David Simmonds MP: written questions
363 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Beijing: EmbassiesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32004More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 22931 on Beijing: Embassies, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the steps required to secure pl
Answer: The Foreign Secretary has met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on three occasions so far. They have discussed the breadth of priority foreign policy and bilateral issues.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry and Retail Trade: MeasurementDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his Department’s policy is on the continued use of imperial measures in retail and hospitality settings.
Answer: UK law requires metric units to be used for all trade purposes, including in retail and hospitality settings, with only limited exceptions. While imperial units can be used alongside metric units, the imperial markings must not be larger or more prominent...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax AllowancesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 19680 on High Streets Task Force, what discussions his Department had with retailers on the impact of the reduction in retail, hospitality and leisu
Answer: Across Government, Ministers and officials meet with a range of retailers to understand the challenges they face. I have met with the Retail Sector Council where I heard members’ views about the impact of the Budget. More recently, I attended a roundtable...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNightclubs: ClosuresDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 18963 on Nightclub: closures, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increases in (a) business rates from the reduction in rat
Answer: An assessment of the changes to Employers' National Insurance has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note, including impacts on the exchequer, the economy, individuals, households and families, equalities, and businesses including ...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: AgeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to reduce the legal age to (a) buy Lottery tickets and (b) gamble.
Answer: The Government has no plans to reduce the legal age to buy lottery tickets or to gamble.
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCultural HeritageDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on (a) contested heritage and (b) retain and explain.
Answer: The policy relating to contested heritage is set out in the 2023 Guidance for custodians on how to deal with commemorative heritage assets that have become contested which was published under the previous government. I have no plans to change the guidance...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: FlagsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on departmental plans to fly flags other than the Union flag in 2025.
Answer: The flags other than the Union Flag that will be flown from the DCMS building in London in 2025 will be announced in due course. Currently, in addition to flying the Union Flag throughout the year, the Department flies a flag of Ukraine above the building...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: North WestDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide support for the proposed Liverpool to Manchester railway improvement project.
Answer: Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and the Government is committed to improving rail connectivity across the North, including boosting rail connectivity from East to West. As announced in the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Governme...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow AirportDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to revise the Airports National Policy Statement, published on 5 June 2018, in the context of the proposed Heathrow Airport expansion.
Answer: The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer and is clear that any scheme must be delivered in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations. Once proposals have been received, t...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: PoliceHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29614More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2024, to Question 8751, on Fire and Rescue Services: Police, for what reason her Department won't repeal Section 37 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004.
Answer: It is the Government’s priority to ensure the safety of firefighters across the fire and rescue sector. Section 37 of Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 re-enacts section 32 of the Fire Services Act 1947 and provides that no member of a police force (i.e. ...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: ContractsHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list each individual awarded contract to strategic suppliers for the provision of asylum accommodation and support services including the value of each contract.
Answer: The Home Office holds two contracts with SERCO for the provision of Asylum Accommodation and Support Services. Details of these agreements are published on Contract Finder at:NWAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NW - Contracts Fin...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Health ServicesHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether private healthcare has been provided to asylum seekers in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Home Office does not provide asylum seekers with private healthcare.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: ReviewsHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Oral Statement of 16 January 2025 on Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Official Report, how many civil servants have been assigned to support Baroness Casey's audit; and what
Answer: The Home Office is committed to supporting the National Audit and the necessary resources will be made available to Baroness Casey to complete her work. Staffing arrangements, including the involvement of Home Office civil servants, for the Audit will be ...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Metropolitan Police on the application for a new Chinese Embassy.
Answer: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this quasi-judicial decision independent from the rest of Government.It would not be appropriate to comme...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCrime Prevention: WhitehallHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what role HM Government plays in relation to policing within Whitehall’s Government Secure Zone area.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to my response to PQ 26886, asked on 28 January 2025, on this matter.
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: ReviewsHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's news story entitled, Survivors of sexual abuse to be empowered in closed case reviews, published on 16 January 2025, if she will publish the full terms of reference
Answer: The complete terms of reference for the review will be made available on gov.uk. Baroness Casey is leading the review in her role as the Government's lead Non-Executive Director (NED). This is a paid position, and all necessary due diligence has been cond...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505, how many people were housed in asylum accommodation in the last 12 months.
Answer: Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505 on Asylum: housing, what is the expected cost to the public purse of accommodation for asylum seekers in 2025.
Answer: The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505 on Asylum: housing, what the estimated spending is on accommodation for asylum seekers in 2025.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 22 January 2025 to UIN 24505.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505 on Asylum: housing, in what types of accommodation asylum seekers will now be housed.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 22 January 2025 to UIN 24505.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: Council TaxHome OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the written statement of 30 January 2025, HCWS407, on Police Funding Settlement 2025-26, what estimate he has made of the (a) increase in council tax receipts in monetary terms, (b) absolu
Answer: Forces will be able to raise up to £329.8 million in funding from council tax precept, based on current forecasts and assuming all PCCs maximise their precept flexibility of £14 for a Band D property.Precept levels are a decision that must be taken by eac...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: MeasurementDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has received representations from health professionals have they received on shrinking the default size of the pint glass in licensed premises.
Answer: The Government has no plans to restrict the size of a pint of beer served in pubs. Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. The Department ...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Performance Certificates: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 30 August 2024 to Question 1331 on Energy Performance Certificates Housing, whether this will include banning the (a) sale and (b) purchase of privately occupied dwe
Answer: The Government’s position on supporting owner occupiers remains as was set out in the Answer to Question 1331. The Government has since published separate proposals to raise minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in England and Wal...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timetable is for the delivery of the £300 reduction to household energy bills.
Answer: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWind Power: Seas and OceansDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 October 2024, HCWS168, on Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024, what requirements there will be for t
Answer: Local content requirements are not permitted within the UK’s international trade agreements, however, the Government does offer incentives to invest in supply chains: the Clean Industry Bonus (CIB) as part of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme will...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →