Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made a formal assessment of the impact of the pavement licensing regime on the hospitality industry.

In October 2025, the Government launched a call for evidence seeking views on the recommendations from the report of the Licensing Taskforce. This shaped the development of the National Licensing Policy Framework published in November 2025. We will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, police and residents, to take forward the recommendations made by the Taskforce including around pavement licences.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the pavement licenses on the hospitality industry for each of the last two years.

In October 2025, the Government launched a call for evidence seeking views on the recommendations from the report of the Licensing Taskforce. This shaped the development of the National Licensing Policy Framework published in November 2025. We will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, police and residents, to take forward the recommendations made by the Taskforce including around pavement licences.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent changes to the treatment of pensions within inheritance tax on the adequacy of the current timeframe for the payment of inheritance tax.

The changes to the inheritance tax treatment of pensions are consistent with the process which already exists for administering estates and paying any tax due. Personal representatives are already responsible for administering the rest of the estate, including non-discretionary pension schemes which are already in scope of inheritance tax. The Government recognises the general difficulties that some personal representatives may face in paying the inheritance tax due and already offers several payment options to help.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, under what circumstances the FCDO may offer consular support or make representations on behalf of dual British nationals detained or charged in their other country of nationality.

Guidance on eligibility for UK consular assistance is publicly-available at GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/who-the-fcdo-can-support-abroad. If the Hon Member has a specific case that he wishes me to look into, he should write to me setting out the details.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether British diplomatic posts may conduct welfare checks or monitor legal proceedings involving dual British nationals detained or charged in their other country of nationality.

Guidance on eligibility for UK consular assistance is publicly-available at GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/who-the-fcdo-can-support-abroad. If the Hon Member has a specific case that he wishes me to look into, he should write to me setting out the details.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance his Department provides on the provision of consular assistance to British nationals who also hold citizenship of the country in which they are detained or subject to legal proceedings.

Guidance on eligibility for UK consular assistance is publicly-available at GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/who-the-fcdo-can-support-abroad. If the Hon Member has a specific case that he wishes me to look into, he should write to me setting out the details.

Whether his Department is still working towards the Smokefree 2030 ambition for England.

The Government’s ambition is to deliver a smoke-free United Kingdom, and we are going even further than the smoke-free 2030 target.The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will create the first smoke-free generation which is expected to help reduce smoking rates of 14- to 30-year-olds to near zero by 2050.

When intends to publish an answer to Question 111735, tabled on 9 February 2026, on Morgan McSweeney.

A response has been issued here.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102809 on Solar Power: Decommissioning, if he will make it his policy to issue such guidance.

Developers are required to set out arrangements for decommissioning in their planning applications, as set out in National Policy Statement EN-3. The Department has no current plans to publish separate guidance.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102805 on Solar Power: Land Use, what evidence underpins the decision to make Soil Resources and Management Plans advisory rather than mandatory.

The policy on encouraging rather than mandating developers to implement Soil Resources and Management Plans is set out in National Policy Statement EN-3 which was updated in 2026 and has been subject to public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. The National Policy Statements set clear requirements that the mitigation hierarchy must be applied to environmental impacts. The requirement to produce a Soil Resources and Management Plan is frequently included in individual planning conditions enforced by local authorities. The effectiveness of planning policies and guidance are monitored to ensure mitigation and reporting requirements are still appropriate.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102809 on Solar Power: Decommissioning, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating the return to previous use of sites previously used for solar.

The National Policy Statements require applicants to assess and mitigate for environmental impacts of their proposals across the lifecycle of the proposed development, including decommissioning. No specific assessment has been made on mandating the return of sites to their previous use. This requirement is usually included in a planning condition enforced by local authorities.

When she intends to publish an answer to Question 113817, tabled on 20 February 2026, on Public Houses: Business Rates.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN113817 on 1 April 2026.

Pursuant to the answer to question 102805 on Solar Power: Land Use, if he will make it his policy to mandate implementation a Soil Resources and Management Plan for solar projects on agricultural land.

Guidance on how land type should be considered in determining the location of largescale solar projects is included in National Policy Statement EN-3. There are no current plans to make the production of a Soil Resources and Management Plan mandatory for solar projects on agricultural land.

When he intends to publish an answer to Question 112198, tabled on 10 February 2026, on Lord Mandelson.

A response has been issued here.

When he intends to publish an answer to Question 113780, tabled on 20 February 2026, on Labour Together.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to PQ 113780 on 24 March 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish an answer to Question 118227, tabled on 5 March 2026, on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Secondment.

An answer to Question 118227 was published on 16 April 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, what methodology the Animal and Plant Health Agency uses to determine the compensation value of poultry culled during avian influenza outbreaks; and whether this valuation is benchmarked against prevailing commercial market prices for equivalent birds.

Compensation is paid by Defra for animals culled by the Government for disease control purposes in England, as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) makes its assessment of the disease status of the birds based on clinical inspection and veterinary judgment. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. The amount of compensation is established by APHA using the relevant valuation rate card (or for birds or husbandry systems not covered by the rate cards, by a specialist valuer). The valuation rate cards are updated by independent consultants five times per year (in January, March, June, September and November) to ensure rates are in line with average market values for the types of birds.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 89567, on Political Parties: Finance, what (a) advice and (b) guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on donations received through a personal services company.

Donations received through personal services companies owned by a regulated donee are likely to be considered as being made to the regulated donee on behalf of the original donor. This is because donations to regulated donees includes anything given directly or indirectly to them through a third person under electoral law.In these instances, the personal services company would be acting as an agent for the donation.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the urgent question of 23 February 2026, on Labour Together and APCO Worldwide: Cabinet Office Review, if the Electoral Commission will publish their internal report on Labour Together.

The Commission does not publish internal documents relating to its regulatory work. It publishes information about recently closed investigations every month, including the possible offences it investigated, the outcome and any further action. An overview of the Commission’s investigation into Labour Together is listed under April 2021 – March 2022.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2025, to Question 97793, on Reform UK: Cryptocurrencies, from what date have political parties been required to declare to the Electoral Commission donations that have been made via a crypto-currency or as a crypto-asset.

The Commission has published guidance for political parties that are considering accepting cryptocurrency assets. It sets out that cryptoassets are considered property, which is in line with HMRC and Financial Conduct Authority guidance, and should be treated as a non-monetary donation.It has always been a requirement for political parties to report the nature and value of non-monetary donations if they are greater than the reporting threshold (£11,800). The Commission’s updated guidance clarified that this applies to cryptoasset donations.