Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 10 February 2020 · 9 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 9 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister highlights new immigration routes to attract skilled workers including scientists and researchers.
  • Home Secretary defends Jamaican deportation flight, citing UK Borders Act 2007 requirements.
  • Government commits to addressing online harms and abuse targeting public servants as outlined in the Online Harms White Paper.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Evennett Con Bexhill and Battle
Immigration
Context

Discussion about attracting highly skilled individuals to the UK.

Question

What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to attract highly skilled scientists and engineers to come and work in our country and contribute to our successful future?

Answer from Priti Patel

My right hon. Friend is right to point out that through our points-based system we are introducing new routes to attract the brightest and the best. Our fast-track immigration scheme will facilitate entry to the UK for more people with skills, including scientists, researchers and mathematicians. This is just the first phase of our reforms to send a signal that the UK intends to remain at the forefront of research and innovation.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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Q2 Diane Abbott Lab Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Immigration
Context

Concern about the impending deportation flight, with specific concerns raised by Stephen Shaw's review.

Question

Does the Home Secretary appreciate the widespread concern about the Jamaican deportation flight due tomorrow? Is she aware that Stephen Shaw, in his review of detention, suggested that we should not be deporting people who came here as children, but that many of the proposed deportees came here as children and have no memory of Jamaica? Does she accept that these deportations constitute double jeopardy, because the persons have already served an appropriate sentence for their crime? Is she aware that more than 170 Members of Parliament from all political parties have written to the Prime Minister calling for the deportation flight to be halted?

Answer from Priti Patel

I am sure that the right hon. Lady is aware that under the UK Borders Act 2007 a deportation order must be made in respect of foreign criminals sentenced to 12 months or more in prison. Every person on the flight was convicted of a serious offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. That means that, under the Act, which was introduced by the Labour Government in 2007, a deportation order must be made.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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Q3 Virginia Crosbie Con Inverclyde
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Concern about online abuse directed at MPs, including the questioner herself.

Question

I have received significant online abuse, intimidation and threats. I believe that that kind of abuse on social media, directed at me and others, is simply unacceptable. It puts off people from making a difference in public life. I have received considerable online support from many of my constituents, and for that I should like to show my appreciation. What are the Government doing to protect people who would want to stand for public office?

Answer from Priti Patel

I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting and shining a spotlight on some of the most corrosive and abusive behaviour that people in public office—public servants—witness and experience online. That is simply unacceptable. The Government's Online Harms White Paper makes clear that we will absolutely tackle such corrosive behaviour: we will pull it off the online media, and we will introduce a regulatory regime to ensure that that kind of hatred cannot continue online.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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Q4 Yvette Cooper Lab Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
Crime & Law Enforcement Democracy & Elections
Context

Concern about violent threats directed at the questioner and lack of condemnation by national political parties.

Question

On Friday the deputy chair of the local Conservative association was jailed for nine weeks for menacing communications, including these threats against me: “I am already organising her to be hurt. Amazing what crackheads will do for £100. I'm gonna get her beat up.” The chair of the local association wrote to me today expressing regrets and apologies for what he describes as the grave and unacceptable actions of its member, who has since been expelled. I welcome that letter and that support, but it concerns me that, thus far, no similar condemnation or sense of regret has been expressed by the national party. The national chair's letter to me in response to the issue said nothing stronger than intimidating behaviour has no place in our politics. May I therefore ask the Home Secretary to condemn these threats in the strongest terms, to look into her party's response, and also to show leadership by urging all political parties to come together and draw up a new joint code of conduct against intimidation? Violent threats must have no place in politics in all parties.

Answer from Priti Patel

I thank the right hon. Lady for presenting to the House the horrors of what she has endured, and for making the case, very strongly and robustly, that there is no place for threats and intimidation in society or in public life. Let me say now, on the Floor of the House, that that is categorically unacceptable and wrong. There is no place at all for intimidation in public life. As for the national party's response, the right hon. Lady can take it from me, right now, that I am hugely apologetic for what she has had to put up with. It is simply unacceptable, and that is also something of which we should all be mindful, as representatives of major political parties. None of this should be tolerated.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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Q5 Anthony Browne Con Cambridgeshire
Policing & Resources
Context

The MP mentions that his constituency has one of the fastest-growing populations and highlights a disparity between population growth and police numbers.

Question

My constituency has one of the fastest-growing populations, but police numbers have not kept pace. Can my hon. Friend tell me what the Government are doing to increase police numbers in Cambridgeshire?

Answer from Kit Malthouse (Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service)

We have provided up to £10.6 million more funding, which will allow the police and crime commissioner to recruit another 64 police officers for the county. That is the first instalment of Cambridgeshire's share of the 20,000 police officers.

Answered
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Q6 David Simmonds Con Kingston upon Hull East
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP highlights the importance of Neighbourhood Watch for crime detection and raises concerns over Online Watch Link's continued support by the Mayor of London.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that Neighbourhood Watch is a vital asset to the detection of crime? Will he join me in putting pressure on the Mayor of London to continue to support Online Watch Link—OWL—the online system used by more than 100,000 London Neighbourhood Watch members?

Answer from Kit Malthouse (Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service)

I am more than happy to endorse my hon. Friend's remarks. He has been a champion for his part of London for a long time before coming to this House. He is quite right to have high expectations of the Mayor of London, whose efforts on crime have sadly disappointed during his time as Mayor thus far.

Answered
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Q7 Shabana Mahmood Lab Birmingham, Ladywood
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP raises concerns about increasing violent and drug crimes in the west midlands, citing a recent Home Secretary's admission that some communities have been neglected.

Question

In the west midlands, violent crime is up 27%, the homicide rate is rising and, in Birmingham, drug crime is at a six-year high. Given the rises in violent and drug crime in Birmingham, will she accept that her comments include my city?

Answer from Priti Patel (Home Secretary)

I had the privilege of visiting the west midlands two weeks ago and participating in an early-morning drugs raid. The scourge of serious and violent crime is absolutely one that we have to deal with, and this Government are fully committed to that.

Answered
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Q8 Ruth Edwards Con Clwyd South
Crime & Law Enforcement Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP mentions a recent incident involving masked intruders on a farm in her constituency, raising concerns about the increasing rural crime.

Question

Could my right hon. Friend update the House on what is being done to tackle the intimidation of farmers and rural crime such as fly-tipping and theft?

Answer from Priti Patel (Home Secretary)

I reassure my hon. Friend that we absolutely view rural crime as totally unacceptable. It blights communities and, whether it is fly-tipping or organised crime related to waste crime in particular, she and all other Members who represent rural communities know that it has to be tackled.

Answered
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Q9 Priti Patel Con Withernsea
Democracy & Elections
Context

During the last election, there were numerous threats made against MPs and candidates. The House of Commons sought to ensure that support was provided.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is absolutely vital that we do everything possible to protect all Members of Parliament who are subject to threats, whether during an election or at any other time? We must report such incidents and make sure that the authorities have the appropriate powers to take action?

Answer from The Speaker (Lindsay Hoyle)

I just want to reassure the House that, in fairness to the Home Secretary and me, we took very seriously threats made against MPs and candidates during the last election, so much so that we were constantly in touch to make sure that support was being given. That support will continue to be available to all MPs. Please, if a threat is made to any MP, make sure that you report it. The House and I and the Home Secretary will ensure that your safety comes first. Please do not shy away from reporting any incidents.

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