Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 38, if he will make it his policy to publish the organisations that are subject to a policy of non-engagement.

This government does not comment on specific groups. It is up to each department to carry out due diligence when choosing to engage with, or fund, any organisation or individual and, if asked, we will advise and share information to help others inform their decisions. As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication last week, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.We will also publish an annual ‘State of Extremism’ report will support public sector staff to tackle extremism. This will include information on what extremism looks like today in the UK – groups, narratives and ideologies, including Islamist and Extreme Right – as well as the action this government is taking to disrupt these extremist threats. The first iteration of this will be published by the end of 2026.

Communities and Local Government, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) challenging and (b) tackling antisemitic attacks against retail branches of Gail’s.

Antisemitism is abhorrent and has no place in our society. The government remains committed to tackling all forms of hatred and ensuring that everyone in the UK can live free from fear of discrimination or violence. Work is ongoing across government on tackling antisemitism in all its forms, and as set out in our recent Protecting What Matters publication. To deliver this, we will continue to work with the Antisemitism Working Group and ministers are in regular discussions on antisemitism and antisemitic attacks.Where incidents involve criminal behaviour, this is an operational matter for the police.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 38, whether he plans to update the 2024 engagement principles.

As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication last week, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026, to Question 111693, on Business Rates: Valuation, if he will number of times that forecasts or estimates were given by the Valuation Office Agency to Ministers from 1 April 2024 to the publication of the draft Rating List.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) provided valuation data and analysis on the non-domestic property market to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury throughout the preparation stages of the 2026 revaluation.The VOA provided five data drops from 1 April 2024 to the publication of the draft Rating List.

With reference to the Budget Policy Costing 2025, November 2025, page 51, on the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, what proportion of the (a) -£60 million impact in 2025-26, (b) -£120 million impact in 2026-27 and (c) -£155 million impact in 2027-28 is from (i) lower stamp duty, (ii) lower capital gain tax, (iii) lower inheritance tax and (iv) lower Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings receipts, in each case and year.

The OBR publishes a breakdown of the Budget 2025 policy costings here:Policy costings - Office for Budget Responsibility

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has identified local authority areas of higher risk of electoral fraud in the May 2026 elections.

The Commission reviews a range of information across all local authorities to help assess the risk of electoral fraud, including police data on allegations of electoral fraud and areas where concerns have previously been raised. This information is used to inform how and where the Commission targets additional support.It is working closely with the electoral community, including local authorities and the police, to prevent, detect and act against electoral fraud ahead of the May 2026 elections.Since 2018, the Commission has run a public awareness campaign “Your Vote is Yours Alone” in partnership with Crimestoppers. The campaign highlights what constitutes electoral fraud and empowers people to protect their vote and report any concerns. It targets specific areas based on a series of factors, including allegations of electoral fraud reported to the police.

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency document entitled, Valuation of public houses, published on 10 March 2026, if she will publish the guidance for the valuation of public houses used for the 2026 Rating List.

The 2026 Rating List comes into effect on 1 April 2026, and the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish valuation guidance including for the valuation of public houses on or around this date.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will review its guidance in the Polling Station Handbook on providing official notices in written languages other than English, Welsh and Braille.

The Electoral Commission's handbook states that the Returning Officer can provide written instructions in alternative languages or formats for use in the polling station depending on requirements within the community.The Commission reviews its guidance regularly and makes updates in light of evidence from its post poll research, engagement with the electoral community and legislative change.

Whether the National Wealth Fund will allocate funding to affordable housing.

The National Housing Bank is the public financial institution focused on homebuilding.The National Housing Bank will work with other Public Financial Institutions, including the National Wealth Fund, to support its objectives.The government has published a guide to the Public Financial Institutions here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-introduction-to-the-uk-public-investment-landscape

Pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026 to Question 111691 on Valuation Office Agency: Conference, what the cost was of Valuation Office Agency attendance at each of those international conferences.

The VOA attends a small number of overseas conferences which are an important part of sharing expertise, innovation and best practice. The cost of Valuation Office Agency attendance at the five international conferences is set out in the table below. This includes the cost of tickets, flights, accommodation and other travel expenses. EventNumber of attendeesTotalAug 2024 IAAO Conference, Denver3£7,655Oct 2024 COVA Conference, Dublin25£25,329Dec 2024, International Research Symposium, IAAO, Amsterdam2£1,402Mar 2025, IAAO GIS Valuation Technologies Conference, Columbus, Ohio1£425Sep 2025 IPTI Halifax, Nova Scotia10£11,743

