Topical Questions 2023-03-20

2023-03-20

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Context
Concerns about the disproportionate recording of non-crime hate incidents and their impact on free speech.
Like the public, I want common-sense policing focused on keeping people safe and driving down crime. The disproportionate recording of non-crime hate incidents must not be used to inhibit free speech. We must be very careful about what is kept on an individual's record. That balance has not always been struck.
Like the public, I want common-sense policing focused on keeping people safe and driving down crime. The disproportionate recording of non-crime hate incidents must not be used to inhibit free speech. We must be very careful about what is kept on an individual's record. That balance has not always been struck, so I introduced a new code of practice on non-crime hate incidents and the recording and retention of personal data. It introduces new safeguards so that personal data may be included in an NCHI record only if the event is clearly motivated by an intentional hostility and where there is a real risk of significant harm to a group or an individual.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Context
Teenagers abusing nitrous oxide along Southend seafront and behind the wheel. Firefighters report cutting people out of vehicles due to nitrous oxide abuse.
Given the severe effects of such abuse, will my right hon. Friend consider taking tougher action to restrict the sale, possession and abuse of nitrous oxide in the UK?
I know that my hon. Friend has been a powerful advocate on this subject, as well as on the issue of dangerous weapons, and I pay tribute to her for her brilliant work. The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 provides police with the powers to clamp down on the supply of nitrous oxide for non-legitimate use, but she is right, and I am clear, that the use and proliferation of nitrous oxide is unacceptable, and we will announce new measures soon.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details about upcoming measures or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Yvette Cooper Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Context
Failures in policing standards and vetting procedures identified. Home Secretary previously aware of issues.
The problem is that the Home Secretary's response is too little and too late. We should all back the commissioner to take urgently needed action in the Met, but confidence in the Met has dropped sharply and confidence has also dropped nationally. The system for national standards that the Home Secretary presides over is far too weak, with no proper regulations or requirements and no proper intervention when things go wrong.
I regret the tone that the shadow Home Secretary adopts when it comes to Rwanda. I encourage her to ditch her outdated and ignorant views on our friends in Rwanda. When it comes to the Casey report, which I have read, it is clear that there have been failings within the Met. That is why the commissioner is right to accept those past failings, and that is why he has my total backing in moving forward to turn around performance and standards in the Met, so that every citizen in London has total confidence in those who wear the badge.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Yvette Cooper Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Context
Confidence in the Metropolitan Police has dropped due to failures in policing standards.
The problem is that the Home Secretary's response is too little and too late. We should all back the commissioner to take urgently needed action in the Met, but confidence in the Met has dropped sharply and confidence has also dropped nationally. The system for national standards that the Home Secretary presides over is far too weak, with no proper regulations or requirements and no proper intervention when things go wrong.
I am proud of this Government's track record on reducing crime and increasing the number of police officers. Since 2010, violent crime is down, robbery is down, neighbourhood crime is down and burglary is down. When the right hon. Lady talks about the Met, what I would gently say is that London has a Labour Mayor—as well as a Labour police and crime commissioner—who has failed to hold the Met to account properly. I am afraid I must encourage her to speak to her Labour colleague and ask him to do a better job of holding the Met to account.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Context
A constituent hosts a Ukrainian refugee who faced difficulty and hardship when trying to reunite with her family. Visa fees and travel distance to application centres hinder reunification.
Will my right hon. Friend consider temporarily waiving tourist visa fees for Ukrainians wanting to visit their families?
Last week marked the first anniversary of the launch of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which my hon. Friend took part in, and it is a powerful rejoinder to anyone who says that the UK is anything other than generous and compassionate to those in need. I have listened to his remarks, and I have had a conversation with His Excellency the Ukrainian ambassador in that regard. We have taken an important step in the past month by reopening our visa centre at our embassy in Kyiv, so that Ukrainian nationals can begin those processes in their home territory, rather than having to leave and go to Warsaw.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details about waiving fees but mentioned steps taken.
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Christian Wakeford Lab
Bury South
Context
Report of extreme activities promoted by the Islamic Centre of England, a charity funded by Iranian authorities.
Does the Minister agree that it is finally the time to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?
