Paul Holmes MP: written questions
96 published records · newest first.
Written questions
State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with her Australian counterpart on negotiating a new reciprocal social security agreement for the uprating of UK State Pensions for UK pensioners residing in Australia.
Answer: The Department has not engaged with their Australian counterparts on negotiating a new reciprocal social security agreement.
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUncrewed Systems: Contracts for ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which contracts for drones have been awarded by (a) competitive tender and (b) single source.
Answer: In total since January 2024, The Department can identify 48 ‘drone’ related contracts valuing £3.6 billion that have been active within the Ministry of Defence. Nine of these are marked as having a primary supplier address outside the UK.24 of these contr...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUncrewed Systems: ContractsMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which (a) UK and (b) non-UK companies have been awarded contracts for drones; and what the value is of each contract.
Answer: In total since January 2024, The Department can identify 48 ‘drone’ related contracts valuing £3.6 billion that have been active within the Ministry of Defence. Nine of these are marked as having a primary supplier address outside the UK.24 of these contr...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRampion Extension DevelopmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61026More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using UK-based manufacturing companies to deliver the Rampion 2 wind turbine scheme.
Answer: The government is not neutral about where things are made. We want to see jobs created and supply chains developed here in the UK. As part of the growth and clean energy superpower missions, the Government is committed to growing the UK’s supply chains an...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 17 on European security, what recent discussions he has had with drone component suppliers to ensure that the UK military is up to date when it comes to drone tec
Answer: Defence routinely engages with drone component suppliers to iterate and spiral develop capability in close cooperation with allies. One of the key mechanisms to ensure that Defence is up to date with the latest developments in drone technology and associa...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: InfrastructureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of further delay of the implementation of reforms to the Electronic Communications Code under the Product Security and Telecommunicat
Answer: The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.Most provisions have been impl...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: InfrastructureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, by what date he expects full implementation of reforms to the Electronic Communications Code brought about through the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022.
Answer: The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.Most provisions have been impl...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPermitted Development Rights: TelecommunicationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will increase permitted development rights for telecommunications applications.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. We continue to keep permitted development rights under review.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Mobile BroadbandMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will provide guidance to local authorities on ensuring mobile network operators are informed for large-scale developments.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. Chapter 10 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out the...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will update the NPPF to include guidance on the importance of telecommunications infrastructure in any major planning decisions.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. Chapter 10 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out the...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report by the Office for Budget Responsibility entitled Economic and fiscal outlook, published in March 2025, CP 1289, whether the forecast of 1.3 million h
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 41927 on 1 April 2025.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the target of 1.5m homes this Parliament applies to England only.
Answer: The government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament applies to England only. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) recently forecast approximately 1.3 million cumulative net additions ...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBishop of WinchesterChurch CommissionersTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44157More
Question: To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations the Church Commissioners have received on the occupancy of the Bishop's Palace in Winchester.
Answer: No representations have been received by the Church Commissioners regarding the occupancy of Wolvesey, the Bishop’s Palace at Winchester. Work is being carried out to the building, as part of its regular maintenance review. Temporary accommodation for th...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: BricksMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that critical cavity nesting bird habitat is mandated in new developments in line with nature recovery targets.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22080 on 15 January 2025.
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record5G: AerialsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35374More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of legal cases that have commenced related to the installation of 5G masts; and whether provisions within the Product Security
Answer: Legal cases relating to telecommunications installations can commence in either the County Court or the Lands Tribunal. The Department does not have comprehensive data, but is aware of an increase in applications to the courts relating to telecommunicatio...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: AuditMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Local Audit Office will have the authority to (a) undertake inspections of individual local authorities, (b) commission external research and (c) exercise best value
Answer: As outlined in the Local Audit Strategy, the government has committed to establish the Local Audit Office (LAO) to streamline and simplify the system. The LAO will have responsibility for co-ordinating the local audit system, contract managing and appoint...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 64 of the Devolution White Paper (CP 1218), published on 16 December 2024, whether Spatial Development Strategies will (a) include targets and (b) propose
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, sets out that Spatial Development Strategies will guide development for the local planning authorities in any given area, and that local plans will need to be in general co...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordByelaws and Fixed PenaltiesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 99 of the Devolution White Paper (CP 1218), published on 16 December 2024, whether her Department plans to issue statutory guidance on the appropriate use
Answer: The government will work with councils to determine how byelaws should be made and enforced, and what guidance is required, as set out in the English Devolution White Paper.
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the draft Local Government Finance Settlement published on 18 December 2024, HCWS342, what her Department's estimated increase in council tax receipts is in 202
Answer: The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available £69 billion for local government, which is a 3.5% real terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. An estimated 55% of the increase to CSP is a result of incre...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: IncreasesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has received representations from local authorities on increasing the council tax referendum threshold for councils with Section 114 notices; and what her policy is o
Answer: The Government is currently analysing results of the consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement for 2025-26 including the council tax referendum principles that will be set. The ability for councils in exceptional financial circum...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which councils which received Rural Services Delivery Grant in 2024-25 will not receive Recovery Grant in 2025-26.
Answer: The government recognises that there is a long road to recovery ahead.The Recovery Grant is intended to be a short-term, interim measure to lay the groundwork for more fundamental reform from 2026-27 which is part of our longer-term plan to fix the founda...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, whether Biodiversity Net G
Answer: The proposals set out in the Development and Nature Recovery Planning Reform Working Paper would not be expected to have a direct impact on the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). They would, however, complement the implementation of BNG in sec...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4.2.3 of the Devolution White Paper (CP 1218), published on 16 December 2024, at what administrative level social care will be administered in areas w
Answer: Where there is a single tier of local government unitary councils are responsible for delivery of adult social care.
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public AppointmentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18954 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Appointments, for what reason her Department was wit
Answer: Following the decision to appoint new non-executive board members to the Departmental Board, Mo Baines was appointed as Interim Lead Non-Executive Director in October 2024. An open competition for Non-Executive Directors is also underway to bring the Boar...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordUnitary CouncilsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 20129 on Unitary councils, whether her Department has evidential basis for unitary restructuring what has not been funded by
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper sets out the case for local government reorganisation, which is that there are significant opportunities available to areas from the creation of suitably sized unitary councils. For North Yorkshire Council, established i...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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