Written questions by Cleverly.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89453 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, on what specific date did HM Government inform Westminster City Council that the Ministerial residence was paying the wrong level of council tax.

The Government Property Agency (GPA), an executive agency of the Cabinet Office, is responsible for the administration and payment of any tax liabilities for Admiralty House. The Government Property Agency wrote to Westminster City Council in June to confirm that the former Deputy Prime Minister was residing in Admiralty House on a second home basis. Westminster City Council issued a bill applying the second home premium in July, which was paid in full the same day. The bill was paid for the full year of 1 April 2025 - 31 March 2026. The Cabinet Office accepts that it was delayed in notifying Westminster City Council that the Admiralty House flat allocated to the former Deputy Prime Minister was being used on a second home basis. This was not the former Deputy Prime Minister’s error or responsibility. It is regrettable that this delay occurred. The Cabinet Office is taking steps to change its internal processes to ensure this does not happen again.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025, to Question 89453, on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, what was the monetary value of the council tax bill issued to the Government by Westminster City Council in March 2025 for payment from 1 April 2025.

Admiralty House sits within Council Tax Band H and details of the bands, current Council Tax charges, additional premiums and published notices about Council Tax can be found at the following page: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-band-and-charges

What number and proportion of housebuilding in the most recent year for which ONS holds figures was built in each constituent nation of the United Kingdom.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of the 28th November is attached.

Whether the high value council tax surcharge will be payable by Ministers in official Ministerial residences which are (a) occupied as a primary residence and (b) occupied as a secondary residence.

I refer the Hon Member to PQ 95176.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 75123 on Angela Rayner, whether he was informed before his statement on 3 September 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer of 15 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 75123.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 86050 on Public Sector Fraud Authority: Local Government, what his planned timetable is for the data matching pilot.

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI), as part of the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA), works closely with local authorities to help them identify and prevent fraud. The NFI is currently collaborating with local authorities to understand the fraud risks related to council tax second home premiums. This insight will inform options to detect and prevent fraud in this area, including the potential for a data matching pilot. This research will also be used to determine the fraud risk and the effectiveness of a data share. If it is concluded that a data share would effectively target the risks, a planned timetable will be agreed to deliver the data matching pilot.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2025 to Question 86644 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, whether the initial council tax bill issued to HM Government in March 2025 included a second homes council tax premium.

The Second Homes Premium was introduced by Westminster City Council on the 1st April 2025. This was billed by the council in July 2025 as a one-off payment for the financial year and paid on the same day.

What estimate has the Office for National Statistics made of the (a) cash terms and (b) percentage terms increase in private rent prices since July 2024 in (i) each local authority and (ii) England.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th November is attached.

Pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2025, to Question 86766, on Admiralty House: Council Tax, on what council tax (a) discounts, (b) premiums, (c) exemptions and (d) disregards, were applied to the Government’s council tax bill for the occupied Ministerial residence in Admiralty House (i) between November 2024 and March 2025 for the year 2024-25 and (ii) in March/April 2025, for the year 2025-26, according to records held by the Government Property Agency.

The second homes premium was applied to the council tax bill for the former Deputy Prime Minister’s residence at Admiralty House for 2025-2026. No other premiums, discounts, exemptions, or disregards were applied.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 74185 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, when in August the payment was made to Westminster City Council; and whether a (a) revised council tax demand and (b) reminder notice for the second homes council tax premium had been received from Westminster City Council.

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. 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 payment in July 2025. This payment was made on the date the invoice was received from Westminster City Council. No revised council tax demand or reminder notice was received.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50850 on Local Government: Israel and with reference to the Cabinet Office document entitled Code of conduct for board members of public bodies, published in November 2019, what guidance his Department has issued on whether people who hold regulated public appointments may (a) campaign and (b) support (i) boycott, (ii) divestment and (iii) sanction campaigns outside of where formal legal (A) sanctions, (B) embargoes and (C) restrictions have been put in place by the Government.

Advice on political activity is contained within the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code of Conduct requires public appointees - in their public role - to generally be, and be seen to be, politically impartial and to abstain from all controversial political activity. It also advises that appointees, on matters directly related to the work of the body, should not make political statements or engage in any other political activity. However, subject to these guidelines, the Code does not preclude engagement in general political activity by appointees. They must first have informed the body and/or sponsor department and should remain conscious of their responsibilities and exercise proper discretion at all times.

Whether the (a) Office for National Statistics and (b) Social Mobility Commission classify the socio-economic background of a firefighter.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th September is attached.

With reference to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question HL9153 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, on what date was the last communication between the Cabinet Office and Westminster City Council in relation to the former Deputy Prime Minister's official residence in Admiralty House.

Engagement with Westminster City Council (WCC) regarding Council Tax is managed by the Government Property Agency (GPA). The GPA last engaged with WCC regarding the former Deputy Prime Minister's official residence in Admiralty House on 29th July 2025.

Whether he has made an estimate of the average number of businesses that have ceased trading on each day since July 2024.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 16th July is attached.