Kevin Hollinrake Portrait

Kevin Hollinrake

Conservative - Thirsk and Malton

7,550 (15.2%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 7th May 2015

Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

(since November 2024)

Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
8th Jul 2024 - 5th Nov 2024
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
26th Mar 2024 - 5th Jul 2024
Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill (Formerly known as Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill)
13th Mar 2024 - 30th May 2024
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
7th Feb 2023 - 26th Mar 2024
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
7th Jun 2023 - 11th Jul 2023
Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill
1st Mar 2023 - 8th Mar 2023
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
27th Oct 2022 - 7th Feb 2023
Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill
30th Nov 2022 - 7th Dec 2022
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill
31st Oct 2022 - 29th Nov 2022
Treasury Sub-Committee on Financial Services Regulations
20th Jun 2022 - 21st Nov 2022
Treasury Committee
14th Dec 2021 - 21st Nov 2022
Carer’s Leave Bill
2nd Nov 2022 - 9th Nov 2022
Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill
1st Nov 2022 - 2nd Nov 2022
Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill
20th Jul 2022 - 7th Sep 2022
Treasury Committee Sub-Committee on Financial Services Regulations
20th Jun 2022 - 20th Jun 2022
Subsidy Control Bill
20th Oct 2021 - 18th Nov 2021
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
13th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
13th Jul 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Armed Forces Bill Committee
26th Oct 2015 - 24th Nov 2015


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Kevin Hollinrake has voted in 161 divisions, and 10 times against the majority of their Party.

29 Nov 2024 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 23 Conservative Aye votes vs 92 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 330 Noes - 275
13 Jun 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Conservative No votes vs 71 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 259 Noes - 216
13 Jun 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 13 Conservative No votes vs 71 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 230 Noes - 256
13 Jun 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 12 Conservative No votes vs 71 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 233 Noes - 254
20 Jun 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 20 Conservative Aye votes vs 92 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 314 Noes - 291
20 Jun 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 13 Conservative Aye votes vs 66 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 274 Noes - 224
20 Jun 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 14 Conservative Aye votes vs 67 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 275 Noes - 209
20 Jun 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 15 Conservative No votes vs 60 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 213 Noes - 266
20 Jun 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 15 Conservative No votes vs 63 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 208 Noes - 261
20 Jun 2025 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kevin Hollinrake voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 14 Conservative No votes vs 68 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 269
View All Kevin Hollinrake Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Angela Rayner (Labour)
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
(13 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(11 debate interactions)
Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op))
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
(10 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
View all Kevin Hollinrake's debates

Thirsk and Malton Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Kevin Hollinrake has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Kevin Hollinrake

4th June 2025
Kevin Hollinrake signed this EDM on Thursday 5th June 2025

Mauritius Treaty

Tabled by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
That the Agreement, done at London and Port Louis on 22 May 2025, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, should not be ratified.
107 signatures
(Most recent: 1 Jul 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 93
Reform UK: 5
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
Ulster Unionist Party: 1
Labour: 1
12th February 2025
Kevin Hollinrake signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 12th February 2025

Local Government

Tabled by: Kemi Badenoch (Conservative - North West Essex)
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 137), dated 10 February 2025, a copy of which was laid before this House on 11 February 2025, be annulled.
22 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Feb 2025)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 22
View All Kevin Hollinrake's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Kevin Hollinrake, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


3 Urgent Questions tabled by Kevin Hollinrake

Tuesday 22nd April 2025
Tuesday 30th July 2024
Thursday 18th July 2024

Kevin Hollinrake has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

4 Bills introduced by Kevin Hollinrake


A Bill to make provision about leave and pay for employees whose children have died.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 13th September 2018 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make provision about the property and affairs of missing persons; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 27th April 2017 and was enacted into law.


