Written questions by Hollinrake.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85831 on Public Houses, whether he plans to allow 16 and 17 year olds to consume alcohol-free drinks when accompanied by an adult and when drinking with a substantive meal in a licensed premises.

In Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, the Government has committed to explore measures to regulate access to no- and low-alcohol (NoLo) products in line with other alcoholic beverages. This policy is being pursued as alcohol substitute drinks are only intended for consumption by adults.Department officials are progressing work to take forward this commitment and are in the process of scoping out the full details. We will update stakeholders in due course.There are no current plans to change the licensing rules in pubs for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what Freedom of Information Act requests has the Electoral Commission substantively disclosed information in response to, on Labour Together, since 2021, which have not been published on the Electoral Commission’s FOI disclosure log.

Since 2021, the Commission has received 16 Freedom of Information requests relating to Labour Together.The Commission receives a high volume of complex FOI requests, and therefore does not routinely publish all FOI responses on its disclosure log.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 101773 on Political Parties: Conferences, if she will set out the timetable for the (a) internal review and (b) consultation of relevant stakeholders.

The Home Office has now completed the initial scoping phase of the internal review and will shortly be reaching out to relevant stakeholders, including political parties, to arrange meetings in April to gather their views.An internal report is expected to be completed by the end of May.

Whether any gifts or hospitality given to the Deputy Prime Minister in a Ministerial capacity since July 2024 by Lord Alli have been returned or refunded.

All gifts or hospitality received in a Ministerial capacity are declared in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, what is the Government’s policy on the use of deepfake imagery, video or audio in elections.

The Government takes the threat posed by harmful deepfakes very seriously. The Government recognises that the huge opportunities offered by AI also come with risks, including potential challenges posed by AI-generated content for the online information environment and its potential impact on democratic processes. The UK’s Online Safety Act has introduced duties on in scope services to tackle digital impersonation where it amounts to an existing offence, including false statements about a candidate's character or conduct ahead of or during an election. Solutions that help to determine what media is real and what is AI-generated are key to tackling a range of AI risks. The government is undertaking work to explore the potential methods for detecting AI-generated content. The UK also has strong data protection laws to help tackle the misuse of personal identity, through the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. These laws require that any personal data processing is lawful, fair and transparent.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2026 to Question 101774 on DEFRA: Secondment, on what date is the secondment of the Second Permanent Secretary due to end.

The secondment agreement end date is 19 July 2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 105388 on Councillors: Vetting, whether she is considering options for criminal record checks for elected representatives other than councillors.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given Question UIN 105388 on 20 January 2026 which answered this question in full. This remains our current position.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission plans to ask political parties and regulated donees to declare donations over £500 made by cryptocurrencies.

If the market value in GBP of any cryptoasset received by a party or regulated donee is greater than £500, they must treat it as a donation and check the donor is permissible. If it is greater than the reporting threshold (£11,180), it must be reported to the Commission.Donations in cryptoassets of £500 or less are outside the scope of electoral law and do not need to be recorded or reported.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has a list of the organisations currently registered as Members’ Associations.

The Electoral Commission does not hold a register of members associations, as there is no registration requirement for these groups. Members associations are subject to controls on the donations and loans they accept towards their political activities within their party.Members associations must report to the Commission on any donations or loans they accept. Reports must be made within 30 days of accepting the donation or entering into the loan. These reports are published on the Commission’s website.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what data the Electoral Commission holds on levels of electoral fraud, broken down by local authority area.

The Electoral Commission collects data on allegations of electoral fraud from all police forces across the UK, and publishes data on its website annually. Due to the way data is provided, it is broken down by police force, not by local authority. The Commission expects to publish 2025 electoral fraud data by the end of March.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has produced on treating in elections.

The Commission’s guidance for candidates and agents includes an overview of electoral offences. It sets out that a person is guilty of treating if either before, during or after an election they directly or indirectly give or provide any food, drink, entertainment or provision to corruptly influence any voter to vote or refrain from voting. Treating requires a corrupt intent, and does not apply to ordinary hospitality.Allegations of treating are a matter for the police; the Commission supports the College of Policing with its guidance for policing elections, which includes information on how offences such as treating are investigated.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of levels of intimidation of candidates, agents and campaigners at (a) election hustings and (b) election counts.

