Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 22 March 2021 · 11 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 10 Not answered 0

Key points

  • David Davis raised concerns about recent violent scenes in Bristol and other parts of the country, emphasizing the need to protect peaceful protests while handling disruptive actions effectively.
  • The Home Secretary stated that the Government is taking a balanced approach to address violence against women and girls, introducing measures such as stalking protection orders and the Domestic Abuse Bill.
  • Nick Thomas-Symonds questioned the Home Secretary about the urgency of creating specialized rape and serious sexual offence units in every police force, highlighting the current low rate of rape convictions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Crime & Law Enforcement Democracy & Elections
Context

The weekend saw incidents of violence and disorder in Bristol, leading to injuries among police officers. These events highlight the need for clear departmental responsibility.

Question

I am concerned about the recent violent scenes seen in Bristol and other parts of the country where people have put others at risk by breaking the law during a pandemic. I want to ensure that the right to demonstrate peacefully is protected, but also that disruptive actions are handled effectively. Can the Home Secretary give an undertaking before Report stage that these points will be addressed?

Answer from Priti Patel

My right hon. Friend is correct; the right to protest peacefully is a cornerstone of democracy and this Government will always defend it. When necessary, we will introduce police powers to deal with thuggery and criminality while protecting peaceful protests.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific commitments or timelines for legislative measures before Report stage.

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Q2 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

There has been powerful testimony about the levels of violence and abuse faced by women, prompting a need for urgent action to address street harassment and stalking.

Question

Yesterday's violent scenes in Bristol are unacceptable. The Westminster Bridge attack four years ago today also serves as a reminder of police bravery. Women continue to face violence and abuse on our streets. A strategy has been mentioned but the need for action is urgent. Will the Home Secretary work with me to introduce specific legislation against street harassment and tougher sentences for stalking?

Answer from Priti Patel

We are taking a balanced approach, engaging with those affected by violence against women and girls. We have already introduced measures such as stalking protection orders and the Domestic Abuse Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not commit to specific new legislation or units addressing street harassment and stalking.

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Q3 Nick Thomas-Symonds Lab Torfaen
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

More than two years have passed since the Government announced an end-to-end rape review, but there has been no action. Rape convictions are at their lowest rate on record.

Question

The Home Secretary's end-to-end rape review is taking too long to produce results. Convictions for rape are currently at an all-time low. Systemic change and urgent action are needed. Will the Government commit to creating specialised rape and serious sexual offence units in every police force?

Answer from Priti Patel

The end-to-end rape review is taking time for thorough contributions from all involved. We are listening and engaging with those affected, and the review will shape legislation appropriately.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not commit to creating specialised units or providing immediate action on rape convictions.

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Q4 Nick Thomas-Symonds Lab Torfaen
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Democracy & Elections
Context

There were incidents of violence against police during the pandemic, including in Bristol. The Opposition voted against measures to protect police.

Question

The violent scenes seen last weekend put lives at risk and demonstrated the need for stronger protections for peaceful demonstrations while allowing the police necessary powers. Can she give an undertaking that before Report stage, these points will be addressed?

Answer from Priti Patel

The right to protest peacefully is a cornerstone of democracy and we will defend it. We will work with all parties to give the police powers to tackle thuggery and criminality.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific commitments or timelines for measures before Report stage.

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Q5 Jonathan Gullis
Crime & Law Enforcement Employment Local Government
Context

The question arises from the Home Secretary's ties to Stoke-on-Trent and its potential as a second home for the Home Office, promoting local employment and investment.

Question

Mr Speaker, you may not be aware that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is an adopted daughter of Stoke-on-Trent, having formerly lived there while at Keele University. The people of Stoke-on-Trent are proud of their Home Secretary because she backs our police, sides with the victims of crime and speaks for the law-abiding citizens of Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke. Does she agree that there could be no better second home for the Home Office than the city of Stoke-on-Trent, bringing with it well-paid jobs and investment and delivering on our commitment to level up Stoke-on-Trent?

