Written questions by Hollinrake.

With reference to the reply by the Minister for Security to the urgent question of 28 January 2025 on the Extremism Review, if she will publish the (a) analysis and (b) capping paper from the Counter-Extremism Sprint reported in the report entitled Extremely confused, published by Policy Exchange on 28 January 2025.

Internal advice and analysis has never routinely been published, and there are no plans to change that practice. However, as I made clear in my reply on 29 January, these are not Government plans and this is not Government policy.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the decision by the United Arab Emirates to impose sanctions on (a) Cambridge Education and Training Center Ltd, (b) IMA6INE Ltd, (c) Wembley Tree Ltd, (d) Waslaforall, (e) Future Graduates Ltd, (f) Yas for Investment and Real Estate, (g) Holdco UK Properties Limited and (h) Nafel Capital.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to UIN 23462 on the 16th January 2025.

Whether it remains her Department's policy to introduce a unified consent regime to include (a) pavement licensing and (b) licensing consent for the consumption and sale of alcohol in that pavement area.

The previous Government explored the feasibility of creating a unified consent regime that would grant businesses a pavement licence and the ability to sell alcohol for consumption there. Unifying the two regimes did not prove workable, so the then Government launched a consultation on alternative options relating to the consumption of alcohol in licensed pavement areas in May 2024.The Government is carefully considering the results of this consultation and will publish the results shortly alongside next steps.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is responsible for pavement licences. The Government supports the use of pavement licences to encourage better use of outdoor space on our high streets, supporting businesses and revitalising the spaces that communities use. We have no plans to change the streamlined application process introduced under the last government.

What national security mitigations she plans to take in the context of the Chinese embassy planning application.

China’s planning application to convert the former Royal Mint buildings into its new UK embassy has been called-in by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in line with established planning policy. The planning decision sits solely with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in her independent, quasi-judicial role.We are clear that national security is the first duty of Government. It has been our core priority throughout this process. 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 but within those conditions would not be appropriate to comment in further detail on any specific matters relating to national security.

What steps she is taking to prevent potential intimidation of people of the Jewish faith during protest marches past synagogues.

This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship.The police have a range of powers to deal with any behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to others. They also have the power to impose conditions on protests where the purpose of the protest is to intimidate others. The Metropolitan Police utilised these powers this weekend, placing conditions on a planned protest to ensure it did not interrupt or interfere with Shabbat services and other communal events at central London synagogues.While the use of these powers is of course an operational decision for police, the Government is in regular contact with the police on a range of issues, including on the steps they are taking to prevent intimidation to communities.The Government currently provides support to Jewish communities through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant which is managed on behalf of the Home Office by the Community Security Trust. This grant provides protective security measures at synagogues, such as security personnel services, CCTV and alarm systems. The Community Security Trust will receive funding of £18 million per year through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant from 2024/25 to 2027/28.

Whether her Department has a working definition of Islamism.

In the context relevant to the Home Office’s responsibility for tackling Islamist extremism or terrorism the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST says that Islamist terrorism is the threat or use of violence as a means to establish a strict interpretation of an Islamic society.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 2635 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, if she will state how her department has changed the previous Government’s approach to extremism to facilitate the efficiency saving of £5 million that was included in the MHCLG savings listed in HM Treasury's document entitled, Fixing the foundations: Public spending audit 2024-25, published on 29 July 2024.

The Home Secretary commissioned the counter extremism sprint to identify gaps in current policy approaches and to recommend a new approach to tackling radicalisation that can draw people to hateful ideologies, both online and offline. The aim was to develop objectives and the foundations for a new strategy and recommend a coherent and sustainable approach to counter extremism across His Majesty's Government. The sprint was conducted over the summer and has now concluded.Departmental budgets are currently under review and will be announced by His Majesty’s Treasury in due course. The Home Office intends for all projects to deliver value for money and remain in line with budgetary capabilities.