Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 9 October 2026 to Question 22075 on Asylum: Finance, whether empty homes will be used and re-purposed to provide asylum accommodation for this programme.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is working across government to explore innovative models of asylum accommodation that achieve value for money and support asylum system reform and further detail will be provided in due course. New council housing will not be used by asylum seekers under any circumstances.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Visitor Levy Consultation Government Response, of 10 September 2026, and further to the £18 million a year revenue estimate for the Liverpool City Region in the associated departmental press release, what estimate has been made by HM Treasury of the potential gross annual revenue to strategic authorities.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The impact of the Visitor Levy, including revenue raised, will largely depend on local decisions. It will be for strategic authorities to decide whether to introduce a levy and the appropriate rate for their area, informed by local consultation. If a levy is introduced, local leaders will decide how to invest revenues raised to support local growth and deliver improvements for residents, businesses and visitors.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the written statement of 13 October 2026, HCSWS363, on Improving housing availability and affordability, whether local housing authorities obtaining an Empty Dwelling Management Order from a Residential Property Tribunal include the right to possession of the furniture of that dwelling.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The reforms to Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO) announced on 27 September 2026 have not changed the rules on possession of furniture.
As set out in paragraph 20 of Schedule 7 to the Housing Act 2004, the local authority will have the right to possession of the furniture of that dwelling for the duration of the order beginning on the date that the EDMO comes into effect. The homeowner will have the ability to remove their furniture before the order comes into effect. If the homeowner wants to take possession of any items of furniture after an EDMO has come into force the local authority must comply with the request as long as the dwelling has not already become occupied.
While the EDMO is in effect, should the local authority renounce its right to the possession of the furniture they must make appropriate arrangements for its storage at their own cost.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the policy of the Ministry for Justice on whether written representations to its consultations and calls for evidence from an individual or organisation subject to a MOJ policy of non-engagement are (a) considered or (b) not considered.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice does not operate a policy of non-engagement with individuals or organisations.
Written representations to consultations and calls for evidence are considered in accordance with the arrangements for each exercise.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2026, to Question 9743, on Anti-Muslim Hostility, whether there is any internal guidance on the issue held by (a) his department, (b) the HM Courts and Tribunals Service and (c) HM Prison and Probation Service, other than the definition document published by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and HM Prison and Probation service do not hold any internal guidance on Anti-Muslim Hostility.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made for her policies of the report, Reservation agreements: Informing the design of an effective offer, published 8 September 2026.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has considered the findings of the report in question. The home buying and selling reforms set out in the roadmap published on 19 June, which can be found on gov.uk here, were informed by wider and more recent evidence as well as engagement with industry professionals.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2026 to Question 29185 on Air Conditioning, whether the Building Safety Regulator will be consulting as part of its review; and what are the full terms of reference for the review, and the timetable for it to report.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As part of its full technical review of Part O (Overheating) of the Building Regulations, the Building Safety Regulator will consider feedback received from a wide range of stakeholders, including the responses to the 2023 call for evidence on Part O, and will conduct further engagement with relevant stakeholders to inform its work.
Any decisions on potential changes to the regulatory requirements or statutory guidance will be informed by the findings of the technical review. Should changes be proposed, the government will consider the appropriate form of stakeholder consultation at that stage.
Further details will be made available in due course.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the answer of 16 May 2025, to Question 50105, on Help to Buy Scheme, and with reference to the Evaluation of the Help to Buy scheme: evaluation findings report, published 15 September 2026, whether HM Treasury has had recent discussions with banks and building societies on the potential merits of re-introducing the Help to Buy housing scheme for first time buyers.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the Hon. Member to the announcement made by the Prime Minister on the 26 October, committing to a new equity loan scheme: Your First Home. We will announce further details including costs and implementation timelines at Autumn Budget.
New first-time buyer scheme to be confirmed at Budget - GOV.UK
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2026, to Question 20296, on JP Morgan: Business Rates, on what date will the business rate relief start, and what is the financial value of the cap.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
A new building becomes liable for business rates when it is practically complete and ready for occupation for the purpose for which it was intended.
The financial value of the cap on the business rates relief is covered by confidentiality provisions and is subject to a subsidy control process. It has been calculated to ensure that the programme delivers value for money for the taxpayer.