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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 29 January (HL12331), whether they have set out the environmental effects of developing an Inland Border Facility at Dover; and whether they have sought separate approvals for (1) a Construction Management Plan, (2) an Operational Management Plan, and (3)  a Reinstatement Plan.

My Department has not received any submission seeking the Secretary of State’s approval to the development and use of a specific site in Dover as an Inland Border Facility.

For my Department to consider any such request the Special Development Order approved by Parliament requires an evidenced proposal for consideration. This must include an analysis of the likely environmental effects of the development.

No plans for the construction, operation or reinstatement of an Inland Border Facility in Dover are with my Department.

As my Ministerial colleague will be taking decisions on any site-specific proposals it is not appropriate for me to comment on sites that are or may be the subject of a proposal; we will take decisions without pre-determination and on the basis of the evidence and advice in front of us.