Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Ministers occupying official residences pay the second homes premium on council tax, where that residence is not their primary residence and where the local authority levies such a premium on dwellings; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the current guidance given to Ministers on paying council tax on official residences, other than the Ministerial Code.

Ministers who are allocated an official residence are reminded of their responsibility for all personal tax liabilities, including council tax, in line with the principles of the Ministerial Code.

As has been the case for successive administrations, where a minister occupies an official residence as a second home, the responsibility for payment of council tax falls to the responsible Department.