Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
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 command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 38, if he will make it his policy to publish the organisations that are subject to a policy of non-engagement.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government does not comment on specific groups. It is up to each department to carry out due diligence when choosing to engage with, or fund, any organisation or individual and, if asked, we will advise and share information to help others inform their decisions. As announced in the Protecting What Matters publication last week, we are currently updating and embedding the 2024 engagement principles which will assist public bodies to not confer legitimacy, funding or influence on extremist groups.
We will also publish an annual ‘State of Extremism’ report will support public sector staff to tackle extremism. This will include information on what extremism looks like today in the UK – groups, narratives and ideologies, including Islamist and Extreme Right – as well as the action this government is taking to disrupt these extremist threats. The first iteration of this will be published by the end of 2026.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) challenging and (b) tackling antisemitic attacks against retail branches of Gail’s.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Antisemitism is abhorrent and has no place in our society. The government remains committed to tackling all forms of hatred and ensuring that everyone in the UK can live free from fear of discrimination or violence. Work is ongoing across government on tackling antisemitism in all its forms, and as set out in our recent Protecting What Matters publication. To deliver this, we will continue to work with the Antisemitism Working Group and ministers are in regular discussions on antisemitism and antisemitic attacks.
Where incidents involve criminal behaviour, this is an operational matter for the police.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has identified local authority areas of higher risk of electoral fraud in the May 2026 elections.
Answered by Jeremy Wright
The Commission reviews a range of information across all local authorities to help assess the risk of electoral fraud, including police data on allegations of electoral fraud and areas where concerns have previously been raised. This information is used to inform how and where the Commission targets additional support.
It is working closely with the electoral community, including local authorities and the police, to prevent, detect and act against electoral fraud ahead of the May 2026 elections.
Since 2018, the Commission has run a public awareness campaign “Your Vote is Yours Alone” in partnership with Crimestoppers. The campaign highlights what constitutes electoral fraud and empowers people to protect their vote and report any concerns. It targets specific areas based on a series of factors, including allegations of electoral fraud reported to the police.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will review its guidance in the Polling Station Handbook on providing official notices in written languages other than English, Welsh and Braille.
Answered by Jeremy Wright
The Electoral Commission's handbook states that the Returning Officer can provide written instructions in alternative languages or formats for use in the polling station depending on requirements within the community.
The Commission reviews its guidance regularly and makes updates in light of evidence from its post poll research, engagement with the electoral community and legislative change.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Valuation Office Agency document entitled, Valuation of public houses, published on 10 March 2026, if she will publish the guidance for the valuation of public houses used for the 2026 Rating List.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The 2026 Rating List comes into effect on 1 April 2026, and the Valuation Office Agency plans to publish valuation guidance including for the valuation of public houses on or around this date.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2025 to Question 92263 on Low Alcohol Drinks: Children, whether he made an assessment of the potential impact of 16 and 17 year olds visiting licenced premises on drinking patterns in later life.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The existing legal position set out in Section 150(4) of the Licensing Act 2003 seeks to achieve a balance that allows parents to introduce their children to alcohol in a controlled, measured, and responsible way, if they wish to do so, whilst upholding the licensing objective to protect children from harm. The legislation also requires licensed premises to have a robust age verification policy in place, and there are a large number of offences that the police can use to tackle under-age drinking where necessary.
Consumption of alcohol by children and young people can be harmful, with health risks including acute alcohol poisoning, an increased risk of becoming involved in violence, and damage to the developing brain and liver. Evidence shows that early age of drinking onset is associated with an increased likelihood of developing alcohol abuse or dependence in adolescence and adulthood.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on the economic viability of (a) pubs, (b) nightclubs, (c) bars and (d) other parts of the hospitality sector.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill Impact Assessment, published in November 2024, which was given a ‘green’ rating by the Regulatory Policy Committee, assesses the expected impact of policies on the face of the bill, including any impacts on the hospitality industry. The impact on the hospitality industry of any regulations implemented using powers in the bill will be assessed in separate impact assessments when these regulations are developed. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill Impact Assessment is available at the following link:
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question 90224, on Electronic Cigarettes: Retail Trade, whether the policy intent is that the licensing scheme controls on location and density would apply to (a) new promises and (b) existing premises.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Our call for evidence, which closed in December 2025, invited feedback on whether licence applications for existing businesses should be treated differently to those for new businesses established after the implementation of the scheme, and whether factors such as the location and density of retailers should have a role when granting licences.
We are carefully considering the responses to the call for evidence and will launch a subsequent consultation on our policy proposals before bringing forward secondary legislation.
The purpose of the licensing scheme is to support law-abiding retailers, while tackling those who break the law and pose a risk to public health. We want to ensure we are taking a proportionate approach, particularly to the many existing businesses who currently operate fairly and responsibly.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2025 to Question 68412 on Fast Food, whether a sausage roll sold from a counter service falls within that definition.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In February 2025, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities published data on fast food outlets per 100,000 population. In this analysis, fast food was described as “food that is energy dense and available quickly, usually via a counter service, and for consumption on or off the premises”. This definition covers a range of outlets selling foods, including, but not limited to:
- burgers;
- pizza;
- kebabs;
- chicken;
- Indian takeaway;
- Chinese takeaway; and
- fish and chips.
It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application, to consider whether, given the type of food and service to be provided at the location proposed, they consider the outlet to be either a hot food takeaway or a fast-food outlet.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church of England had made representations to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on (a) restrictions on ground rents and (b) leasehold reform in the last year.
Answered by Marsha De Cordova
Since 2021, the Church Commissioners have routinely made formal representations to the Government on proposed reforms to leasehold and ground rents. These have included written submissions, correspondence with Ministers, participation in relevant Law Commission consultations and debates in the House of Lords.
Throughout the development of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA), the Church Commissioners have consistently highlighted the risk that the loss of marriage value would diminish the Charity's ability to support its beneficiaries, particularly those most in need.
The Church Commissioners await the Government's consultation on deferment rates to assess the full impact of LAFRA, noting that the proposals would result in a one off transfer of value from the Charity to individual leaseholders, in some cases amounting to significant sums.