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.

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.