A Bill to make the offence of supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug aggravated when the person to whom the drug is supplied or offered is under 16; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 19th July 2022
(Read Debate)

A Bill to abolish business rates; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 12th January 2021

19 Bills co-sponsored by Kevin Hollinrake

Consumer Telephone Service Standards Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Robert Halfon (Con)

Non-Disclosure Agreements (No. 2) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Maria Miller (Con)

Whistleblowing Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Mary Robinson (Con)

Disposable Barbecues Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Robert Largan (Con)

Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021
Sponsor - Mike Amesbury (Ind)

Banking Services (Post Offices) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Duncan Baker (Con)

National Health Service Reserve Staff Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Alan Mak (Con)

Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies (Environmentally Sustainable Investment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (Lab)

Ground Rents (Leasehold Properties) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Eddie Hughes (Con)

Freehold Properties (Management Charges) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Preet Kaur Gill (LAB)

Banking (Consumer and Small Business Protection) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Charlie Elphicke (Ind)

Climate Change (Net Zero UK Carbon Account) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alex Chalk (Con)

Parental Rights (Rapists) and Family Courts Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Louise Haigh (Lab)

Planning (Appeals) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - John Howell (Con)

Minimum Service Obligation (High Street Cashpoints) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Huw Merriman (Con)

National Health Service (Prohibition of Fax Machines and Pagers) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alan Mak (Con)

Construction (Retention Deposit Schemes) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Peter Aldous (Con)

Banking and Post Office Services (Rural Areas and Small Communities) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Luke Graham (Con)

Child Maintenance (Assessment of Parents' Income) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Heidi Allen (LD)


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
50 Other Department Questions
13th Jun 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what discussions the Electoral Commission has had with the (a) Scottish and (b) Welsh government on spending limits for the (i) Scottish Parliament and (ii) Welsh Senedd elections in 2026; and what the Commission’s planned timetable is for the ratification of the spending limits.

Each government, through the appropriate parliament, sets the spending limits for each relevant election. The Commission provides advice on the potential impact of any changes to the spending limits, and if necessary, consent. Any changes should be supported by rigorous analysis of relevant data and evidence to understand the likely impacts on parties and candidates, to maintain a level playing field, and on transparency and voter confidence. The Commission will monitor how recent changes made by governments function and their impact at the elections in 2026.

It is the role of individual parliaments to ratify their respective spending limits. The Commission offers proactive advice to the regulated community to ensure parties, campaigners and candidates understand the spending rules they must follow. It will update its guidance to reflect any changes.

12th Jun 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has given guidance to (a) political parties and (b) Reform UK Ltd on whether the provision of research is a donation in kind.

The Electoral Commission provides guidance for all political parties. The guidance states that any service – including research – provided to a party for free or on non-commercial terms is a donation. If the market value is above £500, the donor must be permissible, and if the value is above the reporting threshold (£11,180 for donations to central parties, or £2,230 for donations to accounting units or subsequent donations from the same source), it must also be reported to the Commission.

If the party pays for the service, it would not be a donation.

6th Jun 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to issue guidance to political parties on the potential impact of the Supreme Court judgement in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers on all-women shortlists; and whether she plans to discuss this matter with the (a) Equality and Human Rights Commission, and (b) Electoral Commission.

The Supreme Court Judgment was clear that for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, biological sex determines whether a person is a woman or not. Accordingly, in relation to the Equality Act 2010’s provisions allowing political parties to use all-women shortlists to increase the number of women standing for election, parties will need to have regard to the recent ruling. A political party wishing to use these Equality Act provisions will need to be satisfied that any such shortlists are lawful.

We regularly consult stakeholders, including the Equality and Human Rights Commission, on a range of issues, including where new guidance is proposed.

Nia Griffith
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
5th Jun 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Commission plans to respond to the First Report of the Speaker's Conference on the security of MPs, candidates and elections, published on 22 June 2025, HC 570.

The Commission published a statement on 2 June on the day of publication of the report, welcoming the insights gathered by the Speaker’s Conference and their proposal for cross-cutting solutions.

The Commission is looking at how we can support implementation of the report’s proposals, in partnership with the wider electoral community, and how to improve our support for candidates and campaigners ahead of elections next May.

5th Jun 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what proportion of valid votes were cast by (a) postal ballot and (b) proxy ballot, by Parliamentary constituency in the 2024 general election.

All votes are mixed for counting so it is not possible to distinguish the proportion of valid votes cast by post or proxy.

