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 answers of 16 October 2026 to Questions 29562 and 30079 on Political Parties: Finance, and with reference to the UK minimum residency period that will apply from 6 July 2026 but before the announcement of the enhanced residency test, whether it is her policy intent that a domestically registered elector, who had a permanent residency in both a UK dwelling and in an overseas dwelling, (a) would or (b) would not be classed an overseas contributor for the purposes of the UK residency test in relation to donations from July 2026.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
An elector who has been resident in the UK from 25 March 2026 would not be classed as an overseas contributor and would not be subject to the minimum residency period. If an individual ceases to be resident in the UK after this date, they will be subject to the minimum residency period for at least a full calendar year on their return.
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, for what reason the 2023-24 uprating of election spending limits by inflation is being reviewed by the Electoral Commission.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is of the opinion that an independent assessment is needed regarding the adequacy of current spending limits across electoral law. That is why we have asked the Electoral Commission to undertake a review of spending limits for political parties, third-party campaigners, and candidates by July 2027.
The Government believes an impartial review of the evidence is needed to identify whether there is a case for reform in this area, with proper consultation among political parties and other interested stakeholders. As the independent regulator, the Electoral Commission is best placed to carry out this review. This will ensure the entire spending limit framework is scrutinised and fit for purpose.
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 16 October 2026 to Question 30933 on Elections: Northern Ireland, whether the uprated election spending limits in Northern Ireland will be subject to the Electoral Commission’s review of election spending limits.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Secretary of State has written to the independent Electoral Commission asking it to review registered political party, third-party campaigner and candidate spending limits in electoral law, with recommendations requested by July 2027. This will include consideration of local government elections in Northern Ireland.
As the independent regulator, the Electoral Commission is best placed to propose new limits where they are appropriate. This will ensure the entire spending limit framework is scrutinised and fit for purpose.
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 16 October 2026 to Questions 30079 on Political Parties: Finance, whether the enhanced residency test provisions will supersede and disapply the provisions for the Bill announced on 6 July 2026.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government will be introducing an enhanced residency test for political donors, ensuring that individuals who have been overseas for a set amount of time in the recent past cannot donate significant sums to political parties without demonstrating a genuine long-term connection to the United Kingdom.
Further details on the enhanced residency test, including interactions with the present minimum residency period, will be set out 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, pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2026 to Question 29561 on Political Parties: Finance, whether the commencement date referred to in the answer is donations made after (a) the retrospective commencement date of 25 March 2026, (b) the retrospective commencement date of 6 July 2026 or (c) the legislative commencement date of the provision after Royal Assent.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Donations made on or after 25 March 2026 and 6 July 2026 are subject to the Government’s respective policy announcements on overseas contributors. Donations made before this date, regardless of an individual’s overseas status, are not covered by the £100,000 cap.
Further details on how the cap applies, including details on retrospectivity, can be found in the Government’s letter to representatives of political parties dated 6 July 2026, published on gov.uk, as well as the letter published on 25 March 2026, also on gov.uk.
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, whether her Department defines Supplementary Vote as a proportional voting system.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The supplementary vote system requires the winning candidate to receive the majority of votes counted, rather than the First Past the Post system used for Westminster elections.
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 guidance has her Department issued on whether individuals with no housing need should be added to housing waiting lists.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local authorities are responsible for developing and operating their own allocation schemes within a statutory framework. They have the power to set qualification criteria reflecting local circumstances, including whether applicants must demonstrate a housing need to join their housing register.
Inclusion on a housing register does not in itself mean priority for housing nor guarantee an allocation of housing.
Statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local housing authorities in England can be found on gov.uk here.
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 he has made of whether the Your First Home scheme will be accessible to buyers in (a) London and (b) the Home Counties.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Your First Home scheme will be accessible to first-time buyers across England who meet the eligibility criteria. Full eligibility rules will be published before applications open.
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 12 October 2026 to Question HL3481 on Political Parties: Finance, what proportion of the estimated 31% to 34% reduction in donations is from domestic donations which are not linked to foreign financial interference.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
These estimates reflect the proportion of previously permissible company donations that may not meet the strengthened company donation rules; it does not assess whether individual donations are linked to foreign interference. These rules are designed to strengthen the integrity of the political finance system by ensuring that company donations are underpinned by genuine economic activity in the UK.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has issued guidance on councils levying garden waste charges based on the council tax banding of the dwelling.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Local authorities have had the option to charge for a garden waste collection since 1992, as per the Controlled Waste (England & Wales) Regulations 2012. Some may choose to charge for such collections due to local circumstances and economic drivers. They have the flexibility to make the best choices to suit local need.