David Simmonds MP: written questions 2024
175 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Energy: InfrastructureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of planning officers needed to manage Development Consent Orders for energy infrastructure under the 2030 decarbonisation targ
Answer: Examining Development Consent Orders for energy projects is one of a range of workstreams which the Planning Inspectorate will need to undertake. As part of the Spending Review, the Planning Inspectorate is considering the overall funding and resources it...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordParish and Town CouncilsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating more (a) town and (b) parish councils.
Answer: The Government is committed to promoting local democracy and community empowerment. Parish and town councils are the first tier of local government, often playing a vital role in community engagement and delivering local services. The power to create pari...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Shared Prosperity FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to hold further rounds of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answer: Decisions on funding post March 2025 are a matter for the Budget on October 30th.We recognise the challenges this brings for some projects. We are working closely with local authorities and key stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to future funding,...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCommunity AssetsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the King's Speech on 17 July 2024, who would be responsible for determining the sale price of a property under Community Right to Buy.
Answer: The government recognises the vital importance of high streets and community spaces and is committed to supporting them to thrive across the country. As part of this, we are developing proposals to introduce a Community Right to Buy which will empower loc...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2024 to Question 1758 on Social Rented Housing, whether she made an assessment of the potential merits of restricting social housing allocation
Answer: The Government published a response to the consultation on reforms to social housing allocations on 2 September. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-respo...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: FlagsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what flags she plans to fly outside her Department other than the Union flag in the next 12 months; and on which days each flag will be flown.
Answer: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is a minor tenant in the buildings it occupies. At only one, the Department's second HQ at Wolverhampton, does it control of what flags are flown. In the next 12 months at the Wolverhampton HQ, the...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: Fees and ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3253More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, what (
Answer: The consultation in question includes proposals to increase householder fees and other planning fees. We will consider the responses received and use them to inform continued policy development.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3252More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what metrics she plans to use to monitor the building of 1.5 million homes in this Parliament; and whether she will monitor housing (a) starts and (b) completions.
Answer: The Government is committed to building 1.5 million homes over the duration of the parliament. We will update Parliament on our progress in the usual manner. The Ministry publishes a quarterly release entitled ‘Housing supply: Indicators of New Supply, En...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3251More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2024 to Question 409 on Business Rates, whether she plans to take steps to review business rate (a) poundage, (b) reliefs, (c) multipliers and (d) valuations.
Answer: The government is committed to a business rates system which raises the same revenue but in a fairer way. The government has pledged to level the playing field between the high street and online giants, incentivise investment, tackle empty properties and ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Environment ProtectionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 26 July 2024, to Question 1315, on Environmental protection, what her planned timetable is for replacing legacy legislation on environmental assessment
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 1315 on 26 July 2024.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the protection of residential gardens from development.
Answer: The Government expects local planning authorities to consider the case for setting out policies to resist inappropriate development of residential gardens, for example where development would cause harm to the local area.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planning policy is on (a) authorised and (b) unauthorised traveller sites in the Green Belt.
Answer: The Government is currently consulting on a number of reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework. These include proposals to release low-quality grey belt land within the Green Belt to meet housing and other development needs. We are seeking views ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanning: EqualityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to issue guidance on equality, diversity and inclusion in planning.
Answer: This Government is committed to ensuring that planning decisions reflect the diverse needs of local communities. National planning policy already sets out the need to assess and meet the requirements of different groups, and we are consulting on proposed ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEconomic Growth and Foreign Investment in UKMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the Investment Opportunity Fund on trends in (a) domestic growth and (b) direct investment into the UK.
Answer: Economic growth is the number one mission of this Government. The Government has committed to delivering productivity growth in every part of the country, making everyone, not just a few, better off. As part of this, Government will work in partnership wi...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordNew TownsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3245More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy statement on new towns, published on 31 July 2024, whether the support of (a) the local planning authority and (b) local MPs will be a r
Answer: We are committed to delivering a new generation of new towns, with locations informed by the recommendations of an independent, expert New Towns Taskforce. New towns will include large-scale new communities built on greenfield land and separated from othe...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy statement on new towns, published on 31 July 2024, what her target is for the number of new homes that will be completed in this Parliam
Answer: We are committed to delivering a new generation of new towns, with locations informed by the recommendations of an independent, expert New Towns Taskforce. New towns will include large-scale new communities built on greenfield land and separated from othe...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordNew Towns TaskforceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3243More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Expert taskforce to spearhead a new generation of new towns, published on 31 July 2024, what the remuneration for (a) Da
Answer: We are committed to delivering a new generation of new towns, with locations informed by the recommendations of an independent, expert New Towns Taskforce. New towns will include large-scale new communities built on greenfield land and separated from othe...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHamas: Hostage TakingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the reported treatment of released Israeli hostage Andrey Kozlov.
Answer: The treatment of hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas is a matter of international concern. We are clear in our call - Hamas must release all hostages immediately. This government has prioritised working to end this conflict and secure the safe releas...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHamas: Hostage TakingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help secure the release of people taken hostage by Hamas.
Answer: This government has prioritised working to end this conflict and secure the safe release of hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas since day one. During their joint visit to the region, the Foreign Secretary and French Foreign Secretary Stéphane Séjour...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordUNRWA: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to monitor the likelihood of his Department's funding reaching Hamas through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
Answer: The Foreign Secretary noted in his statement to the House of Commons on 19 July 2024, that the UN had taken the allegations that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October Ha...
Answered 1 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUNRWA: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what conditions he has placed on the restoring of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Answer: The Foreign Secretary noted in his statement to the House of Commons on 19 July 2024, that the UN had taken the allegations that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October Ha...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWater: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of her policies on (a) the mitigation credit market and (b) investor confidence in nature markets.
Answer: This government was elected on a mandate to get Britain building again, alongside protecting and restoring the natural environment. We are determined to transform the system to ensure a win-win for people and nature. The existing nutrient mitigation marke...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordConservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department will disapply the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
Answer: A healthy natural environment is critical to a strong economy. This government is committed to delivering for nature and will work with stakeholders, including nature conservation organisations, to develop an approach that both restores nature and enables...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Departmental ResponsibilitiesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1985More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will update the list of ministerial responsibilities for her Department.
Answer: Details of ministerial responsibilities for the department are published on gov.uk.
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanning AuthoritiesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed planning changes on the capacity of local planning authorities; and whether she will provide additional funding t
Answer: The Department has a dedicated Planning Capability and Capacity programme to support planning reform.We are currently reviewing how best to deploy additional support made available as a result of our plans to increase the rate of the stamp duty surcharge ...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament record
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