G20 and COP29 Summits Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

G20 and COP29 Summits

Richard Holden Excerpts
Thursday 21st November 2024

(1 day, 19 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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Yes. Great British Energy, which will be publicly owned, will drive forward on renewables, towards clean power in 2030. We have to make up time, because of the slowness of the Conservative party, but we are determined to do so. This will be measured in energy independence—so that Putin’s boot will not be on our throat, as it was in recent years—in the jobs of the future, and in lowering energy bills.

Richard Holden Portrait Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)
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We know that one thing the Prime Minister was discussing with President Xi in August was the planning application for the Chinese embassy. He said to the President:

“You raised the Chinese Embassy building…when we spoke on the telephone, and we have since taken action by calling in that application.”

What discussions did Downing Street have with the Department about that call-in prior to the Deputy Prime Minister’s formal decision to call in the Chinese embassy planning application?

Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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The right hon. Member will know very well that the application has been in for a number of years. It is something the previous Government were looking at, and it is being dealt with through the usual process.