Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the United States of America, including the US Embassy in London, relating to the proposed Chinese Embassy development at the Royal Mint in London.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government regularly engages with representatives of foreign governments, including the United States government, to discuss a broad range of issues. The details of these discussions are not made public.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to Appendix 2, page 61, Annex 1: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects reform, of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment (published May 2025) Appendix 2, page 61, and the November 2027 target date for the updated Airports National Policy Statement, whether they anticipate that the infrastructure planning application for the Heathrow Airport expansion can be submitted before the publication and ratification of the revised Airports National Policy Statement.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the Government will review the Airports National Policy Statement in line with the requirements of the Planning Act 2008.
When the ANPS has been reviewed, and depending on the outcome of the review, it will be for scheme promoters to decide when to submit a Development Consent Order application for a third runway scheme.
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 provided by either the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government or the Planning Inspectorate on whether a planning inspector is able to give less weight to planning representations if they believe that the representations are a result of, or have been fettered by, foreign interference.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The weight attaching to a representation is a matter for the decision-maker.
In dealing with the application, officials and Ministers will act in accordance with published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions. Further information is available here.
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 Mayor of London press release of 9 May, Mayor: We must build on the green belt to help fix London’s housing crisis, whether the Government’s support for reviewing Green Belt in Greater London includes support for reviewing Metropolitan Open Land in London.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The designation, management and review of Metropolitan Open Land is a matter for the Mayor of London.
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 paragraph 19 of the Guidance on planning propriety: planning casework decisions published in December 2021, and MHCLG guidance on Crown Development and Urgent Crown development regarding security sensitive information in planning applications, whether all representations made by other government departments on a called-in planning application or recovered appeal, including on sensitive security matters, must be disclosed to the applicant.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Representations on planning applications are dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions which can be found here.
Ministers are able to issue a direction under section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 on an application where required. This allows evidence to only be heard by specified persons.
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.