Every parliamentary written question tabled by David Simmonds this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 361–380 of 874 · this parliament
Whether the Office for National Statistics holds data on the number of dwellings in each council tax band by (a) Parliamentary constituency, (b) local authority ward or division or polling district, (c) Lower layer Super Output Areas and (d) Middle layer Super Output Areas, in (i) England and (ii) Wales.
The Office for National Statistics does not publish this data. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) publish Council Tax statistics on gov.uk.
Further to paragraph 1.28 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, how the Government intends to finance the cost of the estimated £14 billion of local authority SEND deficits; and what proportion of accrued deficits will remain with local authorities from 2028-29.
See paragraph 4.94 of Budget 2025: Strong Foundations, Secure Future. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/budget-2025-document
Further to paragraph 4.38 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, whether according to information held by HM Treasury, the 10.2 per cent increase in business rate receipts from 2025-26 to 2026-27 is a figure for (a) England, (b) Great Britain or (c) the United Kingdom.
This figure applies to the United Kingdom.
Whether the high value council tax surcharge will be valued by the Valuation Office Agency by the same assumptions and methodology as current council tax, other than the valuation date.
The Valuation Office Agency are developing their approach to the targeted revaluation and will set out more details in due course, following the outcome of the Government's consultation. In general, when valuing domestic properties, the VOA uses modern technology and industry standard techniques combined with freely available information including sales data, property attribute details and government records.
What estimate has the Valuation Office Agency made of the number of appeals that will be made against the high value council tax surcharge.
We recognise the importance of the right to appeal, and the Government will consult on the details of this in the new year.
Further to the written statement of 25 November 2025, HCWS1097, on Devolution and Growth, and further to the Visitor levy policy paper published on 26 November 2025, whether the levy measure will be classed by the Government as a tax; and whether there is a Tax Information Notice to accompany the measure.
The precise design and scope of a devolved power for Mayors to introduce an overnight visitor levy if they so choose is under development. The Government has published a consultation running until 18 February 2026, so that the public, businesses, and local government can inform and help shape the design of the devolved power. A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) has not been published. TIINs usually accompany legislation for tax measures administered by central government. The impacts of the levy will largely be determined by local decisions. Mayors will decide whether to introduce a levy and, if so, consult on specific proposals. Following consultation, we expect Mayors would publish a summary of the consultation results and their response, including a final prospectus, and an impact assessment, informed by the consultation.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77537 on Hotels: Taxation, and with reference to the written statement of 25 November 2025 on Devolution and Growth, HCWS1097, on what basis this change in policy was made.
The government keeps all tax policy under review. The government’s number one mission is to kickstart economic growth, and devolving fiscal powers is critical to achieving this.Introducing a visitor levy provides Mayors with a new lever to both raise and reinvest revenue locally. English Mayors have come together to ask for an overnight stay levy through the “right to request”. The government has considered these representations from Mayors and the three amendments proposed by Wera Hobhouse MP, Paula Barker MP and Alex Mayer MP, to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in reaching this position. A Written Ministerial Statement setting out this position was published on 25 November.A visitor levy also responds to the call from Mayors for further fiscal devolution.
Pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2025, to Question 86773, on Ministers: Council tax, what policy or threshold is used to prevent the occupation of a designated secondary residence as a de facto primary residence; and whether there is any internal written guidance or advice on the matter.
There is no such internal written guidance or advice.Whether a residence is an individual’s sole or main residence is ultimately a question of fact determined by the billing authority.
Pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025, to Question 89453, on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, for what reason the second homes premium was billed in July when it had been introduced in from 1 April 2025.
The issuing of council tax bills is a matter for the relevant billing authority.
Further to page 122 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, what is her department’s estimated spending on asylum in 2024-25 and each year of the Spending Review.
Asylum support spend in FY 2024/25 was £4.0 billion and for 2025/26 the budget is £3.6 billion. As per the Spending Review, by FY 2028/29, we plan to reduce this by £1.1 billion, bringing the total spend down to £2.5 billion. The allocations process is ongoing to profile this expenditure and confirm budgets for each year, which will then be published in the Main Estimate.
Whether the Home Office and its subcontractor are paying above market rates to hire Houses in Multiple Occupation for asylum accommodation.
This Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly. This includes our accommodation sites, as the Home Office continues to identify a range of options to minimise the use of hotels and ensure better use of public money, whilst maintaining sufficient accommodation to meet demand.The procurement process is guided by principles of sustainability and measured growth, ensuring that accommodation is not only available but also suitable for long-term use and integrated within local communities.
What assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Preventing Radicalisation Fund funding to local authorities in 2025-26 operating on a competitive bidding basis.
