Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the Spending Review 2025 (CP1336), what is the monetary value of the Affordable Homes Programme over the 10-year period, adjusted for (1) the GDP deflator, and (2) the Treasury’s Social Time Preference Rate as set out in the Green Book.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36. The Spending Review document sets out that spend on the AHP will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.
Up to 30% of the funding over the programme will be delivered by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London, with at least 70% available for the rest of England via Homes England, depending on the level of future bids.
Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance.
We have announced the overall funding commitment for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme and will continue to publish departmental capital spend figures on an annual basis.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Home Office has seen the unredacted drawings of (1) the cultural exchange building, and (2) the basement, for the new Chinese Embassy at the former site of the Royal Mint.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
A public inquiry was held on this case between 11 and 28 February, at which interested parties were able to put forward evidence and make representations. On 10 June 2025, the Planning Inspector passed their report to MHCLG for consideration.
Given the independence of this quasi-judicial process, it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on aspects of the planning process, but I can assure the Noble Lord that we have considered the breadth of national security issues in relation to the proposed new Embassy.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed development of the new Chinese Embassy at the former site of the Royal Mint on the nearby telephone exchange.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
An independent Inspector held a public inquiry which heard a range of evidence for and against the proposals in question. Decisions on planning applications are based on material planning considerations. It would not be appropriate to comment further.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the National Protective Security Authority has played any role in the planning application for the new Chinese Embassy at the former site of the Royal Mint.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given on 18 June 2025 to question UIN HL8282 .
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations the Bank of England has made to (1) the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and (2) the Planning Inspectorate, about the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy at the former site of the Royal Mint; and whether representations can be made that are not publicly published.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Representations on planning applications will be dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions found here.
All Inquiry documents including representations to the Inquiry are publicly available on Tower Hamlets website here here.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the proposals for the new Chinese Embassy at the former site of the Royal Mint will include subterranean works under the nearby telephone exchange.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given on 18 June 2025 to question UIN HL8282 .
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the sensitive information in planning applications process allows the security services to make representations to (1) the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, or (2) the Planning Inspectorate, on a called-in planning application without those representations being shared with the applicant or otherwise being made public.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Representations on planning applications will be dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions found here.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to grant the new Child Protection Authority for England powers to regulate or inspect local authorities in relation to (1) children’s services and (2) other public services which may have a bearing on children.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
On 9 April, the government published its progress update on tackling child sexual abuse. This included a commitment to the creation of a Child Protection Authority in England. This will help make the child protection system clearer and more unified and ensure there is ongoing improvement through effective support for practitioners based on evidence.
The department will consult this year on a roadmap towards a Child Protection Authority. This consultation will set out in more detail the proposed roles, responsibilities and powers of the authority.
The department is clear, however, that rather than taking inspection into the Child Protection Authority, we will work to deliver the improvements to inspection, as recommended by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, by working with Ofsted, the Care and Quality Commission, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services, and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation. We think it is important for local areas to have a relationship with the Child Protection Authority that supports effective learning, and ensure areas are transparent about failings, to enable the Child Protection Authority to provide expert advice on how to improve and change. Giving the same body inspection powers could impede the effectiveness of this approach.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely consequences of the Employment Rights Bill and the associated repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 for the frequency of industrial action in local government.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In October 2024 the government published impact assessments on the trade union-related measures within the Employment Rights Bill and these are available here: Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK
The impact assessments covering the Bill’s repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 and the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 included an assessment of the expected impact on industrial action.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance has been issued on whether municipal electoral returning officers and electoral registration officers are deemed to be local authorities in relation to the re-use of public sector information regime.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to Question UIN 41457 on 3 April.