Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the Metropolitan Police on the called-in application for the proposed new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda.
An independent Planning Inspector will hold a public inquiry at which interested parties will be able to put forward evidence and representations. These will be taken into account when a final decision is made.
Following the inquiry, the Inspector’s report and recommendation will be sent to MHCLG, and Planning Ministers will then reach a decision on whether to grant planning permission.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of alternative sites for the prospective relocation of the Chinese Embassy, aside from the proposed development in Tower Hamlets.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Applications relating to the proposals for a new Chinese Embassy at Royal Mint Court have been called in for Ministers to decide. Calling in these applications should not be taken as any indication of views on the merits of the proposals.
An appointed Inspector will hold a public inquiry which will hear a range of evidence for and against the proposals, after which a decision will be made by MHCLG ministers. As this case will come before ministers in MHCLG to determine, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Hong Kong BNO integration programme of reports that the leadership of the Wai Yin Society is linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals' rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. Any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK via third parties will not be tolerated. I would be happy to discuss this further with my Rt. Hon. Friend.