Topical Questions 2024-10-21
2024-10-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Research by UK Feminista indicates that over a third of female school pupils have experienced sexual harassment. The question is about prioritising women's online safety.
According to research by UK Feminista, over a third of female school pupils have been sexually harassed while at school. Much of this can be traced back to misogynistic online influencers and the harmful impacts of pornography. Will the Home Secretary tell the House what she is doing to prioritise women's online safety and how she is engaging with counterparts in the devolved Administrations to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind when it comes to ending sexual harassment and the exploitation of women?
My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. The mission for safer streets that the Government have set includes a really ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. We know that that is immensely difficult, and I hope that all the devolved Administrations, as well as local communities and organisations, will want to be part of it. My hon. Friend is right to prioritise women's online safety, and that is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology is prioritising action on online deepfake abuse.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific commitment or timeline was provided for prioritizing women's online safety or engagement with devolved authorities.
Under Review
Working On This
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Chancellor has described asylum accommodation costs as 'unfunded and undisclosed'. The question is about the Home Secretary confirming if these costs will be funded from her departmental budget.
In her statement to the House on 29 July, the Chancellor said that asylum accommodation costs being drawn down from Treasury reserves were “unfunded and undisclosed”—a description that I reject. Can the Home Secretary now confirm to the House that asylum accommodation costs will be disclosed and, more importantly, funded from her departmental budget, and that she will not be drawing down from Treasury reserves to pay for asylum accommodation costs? Will she reject the Chancellor's description and say that she will fund those costs in the same way that I did?
The former Home Secretary—the current shadow Home Secretary—now seems to be admitting to the totally chaotic state of asylum accommodation finances. He had to continually seek last-minute reserve claims, because his Government had underfunded the asylum accommodation problems that they had caused by letting the asylum backlog soar. As a result, the taxpayer ended up footing the bill. This Government will be making savings from asylum accommodation by getting the system back in order. I know that the right hon. Member has been kicked out of the Tory party leadership contest because he cannot count.
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Assessment & feedback
Changed Subject
Personal Attack
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question is about whether the Home Secretary will draw down from Treasury reserves to fund asylum accommodation costs.
Will she be drawing down from Treasury reserves—yes or no?
This Government have already been putting in place the funding to try to make good the total chaos that the right hon. Member's Government left us with. They spent £700 million to send four volunteers to Rwanda—and how much did he spend on a flight?
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Assessment & feedback
Changed Subject
Personal Attack
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Refugee women and girls are often housed in hotels pending the processing of their applications, which puts them at significant risk.
Refugee women and girls, who are often already survivors of gender-based violence, are at significant risk of abuse, coercion and worse when housed in hotels pending the processing of their applications, as I know the Home Secretary is aware from her substantial work on the issue. Will she please update the House on what steps the Department is taking to end the use of hotel accommodation for women and girls?
My hon. Friend is right that we have an extensive challenge with the backlog, which means that very expensive hotels are too often used as asylum accommodation. We need to clear the backlog and ensure that we end hotel use, but that also means addressing the serious challenges around violence against women and girls.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific steps or timeline were provided for ending hotel use.
Under Review
Working On This
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
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The parliamentary ombudsman has found that the Home Office is wrongly denying compensation payments to Windrush victims.
This is Black History Month, and we honour the Windrush generation, who were let down shamefully by the previous Conservative Government—first by the appalling Windrush scandal itself, but then by their failure to fully implement the Williams review and the compensation scheme. The parliamentary ombudsman has now found that the Home Office is wrongly denying compensation payments, so will the Home Secretary commit to urgently appointing a Windrush commissioner, as she promised back in June, to lead on righting these wrongs?
We will be appointing a Windrush commissioner. This is something I feel strongly about. The hon. Member will know that as the Select Committee Chair, I asked many questions about the Windrush scandal. It is a stain not just on the Home Office, but on the British state, and it is important we right those wrongs.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
Durham constabulary lost 408 officers, a third of its strength. The question is about putting police officers back on the streets.
In 14 years of Tory government, police numbers were decimated across our country, including in my constituency. Durham constabulary lost 408 officers, a third of its strength. What steps will the Government take to put police officers back on our streets?
As has been said a number of times this afternoon, the neighbourhood policing guarantee means 13,000 police officers, PCSOs and specials back on our streets to keep us all safe, after the reduction in police officer numbers of, I think, over 20,000 by the Conservative party.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The London stalking review reveals that 45% of stalking victims felt compelled to withdraw from the justice system.
