Topical Questions 2024-11-25
2024-11-25
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women marked the start of 16 days of activism. The Labour Government set an ambition to halve violence against women and girls.
If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities, noting the issue of spiking in Southall town centre with new criminal offence, specialist training for bar and door staff, and recording measures.
My hon. Friend makes an important point. We have already given the Met an additional £37 million this year, on top of what it was previously allocated. We need to ensure that here and right across the country we have neighbourhood police back in town centres.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Since the election, there has been a 23% increase in people crossing the Channel illegally.
Why does the Home Secretary think small boat crossings have increased during her time in office?
We inherited record high levels of small boat crossings in the first half of this year. We have taken action to fix the previous Government's chaos.
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Assessment & feedback
The Home Secretary did not address why the number has increased under her watch but instead focused on blaming the previous government for high levels.
Blaming The Previous Government
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Specialist domestic abuse services, such as The First Step in Knowsley, are facing an increase in demand but have to turn people away due to lack of funding.
What more can Ministers do to support specialist domestic abuse services that are struggling with increased demand?
All decisions on funding after March 2025 are subject to the spending review process.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister avoided discussing current or immediate actions beyond stating future processes for decision making regarding funding.
Future Processes
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Live facial recognition is being rolled out by police forces, raising concerns about risks to black people and women.
Will the Minister introduce clear regulation oversight for live facial recognition?
I will be hosting a series of roundtables before Christmas to discuss with stakeholders the way forward on this technology.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to clear regulation oversight but instead discussed future discussions and consultations.
Future Consultations
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The National Audit Office raised concerns about the previous Government's decision to buy poor-quality asylum accommodation at Northeye.
What steps is the Department taking to ensure that asylum accommodation is fit for purpose and represents value for money?
The new Government are determined to cut asylum accommodation costs by stepping up decision making, reducing the backlog.
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Assessment & feedback
While addressing some aspects of improving decisions and costs, the Minister did not provide specific steps or commitments regarding quality assurance.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner references the issue of transnational repression by Iran, China, Russia and other unfriendly nations targeting diaspora populations in Britain.
Transnational repression by Iran, China, Russia and other unfriendly nations continues to be writ large on diaspora populations in this country. What is the Government's strategy on transnational repression, and will the Home Secretary reintroduce the last Government's defending democracy taskforce to monitor incidence?
The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. The taskforce is examining closely the threats that he raises, and we shall have more to say about that shortly.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner cites the Home Secretary's Department stating that data on crimes committed by illegal migrants is not available through published statistics, despite holding such information.
I am sure that the Home Secretary would agree that good government is transparent government. I have been told by her Department, in response to a written parliamentary question, that the number of crimes committed by illegal migrants is not available through published statistics. I am sure that the Home Office does hold the data, so will the Minister commit to publishing it in full?
There will be a huge drop of immigration-related national statistics at the end of the week.
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Assessment & feedback
Change Of Subject
Response accuracy
Q8
Direct Answer
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Context
Two women in the questioner's constituency reported that police ignored non-molestation orders, highlighting a common issue.
Two brave women from Maltby came to my most recent surgery. Each told me about the horrific physical and emotional abuse that they had suffered at the hands of their ex-partners. They also told me that the police had ignored non-molestation orders, which—as I know from my professional experience before I was called to the Bar—is far from uncommon. What steps will the Government take to ensure that any relevant court orders are given due force?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. There is a serious problem of injunctions, non-molestation orders and protection orders not being treated properly. That is why we are introducing Raneem's law, which includes stronger protection orders and specialists in 999 control rooms.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner highlights that Chelmsford's allocation of dispersal accommodation for asylum seekers is not being met due to high demand and cost.
Chelmsford's allocation of dispersal accommodation for asylum seekers is more than 120 beds, but the number found to date is about a tenth of that number owing to the high demand for and high cost of private rented accommodation in the district. What extra support can the Minister offer councils facing the increasing cost of housing asylum seekers?
