Written questions by Cleverly.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 9 Match 2026, to Question 116479, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether the cash withdrawal cards that will be accepted as identification will include reloadable, non-bank-account-linked payment cards.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the Representation of the People Bill 2026, which sets out the requirements that a card must meet in order to be accepted at the polling station – they must be a physical credit card, charge card, debit card or prepaid card; they must display the individual’s first name and last name, or first initial and last name; the card must be issued by a person who is regulated or authorised by either the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority. It may be possible for a reloadable, non-bank-account-linked payment card to meet these criteria.

How many Valuation Office Agency staff were assigned to the council tax revaluation in Wales.

Resource on preparations for the 2028 Council Tax revaluation in Wales has ranged from between 56 to 68 Full Time Equivalent staff in recent years.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2026, to Question 116488, on Absent Voting: British Nationals Abroad, what consideration has been made of using a QR code.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 116488 on 9 March 2026; the government has no plans to allow electors to use a QR code to download and print their own ballot papers. The government also has no plans to introduce online voting in the UK or introduce QR codes to link to an online voting system. At present, there are serious concerns - shared internationally - about the risks of online voting, including cyber threats, fraud, and the challenge of ensuring a fully secure and anonymous ballot.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 February 2026 to Question 111691 on Valuation Office Agency: Conference, if she will publish the presentations from the Valuation Office Agency at the (a) December 2024, (b) March 2025 and (c) September 2025 international conferences.

We do not routinely publish this information.

At what domestic conferences the Valuation Office Agency has made presentations since July 2024.

Staff members are supported to speak at, learn from and contribute to various conferences and meetings of valuation professionals here in the UK. We do not keep a central log of all these domestic activities.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued on the change of use and conversion of former school buildings to residential accommodation.

My Department has not issued specific guidance on the change of use and conversion of former school buildings to residential accommodation.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the new Chinese Embassy (a) follows its planning permission and conditions and (b) complies with building regulations.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 110795 on 12 February 2026.

Communities and Local Government, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) challenging and (b) tackling antisemitic attacks against retail branches of Gail’s.

Antisemitism is abhorrent and has no place in our society. The government remains committed to tackling all forms of hatred and ensuring that everyone in the UK can live free from fear of discrimination or violence. Work is ongoing across government on tackling antisemitism in all its forms, and as set out in our recent Protecting What Matters publication. To deliver this, we will continue to work with the Antisemitism Working Group and ministers are in regular discussions on antisemitism and antisemitic attacks.Where incidents involve criminal behaviour, this is an operational matter for the police.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 38, if he will make it his policy to publish the organisations that are subject to a policy of non-engagement.

This government does not comment on specific groups. It is up to each department to carry out due diligence when choosing to engage with, or fund, any organisation or individual and, if asked, we will advise and share information to help others inform their decisions. As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication last week, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.We will also publish an annual ‘State of Extremism’ report will support public sector staff to tackle extremism. This will include information on what extremism looks like today in the UK – groups, narratives and ideologies, including Islamist and Extreme Right – as well as the action this government is taking to disrupt these extremist threats. The first iteration of this will be published by the end of 2026.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 38, whether he plans to update the 2024 engagement principles.

As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication last week, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026, to Question 111693, on Business Rates: Valuation, if he will number of times that forecasts or estimates were given by the Valuation Office Agency to Ministers from 1 April 2024 to the publication of the draft Rating List.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) provided valuation data and analysis on the non-domestic property market to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury throughout the preparation stages of the 2026 revaluation.The VOA provided five data drops from 1 April 2024 to the publication of the draft Rating List.

With reference to the Budget Policy Costing 2025, November 2025, page 51, on the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, what proportion of the (a) -£60 million impact in 2025-26, (b) -£120 million impact in 2026-27 and (c) -£155 million impact in 2027-28 is from (i) lower stamp duty, (ii) lower capital gain tax, (iii) lower inheritance tax and (iv) lower Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings receipts, in each case and year.

The OBR publishes a breakdown of the Budget 2025 policy costings here:Policy costings - Office for Budget Responsibility

With reference to the Valuation Office Agency document entitled, Valuation of public houses, published on 10 March 2026, if she will publish the guidance for the valuation of public houses used for the 2026 Rating List.

