Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of protests being undertaken (1) within the curtilage of the private property of elected representatives' family homes, and (2) within or on top of elected representatives' family homes; and whether they consider those protests to amount to intimidation.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government has been clear: harassment and intimidation of elected representatives is never acceptable. Such behaviour undermines our democracy and discourages public engagement.
As Chair of the Defending Democracy Taskforce, the Security Minister is clear – as set out in the Defending Democracy Policing Protocol - that protesting at the homes of elected representatives is unacceptable and should be treated as harassment by the police. The Security Minister has also written to Chief Constables recently, encouraging them to use all powers available to them to tackle the harassment and intimidation of elected representatives.
Under the Taskforce’s renewed mandate, we are reviewing how to strengthen protections and close any legislative gaps, including in the context of protecting public office holders in their private homes. Measures such as the new aggravating factor proposed in the recently published Elections Strategy will provide clearer consequences for behaviour that crosses the line into abuse. The Government also welcomes the important work of the Speaker’s Conference and looks forward to its final recommendations.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Home Office has seen the unredacted drawings of (1) the cultural exchange building, and (2) the basement, for the new Chinese Embassy at the former site of the Royal Mint.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
A public inquiry was held on this case between 11 and 28 February, at which interested parties were able to put forward evidence and make representations. On 10 June 2025, the Planning Inspector passed their report to MHCLG for consideration.
Given the independence of this quasi-judicial process, it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on aspects of the planning process, but I can assure the Noble Lord that we have considered the breadth of national security issues in relation to the proposed new Embassy.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 20 March (HL5602), what representations the government of China or its representatives have made to the Home Office relating to the latest planning application for the Chinese Embassy, prior to and after the Secretary of State's call-in decision, and on what dates.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Having conducted reasonable due diligence, we are not aware of any such representations. In any event, final decision sits with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in her independent, quasi-judicial role.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the net cost of supporting (1) asylum seekers and (2) their children, to local authorities in England across all public services, including schooling and housing.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not hold an assessment of the kind requested, but we regularly publish details of the costs of the asylum system in our departmental annual reports.