Topical Questions 2022-01-17
2022-01-17
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Nationality and Borders Bill is being debated in the other place.
If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. The Nationality and Borders Bill was overwhelmingly backed by elected MPs and is now being debated in the other place. Will the Home Secretary assure me that the Home Office is working with other Government Departments and devolved Administrations to protect our democracy from those who want to do it, and our country, harm?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There are important issues about protecting our democracy from our adversaries, individuals and countries that want to do us harm. That is a whole of Government effort.
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Assessment & feedback
Whole Of Government Effort
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Home Secretary previously defended the police for enforcing coronavirus rules but now defends the Prime Minister who admitted breaking them.
I join the tributes to Jack Dromey, who was in our team and should have been with us today. His kindness, principles and determination mean we badly miss him. On 25 January 2021, the Home Secretary commented on a Met police video of officers breaking up an illegal party in London. She said, 'This illegal gathering was an insult to those hospitalised with COVID, our NHS staff and everyone staying at home to protect them...Police are enforcing the rules to save lives.' Why has she now changed her mind? The Home Secretary's job is to uphold the rule of law. Does she realise how damaging it is to public trust and to trust in the police to undermine the rule of law now?
Perhaps the right hon. Lady has forgotten that, in this country, the police and courts are independent of the Government, and I will always respect that principle. Rather than seeking to prejudge, pressure, smear or slander—as it is fair to say that she and perhaps the entire shadow Front Bench and her party clearly are—it is important to let everyone get on and do the required work.
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Assessment & feedback
Smear
Pressure
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Hare coursing caused significant problems in Leicestershire, particularly in Bosworth.
In the run-up to Christmas, hare coursing caused a huge problem across Leicestershire, no more so than in Bosworth. Hare coursing brings with it damage to property and crops, and the intimidation of farmers and residents, so it must stop. The National Farmers Union and local farmers came together with our new rural crime unit in Leicestershire to try to deal with it, but what more can the Government do to ensure that we clamp down on hare coursing in Leicestershire?
Like my hon. Friend, I have seen a rise in that kind of offence in my constituency. As the crops are cut and those animals become more apparent, it obviously becomes more of a problem. In the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, we are introducing a range of offences to deal with that crime which will attract a prison sentence of up to six months.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister admitted breaking the rules while the Home Secretary had previously advised calling the police if one saw a neighbour having a party.
To return to the Home Secretary's answers to my right hon. Friend the shadow Home Secretary, in September 2020, she said that she would “call the police” if she saw her neighbours having a party in their garden. Is she confident that the Chancellor was aware of that advice?
If I may say so to the hon. Lady, I repeat the comments that I made earlier. I appreciate that she may be trying to demonstrate some humour, but the Prime Minister has apologised. At the same time, it is right that the police, who are operationally independent, get on and do their job in the right and proper way, as they have been doing.
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Assessment & feedback
Operational Independence
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Historically, sensitive information has been shared with the Opposition Front Bench but concerns arose over funding received by a Labour MP from a Chinese Communist Party member.
Historically, security-sensitive information has been shared with the Opposition Front Bench, but given last week's revelations that a former Labour Front-Bench spokesman was in receipt of significant funding from a member of the Chinese Communist party, will there be a review of that arrangement?
I am conscious of the statement to follow, but my hon. Friend is right that those are concerning matters. In truth, they are not restricted to a single British politician or a single party. The security briefings that he mentioned continue to play an important role.
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Assessment & feedback
Concerning Matters
Not Restricted
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The Home Secretary previously defended the police for enforcing coronavirus rules but now defends the Prime Minister who admitted breaking them.
I join the tributes to Jack Dromey, who was in our team and should have been with us today. His kindness, principles and determination mean we badly miss him. On 25 January 2021, the Home Secretary commented on a Met police video of officers breaking up an illegal party in London. She said, 'This illegal gathering was an insult to those hospitalised with COVID, our NHS staff and everyone staying at home to protect them...Police are enforcing the rules to save lives.' Why has she now changed her mind? The Home Secretary's job is to uphold the rule of law. Does she realise how damaging it is to public trust and to trust in the police to undermine the rule of law now?
