Topical Questions 2022-03-07

2022-03-07

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Munira Wilson Lib Dem
Twickenham
Context
Residents of Teddington have signed a petition to repurpose the former police station site for community use and affordable housing. The Under-Secretary has confirmed that there is no legal requirement for the Mayor of London to sell the site to the highest bidder.
More than 2,100 residents have signed my petition to see the former Teddington police station site repurposed for community use and affordable housing. Will the Minister join me in calling on the Mayor to reconsider this decision?
I will seek to ensure that my ministerial team are closely engaged with the hon. Lady to ensure that we can come to a fair and equitable solution for her residents.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to joining in calling on Mayor to reconsider decision
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Munira Wilson Lib Dem
Twickenham
Context
The community sponsorship scheme has not been published and only 50 visas have been granted out of nearly 2 million people who have fled Ukraine. The questioner criticizes the slow process.
It is three months since Russian troops massed at the Ukraine border, yet no details have been published about the community sponsorship scheme. Only 50 visas have been granted to 2 million refugees fleeing Ukraine. Will he pick up the phone to the Home Secretary and cut out bureaucracy or will people wait for his Department to get its act together?
We are processing more than 14,000 applications under the family scheme at the moment. The existing community sponsorship scheme details are available on gov.uk and will be expanded with further details announced later.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to picking up phone or cutting bureaucracy
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Lisa Nandy Lab
Wigan
Context
Oligarchs linked to the Kremlin are offloading millions of pounds from the UK property market. The questioner asks if the Minister will support amendments that would address this issue.
The existing community sponsorship scheme is described as an absolute shambles, and desperate people are being asked to wait months for access. While quarreling with Home Office, refugees are turned away while oligarchs linked to Kremlin offload millions of pounds from UK property market. Will the Minister support amendments that would address this situation?
The scheme is expanding with more details to come, but no direct commitment on backing specific amendments.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to supporting specific amendments
Response accuracy
Q4 Direct Answer
Lisa Nandy Lab
Wigan
Context
The humanitarian sponsorship pathway will likely lead to Winchester. The questioner seeks confirmation on more details being announced later.
My constituents have shown generosity towards people fleeing Ukraine, including items driven to Poland in 48 hours. Can the Minister confirm that more details on the humanitarian sponsorship scheme will be announced later today?
There are more details to come regarding the expansion of the humanitarian sponsorship scheme.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Context
Transparency International estimates that over £1.5 billion worth of UK property was bought by Russian oligarchs linked to the Kremlin between 2016 and 2021, with much in London.
Can the Minister assure the House that emergency legislation will be brought forward to repossess Kremlin-linked properties in London? Would using proceeds from these properties for humanitarian support in Ukraine be appropriate?
The hon. Lady has shown clairvoyance, but no direct commitment on bringing forward emergency legislation or using proceeds from properties.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to specific actions regarding emergency legislation or property proceeds
For The Second Time Today, I Must Praise The Hon. Lady For A Gift Of Clairvoyance That Few Hon. Members Enjoy.
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Context
The questioner seeks information on the role of the Minister's Department in supporting a sanctions regime that meets current needs.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities, focusing specifically on how the Department is exploring ways to support the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with a sanctions regime meeting current needs.
The situation in Ukraine is at the forefront of minds. My Department explores ways to support Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with a sanctions regime targeting property and assets of those supporting Putin regime.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on role in sanctions regime
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Robbie Moore Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Context
Labour-run Bradford Council did not submit a levelling-up fund application despite the Conservative Government making up to £20 million available.
Does the Minister share my and my constituents' deep frustration that, despite this Conservative Government making up to £20 million available to my constituents through the levelling-up fund, Labour-run Bradford Council did not even bother to submit a levelling-up application? When will it have the next opportunity to do that?
Some £20 million is potentially available to Keighley and Ilkley through the levelling-up fund. Bradford is in a top priority category, and I really hope that it will bid so that we can build on the tens of millions of investment already being put into Keighley through the towns fund.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific timeframe for next application opportunity
Hopes Bradford Will Bid
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Context
Local authorities in Scotland participated in the Syrian refugee resettlement scheme and are ready to help Ukrainian refugees.
