Topical Questions 2022-04-25

2022-04-25

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Cat Smith Lab
Lancaster and Wyre
Context
The Nationality and Borders Bill has faced criticism. Illegal migration remains a significant issue.
I am concerned about the impact of illegal migration on Lancaster and the rest of the UK, facilitated by people smugglers and foreign criminals. I met directors of the Lancaster business improvement district who are funding a BID warden to support police in reducing antisocial behaviour. Will you visit Lancaster to meet them?
I thank Cat Smith for her question. If I may, I would like to pay tribute to both her police force and the police and crime commissioner, Andrew Snowden. I was in Lancaster recently, about a month ago. I would be delighted to visit again, I really would. I want to emphasise the power of business improvement districts in dealing with issues such as antisocial behaviour, giving businesses the confidence they need and ensuring they have police support so they can carry on investing in their businesses and creating jobs locally.
Assessment & feedback
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Q2 Direct Answer
Cat Smith Lab
Lancaster and Wyre
Context
The UK has issued over 70,000 visas to Ukrainians since the conflict began. There is also a £450 million package of military aid for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
Over 70,000 Ukrainian refugees have received visas in the UK under our commitment. Along with military support and economic sanctions, this demonstrates unwavering support to Ukraine during its time of need.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. This is a point to reflect on the United Kingdom's contribution to the Ukraine effort. As well as the long-standing aid and military support, the Government's commitment and the Prime Minister's leadership, over 70,000 visas have been granted, and rightly so, to people who are fleeing war and persecution. And, of course, our schemes are completely uncapped.
Assessment & feedback
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Q3 Partial Answer
Gareth Bacon Con
Orpington
Context
The Labour Party has received reports of serious harassment cases being ignored by the police. Additionally, overall crime is up by 14% and arrests and prosecutions have dropped sharply.
I have been contacted about a pensioner who found nothing was done about serious harassment; shop owners whose windows were repeatedly smashed with no action taken; a burglary victim given only a crime number; and a rape victim investigated instead of the rapist until the case was dropped. These are just examples of victims being let down by the system. Despite more crimes being reported, arrests and prosecutions have gone down sharply. Why is this happening?
On the contrary, when it comes to police effectiveness, I would like to make a few points. When the statistics for crime in England and Wales for year ending September 2021 were published, neighbourhood crime was 33% lower than the previous year, burglary offences were lower than the previous year, and other offences including robbery, vehicle offences and theft from the person were also down. This is a Government who have invested record sums in policing and training.
Assessment & feedback
specific examples of victims being let down by the system
Contrary Argument Statistical Data
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Yvette Cooper Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Context
Crime in England and Wales has increased by 14% overall. Arrests are down by a third since 2015, charge rates have dropped by nearly two-thirds, and cautions and community penalties have halved.
Overall crime is up by 14%, arrests and prosecutions have sharply declined. Since 2015, arrests are down by a third, charge rates are down by nearly two-thirds, and cautions and community penalties have dropped more than half. Despite rhetoric, the reality is that hundreds of thousands more criminals are getting away with their crimes.
When it comes to backing the police and sorting out the criminal justice system, if the right hon. Lady's party was at all serious she would back the Bill, back the police and the back reforms to the criminal justice system.
Assessment & feedback
specific reasons for trends in crime and policing
Political Criticism Call To Support A Bill
Response accuracy
Q5 Direct Answer
Yvette Cooper Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Context
Poland has welcomed over 2 million people displaced by the war in Ukraine. The British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union suggested setting up mayor-to-mayor twinning links.
Since Putin's invasion, Poland has provided refuge to over 2 million Ukrainians. Recently, the British Group of the IPU met with Polish counterparts who proposed setting up mayor-to-mayor twinning links between towns in Britain and Poland. Does the Home Secretary welcome this initiative?
I commend my hon. Friend on the initiative that she has shown through this twinning arrangement. It is incredibly important, and the House should pay tribute to our friends in Poland, and the Polish Government in particular, for everything that they have been doing to support Ukrainians.
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Q6 Partial Answer
Harriett Baldwin Con
West Worcestershire
Context
The UK Government introduced a visa concession for offshore wind farm workers in 2017, which was extended in July 2021. P&O Ferries recently sacked British seafarers and replaced them with foreign labour.
