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 5.69 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, what estimate her Department has made of the yearly change in business rates receipts from private schools in each of the next five financial years
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government reconfirmed that it will remove private schools’ eligibility for charitable rates relief under business rates in England from April 2025. This intervention will raise around £140 million per year. Business rates reten...
Answered 7 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax YieldsTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11931More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's discussion paper entitled Transforming Business Rates, published on 30 October 2024, what the estimated yearly decrease is in business rate receipts from the lower multiplier for R
Answer: To protect the high street, the government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties from 2026-27. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and the government intends to introduce a Large B...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax YieldsTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11930More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's discussion paper entitled Transforming Business Rates, published on 30 October 2024, what the estimated yearly increase is in business rate receipts from the higher multiplier on h
Answer: To protect the high street, the government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties from 2026-27. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and the government intends to introduce a Large B...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what obligations local authorities have to house (a) asylum seekers and (b) refugees not covered by Government funded accommodation.
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 10286 on 29 October 2024.Individuals granted refugee status are eligible for assistance from their local authority in finding accommodation, if homeless, as well as temporary accommodation if they...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRight to Buy SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 5.149 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295 published on 30 October 2024, what the new Right to Buy discount rates are; and if she will make a comparative
Answer: As announced in the Autumn Budget and in accordance with our manifesto commitment, the Government reviewed the increased Right to Buy discounts introduced in 2012 and determined to reduce the maximum cash discounts to between £16,000 and £38,000. The leve...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: Greater Manchester and West MidlandsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.98 of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, which new funding streams will be placed into the single pots for (a) Greater Manche
Answer: Delivering integrated settlements in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands will provide meaningful control over funding and improve the fragmented funding landscape for Mayoral Combined Authorities with a flexible single pot.The funds in scope, formula...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.98 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, what her policy is on whether local authorities will (a) be selected by her Depa
Answer: The Government has now been clear on its long term vision for simpler local government structures so councils are the right size and shape to deliver citizen-focused services for their communities. We have heard from councils that unitarisation can be a p...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.81of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, what the assumptions are on the increase in the percentage Band D level of the (a) social care, (b) police, (c) fir
Answer: Local government core spending power (CSP) is £64,786m in 2024-25, and is forecast to be £68,459m in 2025-26.These figures for CSP are estimates and subject to data changes. Final figures will be published as part of the 2025-26 Local Government Finance S...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCandidates: ExpenditureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues on use of single notional invoices for Representation of the People Act 1983 candidate returns where multiple elections are contested concurre
Answer: The Government does not issue guidance on political finance matters. The Electoral Commission, as the independent body responsible for regulating political finance, has a statutory duty to provide guidance for political parties, candidates and other campa...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7591 on Brain: Tumours, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Government funding into brain tumour research.
Answer: Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department spends £1.5 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Cancer is the largest area of spend, at over £121....
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9025More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing brain tumour patients access to clinical trials.
Answer: The Department is committed to ensuring that innovative, lifesaving treatments are accessible to National Health Service patients, including those with brain tumours, and to implementing the recommendations of Lord O'Shaughnessy’s review into commercial c...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9023More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) adult and (b) paediatric brain tumour patients with a terminal diagnosis to find and participate in clinical trials.
Answer: The Department is committed to ensuring that innovative, lifesaving treatments are accessible to National Health Service patients, including those with brain tumours, and to implementing the recommendations of Lord O'Shaughnessy’s review into commercial c...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9022More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry on access to clinical trials for brain tumour patients.
Answer: The Department is committed to working with the pharmaceutical industry to implement the recommendations of Lord O'Shaughnessy’s review into commercial clinical trials, maximising our potential to be a world leader in clinical trials.The current programme...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has allocated to (a) public bodies and (b) agencies to run campaigns aimed at encouraging brain tumour patients to participate in clinical trials.
Answer: The Department awards funding to encourage participation of brain tumour patients in clinical trials through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Department’s research delivery arm. Funding is awarded through open competition, an...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCommonhold and Leasehold: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has plans for legislation changes on (a) enfranchisement rights, (b) ground rents, (c) default tenure and (d) cladding remediation liability for (i) leaseh
Answer: The Government intend to act quickly to provide homeowners with greater rights, powers, and protections over their homes by implementing the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. We will set out details in due course about the extensiv...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRight to Buy SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September 2024 to Question 2675 on Council Housing: Finance, whether his Department’s wider review of Right to Buy will set out potential changes in
Answer: The government has made clear that it intends to bring forward a consultation in the Autumn seeking views on how the Right to Buy should be reformed. Among other things, the consultation will ask for views on eligibility criteria and protections for new h...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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