Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 23 April 2025, HCWS593, on Extending licensing hours for the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe Day, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential merits to the hospitality sector of extending the licensing hours on the Friday 8 May in addition.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Licensing hours in England and Wales were extended on Thursday 8 May to mark the 80th anniversary of VE day.
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 guidance her Department has provided to Electoral Registration Offices on the mechanisms by which qualified Commonwealth citizens should be verified for their eligibility to join the local government and UK Parliamentary electoral roll; what guidance her Department has provided on what steps should be taken to ensure that non-qualified Commonwealth individuals are not signed up to the electoral roll; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of automatic voter registration on that issue.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers. As part of the voter registration process, applicants must declare their nationality. EROs hold legal powers which allow them to request documentary evidence to confirm an applicant’s nationality if they are not satisfied as to any applicant's nationality. The application form to register to vote is clear about the possibility of applicants being required to provide additional evidence about their nationality, and that their nationality or immigration status may be checked against government records.
The Electoral Commission has also published guidance for EROs on the types of evidence they may request, and advice on how to check immigration records held by the Home Office.
The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of data and online Government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.
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 guidance her Department provides to the Electoral Registration Offices on the mechanisms by which qualified EU nationals should be verified for their eligibility to join the local electoral roll; what guidance her Department provides to ensure that non-qualified individuals are not signed up to the electoral roll; and what assessment she is made of the merits of automatic electoral registration in this context.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers. As part of the voter registration process, applicants must declare their nationality. EROs hold legal powers which allow them to request documentary evidence to confirm an applicant’s nationality if they are not satisfied as to any applicant's nationality. The application form to register to vote is clear about the possibility of applicants being required to provide additional evidence about their nationality, and that their nationality or immigration status may be checked against government records.
The Electoral Commission has also published guidance for EROs on the types of evidence they may request, and advice on how to check immigration records held by the Home Office.
The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of data and online Government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.
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 Written Statement of 2 September 2024 on Building Safety, HCWS62, what the evidential basis is for the proposition that the European standard (BS EN 13501) is more rigorous and robust than the British fire door testing standard (BS 476-22).
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards (BS 476) from Approved Document B in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501) aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within the guidance. This change makes it easier and clearer to ensure products meet required standards and enabling simpler performance comparison.
The suitability of BS 476 and the transition to the EN standard was also scrutinised during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The EN suite of standards is constantly reviewed, periodically updated, and does not rely on withdrawn standards and is therefore seen as more suitable in the long term. The consultation response published alongside the Written Statement on 2 September 2024 shows a majority of respondents were in support of moving to the European Standard.
The Building Safety Regulator will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review in England.
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 a business case was prepared for her visit to Ethiopia; and whether she plans to make other foreign visits.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
All ministerial visits are assessed against the government’s domestic and international priorities in the normal way.
As set out on gov.uk, the Deputy Prime Minister’s role includes acting in support of the government’s international agenda, including through overseas travel.
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 the evidential basis is for proposals to remove the national BS 476-22 classification for fire door resistance from Approved Document B.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 2 September 2024, the Government announced the withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards from Approved Document B, ending the dual classification system in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501). This change aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within Approved Document B (ADB) and followed scrutiny during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry where the suitability of BS 476 was questioned.
The Government recognises the potential economic impact that could result from this change. The overall impact and associated benefits were carefully evaluated to inform the policy decision and are set out in the Impact Assessment that accompanied the policy announcement.
Market analysis and sector engagement showed limited impact on developers for the reaction to fire classification. Changes took effect on 2nd March 2025, with a six-month transition period provided for fire reaction.
We identified a larger impact on sectors involved in bespoke wooden fire doors, cavity barriers, smoke vents, and roofs due to re-testing requirements for the fire resistance classification. Concerns were also raised about testing site capacity. An extended transition period of 5 years was developed through discussions with the sector allowing manufacturers time to retest their products ahead of compliance with BS EN 13501 coming into force on 2nd September 2029.
We and the Building Safety Regulator will continue to support industry to develop new standards and testing capacity to minimise disruption to supply chains through the transitional period.
The Building Safety Regulator will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review in England.
