David Simmonds MP: written questions 2025
375 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Community Relations: ExpenditureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95337More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87322 on Community Relations: Expenditure, if he will place the monitoring and evaluation guidance in the Library; and if h
Answer: The monitoring and evaluation guidance was intended solely for the local authorities in receipt of funding from the Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme, these were set out in Question UIN 85786 on 5 November 2025. More detail on what has been deli...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTemporary Accommodation: RefugeesHome OfficeTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95335More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department made of potential changes in the cost of local authority temporary accommodation from asylum seekers moving across to refugee status.
Answer: The Home Office has not made such an assessment as costs to local authorities would not be in our remit.
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: Single PeopleTreasuryTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95334More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether single person discount will apply to the high value council tax surcharge.
Answer: The High Value Council Tax Surcharge levies a new charge on owners of residential property in England worth £2 million or more. The Government will consult on exemptions, reliefs, and the detail of a support scheme for those who struggle to pay the charge...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the potential annual revenue from the proposed overnight visitor levy; and whether an Impact Assessment has been produced.
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.The Visitor Levy Consultation, running until...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HillingdonHome OfficeTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95332More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been allocated to the London Borough of Hillingdon to assist with the costs of asylum seekers in 2025.
Answer: The Home Office does not publicly publish grant payment levels by local authority, we do however provide funding to Local Authorities under the following grant agreements Asylum, Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking children & former unaccompanied asylum-seek...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSecond Homes: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether job-related exemption will be based on the job-related tests in the Schedule of the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings) (England) Regulations 2003 for the secon
Answer: The definition of a job-related dwelling, for the purposes of exceptions from the second homes premium, is set out in the 2003 regulations. The Government has issued guidance on council tax premiums including exceptions.
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Hazards: BirminghamDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 April 2025 to Question 44226 on Pest Control: Birmingham, whether he has made a recent assessment of the risks to (a) public health from the continued bin strike and (b
Answer: The Director of Public Health for Birmingham maintains an overview of the potential public health impacts associated with uncollected waste as a result of any disruption to waste services and would lead on initiating and conducting a public health risk as...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95329More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference paragraph 4.28 of the Autumn Budget 2025, HC1492, published on 26 November 2025, how many hereditaments will pay the business rate transitional supplement in 2026-27; what estimate she has made of the
Answer: At Budget 2025, the Government announced updated property values independently assessed by the Valuation Office. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values (RVs) of properties are updated in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to ref...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncillorsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 4 of the Autumn Budget 2025, HC1492, 26 November 2025, if he will publish the evidential basis for the claim that there would be a £250 million saving from
Answer: The Government is committed to cutting the cost of politics. The £250 million figure was calculated based on estimated savings from the potential reduction in local councillors through Local Government Reorganisation and from the abolition of Police and C...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Authorities: RecruitmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 3.25 of the Autumn Budget 2025, HC1492, 26 November 2025, whether the funding for 350 planning officers is an additional (a) 50 and (b) 350 to the pre
Answer: At the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced a £46 million package of investment into the planning system as a one-year settlement for 2025-2026. At the Budget on 26 November 2025, the Chancellor announced a further £48 million of investment over t...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the Visitor levy policy paper published on 26 November 2025, whether MHCLG has modelled what the percentage rate per night would be under their preferred option of a p
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.The Visitor Levy Consultation, running until...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: SurchargesTreasuryTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95324More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, through what mechanisms and systems will the Valuation Office Agency revalue dwellings for the new council tax surcharge.
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency are developing their approach to the targeted valuation and will set out more details in due course, following the outcome of the Government's consultation.In general, when valuing domestic properties, the VOA uses modern techn...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95323More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the written statement of 25 November 2025, HCWS1097, on Devolution and Growth, and further to the Visitor levy policy paper published on 26 November 2025, whether the
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.The Visitor Levy Consultation, running until...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Crowborough Training CampHome OfficeTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Wealden District Council has raised legal objections to the use of Crowborough Training Camp to house asylum seekers.
Answer: We do not comment on legal matters, however all sites progressed for asylum accommodation will comply with safety, security, health and wellbeing standards. This government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well underway, with more suitable sites bei...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEden Project: MorecambeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 87114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any changes have been made to the (a) government funding and (b) funding profile for the Eden North project following the decision to cancel the Levelling Up Fund.
Answer: The MHCLG Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals, and Simplification Pathfinder Pilot have been consolidated into the Local Regeneration Fund. There have been no changes to government funding and no changes to the funding profile, since the MoU was fully signed in...
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUnitary CouncilsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to allow unitary councils to expand their size into current two-tier areas.
Answer: The Government is committed to ending two-tier local government in England in this Parliament. On 5 February 2025, the Government invited two-tier authorities and their neighbouring small unitary authorities to develop proposals for unitary local governme...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCity Hall Developer Investment FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 23 October 2025 on Housing Delivery, HCWS991, whether the £322 million City Hall Developer Investment Fund is additional government fun
Answer: The initial allocation of £322 million to establish the City Hall Developer Investment Fund comes from capital grant funding for land and infrastructure delivered through the new National Housing Delivery Fund announced at the June 2025 Spending Review. T...
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56831 on Planning Permission, and to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question HL8773, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if
Answer: Post-inquiry representations are routinely listed at the end of the final decision letter and are available on request once the decision letter has issued.
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSecond Homes: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86778More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance to local authorities on the (a) civil and (b) criminal penalties for avoidance of paying the second homes council tax premium.
Answer: Councils have a range of powers available to them to recover any type of unpaid council tax, including council tax premiums. The government has recently consulted on modernising and improving the administration of council tax which seeks views on how coun...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDeputy Prime Minister: Admiralty HouseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86777More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 74185 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, whether the Government Property Agency intends to claim back the over-paid
Answer: No overpayment has been made. Westminster City Council has determined that a premium is due regardless of the change in occupancy.
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRetail Trade: Urban AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86776More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled, Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride, by what mechanism will his Department block (a) vapes
Answer: The Government’s Pride in Place strategy sets out how we are giving communities the tools to drive improvements on their high streets. These include powers to auction leases of long-term vacant properties, which will provide opportunities for councils to ...
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ConstituenciesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86775More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Local Government Boundary Commission boundary reviews have been (a) paused and (b) terminated because of potential unitary local government restructuring.
Answer: The Government is committed to ending two-tier local government in England in this Parliament. On 5 February 2025, the Government invited two-tier authorities and their neighbouring small unitary authorities to develop proposals for unitary local governme...
Answered 10 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: AsylumMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86774More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 78206 on Housing: Asylum, over what period of time the £500 million is allocated; and whether the basic alternative accommod
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 78206 on 23 October 2025 and the answer to Question UIN 78187 on 20 October 2025. We continue to engage with local government on options for design of the fund and the best way to deliver this acc...
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinisters: Council TaxCabinet OfficeTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86773More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Minister who occupy Ministerial residences as second homes and have council tax paid (a) have restrictions on the number of days that they can occupy the property each week.
Answer: There are no such restrictions imposed.
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86772More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 63031 on Asylum: Private Rented Housing, if she will publish her Department's (a) policies and (b) internal guidance on assessing the suitability of a
Answer: Dispersed Accommodation is procured under the Accommodation and Support Contracts (AASC). The AASC are published and set out our requirements for the sourcing and procurement of accommodation, including how providers should work and consult with local aut...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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