The Commission has published data, where provided by Returning Officers, on the proportion of postal votes included in counts and the number of proxies appointed.

5th Jun 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Commission has issued on political donations being made via cryptocurrencies.

The Commission’s guidance on permissibility of donations includes information on cryptocurrencies. The guidance states that the same legal requirements apply to donations received in cryptocurrencies as any other donations. Parties must ensure that they obtain donors’ details, so they can check permissibility. As with other types of assets, parties must report the value in pounds at the time of the donation.

The Commission will continue to review its guidance and support for parties to ensure that they are aware of how the law applies to cryptocurrency donations.

5th Jun 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what proportion of valid votes were cast by overseas electors, by Parliamentary constituency in the 2024 general election.

Due to the secrecy of the ballot, it is not possible to distinguish if a valid vote was cast by an overseas elector.

The Commission has published data, where it could be provided by Returning Officers, on the proportion of overseas electors issued with a postal vote and the percentage that were returned by close of poll. It does not hold data on the number of overseas electors who chose to cast their vote by proxy or in person.

5th Jun 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Commission has issued guidance on whether a government department can be a permissible donor.

A government department is not a permissible donor. However, political parties can receive public funds from government departments. The Commission’s guidance on permissibility states that any payment received by a political party out of public funds is regarded as received by a permissible donor. Parties must report these payments if above the reporting threshold.

2nd Jun 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's publication entitled FAQ sheet for qualifying foreign citizens in Wales (multiple languages), published on 15 June 2020, for what reason this information was translated into (a) Arabic, (b) Bengali, (c) Chinese and (d) Urdu.

In 2020-21 the franchise was extended to allow qualifying foreign nationals resident in Wales to vote in Senedd and local elections.

The Electoral Commission’s role is to provide voters with the information they need to take part in elections. As part of this work ahead of the 2021 Senedd election, it translated resources into the five most commonly spoken foreign languages in Wales. This was intended to support newly enfranchised voters to participate in the election, and is in line with the Welsh Government’s approach to translation of resources for voters.

30th May 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52867 on Written Questions, what is the 19% figure in absolute terms; and what is the average percentage figure of carded questions tabled by the hon. Members of each political party represented in the House of Commons.

During the period in question, the total number of questions tabled was 60,136, of which 11,654 were carded because they did not comply with the rules of order. The vast majority of card queries are resolved quickly when the hon. Member who tabled the question contacts the Table Office to discuss it. There is, however, a growing backlog of carded questions in cases where hon. Members have tabled questions but have not responded to the card note.

It is not possible to provide a party breakdown of the proportion of questions carded.

The Table Office is happy to offer training to hon. Members and their staff on the rules of order and the drafting of orderly WPQs.

30th May 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 52266 on Overseas Trade: Israel and Occupied Territories, which companies that trade with (a) Israel and (b) the Occupied Territories are excluded following a controversy screen and assessment of the human rights risks.

The Church Commissioners do not disclose details of restricted companies due to commercial sensitivity.
As stated in the answer issued in UIN 52266 on 20th May, the Church Commissioners have a process where they may restrict companies which are considered to cause, contribute to or are linked to human rights risks and impacts. In conflict-affected and high-risk areas, the Church Commissioners note the heightened risks of human rights harms and take this into account when screening their portfolios. The Pensions Board, as a separate legal entity, takes a similar approach.

19th May 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what information the Electoral Commission holds on the average cost to local authorities for holding (a) Parliamentary and (b) local authority by-elections, broken down by local authority ward.

The Electoral Commission does not hold data on the average cost to local authorities for holding elections. Local authorities are responsible for managing the costs of elections within their area and hold their own local data. The cost of conducting UK parliamentary elections is paid for by the UK Government through the Consolidated Fund, while local elections are paid for directly from the individual local authority budgets.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) produces a report on the costs of each UK parliamentary general election, including a breakdown of costs by category, such as staff costs and equipment. The report for the 2024 UK parliamentary general election will be published in due course.

16th May 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Table Office will meet the staff of Conservative Members of Parliament to discuss their work.

