Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the Fylingdales Moor fire on businesses that were (a) evacuated and (b) made inaccessible due to road closures; and what financial support will be made available to them.

The Flood Recovery Framework is unique to flooding and only activated in exceptional circumstances. No assessment has been made of the merits of establishing a similar scheme for wildfire incidents. There are a range of potential support mechanisms from across Government for local areas following significant emergency response incidents that are being explored.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Government action to protect children from abusive parents, published on 22 October 2025, how he plans to enact the repeal of the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989; and what his planned timetable is for that repeal.

The Government will repeal the presumption of parental involvement when Parliamentary time allows. Doing so requires amendments to the Children Act 1989 which will be taken forward once an appropriate legislative vehicle is identified. This remains a Ministerial priority, and we will announce further plans for implementation in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a financial recovery framework for major wildfire incidents, equivalent to the Flood Recovery Framework, to provide (a) grants for affected businesses and (b) business rate relief.

The Flood Recovery Framework is unique to flooding and only activated in exceptional circumstances. No assessment has been made of the merits of establishing a similar scheme for wildfire incidents. There are a range of potential support mechanisms from across Government for local areas following significant emergency response incidents that are being explored.

What the name of each Mission Board is.

The Mission Boards are:Growth Mission Board;Clean Energy Mission Board;Safer Streets Mission Board;Opportunities Mission Board; andHealth Mission Board.

How many Direct Ministerial Appointments are in post across government; and how many are paid.

The Cabinet Office does not hold data from across government on all direct ministerial appointments. As set out in the recently published Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments, the Cabinet Office has recently made changes to its public appointments digital platform, which will allow departments to record and track their data on such appointments.

With reference to page 122 of the OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2025, CP1439, 26 November 2025, if he will itemise the cost of Digital ID Cards in each of those three years.

The number was an initial, and early, estimate, spread over a number of years. We do not recognise it as an accurate cost of the program. Any costs in this Spending Review period will be met within existing settlements. The Government will run a public consultation in the new year.

If the Prime Minister will make it his policy to appear before the Liaison Committee before Christmas recess.

I refer the Hon Member to the Liaison Committee's website, which has published that the Prime Minister is due to appear before the Committee on 15 December.

With reference to the Information Commissioner decision notice of 29 October 2025, Ref IC-362303-N0J6, para 27, whether Lord Alli was on the list provided.

Yes. The UK’s constitutional arrangements require an immediate transition of power the day after a general election. A list of individuals is provided to the Cabinet Secretary’s Office by political parties, so that the incoming Prime Minister has the ability to begin work immediately.

With reference to the answer of 28 October 2025 to Question HL10808 on Official Residences, for what reason the Defence Secretary was allocated use of Flat 2 of Admiralty House.

The Government has a number of official residences that are allocated to ministers to support them to discharge their duties, or on the grounds of security. Admiralty House has been used as an official residence under successive administrations.

With reference to the answer of 28 October 2025 to Question HL10808 on Official Residences, whether his Department paid council tax on the Ministerial residence in Admiralty House between 9 September and 4 November 2024.

The Government paid council tax on the Ministerial residence in Admiralty House between 9 September and 4 November 2024. In line with longstanding precedent, where a minister occupies an official residence as a second home, the responsibility for payment of council tax falls to the Government.

How many months each of the Ministerial flats in Admiralty House have been empty for.

Official residences are allocated to Ministers at the Prime Minister's discretion, to support them in their official duties. This has been the case under decades of successive governments, and it is not usual practice to publish specific dates of their occupation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the (a) Mayor of London, (b) Greater London Authority and (c) Metropolitan Police on the decision to cancel the farmers’ tractor protest in Westminster on 26 November 2025.

This is an operational matter for the police. Defra has had no discussions with them about it.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the notice period given to organisers of the farming protest on 26 November 2025 of the cancellation of that protest.

