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Written Question
Council Tax: Valuation
Tuesday 9th December 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which properties will be subject to revaluation by the Valuation Office following the implementation of a High Value Council Tax Surcharge.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As announced in the Autumn Budget, the high value council tax surcharge will be a new tax on domestic properties in England which have a value of £2m or above in 2026.

The Valuation Office Agency are developing their approach to the targeted valuation and will set out more details in due course, following the outcome of the Government's consultation.

Written Question
Home Office: Visas
Tuesday 9th December 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visas a) the Metropolitan Police Service and b) Police Scotland have sponsored since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

UKVI does not publish data on visas sponsored by individual sponsors.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 08 Dec 2025
Oral Answers to Questions

"About 1,200 people in my constituency are not in education, employment or training. With two job-destroying Budgets and the Employment Rights Bill on the horizon, does the Minister really understand the concerns of my constituents, who feel that this Government are simply making it so much harder for young people …..."
Blake Stephenson - View Speech

View all Blake Stephenson (Con - Mid Bedfordshire) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 08 Dec 2025
Oral Answers to Questions

"3. What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training. ..."
Blake Stephenson - View Speech

View all Blake Stephenson (Con - Mid Bedfordshire) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Division Vote (Commons)
8 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Blake Stephenson (Con) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 84 Conservative No votes vs 0 Conservative Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 300 Noes - 96
Division Vote (Commons)
8 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Blake Stephenson (Con) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 86 Conservative No votes vs 0 Conservative Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 395 Noes - 98
Division Vote (Commons)
8 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Blake Stephenson (Con) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 84 Conservative No votes vs 0 Conservative Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 327 Noes - 162
Division Vote (Commons)
8 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Blake Stephenson (Con) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 87 Conservative No votes vs 0 Conservative Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 326 Noes - 162
Division Vote (Commons)
8 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Blake Stephenson (Con) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 86 Conservative No votes vs 0 Conservative Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 327 Noes - 96
Written Question
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Visas
Monday 8th December 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many visas a) the British Council, b) the Great British China Centre and c) the Westminster Foundation for Democracy have sponsored since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The requested information is not held centrally by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and could only be obtained for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.