David Simmonds MP: written questions
363 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Councillors: ConductMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22386More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to amend the guidance entitled Illustrative text for local code of conduct, last updated on 20 September 2013, to include a free speech protection
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20985 on 9 January 2025, which states that government has launched a consultation on a range of proposals to strengthen the local government standards regime. This includes proposals for the possi...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Cost EffectivenessMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a breakdown of efficiency savings made by her Department in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
Answer: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has already outlined savings found as part of the Fixing the Foundations: Public Spending Audit 2024-25. This included an agreement to £154 million in savings in response to the HM Treasury (HM...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGrants: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22384More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the change in grant is in (a) cash and (b) real terms in areas with a significant rural population between 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Answer: The provisional 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. The final Settlement will increase further, to incorporate the £515 million of fundin...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: National Security and Politics and GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22383More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18514 on Social Media: National Security and Politics and Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on whether
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 on donations.
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22382More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20283 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if the (a) Chinese Embassy (b) the Chinese Government and (c) its representa
Answer: Prior to the application being called in, there was no such correspondence. Following call in, there has been correspondence between the Planning Inspectorate and interested parties ahead of the forthcoming public inquiry.
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPedestrian Areas: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22381More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations she has received from (a) Westminster City Council and (b) business representatives on proposals to (i) create a Mayoral Development Corporation for and (ii)
Answer: An open letter from the Leader of Westminster City Council was published on 18 September 2024, a copy of which can be found here.Responsibility for designating any area of land in Greater London as a Mayoral development area rests with the Mayor of London...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Services: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22380More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 December 2024 to Question 20641 on Local Government Services: Rural Area, what the (a) cash (b) real terms and (c) proportional change in core spendi
Answer: The provisional 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. The final Settlement will increase further, to incorporate the £515 million of fundin...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22379More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 16 December 2024 on the Devolution White Paper, HCWS316, what steps her Department is taking to end the use of (a) competit
Answer: The Government has committed to simplifying the wider local funding landscape, reviewing and reducing the number of grants (and ringfences), and consolidating grants into the Local Government Finance Settlement wherever possible. This will support local a...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDisposable Income: TaxationTreasuryTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22378More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, whether (a) council tax and (b) other local taxes will be included in the target of higher Real Household Disposable
Answer: Real Household Disposable Income (RHDI) is reported by the ONS as part of the UK Economic Accounts. RHDI represents the total income of households in a given period after direct taxes have been accounted for, with an adjustment for inflation. RHDI per per...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: Council TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make changes to the council tax social care precept prior to the conclusions of the Casey Commission on social care.
Answer: The government has no plans to change the adult social care precept. However, on 8 January, the government laid regulations which will change how billing authorities include information on the Adult Social Care precept on council tax bills from 2025/26. T...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHomes for Ukraine SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to payments for the Homes for Ukraine scheme on (a) homelessness and (b) temporary accommodation.
Answer: The latest data on the number of thank you payments made between April 2024 and June 2024 is published here:Annex A: Homes for Ukraine local authority funding allocations April 2024 to June 2024 (England) - GOV.UKAnnex A: Homes for Ukraine local authority...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHomes for Ukraine Scheme: Impact AssessmentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether an (a) Impact Assessment and (b) Equality Impact Assessment was produced for changes to the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Answer: The latest data on the number of thank you payments made between April 2024 and June 2024 is published here:Annex A: Homes for Ukraine local authority funding allocations April 2024 to June 2024 (England) - GOV.UKAnnex A: Homes for Ukraine local authority...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHomes for Ukraine SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22374More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many households are being supported in each local authority area by sponsors receiving thank you payments under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Answer: The latest data on the number of thank you payments made between April 2024 and June 2024 is published here:Annex A: Homes for Ukraine local authority funding allocations April 2024 to June 2024 (England) - GOV.UKAnnex A: Homes for Ukraine local authority...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: CorrespondenceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish any correspondence sent to councils on local government restructuring since 16 December 2024.
Answer: I wrote immediately after the publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December to leaders of all councils in areas where there is a two-tier structure of local government, and to leaders of neighbouring unitary councils. My letter set out ...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the policies set out in her Department’s policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees, publi
Answer: The government believe that planning committees have an integral role in providing local democratic oversight of planning decisions. It is however vital that in exercising that democratic oversight, planning committees operate as effectively as possible.T...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWarm Homes Plan: InsulationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20291More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 16276 on Warm Homes Plan: Insulation, whether the Warm Homes Plan will support investment in loft insulation protection.
Answer: The Government’s Warm Homes Plan will support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other home improvements to cut bills. We will set out full details in due course.
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19984More
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: Planning Committees, published on 9 December 2024, what say ward councillors would have on
Answer: The government’s planning reform working paper on planning committees invites views on three options for a national scheme of delegation. If we determine to take forward any of those options, each of which would require primary legislation through the Pla...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees, published on 9 December 2024, which individual would decide whether or not an applica
Answer: The government’s planning reform working paper on planning committees invites views on three options for a national scheme of delegation. If we determine to take forward any of those options, each of which would require primary legislation through the Pla...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19980More
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: Planning Committees, published on 9 December 2024, whether it is her policy that Councill
Answer: The government’s planning reform working paper on planning committees invites views on three options for a national scheme of delegation. If we determine to take forward any of those options, each of which would require primary legislation through the Pla...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 17009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 21 November 2024 on G20 and COP29 Summits, Official Report, columns 371-373 and pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 202
Answer: The decision to call in the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy was made by the Deputy Prime Minister, in line with current policy on call-in.
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRegional Planning and DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 23 of the King’s Speech Background Briefing Notes, published by the Prime Minister's Office on 17 July 2024, whether strategic planning will operate at the
Answer: Yes. The Government is proposing that all combined authorities will oversee the development and agreement of strategic plans for their areas. This will be formalised in legislation.
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 3005 on Housing: Greater London, what discussions he has had with the Greater London Authority on the reasons for housing d
Answer: The Government is committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, boroughs and the sector to significantly increase housing delivery in the capital. My department, both ministers and officials, meet regularly with the Greater London Authorit...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: MarketingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1329 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Marketing, what the final cost of the re-branding was; and wheth
Answer: Changing the name of the department did not attract a significant cost as we returned to a department name which had been previously used. Most of the work was completed internally. Details of expenditure are published on gov.uk.
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArden Strategies: Special AdvisersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether special advisers in her Department have had meetings with (a) representatives and (b) clients of Arden Strategies since 5 July 2024.
Answer: In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of external meetings held by Special Advisers are published in line with the requirements set out in guidance here.
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil of the Nations and RegionsCabinet OfficeTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16550More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) individuals and (b) organisations attended the first meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions.
Answer: The inaugural Council of the Nations and Regions met on 11 October in Edinburgh to discuss growth and investment. On 17 October the UK Government published a communique for the meeting on gov.uk which sets out the attendees and their organisations. The go...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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