16 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had discussions with representatives of the Chinese government on the application to build a new Chinese Embassy in
ReplyOfficials in my Department have met with representatives of the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of this engagement was to explain the operation of the UK planning system. Details of the application for a new Chinese embassy were not discussed.
16 Dec 2024·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhen she plans to announce which countries will be included in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
ReplyWork is underway to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the enhanced tier, based on robust security and intelligence analysis.We will set out our approach to the use of the enhanced tier, including which foreign powers and foreign power-contro...
16 Dec 2024·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat steps his Department is taking to help ensure that care providers, including those in supportive living care settings, are consulted during (a) policy reviews and (b) before policy decisions.
ReplyThe Department regularly engages with and consults stakeholders, including providers and people with lived experience of care and support services, to ensure that a wide range of views are taken into account through all stages of the policy life cycle. Th...
16 Dec 2024·Treasury·Answered
AskedIf she will take steps to exempt emergency service providers from business rates.
ReplyCertain properties are exempt from business rates. Details on exemptions can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/exempt-properties. Any decisions on future tax policy will be announced by the Chancellor at a fiscal event.
16 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, if she will take steps to assess national security considerations when determining whether to grant planning permission for a new Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets.
ReplyI refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question HL3240 on 19 December 2024.
16 Dec 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, whether the Prime Minister requested she call-in the application for a new Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets after his phone call with the President of China on 23 August 2024.
ReplyI refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17009 on 6 December 2024.
12 Dec 2024·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhat assessment process his Department uses to determine if solar companies operating in the UK have supply chain links to forced labour.
ReplyThe Government opposes all forms of forced labour and is determined to ensure that all UK business do everything in their power to remove any instances of it from their supply chains. However, the UK Government does not hold data about the supply chains o...
12 Dec 2024·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedHow many solar companies based in the UK his Department has assessed to have supply chain links to forced labour.
ReplyThe UK Government does not hold data about the supply chains of individual companies. The Solar Roadmap, to be published in Spring 2025, will outline the actions required develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, and free from forced labour. ...
11 Dec 2024·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedHow many people worked in the No. 10 foreign policy team on (a) 31 October 2024 and (b) 11 December 2024.
ReplyFor management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is part of the Cabinet Office. All staff in the Prime Minister’s Office support the work of the Prime Minister to ensure the effective running of government.
11 Dec 2024·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhether his plans for a National Care Service include a review of training for carers in the use of musical techniques to help support people living with dementia.
ReplyThere are no current plans for a review of training for carers in the use of musical techniques to help support people living with dementia. However, the Department currently funds research on the use of musical techniques for people living with dementia ...
10 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the United States’ designation of Fawaz Al-Akhras for materially assisting, sponsoring, or provi
ReplyThe Government's priority is to work closely with our allies, including the US, to prevent instability in Syria, ensure civilians are protected and provide humanitarian assistance to those who need it, while shaping an inclusive and peaceful transfer of p...
10 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK is participating in international action to (a) identify and (b) destroy chemical weapon (i) production sites and (ii) depots in Syria.
ReplyThe brutal history of chemical weapons use in Syria must never be repeated. We have been closely monitoring developments as they unfold and engaging with partners in the region and with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). We w...
10 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the (a) identification and (b) destruction of Captagon production facilities in Syria.
ReplyWe are concerned by the growth of the Captagon industry, which as well as enriching the former Assad regime is fuelling regional instability and generating vast revenues for criminal gangs and armed groups in Syria and across the region. We are working wi...
10 Dec 2024·Ministry of Justice·Answered
AskedWhat steps her Department is taking to prevent domestic abusers convicted of other offences from being released early.
ReplyThis Government inherited a criminal justice system on the brink of collapse, with prisons weeks away from overflowing. This would have meant complete gridlock of the system and impacted the police’s ability to arrest people. As a result, we were forced t...
10 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to send justice and accountability experts to Syria to collect evidence of (a) war crimes and (b) crimes against humanity by the regime led by Bashar Al
ReplyWe are currently considering options for building on our ongoing accountability work in Syria. In the meantime, we will continue to support partners who are playing a pivotal role in developing a credible evidence base to record atrocities committed by th...
10 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will designate Fawaz Al-Akhras for providing support to the Bashar Al-Assad regime.
ReplyThe FCDO keeps all sanctions listings and evidence under close review. It is not appropriate to speculate on potential future designations, as to do so could reduce their impact.
10 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) identify and (b) destroy Captagon (i) production and (ii) distribution facilities in Syria.
ReplyWe are concerned by the growth of the Captagon industry, which as well as enriching the former Assad regime, is fuelling regional instability and generating vast revenues for criminal gangs and armed groups in Syria and across the region. We are working w...
10 Dec 2024·Home Office·Answered
AskedIf she will make it her policy to reject asylum applications from former government officials of the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad.
ReplyThe Home Office acted swiftly to temporarily pause decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation.We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.While all asylum ...
3 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Kosovan counterpart on the attack on the Iber Lepenci water canal on 28 November 2024.
ReplyThe Foreign Secretary messaged Kosovo's President Osmani on 30 November and on 1 December I spoke to Kosovo's Prime Minister Kurti, following the attack on critical infrastructure in northern Kosovo the previous day. We expressed our shock and welcomed...
3 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department last discussed the Banjska attack with the Serbian Government.
ReplyWe continue to engage at senior levels with the Serbian government to urge Serbia to bring to account the perpetrators of the September 2023 Banjska attack and the May 2023 attack on Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops. Most recently, I underlined the importance o...