While hon. Members alone have the right to table questions, the Table Office routinely deals with Members’ staff, acting with the authority of their Member, about the tabling and drafting of questions, as part of the Office’s responsibility to ensure that questions adhere to the rules of order and practices of the House.

Most issues concerning the drafting of questions are resolved quickly, but where it is not possible to do so with a member of staff, the Table Office will ask to deal directly with the Member concerned. This reflects the fact that responsibility for tabling questions resides with the hon. Member personally and ensures that the Table Office’s resources are used in an effective manner.

16th May 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of written parliamentary questions submitted to the Table Office have been carded in this session.

The total proportion of written parliamentary questions carded in this Session of Parliament because they do not comply with the rules of order is just over 19%. Most card queries are resolved quickly by a conversation with the tabling Member. The Table Office offers training to hon. Members and their staff on the rules of order and the drafting of orderly WPQs.

14th May 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether (a) the Church of England, (b) its pension funds and (c) its investment funds support (i) boycotts and (ii) divestment of companies selling (A) goods and (B) services (1) from and (2) to (a) Israel and (b) the Occupied Territories.

The National Church Institutions do not have a policy of supporting boycotts or divestments related to Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Church Commissioners’ and the Church of England Pensions Board’s approaches are individually informed by the Ethical Investment Advisory Group, with neither institution implementing an automatic divestment policy for companies connected to Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Church Commissioners and the Church of England Pensions Board each implement a Human Rights policy, in line with which they independently screen holdings for corporate human rights risks in their distinct portfolios and run a Controversies Process. This includes reviewing companies that are alleged to cause, contribute to, or are linked to human rights risks and impacts. Each Fund looks at companies on a case-by-case basis and engages with companies that fail their controversy screens, which can lead to exclusions.

The Church Commissioners and the Church of England Pensions Board each apply this approach across their separate portfolios. In conflict-affected and high-risk areas, each Fund notes the heightened risks of human rights harms and takes this into account when screening their portfolios.

14th May 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many Freedom of Information Act requests the Electoral Commission has substantively responded to since 4 July 2024; and what the outcome was of each.

The Commission provided responses to 178 FOI requests between 4 July 2024 and 14 May.

A copy of the response to each FOI request submitted to the Commission can be found on its website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/about-us/freedom-information .

14th May 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has previously released individual RPA candidate spending returns under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Electoral Commission assesses each request under the FOI Act individually. The Act allows certain exemptions to be applied when considering requests, including an exemption for information that is reasonably by other means. Candidate returns are available on request from local authorities for two years for the date of receipt.

The Commission takes a range of factors into account when considering disclosure of candidate spending returns. The Commission has previously released a number of redacted individual candidate spending returns under FOI after the two-year period or where the return was not available from the Returning Officer.

28th Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what plans the Electoral Commission has to provide a substantive response to the internal review request to the Freedom of Information Act response reference 137-24, submitted for internal review in February 2025.

The Electoral Commission responded to the internal review request on 30 April.

25th Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41450 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, whether the Electoral Commission has made requests to Companies House to obtain additional information under the provisions in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

The Electoral Commission has not made any requests to Companies House under the provisions in the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023.

25th Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 on the work of the Electoral Commission.

The Commission regularly assesses the impact of legislation on its work, including the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024. The Act makes a number of changes to electoral law in Wales, including the establishment of an Electoral Management Board, new provisions on voter registration, powers for a wider range of electoral innovation pilots, and alignment with legislation for reserved elections in some areas such as accessibility, undue influence, and notional expenditure.

The Commission has been working with the Welsh Government and the wider electoral community to ensure that changes to elections in Wales are delivered successfully. It will develop updated guidance and resources for electoral administrators, campaigners and voters to reflect the changes that are being introduced. The Commission also has a duty to evaluate any pilots that are held in Wales.

25th Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 42467 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, whether the Electoral Commission plans to access Companies House data.

The Commission regularly accesses data published by Companies House as part of its work enforcing political finance laws. It will make decisions on requests for additional data as appropriate to its enforcement work.

25th Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43087 on Elections: Expenditure, what guidance the Electoral Commission has given on whether items of notional expenditure below £50 count towards the aggregate spending limit.