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 plans to pause the proposed move from the British fire door safety testing standard (BS 476-22) to the European Standard (EN 1634-1) until the current review of the European Standard has been completed.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 2 September 2024, the Government announced the withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards from Approved Document B, ending the dual classification system in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501). This change aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within Approved Document B (ADB) and followed scrutiny during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry where the suitability of BS 476 was questioned.
The Government recognises the potential economic impact that could result from this change. The overall impact and associated benefits were carefully evaluated to inform the policy decision and are set out in the Impact Assessment that accompanied the policy announcement.
Market analysis and sector engagement showed limited impact on developers for the reaction to fire classification. Changes took effect on 2nd March 2025, with a six-month transition period provided for fire reaction.
We identified a larger impact on sectors involved in bespoke wooden fire doors, cavity barriers, smoke vents, and roofs due to re-testing requirements for the fire resistance classification. Concerns were also raised about testing site capacity. An extended transition period of 5 years was developed through discussions with the sector allowing manufacturers time to retest their products ahead of compliance with BS EN 13501 coming into force on 2nd September 2029.
We and the Building Safety Regulator will continue to support industry to develop new standards and testing capacity to minimise disruption to supply chains through the transitional period.
The Building Safety Regulator will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review in England.
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 she has made of the potential impact of the proposed transition period for moving from the BS 476-22 national fire door safety testing standard to the EN1634-1 standard on (a) the productivity of and (b) costs to timber fire door manufacturers.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 2 September 2024, the Government announced the withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards from Approved Document B, ending the dual classification system in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501). This change aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within Approved Document B (ADB) and followed scrutiny during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry where the suitability of BS 476 was questioned.
The Government recognises the potential economic impact that could result from this change. The overall impact and associated benefits were carefully evaluated to inform the policy decision and are set out in the Impact Assessment that accompanied the policy announcement.
Market analysis and sector engagement showed limited impact on developers for the reaction to fire classification. Changes took effect on 2nd March 2025, with a six-month transition period provided for fire reaction.
We identified a larger impact on sectors involved in bespoke wooden fire doors, cavity barriers, smoke vents, and roofs due to re-testing requirements for the fire resistance classification. Concerns were also raised about testing site capacity. An extended transition period of 5 years was developed through discussions with the sector allowing manufacturers time to retest their products ahead of compliance with BS EN 13501 coming into force on 2nd September 2029.
We and the Building Safety Regulator will continue to support industry to develop new standards and testing capacity to minimise disruption to supply chains through the transitional period.
The Building Safety Regulator will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review in England.
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 made an estimate of the testing site capacity required to carry-out fire door tests for the new European Standard (EN1634-1) classification within the proposed transition period.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 2 September 2024, the Government announced the withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards from Approved Document B, ending the dual classification system in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501). This change aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within Approved Document B (ADB) and followed scrutiny during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry where the suitability of BS 476 was questioned.
The Government recognises the potential economic impact that could result from this change. The overall impact and associated benefits were carefully evaluated to inform the policy decision and are set out in the Impact Assessment that accompanied the policy announcement.
Market analysis and sector engagement showed limited impact on developers for the reaction to fire classification. Changes took effect on 2nd March 2025, with a six-month transition period provided for fire reaction.
We identified a larger impact on sectors involved in bespoke wooden fire doors, cavity barriers, smoke vents, and roofs due to re-testing requirements for the fire resistance classification. Concerns were also raised about testing site capacity. An extended transition period of 5 years was developed through discussions with the sector allowing manufacturers time to retest their products ahead of compliance with BS EN 13501 coming into force on 2nd September 2029.
We and the Building Safety Regulator will continue to support industry to develop new standards and testing capacity to minimise disruption to supply chains through the transitional period.
The Building Safety Regulator will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review in England.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when Baroness Casey will report on the national audit into grooming gangs.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 7 April to Question UIN 44574, and to the responses I gave in Parliament on 28 April.
The Home Secretary has commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to conduct an audit to improve national understanding of the scale, nature, and profile of group-based child sexual abuse. The audit is well underway and will report to the Home Secretary in the next month.