In 2017, the UK Government introduced a visa concession for offshore wind farm workers that allows companies to undercut the pay and conditions of British seafarers and exploit overseas workers. The Prime Minister committed to expanding offshore wind farms. Given P&O Ferries' decision to sack 786 British seafarers and replace them with foreign labour, will the Home Office commit to ending this visa concession?
The hon. Gentleman makes very important points. I am happy to pick that up directly with him. I do not have time to give him a full answer now, but I will happily speak to him about it.
Assessment & feedback
specific commitment to end the visa concession
Promise To Discuss Later
Response accuracy
Q7 Direct Answer
Context
The MP reported an increase in antisocial behaviour, including dirt bike racing up and down the Padiham Greenway.
In recent months, we have seen an increase in totally unacceptable antisocial behaviour in Burnley and Padiham town centres, as well as dirt bikes racing up and down the Padiham Greenway. Will the Home Secretary meet me in Padiham to talk to businesses and residents about what more we can do to tackle that issue?
I would be delighted to come to his constituency to do exactly that. Perhaps we can have a conversation about the safer streets fund, which will certainly assist with that issue.
Assessment & feedback
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Q8 Partial Answer
Context
The MP criticized the government's immigration policies, including the Rwanda scheme.
I am getting sick and tired of the fact that every time any Opposition Member talks about our disgust with the “abandon people in Rwanda” scheme, Government Members start shouting, “What are your plans?” If they had paid any attention during the six full weeks of debate on the Nationality and Borders Bill or had read up on the multiple amendments that we tabled, which Conservative Members voted down, they would know what our plans are—
If the hon. Lady has read the new plan for immigration—I hope she has—she will be very clear about the Government's policy on safe and legal routes. I have outlined today a number of safe and legal routes to which the Government have committed, including two routes for Ukrainian nationals and the two routes for those who fled Afghanistan last year.
Assessment & feedback
The question was an attack rather than seeking specific information or commitments.
Attack
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Context
The MP supported the government's immigration policies, including the Rwanda scheme.
People smugglers are evil. People have been exploited, beaten, robbed, raped and have even died, and we need to do everything that we can to stamp out this evil trade. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me and the vast majority of Rother Valley residents that the Rwanda plan is not only the right thing to do, because it will cut down on illegal immigration and reduce pressure on public services, but will ultimately save lives?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Although Opposition Members yell about the lack of support, I will come back to a number of points. First, doing nothing is not an option. We have to do everything that we possibly can to break up these evil people smugglers, who are unhinged and will stop at nothing to exploit individuals. Secondly, through the new plan for immigration and our wider work through the Nationality and Borders Bill, which is coming back to the House tomorrow, we want to bring our plan together and deliver for the British people.
Assessment & feedback
The question was an attack rather than seeking specific information or commitments.
Attack
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Context
The MP criticized a Home Office official's statement about the Ukrainian refugee application form.
On 31 March, Lord Harrington had to apologise for inadvertently misleading the other place when he said that a drop-down arrow was available on the form for Ukrainian refugees in the Ukrainian language. When he apologised, he said that that was “in train”. Will the Home Secretary 'fess up and confirm that it is Home Office policy not to have a translated version of the form, or if it is, where is Lord Harrington's severely delayed train?
For Home Office officials who work on the scheme, there is guidance about dealing with different languages in the applications, but I am very happy to pick the matter up directly with the hon. Gentleman.
Assessment & feedback
The question was an attack rather than seeking specific information or commitments.
Attack
Response accuracy
Q11 Direct Answer
John Lamont Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Context
The MP welcomed the government's efforts to bring Ukrainians to Scotland through visa grants.
I very much welcome the fact that dozens of visas have already been granted by this United Kingdom Government for Ukrainians to come to the Scottish Borders in my constituency. Will the Home Secretary work with me to iron out the last remaining issues for some of my constituents with processing the applications, to ensure that more Ukrainians can come to the Scottish Borders?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Work is under way to ensure that we can bring more Ukrainian nationals through our two routes to Scotland. I am very happy to meet him and the Minister to discuss the matter further.
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Q12 Direct Answer
Mary Foy Lab
City of Durham
Context
The MP's constituent is trying to sponsor a Ukrainian refugee and her daughter.
Today, my constituent Graham Hughes is doing his latest humanitarian run to Poland. He hopes to return with a Ukrainian refugee and her 11-year-old daughter, who recently managed to escape the horrors of Mariupol shortly before the evacuation routes closed but are now waiting anxiously in Lviv. Despite Graham and his partner having applied to sponsor them nearly a month ago, they have yet to be granted passage to the UK. Graham and Katherine are ready to bring these people to safety in Durham. Will the Home Secretary do everything possible to expedite that?