The Commission’s guidance for candidates states that items provided for free or at a non-commercial discount with a value of £50 or less are not regarded in law as notional spending. They do not need to be recorded on a candidate’s spending return or counted towards their spending limit.

25th Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission issues to candidates on declaring notional expenditure associated with policing and security while campaigning in the regulated period as an election expense.

The Commission’s guidance on candidate spending laws explains that reasonable expenses relating to the protection of persons or property, such as hiring security, do not count as candidate spending. It therefore does not need to be declared on a candidate’s spending return.

25th Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 45675 on Candidates: Expenditure, whether the Electoral Commission releases candidate returns under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Electoral Commission does not release candidate spending returns under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Representation of the People Act 1983 requires returning officers to make candidate spending returns available for two years. As such, spending returns are considered reasonably accessible by other means, and so are exempt from disclosure by the Commission under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act.

24th Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of equal pay legislation and case law on levels of industrial action in local authorities.

As set out in the King’s Speech in July, the government is committed to making the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority and disabled people. This measure will be part of the upcoming Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.

In delivering this commitment, we are giving close consideration on how to make the equal pay scheme work better for everyone. This will include any potential impact of changes to the equal pay scheme on local authorities.

To understand the challenges and find the appropriate solutions in developing this policy, we launched a 12 week call for evidence on a number of areas of equality law on April 7, which will close on 30 June.

Nia Griffith
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
24th Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 32140 on Candidates: Gender, whether she plans to consult the Parliamentary Parties Panel on this matter.

The Government is committed to commencing the Equality Act 2010’s provision requiring registered political parties to publish anonymised data relating to the diversity of their candidate selections.

Officials are exploring options to take to commence the provisions under section 106, including any consultation arrangements.

Nia Griffith
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
23rd Apr 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what requirements re-elected Members of Parliament have to declare political donations received in the period from the dissolution of Parliament to their swearing in as a Member of Parliament.

This is not a matter for the House of Commons Commission.

The rules are set out in the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the House on 12 December 2022 (HC 1083).

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmcode/1083/1083-1.pdf

Members seeking advice on the registration of specific interests should contact the Registrar of Members’ Interests.

17th Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2025, to Question 22035, on Candidates: Expenditure, if he will publish a copy of the spending return for the hon. Member for Hamilton and Clyde Valley at the 2024 General Election.

The Electoral Commission does not have the legal power to publish full candidate spending returns.

Returning Officers must make the full returns available for public scrutiny on request for a period of two years beginning with the date when the return is received.

Headline figures from candidate spending returns, including the constituency of Hamilton and Clyde Valley, were published on the Commission’s website on 18 March. The Commission publishes these so that voters and candidates can see how much was spent and ensure spending limits have been observed.

3rd Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided on whether a linked donation which a Parliamentary candidate benefits from but given to a national political party during the 2024 general election short campaign, must be declared in the candidate’s Representation of the People Act return.

The Electoral Commission publishes guidance for candidates and agents on donations that are held on a candidate's behalf by a party, such as in a local party fighting fund. How a donation must be reported depends on the intention of the donor and who controls the donation once received.

If a donation is held by the party but made with the intention that the candidate benefits and is made available to the candidate, it must be declared in the candidate's spending return.

If there is no intention to donate to the candidate, or the donation is received and controlled by the party, this is likely to be a party donation. If the party then uses the donation to benefit the candidate, the candidate may need to report a seperate donation from the party.

2nd Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has produced guidance on the inclusion of local Electoral Returning Officers within the definition of local authorities for the Re-use of Public Sector Information.

The Electoral Commisson has not produced guidance on the inclusion of local Electoral Returning Officers within the definition of local authorities for the Re-Use of Public Sector Information.

The Electoral Commission produces guidance on the roles and responsibilities of Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers in carrying out the statutory functions to deliver well-run electoral services.

The Information Commissioner's Office is responsible for enforcing data protection legislation and has produced guidance for publice sector bodies covered by the Re-Use Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 (RPSI)

1st Apr 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37583 on Elections: Expenditure, what guidance the Commission has issued on (a) itemising and (b) listing notional spending below £50 in Representation of the People Act returns where the total notional expenditure from that organisation is greater than £50.

