Topical Questions 2025-03-31
2025-03-31
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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A constituent has contacted Natasha Irons about the difficulty in accessing Windrush compensation due to high evidence thresholds and lack of legal aid for victims.
A constituent has contacted me about the difficulty he is facing in trying to get what he is entitled to via the Windrush compensation scheme. Given that victims of the Windrush scandal are not entitled to legal aid, a large proportion are assessed as eligible for compensation but cannot meet the high threshold of evidence necessary to prove that they are entitled to it. Will the Home Secretary look again at what legal support can be provided to the victims of this scandal, so that they can finally get the justice that they deserve?
My hon. Friend is right to raise the issues around the Windrush generation, who were so badly let down and treated by the Home Office over many years. We have increased support and advocacy for compensation scheme claimants, and the Minister for migration and citizenship, my hon. Friend the Member for Feltham and Heston (Seema Malhotra), would be happy to discuss the matter with my hon. Friend.
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Chris Philp has concerns about the police's recent anti-racism commitment which suggests that treating everyone 'the same' or being 'colour blind' is not the approach to take.
Has the Home Secretary seen the police’s anti-racism commitment that was published last week, which says that the police do not have to treat everyone the same regardless of race and calls for arrest rates to be artificially engineered to be the same across racial groups? Does she agree that this two-tier approach to policing is totally unacceptable?
The police already have to swear an oath on their impartiality and policing without fear or favour. That is the responsibility of every single police officer right across the country. The shadow Home Secretary will know that there are dedicated police officers who do exactly that and will continue to do exactly that, to ensure that they treat everyone appropriately and make sure that everyone faces justice before the law.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Residents of Exeter, particularly female residents, have raised concerns about Devon county council's decision to dim or turn off 80% of the city’s street lights at night.
Residents of Exeter, particularly female residents, have raised with me their alarm at Tory-led Devon county council’s decision to dim or completely turn off 80% of Exeter’s street lights during the night, including on streets and paths to railway stations and bus stops. Many shift workers come home late at night or start early in the morning, and having well-lit routes offers them a sense of security. Does the Minister agree that Devon county council should think again, and should consult with resident groups and other groups on a way forward that puts the safety of residents at the centre of its decision making?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. It is absolutely key that people feel safe walking at night, particularly shift workers and residents, and good street lighting is a key part of that.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Many Ukrainians in the UK are reporting severe stress and anxiety due to uncertainty about their visa status, affecting job opportunities and tenancy agreements.
Ukrainians in the UK deserve stability after fleeing war, yet almost half report severe stress and anxiety caused by prolonged uncertainty about their visa status. Some 44% have lost a job opportunity, 26% have been unable to sign new tenancy agreements and 25% have had a student loan rejected, all because of that uncertainty. Does the Minister agree that this is an unacceptable way of treating those to whom we opened our arms, and will she commit to giving Ukrainian refugees the certainty about their visas that they deserve?
The hon. Lady will be aware that we continue to stand by Ukraine, and to support those whom we have been able to welcome to our country. We have provided certainty under the Ukraine permission extension scheme, which we opened on 4 February. Under that scheme, people can prove that they have ongoing status through section 3C leave during their application process.
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Eight years since the Westminster bridge attack, survivors are seeking support to rebuild their lives.
This month, we marked eight years since the Westminster bridge attack, a cowardly assault on our parliamentary democracy that killed five people, including the late PC Keith Palmer, and injured almost 50 others. As the survivors seek to rebuild their lives, what measures is the Department putting in place to support the survivors and honour the victims of terrorist attacks?
The victims and survivors of terrorism need and deserve the highest levels of support to recover and rebuild their lives. The Government will set up a new, dedicated support hub for victims and survivors, supporting their needs in the immediate and long-term aftermath of a terrorist attack. Proposals for a new national day for victims and survivors of terrorism will also be consulted on, helping the country to remember and honour those who have been tragically killed or impacted by terrorist attacks.
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Cambridgeshire’s rural crime action team does not have the resources to be available 24/7, particularly during incidents like hare coursing.
I am concerned about Cambridgeshire’s rural crime action team's lack of 24/7 availability and its absence during a recent hare coursing incursion. What assessment has the Minister made regarding ensuring their round-the-clock coverage?
I was very concerned to hear about the incident. I announced earlier that additional funding is going into the national wildlife crime unit and the national rural crime unit to assist forces in providing the cover necessary in rural areas.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Smaller retailers struggle to afford personal safety equipment for staff, unlike larger retailers.
During a walkabout with local officials, I heard about the collaboration between police, retailers, and the council to tackle retail crime. However, smaller retailers cannot afford personal safety equipment for their staff. Does the Minister have any plans to help small shop owners cover these costs?
