David Simmonds MP: written questions
1010 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Local Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to prevent electoral wards and divisions being drawn up in a partisan manner as part of unitary local government restructuring; what criteria
Answer: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is...
Answered 16 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordNo 10 North: Civil ServantsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether civil servants in her Department who are assigned to London but permanently move to No10 North will lose their London weighting allowance; and whether they will be paid a
Answer: Civil Servants who are permanently recruited to new departments move to the relevant terms and conditions of their new department. Number 10 North formally operates as part of the Cabinet Office and therefore any relevant pay and allowances for permanent ...
Answered 18 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: SurchargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28841More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the High Value Council Tax Surcharge consultations, published 19 May 2026, whether any single person discount will apply to the council tax surcharge.
Answer: The Government has consulted on the design of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, including proposed exemptions and support arrangements and will publish its response in due course.
Answered 18 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28840More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2026, to Question 14978, on Community Development, and further to the guidance, Sustainable Communities Act and barrier busting: how to submit pr
Answer: Guidance for the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 invites local authorities to contact the department to receive a copy of the form used to submit a proposal under the Act. Local authorities can request a copy of this form by contacting SCA@communities.go...
Answered 16 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: EnfieldMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 28839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the opposition of the London Borough of Enfield to the proposed new town will mean the Government will impose the new town without the support of the council.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Business PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the MHCLG Accounting Officer System statement, 17 July 2026, para 4.7.1, on what date was the Single Departmental Plan last updated, and whether it will be revi
Answer: The recent iteration of MHCLG’s Single Departmental Plan was published internally in April 2026 and shared with HMT. The next departmental plan will be published internally by April 2027, with preparations already underway to align it with the new Prime M...
Answered 15 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordFast Food: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 28837More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation, August 2026, pa
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordFrackingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 28836More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation, August 2026, pa
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordMultiple Occupation: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 28835More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation, August 2026, pa
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 10 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28834More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the reduction in business rates for pubs announced in July 2026 is subject to a subsidy limitation regime for individual businesses.
Answer: The 20 per cent relief announced in July will be available for all pubs, social clubs and all but the very largest live music venues. The scope of the 20 per cent relief will broadly mirror the scope of the existing 15 per cent relief. [1] Eligible social...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28452More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026, to Question 22095, on Urban Areas: Planning Permission, whether the new positive contribution will apply to (a) all businesses, and all business rate reliefs, or (b) only
Answer: The Government will set out further details on funding for the additional 20 per cent business rates relief for pubs, social clubs and live music venues at the Budget. As part of that work, the Government is reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not ma...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: SurchargesTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28451More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2026, to Question 5344, on Council Tax: Surcharges, whether the powers of officers appointed by the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to undertake valuations for the
Answer: The High Value Council Tax Surcharge will be legislated for in Finance Bill 2026 and subject to Parliamentary approval in the normal way.
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ValuationTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28450More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Valuation Office Agency annual report and accounts 2025-26, July 2026, p.22, if he will list each of the individual datasets use for the data collection and sales verification.
Answer: The Model Specification Document is published on gov.uk here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e6a9a08ac59d1882eaddf5/Model_specification_document.pdfThis sets out datasets used for data collection and sales verification under the heading U...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28449More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the No10 press release entitled "Burnham means business: PM slashes business rates bills for pubs, clubs and live music venues", of 23 July 2026, and the pledge to fully fund the reduction in busin
Answer: The Government will set out further details on funding for the additional 20 per cent business rates relief for pubs, social clubs and live music venues at the Budget. As part of that work, the Government is reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not ma...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28448More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to HMRC Research Programme: Updated July 2026, published in August 2026, entry: Tax Reliefs, Ref: 2324TRE04, Evaluation of tax reliefs intended to support house building, which organisation is underta
Answer: This evaluation examines tax reliefs relevant to housebuilding. It aims to:Assess stakeholders’ awareness and understanding of the reliefs.Understand how and when the tax reliefs are considered during the development process.Explore the reliefs’ influence...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28447More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether residential asylum accommodation will be liable for the council tax surcharge.
Answer: The High Value Council Tax Surcharge is a new charge on owners of residential property in England worth £2m or more. The Government consulted on a proposed list of discounts and exemptions. and a response to the consultation will be published in due cours...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordVisitor Levy: VATTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28446More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether VAT is charged by HMRC on the overnight visitor levy set by councils in (a) Wales and (b) Scotland.
Answer: Under UK VAT law, VAT is charged on the full amount paid by a customer for the goods or services they are purchasing. Therefore, where an overnight visitor levy forms part of the consideration paid for accommodation, VAT is charged on the total amount pai...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordIndividual Savings AccountsTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28445More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the First Time Buyer ISA: Consultation, updated 29 June 2026, for what reason the pension saving option has been removed from the First Time Buyer ISA successor scheme which replaces the Lifetime I
Answer: The Government is committed to making the aspiration of home ownership a reality for as many people as possible and recognises that the Lifetime ISA (LISA) is not working for everyone. Its dual purpose of supporting both home ownership and retirement savi...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Works Loan BoardTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28444More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Public Works Loan Board is a non-discretionary lender; and what consideration has been given to the potential merits of it assessing the purpose of a municipal loan application.
Answer: The assessment of Public Works Loan Board loan applications is the responsibility of each local authority’s Section 151 (finance) Officer, who must be satisfied that they are acting in line with statute and affordability considerations. This framework pre...
Answered 30 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCost of Living: Council TaxCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28443More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for National Statistics has made an assessment of the impact of council tax levels on the cost of living.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 9th September is attached.
Answered 24 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing Market: PricesCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28442More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate has the ONS made of the real terms change in house prices in each of the last twenty years in the (a) UK, (b) each constituent nation of the UK and (c) each local authority area of the UK.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman Parliamentary Question of 9th September is attached.
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government and Arms Length Bodies: ProcurementCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28441More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note 026 published on 5 August 2026 (a) applies to and (b) is mandatory for (i) local government and (ii) non-Civil Service Arm’s Length Bodies.
Answer: Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) should be adopted and actioned by Central Government Departments, their Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies. Primary legislation would be required to set social value requirements for local government and ...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-Muslim HostilityAttorney General's OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 28440More
Question: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2026 to Question HL1337 on Anti-Muslim Hostility, in what manner have the (a) Law Officers and (b) Government Legal Department adopted the new definition, and what changes have or are being mad
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordAsylumHome OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to HMT, Treasury Minutes, CP1668, August 2026, para 7.2 (page 9), if she will list each of the significant challenges that have prevented the Government from updating official estimates
Answer: Producing official estimates of the number of failed asylum seekers is dependent on completion of work to re-establish the assured statistical datasets required after the transition of asylum caseworking to the new Atlas system.
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to HMT, Treasury Minutes, CP1668, August 2026, para 6.8 (page 8), if she will publish the comprehensive review of asylum accommodation contracts.
Answer: We have committed to provide further information to the Public Accounts Committee by December 2026. Consideration of what material can be published will be made in the usual way, taking account of commercial sensitivities and contractual obligations.
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament record
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