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 821–840 of 874 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, if she will list the (a) local council and (b) council mayoral and (c) combined authority mayoral elections that will take place in May 2025.
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council respectively. Instead, Government will continue discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver ...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to limit the number of bins into which councils require householders to separate their rubbish.
The Government is committed to delivering the Collection and Packaging Reforms to the announced timelines, including the Simpler Recycling policy in England, subject to spending review outcomes. Ministers are reviewing final policy positions relating to S...
If she will publish (a) the agreement and (b) the terms of reference between the Welsh Government and the Valuation Office Agency in relation to (i) the Agency's work for a council tax revaluation in Wales and (ii)
The Welsh Government have previously responded on this matter in June 2024.The answers can be viewed here:Written Question - WQ93146 - Welsh Parliament (senedd.wales)Written Question - WQ93148 - Welsh Parliament (senedd.wales) Written Question - WQ93350 ...
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report entitled Summary of responses and government’s response to the consultation on proposals to exempt categories of dwellings from the council tax premi
This Government intends to introduce the exceptions to council tax premiums as set out in the consultation response published on 11 March 2024.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) banning and (b) further regulating wood burning stoves in domestic dwellings.
Domestic wood burning stoves make a significant contribution to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions nationally, with implications for the health of everyone exposed to smoke. Defra is currently considering options for action to reduce the impact of ...
What advice the Center for Appraisal Research and Technology provided to the Valuation Office Agency for its work on an automated valuation model for council tax revaluation in Wales.
To support the model development, VOA let a short-term advisory contract with the Centre for Appraisal Research and Technology (CART) who provided advice on:Specific statistical and modelling techniques employed by VOA to ensure appropriate use, focusing ...
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 3748 on Private Education: Business Rates and to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2980 on Private Education: Busi
There are currently no plans for the referenced Bill to include measures beyond those indicated in the technical note published on 29 July 2024. I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 3748 on 5 September 2024 and Question UIN 2980 on 9...
What estimate she has made of the cost to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) of the council tax revaluation in Wales; and what payments the Welsh Government has (a) made and (b) agreed to make to the VOA to finance t
The Welsh Government have previously responded on this matter in June 2024.The answers can be viewed here:Written Question - WQ93146 - Welsh Parliament (senedd.wales)Written Question - WQ93148 - Welsh Parliament (senedd.wales) Written Question - WQ93350 ...
If she will list (a) each of the variables and (b) the source of data for each variable used in the new Automated Valuation Model for the Valuation Office Agency's council tax revaluation in Wales.
The variables used in the AVM model include property attributes, locations, and sales details. While much of this data is sourced from VOA records, the VOA supplement this with data available across Government and through the Public Sector Geospatial Agre...
Whether (a) artificial intelligence and (b)machine learning were used in the automated valuation model in the Valuation Office Agency’s work for council tax revaluation in Wales.
The Automated Valuation Model (AVM) utilises supervised machine learning, where a model is trained using known transaction values. Statistical techniques are used to calculate the impact of the property’s inherent characteristics and location on the value...
Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) section 106 agreements and (b) the community infrastructure levy.
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.
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.
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...
Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's timetable is for implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing thresh
The Government is considering how best to implement its ambitions on sustainable drainage.
Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the use of the term Islamophobia; and whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of adopting the working definition of Islamophob
There is no place in our society for religious or racial hatred of any kind. Tackling Islamophobia is a priority for this Government, especially in light of last month’s violent disorder, where we saw mosques and Muslim communities targeted. This is deplo...
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
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...
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.
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...
Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on the London Plan 2021.
The Deputy Prime Minister met with the Mayor of London in July to discuss housing delivery challenges in the capital and agree priority areas for partnership working.The Government will continue to work with the Mayor to increase the supply of homes withi...
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.
The Government has no current plans to amend the guidance in question.
Communities and Local Government, whether it is her policy to (a) maintain existing and (b) increase the number of freeports.
I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 2702 on 4 September 2024.
If she will (a) extend the duration of Bereavement Support Payments beyond 18 months and (b) uprate those payments in line with inflation.
Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) helps people through the immediate period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit ha...