Written questions by Simmonds.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered updating the electoral offence of making a false statement of fact in relation to the candidate’s personal character or conduct to help tackle the dissemination of deepfake material which is designed to mislead.

The government recognises the threat that deepfakes and misleading material pose to elections and the importance of ensuring that electoral law is fit for a modern electoral environment. The government continually assesses the effectiveness of electoral law. Where the law is found to be ineffective or outdated, we will take appropriate action.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2026, to Question 109808, on England: Anniversaries, if he will hold discussions with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) any other local authority on potential events to celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of the foundation of the Kingdom of England.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 85176 on 24 November 2025, which confirmed that MHCLG currently is not responsible for anniversaries of this type. If the hon. Member is keen to raise this with the Mayor of London himself, his office can be contacted via Contact us form | London City Hall.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Outcomes Framework of 9 February 2026, what consideration was given to having a metric on the frequency of household bin collections.

The Local Outcomes Framework sets out 16 national priority outcomes delivered at the local level and driven by councils as local leaders of place. Metrics in the Local Outcomes Framework were chosen from publicly available data adhering to clear quality standards, and after engaging widely with local government and interested parties. The Framework’s Environment, Circular Economy and Climate Change outcome includes three waste outcome metrics that cover a key area of statutory responsibility for local authorities and are further supported by the fly tipping metric in the Neighbourhoods outcome. Local authorities remain responsible for deciding how often to collect residual (non‑recyclable) waste and dry recycling, based on local needs. A metric on this is therefore not included in the Outcomes Framework.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of HC6 in the new draft National Planning Policy Framework on the last public house in a locality.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 105500 on 20 January 2026.We are currently analysing the feedback received to the consultation and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Statement of 2 March 2026 on Flexible Voting Pilots, HCWS1375, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending such measures nationwide.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 84647 on 29 October 2025, UIN 118656 on 16 March 2026, and UIN 116760 on 25 March 2026. The government have worked closely with the Electoral Commission in the design of the pilots, and will continue to work with them on their evaluation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 2 March 2026, HCWS1375, on Flexible Voting Pilots, how many and which councils applied to be pilots; and what were the criteria used to select those which were chosen.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 84647 on 29 October 2025, UIN 118656 on 16 March 2026, and UIN 116760 on 25 March 2026. The government have worked closely with the Electoral Commission in the design of the pilots, and will continue to work with them on their evaluation.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Electoral Commission was consulted by his department prior to the publication of the prospectus on local election pilots in May 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 84647 on 29 October 2025, UIN 118656 on 16 March 2026, and UIN 116760 on 25 March 2026. The government have worked closely with the Electoral Commission in the design of the pilots, and will continue to work with them on their evaluation.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 2 March 2026, HCWS1375, on Flexible Voting Pilots, how much additional central government funding will be provided to each council to assist with the pilots in 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 84647 on 29 October 2025, UIN 118656 on 16 March 2026, and UIN 116760 on 25 March 2026. The government have worked closely with the Electoral Commission in the design of the pilots, and will continue to work with them on their evaluation.

Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to split the funding of New Towns into separate waves.

On 23 March 2026, the government launched a public consultation on the proposed New Towns Programme and its environmental implications. This can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation makes clear that the seven locations we propose to take forward as part of the Programme are at different stages of maturity and require different types of intervention and support – including blends of public and private capital – to achieve their potential. Following the consultation and completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessments, the government intends to publish final proposals and confirm the new towns locations later in the Summer. We will publish a full government response to the recommendations of the New Towns Taskforce, including more detail on how our confirmed locations will be delivered in line with our ambition for the programme.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2026 to Question 78241 on MHCLG: Ministers’ Private Offices, whether there are any (a) direct ministerial appointments or (b) external paid consultants who provide advice to Ministers on housing and planning.

MHCLG ministers are advised by civil servants employed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Given the technical nature of this work, the Department does procure some technical planning advice. All Ministerial advice from within the Department, however, is provided by civil servantsThere are two Direct Ministerial Appointments as part of the Euston Housing Delivery Group and the Oxford Growth Commission where advice on housing and planning may form elements of advice to Ministers in the specific circumstances of Euston and Oxford. The Chair of the Euston Housing Delivery Group was appointed on 15 October 2024. The Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission was appointed on 12 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what is the most recent estimate of the number of qualified Commonwealth citizens on the UK Parliamentary electoral roll in (a) England and (b) the United Kingdom.

While there are no official statistics specifically on qualifying Commonwealth citizens currently living in the UK who are registered to vote, Electoral Commission figures estimate that 66% of this group may be registered to vote (as at 2023). Further information on the Electoral Commission can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Communities and Local Government, what the most recent estimate is of the number of qualifying EU citizens on the local election roll in England.