The Elecotoral Commission has published guidance for candidates and agents on reporting notional expenditure. Property, goods, services or facilities received over the value of £50, provided for free or at a non-commercial discount, must be reported as candidate spending and as a donation. There are no requirements in law for candidates to report items of notional spending where the value is £50 or lower.

Candidates do not need to itemise or list individual items of spending with a value of £50 or below, even when they have received multiple items of spending from the same organisation with a total value over £50.

Agents are required to include the details of any reportable notional expenditure, and a declaration of its value in the candidate spending return.

31st Mar 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 37580 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, what discussions the Electoral Commission has had with Companies House on the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

The Electoral Commission has not had discussions with Companies House on the legislation referred to by the Hon. Gentleman.

12th Mar 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31951 on Local Government Boundary Commission for England, whether the Local Government Boundary Commission for England has told the Speaker's Committee that it requires resources for formal structural reviews of local authority (i) wards and (ii) boundaries.

The Speaker's Committee plans to hold a public evidence session with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) on 19 March 2025 to consider its draft supply estimate for 2025/26. This session will be made available on Parliament Live.

Following the meeting, the Speaker's Committee is expected to publish the explanatory memorandum produced by the Commission explaining the content of its Estimate and justifying proposed funding requests. The Committee is also expected to consider the Commission's new five year corporate plan which outlines the LGBCE's objectives and expenditure plans over the next five years.

12th Mar 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission issues fines to political parties that narrowly miss a reporting deadline.

The Electoral Commission takes enforcement action, including using investigatory powers and sanctions, where it is satisfied that it is necessary and proportionate to do so. Where it is satisfied it can resolve a matter without enforcement action, it will do so. It issues fines for missed reporting deadlines where it is not satisfied it can achieve its regulatory aims though other means.

12th Mar 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, for what reason the Electoral Commission briefing entitled Parliamentary briefing: Political finance rules, sent to hon. Members on 4 March 2025, states that unincorporated associations are not required to check that those who donate to them are permissible.

The Political Parties, Election and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) sets out the permissibility rules for political donations.

Unincorporated associations who donate to political parties are required to be permissable donors. However, those who give money to an unincorporated association are not required to be. Unincorporated associations are therefore not required to check that those who donate to them are permissable.

The Commission has recommended a change to the law to require unincorporated associations to ensure that any political donations come from permissable donors. This would strengthen the political finance system and provide transparency for voters.

12th Mar 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to section 94 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, whether the Electoral Commission has been granted enhanced powers to access Companies House information.

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, Companies House has powers to share information with individuals and public authorities, including the Electoral Commission, as long as the disclosure aligns with the functions of the receiving public authority and is not in breach of data protection legislation.

The Commission has not received information using these powers since the law received Royal Assent in 2023.

12th Mar 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31952 on Elections: Expenditure, what guidance the Commission has provided on (a) what (i) petrol, (ii) staffing, (iii) coach hire and (iv) other costs of a battlebus should be assigned to local candidate spend and (b) whether this includes travel outside a constituency to the constituency.

The Commission has published guidance for parties and candidates on how to distinguish between party and candidate spending, and how to report such spending. The classification of spend on a battlebus visit will depend on whether the spending promotes the party or the candidate.

The Commission’s guidance includes a number of examples of campaign events and how these would be reported.

The Commission has published guidance for candidates on transport costs. Reportable transport costs include the costs of transporting volunteers, party members or other campaigners around the electoral area, or to and from the electoral area, where they are undertaking campaigning on behalf of the candidate. This includes the costs of transport hire and fuel.

The Commission has also published guidance for candidates on staff costs. Costs for staff directly employed by the party do not count towards party spending limits. However, if staff are provided to a candidate for their campaign, staff costs would need to be reported by the candidate as notional spending.

12th Mar 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31952 on Elections: Expenditure, what guidance the Commission has provided on (a) whether a battlebus must be declared as a local candidate expense if the candidate participates in campaigning with the battlebus and (b) the definitions of (i) directing, (ii) encouraging and (iii) authorising the spending.

