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 (HL 12331), whether they have (1) consulted with local residents and others affected by any new Inland Border Facility at Dover, and (2) they have published any application documents.

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.

Substantive engagement is a requirement on the relevant border department ahead of seeking approval for any site-specific proposal from my Department.

I understand that the Government’s border facing departments have provided a website with information on the Government’s plans for delivering inland border facilities. The website can be found at: https://inlandborderfacilities.uk/

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.