Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2026, to Question 11665, on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether the larger geographical size of the new unitaries will be a material consideration in whether or not (a) city or (b) borough status is granted to the new unitary area; and whether the previous lack of city or borough status of any predecessor councils within part of the wider unitary area will be a material consideration by the Privy Council and the Secretary of State.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We recognise the pride, history and identity that sits behind our cities and counties, which is why we will work with areas to make sure any existing city status and ceremonial rights are preserved following reorganisation, regardless of the size of new unitary councils. City status and ceremonial matters play a valuable role for pride of place in our local communities.
These issues have been raised by local areas and Members of Parliament for some time, and we recognise that this is an important programme of work. Subject to any final decisions taken on reorganisation, Government will work with places to protect their city status, by reviewing all available options and relevant precedents, including bringing new legislation forward where it is necessary to do so, and likewise, for any ceremonial matters currently held by councils that would be abolished.
The grant of city status is a matter of royal prerogative and is usually made through periodic competitions. The most recent competition took place in 2022 to mark Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, and there are currently no plans for a further competition.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2026 to Question 20481 on Local Government: Workplace Pensions, and with reference to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs' Oral Statement of 8 September 2026 on Israel and Palestine, Official Report, column 879-884, what plans her Department has to allow councils, and local government pension schemes and pools to divest in firms based in the occupied territories in relation to the provision of (a) goods and (b) services; and what steps are being taken to prevent municipal policies being adopted which seek to divest or boycott (i) Israel as a whole and (ii) kosher foods.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
UK foreign policy is a matter for the national government and not for local government. The Department published updated statutory guidance on local government pension scheme (LGPS) investment strategy statements on 29th June 2026, which can be found here.
Administering authorities of LGPS funds are responsible for setting their investment strategy statement, which must include their approach to responsible investment. As statutory guidance set out, "strategies should not set exclusions for investments in individual countries, investment styles or companies". Asset pools are responsible for delivering the high-level investment strategies set by their partner funds.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20488, on Combined authorities: council tax, if she will make it her policy to extend councils’ powers to levy (a) council tax discounts and (b) business rate discounts, to combined authority and county combined authority mayors.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 33350 on 3 November.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 1 September 2026 to Question HL2288 on Affordable Housing: Construction, if she will set out the number of council housebuilding and the time period underpinning the stated pledge to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 1 September 2026 (HCWS299).
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, Electoral Reviews: Technical Guidance, updated June 2023, if she will make it her policy to ensure that any new wards or divisions created through unitary local government restructure do not have an electoral imbalance of more than 10% from the average ratio for that new unitary authority.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 29 October, the Government announced that the first phase of its review of local government reorganisation had concluded. The review confirmed that the basis of the programme remains robust and that the existing criteria continue to support the Government’s priorities.
The Government has set out minded-to positions in five areas, which remain subject to further representations and final decisions. The remaining 15 areas require further consideration.
Subject to final decisions, elections to new councils will take place in May 2028, followed by vesting on 1 April 2029 across the programme, apart from Surrey.
The Government continues to engage with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on matters relating to local government reorganisation and electoral arrangements and will continue to do so as the programme progresses.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2026, to Question 20241, on West Surrey Council, what is the timetable for the consideration of the request to name the council as West Surrey and South Middlesex, and whether the council requires the permission of the Secretary of State to rename itself once it is vested.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I wrote to the Leader of West Surrey Council on 30 October setting out that amending a Structural Changes Order was not an appropriate route for changing a council’s name, and that West Surrey Council may wish to take legal advice on the scope of any power under the Local Government Act 1972 to change its name of its own accord.
More broadly, section 74 of the Local Government Act 1972 does not require the permission of the Secretary of State in providing that a council may change its name with the support of not less than two-thirds of members voting at a meeting convened specifically for the purpose. The Act also sets out that notice of any change of name must be sent to the relevant Minister and other bodies specified in the legislation.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has responded to the local government restructuring representation from the City of Lincoln Council of 17 August 2026 on linking the size of electoral wards and the number of councillors to the Index of Deprivation.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 29 October 2026 for the latest position on local government reorganisation in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans for shadow unitary authorities to have the power to create new town and parish councils before the unitary is vested.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
During the transition to new unitary arrangements, existing councils retain responsibility for undertaking Community Governance Reviews, with shadow councils having a role in the final decision on whether to create new town or parish councils.
The precise powers of a shadow council before vesting day are set out in the relevant Structural Changes Order for the area and in generic legislation applying to all areas undergoing reorganisation.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Oral Statement of 7 September 2026 on Local Government Reorganisation, Official Report, columns 667-669, whether it is her policy to abolish district and county councils where such councils do not support being abolished.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 29 October 2026 on local government reorganisation
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the potential effects of Automatic Voter Registration on the incorrect or over-registration of individuals with more than one address.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to improving both the completeness and accuracy of electoral registers. We intend to explore and test new and more automated approaches to registration before any permanent changes are made. Any new approaches will be subject to thorough testing to ensure that they are secure, reliable and operate as intended.
A person who is genuinely resident at more than one address, such as a student, may already be entitled to register at both addresses. Electoral Registration Officers are responsible for determining eligibility for registration, including whether an individual satisfies the residence requirements at a particular address.
The Government continues to work closely with the Electoral Commission, the police and other partners to safeguard the integrity of elections and maintain public confidence in the democratic process.