Written questions by Hollinrake.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, on how many occasions has the Electoral Commission issued a (a) disclosure notice or (b) inspection notice under Schedule 19B of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and how many times has it obtained an inspection warrant over the period for which records are centrally held.

The Commission is required to report on its use of investigatory powers, including disclosure notices, investigation notices, and applications for inspection warrants. These are published in the Commission’s Annual Reports and Accounts.The Commission has reported that it issued eight disclosure notices and 50 investigation notices since its investigatory powers came into force in December 2010. It has not applied for an inspection warrant. A breakdown by year is in the table below.The Commission only uses its investigatory powers where it is satisfied that it is necessary and proportionate to do so. In most investigations, it receives relevant information on a voluntary basis.Use of investigatory powers, by financial yearYearDisclosure notices Investigation noticesInspection warrant applications2011-120002012-130002013-140002014-152002015-162502016-1731602017-1801402018-1901002019-201002020-210002021-220302022-230002023-240102024-25010

Food and Rural Affairs, what is the estimated amount of average household water and drainage bills, per household which is not receipt of the social tariff, that pays for the cross-subsidy to the social tariff.

Companies decide, in consultation with their customers and organisations representing customers, which household customers fund social tariffs and how much they pay.

Food and Rural Affairs, Further to the DEFRA 2024-25 annual report and accounts, HC 1388, 12 November 2025, p.147, whether Nick Joicey has permanently left her Department as a civil servant.

Nick Joicey is currently on secondment from Defra. He remains a Civil Servant and, in line with standard practice, continues to be on Defra's headcount during the period of the secondment.

Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for the appointment of board members of the independent football regulator.

Three board members are already in place at the IFR. A robust, transparent process to recruit a further four appointees, to complement the existing talent, opened on 12 November. Applications are due on 10 December and the full details are on the public appointments pages of Gov.uk: https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/8938?titleSearch=football&body=&regulated=&bodyJustice=&remunerated=&status=open&sort=openingAt%3Adesc

Communities and Local Government, Pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2025, to Question 84947, on Public Spaces: Access, if he will make it his policy for his department to issue guidance to local authorities to advise that political parties, elected representatives and candidates for office should not be levied fees for authorised street stalls in public spaces.

The provision and administration of street trading and highways licences, including fees charged are the responsibility of Local Authorities under either the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 or the London Local Authorities Act 1990, depending on their location. Local authorities may decide when it is necessary to recover the costs of these services.

Communities and Local Government, When he plans to respond to the letter of 16 September 2025 from the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton on Tower Hamlets and community assets.

A response was sent to the hon. Member on 4 December 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what is the (a) percentage and (b) cash terms increase in the average household water bills, including waste water, of a dwelling in the Thames Water area, in each year from 2025 onwards, for those not on a social tariff, over each year of the regulated period, according to information held by (i) his department and (ii) Ofwat.

This information is available on Ofwat’s website.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2025, to Question 80915, on Women: Politics and Government, what plans she has to consult political parties on implementation of Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010.

The Government is committed to commencing Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010, requiring registered political parties to publish anonymised data relating to the diversity of their candidate selections.Office for Equality and Opportunity officials are currently exploring when and how to commence the provision under Section 106, including the specifics with regards to data collection. Officials will consult with stakeholders, including political parties, in due course.

With reference to the publication Updating labelling guidance for no and low-alcohol alternatives, published on 28 September 2023, and pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025, to Question 41063, on Low Alcohol Drinks: Labelling and Marketing, whether the Government intends to publish a response to the 2023 consultation.

In Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, the Government has committed to exploring whether to raise the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV, as set out in the current labelling guidance for no and low (NoLo) alcohol drink alternatives. Department officials are progressing work to take forward this commitment, and we will update stakeholders in due course. The consultation referred to was undertaken by the previous administration. A decision on publishing a response will be made as part of determining the delivery timescales of the NoLo commitments in the 10-Year Health Plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, Further to the DEFRA 2024-25 annual report and accounts, HC 1388, 12 November 2025, p.140, what was the title of the staff member who received the exit package of £300,000 to £350,000; what was the public body; on what date it was approved by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury; and what was the business case for the level of the exit payment.

The exit package relates to Flood Re. Flood Re is a company limited by guarantee. It does not receive any grant funding from the Government. As such, no Government funding has been spent on exit packages at Flood Re.

Whether she has considered introducing tax incentives for pubs that promote UK spirits producers.

Alcohol duty is charged at the point of production or importation of drinks, and is therefore not generally paid directly by pubs. Further, the United Kingdon has an international obligation under WTO rules to treat imported and domestic products fairly. A duty-based tax incentive that applied only to domestic spirits producers is likely to be inconsistent with these legal obligations. To support spirits producers, the Government has:agreed a trade deal with India which will reduce tariffs on gin and whisky exports from 150% to 75% initially, and then 40% over time;ended the alcohol duty stamps scheme on 1 May 2025, reducing the administrative burden on spirit producers and importers, including Scotch Whisky distilleries;invested £5m in the Spirits Drink Verification Scheme (SDVS) to enable HMRC to cut the fees it charges producers for its verification service. Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on pubs with significant spirits sales.

The government published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) which set out the impact of the changes, including for businesses, to employer NICs alongside the introduction of the Bill. The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from these changes by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.  Businesses will still be able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under-21s and under-25 apprentices. At Budget 2025, the government asked licensing authorities in England and Wales to explicitly consider the need to promote growth and deliver economic benefits in their decisions and set this out in the first National Licensing Policy Framework.

What recent estimate her Department has made of the average spirits duty paid annually by a typical community pub.

HMRC does not hold data on alcohol duty paid on alcohol sold in pubs. Alcohol duty is paid at the point of production or import and would not generally be paid directly by pubs.

What recent discussions she has had with representatives of the drinks industry about the potential impact of spirits taxation on pub profitability.

Alcohol duty is charged at the point of production or importation of drinks, and is therefore not generally paid directly by pubs. Further, the United Kingdon has an international obligation under WTO rules to treat imported and domestic products fairly. A duty-based tax incentive that applied only to domestic spirits producers is likely to be inconsistent with these legal obligations. To support spirits producers, the Government has:agreed a trade deal with India which will reduce tariffs on gin and whisky exports from 150% to 75% initially, and then 40% over time;ended the alcohol duty stamps scheme on 1 May 2025, reducing the administrative burden on spirit producers and importers, including Scotch Whisky distilleries;invested £5m in the Spirits Drink Verification Scheme (SDVS) to enable HMRC to cut the fees it charges producers for its verification service. Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

With reference to her Oral Statement of 19 November 2025 on China Espionage: Government Security Response, Official Report, column 614, if she will set out the proposed changes to the maximum penalties for election interference offences.

Foreign interference in British politics is a growing danger to our democracy, and it is imperative that we tackle this problem.The changes announced in our Elections Strategy will keep our elections secure by boosting transparency and accountability in politics, closing down loopholes for foreign funding, and significantly increasing penalties by giving the Electoral Commission the power to impose fines up to £500,000 per offence.

Under what terms was Katie Martin appointed.

Katie Martin was appointed as a special adviser to the Chancellor on 5th July 2024. She has now resigned from that position, with her employment formally ending on 17th December 2025. From January 2026, she will become Business Adviser to the Chanceller. Details of that appointment will be made public in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Further to Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, Q262, if he will list the mitigations used to avoid conflicts of interest on Lord Mandelson’s shareholding in Global Counsel.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 11 June 2025 to Question 57229. A copy of the standard Conflict of Interest Declaration Form will be deposited in the Library.

Pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2025, to Question 89478, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if she will list each date that she has met representatives of the Chinese Government.

As stated in my previous answer, the Chancellor has engaged with the Chinese Government on a number of occasions to discuss economic and financial issues. Data on ministers' overseas travel and meetings with external individuals and organisations is published every quarter. This can be found here and here.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Further to Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, Q258, if he will place a copy of the standard conflict of interest form, and associated guidance, in the Library.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 11 June 2025 to Question 57229. A copy of the standard Conflict of Interest Declaration Form will be deposited in the Library.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Question 347 to 349 of Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, if he will place (a) a readout and (b) the minutes of the discussions between the Permanent Under-Secretary and the Chinese Government on the proposed Chinese Embassy in London in the Library.

The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) who will make this decision independently in a quasi-judicial capacity. Consistent with long-standing policy, the Government does not routinely publish details of meetings between officials and external organisations.