Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what non-privileged advice or guidance they have given to public bodies on whether a public body may exercise a legal power that is subject to a declaration of incompatibility under the Human Rights Act 1998, both specifically with reference to the High Court declaration of incompatibility directed to sections 60C(3), 61(4ZA)(a), 62(1A)(a) and 62B(2) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, made in May 2024, and more widely.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

In May 2024 the High Court ruled that the twelve month no-return period in Part 5 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in relation to unauthorised encampments was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, due to the limited availability of authorised transit sites.

A government amendment has been tabled to the Crime and Policing Bill to reduce the period during which an individual who has been directed to leave an unauthorised encampment must not return, from twelve months to three months. This applies to sections 60C, 61, 62, 62B and 62C of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. This will rectify the incompatibility with Convention rights.

The Home Office has not provided advice to public bodies on whether they may exercise these legal powers in light of the High Court ruling. Police forces are operationally independent of government and any enforcement action against encampments is an operational matter for the police.

Statutory guidance issued by the Home Secretary under section 62F of the 1994 Act is published here: Statutory Guidance for Police on Unauthorised Encampments

The guidance will be updated when the Crime and Policing Bill receives Royal Assent.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government which public body has responsibility for the cybersecurity of the telecommunication cables outside the proposed Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint (1) before, and (2) after, the development of the Embassy.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure.

The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduced a robust security framework, requiring public telecoms providers to identify, reduce and prepare for the risks of security compromise. Public telecoms providers are responsible for the cyber-security of their own networks, in line with their obligations under this framework. Ofcom, as the telecoms regulator, is responsible for monitoring and enforcing their compliance with those obligations.

DSIT is responsible for developing policies, including legislation, to help ensure the security of the UK’s public telecoms networks and services. DSIT works with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), as the UK’s lead technical authority for cyber security. The NCSC provides advice to government and industry on cyber-security threats and vulnerabilities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether local authorities in England are able to enforce against (1) building regulation, and (2) planning control, breaches by embassies and high commissions.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Section 1 of the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987, which governs UK Ministerial consent for use of the land as an embassy, includes consideration of all material considerations, and in particular the safety of the public, national security and town and country planning. Embassies are also expected to respect local laws, including the Building Regulations and planning legislation. In terms of planning enforcement by local planning authorities, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to Question UIN 43486 on 16 April 2025. In terms of enforcement by building control authorities, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, embassies and their staff are protected from the jurisdiction of the host country's courts.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the business rate information letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1/2026: Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027, published on 27 January, whether a restaurant or hotel which makes the majority of its turnover from these activities, but which also has a pub or bar open to the general public and permits drinking without requiring food be consumed, is eligible for the new Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief on the whole Rateable Value of the hereditament.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Local authorities are responsible for the administration of business rates, including decisions on the awarding of and eligibility for various reliefs. Guidance for local authorities on the administration of the pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027 was published on 18 February 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here (attached). It is for local authorities to determine whether individual properties meet the definitions contained within the guidance to be eligible for the Pubs and Live Music Venues relief.

As set out in the local authority guidance, the government will fully reimburse billing authorities and major precepting authorities for their loss of income under the business rates retention scheme as a result of awarding the relief.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's business rate information letter 1/2026: Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027, published on 27 January, whether local billing authorities are allowed to award the new Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief to, and will be reimbursed by central government for, a social club which has a club premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003, and only serves alcohol to club members and their guests.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Local authorities are responsible for the administration of business rates, including decisions on the awarding of and eligibility for various reliefs. Guidance for local authorities on the administration of the pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027 was published on 18 February 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here (attached). It is for local authorities to determine whether individual properties meet the definitions contained within the guidance to be eligible for the Pubs and Live Music Venues relief.

As set out in the local authority guidance, the government will fully reimburse billing authorities and major precepting authorities for their loss of income under the business rates retention scheme as a result of awarding the relief.