Written questions by Holmes.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided on the withdrawal of certificates authorising party political descriptions before the close of nominations.

The Commission provides guidance for candidates and agents on the certificate of authorisation and the nominations process. There is currently no provision to allow for the withdrawal of certificates of authorisation once received by the Returning Officer.The Representation of the People Bill proposes a change to enable parties to withdraw support from a candidate up to 48 hours before the end of the nominations period, where nomination papers have already been submitted.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued to local authorities on the use of (a) churches, (b) synagogues and (c) mosques as polling stations.

Returning Officers are responsible for deciding where polling stations should be situated. The Commission provides guidance for Returning Officers on booking suitable polling stations. Returning Officers are often faced with limited options in selecting polling stations. The Commission’s guidance advises them to select a suitable venue based on size and accessibility.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to local authorities by his department on whether (a) churches, (b) synagogues and (c) mosques may be used as polling stations.

The independent Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers, including on the booking of appropriate polling places. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether prepaid bank cards offered by financial institutions registered outside the United Kingdom, including companies such as Suits Me, will be eligible as proof of identity.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 116475 on 9 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has been made of the potential impact of adopting an opt-in approach to the open electoral register on the level of revenues to local authorities accrued from the sale of open electoral register data to third parties.

The primary purpose of the electoral register is to enable those who are eligible to vote, to register and ensure only people who are eligible to vote are permitted to do so. HMG has not made assessment of the impact on the level of revenue to LAs accrued from the sale of the open register. However, the Impact Assessment published alongside the Representation of the People Bill, did consider the potential impact on its commercial value.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his press release of 16 December 2025 entitled Urgent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics, what is the evidential basis that political donations can currently be made to shell companies.

Currently, the legal test for permissible donations from companies is that they are registered under the Companies Act 2006, incorporated in the UK, and carrying on business in the UK. This last requirement is vague and easy to satisfy, even without having a genuine and strong connection to the UK. It means a newly created shell company with no trading history can legally donate. This is an unacceptably low threshold and a vulnerability in our system highlighted by many independent experts, including the Electoral Commission, the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the National Crime Agency. That is why we have introduced reforms which will require companies (and limited liability partnerships) making donations to demonstrate a genuine and substantive connection to the UK or Ireland, preventing the use of shell companies to channel foreign or illicit money into UK politics. We are introducing new, stringent eligibility criteria for companies and limited liability partnerships wishing to make political donations. Companies/LLPs will have had to make sufficient revenue to cover their donation; be headquartered in the UK; and be majority owned or controlled by UK electors or UK citizens usually resident in the UK. These changes are to ensure that political donations reflect genuine UK-based interests and help prevent foreign interference in our democracy.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices of trends in the number of registered postal votes in the last six months.

Information relating to postal vote applications is held by independent Electoral Registration Officers rather than the UK Government and so it is not possible to provide more information about the number of postal vote applications that were not renewed during any period. The department does not actively track trends in the level of postal vote renewals, or the number and proportion of postal vote applications that were renewed, over any period.The Government will continue to work with the Electoral Commission and with local authorities to support independent Electoral Registration Officers with postal vote application activities.

Communities and Local Government, whether the full report by Philip Rycroft into foreign financial interference in UK politics will be laid before the House when it is completed.

In December, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. The review findings will be delivered to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Security Minister by the end of March 2026. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government will ensure Mr Rycroft’s report is made available to Parliament at the earliest opportunity after it is received.

Communities and Local Government, whether automatic electoral registration, following the proposed reduction in the voting age, will be used to add attainer voters under 16 to the electoral roll.

