Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 70563 on Admiralty House: Valuation, what the valuation was; and whether each residence is valued.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Admiralty House as a whole was valued at £18.2 Million. The residences formed part of the valuation, however, they were not individually valued separately to the rest of the building.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has provided to special advisers on the definition of personal hospitality.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers requires special advisers to declare details of gifts and hospitality received in accordance with the rules set out in their departmental staff handbooks. The Special Advisers’ Transparency Guidance available on GOV.UK provides further details of requirements for reporting of gifts, hospitality and meetings with senior media figures.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered (a) banning vaping in pubs, (b) banning 16 and 17 year olds from buying zero alcohol drinks in pubs and (c) raising the drink drive limit to support the economic viability of pubs.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade is not responsible for bans on vaping in pubs, restrictions on zero-alcohol drinks for 16–17-year-olds, or changes to drink-drive limits. These matters fall under the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Department for Transport

DHSC advises that while vapes are less harmful than smoking, they are not risk-free and plans to consult on making most indoor settings vape-free. Many pubs already prohibit vaping voluntarily. In Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Government committed to explore prohibiting sales of no- and low-alcohol drinks to under-18s including prohibiting sales to individuals under the age of 18 years old. This policy is being pursued as these alcohol substitute drinks are intended for consumption by adults. DHSC Officials are scoping details and will update stakeholders in due course.

This Government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. In 2023 there were 1,624 people killed on GB roads. There were an estimated 260 people killed in collisions involving drink driving, accounting for 16% of total fatalities in 2023. Given the significant casualties caused by drink driving, we have no plans to increase the drink drive limit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the hon Member for Hampstead and Highgate received a Ministerial severance payment.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Ministerial severance is payable under the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 when a Minister leaves office and meets the following statutory conditions:

Ministers who have not attained the age of 65 and are not appointed to a relevant ministerial or other paid office within 3 weeks of the last day of service, are eligible for a severance payment of one quarter of the annual ministerial salary being paid.

Details of HM Treasury ministerial severance payments, including recipients and amounts, are published in the annual report and accounts.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce a ban on (a) vaping and (b) smoking outside (i) pubs, (ii) restaurants and (iii) nightclubs.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill allows the Government to expand current indoor smoking restrictions to outdoor public places and workplaces via secondary legislation. The bill also gives the Government powers to make most public places and workplaces that are smoke-free also vape-free. Exactly which settings should become smoke-free and vape-free will be subject to a full consultation. However, we are not considering extending smoke-free or vape-free places to outdoor hospitality settings, such as outside pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance (a) her Department and (b) the Financial Conduct Authority has given to financial institutions on the anti-money laundering checks on (i) UK domestic Politically Exposed Persons and (ii) their spouses or partners when purchasing a house to determine the true source of (A) deposits and (B) equity.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Guidance for financial institutions on the treatment of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) is published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and can be found here:

FG25/3: Treatment of politically exposed persons | FCA

The guidance was updated in July 2025, including to clarify that unless other enhanced risk factors are present, UK PEPs and their relatives must be subject to a lower level of enhanced due diligence than overseas PEPs.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data her Department holds on the revenue from stamp duty land tax on primary homes in the last financial year for which figures are available by (a) local authority and (b) Parliamentary constituency.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not collect data via the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) return on whether a residential property will serve as a primary residence. However, the Higher Rates for Additional Dwellings (HRAD) apply when an individual acquires a residential property while already owning another piece of residential property anywhere in the world.

SDLT paid on homes which did not pay HRAD on a local authority basis can be calculated using Table 7b and on a Parliamentary constituency basis using Table 8b of the UK Stamp Tax statistics publication available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-stamp-tax-statistics

In both cases, SDLT paid on homes which did not pay HRAD is calculated by subtracting HRAD receipts from Residential receipts. Please note that the statistics publication covers the temporary thresholds period ending 1 April 2025 so the HRAD share may be higher than usual.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question HL10734 on USA: Diplomatic Service, whether the ongoing work involved expenditure whilst Lord Mandelson was Ambassador.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Refurbishment work at our Embassy in Washington DC began in June 2019. The majority of work was completed in 2023, with limited aspects ongoing.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had discussions with BT Openreach on the cyber-security of the CL-WAP telephone and internet exchange adjacent to the Royal Mint.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure. The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduced a robust security framework requiring public telecoms providers to identify, reduce and prepare for security and resilience risks.

The Government does not comment on discussions around the security of specific sites.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when her Department will provide a response to the letter from the Hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton dated 18 September 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

A response to the letter from the Hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton was issued on 6 November.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had discussions with (a) Camden Council and (b) Southwark Council on (i) regulation of landlords and (ii) selective licensing since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department engages regularly with a broad range of local authorities on matters including the regulation of landlords and selective licensing.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many applications for a selective licensing designation were approved between 4 July 2024 and 23 December 2024.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department approved applications for Selective Licensing submitted by Waltham Forest and Blackpool in November 2024.