The Government has announced £7 million over three years for police to tackle retail crime, including funding a specialist policing team. Additionally, there is £100,000 available to the National Police Chiefs’ Council to assist with security measures.
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Socketts newsagents faces closure due to gang-related shoplifting.
Socketts newsagents, a 100-year-old business in my constituency, is threatened with closure because of frequent incidents of masked youths engaging in shoplifting. What steps will the Minister take to assist Socketts and ensure its survival?
That is totally unacceptable, and we need neighbourhood policing guarantees with bobbies on the high streets. I am happy to discuss this case further.
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Q9
Partial Answer
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A recent TV programme, “Adolescence,” has highlighted the rise of incel culture contributing to youth violence.
Following the TV show 'Adolescence' which discussed issues around rising youth violence, including knife crime and extremism, what specific steps is the Home Office taking to address these root causes?
We are implementing stronger online safety measures under the Online Safety Act 2023 and working with schools to prevent violence among young people, including violent behaviour in relationships.
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Q10
Partial Answer
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The Conservative Party proposed a new clause during the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill Committee to introduce an annual cap on non-visitor visas issued by the UK. The proposal aimed at increasing accountability but was rejected.
During the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill Committee we Conservatives proposed a new clause that would provide a mechanism for a binding annual cap on the number of non-visitor visas issued by the UK. That would have introduced accountability and transparency, but it was voted down decisively by Labour Members. The Government talk tough, but does the Home Secretary not believe that the British public deserve a transparent and honest answer to the question of what the level of migration will be under this Government, rather than the Government’s just blaming us, or saying “lower numbers” on every occasion?
I am staggered by that question, because net migration reached record highs under the Conservatives’ watch. We are the ones with a plan to bring it down. Quite frankly, the hon. Lady should support that.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for transparency about future migration levels and was instead told that net migration reached record highs under the previous government's watch.
Changing The Subject To Past Performance
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Q11
Partial Answer
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Mohamed, an asylum seeker, waited nearly three years for a decision on his application due to the pause in processing Syrian asylum cases.
Mohamed waited nearly three years for a decision on his asylum application, a period that was extended by the pause in processing Syrian asylum cases. If the Minister will not end the pause, what interim steps will she take to further support host communities such as Falkirk?
As I said earlier, we are keeping under close review the pause in Syrian asylum applications. We cannot decide asylum applications against a country policy that is no longer relevant because of the rapid change in that country. We will resume those decisions as soon as we can.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for interim steps to support host communities, but the response focused on reviewing the pause rather than providing concrete measures.
Referring To A Previous Statement
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Q12
Partial Answer
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Reports indicated that the Metropolitan Police carried out a raid on Quaker meeting houses in Westminster, raising concerns about freedom of assembly.
Reports about the Met police raid and arrests at the Quaker meeting house in Westminster last Thursday have caused great alarm, particularly because Quakers are renowned for their non-violent and pacifist principles. The incident raises serious concerns about the police’s approach to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest. What explanation have the Met police given the Minister for their actions that night?
As the hon. Gentleman will realise, this is an operational matter for the Metropolitan police, and I am sure that they will provide further commentary at some point.
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The questioner sought a direct answer from the Minister regarding the raid's justification, but was referred to the Metropolitan Police as an operational issue.
Changing Subject To Operational Matters
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Q13
Direct Answer
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The Rugby Street Pastors do important work in their community by ensuring the safety of people on nights out.
Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating Dawn Thurkettle and the Rugby Street Pastors, and particularly the recently commissioned pastors, on all the excellent work that they do to lower the temperature on nights out in our town? They show kindness and listen to people on our streets, and play an important role in our community.
I would be delighted to pay tribute to Dawn and the Rugby Street Pastors for their excellent work. Many street pastors around the country do really important work in keeping people safe and secure on nights out.
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Q14
Partial Answer
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A lacuna in the law exists under the refugee convention, allowing automatic deportation for foreign criminals entering illegally. However, this is not possible under the human rights convention.
Will the Home Secretary consider raising an obvious lacuna in the law in the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe? Under the refugee convention, we can automatically deport foreign national offenders who enter this country illegally, but under the convention on human rights, we cannot. Surely we can address that in partnership with other members of the Council of Europe.
The right hon. Member will know that we have increased the return and removal of foreign national offenders significantly since the election. Deportations, returns and removals had plummeted under the previous Government. We are increasing them, and I believe it is right to do so. By working internationally, we have secured a new agreement with Germany, which will now go after the trafficking and smuggler gangs and the illegal warehouses in that country, but we need to ensure that we take action against dangerous foreign criminals.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for international cooperation regarding deportation laws, but was redirected towards the domestic increase of such actions under this government.
Changing Subject To Domestic Policy
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