Should some form of automated registration be introduced using the powers set out in the Representation of the People Bill, this does not apply to attainers (those aged 14 or 15). The duty on Electoral Registration Officers would only apply where they become aware of a person who is of voting age (i.e. someone aged 16 or older). 14- and 15-year-olds will be able to submit their own applications to be attainers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her department is taking to support democratic elections overseas, including in relation to challenging practices by foreign governments of (a) cancelling and (b) delaying elections.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 December 2024 to Question 19695.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his oral contribution in response to the hon. Member for Braintree during the Oral Statement of 23 February 2026 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report, column 80, whether his (a) officials or (b) special advisers had oral discussions with local authorities that submitted requests to postpone their local elections in May 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 118044 on 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers have had discussions with representatives of (1) political parties and (2) political groups of the LGA on the provision of guidance to local authorities on requests to delay May 2026 local elections.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 118044 on 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what is the timetable for a Government response to the working group on Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim hatred.

On 9 March 2026, government adopted a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hostility. The definition was published on gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made by (a) his Department and (b) the Defending Democracy Taskforce of sectarianism in election campaigning.

Harassment and intimidation of voters, electoral staff and campaigners, both online and in person, is totally unacceptable, whatever the driving cause, and has a profoundly detrimental impact on our democratic process. The Government has welcomed and responded to the report made by the Speakers Conference, which explored the broad factors influencing incidents of harassment and intimidation against candidates and MPs Before an election takes place, an ‘Election Cell’ is set up by the Joint Election Security and Preparedness Unit (JESP). This brings together government departments, the police, the intelligence agencies, the Devolved Governments, and external partners to monitor and respond to any emerging issues across physical, cyber and information security. MHCLG's Community Cohesion Unit is also a core part of JESP’s Election Cell; the Community Cohesion Unit works closely during election campaigns with local partners, including the police to monitor and address issues related to cohesion. Government is also working closely with the Electoral Commission to develop an updated Code of Conduct for campaigning to set clear expectations for behaviour during election campaigns.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered moving mayoral combined authority elections that were delayed from May 2026 to May 2028, to May 2027; and what representations he has received on this matter.

The government intends to hold inaugural mayoral elections for the four Devolution Priority Programme places that are also undertaking local government reorganisation in May 2028, so that areas can complete the reorganisation process before Mayors take office. Devolution is strongest when it is built on firm foundations, and this extra time will allow these four areas to establish robust institutions ahead of their Mayors taking office in 2028. With the consent of the constituent councils, the government will establish the institutions as soon as possible and provide each area with a proportion of their investment funds to ensure they can start delivering on key local priorities and deliver the benefits of devolution on the ground.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to answer of 11 September 2025, to Question 74719, on Electoral Register, whether user research has now been commissioned or tendered.

The government is actively exploring a range of approaches to improve the completeness and accuracy of the register. User research is undertaken throughout the policy and digital service development process.

Whether digital ID will be provided to 16 and 17 year olds.

The Government has now launched a public consultation on the digital ID where we want to hear as wide a range of views as possible. The scope of the digital ID system is still in development and we are inviting the public to have their say in the consultation as we develop a useful, inclusive and trusted system. Through this consultation we are asking the public what age they think is appropriate to have digital ID.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to prevent automatic electoral registration from adding European Union citizens to (a) the UK Parliamentary electoral roll and (b) the local electoral roll where they do not qualify because of their immigration status.

The government is committed to upholding the integrity of electoral registers. We are exploring a wide range of more automated approaches to enable improvements in both the completeness and accuracy of electoral registers, including making greater use of public sector data and digital services. Any new approaches to registration will be tested for their efficacy in improving the completeness and accuracy of the registers.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to hold a consultation to amend electoral law to ban imprinted (a) candidate and (b) political party electoral communications being published in foreign languages during the short campaign election period.

The government has no plans to regulate or consult on the use of foreign languages in campaign material.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Representation of the People Bill will allow candidates and agents to use PO Box addresses.

Through the Representation of the People Bill we are removing the requirement for candidates who are acting as their own election agent to have their home address published on the notice of election agents, ensuring that those who partake in our democracy are safe and secure in their homes.Election agents (including candidates acting as their own agents) will still need to have an office address where legal papers could be served, therefore this cannot be a PO box. Furthermore candidates must provide their current home address on their nomination form, which therefore also cannot be a PO box. Candidates can already however request for their home address not to be published.