Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) he or (b) his special advisor had discussions with (i) Richard Desmond and (ii) board members, staff or agents of the Northern & Shell Media Group (A) prior to his appointment as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and (B) following his appointment.

Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda.

Ministers and Special Advisers act in accordance with the MHCLG Guidance on Planning Propriety Issues.

In line with the guidance, the Secretary of State declined to discuss this application with the developers or their representatives.