Communities across Scotland and the UK stand ready to help those displaced by Putin's war on democracy in Ukraine. Every local authority in Scotland participated in the Syrian refugee resettlement scheme and I am sure they would want to do so again, but they cannot at the moment because of the shambolic response by the UK Government. The Secretary of State's Department is meant to be doing whatever is needed to make sure that sponsors can be quickly matched with Ukrainians in need, so when does he expect significant numbers of Ukrainians to arrive under the humanitarian sponsorship pathway, and will he join me in urging the Home Secretary to remove the unforgivable blockage—
More details on how we will help not just the devolved Administrations but local government to accept a higher proportion of humanitarian refugees will follow shortly.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide timeline or specific actions
Details Will Follow
Response accuracy
Q9 Direct Answer
Context
West Sussex communities, particularly coastal ones, are economically disadvantaged and deprived.
Can I ask one of the Ministers to outline the benefits the levelling-up White Paper will bring to West Sussex, particularly to coastal communities and constituencies such as mine, where economic disadvantage and deprivation are happening—whether north or south, east or west?
Some £19.4 million was allocated to projects in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton through round 1 of the levelling-up fund, in addition to the £21.1 million allocated to Crawley. I look forward to working with people in West Sussex to do more through round 2 of the levelling-up fund as well as the UK shared prosperity fund.
Assessment & feedback
null
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Context
The Government announced the Renters Reform Bill in both the 2019 and 2021 Queen's Speech but have not yet introduced it.
The Government announced the renters reform Bill in the 2019 Queen's Speech, and they announced it again in the 2021 Queen's Speech. My constituents desperately need this Bill to abolish no-fault section 21 evictions, introduce a national landlord database, apply the decent homes standard and much more, so will the Secretary of State confirm when he is finally going to get on with introducing this Bill?
We need to introduce the White Paper, which will be published in the spring, first. I look forward to discussing its terms with the hon. Lady so we can ensure that the legislation subsequently introduced is fit for purpose.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific timeline or commitment to introducing the Bill
White Paper First
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Context
Corbett meadow is designated as local green space in the draft local plan.
Corbett meadow is a beautiful meadow in my constituency that is at risk of development, but in the local plan it has been designated as local green space. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that, when the final plan comes out, that should be respected?
National park policy empowers local communities by making it clear that they can designate areas of importance as local green space through their local plans. Such designations ensure that these important assets are provided with protection, reflecting their importance.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific stance on Corbett meadow's designation
Policy Explanation
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Ben Lake PC
Ceredigion Preseli
Context
Wizz Air is offering to fly Ukrainian refugees from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
The airline Wizz Air has offered to fly Ukrainian refugees from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, and there are indications that Cardiff airport could be a destination for some of these flights. I understand that there have been initial discussions with the Welsh Government, but would the Secretary of State lend his support to co-ordinating a post-flight visa processing facility at Cardiff airport, so that Ukrainians fleeing the warzone can be brought to Wales quickly and safely?
I will look closely, with my colleague the Home Secretary, at that proposition. It is important that we have appropriate biometric checks, but I appreciate the generosity of the offer and indeed we have been talking to the Welsh Government about how we can co-ordinate our efforts.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to supporting a post-flight visa processing facility
Looking Closely
Response accuracy
Q13 Partial Answer
Context
Many people are planning to staycation this year.
Many people are still planning to staycation this year. Would the Secretary of State extend the scheme that worked so well during the pandemic, and allow permitted development rights to be relaxed so that pop-up campsites can allow people to have holidays in places such as North Yorkshire?
I now know what my Easter plans will be. My right hon. Friend is absolutely right that making sure, through the exercise of permitted development rights, that we can provide people with the opportunity to holiday in places as beautiful as North Yorkshire is an entirely welcome development.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to extending the scheme
Entirely Welcome
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Christian Wakeford Lab
Bury South
Context
Reported cases of antisemitism are rising, and the Government have funded security at Jewish locations.