The recent London stalking review published by the London victims' commissioner reveals some pretty alarming statistics: in our capital, 45% of stalking victims felt compelled to withdraw from the justice system and 41% said that no action was taken on their complaint by police. What specific measures are being taken to better support victims of stalking? Are there plans to offer specific training to officers to deal with these cases?
We are absolutely looking at how we can strengthen stalking protection orders. We will look at our stalking laws in the round, but also at how policing handles all cases of violence against women and girls and at the training that will be needed.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Looking At This
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP noted a decline in police visibility over the past 14 years, particularly in night-time policing in rural areas of his constituency.
After 14 years of Conservative government, we hardly see police officers on the beat across my constituency. Night policing cover in Uttoxeter and rural areas is virtually non-existent. What steps will the Minister take to put more officers on the beat, and what is the timeline for that?
Again, there is the neighbourhood policing guarantee and, importantly for my hon. Friend, there will be a named police officer in the community so people know who to go to when they need assistance. That work is happening now and we are keen to see the first officers in place in the next few months.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific steps or timeline for putting more officers on the beat
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlighted the importance of reviewing the police funding formula to ensure equal attention is given to rural and urban areas.
In Rural Crime Action Week, does the Secretary of State agree that in Bedfordshire, where we have major urban areas such as Bedford and Luton bordered by rural communities, it is important that the funding formula be reviewed so that equal attention can be paid to tackling crime in our rural villages and towns?
I gently remind the hon. Member that his party's Government failed to review the funding formula for very many years. However, he is right that the issues of rural and urban areas are immensely important, which is why we have committed to a rural crime action plan.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not explicitly agree on reviewing the police funding formula
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP criticised the previous government for failing to deliver promised reforms on police funding and asked if there is a commitment now.
I agree with the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Blake Stephenson). Despite the previous Government's promises to reform funding settlements, as usual they failed to deliver. Does the Secretary of State agree that we must review the current situation, reform the police funding formula and finally deliver fairer funding for local people?
As part of the spending review, we want to consider police funding in the round, including how police funding is allocated to forces. The sector, including the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and the National Police Chiefs' Council, is engaged in the process.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to reviewing the current police funding system
Response accuracy
Q11
Direct Answer
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The MP inquired about further measures to reduce legal migration following previous government policies.
The Home Secretary is benefiting from some of the measures on legal routes for migration brought in by my right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr Cleverly) when he was in government, which have caused the number of people able to come to the UK to halve. What further measures has she taken to ensure that legal migration is cut further?
The Government are committed to bringing down legal migration. We will do so by making sure that British workers are upskilled in key sectors, with new requirements for employers to address skills shortages, and by introducing new training and workforce plans so that overseas recruitment does not remain the default for filling skills shortages in the UK.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP criticised opposition members' outrage over security measures for Taylor Swift's concerts following a cancelled Vienna event due to terror threats.
I have listened in absolute amazement to the outrage from Opposition Members about the careful consideration of security for Taylor Swift's concerts in London, a week after her Vienna tour was cancelled due to a terror plot. Does the Home Secretary think that is cynical opportunism from Conservative Members, or have they lost all sense of reason?
I think it is a matter for us all to take the security of people immensely seriously, and to ensure that terrorist, extremist and criminal threats do not win in their attempt to pose threats not just to life, but to our way of life.
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Q13
Partial Answer
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The MP welcomed the news of new personnel to process modern slavery claims and asked for details on head count, training duration, and budget sustainability.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the House for putting its confidence in me to chair the Home Affairs Committee. I look forward to working constructively with the Department on home affairs matters. In that vein, may I welcome the news that the Government will recruit 200 new personnel to process modern slavery claims? Can the Secretary of State confirm whether those personnel are new head count, how long the training will take, and whether she is confident that the head count will survive the forthcoming Budget and spending review?
I congratulate the right hon. Lady on her new position. It is a great job, and I look forward to giving evidence to her as she did to me—we will see what price I have to pay as the roles are reversed. She asks an important point about modern slavery numbers. We are recruiting additional members of staff, and I will happily provide her with more information about that crucial policy area.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm details on recruitment numbers or training timeframes
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlighted unnecessary obligations on the police under Part 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and proposed a new clause to facilitate smoother personal data transfer between police and CPS.
Part 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018 imposes unnecessary obligations on the police, and requires them to redact personal data for information transferred to the Crown Prosecution Service. Those obligations delay and obstruct the swift progress of the criminal justice system. The Police Federation of England and Wales has proposed a new clause that, if introduced, would facilitate the free flow of personal data between the police and the CPS. Will Ministers urgently look at reforming that unnecessary red tape to allow more police time on the streets in my constituency of South Ribble?
That is an important point, and we are actively exploring all ways that we can improve guidance around redaction, streamline current processes, make better use of technology, and ultimately reduce unnecessary burdens on the police and prosecutors, so that they can get on with their primary task of keeping the public safe and putting away criminals.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to reviewing or amending Part 3 of the Data Protection Act
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP questioned double-counting of costs in the Home Office's impact assessment related to the Rwanda programme and retrospective elements of illegal migration legislation.
The Home Secretary told the House that by ending the retrospective element of the duty to remove she was saving £7 billion in 10 years. The impact assessment assumes that all those subject to the duty would have remained in Britain at a cost to the Home Office, but in his letter to me her permanent secretary said that the sum included the cost of sending the same migrants to Rwanda. I wrote to the Home Secretary about that on 1 September and I have raised it with the Minister for Immigration in Westminster Hall, but I have not had an answer. Can she explain that double counting, and if she cannot, will she apologise for using that statistic in the House of Commons?
As the hon. Gentleman will know, the impact assessment is provided by the Home Office, and what we inherited from the previous Government was not simply the incredibly costly Rwanda programme, but also the retrospective element of the Illegal Migration Act 2023, which was so damaging that the shadow Home Secretary, when he was in the job, did not implement many of the measures. That retrospective element has cost the Home Office hundreds of millions of pounds, and those costs would go forward into the future.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the double-counting issue or provide an apology
Response accuracy
Q16
Direct Answer
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Context
The Home Secretary is asked to provide an update on the progress of returns and deportations of illegal migrants.
We want to support genuine refugees, but will the Home Secretary provide an update on the progress on returns and deportations of illegal migrants, and say how the new command arrangements improve on the arrangements of the previous Government?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. To tackle the chaos in the asylum system the rules need to be properly respected and enforced. That is why we have increased by more than 20% the enforced returns over the summer of those who have no right to be here. We have also increased the number of charter flights, including the biggest ever charter flight return.
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Q17
Partial Answer
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Context
The turnout for the Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner election was just 18%, leading to a call from the MP to scrap this role.
Given that the turnout for the Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner election in May was just 18%, will the Minister look to scrap that role and instead invest that money in proper community policing in rural constituencies such as mine of North Cornwall?
The Government have no plans to scrap the role of police and crime commissioner. We think it is a valuable role that can enable the missions that this Government have set out to be enacted locally, including the safer streets mission. We need to work with the PCCs to make sure that mission happens in the different force areas around the country. PCCs also have a role to play with their other partners, local authorities and the voluntary sector.
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Assessment & feedback
Scraping the role of Police and Crime Commissioner
No Plans To Scrap
Valuable Role
Response accuracy
Q18
Direct Answer
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Noisy off-road bikes are causing disturbances in neighbourhoods such as Chapeltown.
Noisy off-road bikes speed around neighbourhoods such as Chapeltown in my constituency, deliberately disturbing and intimidating residents. Will the Home Secretary commit to properly tackling off-road bikes by giving the police the right powers to crack down on this issue?
My hon. Friend makes an important point, and I thank her for standing up for her community. We want to strengthen the law to give the police more powers to tackle the nightmare of dangerous off-road bikes.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q19
Partial Answer
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Context
The now Home Secretary previously called on the Conservative Government to proscribe organisations such as IRGC, which has since become more dangerous.
When last year the now Home Secretary called on the then Conservative Government to use counter-terror legislation to proscribe organisations such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, she will remember that I supported her publicly. Since then, Iran and the IRGC have got even more dangerous. Has she changed her mind, and if so, why?
I have huge respect for the right hon. Gentleman, but I gently point out that he is asking the Government to do something that the previous Government did not do in 14 years. I can say to him that we are leading work on countering Iranian state threats, making use of the full breadth and expertise of our intelligence services and law enforcement agencies.
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Assessment & feedback
Proscription of IRGC
Not Done In 14 Years
Response accuracy
Q20
Partial Answer
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Context
UK universities have seen a fivefold increase in antisemitic incidents since the October terrorist attacks.
UK universities have experienced a fivefold increase in antisemitic incidents since the 7 October terrorist attacks. At a recent meeting of the Union of Jewish Students, I heard distressing examples of the Iranian regime organising on our campuses and stirring up hatred against Jewish students. Can the Minister tell the House what steps the Department is taking to deal with the threat posed by Tehran here on British soil?