The 2026 Rating List comes into effect on 1 April 2026, and the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish valuation guidance including for the valuation of public houses on or around this date.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will review its guidance in the Polling Station Handbook on providing official notices in written languages other than English, Welsh and Braille.

The Electoral Commission's handbook states that the Returning Officer can provide written instructions in alternative languages or formats for use in the polling station depending on requirements within the community.The Commission reviews its guidance regularly and makes updates in light of evidence from its post poll research, engagement with the electoral community and legislative change.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has identified local authority areas of higher risk of electoral fraud in the May 2026 elections.

The Commission reviews a range of information across all local authorities to help assess the risk of electoral fraud, including police data on allegations of electoral fraud and areas where concerns have previously been raised. This information is used to inform how and where the Commission targets additional support.It is working closely with the electoral community, including local authorities and the police, to prevent, detect and act against electoral fraud ahead of the May 2026 elections.Since 2018, the Commission has run a public awareness campaign “Your Vote is Yours Alone” in partnership with Crimestoppers. The campaign highlights what constitutes electoral fraud and empowers people to protect their vote and report any concerns. It targets specific areas based on a series of factors, including allegations of electoral fraud reported to the police.

Whether the National Wealth Fund will allocate funding to affordable housing.

The National Housing Bank is the public financial institution focused on homebuilding.The National Housing Bank will work with other Public Financial Institutions, including the National Wealth Fund, to support its objectives.The government has published a guide to the Public Financial Institutions here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-introduction-to-the-uk-public-investment-landscape

Pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026 to Question 111691 on Valuation Office Agency: Conference, what the cost was of Valuation Office Agency attendance at each of those international conferences.

The VOA attends a small number of overseas conferences which are an important part of sharing expertise, innovation and best practice. The cost of Valuation Office Agency attendance at the five international conferences is set out in the table below. This includes the cost of tickets, flights, accommodation and other travel expenses. EventNumber of attendeesTotalAug 2024 IAAO Conference, Denver3£7,655Oct 2024 COVA Conference, Dublin25£25,329Dec 2024, International Research Symposium, IAAO, Amsterdam2£1,402Mar 2025, IAAO GIS Valuation Technologies Conference, Columbus, Ohio1£425Sep 2025 IPTI Halifax, Nova Scotia10£11,743

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of including fruit and nut bars under the restrictions for high fat, sugar and salt products on economic growth.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis to ease the strain on our National Health Service and create the healthiest generation of children ever.Restrictions on the promotion by location of ‘less healthy’ food and drink products in stores and their equivalent places online have been in place since 2022. These restrictions apply to categories of products that impact most on childhood obesity, which were chosen following public consultation. Only fruit and nut bars that are high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar are in scope of the restrictions. The products that are in and out of scope of the restrictions are set out in the Schedule to the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 and we have published guidance to support industry on complying with the restrictions.We published a detailed impact assessment on the costs to industry and the benefits of this policy on the GOV.UK website. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the restrictions and will publish a Post Implementation Review within five years of the restrictions taking legal effect.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential health impacts for consumers since fruit and nut bars were included in the location restrictions for high fat, sugar and salt products from October 2022.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis to ease the strain on our National Health Service and create the healthiest generation of children ever.Restrictions on the promotion by location of ‘less healthy’ food and drink products in stores and their equivalent places online have been in place since 2022. These restrictions apply to categories of products that impact most on childhood obesity, which were chosen following public consultation. Only fruit and nut bars that are high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar are in scope of the restrictions. The products that are in and out of scope of the restrictions are set out in the Schedule to the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 and we have published guidance to support industry on complying with the restrictions.We published a detailed impact assessment on the costs to industry and the benefits of this policy on the GOV.UK website. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the restrictions and will publish a Post Implementation Review within five years of the restrictions taking legal effect.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, further to the Interministerial Group for Elections and Registration Communique: 30 October 2025, 10 December 2025, what is the timetable for the Electoral Commission to complete its evaluation of the Welsh automatic registration pilots.

The Commission published its evaluation of the Welsh automatic registration pilots on 15 December 2025.