Intimidation and abuse of those participating in public life has no place in our society and will not be tolerated. MHCLG does not engage directly with candidates or collect wider information about those involved in elections' experience of harassment and intimidation. MHCLG’s role is to provides all candidates and returning officers with security guidance ahead of elections periods. MHCLG does work closely with the Defending Democracy Taskforce, which leads on the cross-government response to harassment and intimidation, including work to evaluate its nature and scale, as well as with the police, Electoral Commission and Local Government Association, who also collect relevant information. The government is also working with the Electoral Commission to develop an updated Code of Conduct for campaigning to set clear expectations for behaviour during election campaigns and guidance for the verifications and counts.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 102816 on Local Government: Elections, on what dates the Electoral Commission was informed of his Department's (a) decision to postpone the 2026 mayoral elections and (b) consultation on postponing the council elections scheduled for May 2026.

Strategic authorities are established by secondary legislation, which requires the consent of the constituent councils. Whilst there is no requirement to consult the Electoral Commission on the establishment of strategic authorities, including on the timing of their inaugural mayoral elections, the Department remains in contact with the Electoral Commission where appropriate. The government wrote to the Electoral Commission on 18 December and considered their representations ahead of the decisions about the potential postponement of local elections in 2026.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the decision letter, Called-in decision: Royal Mint Court, London, EC3N 4QN (refs. 3353754 and 3353755), 20 January 2026, whether the build out of the Chinese Embassy site at the Royal Mint will be subject to inspections by local authority (a) building control and (b) planning officers.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 110795 on 12 Feb 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what is the Government’s policy on political advertising marking whether it has been created or manipulated by AI.

The government recognises that while AI presents significant opportunities, it also introduces risks including challenges posed by AI-generated content for the online information environment and the potential impact on democratic processes.Solutions that help to determine what media is real and what is AI-generated are key to tackling a range of AI risks. The government is undertaking work to explore the potential methods for detecting AI-generated content.Any reforms in this area must be carefully balanced to protect freedom of expression and avoid placing undue burdens on campaigners and online platforms.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102814 on Public Spaces: Political Activities, if she will make it his policy to investigate the use of a Public Spaces Protection Order by Leicester City Council to ban party political street stalls in the city centre.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities, and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour. This includes Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which can be issued by councils to stop people committing anti-social behaviour in a public space.The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, who holds the accounts of APPGs no longer in operation and information relating to the winding up of their assets.

The finances of an APPG are a matter for the officers of the group.The Guide to the APPG Rules provides the following guidance:80. APPG Secretariats must not hold APPG funds themselves, all funds must only be accessible by an officer (or officers) of the APPG.81. Chairs are strongly advised to ensure that any money the group receives or holds is in a bank account in the name of the group and controlled by officers.97. If an APPG chooses to disband, it must publish an income and expenditure statement within 28 days of the date on which the APPG was closed down.

If his Department will guarantee that apprenticeship standards aligned with the Government’s priority Industrial Strategy sectors (IS-8) will continue to be eligible for funding under the Growth and Skills Levy.

The Government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, backed by an additional £725 million of investment, which will deliver greater flexibility to employers, more opportunities for young people and support the industrial strategy.Last year, the government spent 100% of its multi-billion-pound apprenticeship budget. To live within this budget and deliver on the above priorities, we must reform the apprenticeship programme to ensure its future sustainability and effectiveness. This includes working with employers to streamline the suite of over 700 apprenticeship standards as we roll out new short courses from April 2026.We have been working intensively with business on the next stages of reform and will announce plans for the development of the Growth and Skills Levy soon.

If his Department will set out what criteria it use to determine which standards are considered appropriate and not appropriate for public funding.

The Government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, backed by an additional £725 million of investment, which will deliver greater flexibility to employers, more opportunities for young people and support the industrial strategy.Last year, the government spent 100% of its multi-billion-pound apprenticeship budget. To live within this budget and deliver on the above priorities, we must reform the apprenticeship programme to ensure its future sustainability and effectiveness. This includes working with employers to streamline the suite of over 700 apprenticeship standards as we roll out new short courses from April 2026.We have been working intensively with business on the next stages of reform and will announce plans for the development of the Growth and Skills Levy soon.

If his Department will publish (a) the list of all apprenticeship standards under review and (b) the impact assessment of any decisions to restrict or defund those standards.

The Government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, backed by an additional £725 million of investment, which will deliver greater flexibility to employers, more opportunities for young people and support the industrial strategy.Last year, the government spent 100% of its multi-billion-pound apprenticeship budget. To live within this budget and deliver on the above priorities, we must reform the apprenticeship programme to ensure its future sustainability and effectiveness. This includes working with employers to streamline the suite of over 700 apprenticeship standards as we roll out new short courses from April 2026.We have been working intensively with business on the next stages of reform and will announce plans for the development of the Growth and Skills Levy soon.