The right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy and will not be curtailed by this Government. However, these rights are not absolute and must be balanced with the rights and freedoms of others.Section 12 of the Public Order Act 1986 allows the police to impose conditions on a protest as appears necessary to prevent serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community. Any conditions that are considered necessary by a senior police officer can be placed on the protest including the location, route and date of the protest or prohibiting individuals entering any public place specified. There is no timeframe specified in the legislation for notifying the organisers of any conditions imposed.The management of demonstrations are an operational matter for the police and forces work with organisers to plan protests and assess risks and manage safety. It is not for Government to direct the police in how they should manage protest activity.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, on how many occasions has the Electoral Commission issued a (a) disclosure notice or (b) inspection notice under Schedule 19B of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and how many times has it obtained an inspection warrant over the period for which records are centrally held.

The Commission is required to report on its use of investigatory powers, including disclosure notices, investigation notices, and applications for inspection warrants. These are published in the Commission’s Annual Reports and Accounts.The Commission has reported that it issued eight disclosure notices and 50 investigation notices since its investigatory powers came into force in December 2010. It has not applied for an inspection warrant. A breakdown by year is in the table below.The Commission only uses its investigatory powers where it is satisfied that it is necessary and proportionate to do so. In most investigations, it receives relevant information on a voluntary basis.Use of investigatory powers, by financial yearYearDisclosure notices Investigation noticesInspection warrant applications2011-120002012-130002013-140002014-152002015-162502016-1731602017-1801402018-1901002019-201002020-210002021-220302022-230002023-240102024-25010

Food and Rural Affairs, what is the estimated amount of average household water and drainage bills, per household which is not receipt of the social tariff, that pays for the cross-subsidy to the social tariff.

Companies decide, in consultation with their customers and organisations representing customers, which household customers fund social tariffs and how much they pay.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2025, to Question 88726, on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether the Government has told the Electoral Commission if it intends to cancel any of the scheduled local elections in May 2026, other than the Surrey councils.

The Electoral Commission has not been told that any further elections scheduled for May 2026 will be postponed, other than the elections for Surrey County and District councils. The Commission is working with the Government and will continue to support the electoral community as it prepares for scheduled elections in May 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 57658 on Water Charges, if he will make it his policy to use his powers under the Water Industry Act 1999 to provide directions or regulations to Ofwat that will stop the introduction (a) rising block/progressive water tariffs, and (b) seasonal water tariffs, on family homes.

Innovative approaches are being taken to trial new charges aiming to make bills more affordable and is engaging with industry leaders to drive further progress. Ofwat called on companies to conduct charging trials aimed at supporting affordability and other sustainability goals such as reducing demand. Ofwat amended their charging rules to make it easier to conduct trials. Companies can design their charges to provide benefits and incentives in a range of ways. Ofwat regulates charging trials by requiring companies to set fair charges for all customers, and ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. There are several trials taking place, or planned, across all companies between now and 2030. These trials could benefit consumers by making water bills more affordable for more households. Companies must consult with the Consumer Council for Water in developing their trials to ensure that the appropriate safeguards are in place ensuring vulnerable consumers are adequately protected or excluded from the trials.

Food and Rural Affairs, Further to the DEFRA 2024-25 annual report and accounts, HC 1388, 12 November 2025, p.147, whether Nick Joicey has permanently left her Department as a civil servant.

Nick Joicey is currently on secondment from Defra. He remains a Civil Servant and, in line with standard practice, continues to be on Defra's headcount during the period of the secondment.

Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for the appointment of board members of the independent football regulator.

Three board members are already in place at the IFR. A robust, transparent process to recruit a further four appointees, to complement the existing talent, opened on 12 November. Applications are due on 10 December and the full details are on the public appointments pages of Gov.uk: https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/8938?titleSearch=football&body=&regulated=&bodyJustice=&remunerated=&status=open&sort=openingAt%3Adesc

Communities and Local Government, Pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2025, to Question 84947, on Public Spaces: Access, if he will make it his policy for his department to issue guidance to local authorities to advise that political parties, elected representatives and candidates for office should not be levied fees for authorised street stalls in public spaces.

The provision and administration of street trading and highways licences, including fees charged are the responsibility of Local Authorities under either the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 or the London Local Authorities Act 1990, depending on their location. Local authorities may decide when it is necessary to recover the costs of these services.