It is vital that Prevent is well-equipped to counter the threats that we face and the ideologies that underpin them. Prevent provides funding for all local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland to address radicalisation risks through targeted projects, under the Preventing Radicalisation Initiative fund (PRI).For 2025-26 changes were made to the management and bidding process for the PRI fund, with all projects being administered through a grant administrator and Home Office undertaking due diligence on all Civil Society Organisation providers. This ensures government funding is only provided to those approved individuals or organisations that we are confident do not support or hold extremist views.Project delivery must focus on tackling the ideological causes of terrorism, challenging extremist ideology that can be reasonably linked to terrorism and / or providing early interventions to people who are potentially susceptible to radicalisation. Where other harms or vulnerabilities are addressed, it must be evident that the project beneficiaries are potentially susceptible to radicalisation due to significant risk factors.In the financial year April 2025 – March 2026, the Home Office is projected to provide £1,877,378.99 in project delivery funding to a total of 30 Civil Society Organisations under the Prevent Radicalisation programme.This year’s project provision is due to complete by 31st March 2026. Evaluation will be completed by analysts in Homeland Security Analysis and Insight during the next financial year that will reflect on how the Preventing Radicalisation Initiative fund has worked this financial year.
Through what mechanisms and systems will the Valuation Office Agency revalue dwellings for the new council tax surcharge.
The Valuation Office Agency are developing their approach to the targeted valuation and will set out more details in due course, following the outcome of the Government's consultation.In general, when valuing domestic properties, the VOA uses modern technology and industry standard techniques combined with freely available information including sales data, property attribute details and government records.
Communities and Local Government, whether job-related exemption will be based on the job-related tests in the Schedule of the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings) (England) Regulations 2003 for the second homes council tax premium.
The definition of a job-related dwelling, for the purposes of exceptions from the second homes premium, is set out in the 2003 regulations. The Government has issued guidance on council tax premiums including exceptions.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87322 on Community Relations: Expenditure, if he will place the monitoring and evaluation guidance in the Library; and if he will publish the (a) outputs and (b) outcomes that had to be reported.
The monitoring and evaluation guidance was intended solely for the local authorities in receipt of funding from the Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme, these were set out in Question UIN 85786 on 5 November 2025. More detail on what has been delivered through Fund is set out in Question UIN 78216 on 21 October 2025.
How much funding was allocated to the London Borough of Hillingdon for asylum costs in the 2024-2025 financial year.
The Home Office does not publicly publish grant payment levels by local authority, we do however provide funding to Local Authorities under the following grant agreements Asylum, Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking children & former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children Care LeaversPlease see the link below to the relevant Funding Instructions:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unaccompanied-asylum-seeking-children-uasc-grant-instructionshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-dispersal-grant-funding-instruction/funding-instruction-for-local-authorities-asylum-grant-2025-2026
Whether single person discount will apply to the high value council tax surcharge.
The High Value Council Tax Surcharge levies a new charge on owners of residential property in England worth £2 million or more. The Government will consult on exemptions, reliefs, and the detail of a support scheme for those who struggle to pay the charge in the New Year.
With reference paragraph 4.28 of the Autumn Budget 2025, HC1492, published on 26 November 2025, how many hereditaments will pay the business rate transitional supplement in 2026-27; what estimate she has made of the cost of the supplement; and for what reason the transitional relief is no longer funded by the Exchequer.
At Budget 2025, the Government announced updated property values independently assessed by the Valuation Office. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values (RVs) of properties are updated in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base. Following growth in the tax base, all ratepayers will pay a lower tax rate than they do now.Revenue raised from business rates is forecast to increase for a number of reasons. The tax rates change with inflation to maintain income for local authorities in real terms; the size of the tax base is forecast to increase; and temporary reliefs taper away. The Government is spending £4.3bn over the next three years on a support package, including protection for those seeing bills increase.This includes a re-designed Transitional Relief (TR) scheme, to protect businesses from large bill increases as a result of the revaluation. This is worth £3.2 billion over the next three years and, compared to the 2023 TR scheme, provides more generous support for those paying higher tax rates (including the high-value multiplier).To reduce the Exchequer cost the Government is introducing a 1p supplement in 2026/27 only, paid by ratepayers who do not receive TR or the Supporting Small Business scheme.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the potential annual revenue from the proposed overnight visitor levy; and whether an Impact Assessment has been produced.
The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.The Visitor Levy Consultation, running until 18 February 2026, sets out the details of the proposals for this power. This consultation will ensure the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce a levy that will be devolved to local leaders.The impacts of the levy will largely be determined by local decisions. Mayors will decide whether to introduce a levy and, if so, consult with businesses and their communities on specific proposals including the rate at which the levy is set – which will determine the revenue raised. Rates vary across the world, for example from 2% in Turkey to 12.5% in Amsterdam. Mayors will also be required to produce an Impact Assessment.
How much funding has been allocated to the London Borough of Hillingdon to assist with the costs of asylum seekers in 2025.
The Home Office does not publicly publish grant payment levels by local authority, we do however provide funding to Local Authorities under the following grant agreements Asylum, Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking children & former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children Care LeaversPlease see the link below to the relevant Funding Instructions:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unaccompanied-asylum-seeking-children-uasc-grant-instructionshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-dispersal-grant-funding-instruction/funding-instruction-for-local-authorities-asylum-grant-2025-2026