Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2026 to Question HL1337 on Anti-Muslim Hostility, in what manner have the (a) Law Officers and (b) Government Legal Department adopted the new definition, and what changes have or are being made to government legal guidance.
Answered by Andy Slaughter - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government has adopted its definition of anti-Muslim hostility and will refer to it when developing and revising relevant policy. The Government encourages organisations to use it in ways they consider useful and lawful. The definition is non-statutory and does not alter or replace legal duties or statutory guidance.
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 28 August 2026 to Questions 18015 and 18016 on Political Parties: Finance, whether the new residency declaration and test will be retrospectively applied to donations since 25 March 2026 in relation to individuals continually registered as domestic electors but residing abroad.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has been clear that donors contributing above the ÂŁ100,000 annual cap should demonstrate a genuine and ongoing connection to the United Kingdom.
We are therefore considering ways to strengthen the residency requirements so that the policy achieves its intended effect and cannot be readily circumvented.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Public Works Loan Board is a non-discretionary lender; and what consideration has been given to the potential merits of it assessing the purpose of a municipal loan application.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The assessment of Public Works Loan Board loan applications is the responsibility of each local authority’s Section 151 (finance) Officer, who must be satisfied that they are acting in line with statute and affordability considerations. This framework preserves the principle that local authorities are accountable to their electorates for their decisions. The Public Works Loan Board prevents its loans being used to fund purely commercial investments, but otherwise operates as a non-discretionary lender.
HM Treasury keeps the PWLB’s lending arrangements under review to ensure borrowing supports local investment while managing risks to the public finances.
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 (a) meetings and (b) correspondence she has had with Propertymark.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Details of ministerial meetings are published on gov.uk on a quarterly basis. The Secretary of State has not exchanged ministerial correspondence with Propertymark, not has she met with Propertymark since her reappointment.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for National Statistics has made an assessment of the impact of council tax levels on the cost of living.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 9th September is attached.
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 28 August 2026 to Question 18180 on Air Conditioning, whether she plans to hold a public consultation on the Building Safety Regulator’s review of Part O.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government committed to undertaking a full technical review of Part O of the Building Regulations in its response to the Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation. This review, which is being led by the Building Safety Regulator, is now underway.
The review will consider whether any changes to Part O or the associated statutory guidance are needed, informed by evidence from the 2023 call for evidence and stakeholder feedback. Ministers will consider how best to proceed once the review has concluded.
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, with reference to the answer of 7 July 2026 to Question HL1337 on Anti-Muslim Hostility, how her Department is engaging central and local public authorities on the new definition; and whether the engagement includes police forces.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department is engaging with sectors to consider the best approaches support effective implementation of the definition of 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, pursuant to the Answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 15737 on Elections: Pilot Schemes, what was the topic of the planned protest on election day that lead to Plymouth City Council withdrawing from the pilot scheme.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Participation in the flexible voting pilots is voluntary and is a matter for Returning Officers, who are responsible for the conduct and security of elections in their area.
The Government is not in a position to comment on operational or security matters considered by the Returning Officer at Plymouth City Council.
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, with reference to the High Value Council Tax Surcharge consultations, published 19 May 2026, whether any single person discount will apply to the council tax surcharge.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has consulted on the design of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, including proposed exemptions and support arrangements and will publish its response in due course.
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, which minister in her Department is responsible for issues relating to late-night licensing.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I am the minister responsible for late-night licensing in this department. However, the Home Office is the responsible department for licensing, more broadly.