Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what consideration his Department has given to investment strategies for (a) Wiltshire and (b) other rural areas which do not fall within the catchment areas of (i) large cities and (ii) mayoral combined authorities.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Office for Investment is aligned with the UK's Industrial Strategy, focusing on growth-driving and foundational sectors. The OfI will actively pursue and manage investment projects that support national growth missions and infrastructure strategies, across the UK and will support rural areas such as Wiltshire. I am delighted that Siemens Mobility is moving ahead with its £100 million investment in a rail infrastructure, digital engineering, and R&D facility after receiving Wiltshire County Council planning permission. Furthermore, German defence technology company, STARK, is opening a 40,000sq ft factory in Swindon, Wiltshire, producing military drones for NATO, creating over 100 skilled jobs.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, when she plans to implement the reduction in opportunities to challenge consent decisions.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces changes to the way judicial reviews are handled for National Policy Statements and development consent orders relating to nationally significant infrastructure projects. It removes the paper permission stage, meaning applications will go directly to an oral permission hearing in the High Court. In addition, where the High Court decides at that hearing that a case is “totally without merit,” the claimant will not have a right of appeal.
The Government intends to commence these provisions as soon as practicable after Royal Assent, once the necessary procedural changes are in place.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 58020 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission and further to the correspondence from the MHCLG Planning Casework Unit to DP9 of 6 August 2025, for what reason the unredacted drawings were not requested from the applicant until 6 August 2025.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Planning Inspector's Report was received by the Department on 10 June. Following careful analysis of the report, the Secretary of State referred back to parties on a number of matters, including the redacted drawings, on 6 August.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on whether the conversion of a residential dwelling into a House in Multiple Occupation for asylum seekers requires (a) planning permission and (b) licensing.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My department has issued no such guidance. Further detail on HMO licensing is available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average time taken is for GP practices to secure funding for expansion through ICBs; and how his Department plans to reduce that time.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects, such as new facilities, significant upgrades, or other targeted capital investments.
There is no average time for securing funding for expansions as each application is treated individually and multiple factors such as planning permission, recurrent revenue funding associated with the reimbursable elements, and legal agreements to protect the investment must be considered for each application.
The Department continues to actively seek ways to improve and streamline our processes and we have announced our aim to fundamentally reform the financial system in the recently published 10-Year Health Plan. In parallel, a standard, simplified Grant Agreement has been developed and is being tested for capital schemes under £144,000. This is supporting a fast-track process for securing grant agreements for relatively low value schemes. We will continue to review all elements of the premises development approvals process to help improve productivity and reduce the overall time to secure approval and deliver expansions of primary care premises.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on integrating heritage conservation more effectively into planning systems.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) works closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on ensuring heritage delivers on this Government's core missions including planning reform. Ministers and officials have regular engagement with MHCLG on topics such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the Government’s review of Statutory Consultees, and wider planning reform.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2025 to Question 31485 on Planning Permission, what criteria her Department uses to determine whether a planning application for non-governmental projects is considered through a Special Development Order or local planning process.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Special Development Orders are a long-established part of the planning system. Each case is considered on its individual merits. The government has no plans to change this approach.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who will (a) procure and (b) own the nuclear weapons to be deployed on the F35-A fighter jets; and whether permission will be required from (i) NATO and (ii) the USA to (A) deploy and (B) launch them.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As confirmed when the Ministry of Defence announced our intention to participate in NATO’s nuclear mission, the nuclear weapons allocated to the NATO dual capable aircraft (DCA) nuclear mission are United States (US) nuclear weapons and the US retains control and custody over them, as the UK does with its own nuclear weapons.
The NATO DCA nuclear mission would operate under the orders of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, when authorised by NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, through which Allies exercise political control over the mission. The UK would always retain the right to participate, or not participate, according to a political decision by the UK Prime Minister.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question HL8772 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, through what mechanism her Department had access to the unredacted drawings.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on issues of national security, but as set out in the written representations by the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary to the Planning Inspectorate, we have carefully considered the breadth of national security risks associated with China's planning application.
A final decision has yet to be made. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in his independent, quasi-judicial role will make the final decision in due course.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is planning to take to ensure that local residents are (a) informed and (b) consulted during the Holocaust Memorial Learning Centre (Victoria Tower Gardens) planning approval process.
Answered by Jim McMahon
Decisions on the redetermination procedure for this application, and any necessary consultation and engagement with local residents, have not yet been taken.