We have been clear that the behaviour of the Iranian regime, including the actions of the IRGC, poses a threat to the safety and security of the UK and our allies. The Government continually assess threats to the UK and take the protection of individuals' rights, freedoms and safety incredibly seriously, wherever those threats may originate.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps taken against Iranian regime
Continually Assess
Protection
Response accuracy
Q21
Partial Answer
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Context
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has experienced delays in decision-making processes, leading to constituents waiting a year after the death of their loved ones.
In 2023, the Home Office commissioned the Fairfield review into the Independent Office for Police Conduct. It deemed the delays in the IOPC as “unacceptable”. Indeed, one of my constituents has been waiting a year after the death of her daughter to have a case officer assigned. Does the Home Secretary agree with the review, and will she comment on when she will implement its 93 recommendations?
I have met the IOPC chair to talk through the issues facing that body. The hon. Gentleman is right that we need to speed up the decision-making process. He will also recognise that there are considerable challenges in the system that we have inherited.
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Assessment & feedback
Timeline for implementation of Fairfield Review recommendations
Challenges In The System
Response accuracy
Q22
Direct Answer
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The MP is hosting a car theft summit to address high rates of car theft in his constituency.
I thank you, Mr Speaker, for making time for Back Benchers in the questions today. I rise to raise the issue of car theft in my constituency. Many hundreds of residents have had their cars stolen, and the police do not have the capacity to follow up. Next year, I am hosting a car theft summit in Chipping Barnet, and I invite the Minister to attend with me.
I would be delighted to.
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Q23
Direct Answer
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A business in the MP's constituency was severely impacted by a fraud investigation involving Renault Crédit International, leading to significant financial loss.
After a bungled fraud investigation by Renault Crédit International, it, together with Renault-Nissan UK Ltd moved to seize the assets of a business in my constituency, Mackie Motors Brechin Ltd. This cost my constituent half a million pounds and 25% of his order book value. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the finer points of this clearly very dubious act by a UK bank?
I am concerned to hear about the case that the hon. Gentleman raises, and I would be happy to meet him to discuss it further.
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Q24
Direct Answer
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The MP is calling for a meeting to discuss the Home Office commissioned Windrush scandal report's recommendations.
I put on record my gratitude to the Home Secretary and her team for releasing the Home Office commissioned report, “The Historical Roots of the Windrush Scandal”, which concluded that 30 years of racist immigration legislation caused the Windrush scandal. Those now on the Opposition Benches spent three years trying to suppress that report. Will the Home Secretary meet me, other MPs and civil society representatives to discuss its recommendations?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue. It was a shocking report, and one that the previous Government refused to publish. I would be very happy to meet him and other hon. Members to discuss it.
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Q25
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlights discrepancies in the legal system where individuals face swift legal action for social media posts, while those who assault police officers go uncharged for extended periods.
Does the Home Secretary share my deep concerns about two-tier justice, given that some people who say some bad, stupid things on social media can be arrested, charged and jailed within a matter of weeks, but some people who brutally and violently assault police officers have not even been charged many months later?
The hon. Member will know that in this country we have operational independence for the police, and independence for the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts. I strongly support police officers, who have faced cases of the most disgraceful violence and attacks. It is important that we support our police in the face of those attacks and ensure that they have the whole community behind them.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific issue about two-tier justice was not directly addressed, focusing instead on general support for police officers.
Response accuracy
Q26
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP references recent data from the Internet Watch Foundation indicating a significant increase in illegal AI-generated child sexual abuse content online.
The Home Secretary may be aware of the data that the Internet Watch Foundation released last week on the increasing amount of AI-generated child sexual abuse content available to everyone on the internet, finding that it has increased in the last six months alone. That is clearly illegal, so what are the UK Government doing to stamp down on that horrific crime?
Let me make it clear that the new Government intend very swiftly to set up new taskforces to ensure that across Departments—in this case, with our counterparts in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology—we do everything we can to end the scourge of online child abuse, and child abuse not online.
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Q27
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is interested in initiatives to introduce policing as a viable career option for young people, particularly focusing on enhancing awareness and opportunities.
I am always standing, Mr Speaker. What efforts have been taken in schools to show the opportunities available in the police force, to enhance career opportunities for young people?
It is always a pleasure to answer the hon. Gentleman. That work will be ongoing. We want to recruit from the widest possible groups in our communities, and to encourage young people to think about a career in policing.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific initiatives or programs requested were not detailed, only a general commitment was made.
Response accuracy