The Commission has published guidance for parties and candidates on how to distinguish between party and candidate spending, and how to report such spending. The classification of spend on a battlebus visit will depend on whether the spending promotes the party or the candidate.

Activity promoting the candidate must be reported on the candidate return if it is authorised by the candidate or qualifies as notional spending. There is a £700 limit on unauthorised spending to promote the candidate, which would be reported on the party return. The Commission’s guidance includes a number of examples of campaign events and how these would be reported.

The Commission has also published guidance on the tests for notional spending, including how to identify when an item has been made use of by the candidate or someone on their behalf. Someone can only make use of an item on behalf of the candidate if that use has been directed, authorised, or encouraged by the candidate or their agent.

The Commission has not published a specific definition of “directed, authorised, or encouraged”; these terms are interpreted according to their commonplace use.

10th Mar 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will ask the Electoral Commission to publish (a) invoices and (b) receipts relating to its spending by the Labour Party on its battlebus during the 2024 general election campaign.

The use of a battlebus by the Labour Party was reported in its return submitted to the Electoral Commission in January.

The Commission will publish the spending returns for parties and campaigners that spent over £250,000 at the 2024 general election in the coming months.

As part of this, it will publish invoices and receipts for any payment over £200, which parties have to submit with the details of their spending.

This is an important part of the Commission’s work to provide voters with transparency over the money spent and received at the election.

5th Mar 2025
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what guidance the Commission has provided on whether the provisions on hon. Members being required to report linked donations and declaring the identity of the ultimate donor, under Category 2(a), includes donations made through unincorporated associations or members' associations which in turn have been funded by a third party donor; and whether such ultimate donors should be permissible donors.

The Commission does not issue guidance on the registration of Members’ Financial interests. The Committee on Standards periodically reviews the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members and makes recommendations for changes for the House to consider.

The rules on registering donations under both Category 2(a) and 2(b) are set out in paragraphs 14 to 20 of The Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members. Those rules do not require the provision of information on individuals or organisations that donate to unincorporated associations or members’ associations which in turn, make donations to Members.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has issued an Advice Note on the transparency of registration of income, donations and other financial interests which explains the importance of transparency when registering financial interests. Advice Notes are designed to supplement, and not supersede or contradict, specific provisions of the Code.

The permissibility of donors is a matter for the Electoral Commission, not the Commission.

24th Feb 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of the Government’s policies on extending equal pay rights as set out in the policy paper entitled Next Steps to Make Work Pay, published on 8 November 2024, on the cost to local authorities of (a) salaries and (b) legal settlements for people from ethnic minorities.

The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination.

Through planned legislation, we will make the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority and disabled people. We will also put in place measures to ensure that outsourcing of services can no longer be used by employers to avoid paying equal pay, and we will implement a regulatory and enforcement unit for equal pay.

As we progress these measures, we will work in partnership with employers, trade unions and civil society and carefully consider their economic and social impact, including on employers, workers and the public sector. An equality impact assessment will be conducted as part of this.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued to political (a) parties, (b) agents and (c) candidates on the (i) use of battlebuses in regulated election period and (ii) circumstances in which their use should be declared as a local candidate expense.

The Commission has published guidance for parties and candidates and agents on spending by the party to promote a candidate during the candidate regulated period.

The guidance sets out how to identify whether an activity promotes a candidate, and if so, how this should be reported. In most cases, activity promoting a candidate must be reported on the candidate return, either as notional spending or as spending authorised by the candidate. In the case of a battlebus visit, this will depend on the content of the event and the role of the candidate or agent in directing, encouraging, or authorising the spending.

21st Feb 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many times the Parliamentary Parties Panel has met since February 2024.

The Westminster Parliamentary Parties Panel meets four times a year, but it can meet more or less often if it needs to. It met in February, September and December 2024, and again in February 2025.

The scheduled June 2024 meeting was cancelled due to the UK parliamentary general election.

The minutes from previous meetings are available to view on the Committee's website.

