Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 701–720 of 3,003 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what due diligence was undertaken for the appointment of the UK ambassador to the US.
Normal pre-employment processes, including vetting, are routinely carried out prior to all senior civil service appointments.
For what reason his Department pays council tax on Ministerial residences which are deemed to be second homes.
It has been long-standing government policy, in place for successive administrations, including for the previous government the Hon member served in, that where a minister occupies an official residence on a second home basis, the government pays the council tax.
How much council tax was paid by his Department on the Deputy Prime Minister’s flat in Admiralty House in each month since 4 July 2024.
The council tax charges levied by Westminster City Council are available online on their website at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-bands-and-chargesFollowing the introduction of the second homes premium, this has been paid in full in a one-off full payment in July 2025. This payment was made by the Government Property Agency on the date the Notice was received from Westminster City Council.
Whether his Department has issued guidance to special advisers on undertaking opposition research involving individual politicians.
As has been the case under successive governments, special advisers are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers at all times. No specific guidance has been issued on special advisers undertaking opposition research involving individual politicians.
Whether his Department has provided guidance on whether Ministerial meetings arranged through the Labour Infrastructure Forum should be declared in Ministerial transparency returns.
The Ministerial Code sets out principles for Ministers on meetings with external organisations. Guidance published by the Cabinet Office at the following link sets out the information departments are required to publish as part of their Ministerial transparency return: -https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance.
Pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 68481 on 10 Downing Street: ICT, whether Number 10 has its own operational Bloomberg terminal, independent from the Treasury ones.
I refer my Hon Friend to the answer of 23 July, Official Report, PQ 68481.
Whether he has issued guidance to special advisers on undertaking (a) national and (b) local political activities during working hours when accompanying Ministers in a local election purdah period.
The rules for national and local political activities are set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 54875 on Admiralty House: Council Tax, whether Council Tax (a) discount, exemption, disregard and (b) premium is applied to the Government's bill for each of the unoccupied Admiralty House ministerial residences in 2025-26.
Discount, exemption, disregard and premiums billing for Admiralty House are determined by the Local Authority. In this instance, this would be Westminster City Council.
Pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 68763 on Alcoholic Drinks, for what reason domestic alcohol production is excluded from green bonds.
All eligible policies financed by the Green Financing Programme are drawn from policies agreed by HM Treasury and departments in the Spending Review. These policies are assessed based on their contribution to the government’s climate and environmental objectives. The Framework excludes financing of the direct manufacture of alcoholic beverages, alongside other named exclusions, in line with international convention and investor expectations for green bond frameworks. This approach enables the UK’s green gilts to be accessible to the greatest possible pool of investors, improving value-for-money.
What recent estimate he has made of the number of headcount members of the Government Communication Service; and what estimate he has made of the number of embedded communications across central government that are not included with the Government Communication Service.
Government Communications is made up of around 6,000 professional communicators from across the UK, supporting and promoting the work of 25 ministerial departments, 21 non-ministerial departments and over 300 agencies and other public bodies. The list provided for the response to IR2025/05101 breaks this down further, and will be submitted for entry into the House of Commons library. The Government Communication Service headcount can be found on Gov.uk at this link here.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has received representations from the Mayor of London on the provision in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to disqualify a person from being a mayor and a Member of Parliament simultaneously.
My department has engaged with Mayors and the local government sector ahead of publication of the English Devolution White Paper, where this policy was introduced. The post of mayor is a significant role at the forefront of delivering change and demands the full attention of any post holder. That is why the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will prohibit individuals from holding the office of Member of Parliament (or being a member of the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and mayor simultaneously. This is already the case for Mayors who hold Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities.
Pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 68482 on House of Lords Composition, how the Select Committee on the composition of the House of Lords will be selected; what will be the political balance; and whether it will be a Joint Committee with this representation from the House of Commons.
As stated in the Answer of 24 July, the Government intends to propose the establishment of a House of Lords Select Committee to look at how best to implement the manifesto commitments on a retirement age and participation requirement. The details of the Select Committee, including its proposed chair, membership and timescales of reporting, will be put to the House of Lords for agreement after the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill receives Royal Assent.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Downing Street press release entitled PM call with President Xi Jinping of China: 23 August 2024, what discussions the Prime Minister had with President Xi Jinping during the telephone call on the proposed Chinese Embassy in London.
During his phone call with President Xi on 23 August 2024, the Prime Minister set out his priorities for his government, including national security, secure borders and economic stability.The leaders discussed areas of shared collaboration, and potential areas of cooperation between the UK and China, including on trade, the economy and education.As permanent members of the UN Security Council, the leaders agreed on the importance of close working in areas such as climate change and global security.A readout of this discussion can be found on gov.uk.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 July 2025 to Question 66478 on Innovation: Beer and Public Houses, for what reason implementation of provisions on raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume from 0.05%, proposed in the consultation entitled Updating labelling guidance for no and low-alcohol alternatives of September 2023, is delayed.
In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to tackling harmful levels of alcohol consumption through exploring options to standardise which products can describe themselves as alcohol free. One of the first steps will be to explore raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV, aligning with international standards.Alongside the plan, 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 the study being available in the coming year.
With reference to the press release entitled Senior business leaders bolster Treasury board of 13 August 2025, whether the three new Board members had declarable political activity.
Appointments to the HMT Board are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Sir Charlie Mayfield, Edward Twiddy and Jenny Scott have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the sale of allotments.
There are strict criteria in place to protect statutory allotments – these are sites covered by the Allotment Act 1925. A local authority cannot sell or dispose of statutory allotment land without the consent of the Secretary of State, who will only grant it if they are satisfied that either adequate alternative provision is made for displaced plot holders, or that such provision is unnecessary or not reasonably practicable.The rules on sales of assets have also been in place since 2016 and they have not changed. In fact, ministerial approval for sales of allotments were lower in 2024/25 than the average for previous years.The information regarding the number of people on waiting lists for an allotment is held by individual Local Authorities, not MHCLG, as they have the responsibility for the running, management and organisation of allotments.Government has made no formal assessment on the merits of selling statutory allotment sites in rural or smaller communities. The protections under the Allotment Act 1925, and the requirements under the Small Holdings and Allotment Act 1908 for local authorities to provide allotments where there is demand, provides the framework to ensure allotments are available to all communities.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government’s Elections Strategy, published on 17 July 2025, whether prepaid cards will be permitted as voter identification.
Prepaid cards will be accepted as voter ID if they are issued by a UK bank and display the elector’s name.We will be bringing forward the relevant legislation when Parliamentary time allows.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62882 on Elections: Essex, for what reason Castle Point district council is listed as having elections in May 2026.
Since responding to Question UIN 62882 on 30 June 2025, it has been drawn to our attention that Castle Point Borough Council has resolved to change from electing by thirds to holding whole council elections every four years and is not therefore due to hold elections in May 2026. There is no duty on councils to inform government when they change their scheme of elections and I am grateful for the opportunity to correct the record.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 August 2025 to Question HL9888 on Elections: Political Parties, which smaller political parties or third parties have been restricted from dual registering as both a political party and a third party.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 69631 on 3 September 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has issued guidance to ambassadors on their participation in (a) fundraising and (b) other party political activity.
All members of the Senior Civil Service are subject to the Civil Service Management Code.