Paul Holmes MP: written questions 2025
80 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients: Hospital BedsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96286More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of people being held in Accident and Emergency departments due to unavailability of local NHS mental health beds on patients.
Answer: While no such specific assessment has been made, we know that in some local areas there is a need for more beds. This is being addressed in part through investment in new units, although this should be considered as part of a whole system transformation a...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96282More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme plan to build 300,000 homes over ten years, of which 180,000 will be for social rent, do these targets exclude (a) com
Answer: Accurately forecasting long-term delivery is inherently challenging, but we believe the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) could deliver around 300,000 social and affordable homes over its lifetime with around 180,000 for Social Rent.We will set...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSpinal Muscular Atrophy: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93263More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the UK National Screening Committee plans to fast track the implementation of an in-service evaluation for newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy.
Answer: Progress is being made in planning and developing work to shape an in-service evaluation (ISE) of newborn blood spot screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).This follows a recommendation made in 2023 by the UK National Screening Committee which advise...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90995More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to implement a financial redress scheme for people harmed by Sodium Valproate as recommended by the Patients Safety Commissioner.
Answer: The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departme...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Crowborough Training CampHome OfficeTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish any detailed assessments carried out (a) by and (b) on behalf of her Department on the use of Crowborough Training Camp to house asylum seekers; and whether Wealden District Counci
Answer: It remains our intention to use Crowborough Training Camp to accommodate asylum seekers, subject to the outcome of feasibility assessments. The Home Office has been engaging with statutory partners, including Health, Police and Fire Rescue on this proposa...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTree Preservation OrdersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to reintroduce Article 5 certificates, in the context of trends in the number of cases where Tree Protection Orders are removed at the request of insurance
Answer: The Tree Preservation Order system is the primary method of protecting trees and woodlands in England. Anyone applying to a local authority to cut down, top, lop or uproot trees subject to an Order because of tree-related subsidence damage is required to ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the advice provided by her Department to Somani Hotels on the need to seek a temporary application for a change of use of the Bell Hotel, Epping.
Answer: The Department has not provided such advice to Somani Hotels.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 65276 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, if she will publish the representation made by the National Police Chief’s Council on the High Court judgment and
Answer: The Home Office has engaged with the National Police Chiefs’ Council following the High Court judgment to understand the implications of the judgment for operational policing.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will set out (a) how and (b) when local authorities are consulted on the housing of asylum seekers in HMOs by the Home Office and its contractors.
Answer: The government is committed to reducing reliance on hotels by expanding the overall supply of dispersal and temporary accommodation, including through the private sector. Local authorities are consulted on all dispersed accommodation before it is procure...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: Planning PermissionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question HL7834 on New Towns: Planning Permission, if she will set out in which designated parts of the Swanscombe Peninsula were jumping spide
Answer: The distinguished jumping spider (Attulus distinguendus) is found on the northern section of Swanscombe Peninsula, Kent, which is one of only two locations in the UK where it can be found, the other being Thurrock Marshes. Its prevalence is extremely low,...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRegional Planning and DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78670More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what changes have been made to (a) funding for individual projects and (b) the total quantum of funding for cultural projects allocated levelling up funding prior to July 2024; a
Answer: The Levelling Up Fund committed £4.8 billion to mixed use projects under the themes of regeneration, transport and culture. In September this government announced the consolidation of the Levelling Up, Towns and Pathfinder funds into a single, consolidate...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBuilding Safety RegulatorMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78669More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) headcount and (b) FTE staff are employed by the Building Safety Regulator; if he will list the addresses of its offices; and how many assigned desks for staff it has
Answer: As of 2nd October 2025, the Building Safety Regulator’s headcount was 404 and FTE was 394.2.A list of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offices and their addresses are publicly available on the HSE website - HSE Offices.HSE operates a hybrid working m...
Answered 15 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste ManagementMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the new socio-economic duty will apply to local authorities’ waste policies on household rubbish and recycling collections.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to UIN 5411 answered on 7 October 2024.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: DebtsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78667More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 69053 on Special Educational Needs: Finance, what recent estimate he has made of the aggregate, accumulated deficits that hav
Answer: The Department for Education publishes outturn data on local authority-level Dedicated Schools Grant balances in the annual ‘LA and school expenditure' statistical release. The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government publishes outturn data on...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77636More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 69050 on Local Government Finance, whether his Department is informed of the type of asset being disposed of.
Answer: The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts direction was introduced in 2016 by the previous government and remains substantively unchanged. It permits eligible councils to use the proceeds of asset sales to fund transformation and activities that produce ongoin...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice and Crime Commissioners: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69680 on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, whether the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners suppo
Answer: The government has engaged with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), on the proposals set out in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The government firmly believes the Supplementary Vote system works better for elec...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Muslim TrustMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 69456 on British Muslim Trust, if he will publish the application submitted on 18 May 2025.
Answer: The prospectus for the Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund did not indicate that applications would be made public and were not submitted on that basis; publishing these would prejudice the commercial interests of applicants.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncillors and Mayors: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance on incumbent (a) district, (b) unitary and (c) county councillors standing for election for (i) combined authority and (ii) county comb
Answer: It is not for the Department to issue guidance for candidates standing in combined authority or combined county authority mayoral elections. Guidance for all candidates standing in these elections is published by the Electoral Commission: Guidance for Can...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Relations: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 69054 on Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme: Finance, for what reason the programme has been discontinued.
Answer: The Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme was a 2024/25 funding stream, ending as scheduled in March 2025, after providing £3.6m of funding to build stronger, more integrated communities and reduce harmful division in 44 places. The UK Government co...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what research has been (a) commissioned or (b) undertaken since July 2024 on the cost of unitary local government restructuring.
Answer: We know unitarisation can unlock significant savings and efficiencies when councils are of appropriate size and structure to be sustainable, deliver efficiencies and provide high-quality public services. Exact costs and savings will vary depending on the ...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLand: ValuationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what research his Department has commissioned on (a) land value capture and (b) land valuation taxation since 4 July 2024.
Answer: In summer 2024, my Department commissioned the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to provide a viability study to support proposals for new ‘Golden Rules’ for Green Belt development. These proposals were set out in the consultation on proposed reforms to the N...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordElectoral RegisterMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on whether individuals can have three entries on the electoral roll.
Answer: In the UK, citizens are entitled to be registered at more than one address in certain circumstances. It is the responsibility of the local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to consider each application (to register to vote) on its own merits and to be ...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRegional Planning and Development: South WestMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77628More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the departmental funding provided to Great South West pan-regional partnership has conditions on funding being used for lobbying activity.
Answer: Following consultation, in March 2025 the government announced its intention to end funding for Pan-Regional Partnerships, with an exceptional, time-limited award of £281,250 for the Great South West Pan-Regional Partnership for the 2025/26 financial year...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEden Project: MorecambeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77627More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2025 to Question 33500 on Eden Project: Morecambe, how much government funding has been spent on supporting the project to date; and on what
Answer: The MHCLG Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals, and Simplification Pathfinder Pilot have been consolidated into the Local Regeneration Fund. This new fund will give local authorities more local control, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and maximising ...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDeputy Prime MinisterMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the new Deputy Prime Minister will have an office in 70 Whitehall office; how many staff he will have; and whether he plans to create an Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Answer: The Deputy Prime Minister has an office in Dover House. He is supported by an Office of Deputy Prime Minister which coordinates work across Departments and supports the delivery of the Deputy Prime Minister’s priorities.
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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