David Simmonds MP: written questions
363 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Asylum: HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what obligations local authorities have to house (a) asylum seekers and (b) refugees not covered by Government funded accommodation.
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 10286 on 29 October 2024.Individuals granted refugee status are eligible for assistance from their local authority in finding accommodation, if homeless, as well as temporary accommodation if they...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRight to Buy SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 5.149 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295 published on 30 October 2024, what the new Right to Buy discount rates are; and if she will make a comparative
Answer: As announced in the Autumn Budget and in accordance with our manifesto commitment, the Government reviewed the increased Right to Buy discounts introduced in 2012 and determined to reduce the maximum cash discounts to between £16,000 and £38,000. The leve...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: Greater Manchester and West MidlandsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.98 of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, which new funding streams will be placed into the single pots for (a) Greater Manche
Answer: Delivering integrated settlements in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands will provide meaningful control over funding and improve the fragmented funding landscape for Mayoral Combined Authorities with a flexible single pot.The funds in scope, formula...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.98 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, what her policy is on whether local authorities will (a) be selected by her Depa
Answer: The Government has now been clear on its long term vision for simpler local government structures so councils are the right size and shape to deliver citizen-focused services for their communities. We have heard from councils that unitarisation can be a p...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.81of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, what the assumptions are on the increase in the percentage Band D level of the (a) social care, (b) police, (c) fir
Answer: Local government core spending power (CSP) is £64,786m in 2024-25, and is forecast to be £68,459m in 2025-26.These figures for CSP are estimates and subject to data changes. Final figures will be published as part of the 2025-26 Local Government Finance S...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCandidates: ExpenditureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues on use of single notional invoices for Representation of the People Act 1983 candidate returns where multiple elections are contested concurre
Answer: The Government does not issue guidance on political finance matters. The Electoral Commission, as the independent body responsible for regulating political finance, has a statutory duty to provide guidance for political parties, candidates and other campa...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7591 on Brain: Tumours, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Government funding into brain tumour research.
Answer: Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department spends £1.5 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Cancer is the largest area of spend, at over £121....
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9025More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing brain tumour patients access to clinical trials.
Answer: The Department is committed to ensuring that innovative, lifesaving treatments are accessible to National Health Service patients, including those with brain tumours, and to implementing the recommendations of Lord O'Shaughnessy’s review into commercial c...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9023More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) adult and (b) paediatric brain tumour patients with a terminal diagnosis to find and participate in clinical trials.
Answer: The Department is committed to ensuring that innovative, lifesaving treatments are accessible to National Health Service patients, including those with brain tumours, and to implementing the recommendations of Lord O'Shaughnessy’s review into commercial c...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9022More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with representatives of the pharmaceutical industry on access to clinical trials for brain tumour patients.
Answer: The Department is committed to working with the pharmaceutical industry to implement the recommendations of Lord O'Shaughnessy’s review into commercial clinical trials, maximising our potential to be a world leader in clinical trials.The current programme...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has allocated to (a) public bodies and (b) agencies to run campaigns aimed at encouraging brain tumour patients to participate in clinical trials.
Answer: The Department awards funding to encourage participation of brain tumour patients in clinical trials through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Department’s research delivery arm. Funding is awarded through open competition, an...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCommonhold and Leasehold: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has plans for legislation changes on (a) enfranchisement rights, (b) ground rents, (c) default tenure and (d) cladding remediation liability for (i) leaseh
Answer: The Government intend to act quickly to provide homeowners with greater rights, powers, and protections over their homes by implementing the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. We will set out details in due course about the extensiv...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRight to Buy SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September 2024 to Question 2675 on Council Housing: Finance, whether his Department’s wider review of Right to Buy will set out potential changes in
Answer: The government has made clear that it intends to bring forward a consultation in the Autumn seeking views on how the Right to Buy should be reformed. Among other things, the consultation will ask for views on eligibility criteria and protections for new h...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s guidance entitled New Homes Accelerator programme, published on 29 August 2024, whether her Department has a planned timetable on when 300,000
Answer: The New Homes Accelerator was first announced by the Chancellor on 8 July 2024 and is a key component of the government’s commitment to deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament. We are already working on sites in Liverpool Central Docks...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: HampshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7876More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4069 on Local Government: Hampshire, whether she plans to introduce multi-year Local Government Finance Settlements.
Answer: This Government is committed to resetting the relationship between local and central government and working in partnership in the interests of working people. A key part of this is our commitment to moving towards multi-year Local Government Finance Settl...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordOutdoor AdvertisingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7875More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Outdoor advertisements and signs: a guide for advertisers, published on 18 June 2007, what guidance her Department issues on
Answer: The department has not issued any further guidance on advertisements displayed inside a courtyard but visible from a public highway beyond that contained in the Outdoor advertisements and signs: a guide for advertisers. General guidance on the advertiseme...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRight to Buy SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on the maximum Right to Buy discount (a) in London and (b) outside London in each year since 1997.
Answer: Financial information on Right to Buy sales in England was not collected prior to 1998-99. Average discounts from 1998-99 onwards at England level are available in Live Table 682 at the following link.Figures for numbers of sales and total discounts given...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRight to Buy SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on the average Right to Buy discount (a) in London and (b) outside London in each year since 1997.
Answer: Financial information on Right to Buy sales in England was not collected prior to 1998-99. Average discounts from 1998-99 onwards at England level are available in Live Table 682 at the following link.Figures for numbers of sales and total discounts given...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5232 on Local Government: Elections, if she will publish the (a) council and (b) mayoral elections that are (i) scheduled
Answer: The department publishes our understanding of the years in which each council’s elections will be held. That list can be found here.In accordance with legislation, councils are required to post notice of any election or by-election taking place which they...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordParking: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with local authorities on powers to enforce parking restrictions for disabled bays.
Answer: It is for each local authority to decide on the parking restrictions they wish to set in their areas and to decide if any parking restriction, over and above the concessions conferred by the Blue Badge scheme, should also be exempted for Blue Badge holder...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTower Hamlets CouncilMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the status is of the best value intervention in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets; and what discussions she has had with local hon. Members on that intervention since 4 Ju
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 3610 on 9 September 2024. The Secretary of State has received the independent Best Value inspection team’s report, this is being considered carefully and any next steps will be set out in due course. Th...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEmpty Dwelling Management OrdersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues on the use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders by local authorities.
Answer: Local authorities can apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order when a property has been empty for more than two years. This is subject to the production of evidence that the property has been causing a nuisance to the community and evidence of communi...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: RentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on allowing (a) social housing providers to increase social rents above inflation and (b) backdated rent increases to offset below-inflation rents set under th
Answer: We will set out plans at the next fiscal event to give councils and housing associations the rent stability they need to be able to borrow and invest in both new and existing homes, while also ensuring that there are appropriate protections for both exist...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Asylum and Undocumented MigrantsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on (a) irregular migrants and (b) asylum seekers applying for social housing.
Answer: If a person's immigration status does not allow them recourse to public funds then they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. This includes irregular migrants and asylum seekers.
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 3252 on Housing: Construction, whether the 1.5 million new homes target is a net or gross figure, in the context of (a) dem
Answer: The Government’s target of delivering 1.5 million new homes in this parliament applies to England only as housing is a devolved matter. We will update Parliament on our progress in the usual manner.
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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