Perhaps the right hon. Lady has forgotten that, in this country, the police and courts are independent of the Government, and I will always respect that principle. Rather than seeking to prejudge, pressure, smear or slander—as it is fair to say that she and perhaps the entire shadow Front Bench and her party clearly are—it is important to let everyone get on and do the required work.
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Assessment & feedback
Smear
Pressure
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The Nationality and Borders Bill is being debated in the other place.
If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. The Nationality and Borders Bill was overwhelmingly backed by elected MPs and is now being debated in the other place. Will the Home Secretary assure me that the Home Office is working with other Government Departments and devolved Administrations to protect our democracy from those who want to do it, and our country, harm?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I will come to my statement shortly, when I will talk about that issue in much more detail. There are important issues about protecting our democracy from our adversaries, individuals and countries that want to do us harm. That is a whole of Government effort.
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Assessment & feedback
Whole Of Government Effort
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Home Office officials indicated some flexibility on visa requirements for Afghan family members of British citizens but did not confirm specific details.
Last week, at a briefing for Members with the Minister for Afghan Resettlement, Home Office officials indicated that while the Department is not introducing a specific family reunion route, there is some flexibility on visa requirements for Afghan family members of British citizens. Will the Minister confirm, as we were told, that there could be flexibility on visa fees, income requirements and demands for lost or destroyed documents?
To be clear, the wider immigration system obviously operates separately from the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme, but we are carefully considering what the requirements are, and not least how we can ensure people can actually access the system to make applications because, as the hon. Gentleman will appreciate, for obvious reasons we cannot run our usual application centre that we would have in Kabul given the Taliban's control of the territory.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm specific details on visa fees, income requirements or demands for lost documents.
Carefully Considering What The Requirements Are
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust identified a growing trend of theft or vandalism of defibrillators in Wales.
Does the Minister agree that theft or vandalism of defibrillators is a deplorable crime, and will he meet me to discuss what steps the police can take to stop antisocial behaviour generally and this terrible crime in particular?
It must be hard for everybody to imagine what kind of twisted mind would think it was a good thing to do to break or steal a defibrillator, and I would be more than happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to examine the problem in his constituency and, indeed, to see if it is a problem elsewhere.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to specific steps against theft/vandalism of defibrillators or antisocial behaviour generally.
Happy To Meet
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
Between 2018 and 2021, there were 3,625 spiking reports across 15 police forces in the UK, but just 44 people were charged.
Perpetrators are being let off, while victims are being let down. Will the Home Secretary give her backing to Labour's amendment for an urgent review into the incidence and reporting of spiking, as well as the adequacy of police investigations and impact on victims?
The hon. Lady raises the very important and, frankly, quite pressing issue of spiking and its impact across the night-time economy and, much more widely, across society. We are looking in much of the work we are doing in policing at how we can review the matter and how we can actually give the support required.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to backing Labour's amendment for an urgent review.
Looking In Much Of The Work
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
The seasonal agricultural workers scheme is being extended, but the visas are valid for only six months.
Given the developments in technology and science in the horticultural sector, the seasons are much longer. Will my hon. Friend give consideration to extending the visas to nine months?
I have to point out to my hon. Friend that extending visas beyond six months comes with issues such as payment of the immigration health surcharge and the requirement to issue a biometric residence permit, where appropriate. There are some quite considerable issues with the request, but I am always happy to talk to him about how we can support the businesses in his constituency.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to extending visas beyond six months.
Issues Such As Payment Of Surcharge
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
In the last few years, we have seen fruit and veg being left to rot in fields.
Why do this Government think it is clever to introduce a further taper making it worse, and does the Minister understand the damage he is doing to agriculture?
It is safe to say that we have not seen the maximum number of visas taken up. The hon. Member may want to have a think about some of the issues that might have affected international travel for seasonal work over the past two years—particularly relating to a global pandemic. Ultimately, our goal is the right goal and I think it is fair. I think what the vast majority of people across the UK believe is that in the first instance we should actually focus on making sure that job offers go to our domestic workforce and that key workers are appropriately rewarded.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address inadequacies or tapering issues directly, shifted focus.