The hon. Member will well know that the work we have been doing against the Iranian threat in the United Kingdom has not diminished—in fact, it has increased in recent months. He is right to talk about cultural centres. Sadly, the Islamic Centre of England is not alone. Indeed, the work of the IRGC is not limited to those Iranian proxy organisations. We have to ensure that we have the resources and the attitude, and that is exactly what this Government are pulling together and exactly what we are deploying against this vile threat that has taken over a country and is now threatening ours.
Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address proscription of IRGC but discussed broader Iranian threats.
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Context
The question arises from concerns about arrest and freedom of speech under new legislation.
What guidance is the Department planning to issue on policing the provisions of the Public Order Bill, especially relating to preventing people from being arrested in a public place for what they are thinking about or for silent prayer?
My hon. Friend knows my position on that issue. He also knows about the guidance we have issued on the policing of non-crime hate incidents. We are encouraging the police to strike a better balance, so that freedom of speech is more protected in their efforts to keep the public safe. The College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs' Council will be working on new guidance to reflect the new offences in the Public Order Bill.
Assessment & feedback
Specifics about preventing arrests for thought or silent prayer
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Context
The cost of detaining migrants is estimated to be very high, raising questions about why economic impact assessments are not shared.
The Refugee Council estimates that if 65,000 people crossed the channel this year, it would cost £219 million to detain them for 28 days or £1.4 billion to detain them for six months. Are figures such as those the reason for the Home Secretary's refusing to share the economic impact assessment of the Illegal Migration Bill with the House?
The hon. Lady makes a powerful case for deterrence, which is exactly what the Illegal Migration Bill does. It will deter people from crossing the channel and break the model of the people smugglers.
Assessment & feedback
Economic impact assessment reasons
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Edward Leigh Con
Gainsborough
Context
The placement of migrants in RAF Scampton is causing local concerns about investment and the long-term retention of the runway.
Tomorrow is the 80th anniversary of the formation of the Dambusters 617 squadron at RAF Scampton. Will the Home Secretary have a conversation with her Minister for Immigration about the meeting I had this morning with him, West Lindsey District Council and Scampton Holdings, in which the Minister was told in terms that if the Home Secretary goes ahead with her plan for 1,500 migrants to be placed there, it will scupper the long-term retention of the runway and the £300 million-worth of investment by Scampton Holdings?
I had a helpful and constructive meeting with my right hon. Friend and his constituents. No decision has been made with respect to RAF Scampton, and we will consider all of the things that were said in that meeting extremely carefully as we come to a final decision.
Assessment & feedback
Concrete commitment or timeline regarding placing migrants at RAF Scampton
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Context
Only about 10% of rape allegations are referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, leading to concerns about police handling.
In 2021, only about 10% of rape allegations were referred by the police to the Crown Prosecution Service. The figure is even lower when we take into account other sexual offending. Has my hon. Friend ever received a satisfactory explanation from the police for such a lamentably poor referral rate?
My hon. Friend is right to raise this really important issue. The nub of the issue is that historically police officers have not developed a new way of dealing with rape in a modern, digital world, among other things. I am pleased to say that the Government are investing extra money in education in this field.
Assessment & feedback
Specific satisfactory explanation from the police
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Context
Local employers are struggling to recruit staff while asylum seekers in neighbouring areas cannot work, raising concerns about employment opportunities.
In my constituency, I have employers who are struggling to recruit staff living next door to asylum seekers who are not allowed to work. Last week's Budget talked about boosting employment. Does the Home Secretary agree that lifting the ban on work for asylum seekers would help to boost employment?
We do not agree with that: we do not want to see any further pull factors to the UK. We want to see deterrence suffused throughout our approach, and one element of that is ensuring that those who come illegally are detained and then removed from the country.
Assessment & feedback
Agreement with lifting ban on work for asylum seekers
Response accuracy
Q12 Direct Answer
Context
There are concerns about the Iranian regime spreading conspiracy theories, extremism and radicalisation.
I was encouraged by the answers that my right hon. Friend the Security Minister gave earlier in relation to Iran, and the evidence put forward by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Alicia Kearns), as well as the report in The Times this morning that has been referred to. Does the Security Minister therefore agree that that reflects a deliberate attempt by the Iranian regime to use whatever foothold available in our national life to spread conspiracy theories, extremism and radicalisation?
