Paul Holmes MP: written questions 2026
195 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Political Parties: FinanceSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118895More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on declaring corporate sponsorship to Members’ Associations.
Answer: The Electoral Commission’s guidance sets out that sponsorship of events, publications, or research must be treated as a donation and the same permissibility checks apply. A members’ association must report donations (including sponsorship) when the amount...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElections: CampaignsSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118894More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided on whether named promoters on (a) hard copies and (b) digital imprints can be un
Answer: The Electoral Commission’s guidance on print and digital imprints states that an unincorporated association, such as a political party, may be the promoter of campaign material. Some parties choose to have a named individual as the promoter, publishing th...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAbsent Voting: ApplicationsSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118893More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued to EROs on accepting scanned copies of postal vote application forms.
Answer: For elections taking place in England, or at a UK Parliamentary general election, the Electoral Commission’s guidance for Electoral Registration Officers sets out the number of ways voters can apply for a postal vote. Postal vote application forms are not...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBallot Secrecy Act 2023Speaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118892More
Question: To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has issued updated guidance following the passage of the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Gentleman to the answer provided to Question 116490 which explains that the Commission’s guidance was updated to reflect the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRepresentation of the People BillMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to obtain Legislative Consent from devolved Administrations in Wales and Scotland for the Representation of the People Bill.
Answer: As is usual, the government has written to counterparts in the devolved governments asking for their consent to the Bill where this interacts with devolved competence. The Secretary of State confirmed this at Second Reading of the Bill.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPolitical Parties: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, February 2026, Table 8, what proportion of the donation value that would now be impermissible was made
Answer: As set out in Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, Table 8, we estimate that around 26% - 29% of donations from companies made in the year prior to the 2024 General Election would not meet the permissibility criteria. All businesses, inclu...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPolitical Parties: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, February 2026, para 386, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of corporate donation refo
Answer: As set out in Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, Table 8, we estimate that around 26% - 29% of donations from companies made in the year prior to the 2024 General Election would not meet the permissibility criteria. All businesses, inclu...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPolitical Parties: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a scheme to assist political parties with the implementation costs of the Representation of the People Bill.
Answer: The Government has no plans to introduce a scheme to support political parties with the implementation costs of the Representation of the People Bill.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVoting RightsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill, what his Department’s definition is of a British citizen usually resident in the United Kingdom; and what (a) immigration
Answer: The British Nationality Act 1981 sets out who is a British citizen and how British citizenship may be obtained. Section 5 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 lays down general principles of residence for electoral purposes, which a registration o...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral Register: Young PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill, at what point political parties and elected representatives will have access to the date of birth of an attainer elector.
Answer: Under the provisions set out in the Representation of the People Bill as they stand, no political parties or elected representatives will have access to the date of birth of attainers (those aged 14 and 15) under any circumstances.The Government takes the...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElections: IntimidationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118885More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill, whether an election offence of intimidating council staff can apply after the close of poll, including to election counts
Answer: Provisions in the Representation of the People Bill will empower courts to give tougher sentences to those who abuse candidates, campaigners, elected representatives and electoral staff by introducing a new statutory aggravating factor. The Bill will also...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPolitical Parties: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118884More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, February 2026, Table 8, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that bill on levels of p
Answer: As set out in Representation of the People Bill Impact Assessment, Table 8, we estimate that around 26% - 29% of donations from companies made in the year prior to the 2024 General Election would not meet the permissibility criteria. All businesses, inclu...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral RegisterMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118883More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled Improving voter registration, published on 2 March 2026, if he will make it his policy to place markers on the electoral roll where (a
Answer: The Government has no plan to make it its policy to place markers on the electoral register to differentiate between UK nationals and foreign citizens.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDeveloping Countries: ElectionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her department is taking to support democratic elections overseas, including in relation to challenging practices by foreign governments of (a) cancelling and (b)
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 December 2024 to Question 19695.
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117901More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether digital ID will be provided to 16 and 17 year olds.
Answer: The Government has now launched a public consultation on the digital ID where we want to hear as wide a range of views as possible. The scope of the digital ID system is still in development and we are inviting the public to have their say in the consulta...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working GroupMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for a Government response to the working group on Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim hatred.
Answer: On 9 March 2026, government adopted a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hostility. The definition was published on gov.uk.
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117899More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers have had discussions with representatives of (1) political parties and (2) political groups of the LGA on the provision of guidance
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 118044 on 10 March 2026.
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCountering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics Independent ReviewMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the full report by Philip Rycroft into foreign financial interference in UK politics will be laid before the House when it is completed.
Answer: In December, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. The review findings will be delivered to the Secretary of State ...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral Register: Young PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether automatic electoral registration, following the proposed reduction in the voting age, will be used to add attainer voters under 16 to the electoral roll.
Answer: Should some form of automated registration be introduced using the powers set out in the Representation of the People Bill, this does not apply to attainers (those aged 14 or 15). The duty on Electoral Registration Officers would only apply where they bec...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElections: Proof of IdentityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117896More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether prepaid bank cards offered by financial institutions registered outside th
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 116475 on 9 March 2026.
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral RegisterMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117895More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to answer of 11 September 2025, to Question 74719, on Electoral Register, whether user research has now been commissioned or tendered.
Answer: The government is actively exploring a range of approaches to improve the completeness and accuracy of the register. User research is undertaken throughout the policy and digital service development process.
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPolling Stations: Religious BuildingsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117894More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to local authorities by his department on whether (a) churches, (b) synagogues and (c) mosques may be used as polling stations.
Answer: The independent Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers, including on the booking of appropriate polling places. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of ...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117893More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered moving mayoral combined authority elections that were delayed from May 2026 to May 2028, to May 2027; and what representations he has received on this m
Answer: The government intends to hold inaugural mayoral elections for the four Devolution Priority Programme places that are also undertaking local government reorganisation in May 2028, so that areas can complete the reorganisation process before Mayors take of...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAbsent VotingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices of trends in the number of registered postal votes in the last six months.
Answer: Information relating to postal vote applications is held by independent Electoral Registration Officers rather than the UK Government and so it is not possible to provide more information about the number of postal vote applications that were not renewed ...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectoral Register: EU NationalsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to prevent automatic electoral registration from adding European Union citizens to (a) the UK Parliamentary electoral roll and (b) the local electoral rol
Answer: The government is committed to upholding the integrity of electoral registers. We are exploring a wide range of more automated approaches to enable improvements in both the completeness and accuracy of electoral registers, including making greater use of ...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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