Written questions by Simmonds.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Election Strategy document, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, July 2025, para 113, for what reason the Government now intends to repeal and not amend the Electoral Commission’s Strategy and Policy Statement; and what assessment has been made of the potential effect of the repeal of its guidance on family voting.

The Government is taking decisive action to strengthen and protect UK democracy, including strengthening the Electoral Commission’s powers and extending its remit to ensure that it can effectively enforce the political finance framework. We have listened to stakeholders and recognise how vital it is that the Commission is fearlessly independent, commands trust across the political spectrum and operates free from political influence. That is why we are bringing forward amendments to repeal the Government’s powers to designate a Strategy and Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission. This will put beyond doubt the foundational principle of the Commission’s independence and further strengthen its ability to oversee elections into the future without fear or favour. Family voting is illegal, and the Government takes any allegations extremely seriously. It is a criminal offence under the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023 to pressure someone to vote in a certain way in the polling station, and potential offences are a matter for the police. We do not consider that repealing the Strategy and Policy Statement will have any impact on enforcement of this offence.

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.

Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of his Department's staff are on full-time pay with compressed hours.

At 31 January 2026 there were 760 active payroll staff, 19% of total headcount, who worked full‑time hours over a compressed period, meaning they received full pay. This figure includes a range of different compressed full‑time working arrangements.

Communities and Local Government, what the required hours of working are for staff in his Department on full-pay who work a compressed four-day week.

Staff who work full-time, have the following conditioned hours per week:36 hours net – if their normal place of work is in London and if appointed before 1 June 201337 hours net – if their normal place of work is elsewhereIf they were appointed to the Civil Service within the department on or after 1 June 2013:37 hours net – in all locations (including London) Net hours do not include meal breaks. Staff working a compressed four-day week have the flexibility to agree their daily working pattern to reach the required conditioned hours per week.

Communities and Local Government, what representations has he received from (a) local authorities and (b) the LGA on the high value council tax surcharge being described as a council tax.

The Government has not yet formally consulted on the High Value Council Tax Surcharge. A consultation will be published in the coming months, to invite views and representations from the sector and other stakeholders on details relating to the Surcharge.

Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the final version of the Section 106 agreement for the Chinese Embassy planning permission.

All Inquiry documents for this case are publicly available on Tower Hamlets’ website here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written statement of 2 March 2026, HCWS1375, on Flexible Voting Pilots, and with reference to the list of councils with elections in the Cabinet Office purdah guidance published on 2 March 2026, when will North Hertfordshire District Council hold its next local election.

North Hertfordshire District Council elections are not listed in the Cabinet Office pre-election period guidance because they do not have scheduled elections in 2026. The government remains committed to the indicative timetable for local government reorganisation set out in July 2025, including for Hertfordshire, with elections to the new councils scheduled for May 2027. In addition, for the 2026 parish council elections, the Hertfordshire parishes of Codicote, Kimpton, Knebworth and Royston will take part in the flexible voting scheme for polls on 7 May 2026.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to amend electoral law to introduce statutory guidance for Returning Officers to protect the secrecy of the ballot in polling stations, including steps to stop practices of so-called family voting.

The Electoral Commission is responsible for providing Returning Officers with guidance on the administration of elections; they provide extensive advice, including how polling staff should respond if they suspect offences are being committed, such as family voting. The Commission’s performance standards for Returning Officers also specifically include ensuring polling stations are set up and staff are trained to support voters to vote independently and in secret. While the vast majority of people vote lawfully, any instance of coercion into revealing the nature of somebody’s ballot is illegal, unacceptable and undermines confidence in our democratic process. We will continue to work with electoral administrators and the Electoral Commission to ensure that that our polls are run smoothly, fairly, and securely.

Communities and Local Government, further to the press release, Weekend voting and shopping centre polling stations to be trialled, on 2 March 2026, who would determine the specific locations that mobile voting stations would visit as part of its route.

The choice of polling station is a matter for the independent Returning Officer. The Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers and do so on the selection of appropriate polling stations. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers. Mobile polling stations are not being piloted during the May 2026 local elections. Future pilots could include mobile polling stations and if taken forward the details in the questions would be considered.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance is in place on the location of polling stations to prevent a partisan advantage for any specific candidate or political party when determining the location.

The choice of polling station is a matter for the independent Returning Officer. The Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers and do so on the selection of appropriate polling stations. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers. Mobile polling stations are not being piloted during the May 2026 local elections. Future pilots could include mobile polling stations and if taken forward the details in the questions would be considered.

Communities and Local Government, further to the press release entitled Weekend voting and shopping centre polling stations to be trialled, on 2 March 2026, whether the plans for mobile voting stations will include visiting community facilities registered under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855.

