Written questions by Hollinrake.

Which ministers will have an official residence following the reshuffle.

Allocation of official residences will be confirmed in due course.

Whether Ministers who left government in the reshuffle were spoken to directly by the Prime Minister.

It would not be appropriate to comment on private conversations held with Ministers who left the Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the (a) ban on controlled heather burning on deep peat and (b) definition of deep peat on the risk of wildfires.

Evidence shows that burning is damaging to peatlands and can increase their long-term vulnerability to wildfires. The amendments to The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 significantly increase the area of peatland protected, helping to reduce the impacts of wildfire in the future. The Government’s full response to the public consultation, which includes sections on wildfire and peat depth, can be found here - Summary of responses and government response - GOV.UK.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Benjamin Wegg-Prosser visited the US Embassy in Washington during the tenure of Lord Mandelson.

It is a long-standing practice of successive governments not to comment on private meetings.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has for the recruitment process for the next permanent US Ambassador.

The process for the appointment of our Ambassador to the United States of America will be determined in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if he will amend the online electoral registration form to ask if applicants live at three addresses.

There are currently no plans to change the online electoral registration application form, to ask whether applicants live at three addresses.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question HL9809 on Business Interests, whether every Minister has now signed a Ministerial waiver to enforce the provisions of the Ministerial Code in relation to their statutory entitlement to severance payments; and whether the former Deputy Prime Minister had signed one before she left Ministerial office.

The reforms to ministerial severance payments, including the use of waivers, will take effect from 13 October.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to introduce higher council tax premiums on periodically occupied homes.

Since April this year, councils in England have had the discretionary power to charge a council tax premium of up to 100% on dwellings occupied periodically (often referred to as second homes premium). The premium is not a mandatory requirement. It is for individual councils to decide whether to implement the premium, and if so, at what level up to the maximum 100%. The government will continue to keep this policy under review.

Whether President Trump was offered the opportunity to address Parliament during his state visit.

This is a matter for Parliament. The House of Commons was in recess during the state visit of President Trump.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has a definition of a second home.

There is not a single statutory definition of a second home. For data collection purposes, the English Housing Survey defines a second home as a property that is primarily used as a holiday home (either by the owner or let to others) or a property occupied by the owner while working away from home. For the purposes of council tax, a second home is considered a dwelling which is no one’s sole or main residence but is substantially furnished and occupied periodically.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57228 on Diplomatic Service: Public Appointments, whether the British Ambassador to the United States' Developed Vetting was undertaken by (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) United Kingdom Security Vetting, (c) his Department and (d) an independent body.

All national security vetting is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV).

Whether the Prime Minister has had recent discussions with the British Ambassador to the United States on his relationship with Jeffery Epstein.

In light of additional information in emails written by Lord Mandelson, the Prime Minister asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as Ambassador to the United States.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on whether an elector can vote in three different localities.

The Electoral Commission's guidance for Electoral Registration Officer's (EROs) sets out that someone may be eligible to register and to vote at more than one address if the ERO finds they meet the residency requirements, alongside the other usual registration conditions.For local, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and mayoral elections, some voters may be entitled to vote in more than one area, provided the addresses are in different council, PCC or mayoral areas. This only applies to voters who have permanent residence in more than one location, for example students and those with multiple homes. In each case, voters may be able to demonsrate the extent to which the address is their permanent address. It is an offence for someone to cast more than one vote on their own behalf in a UK Parliamentary general election or referendum.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 9 July 2025 on Local Government Best Value, HCWS796, what remuneration has been provided to the Ministerial envoys.

The fees for Ministerial Envoys at Warrington Borough Council are in line with the standard fees set by the department and covered by the Council, with full details provided in the appointment letters on gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 68411 on Electronic Cigarettes: Bus Stops, for what reason he has considered banning vaping inside pubs.

Whilst vapes are less harmful than smoking and can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, they are not harm-free and the long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown. Vapes release an aerosol that exposes people to nicotine and potential toxicants, and it is important that we act to protect people from these potential health harms.Many businesses and enclosed public places, including pubs, already have voluntary schemes in place to prohibit vape usage inside their premises.We plan to consult on making most indoor settings, that are subject to existing smoke-free legislation, vape-free. We will provide stakeholders with notice of when consultation processes are due to happen.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 64768 on Water: Prices, what estimate Ofwat has made of the average increase in water bills for homes with gardens affected by seasonal water metering.

Ofwat has not conducted a specific bill impact assessment for homes with gardens for companies trialling this method of charging. South West Water estimated that 55% of household customers would save on its seasonal saver tariff and 95% of customers would save on its summer peak tariff; South West Water has designed the trial to be revenue neutral within the trial groups. Anglian Water has estimated that 2 out of every 3 customers would be no worse off or marginally better off under its seasonal tariffs, compared with its standard charge.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 64767 on Waster Charges: Social Tariff, what recent estimate Ofwat has made of the (a) average cost to households of the cross-subsidy for social tariffs and (b) potential impact of proposed changes to social tariffs on the average cost to households in each year between 2025 and 2030.

At PR24 Ofwat challenged companies to address customer concerns about the affordability of water bills in the 2025-2030 period and asked them to set out the measures that they would take and how they would fund these measures.

How many uncovered auctions there have been for Government gilts since 4 July 2024.

From 4 July 2024 to the date of this response, there have been no uncovered auctions for gilts. The results of all gilt auctions are published on the UK Debt Management Office website.

How much was given to the Labour Party for Party Political Conference Security Grant in each year since 2019.

The Party Political Conference Security Grants funding arrangements were outlined in 2016 by the Home Office for the party in power and the main opposition party. These principles have been adhered to since and the Home Office has regular engagement with parties about security planning for party conferences.The UK government’s security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, including disclosure of costs, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect future security operations.

Whether she plans to amend the (a) funding and (b) qualifying spending for Party Political Conference Security Grants.

The Party Political Conference Security Grants funding arrangements were outlined in 2016 by the Home Office for the party in power and the main opposition party. These principles have been adhered to since and the Home Office has regular engagement with parties about security planning for party conferences.The UK government’s security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, including disclosure of costs, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect future security operations.