Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on 28 October (HC83342), and with regard to the guidance Entertainment Resort Complex, Bedford: Handling Arrangements, published on 9 October, what is the rationale for the difference in approaches to publishing the name of the designated Planning Minister prior to the planning decision.

In dealing with the applications, Ministers and officials will act in accordance with published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions. More information on this can be seen here (attached): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-propriety-issues-guidance

Handling arrangements are published where they are required in specific cases to ensure that Ministers or officials with any role in promoting planning proposals are explicitly excluded from the planning decision-making process. That does not apply in the case of the Chinese Embassy.