Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office is paying a second homes council tax premium to Westminster Council for any Ministerial residence in 2026-27.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Councils in England may apply the second homes premium to Council Tax for dwellings which are substantially furnished but have no resident. Westminster City Council has applied the second homes premium to Council Tax charges for 2026/27 in respect of all such properties for which the Cabinet Office is currently responsible, and payments are being made as a matter of routine.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Independent Adviser of Ministerial Standards cross-referencing interests relating to residential property ownership with areas subject to selective licensing designations when reviewing the List of Ministerial Interests.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of private interests held by ministers, as set out in the Ministerial Code. This process ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Relevant interests are published in the List of Ministers’ Interests on a quarterly basis. Further information on the process for compiling the List of Ministers’ Interests can be found in Part B Chapter 3 of the Ministerial Code, as well as the List of Ministers’ Interests and the Independent Adviser’s Annual Report which can all be found on GOV UK

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there is a consolidated list of local authorities which will be up for election in May 2027, including combined authority mayoralties and shadow unitary councils.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Yes. The Government publishes information on local authority, combined authority and county combined authority election cycles in England, including scheduled elections for May 2027, on GOV.UK: Local authority, combined authority, and county combined authority election cycles in England - gov.uk.

The Secretary of State confirmed on 7 September 2026 that the plan is for local and regional elections scheduled for May 2027 to go ahead on existing boundaries.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the planned date for future local government by-elections for district and county councils.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

District and county council by-elections are held to fill casual vacancies arising between ordinary elections. The timing of such elections depends on when a vacancy arises and is governed by section 89 of the Local Government Act 1972 and associated legislation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information her Department holds for the delay in responding to the recommendations of the Patient Safety Commissioner's report on redress for those harmed by pelvic mesh and sodium valproate.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer on 14 July to Question 16121.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has been allocated a Ministerial residence.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

The Chancellor has been allocated the No.10 flat and Dorneywood.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 118224, on Water Charges: Conservation, whether the innovative tariff options being considered will include the extension of (a) progressive water metering and (b) seasonal water meeting via smart meters.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This information is publicly available on Ofwat's website.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 118224, on Water Charges: Conservation, what is the statutory basis for the use of (a) progressive water metering and (b) seasonal water meeting via smart meters on households.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This information is publicly available on Ofwat's website.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether household customers with smart water meters can refuse to be moved onto a (a) seasonal or (b) progressive water meter tariff where a water company wishes to introduce such a tariff without householder consent.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This information is publicly available on Ofwat's website.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the research required by commitment 77 of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 into increasing the natural resilience of habitats to wildfire through rewetting or restoring hydrological function; and whether her Department has reached any conclusions on the effectiveness of those measures in advance of the initial scoping review.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

An initial scoping review will be reported on in the Environmental Improvement Plan’s annual progress report (APR) in 2027.

Current evidence supports the approach that peatland restoration, including rewetting and the restoration of hydrological function, can strengthen wildfire resilience by increasing moisture levels, reducing fuel loads and supporting the recovery of peat-forming vegetation such as Sphagnum mosses.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the findings of Fielding et al. (2025) that cutting transferred fine heather material into the litter layer whereas prescribed burning reduced fine fuels; and whether those findings were considered in developing the current regulations and guidance on vegetation management.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government is committed to protecting peatlands. In September 2025, the Heather and Grass etc Burning (England) Regulations 2021 were amended, expanding restrictions on unnecessary burning practices, to enhance protection of upland deep peat and improve the resilience of moorlands. A range of new scientific evidence, subject to appropriate academic rigour, was assessed within the context of the cumulative evidence base. Evidence showed that burning, especially repeated burning, results in a departure from the typical structure of these habitats and can impact how they function.  The Government remains satisfied that the Regulations are supported by the available evidence.

Defra continues to monitor the growing evidence on this topic. As part of its delivery of the Third National Adaptation Programme, Defra has commissioned a wildfire and peatland study, which includes looking at the effectiveness of a range of peatland land management systems and practices in creating wildfire resilience. Defra will continue to monitor these results and engage with key stakeholders.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role her Department considers carefully controlled prescribed burning should play in reducing wildfire risk; and in what circumstances burning on peatland may be authorised under a licence or an approved Wildfire Management Plan.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government is committed to protecting peatlands. In September 2025, the Heather and Grass etc Burning (England) Regulations 2021 were amended, expanding restrictions on unnecessary burning practices, to enhance protection of upland deep peat and improve the resilience of moorlands.

Under the Regulations, land managers can apply for a licence to burn to reduce the impacts of wildfire where there is no feasible alternative and where there is a clear, evidenced need. Applicants must provide robust evidence demonstrating why alternative vegetation management methods are not feasible and must set out what wider actions they are taking to move the site away from the need to burn in future.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2026 to Question 18054 on Members’ Interests: Registration, whether the House of Commons has a policy on whether donations accepted by a hon. Member in the 12 months before they are elected should be permissible.

Answered by Nick Smith

The requirement to register donations in the 12 months before they are elected is set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Chapter 1 of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules:

1. Paragraph 5 of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament provides:

Members must fulfil conscientiously the requirements of the House in respect of the registration of interests in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. New Members must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election, and Members must register any change in those registrable interests within 28 days.

