David Simmonds MP: written questions
363 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Local Government: DevolutionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding devolution powers to district council areas.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that every part of England can rapidly benefit from devolution, moving power out of Westminster back to those who know their areas best. The English Devolution Bill will establish an ambitious standardised framework...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3825More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) section 106 agreements and (b) the community infrastructure levy.
Answer: The Government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: FlagsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3824More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to amend her Department's guidance entitled Flying flags: a plain English guide, published on 20 July 2021.
Answer: The Government has no current plans to amend the guidance in question.
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3823More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of bricks required to meet his target to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament that will be (a) manufactured in the UK and (b) imported.
Answer: In 2023, 1,626 million bricks (81%) were produced in the UK and 329 million bricks (19%) were imported, according to data from DBT’s Building Materials and Components publication and HMRC’s UK Trade Info service respectively.ONS House building data indica...
Answered 13 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3822More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2024 to Question 409 on Business Rates, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of business rates on the prices charged by online retailers.
Answer: As set out in the manifesto, the government is committed to a fairer business rates system and to levelling the playing field between online giants and high streets. Currently, the retail sector accounts for approximately 21% of total value of the busines...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordNational Policy StatementsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3821More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 July 2024 to Question 1314 on National Policy Statements, what the (a) current status, (b) planned timetable for consultation and revision and (c) ex
Answer: Of the thirteen National Policy Statements originally designated between 2011 and 2023, six, namely Energy National Policy Statements 1 to 5 and the National Networks National Policy Statement, were revised and updated in January and May 2024 respectively...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordGarages and Petrol Stations and Parking: Land UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3266More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on the planning classification of a disused (a) petrol station and (b) car park as (i) brownfield and (ii) greenfield land.
Answer: The definition of previously developed land is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The definition sets out some specific exceptions, including residential gardens in built up areas. The Government’s proposed reforms to the NPPF inclu...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordAffordable HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3265More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it is her policy to maintain the 10-unit threshold for affordable housing.
Answer: The Government are not proposing to change Paragraph 65 of the National Planning Policy Framework which makes clear that provision of affordable housing should not be sought for residential developments that are not major developments, other than in desig...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanning Authorities: StaffMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the recruitment of 300 new planning officers will begin.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 1007 on 25 July 2024.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3263More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of her proposed regulatory changes on the private rented sector in relation to (a) the level of rents for new tenancies
Answer: An impact assessment for the regulatory changes proposed in the forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill will be published in the usual way.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordRegional Planning and DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3262More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she will publish the consultation on the scope and content of National Development Management Policies.
Answer: A consultation on National Development Management Policies is under development and it will be launched in due course.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: DevolutionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3261More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she will publish the new devolution framework for England.
Answer: The Secretary of State wrote to local leaders on 16 July 2024 to confirm that the government will publish a new devolution framework. The King’s Speech confirmed on 17 July that the English Devolution Bill will put the new framework into legislation. MHCL...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Remote WorkingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether civil servants in her Department are required to be in the office for at least 60% of their work time.
Answer: The department expects staff to work toward attending the office or other premises for official business for 60% of their working time. Some of our offices cannot currently accommodate this level of attendance and lower expectations are therefore in place...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: InfrastructureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of planning officers needed to manage Development Consent Orders for energy infrastructure under the 2030 decarbonisation targ
Answer: Examining Development Consent Orders for energy projects is one of a range of workstreams which the Planning Inspectorate will need to undertake. As part of the Spending Review, the Planning Inspectorate is considering the overall funding and resources it...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordParish and Town CouncilsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating more (a) town and (b) parish councils.
Answer: The Government is committed to promoting local democracy and community empowerment. Parish and town councils are the first tier of local government, often playing a vital role in community engagement and delivering local services. The power to create pari...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Shared Prosperity FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to hold further rounds of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answer: Decisions on funding post March 2025 are a matter for the Budget on October 30th.We recognise the challenges this brings for some projects. We are working closely with local authorities and key stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to future funding,...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCommunity AssetsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the King's Speech on 17 July 2024, who would be responsible for determining the sale price of a property under Community Right to Buy.
Answer: The government recognises the vital importance of high streets and community spaces and is committed to supporting them to thrive across the country. As part of this, we are developing proposals to introduce a Community Right to Buy which will empower loc...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2024 to Question 1758 on Social Rented Housing, whether she made an assessment of the potential merits of restricting social housing allocation
Answer: The Government published a response to the consultation on reforms to social housing allocations on 2 September. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reforms-to-social-housing-allocations/outcome/government-respo...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: FlagsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what flags she plans to fly outside her Department other than the Union flag in the next 12 months; and on which days each flag will be flown.
Answer: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is a minor tenant in the buildings it occupies. At only one, the Department's second HQ at Wolverhampton, does it control of what flags are flown. In the next 12 months at the Wolverhampton HQ, the...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: Fees and ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3253More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, what (
Answer: The consultation in question includes proposals to increase householder fees and other planning fees. We will consider the responses received and use them to inform continued policy development.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3252More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what metrics she plans to use to monitor the building of 1.5 million homes in this Parliament; and whether she will monitor housing (a) starts and (b) completions.
Answer: The Government is committed to building 1.5 million homes over the duration of the parliament. We will update Parliament on our progress in the usual manner. The Ministry publishes a quarterly release entitled ‘Housing supply: Indicators of New Supply, En...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3251More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2024 to Question 409 on Business Rates, whether she plans to take steps to review business rate (a) poundage, (b) reliefs, (c) multipliers and (d) valuations.
Answer: The government is committed to a business rates system which raises the same revenue but in a fairer way. The government has pledged to level the playing field between the high street and online giants, incentivise investment, tackle empty properties and ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Environment ProtectionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 26 July 2024, to Question 1315, on Environmental protection, what her planned timetable is for replacing legacy legislation on environmental assessment
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 1315 on 26 July 2024.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the protection of residential gardens from development.
Answer: The Government expects local planning authorities to consider the case for setting out policies to resist inappropriate development of residential gardens, for example where development would cause harm to the local area.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planning policy is on (a) authorised and (b) unauthorised traveller sites in the Green Belt.
Answer: The Government is currently consulting on a number of reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework. These include proposals to release low-quality grey belt land within the Green Belt to meet housing and other development needs. We are seeking views ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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