David Simmonds MP: written questions
457 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Asylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71466More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's asylum support statistics, how much (a) initial accommodation, (b) dispersal accommodation and (c) contingency accommodation across the country is provided by (i) Se
Answer: The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while seeking to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.Data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in ...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71465More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the NISTA Annual Report 2024–25 dashboard, for what reason no evaluation has been completed for the project Asylum Support Accommodation Programme in the Home Office.
Answer: The Asylum Support Accommodation Programme (ASAP) is still in the early implementation phase. As such, a formal evaluation has not yet been undertaken. However, evaluation planning is underway, and the programme is being designed with a robust evaluation ...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71464More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was a allocated each individual local authority from (a) Grant 7 and (b) Grant 6 programmes for asylum in 2024-25.
Answer: The Home Office does not publicly publish grant payment levels by local authority.The total amount allocated to Local Authorities in 2024/25 for Asylum Dispersal Grants 6 and 7 was £121,840,400.Current accommodation funding arrangements are published on A...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordEnglish Language: EducationHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71463More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding was allocated for English for Speakers of Other Languages provision by her Department in 2024-25; what the budget is for 2025-26; and what proportion in each case was allocated as gra
Answer: Please refer to the 4th of July response from the former Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby MP, for more detail on how ESOL is funded [UIN 63247].
Answered 26 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLicensing LawsHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71462More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release entitled Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars, published on 26 July 2025, whether the Government intends to consult on the new National L
Answer: This government has committed to launching a call for evidence to seek views on a range of pro-business reforms proposed by the recent Licensing Taskforce, including the development of a National Licensing Policy Framework.This will provide an opportunity...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 59362 on Asylum: Housing, whether local authorities have a right of objection to the housing of asylum seekers in (a) hostels, (b) hotels, (c) HMOs a
Answer: An important part of our procurement process allows for local authorities across the UK to feed in local intelligence before our providers commit to accommodation. They have the opportunity to respond to consultation requests from our providers regarding ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCounter-terrorism: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on (a) transparency and local scrutiny on how Prevent funding is spent and (b) which organisations receive it.
Answer: In 2023, the Home Office updated its assurance process to help ensure that local authorities are delivering their statutory Prevent duty in line with the Prevent duty guidance. This includes assurance of local authorities that receive Prevent funding due ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCounter-terrorism: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which individual local authorities have received funding from her Department under the Prevent scheme in 2024-25; and what the (a) mechanism and (b) timing is by which the funding will be distributed
Answer: The Following local authorities received funding under the Prevent Programme in 2024-25: Priority Areas FY24/25 (Alphabetical order)1Birmingham2Blackburn with Darwen3Bradford4Brent5Bristol6Calderdale7Cardiff8Croydon9Derby10Ealing11Enfield12Hackney13Haring...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCounter-terrorism: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has provided to local authorities to distribute as grants under the Prevent scheme in 2024-25; and what the budget is for 2025-26.
Answer: The Home Office provides Prevent funding to those local authorities (LAs) assessed to have the highest threat and risk from terrorism. This funding can be used by LAs in support of dedicated Prevent posts, with Prevent coordinators employed by the local a...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question HL8772 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, through what mechanism her Department had access to the unredacted drawings.
Answer: It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on issues of national security, but as set out in the written representations by the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary to the Planning Inspectorate, we have carefully considered the breadth of nation...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: FamiliesHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71456More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to narrow the definition of family member in relation to immigration and asylum policy.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made to the House by the Home Secretary on 1 September 2025.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: SecurityHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71455More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the National Protective Security Authority has provided advice on the proposed new Chinese Embassy.
Answer: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and he will make this quasi-judicial decision independent from the rest of Government.We have been clear that national secu...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordIslamophobiaHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71454More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 65009 on Islamophobia, whether her Department has (a) submitted evidence to and (b) had meetings with the Working Group.
Answer: The work he refers to is being overseen by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.As agreed with the Home Secretary, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of non-crime hate inciden...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Health ServicesHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2025 to Question 35311 on Asylum: Health Services, whether any local authorities have commissioned independent health sector providers to provide health care to asyl
Answer: The Home Office does not hold this information.
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum, Migration and Integration FundHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71452More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 234 of the Home Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published in July 2025, HC1133, how much the UK (a) contributes to and (b) receives from the EU Asylum, Migration and
Answer: The United Kingdom no longer participates in the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71451More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 75 of the Home Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published in July 2025, HC1133, how many (a) contracted asylum hotels, (b) people residing in asylum hotels, (c) people
Answer: Since coming into office this Government is delivering on its pledge to close asylum hotels; drastically reducing taxpayer costs and giving control back to local communities. This Government is committed to ending the use of hotels to house asylum seekers...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNuisanceHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answers of 4 July 2025 to Questions 62600 and 62603 on Nuisance, what her policy is on (a) whether nuisance begging is an offence and (b) giving powers to (i) police and (ii) local aut
Answer: On 10th June, the Government announced its intention to repeal the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824. The Government has been clear that no one should be criminalised simply for having nowhere to live. We have introduced targeted replacement measures in the Crim...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 75 of the Home Office's annual report and accounts 2024-25, published in July 2025, HC1133, what the total cost of asylum accommodation was in 2024-25.
Answer: Wider asylum accommodation costs other than hotels are not routinely published by the Home Office.
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordShoplifting: Crime PreventionHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has provided to high street retailers on whether they may (a) share details of suspected shoplifters with other retailers and (b) post photographs of suspected shoplifters.
Answer: It is the legal responsibility of retailers to decide on a case-by-case basis if it is necessary, proportionate and lawful to share personal details of alleged shoplifters.The Information Commissioner’s Office provides guidance on data sharing, including ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Information SharingHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 43109 on Asylum: Local Government, what data is shared with local government under cross-cohort, place-based data sharing.
Answer: The Home Office is sharing more cross-cohort, place-based data with our partners; providing SMPs and Local Authorities with a better view of the asylum, resettlement and National Transfer Scheme population in their area. We are improving the level of visi...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of (a) private and (b) social homes started in London between 1 January and 31 March 2025.
Answer: My Department publishes a quarterly release entitled ‘Housing supply: Indicators of New Supply, England’, which includes estimates of new build starts and completions, by tenure of developer, in London. Statistics to the quarter ending March 2025 can be f...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordE-petitionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on the electronic submission of governance petitions.
Answer: My Department has not issued guidance to local authorities on the electronic submission of governance petitions.
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69685More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local government restructuring will split up district councils when creating new unitaries.
Answer: Government has set an ambitious timetable for local government reorganisation, with three deadlines for submitting proposals for unitary local government set out in the invitation letters.Surrey: Proposals received on 9 May 202569677 a. Expect elections t...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Summary: Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Government Amendments to Part 3 (Lords Committee Stage), published on 17 July 2025
Answer: The amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill tabled on 17 July do not constitute a substantive change to the way the Nature Restoration Fund will operate and so a formal Impact Assessment is not necessary.
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance entitled Summary: Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Government Amendments to Part 3 (Lords Committee Stage), published on 17 July 2025, in what cir
Answer: Where a developer has been granted permission relying on the payment of the Nature Restoration Levy, Natural England will be responsible for securing the necessary conservation measures to outweigh the negative effects of the development.Natural England a...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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