What assessment his Department has made of the potential health impacts for consumers since fruit and nut bars were included in the location restrictions for high fat, sugar and salt products from October 2022.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis to ease the strain on our National Health Service and create the healthiest generation of children ever.Restrictions on the promotion by location of ‘less healthy’ food and drink products in stores and their equivalent places online have been in place since 2022. These restrictions apply to categories of products that impact most on childhood obesity, which were chosen following public consultation. Only fruit and nut bars that are high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar are in scope of the restrictions. The products that are in and out of scope of the restrictions are set out in the Schedule to the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 and we have published guidance to support industry on complying with the restrictions.We published a detailed impact assessment on the costs to industry and the benefits of this policy on the GOV.UK website. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the restrictions and will publish a Post Implementation Review within five years of the restrictions taking legal effect.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of including fruit and nut bars under the restrictions for high fat, sugar and salt products on economic growth.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis to ease the strain on our National Health Service and create the healthiest generation of children ever.Restrictions on the promotion by location of ‘less healthy’ food and drink products in stores and their equivalent places online have been in place since 2022. These restrictions apply to categories of products that impact most on childhood obesity, which were chosen following public consultation. Only fruit and nut bars that are high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar are in scope of the restrictions. The products that are in and out of scope of the restrictions are set out in the Schedule to the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 and we have published guidance to support industry on complying with the restrictions.We published a detailed impact assessment on the costs to industry and the benefits of this policy on the GOV.UK website. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the restrictions and will publish a Post Implementation Review within five years of the restrictions taking legal effect.

Representing the Restoration and Renewal Client Board, what assessment the Client Board has made of the potential impact of government regulations on the projected costs of the Restoration and Renewal of Parliament; and whether it has had discussions with the Building Safety Regulator on Restoration and Renewal.

The Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Client Board’s recent report, Delivering restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster: the costed proposals (HC Paper 1576) sets out a recommended way forward for the R&R Programme, including the scope of the works and cost and timing estimates of different delivery options.Design work for the R&R works was carried out to meet the requirements set out by the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 and a range of relevant UK regulations regarding building standards, health and safety, and consents. The outcome level assessment conducted by the R&R Programme Board also made specific reference to regulations and standards. A separate assessment of “the potential impact of government regulations” on the projected costs set out the R&R Client Board’s report has not been undertaken.Officials from Parliament’s R&R Client Team have engaged recently with the Chair of the Building Safety Regulator. The R&R Delivery Authority plans engagement with the Building Safety Regulator and the Health and Safety Executive at the next stage of design.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the risks of impermissible donations being made through high-volume repeated donations through cryptocurrency in a series of below £500 transactions.

Individual payments of £500 or less are not treated in law as a donation, so recipients are not required to identify the donor or check that they are a permissible source for donations.The Commission has highlighted that there are some existing safeguards in law. Attempting to evade the restrictions on permissibility is a criminal offence, and the Commission advises parties to be vigilant to attempts to do so, such as repeated payments of £500 from the same source.However, the Commission has raised the possibility of AI being used to facilitate split payments and conceal the source which would increase the risk from these smaller payments. The Commission is engaging with parties to seek information about their approach to these payments. It has recently published interim guidance on cryptocurrency donations, and will publish further guidance later this year.The Commission has also published updated guidance on crowdfunding to ensure that parties understand how the law applies to donations raised through crowdfunding campaigns and can choose a platform that will support them to comply with the law.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, further to the Interministerial Group for Elections and Registration Communique: 30 October 2025, 10 December 2025, what is the timetable for the Electoral Commission to complete its evaluation of the Welsh automatic registration pilots.

The Commission published its evaluation of the Welsh automatic registration pilots on 15 December 2025.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment has the Electoral Commission made of the capacity of local authority EROs to organise council elections in May 2026 in the areas which were initially cancelled by the Government but have now been re-scheduled for May 2026; and what estimate has it made of the increased administrative costs from the cancellation and re-scheduling.

The Commission welcomed the certainty that all scheduled local elections will go ahead in May 2026. The Commission has contacted all affected local authorities to offer assistance and any additional support, working with them to address any immediate challenges.Funding for the delivery of local elections is a matter for local authorities and Returning Officers, who would have made individual planning decisions regarding the funding to support the delivery of the polls.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what discussions has the Electoral Commission had with (a) the Metropolitan Police and (b) Defending Democracy Taskforce on whether police officers should be stationed by polling stations for the councillor and mayoral elections in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in May 2026.

The Commission has regular conversations with the Metropolitan Police and the Defending Democracy Taskforce about electoral security.It has met regularly with the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Enquiries Team ahead of elections in London in May 2026. It has discussed the stationing of police officers at polling stations, including in Tower Hamlets. It will continue to engage ahead of polling day.The Presiding Officer is responsible for the security of the polling station. The Commission provides advice to polling station staff on how and when to engage with police on security or electoral integrity matters.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether Scottish Limited Liability Partnerships are deemed to be companies for the purposes of its guidance on corporate donations.

Limited Liability Partnerships which carry on business in the UK are permissible donors. Scottish limited partnerships are not permissible company donors. Permissible company donors must be registered under the Companies Act 2006. Scottish limited partnerships are registered under the Limited Partnerships Act 1907.The Commission has previously recommended that the law be amended to clarify that Scottish limited partnerships are permissible donors.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2026, para 5.8, if he will publish the representation to MHCLG from the Electoral Commission.

The Commission’s correspondence to the Secretary of State is available on its website. In it the Commission makes clear its view that scheduled elections should go ahead as planned, and only be postponed in exceptional circumstances.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of support provided to Hon Members in providing democratic representation to registered overseas electors, assigned to their constituency, through the duration of a Parliament.

The Commission provides a range of services to Members to support them in their Parliamentary duties. It has not made a specific assessment of how these services support MPs in their representation of registered overseas electors.It is for each individual MP to determine how best to perform their duties, including how they use services to support their representation of constituents.