21st Feb 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the Electoral Commission's timetable is for the publication of the spending returns for the 2024 General Election by (a) major and (b) minor political parties.

On 13 February, the Commission published the 2024 general election spending returns from political parties and campaigners that spent less the £250,000. The data can be viewed on the Commission's website.

The Commission will publish data relating to parties and campaigners that spent over £250,000 in the coming months.

This is an important part of its work to provide transparency for voters over the money spent and received at the election.

21st Feb 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, for what reason Policy Development Grants will be linked to candidacy from 2025-26; and which political parties responded to the Electoral Commission’s consultation.

The Commission recently consulted Westminster political parties on its proposals to amend the Policy Development Grants Scheme, following eligibility changes after the 2024 UK parliamentary general election.

Parties with at least two sitting members in the House of Commons who have taken the oath of allegiance, are eligible to receive a share of the total available £2m grant. All nine parties are eligible for the grant responded consultation. These were: the Conservative and Unionist Party, Demcratic Unionist Party, Green Party of England and Wales, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, Reform UK, Scottish National Party, and Social Democratic and Labour Party.

The Commission recommended that the second £1m of the £2m total available grant should continue to be divided into pots for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, based on the proportion of the UK electorate living in each nation. Following consultation and the testing of different thresholds, the Commission also recommended that each nation's pot should then be split equally between the eligible parties that stood candidates in at least 50% of the constituencies in the relevent nation at the most recent UK parliamentary general election. It recommended no change to the existing method of allocating the first £1m of the available grant.

The Commission's reasoning was that a 50% threshold would give greater assurance that eligible parties have demonstrated a sufficient connection and commitment to the relevent nation's electorate and a presence within that part of the UK.

The Commission wrote to the parties in November to let them know the outcome of the consultation.

21st Feb 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 28045 on Local Government Boundary Commission for England, whether additional resources will be provided to the Local Boundary Commission for England in the context of the Government’s plans for local government restructuring in England.

The Speaker’s Committee has a statutory role to review the annual estimates of resources of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE). It also considers the organisation’s five-year plan at the start of a Parliament.

As part of the process, the LGBCE submits a draft estimate and five-year plan to the Committee for consideration. In turn the Committee consults the Treasury on these and has regard to any advice the Treasury gives.

Ahead of the new financial year, the Committee is holding a public session with the LGBCE to consider its position. The Committee will then decide whether it is satisfied that the estimated level of income and expenditure requested is consistent with the economical, efficient and effective discharge by the Commission of its functions. If the Committee were not so satisfied, it would make modifications to the estimate as it considers appropriate for the purpose of achieving such consistency.

As part of this year’s review the Committee will need to assess whether the LGBCE has the appropriate level of provision to ensure it has the capacity and expertise to respond to requests for assistance in the context of the Government’s plans for local government restructuring in England.

The Committee is planning to meet the LGBCE next on 19 March 2025 and it will then take a decision on whether to lay the main estimate for financial year 2025/26 before the House of Commons for approval.

21st Feb 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission had discussions with Leicestershire Police on (a) electoral fraud and (b) the issuing of unauthorised and anonymous literature during the 2024 General Election.

As part of its work to support the police, the Commission has provided advice to Leicestershire Police in relation to its enquiries into complaints about campaign literature distributed without an imprint at the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election.

The police are responsible for enforcing imprints laws on candidate literature.

21st Feb 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what plans the Electoral Commission has to provide a substantive response to the Freedom of Information Act request, reference FOI 137-24, submitted in September 2024.

The Commission responded to the request on 27 February 2025.

21st Feb 2025
To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 24503 on Political Parties: Finance, whether the Electoral Commission has issued guidance on the permissibility of donations from UK subsidiaries acting as agents for overseas parent companies.

Under electoral law, while most UK companies are permissible donors, if a UK company acted as an agent for a donation by a foreign company, this donation would be impermissible. If a person or organisation makes a donation on behalf of another without disclosing this, they would be committing an offence.

The Commission has published guidance on permissable sources and on donations made on behalf of another person or organisation. This states that recipients must take all reasonable steps to identify the true donor and ensure that they are a permissable source.