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Reflecting further on the President Xi Jinping's visit. Sir Christopher Hum says the UK's welcome will be similar to that given to predecessor Hu Jintao a decade ago and suggestions that President Xi is being given the "reddest of red carpets" because of China's growing commercial importance to the UK is overstated. President Xi will get the "same trappings" - such as the banquet at Buckingham Palace and the state carriage ride - as in 2005. On the issue of national security and China's role in building future nuclear power plants in the UK, he says Beijing would be foolish to seek to manipulate technology to spy on or compromise the UK's national infrastructure because to do so would destroy its reputation as a reliable international investor. 

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

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A former British ambassador to China says the UK and other Western countries have to consider how they balance their own commercial and security interests with wider concerns about human rights when dealing with Beijing. Sir Christopher Hum says, in some respects, China's human rights record has improved with those accused of criminal offences more likely to get a fair trial and the legal system functioning better in terms of settling disputes. But he acknowledges that President Xi Jinping is an "authoritarian" leader who does not brook much criticism or dissent and that opponents of the regime are treated "pretty harshly". 

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The Duke of Cambridge is to deliver a speech on the illegal ivory trade for broadcast on Chinese state TV, as the country's president arrives in the UK for a state visit.

It is the third time Prince William has spoken on the subject in the past year.

President Xi Jinping will arrive in the UK this evening for a four-day visit, during which he will stay as a guest of the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

He and wife Peng Liyuan will also dine with David Cameron at Chequers. Read our full story

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BBC Radio 4

Theresa May says she is not going to discuss the future of Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe on the radio amid criticism of the force's handling of rape allegations against the late home secretary Lord Brittan and its failure to tell the Tory peer or his wife before his death that they would not be pressing charges. Mrs May says the police in general should inform people in a "timely fashion" when they decide not to take further action against them when it is "operationally sensible and appropriate" to do so. And she defends the wider criminal and judicial investigation into historical sex abuse, denying it is not "open season" against public figures accused of offences and insisting it is important that alleged victims are given every help them to come forward, pointing out that in the past they were too often "sidelined or ignored". 

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BBC Radio 4

Home Secretary Theresa May says it is right for cabinet ministers to avoid prejudicing the decision on Heathrow expansion by commenting on it now. She says that doing so could lead to whatever decision is taken being challenged in the courts. She declines the opportunity to criticise the cabinet secretary for having warned cabinet ministers not to talk about the issue. (see previous entry for more details)

Laura Kuenssberg
BBC political editor

Image source, Heathrow Airport

"Toxic" is how one minister described the government's dilemma over Heathrow.

In fact, the whole issue is so fraught that the country's most senior civil servant, Sir Jeremy Heywood, wrote to government ministers in the run up to the politically-charged conference season, warning them against speaking out.

Sir Jeremy's email said they could repeat statements they had made before the report was published in July, but urged them to keep quiet now.

It was received by some with deep irritation.

One cabinet minister told me it was "unprecedented". Other ministers believe the letter illustrates the political sensitivity of the decision.

The Cabinet Office said they would not comment on leaked documents, but the anxieties in government are real and are twofold.

There are concerns over any comments making the final decision more vulnerable to a legal challenge - tying up the decision in the courts for years to come.

And there is significant political opposition around the cabinet table, including from the London Mayor, Boris Johnson.

He, along with others, is all too ready to remind David Cameron of his own vow in 2009, "no ifs, no buts", ruling out a third runway at Heathrow.

But the business community is eager for a decision to be made, after decades of political dithering.

And the government, particularly the chancellor, have made big promises about pushing ahead with big infrastructure decisions, even citing the Airports Commission as an example of how the case for major projects should be independently made.

But resistance to Heathrow is passionate and powerful. The prime minister and the chancellor have promised to make a decision by Christmas, but that promise won't be easy to keep.

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As mentioned, there's more detail of the government's anti-extremism policies today, including more parents being able to ask for their children's passports to be cancelled if they fear the youngsters are at risk of radicalisation.

The power already applies to under 16s, but will be extended to 16 and 17-year-olds as well, David Cameron is to say.

He will also say that anyone with a conviction for extremist activity will be automatically barred from working with children and vulnerable people.

Labour says the prime minister must ensure measures are not "heavy-handed".

Parents of children aged under 16 have had the power to request the withdrawal of passports since the start of a trial scheme in July, and according to Downing Street it has already been used several times.

The aim of the policy is to stop young people travelling to join terror groups, such as so-called Islamic State, overseas.

The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the new vetting rules would apply to anyone coming into contact with children or vulnerable people, including volunteers, and would see extremists treated in the same way as sex offenders.

Read the full story, external

Hello and welcome to our rolling coverage of political news. It's set to be a busy day ahead - starting with Home Secretary Theresa May doing the media rounds about the government's anti-extremism strategy.