Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they deem (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland to be (a) countries, (b) nations, or (c) regions.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The United Kingdom comprises four nations. Each of these has their own distinct identities, which are valued as part of our collective and diverse cultural landscape.
The Government is committed to delivering for people across the UK and is working with all levels of government to do so. That is why the Prime Minister established the Council of the Nations and Regions, which will be meeting again imminently.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether local electors, who are citizens of (1) Russia, (2) Iran, or (3) China, who are on the (a) Welsh or (b) Scottish devolved local government electoral roll, but who are not eligible to be on the UK Parliamentary electoral roll, are deemed to be permissible donors in relation to making donations to UK-wide political parties and regulated donees based outside of Wales and Scotland respectively.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Electoral law ensures that only those with legitimate ties to the UK can participate in our elections. In Scotland and Wales, the right to participate in elections is provided to all individuals who are legally resident and on the electoral register. Those individuals can vote in local elections and in elections devolved to Scotland and Wales and are considered permissible donors so are able donate to any registered UK political party. It includes people of varying nationalities.
The Scottish Government has responsibility for the franchise for elections to the Scottish Parliament and local elections in Scotland. The Welsh Government has responsibility for elections to the Senedd and local elections in Wales.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a treehouse within the curtilage of a domestic dwelling is deemed to be a material consideration by the Valuation Office Agency when a property is valued for council tax in Wales.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Valuation Office Agency considers each property valuation on a case-by-case basis, considering the impact that any features could have on the property’s value and whether any such features would be classified as a self-contained unit.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government why there are different business rate liabilities for fee-charging (1) standalone nursery schools, and (2) nurseries within the curtilage of independent schools.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Private schools in England no longer benefit from business rates charitable rate relief. The definition of a private school is set out in the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act. This definition includes private schools with nursery classes, which, despite the presence of some nursery provision are, by their nature, private schools.
Standalone nursery schools with their own business rates assessments remain eligible for charitable rate relief if they are eligible charities. This approach best ensures consistency with the underlying policy intent to remove eligibility from private schools.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have a target for the number of bat tunnels that will be provided as nature mitigation mechanisms as a result of the changes set out in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
No.
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 Local Government Boundary Commission will assess the new wards and boundaries of the new unitary authorities.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Local Government Boundary Commission England (LGBCE) is responsible for electoral reviews for local government, reviewing wards, and setting the council size in terms of number of councillors. When a full electoral review of a newly established authority is carried out, the LGBCE will follow its guidance (which is available on its website), and the electoral review process includes a local consultation.
In terms of the number of and external boundaries of new unitary councils, the process set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 is that following the receipt of proposals for a single tier of local government the Secretary of State may request the LGBCE to advise on any matter that relates to the proposal. The Secretary of State may by order implement the proposal, with or without modification; if she has received an alternative proposal from the LGBCE, by order implement that alternative proposal with or without modification; or decide to take no 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 assessment has been made of the activities of the United Front Work Department in the United Kingdom in relation to the called-in Chinese Embassy planning application.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 11 March 2025 to question UIN HL5338.
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 potential use of a legislative reform order to remove the requirement to publish the home addresses of councillors.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Lord to the response given to Question on 21 January 2025 UIN 23872. We consider removal of the requirement for councillors’ home addresses to be published is best achieved by primary legislation and intend to legislate at the first available opportunity.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 20 March (HL5602), what representations the government of China or its representatives have made to the Home Office relating to the latest planning application for the Chinese Embassy, prior to and after the Secretary of State's call-in decision, and on what dates.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Having conducted reasonable due diligence, we are not aware of any such representations. In any event, final decision sits with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in her independent, quasi-judicial role.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the total budget for the new British embassy development in China; what is the target date for the planning permission to be granted; and what is the target date for the final completion of the embassy.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to work on the details of the timetable and budget for the new British embassy in Beijing. We have submitted our planning application for the new embassy and as with any project, this would be subject to due consideration by Chinese authorities.