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. What we have seen from the Iranian regime, sadly, is that overlap of crime, state threats and the use of terrorism to threaten the British people and our allies around the world. This Government will absolutely not allow those to flourish, and will stand extremely firmly against any such threats in this country.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q13 Partial Answer
Diana R. Johnson Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Context
Recent cases highlight indecent exposure as a gateway to more serious crimes.
Indecent exposure and non-contact sexual offending can be gateway offences to very much more serious offending against women and girls, as in the cases of Libby Squire in Hull and of Wayne Couzens, as we heard in his sentencing last week. When are the Government going to act on these early warning signs?
This is a really important issue, and I am grateful that the right hon. Lady has raised it. We all know from new academic research that indecent exposure can lead to far more serious crimes, and it is now the time that the police chiefs and also the College of Policing take it more seriously.
Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline or action regarding early warning signs
Response accuracy
Q14 Direct Answer
Context
Concerns about the Police and Crime Commissioner visiting all parts of their region.
We have seen a number of murders recently in Walsall as a result of knife crime, but we have seen no sign of the Labour police and crime commissioner. Does the Minister agree that it is important that the police and crime commissioner visits all part of the west midlands, rather than simply staying in Birmingham?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Police and crime commissioners, particularly the one in the west midlands, should visit all parts of their patch. I was also rather concerned to hear that the Labour PCC in the west midlands is formulating plans to close up to 20 police stations, despite having received a 10% increase in funding over recent years.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q15 Direct Answer
Context
The industry believes industrial hemp can create jobs and generate tax revenue.
I have been told that the industrial hemp sector could create 105,000 jobs and contribute £1 billion in tax if allowed to grow. I will write to the Minister with more details but would like a meeting with industry representatives so they can present their case.
The hon Member and I have had discussions on this topic. We are always willing to engage, discuss points of detail, and hear industry representations, so if he would like to meet face to face to discuss it further, I am very happy to do that.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q16 Direct Answer
Context
Dinnington High Street received £12 million for regeneration, and now needs a police station to combat antisocial behaviour.
With the additional funding of £10.7 million going to South Yorkshire next year, can you support my campaign to reopen the police station on Dinnington High Street using some of that underspend from the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner's budget?
I think my hon Friend has formulated an excellent plan. I notice that South Yorkshire next year is getting an extra £10.7 million in funding, and the idea he suggests sounds like a good way of spending some of that.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q17 Direct Answer
Taiwo Owatemi Lab
Coventry North West
Context
The Turkish community in Coventry has lost family members due to the earthquake and wishes to be reunited with them via a family visa scheme.
What steps is the Home Office taking to provide support to those affected by the earthquake in Turkey, particularly regarding family reunification through appropriate visa schemes?
Our sympathies go to all those affected. The UK Government are doing a number of things, including sending specialists to help with those who have been trapped in the wreckage. We have a range of visa options, including family reunion and visit visas.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q18 Partial Answer
Munira Wilson Lib Dem
Twickenham
Context
Five British children are hiding in Kabul after their father was killed by the Taliban. Their Afghan mother is being denied a visa due to language requirements.
Given that I have been trying for 15 months to bring five British children to safety from Kabul, can you grant me a meeting to discuss this case and how we can facilitate their safe return?
I would be happy to look into the case. Over 25,000 individuals have been brought safely to the United Kingdom since Operation Pitting.
Assessment & feedback
Granting a meeting to discuss this specific case
Looking Into The Case
Response accuracy
Q19 Partial Answer
Janet Daby Lab
Lewisham East
Context
Children are detained in police cells for long periods without an appropriate adult being present, despite it being a requirement.
Will the data published later this year under Police powers and procedures include the number of minutes taken to arrive and the duration of time an appropriate adult is present, or if not this year, when?
The hon Lady raises a very important question. Some revisions are being made to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 code of practice that are relevant here. I can certainly undertake to look into including this data.
Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline for inclusion of data in publication
Looking Into
Response accuracy
Q20 Direct Answer
Simon Lightwood Lab Co-op
Wakefield and Rothwell
Context
Danish politician Rasmus Paludan is planning to burn a Koran in Wakefield, which has raised concerns among the local community.
Given that Mr Paludan was jailed in Denmark for his hateful and racist statements, can you assure me and my community that the Government are taking action to prevent him from entering the UK?
I inform the House that Mr Paludan has been added to the warnings index. His travel to the United Kingdom would not be conducive to the public good, and he will not be allowed access.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy