Written questions by Hollinrake.

When his Department informed Westminster City Council that the Ministerial residence in Admiralty House occupied by the then Deputy Prime Minister should be billed for the second homes council tax premium.

Before the Second Home premium was introduced in Westminster, the Cabinet Office were aware that the former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) was occupying Admiralty House (AH) as a second home and that council tax would therefore be payable by Government. In line with long standing precedent under successive administrations, as the property was a second residence the Government was responsible for paying the Council Tax on Admiralty House, not the former DPM. Similarly, the Cabinet Office is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council (WCC) for matters concerning residency at Admiralty House. WCC were notified at the beginning of May that the former DPM was occupying AH as a second home for council tax purposes, and details were provided for WCC to issue a bill accordingly. The Government Property Agency wrote to WCC in June to confirm that the second home's premium applied. WCC issued an invoice in July which was paid the same day.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85200 on Admiralty House: Valuation, if he will place the valuation report in the Library.

The valuation report contains information that is commercially sensitive, and it is therefore not our policy to place such reports in the Library or share this information publicly.

Pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85831 on Public Houses, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the drink drive micrograms levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. We are considering a range of policies under the new Road Safety Strategy, the first for ten years. This includes the case for changing the motoring offences, such as drink driving. We intend to publish this by the end of the year. The power to set the drink drive limit in Northern Ireland is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive.

Further to the Cabinet Office Annual report and accounts 2024-2025, HC1372, 23 October 2025, page 139, who determines the level of the Prime Minister’s annual allowance for redecoration and modernisation within the Downing Street estate, and what process governs any revisions to that amount.

The annual allowance has been in place for over 25 years, and has been unchanged since its introduction. The Downing Street complex is a working building, as well as containing two Ministerial residences. As has always been the case, refurbishments and maintenance are made periodically. The Government is legally required to maintain the Downing Street buildings to the high standards appropriate to its Grade 1 and 2 listed status in consultation with Historic England. The listed status, as well as security and other relevant factors, significantly add to the cost of maintenance and repairs, compared to normal properties.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 84201 on Absent Voting, if he will make it his policy to amend legislation to ensure that political parties and elected representatives have access to the expiry date of a postal vote as part of their existing rights to receive absent voting lists.

As stated in the Answer of 29 October 2025 to UIN 84201 on Absent Voting, political parties and elected representatives are entitled to request access to the electoral register, including absent voter lists. The Government has no plans to make changes to the information which is shared as part of the electoral register.

Whether the Licensing Taskforce were consulted on the proposed ban on vaping inside pubs.

The Premises Licensing Taskforce were not consulted on the proposed ban on vaping inside pubs. Members of the Taskforce did not raise vaping in the wider consultation and Call for Evidence on Premises Licensing.The Tobacco and Vapes Bill gives us the powers to make most public places and workplaces that are smoke-free also vape-free. Exactly which settings should become vape-free will be a matter for secondary legislation and will be subject to a consultation. The Taskforce are able to respond to the consultation. We want to hear the views of all groups.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to para 3.1 of the Greater Essex devolution consultation, updated July 2025, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on whether levying a mayoral precept will be a requirement or expectation of the devolution agreement with the government.

We have not had discussions with Greater Essex on the requirement or expectation on the levying of a mayoral precept. As set out in paragraph 3.1 of the Greater Essex devolution consultation, the Greater Essex Mayoral Strategic Authority would have the ability to introduce a mayoral precept on council tax should it choose to do so.

Whether a second homes council tax premium has been paid for her Ministerial residence since 1 April 2025.

All council tax due on the Chancellor’s Ministerial residence has been paid in full.

How many hospitality businesses have (a) opened and (b) closed since July 2024 according to records held by the Office for National Statistics.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 18th November is attached.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 84950, on Local Government: Elections, if he will list the dates on when political parties were (a) individually or (b) collectively consulted.

As set out in the response to Question UIN 84950, the Government has worked closely with a range of partners in the electoral sector in the development of the strategy for modern and secure elections. The Government will continue to engage with all key election sector stakeholders, including political parties, to ensure the successful delivery of the changes.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 84208 and 84626 on Chinese Embassy, if he will publish the requested information.

All inquiry documents for this case are publicly available on Tower Hamlets website here. Post-inquiry representations, including parties' responses to the reference back letter, will be listed in the final decision letter and will be publicly available when that letter is published.

Pursuant to the answer of 28 July 2025, to Question 66478, on Innovation: Beer and Public Houses, whether the Government intends to involve amend the Licensing Act 2003 to prohibit the sale of alcohol-free drinks to under 18s in pubs.

A non-alcoholic product differs from a soft drink as it is a beverage intentionally crafted to mimic traditional alcoholic drinks like beer, wine, or spirits. This is a newly emerging area, but there is some evidence to suggest that exposure to alcohol like products, even if low or zero alcohol, can normalize drinking, and become a gateway to alcohol consumption. Earlier alcohol use initiation is linked to a higher risk of harmful drinking patterns later in life.The Department continues to monitor the emerging evidence on the impact of no and low alcohol (NoLo) products on children and young people. A large multi-year National Institute for Health and Care Research study is underway to examine the public health impacts of NoLo products, and we look forward to the findings of that being available in the coming year.The Government is still considering options to restrict access to NoLo products, including banning sales to under 18 year-olds. as committed to in the In Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England. We will share an update with stakeholders in due course.

Pursuant to the answer of 28 July 2025, to Question 66478, on Innovation: Beer and Public Houses, on what evidential basis no- and low-alcohol drinks can cause harm to 16 and 17 year olds.

A non-alcoholic product differs from a soft drink as it is a beverage intentionally crafted to mimic traditional alcoholic drinks like beer, wine, or spirits. This is a newly emerging area, but there is some evidence to suggest that exposure to alcohol like products, even if low or zero alcohol, can normalize drinking, and become a gateway to alcohol consumption. Earlier alcohol use initiation is linked to a higher risk of harmful drinking patterns later in life.The Department continues to monitor the emerging evidence on the impact of no and low alcohol (NoLo) products on children and young people. A large multi-year National Institute for Health and Care Research study is underway to examine the public health impacts of NoLo products, and we look forward to the findings of that being available in the coming year.The Government is still considering options to restrict access to NoLo products, including banning sales to under 18 year-olds. as committed to in the In Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England. We will share an update with stakeholders in due course.

Pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2025, to Question 73327, on Alan Milburn, what other (a) NHS, (b) social care and (c) other matters Alan Milburn has recused himself from.

Prior to appointment, non-executive candidates are required to declare all relevant interests. Appropriate mitigations are then put in place and approved by the Department.This process was carried out for the Rt Hon. Alan Milburn, whose interests and any updates to them are available in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts and on the GOV.UK website in alignment with Government policy.

What is the timetable for his department and NHS England to (a) open and (b) close applications for voluntary exit following the merger of the two; and whether there are plans for a compulsory redundancy process.

Both the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England opened voluntary redundancy schemes in 2025, prior to the merger, to allow staff to leave before the merger takes place.The DHSC voluntary exit scheme launched on 2 April and closed 30 April 2025. The first cohorts of staff left in November and December 2025. A small cohort of staff were placed 'on hold' and will exit between January and May 2026.The NHS England redundancy scheme ran from 1 December 2025 until 5:00pm on 16 December 2025. This was announced to staff on 11 November 2025, and formal consultation with trade unions concluded on 14 November 2025.We remain committed to the target of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for a leaner, more efficient centre that is approximately 50% smaller. We are currently aiming to meet this target through voluntary means. However, until we know the outcome of these schemes, we cannot rule out future compulsory redundancies.

Media and Sport, whether the appointment of David Kogan as Independent Football Regulator Chair required the Prime Minister's approval.

No. The Football Governance Act (2025) sets out in Schedule 2, Part 2, that in relation to the Board of the Independent Football Regulator “the non-executive members are to be appointed by the Secretary of State”. In this case the decision to appoint the Chair was delegated to the Minister for Sport.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2025 to Question 70573 on 10 Downing Street: Official Hospitality, whether the transparency return for official receptions in July to September 2025 will list the cost to the public purse of the 31 July reception for content creators.

Official receptions in 10 Downing Street are hosted by Ministers across Government, with details published as part of the Government's transparency returns. The cost of hospitality in 10 Downing Street is included in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. There are no plans to update inherited guidance in order to provide a breakdown of costs for individual receptions. The approach is in line and follows that of the previous administrations, which did not publish the information in this way.

With reference to page 139 of the Cabinet Office Annual report and accounts 2024-2025, HC1372, 23 October 2025, what items were purchased to furnish the empty Downing Street flat; which flat it was; whether those items were new; and how that spend was classified.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 27 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 85501.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether severance payments to heads of mission are exempt from Income Tax.

Payments made by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office are subject to the same HMRC tax rules as any other organisation, as set out here: https://www.gov.uk/termination-payments-and-tax-when-you-leave-a-job.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 86049, on Official Residences: Repairs and Maintenance, whether his department holds records on the costs of (a) works, (b) fittings and (c) fixtures to the Ministerial residence in 1 Carlton Gardens since 4 July 2024.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) does not hold the specific information requested. The FCDO has a Facilities Management contract - awarded in 2018 - that provides services to its entire UK Estate, including the offices, meeting rooms, function rooms, residence and wider grounds at 1 Carlton Gardens. It is not possible to separate the costs of maintenance works on the residence from the rest of the property and in a number of cases from our other properties.