The government does not hold data on the number of qualifying EU citizens on the local government electoral register in England.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) previously published estimates of the number of EU citizens eligible to vote in Local Government elections in England but has not produced equivalent estimates following changes to EU citizens’ voting rights implemented through the Elections Act 2022.

Communities and Local Government, what will happen to the Best Value interventions in Surrey when the district councils are abolished; and whether there will be any central government monitoring or intervention in the new unitary councils in relation to the legacy issues.

The current Best Value arrangements for Woking and Spelthorne Borough Councils will lapse on West Surrey’s vesting day, due in April 2027, as these councils will be abolished. Commissioners are developing robust handover plans to facilitate a smooth transition into West Surrey. We are working with Commissioners and local stakeholders to consider how the new Council can effectively manage legacy issues moving forward, and what support it will need to deliver for its residents. We are clear that Woking Borough Council’s debt cannot be managed in full locally. Further to our unprecedented commitment to repay in-principle an initial £500m of Woking Borough Council’s debt in 2026-27, we are committed to providing interim financial support to the new council until a final decision is made. It is crucial that any debt support must consider value for money for local and national taxpayers.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to revise its council tax requirement estimates for Windsor and Maidenhead in the context of the revised council tax referendum threshold for 2026-27; and whether the assumed council tax increases for each of 2027-28 and 2028-29 will continue to be based on the previous formula.

The government annually makes assumptions of council tax levels for the next financial year as a part of its estimates of Core Spending Power. In line with previous years, council tax estimates in Core Spending Power will not be adjusted to reflect higher referendum principles for authorities that have requested additional council tax flexibility above core referendum principles before the next settlement. The government will continue to keep its methodology for calculating the Core Spending Power of local government under review in future years.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of postal voting fraud in elections since the 2024 general election.

Data on allegations and outcomes of electoral fraud is collected by police forces across the UK and provided to the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission then publishes this information annually on its website. The Government continues to work closely with the Electoral Commission, the police and other partners to safeguard the integrity of elections and maintain public confidence in the democratic process. Postal voting is now a major part of our elections, with over a quarter of votes at the 2024 General Election cast by post. As part of the Electoral Commission’s review of that election, 89% of postal voters stated they were satisfied with the process of voting.

Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for the implementation of automatic voter registration, (a) pilots and (b) implementation, and whether it will be rolled out nationally in part by (i) area or (ii) datasets or characteristics to be automated.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working on the design of direct registration pilots, including timetable and approach, which will be set out in secondary legislation subject to the affirmative procedure. This will give the opportunity for Parliament to scrutinise the plans. Our plan is to test automated registration in a range of different locations and settings, with different characteristics and challenges, to ensure anything we implement permanently works for everyone. We will be guided throughout by principles of fairness and open engagement. We are consulting a range of stakeholders to develop this programme, including the Electoral Commission, the Association of Electoral Administrators, local authorities and civil society organisations. We will also continue to offer engagement with political parties.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with local authorities on representations by the Muslim Council of Britain to place polling stations in mosques.

The selection of polling station locations is a matter for the independent Returning Officer. The independent Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers, including on polling station selection. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers. The Secretary of State has not had discussions with local authorities regarding representations by the Muslim Council of Britain on the placement of polling stations.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance on whether the second homes premium should be levied on empty dwellings that are undergoing repairs or major refurbishment.

Councils have the power to apply a council tax premium on dwellings which are no one’s sole or main residence and substantially furnished (second homes) and dwellings which have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for 1 or more years (long-term empty homes). The government has published guidance on the implementation of council tax premiums. This is available on gov.uk here. Where a dwelling requires or is undergoing major repairs it may be excepted from the long-term empty homes premium for up to 12 months. Councils have the power to provide their own local exceptions or provide discretionary discounts where they consider this appropriate. The government encourages councils to make use of their local expertise to consider where a premium should not be charged.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of above-inflation council tax increases in each year of the multi-year finance settlement on family disposable incomes.

Council tax levels are decided by local authorities. For the vast majority of councils, the government intends to maintain a core 3% referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept for each year of the multi-year settlement. Councils are required to put in place council tax support schemes to support those on low incomes. Referendum principles must be determined by the Secretary of State annually and approved by the House of Commons. This will be done each year as part of the annual local government finance settlement in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2025to Question 96897 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Appointments, when and where he will publish this this information; and if it will include all sitting DMAs.

The Cabinet Office has created a gov.uk page for departments to publish Direct Ministerial Appointments (DMAs). In line with their guidance, MHCLG now publishes details of all new appointments and extensions, and extant appointments will be published in due course.