2. The House therefore requires new Members, within one month of their election, to register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election. After that, Members are required to register within 28 days any change in those registrable interests. Such a change includes both the acquisition of a new interest and the ceasing of any registered interest, for example because an employment has ceased or because a holding has reduced in value or been sold.

The rules on registering donations (Category 2) are set out in paragraphs 15 to 20 of Chapter 1.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 29 May 2026, to Question 2113, on Written Questions: Artificial Intelligence, what assessment the Commission has made of the adequacy of the accuracy of the new AI feature.

Answered by Nick Smith

The AI feature assists staff in identifying duplicate questions by finding and listing questions which have been submitted previously where there is 80% or greater level of similarity. The Table Office reports that it is a helpful tool to support staff in identifying identical or near identical text duplicates. Pre-existing tools such as Parliamentary Search continue to be used to support the identification of duplicate questions. In any case, staff are responsible for reviewing the questions to assess whether the rules of order relating to questions already answered are engaged. The Table Office is happy to demonstrate the tool to Members who are interested in it.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the House of Commons' policy is on whether the name of an intermediary donor to a hon. Member is published on the House of Commons Register of Interests, where an agent channels a donation for another ultimate donor through an intermediary.

Answered by Nick Smith

The requirements for registering interests and information that has to be supplied is set out in Chapter 1 of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules.

The Commissioner has issued an Advice Note on the transparency of registrations in response to questions raised by Members of Parliament. That Advice Note can be accessed here: advice-note-2023.01.11-2---transparency-of-registration.pdf

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2026, to Question 18054, on Members' Interests: Registration, whether the House of Commons has provided any guidance on whether donations or gifts to Members of Parliament that they receive in the 12 months before their first election to Parliament need to be from permissible sources.

Answered by Nick Smith

The Electoral Commission provides authoritative advice on the permissibility of donors.

The following paragraphs of Chapter 1 of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules provide advice on the registration of interests received in the 12 months before a Members’ election and on the permissibility of donors.

1. Paragraph 5 of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament provides:

Members must fulfil conscientiously the requirements of the House in respect of the registration of interests in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. New Members must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election, and Members must register any change in those registrable interests within 28 days.

2. The House therefore requires new Members, within one month of their election, to register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election. After that, Members are required to register within 28 days any change in those registrable interests. Such a change includes both the acquisition of a new interest and the ceasing of any registered interest, for example because an employment has ceased or because a holding has reduced in value or been sold.

Permissible donors

19. Members must not accept any donations, loans, security or other support valued at over £500 from impermissible donors. They must also report them to the Electoral Commission within 30 days of receipt. The following are permissible donors:

• an individual registered in a UK electoral register (or a bequest from such an individual);
• a UK registered company which is incorporated within the EU and carries on business in the UK;
• a Great Britain registered political party;
• a UK registered trade union;
• a UK registered building society;
• a UK registered limited liability partnership that carries on business in the UK;
• a UK registered friendly society;
• a UK based unincorporated association that carries on business or other activities in the UK.

20. In addition, certain trusts may be permissible as donors, but not as lenders or providers of security or credit. Local councils are not permissible donors or lenders.

23. Before accepting any benefit over £500 which would require registration in this category (including a credit facility or a loan which exceeds £500 in value), Members are required to satisfy themselves that it is from a permissible donor, and to notify the Electoral Commission within 30 days of any impermissible donations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2026, to Question 13868, on Minister: Official Residences, whether this policy extends to official ministerial residences which are occupied as a third home.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer to the Honourable Member to the response to Question 81873 of 20 October 2025.

There is no difference between second or 'third' homes for the purpose of this policy, as there is no such category of 'third home' for the purpose of Council Tax liability.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question HL10068, on Candidates: Equality, whether political parties have been formally consulted.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government is committed to commencing section 106 of the Equality Act 2010, requiring registered political parties to publish anonymised data relating to the diversity of their candidate selections in accordance with regulations.

There is currently careful consideration being given on how this could be implemented, the necessary supporting regulations and timeline, as well as the specifics with regards to data collection.

The Government intends to involve all relevant stakeholders in the implementation process when this is taken forward. In the meantime it remains open to registered parties to publish their own candidate diversity data.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many enforcement notices were issued in 2024-25 in relation to breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 involving risks to non-employees.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Details of enforcement notices served HSE are available through this public register:

Find an improvement or prohibition notice - HSE

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 23 September 2025, to Question 74186, on Cabinet Office: Council Tax, what is the evidential test applied on whether Ministerial grace and favour accommodation is occupied as a secondary residence.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer provided to PQ 95895.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 74186, on Cabinet Office: Council Tax, for what reason council tax is personally payable on a Ministerial residence occupied as a primary home, but not a secondary home.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer provided to PQ 82670.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the outgoing Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Member for Holborn and St Pancras, has accepted a severance payment.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Details of ministerial severance payments are published in the relevant department’s annual report and accounts.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for updating the Impact Assessment to the Representation of the People Bill following the Government’s response to the Rycroft Review.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government's policy is to publish Impact Assessments as soon as practicable to support effective parliamentary scrutiny and transparency. On 3 September, we introduced the Representation of the People Bill in the House of Lords, which was accompanied by an updated Impact Assessment.

Any necessary updates to the Bill's accompanying Impact Assessment will be made in the usual way.

Found: Britain’s affordable housing stock has only just begun”.91 The then shadow Housing Secretary, Kevin Hollinrake