Written questions by Simmonds.

Whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Metropolitan Police on the application for a new Chinese Embassy.

The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this quasi-judicial decision independent from the rest of Government.It would not be appropriate to comment on this process.The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary submitted written representations to the Planning Inspector on 14 January. As you would expect, relevant stakeholders, including the Metropolitan Police, were consulted.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505 on Asylum: housing, what is the expected cost to the public purse of accommodation for asylum seekers in 2025.

The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505, how many people were housed in asylum accommodation in the last 12 months.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

If she will list each individual awarded contract to strategic suppliers for the provision of asylum accommodation and support services including the value of each contract.

The Home Office holds two contracts with SERCO for the provision of Asylum Accommodation and Support Services. Details of these agreements are published on Contract Finder at:NWAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NW - Contracts Finder MEEAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract MEE - Contracts Finder

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 18963 on Nightclub: closures, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increases in (a) business rates from the reduction in rate relief and (b) National Insurance contributions for employers on the economic viability of nightclubs.

An assessment of the changes to Employers' National Insurance has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note, including impacts on the exchequer, the economy, individuals, households and families, equalities, and businesses including civil society organisations, alongside details on monitoring and evaluation.The Government is creating a fairer business rate system, reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products and transforming the apprenticeship levy to support business and boost opportunities. This work will be supported by the publication of The Small Business Strategy Command Paper which will be published later this year. Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are addressing strategic issues for the sector related to high street regeneration, skills, sustainability, and productivity.

Whether her Department plans to provide support for the proposed Liverpool to Manchester railway improvement project.

Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and the Government is committed to improving rail connectivity across the North, including boosting rail connectivity from East to West. As announced in the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government is maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) by progressing planning, design and development works to support future delivery. Providing better rail connectivity between Liverpool and Manchester is a key part of NPR. The Government is committed to improving the performance of the railways.In addition to NPR, the Government is supporting the development of a multi-billion pound investment programme upgrading the North’s transport network. This work includes the Transpennine Route Upgrade and the Greater Manchester and North West programme, including exploring options between Liverpool and Manchester.

Pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2024, to Question 8751, on Fire and Rescue Services: Police, for what reason her Department won't repeal Section 37 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004.

It is the Government’s priority to ensure the safety of firefighters across the fire and rescue sector. Section 37 of Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 re-enacts section 32 of the Fire Services Act 1947 and provides that no member of a police force (i.e. a police constable) may be employed as a fire-fighter. If an off-duty police officer were employed by a fire and rescue authority, difficulties might arise at the scene of a fire or other emergency due to confusion over which employer had the primary claim on the officer's services.The Government has no plans to repeal section 37 for the reasons stated above. We work hand-in-hand with police and fire sector partners to ensure the highest levels of service.The Tri- Service Safety Officers in Devon and Cornwall perform a unique role. They are neither police officers or firefighters and their role is to provide early intervention, prevention, and an operational response through collaborative working between Devon and Cornwall Police (DCP), Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS), South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) and Cornwall Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what role HM Government plays in relation to policing within Whitehall’s Government Secure Zone area.

I refer the Hon Member to my response to PQ 26886, asked on 28 January 2025, on this matter.

Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on departmental plans to fly flags other than the Union flag in 2025.

The flags other than the Union Flag that will be flown from the DCMS building in London in 2025 will be announced in due course. Currently, in addition to flying the Union Flag throughout the year, the Department flies a flag of Ukraine above the building.

What his Department’s policy is on the continued use of imperial measures in retail and hospitality settings.

UK law requires metric units to be used for all trade purposes, including in retail and hospitality settings, with only limited exceptions. While imperial units can be used alongside metric units, the imperial markings must not be larger or more prominent than the metric ones. Imperial units can only be used on their own (without metric units) for certain products, such as the pint for sales of draught beer, cider and milk in returnable containers.We have no plans to change this policy.

With reference to her Oral Statement of 16 January 2025 on Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Official Report, how many civil servants have been assigned to support Baroness Casey's audit; and what staff resources her Department has made available to support inquiries into grooming gangs.

The Home Office is committed to supporting the National Audit and the necessary resources will be made available to Baroness Casey to complete her work. Staffing arrangements, including the involvement of Home Office civil servants, for the Audit will be agreed with Baroness Casey on a flexible basis as the work progresses.

With reference to her Department's news story entitled, Survivors of sexual abuse to be empowered in closed case reviews, published on 16 January 2025, if she will publish the full terms of reference for the review; and whether Baroness Casey of Blackstock (a) will be remunerated and (b) has made a declaration of interest.

The complete terms of reference for the review will be made available on gov.uk. Baroness Casey is leading the review in her role as the Government's lead Non-Executive Director (NED). This is a paid position, and all necessary due diligence has been conducted.

Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to reduce the legal age to (a) buy Lottery tickets and (b) gamble.

The Government has no plans to reduce the legal age to buy lottery tickets or to gamble.

Whether she plans to revise the Airports National Policy Statement, published on 5 June 2018, in the context of the proposed Heathrow Airport expansion.

The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer and is clear that any scheme must be delivered in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement in line with the requirements of the Planning Act 2008.

Media and Sport, what her policy is on (a) contested heritage and (b) retain and explain.

The policy relating to contested heritage is set out in the 2023 Guidance for custodians on how to deal with commemorative heritage assets that have become contested which was published under the previous government. I have no plans to change the guidance.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 19680 on High Streets Task Force, what discussions his Department had with retailers on the impact of the reduction in retail, hospitality and leisure business rate relief from April 2025.

Across Government, Ministers and officials meet with a range of retailers to understand the challenges they face. I have met with the Retail Sector Council where I heard members’ views about the impact of the Budget. More recently, I attended a roundtable organised by the British Retail Consortium, attended by CEOs and Senior Executives from leading retailers, with discussion points including the impact of the Budget and Business Rates.More broadly, HMT are conducting engagement on future business rate reform and are open to receiving written evidence from stakeholders on the priority areas, prior to March 2025. This will provide retail businesses of any size the opportunity to share their concerns directly with HMT.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23888 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Flags, which flags other than the Union and Ukraine flags have been flown by his Department since 5 July 2024; and what was the estimated cost was of flying those flags.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's flag flying policy is that any additional flags flown on the estate are considered on a case-by-case basis and must have a compelling reason for inclusion in the flag flying schedule. Since 5th July 2024, in addition to the Union and Ukrainian flags, King Charles Street has flown the following flags externally on the roof flag poles: British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Rainbow, International Day of Criminal Justice, Falklands, Tristan da Cunha, Gibraltar, Commonwealth, United Nations, British Indian Ocean Territory, St Andrew's Saltire, Pitcairn Islands, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. All of these flags were held in stock and no cost was associated with flying these flags from 5 July 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505 on Asylum: housing, in what types of accommodation asylum seekers will now be housed.

I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 22 January 2025 to UIN 24505.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24505 on Asylum: housing, what the estimated spending is on accommodation for asylum seekers in 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 22 January 2025 to UIN 24505.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23346 on Property Development: Air Pollution, for what reason a Regulatory Impact Assessment is not required for that guidance.

Applicants are advised to consider the interim planning guidance as part of their planning application, but the interim guidance is not statutory. Therefore, it is not a regulatory provision and as such a Regulatory Impact Assessment is not currently required.