The choice of polling station is a matter for the independent Returning Officer. The Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers and do so on the selection of appropriate polling stations. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers. Mobile polling stations are not being piloted during the May 2026 local elections. Future pilots could include mobile polling stations and if taken forward the details in the questions would be considered.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook, 3 March 2026, para 2.38, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the OBR forecasts on UK net additions to the housing stock on the housebuilding target for this Parliament.

OBR forecasts have no bearing on the government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament which remains in place.My Department supports the OBR’s forecasting by sharing the latest data on planning applications submitted, granted, and new housing construction starts, among other sources of evidence.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook, 3 March 2026, para 2.38, what information his Department provided to the OBR to assist them with their forecasts on net additions to the housing stock.

OBR forecasts have no bearing on the government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament which remains in place.My Department supports the OBR’s forecasting by sharing the latest data on planning applications submitted, granted, and new housing construction starts, among other sources of evidence.

Communities and Local Government, if he will place the substantive Environment Principal Assessment documents disclosed under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 – EIR2026/00658 response of 3 March 2026 in the Library of the House.

I will deposit a copy of the relevant documents in the House of Commons Library. The hon. Member should note that there are some redactions to the assessment for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-2036 that fall within the exception to disclosure at regulation 12(4)(e) and 12(4)(d) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release of 24 September 2025 entitled Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride, how his Department plans to give councils powers to block fake barbers.

The Pride in Place Strategy set out how this government will empower communities to reclaim their high streets and restore pride to their communities. This includes powers to auction off vacant premises, a new Community Right to Buy for valued assets, and streamlined compulsory purchase orders. We are also taking further steps to target illegal activity on our hight streets. The Budget provided £15 million per year towards measures including enhanced Trading Standards capabilities, an uplift of law enforcement officers, and a new cross-government policy taskforce to better understand criminality on our high streets. This government will also bring forward a High Streets Strategy, backed by at least £150 million of support to help turn the tide on the high streets most in need. This targeted investment will be used to tackle the challenges people care about most.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 105978 on second homes: council tax, whether he has made any assumption on changes in the adoption of (a) second and (b) empty home council tax premiums when estimating the council tax requirement over the three years of the settlement.

As part of the provisional local government finance settlement, the government has made estimates of changes to Core Spending Power between 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29. This includes estimates of council tax requirements councils will set for those years which take account of estimated taxbase growth. These estimates, and the underpinning methodology are set out here. The government has not made assumptions about changes in the adoption of second home or empty home council tax premiums. These decisions remain a matter for local discretion. The way council tax in Core Spending Power is estimated is unchanged from previous Local Government Finance Settlements. The inclusion of council tax premium income in Core Spending Power does not affect how much local authorities receive through our assessment of relative need and resources, which assumes that authorities make no use of their discretionary discounts and premiums in order to protect the principle of local discretion. The Government will review the approach to calculating Core Spending Power ahead of the 2027-28 Settlement.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 106139 on Local Government Finance: City of Westminster and Wandsworth, what the change in core spending power is excluding the council tax requirement.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 106139 on 20 January 2026. The provisional local government Settlement, published on 17 December 2025, sets out individual funding allocations for local authorities. The government consulted on the provisional Settlement and the consultation closed on 14 January 2026. We will publish our response to the consultation in February, alongside the publication of the final Local Government Finance Settlement.

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for laying secondary legislation to cancel the May 2026 local elections for specific local authorities; and whether it will be by negative or affirmation resolution.

The Statutory Instrument to postpone elections for specified local authorities was laid before Parliament on 5 February. The instrument will be considered by the negative resolution procedure.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 106139 on Local Government Finance: City of Westminster and Wandsworth, what assumption his Department made on the percentage increase in the level of Band D council tax in each of the individual three years of the Settlement on which the increase in council tax requirement for (a) Westminster and (b) Wandsworth was estimated.

It is for individual councils to decide their level of council tax, taking into consideration a range of local factors, including the impact on taxpayers. As has been standard practise with previous governments, the government’s estimate of core spending power, for these councils, assumes that they will increase by 5% in 2026-27 and by 5% plus an additional £150 in both2027-28 and 2028-29.Removing referendum principles in these areas will enable the government to allocate over £250 million more funding for public services in places with higher need instead of subsidising very low bills for 500,000 households in these councils.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral statement of 22 January 2026, Official Report, Col. 486, on Local government reorganisation, what is the status of the one further representation.

A summary of the decision was provided through the Written Ministerial Statement and the letter sent to council leaders, both of which are publicly available. The Government has no plans to publish the names of respondents who made representations.