Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Gregory Stafford

Thursday 4th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Gregory Stafford (Farnham and Bordon) (Con)]

13. Whether the Prime Minister has had discussions with the Chinese Government on the proposed Chinese embassy.

[The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Dan Jarvis)]

The decision to call in the planning application for the proposed Chinese embassy was made by the former Deputy Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Angela Rayner), in line with the current policy on call-in. The decision is subject to a quasi-judicial process and independent from the rest of Government. No private assurances have been given to the Chinese Government regarding the embassy application.

[Dan Jarvis]

I can say to the Father of the House that national security is the first duty of this Government, and has been a core priority throughout this process. We have considered the breadth of national security considerations and have publicly outlined the necessary security mitigations that we need in order to support an application. Should the planning decision be approved, the new embassy will replace the seven different sites that currently comprise China’s diplomatic estate.

[Gregory Stafford]

On Tuesday, my hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Nick Timothy) raised with the Foreign Secretary concerns expressed by the United States, Dutch, Swiss and Swedish Governments regarding the reported presence of data cables running beneath Royal Mint Court. I note that the Cabinet Office has since denied the reports to the press. Will the Minister now provide the clarity that his colleague at the Foreign Office could not, and give a clear yes or no answer to this House as to whether any such cables run beneath or in the vicinity of the site?

[Dan Jarvis]

I reiterate the point that the Government have considered the breadth of national security considerations. Both the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary have been clear about that. We work incredibly closely with our allies, particularly our Five Eyes partners, to ensure our collective national security.

Alleged Spying Case: Home Office Involvement

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Gregory Stafford

Monday 20th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dan Jarvis]

I have done my very best to provide the clarity that hon. Members are asking for. There is, of course, still an unanswered question about the position of the previous Government. The Prime Minister put that point to the Leader of the Opposition last week, and there are a number of former Government Ministers in the Chamber—perhaps they could tell us the answer.

[Gregory Stafford (Farnham and Bordon) (Con)]

I am going to give the Minister a fifth chance to answer. Did the Home Secretary make representations when she discovered that the case was about to collapse—yes or no?

[Dan Jarvis]

I have given the House the response—[Interruption.]

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Gregory Stafford

Monday 25th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Gregory Stafford (Farnham and Bordon) (Con)]

T4. Transnational repression by Iran, China, Russia and other unfriendly nations continues to be writ large on diaspora populations in this country. What is the Government’s strategy on transnational repression, and will the Home Secretary reintroduce the last Government’s defending democracy taskforce to monitor incidence?

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. The taskforce is examining closely the threats that he raises, and we shall have more to say about that shortly.