Through the hon. Lady, I would like to pass on our thanks to her constituent who is now travelling to Poland. I will need the details, if I may take them from her, to ensure that the visa side and the sponsorship side match up, and then we can pick this up.
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Q13 Partial Answer
Context
The MP praised Nottinghamshire police's recruitment efforts.
Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating Nottinghamshire police on hitting their recruitment uplift target a year ahead of schedule, so we now have more police officers in Nottinghamshire than at any time in the past 10 years? Can she commit to a date when the long-promised police funding formula review will start?
I commend Nottinghamshire police and their outstanding chief constable for all the work that the team have been doing. They have been really focusing on driving down crime through recruitment and the training of new officers. My hon. Friend rightly asks about the police funding formula, which is under way through the Minister for Crime and Policing. It is deeply complicated, as my hon. Friend will be well aware, but we are happy to report back on it.
Assessment & feedback
The questioner sought a specific commitment or timeline for starting the police funding formula review, which was not provided.
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Stephanie Peacock Lab
Barnsley South
Context
The MP's constituent is experiencing significant delays in passport processing.
One mother from Barnsley submitted her daughter's passport application in January, five months in advance of their holiday next week, but she is yet to receive it. My office has had to wait two hours to speak to someone at the Home Office today. What is the Home Secretary doing to address the unacceptable delays in passport applications?
The hon. Lady will have heard the comments from the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Torbay (Kevin Foster), about work at the Passport Office. The hon. Lady said that her constituent submitted her passport application in January. If we can have the details, we will pick the case up, but that is a very unusual delay—there must be a problem.
Assessment & feedback
The questioner sought specific action or commitments on addressing delays, which were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Lee Anderson Reform
Ashfield
Context
The Rwanda plan, a policy to relocate asylum seekers from the United Kingdom to Rwanda, has received support for its impact on reducing illegal crossings in the English Channel.
Now then: the world-class Rwanda plan has been welcomed by anybody who actually lives in the real world, because it saves lives in the channel. Unfortunately, that lot opposite do not live in the real world. Does the Home Secretary agree that the Labour party now has a chance to either back the plan or back the criminals?
My hon. Friend, as ever, is very clear. It is world-class and a world first, and we are proud of it. It is a partnership that our partners in Rwanda are proud of as well; they have an exceptional history of resettlement of refugees. My hon. Friend is absolutely right; the British people want change—they absolutely do. We say to everyone today, “Back the plan, but also back the Nationality and Borders Bill.”
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about Labour Party support was not directly answered.
The British People Want Change
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Judith Cummins Lab
Bradford South
Context
There is a concern about the lack of licensing provisions to protect young people from serious sexual assaults and spiking at outdoor music festivals.
I am extremely concerned about the safeguarding of our young people at outdoor music festivals, which attract more than 7.1 million people, many of whom are under 18. There is currently more licensing provision for the recycling of a plastic cup than for our young people, who have suffered serious sexual assault, including rape, by spiking. Will the Minister work with me and others to create a gold standard of licensing for these events in order to protect our young people?
I am very happy to work with the hon. Lady—we have already spoken about the issue, and I am grateful for her interest in it. As the country gets back to festivals this summer, we all want young women and girls—and all young people—to enjoy themselves safely, so I will work with the hon. Lady across Government to take forward the asks that she has presented to us.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about creating a gold standard of licensing was not directly addressed.
We Want Young People To Enjoy Themselves Safely
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Q17 Partial Answer
Context
There have been reports of large-scale and dangerous hare coursing incidents in the constituency, with heavily armed individuals livestreaming these activities to China.
I have been alarmed to hear of large-scale and dangerous hare coursing in my constituency. Heavily armed people are coming on to farmers' land and then livestreaming the chases to China, where they are the subject of heavy betting. Will my right hon. Friend support Thames Valley police in their efforts to tackle this appalling offence, and reassure farmers in Buckinghamshire that rural crime will always be taken seriously by this Government?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue. He knows of the strength of feeling about it among Front Benchers and others on our side of the House, which is why we have the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill—we are urging all Members to back it. I commend Thames Valley police in particular for all that they are doing on this.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about supporting Thames Valley Police was not directly answered.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing And Courts Bill
Response accuracy