Written questions by Hollinrake.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed Chinese Embassy at Royal Mint Court on the security of the telecommunications exchange CLWAP at Royal Mint Street.

In line with my previous response to UIN 29609 on 12 February 2025, 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, and from any form of external interference by any other party.The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary submitted written representations to the Planning Inspector on 14 January. That letter is clear that the Home Office has considered the breadth of national security issues associated with the proposed Embassy. It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on specific matters relating to national security.

What steps the Government is taking to disrupt pro-Iranian regime groups spreading extremist narratives in the UK.

I announced in my statement to the House on 4 March that we are reviewing where any Iranian interference is being conducted in the UK and that Iran has been specified on the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) under the National Security Act 2023. This specification of Iran will shine more light on any undisclosed relationships between the Iranian state and UK-based institutions and individuals.In concert with partners, we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and its people, from any Iran-linked threats.

With reference to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question HL7317 on Fire and Rescue Service and Police: Employers’ Contribution, what methodology her Department used to calculate the National Insurance mitigation funding for police forces.

Allocations of the relevant funding were based on total workforce headcount shares as at March 2024.

Whether her Department has issued guidance in addition to the Ministerial Code on engaging with extremist organisations that are subject to a Government policy of non-engagement or proscription in a (a) personal and (b) Parliamentary capacity.

No such guidance is considered necessary. The Government's policy on these matters is clear, and is unchanged from the approach adopted under successive Governments before.

Whether the National Cyber Security Centre has provided advice on the proposed Chinese Embassy at Tower Hill, London.

In line with previous responses, 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.The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary submitted written representations to the planning inspector on 14 January. That letter is clear that the Home Office has considered the breadth of national security issues and where necessary, relevant agencies and departments have been consulted on the national security implications of the application. It would be inappropriate to provide any further specific detail.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48442 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, whether he considered appealing the High Court judgment of May 2024.

As with all judgements of this nature, we are reviewing the ruling in detail.

What type of (a) tenancy and (b) licence (i) her Department and (ii) its contractors use to house asylum seekers.

The Home Office’s Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract providers grant licences for the occupation of accommodation under section 4 or Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Whether she monitors the (a) work and (b) activities of the Chinese United Front Work Department on foreign interference.

We keep all potential threats to the UK under constant review, and when we encounter foreign interference or espionage, we are swift in using all available tools, including prosecutions, exclusions, sanctions and diplomacy, to keep our country safe.

With reference to her Department's publication entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether she plans to make changes to English language requirements for (a) asylum seekers and (b) their dependents.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues – including English language requirements – details of which will be set out in due course.

What guidance she has provided to local authorities on grooming gang inquiries.

The Government continues work to deliver meaningful change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including group-based child sexual exploitation or grooming gangs.The Home Secretary wrote to all local authorities on 12 March 2025 to inform them of our plans, including our investment of £10 million, which will support the Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce in working with police forces to re-examine investigations and pursue new lines of inquiry where appropriate to deliver justice for more victims, alongside expanding the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel so victims can have their cases reviewed even if it happened after 2013. This also includes a new national fund to support independent local inquiries and help strengthen local responses to child sexual exploitation.We are currently awaiting Baroness Louise Casey's report following her national audit into the nature, scale and characteristics of grooming gangs offending, and we will publish more detail and next steps on this work, alongside Baroness Casey's report, in the coming weeks.

Pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46900 on Asylum: Housing, if she will provide a national figure.

I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on the 30 April 2025 to UIN 46900.

What assessment she has made of the potential security impact of the proposed Chinese Embassy development on nearby underground communications cables.

National security is the first duty of Government. As set out in a joint letter by the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary to the Planning Inspector on 14 January, the Home Office has considered the full breadth of national security issues in relation to the planning application. It would not be appropriate to comment further on specific matters relating to national security.The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, in her independent, quasi-judicial role, will make the final decision on the Chinese Embassy planning application in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46892 on Asylum: Housing, how many dwellings have been procured by (a) Serco, (b) Mears, (c) Clearspring Homes and (d) Corporate Travel Management.

The Home Office continues to work closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while seeking to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.The Home Office does not publish detailed information on the location of asylum accommodation sites for safety and security reasons. Data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab of our most recent statistics release. The data can also be broken down by local authority. Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab).

With reference to her Department's news story entitled Statement on Serco asylum accommodation list, published on 27 April 2025, whether her Department asked Serco to remove the list from its website.

The Home Office continues to work closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while seeking to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.The Home Office does not publish detailed information on the location of asylum accommodation sites for safety and security reasons. Data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab of our most recent statistics release. The data can also be broken down by local authority. Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab).

With reference to her Department's news story entitled Statement on Serco asylum accommodation list, published on 27 April 2025, which local authorities in Serco provides asylum accommodation to in (a) the North West, (b) the Midlands, (c) the East of England and (d) the rest of the country; and how many individual properties are managed in each local authority area.

The Home Office continues to work closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while seeking to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.The Home Office does not publish detailed information on the location of asylum accommodation sites for safety and security reasons. Data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab of our most recent statistics release. The data can also be broken down by local authority. Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab).

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46900 on Asylum: Housing, whether any asylum accommodation is provided directly by local authorities.

The Home Office continues to work closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while seeking to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.The Home Office does not publish detailed information on the location of asylum accommodation sites for safety and security reasons. Data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab of our most recent statistics release. The data can also be broken down by local authority. Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab).

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46893 on Asylum: Local Government, what the names of those grants are.

Details of the grant names are accessible through the following links:Government grants statistics 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e56dd1bb6002588a90d662/2025-03-24_Government_Grants_Register_2023_to_2024.ods.

Whether combined authority mayors will be subject to Independent Office for Police Conduct standards.

Combined Authority Mayors who exercise the functions of a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) are subject to the same complaints and conduct system as PCCs.Where a complaint or allegation of misconduct is made, it must be referred to the IOPC where there is an indication that a criminal offence has been committed.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 46271 on Hospitality Industry: Licensing, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of alcohol licensing fees on licensed (a) pubs and (b) restaurants that want to operate pavement licences.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 27 February.In addition, he will be aware that in early April the Department for Business and Trade announced a licensing policy taskforce to explore and evaluate options to create a licensing system that better supports business growth while ensuring public safety and community interests remain adequately protected under the Government’s Safer Streets Mission.The Home Office is playing an active role in that taskforce, further details of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/licensing-policy-taskforce/terms-of-reference-and-taskforce-member-list

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 44484 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the ruling on local authorities.

The government is carefully considering the judgement issued by the High Court in May 2024, including the potential impact on local authorities.Local authorities retain the powers they need to manage caravan sites and unauthorised encampments. If enforcement action is required, it would be a matter for the police as part of their operational decision making, working with local authorities.