Reported cases of antisemitism continue to rise, with the Community Security Trust recording a record 2,255 cases in 2021. The Government have funded the security at Jewish locations, including synagogues and schools, and this, unfortunately, is vital to ensuring the safety of the Jewish community. Will the Secretary of State commit to the continuation of this funding next year, as well as ensuring that it is adjusted for the increased cost associated with inflation?
As the Minister who initiated that scheme, I will do everything I can to ensure it continues. But one of the things we can all do is stand against the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific commitment or adjustment for inflation
Will Do Everything Stand Against Bds
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Context
Carr Street in Ipswich has new micro-shops, but other buildings remain unused. Levelling-up funding is needed along with a proactive local council.
Levelling up is crucial to rejuvenating our high streets and making sure we do not have buildings collecting dust and not in use, which has often been the case in Ipswich. In Carr Street, however, that is not the case: we have micro-shops there now: fantastic businesses such as Trini Flava, Central Vintage, and the Juice Mix bar. Does my right hon. Friend agree that to do this we need not only funding but a local council with a bit of a proactive, can-do attitude to bring such premises back into use?
Yes, we need a council that is composed of simulacra or clones of my hon. Friend. If every Ipswich councillor was as ambitious for Ipswich as he is, Ipswich would not only be in the premier league for football—which it is not at the moment of course—but in the premier league of places to visit in the United Kingdom.
Assessment & feedback
Attacking The Opposition Changing Subject
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Context
Many deprived areas in Wales, Scotland, and England have not received levelling-up funds. The timetable and criteria for the second tranche of money are awaited.
Seven out of 10 of the most deprived areas in Wales, six out of 10 in Scotland and three out of 10 in England have not received any levelling-up funding. When will the right hon. Gentleman give them that opportunity—when will he publish the timetable and the criteria for the second tranche of money?
It is coming in the spring statement, but I should say to the hon. Gentleman, whom I count as a friend and much admire, that he should have a word with the hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh South West (Joanna Cherry), who seems not to want this money to go to Scotland because she believes it works against devolution. The hon. Gentleman wants that money to come to Scotland; can the Scottish National party please make up its mind?
Assessment & feedback
Changing Subject Attacking Opposition
Response accuracy
Q17 Direct Answer
Context
Anna Buckley from Wrexham's Polish integration support centre initiated a call for donations in Poland. Businesses and people across Wrexham answered the call, with hundreds of volunteers sorting through five warehouses full of donations.
In the past week I have worked with Anna Buckley from Wrexham's Polish integration support centre to logistically manage the unprecedented UK response to her call for donations. Businesses and people across Wrexham have answered that call, with hundreds of volunteers sorting through five warehouses full of donations going to Poland. Will the Secretary of State congratulate Anna and the community spirit of Wrexham?
Anna, the Polish community and indeed the wider citizens of Wrexham set a brilliant example, as so many do, of community action to support those in need. I congratulate her and my hon. Friend.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q18 Partial Answer
Diane Abbott Ind
Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Context
The Home Secretary has issued only 50 visas for Ukrainian refugees, which the questioner believes is wrong and brings shame upon this country.
Will the Secretary of State speak to his colleague the Home Secretary and make her aware that only issuing up until now 50 visas for Ukrainian refugees is quite wrong and brings shame upon this country?
I talk to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary every day. The Home Secretary was in Poland at the border talking to those who were working with refugees: she was delivering while others, I am afraid, seek to make political points. We have a Home Secretary who is energetic, determined, on the job, talking to those on the frontline, making a difference, and I am afraid that when people want unity, purpose and delivery they will say to the right hon. Lady—
Assessment & feedback
Attacking Opposition Changing Subject
Response accuracy
Q19 Direct Answer
Context
The need for a flexible local plan approach to accommodate different community needs in constituencies like Haverhill, Brandon and Newmarket.
Will the Secretary of State confirm that when it comes to local plans the idea that we need exactly the same proportion of extra housing in every part of every council area is wrong, and instead the different needs of different communities, as in my constituency in Haverhill, Brandon and Newmarket, can be treated differently, not with a one-size-fits-all approach?
Yes, 100%, spot-on, totally correct.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy