Written questions by Hollinrake.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether there is a memorandum of understanding between the Electoral Commission and the House of Commons on the reporting and enforcement regime for political donations for hon. Members.

The Electoral Commission has a memorandum of understanding with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which outlines how the two reporting regimes operate in a way which reduces the administrative burden on MPs. The Commission regularly reviews how the regimes operate and makes recommendations to Parliament to ensure the systems work effectively together and minimise the administrative burden on parliamentarians.

Whether the former Deputy Prime Minister (the Rt Hon Member for Ashton-under-Lyne) will publish a tax return for the period of time that she was Deputy Prime Minister for the 2024-25 tax year.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2026 to Question 119365 on Members: Dual Jobholding, whether he plans to amend the House of Commons Code of Conduct to ban hon. Members taking secondary employment through speakers’ bureaus and paid speaking engagements.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response provided to his question 119365.I look forward to working with the Committee on Standards as it continues its inquiry into MPs’ employment and outside interests.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that historic communications and reasonable expectations of pension scheme members are reflected in trustee governance and decision-making.

The Pensions Regulator has published guidance on trustee duties and expects trustees, when considering discretionary benefit increases, to assess whether doing so would be in members’ interests, including any consistent history or practice of making such awards.DWP’s recent consultation, “Trust based pension schemes: Trustees and governance, building a stronger future” sought views on ensuring that trustee boards take into account the perspectives of members in their decision making. We are currently analysing responses to the consultation.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made a formal assessment of the impact of the pavement licensing regime on the hospitality industry.

In October 2025, the Government launched a call for evidence seeking views on the recommendations from the report of the Licensing Taskforce. This shaped the development of the National Licensing Policy Framework published in November 2025. We will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, police and residents, to take forward the recommendations made by the Taskforce including around pavement licences.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the pavement licenses on the hospitality industry for each of the last two years.

In October 2025, the Government launched a call for evidence seeking views on the recommendations from the report of the Licensing Taskforce. This shaped the development of the National Licensing Policy Framework published in November 2025. We will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, police and residents, to take forward the recommendations made by the Taskforce including around pavement licences.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent changes to the treatment of pensions within inheritance tax on the adequacy of the current timeframe for the payment of inheritance tax.

The changes to the inheritance tax treatment of pensions are consistent with the process which already exists for administering estates and paying any tax due. Personal representatives are already responsible for administering the rest of the estate, including non-discretionary pension schemes which are already in scope of inheritance tax. The Government recognises the general difficulties that some personal representatives may face in paying the inheritance tax due and already offers several payment options to help.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, under what circumstances the FCDO may offer consular support or make representations on behalf of dual British nationals detained or charged in their other country of nationality.

Guidance on eligibility for UK consular assistance is publicly-available at GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/who-the-fcdo-can-support-abroad. If the Hon Member has a specific case that he wishes me to look into, he should write to me setting out the details.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether British diplomatic posts may conduct welfare checks or monitor legal proceedings involving dual British nationals detained or charged in their other country of nationality.

Guidance on eligibility for UK consular assistance is publicly-available at GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/who-the-fcdo-can-support-abroad. If the Hon Member has a specific case that he wishes me to look into, he should write to me setting out the details.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance his Department provides on the provision of consular assistance to British nationals who also hold citizenship of the country in which they are detained or subject to legal proceedings.

Guidance on eligibility for UK consular assistance is publicly-available at GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/who-the-fcdo-can-support-abroad. If the Hon Member has a specific case that he wishes me to look into, he should write to me setting out the details.

Whether his Department is still working towards the Smokefree 2030 ambition for England.

The Government’s ambition is to deliver a smoke-free United Kingdom, and we are going even further than the smoke-free 2030 target.The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will create the first smoke-free generation which is expected to help reduce smoking rates of 14- to 30-year-olds to near zero by 2050.

When intends to publish an answer to Question 111735, tabled on 9 February 2026, on Morgan McSweeney.

A response has been issued here.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102809 on Solar Power: Decommissioning, if he will make it his policy to issue such guidance.

Developers are required to set out arrangements for decommissioning in their planning applications, as set out in National Policy Statement EN-3. The Department has no current plans to publish separate guidance.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102805 on Solar Power: Land Use, what evidence underpins the decision to make Soil Resources and Management Plans advisory rather than mandatory.

The policy on encouraging rather than mandating developers to implement Soil Resources and Management Plans is set out in National Policy Statement EN-3 which was updated in 2026 and has been subject to public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. The National Policy Statements set clear requirements that the mitigation hierarchy must be applied to environmental impacts. The requirement to produce a Soil Resources and Management Plan is frequently included in individual planning conditions enforced by local authorities. The effectiveness of planning policies and guidance are monitored to ensure mitigation and reporting requirements are still appropriate.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102809 on Solar Power: Decommissioning, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating the return to previous use of sites previously used for solar.

The National Policy Statements require applicants to assess and mitigate for environmental impacts of their proposals across the lifecycle of the proposed development, including decommissioning. No specific assessment has been made on mandating the return of sites to their previous use. This requirement is usually included in a planning condition enforced by local authorities.

When she intends to publish an answer to Question 113817, tabled on 20 February 2026, on Public Houses: Business Rates.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN113817 on 1 April 2026.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102805 on Solar Power: Land Use, if he will make it his policy to mandate implementation a Soil Resources and Management Plan for solar projects on agricultural land.

Guidance on how land type should be considered in determining the location of largescale solar projects is included in National Policy Statement EN-3. There are no current plans to make the production of a Soil Resources and Management Plan mandatory for solar projects on agricultural land.

When he intends to publish an answer to Question 112198, tabled on 10 February 2026, on Lord Mandelson.

A response has been issued here.

When he intends to publish an answer to Question 113780, tabled on 20 February 2026, on Labour Together.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to PQ 113780 on 24 March 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish an answer to Question 118227, tabled on 5 March 2026, on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Secondment.

An answer to Question 118227 was published on 16 April 2026.