David Simmonds MP: written questions 2025
375 published records · newest first.
Written questions
UK Shared Prosperity FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4.39 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, what her planned timetable is for completing the transition f
Answer: UKSPF was committed for a further transition year in 2025-26. From 2026-27, the government is providing targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This includes e...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4.19 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, what her Department's target is for the (a) total number and
Answer: The new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme that was announced at the Spending Review will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent. We will confirm ...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: ContractsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.59 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025: departmental efficiency delivery plans, published on 11 June 2025, what assessment she h
Answer: The department is committed to improving efficiency by reducing reliance on external suppliers and consultants, having already achieved a 50% reduction in consultancy use since 2023/24. Consultants are only engaged for time-limited, specific needs where i...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the Affordable Housing Programme funding the purchase by social housing providers of affordable homes already obligated by developers under Section 106 duri
Answer: The Affordable Homes Programme supports the delivery of social and affordable homes additional to those that developers have committed to delivering through Section 106 agreement. We have no plans to change these arrangements.
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUrban Areas: RegenerationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60131More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Government announces 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods to receive long-term investment - details, published on 11 June 2025,
Answer: We have announced 25 trailblazer areas that will benefit from funding. These 25 areas were selected through a robust metric-based methodology which assessed the most in need communities across the UK, further details will be published in due course.
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGreater London Authority: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60130More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, CP1336, of 11 June 2025, Table 5.17, what the assumed increase is in the Greater London Authority precept over the spending review per
Answer: Projected overall local government spending from additional income is set out at table 5.17 of the Spending Review document. This includes estimated funding from council tax. However, this remains subject to final decisions on the referendum principles se...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, CP1336, of 11 June 2025, Table 5.17, what the average annual (a) cash and (b) real terms increase is in the central government grant t
Answer: This Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settleme...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, CP1336, of 11 June 2025, how much (a) capital and (b) revenue funding is being allocated to the Affordable Housing Programme, in each
Answer: The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on the Social and Affordable Homes Programme will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.Government does not usu...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic ExpenditureTreasuryTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59487More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the allocation of funds from the Growt
Answer: The Growth Mission Fund will invest £240 million of capital from 2026/27 to 2029/30 in projects that enable local job creation and the economic regeneration of local communities. Further detail on this fund and the criteria that will be applied for projec...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRegeneration: FinanceTreasuryTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59485More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what is the required evidential base behind funding from the Growth Mission Fund.
Answer: The government is establishing a Growth Mission Fund to directly support local economic growth. This fund will invest £240 million of capital from 2026/27 to 2029/30 in projects that enable local job creation and the economic regeneration of local communi...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what financial support her Department will provide to local authorities to mitigate the impact of closing asylum hotels.
Answer: The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver upon its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of t...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, whether she has had recent discussions with the Home Secretary on the closure of all asylum hotels in this Parliament.
Answer: The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of Parlia...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much funding her Department plans to provide to local authorities to help support the closure of all asylum hotels in this Pa
Answer: The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of Parlia...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, whether her Department has received representations from local authorities on the potential impact of closing all asylum hotels i
Answer: The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of Parlia...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59084More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of closing all asylum hotels in this Parliament on local au
Answer: The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver its commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels by the end of Parlia...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMarriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2022Ministry of JusticeTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 on faith groups.
Answer: The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2022, introduced by the previous Government, made permanent the temporary provisions allowing civil marriage and civil partnership ceremonies to take place outdoors in the gr...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCorporate Hospitality and Official GiftsCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58282More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Register of Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality includes gifts that have been (a) returned and (b) reimbursed to the original donor.
Answer: The Register of Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality is a declaration of hospitality received and gifts given and received in a ministerial capacity, in line with ministers’ obligations under the Ministerial Code. The Cabinet Office publishes guidance setting...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordStreet Trading: LicensingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has provided guidance to (a) elected representatives, (b) political parties and (c) community groups on obtaining a (i) street trading and (ii) highways li
Answer: The provision and administration of street trading and highways licences are the responsibility of Local Authorities under either the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 or the London Local Authorities Act 1990, depending on their locatio...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Pension SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58058More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of previous local government restructuring on costs from pension strain in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Answer: We have made no such assessment. As I stated in my answer to UIN 52862, local government reorganisation will have impacts on the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). We expect councils to work with relevant administering authorities on any implications...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: PayMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58057More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) her Department and (b) local government improvement bodies financed through departmental funding centrally (i) collate and (ii) monitor the practice or frequency of l
Answer: Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces. While it is not government policy to support a four-day working week in local authorities, the government will not be micromanaging them on this and does n...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLand: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58056More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 53568 on Land: Greater London, what the planning status is of Metropolitan Open Land designated by the Mayor of London in the Lo
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 53920 on 6 June 2025.
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58055More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to articles 35 and 40 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, whether (a) the Chinese government and (b) its agen
Answer: All Inquiry documents for this case are publicly available on Tower Hamlets website here.
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFast FoodDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the official statistics entitled Wider Determinants of Health: statistical commentary on the location of fast food outlets, February 2025, published on 10 February 2025, whether (
Answer: Fast food is considered to be food that is energy dense and available quickly, usually via a counter service, for consumption on or off the premise. Neither the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities nor its predecessor, Public Health England, have...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Greater LondonHome OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57417More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reduction in hotel accommodation for asylum seekers around Heathrow Airport on neighbouring local authorities.
Answer: The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver upon the commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels over time.Curre...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Greater LondonHome OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57416More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has received recent representations from London boroughs on the provision of additional funding to house asylum seekers following the reduction in hotel accommodation for asylum seekers ar
Answer: The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its legal obligations and deliver upon the commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, and to end the use of hotels over time.Curre...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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