We are trying to co-operate much more with local authorities so that we can deal with these issues, but ultimately the way to deal with them is to get the backlog down and get people out of high-price accommodation so that we can integrate them if they are granted asylum.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner notes that the entry clearance process requires biometrics, which cannot be undertaken by some British-Palestinians due to restrictions in Gaza.
I have met a number of British-Palestinian families who are trying to reunite with their families in Gaza. Part of the entry clearance process requires the undertaking of biometrics. There is no visa centre in Gaza, and they are unable to leave owing to the closure of the Rafah crossing. Will the Home Secretary, or the Minister, please indicate whether they are willing to introduce a temporary waiver for biometrics so that people can complete the entry clearance process?
The death and destruction in Gaza are intolerable. Palestinians who wish to join family members in the UK must do so via the range of existing routes that are available, but if my hon. Friend wishes to raise a specific matter with me, I shall be happy to meet her.
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Assessment & feedback
Change Of Subject
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner asks about steps being taken to tackle crime specifically in rural areas.
What steps is the Minister taking to tackle crime in rural areas?
As I said earlier, I have met representatives of the Agricultural Engineers Association to discuss the implementation of the secondary legislation that is required to deal with the theft of agricultural equipment, and I am also having meetings with the rural crime units to discuss some of the specifics. However, the neighbourhood policing guarantee applies in rural areas just as much as in urban areas, which is important.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q12
Direct Answer
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Context
The questioner discusses a youth hub campaign initiated by Tracy, the mother of Cameron Hamilton who was fatally stabbed in Bournemouth.
My constituent Tracy set up the organisation Changes Are Made in memory of her grandson Cameron Hamilton, who was fatally stabbed in Bournemouth town centre last year. Tracy believes deeply in the power of education and positive activities to tackle knife crime, and is campaigning for a youth hub in the constituency. Can the Home Secretary update us on the progress being made towards the roll-out of a network of youth hubs, and will she support Tracy's campaign?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend's constituent Tracy for campaigning in memory of Cameron. Too many young lives are being lost. That is why we are setting up the Young Futures programme, with youth hubs but also prevention partnerships, to work across the country.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner notes that the number of channel crossings has been higher than expected, leading to a rapid approval of new asylum hotels.
In recent weeks, the number of channel crossings has been far higher than the Home Office expected, which is why we have seen Ministers rapidly approving new asylum hotels. We are told that the situation is temporary, because asylum claims are apparently now being processed faster and people are being moved through accommodation faster too. What reassurances can the Home Secretary give my constituents that the faster processing of asylum claims, with no deterrent in the system, will not simply act as a massive incentive for more people to come here on small boats?
I have to tell the hon. Member that unfortunately the previous Government cut asylum decision making by 75% in the run-up to the election, and they took away caseworkers. That is why the backlog was soaring. We have now put caseworkers back in place so that we can start clearing the backlog, because asylum hotels are costing the taxpayer huge amounts of money.
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Assessment & feedback
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q14
Direct Answer
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Context
The questioner discusses the high likelihood of disabled women experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Disabled women are almost three times more likely to experience domestic abuse and almost twice as likely to report sexual violence. Does the Minister agree that it is important for not only her Department but the police to work with disabled women-led organisations to understand the intersection with gender-based violence and the double whammy that affects disabled women?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I pay tribute to Stay Safe East, one of very few specialist disability and domestic abuse charities. Without “by and for” services, we simply would not be serving most of the women in our country who need support.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
A report published today highlights that 60,000 hours annually are dedicated to investigating non-crime hate incidents. This raises concerns about the allocation of police resources and public confidence in law enforcement.
A report published today shows that 60,000 hours are taken up each year investigating non-crime hate incidents. Does the Minister agree that confidence in the police could be restored if they prioritised their time and resources to investigate actual crime rather than hurt feelings?
This Government have made very clear what our priorities are around safer streets and where the focus should be for policing: on halving knife crime and halving violence against women and girls over the next decade. The Home Secretary has also been very clear that a common-sense approach must be taken to non-crime hate incidents. We will work with the inspectorate and the College of Policing on the matter.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific request for prioritising actual crimes over non-crime hate incidents was not directly addressed with a clear commitment or figure.
Under Review
Common-Sense Approach
Response accuracy