Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office is paying a second homes council tax premium to Westminster Council for any Ministerial residence in 2026-27.

Councils in England may apply the second homes premium to Council Tax for dwellings which are substantially furnished but have no resident. Westminster City Council has applied the second homes premium to Council Tax charges for 2026/27 in respect of all such properties for which the Cabinet Office is currently responsible, and payments are being made as a matter of routine.