Issues Might Have Affected International Travel
Focus On Making Sure Job Offers Go To Domestic Workforce
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
Following the events in Texas, an update on UK investigation and measures for UK Jewish community security is requested.
Will the Home Secretary provide an update on the UK investigation of the British perpetrator of the attack on the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, and on measures taken to ensure the security of the UK Jewish community?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question; this is a very important matter. Just prior to questions this afternoon, I had a bilateral call with my homeland security counterpart in the US. Let me say a few things. First, we are working with the FBI—in fact, we have been since the incident took place—and there is a great deal of intelligence sharing and work taking place. Of course, when it comes to our domestic homeland, a range of measures are being undertaken right now, including protective security for the Jewish community.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific updates on UK investigation or perpetrator's history with security services.
Working With Fbi
Range Of Measures
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
Child sexual, criminal and online exploitation are increasing in the country.
Can the Home Secretary provide money, vision and leadership for addressing these issues through joined-up working by Government Departments, robust data collection on perpetrators, and a police IT system that is fit for the 21st century?
Let me start by thanking the hon. Lady for her question and for her work in this area. In particular, she has worked a lot with me and my Department on the issue of grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation. A wide range of work across the whole of Government is taking place on this, including local authorities, social services and public health. That work is crucial as well as—I know she knows this and has seen it—the incredible investigatory capability of our National Crime Agency, as well as policing, to go after the perpetrators.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to providing specific resources or IT system updates.
Wide Range Of Work
Investigatory Capability
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
Feras Al Jayoosi was convicted of four counts under the Terrorism Act 2000, including walking around Golders Green with a large rucksack and Palestinian Islamic Jihad t-shirt. Tahra Ahmed was also recently convicted for stirring up racial hatred after a Facebook post claiming Grenfell Tower fire was a 'Jewish sacrifice'. Matthew Offord asks about support and protection for his constituents facing such threats.
My constituents face daily incitement to racial and religious hatred by individuals from outside the area. Can you advise what my constituents can expect in terms of police and security service support?
The Home Secretary confirms that the acts described by the MP are unacceptable and the police are taking action against individuals involved. She states that her department is working to ensure the Jewish community, particularly Matthew Offord's constituents, are fully supported and protected.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify exact measures or timeline for support and protection
Response accuracy
Q16
Direct Answer
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Context
Community concerns about the amount of pump action weapons being held in residential areas in Keyham. Luke Pollard seeks a meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss tightening rules on holding such weapons.
Will you meet me and my community delegation to discuss concerns about how rules on holding pump action weapons in residential areas can be tightened?
The Home Secretary acknowledges Luke Pollard's work on this issue and confirms that she will meet him and others from his community. She highlights the importance of working together to resolve the issue, noting it is a particular concern for the area.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
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Context
British public had £78 million stolen by clone scammers and impersonators posing as legitimate companies online in the previous year. Ruth Edwards requests robust legal measures for identity verification on advertising platforms.
Will you work with DCMS colleagues to set out in law robust identity checks that all online platforms should have before allowing people to take out advertising?
The Secretary of State acknowledges the issue and confirms that fraud is included in scope for the draft Online Safety Bill. He mentions ongoing work with DCMS colleagues regarding issues related to advertising on online platforms.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific legal measures or timeline for robust identity checks on advertising platforms
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
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Context
Communities have asylum seekers ready to work in sectors with shortages such as fruit and veg picking and HGV driving, but these occupations do not appear on the shortage occupation list. Carol Monaghan asks for widening of the list.
When will you widen the shortage occupation list, or are you willing to sacrifice the economy for your hostile immigration environment?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary notes that those with outstanding applications can access jobs on the shortage occupation list, expanding it to include care workers next month. This will benefit 31 out of 32 local authority areas in Scotland under dispersal accommodation.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific request for expanding the shortage occupation list
Response accuracy