Between July 2024 and the introduction of the 2024 General Approval on 23 December 2024, Burnley, Barking and Dagenham, and Lambeth submitted applications to introduce or expand large schemes.

These were superseded by the 2024 General Approval which enables local authorities to introduce selective licensing schemes of any size without seeking approval from the Secretary of State. These applications therefore did not require approval from my Department.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 76281 on Ministers: Redundancy Pay, when Ministers were asked to sign the waiver.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The reforms took effect from 13 October 2025 with waivers issued accordingly.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much and what proportion of the average energy bill for households not in receipt of the Warm Homes Discount was allocated to support the Warm Homes Discount in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK Government has statutory duties to address and reduce fuel poverty and is committed to helping the poorest in our society. The expanded Warm Home Discount will support around 6m households this winter, offering essential support through the winter for those in or at risk of fuel poverty.

The scheme’s expansion to 2.7 million additional households will be cost neutral, with costs offset through Ofgem’s work to reduce energy debt.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Certification Officer has received (a) representations and (b) complaints on the elections of the Unite trade union.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Certification Officer does not comment on whether any complaints are under consideration.

The Certification Officer lists all forthcoming hearings and publishes all decisions on their website.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local billing authorities on (a) the length of time that council taxpayers should be given to pay and (b) when council tax bills are considered to be in arrears.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government has recently consulted on modernising and improving the administration of council tax. This included seeking views on the current processes in place to recover council tax. We are currently reviewing all responses to the consultation and will publish our response in due course.

A person is considered to be in arrears from the day they have missed a payment. Councils cannot carry out formal enforcement action until after they have issued a reminder and then acquired a liability order confirming the amount owed.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) members of the Royal Family and (b) parliamentarians will be required to have digital ID cards.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There will be no requirement to enrol in Digital ID. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks by the end of this Parliament.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 26 September 2025 to Question HL9585 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, when it was registered as a second home.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

As the property was a second residence, the Government was responsible for paying the Council Tax on Admiralty House, not the former Deputy Prime Minister - in line with long-standing precedent under successive governments.

As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government Property Agency is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council for matters concerning residency at Admiralty House.

Following 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 on the date the invoice was received from Westminster City Council.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 74185 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, for what reason the second homes council tax premium was paid in August 2025.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Honorable Member to 74185 which has since been corrected.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 22 September 2025, to Question 76278, Lord Mandelson, what (a) vetting and (b) due diligence was carried out prior to the public announcement of the appointment of Lord Mandelson, and by whom.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 October to to Question 76245.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has the Cabinet Office spent in John Lewis since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office procures furniture, furnishings, and work-related items from a range of suppliers. It is sometimes the case that required items can be procured cheaper at great British brands such as John Lewis. This has been the practice under previous administrations. Value for money is always central to purchase decisions.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what information the Speaker's Committee holds on whether the Electoral Commission has held discussions with the Government on the length of time councillors will have remained in post during the process of unitary local government restructuring.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission has had discussions with MHCLG officials about the proposals for local government reorganisation and the implications for elections.

The Commission has said that delaying elections for more than one year can affect the legitimacy of local decision making and risks damaging public confidence. Scheduled polls should only be postponed in exceptional circumstances when no alternative options are available.

The Commission understands the Government is working with councils on their reorganisation plans, and in the meantime, continues to support the electoral community as it prepares for the scheduled polls next May.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many hereditaments claimed Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief in each local authority in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Data on the number of hereditaments that claimed Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief are collected annually as part of National Non-Domestic Rates collected by councils in England. The latest data available is for 31 December 2024 collected via the 2025-26 data collection. They are published as supplementary tables.

Data as at 31 December 2023 can be found here

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/663b98e474933dccbbb6c431/NNDR1_2024-25_Supplementary_table.xlsx

Data as at 31 December 2024 can be found here

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67d2c9c4814acba3755e97c1/NNDR1_2025-26_Supplementary_table__ecomms_.xlsx.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether any local government boundary restructuring exercises have been (a) cancelled and (b) paused by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England as a result of potential unitary local government restructuring; and whether the Commission has had discussions with the Government on the potential (a) cancellation and (b) postponement of scheduled local elections in May 2026.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

In February 2025, following the issuing of a statutory invitation to submit unitary proposals to all two-tier authorities, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England took the decision to pause all live reviews in those areas.

In total, 40 reviews have been paused as a result. No reviews have been cancelled as a result of local government reorganisation.

The Commission has had no discussions with the Government on the potential for cancellation or postponement of the local elections scheduled for May 2026.