Answer from Priti Patel

My hon. Friend has tapped into my affection for Stoke-on-Trent and done so with great flair. He is right: his constituents are brilliant individuals, and I have been to Stoke-on-Trent many times. We are scoping new locations for a second site for the Home Office, and we are going to go beyond the conventional Government footprint and size. I can confirm that we are looking at long-term plans, and I will share our proposals with my hon. Friend and the House in due course.

Partly answered

How: We Are Scoping New Locations, I Will Share Our Proposals

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Q6 Yvette Cooper Lab Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Immigration
Context

Concerns about the South African variant's high prevalence in France are leading to questions on whether new travel restrictions should be implemented.

Question

I join the Home Secretary and shadow Home Secretary in paying tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who lost his life keeping us safe four years ago, and in sending support to the Avon and Somerset officers injured in the unacceptable violence in Bristol yesterday. Scientists estimate that there are now up to 2,000 new cases of the South African variant a day in France. Can the Home Secretary tell us how many of the 15,000 people arriving in the UK each day are travelling here from France, and does she intend to put France on the red list?

Answer from Priti Patel

The right hon. Lady will know that red-listing countries is a matter for my colleagues in the Department for Transport and the Department of Health and Social Care. She is absolutely right to point to the prevalence of the South African variant in France. That is why we have effective measures in place at the border, with compliance checks and upstream checks for people who are travelling to the United Kingdom, alongside measures to test road hauliers, which, as she will be aware, we have been doing in Kent.

How: A Matter For My Colleagues, Measures At The Border

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Q7 Sheryll Murray Con
Policing & Resources
Context

Discussion around enabling police forces to utilise special constables as a paid reserve akin to military reserves, especially during times of need.

Question

In my own police area, our excellent police and crime commissioner, Alison Hernandez, piloted an allowance for our hard-working special constables who did a set amount of hours over the winter months. Would the Department work with her to enable police forces to use the special constabulary as a paid reserve, in the same way as the Army reserves, to provide additional resource at times of need?

Answer from Priti Patel

My hon. Friend raises what is an excellent point and an important one. If I may, I would like to praise the work of her police and crime commissioner for the work that she is doing around special constables. Currently, we have no plans to set up a formal police reserve. However, my hon. Friend will know we are seeing more and more special constables joining to become full-time police officers. We are working with them. We are also looking at new protections for them. Of course, it is absolutely right that local forces should have the ability to reward volunteers for their valuable contributions. That is something that I fully back.

Partly answered

How: No Plans To Set Up A Formal Police Reserve

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Q8 Sarah Owen Lab Luton North
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

The tragic death of Leon Briggs seven years ago raises concerns about neglect, excessive restraint by police, and potential racial bias within the criminal justice system.

Question

Earlier this month, the inquest into the death of Leon Briggs finally reported. Seven years after his death, it showed that neglect and the way the police restrained Leon “more than minimally” contributed to his death. As well as this, Leon's family have said they 'think race is very much an issue'. What action is being taken so that no family have to face this tragedy again or wait seven years to know how their loved one died, and what is the right hon. Lady's Department doing to tackle racism in the justice system?

Answer from Priti Patel

The hon. Lady raises an incredibly important issue around equality and the fair treatment of individuals in the justice system. There is a great deal of work taking place across both the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, but specifically in relation to policing, this does come back to much of the police training, the work that we do with the college and the work that our forces do as well—not just when they recruit, but how they constantly train individuals. I would like just to say that I am very sorry about the time that it has taken for the Briggs family to receive justice. Seven years is far too long. Clearly, we want to stop such appalling time periods and families being left in limbo for such an unacceptable period of time.

Partly answered

How: A Great Deal Of Work Taking Place

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Q9 Ian Levy
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

A tragic incident involving a young constituent who took her own life due to online abuse highlights the need for immediate action against harmful content on social media platforms.

Question

This is a matter very close to my heart. Last year, 12-year-old Charley Patterson, one of my constituents, tragically took her own life after horrific abuse she received online from her peers. Will my right hon. Friend do all she can to encourage social media companies to take action straightaway to tackle harmful content or activity, and would she please meet me to discuss Charley's case and the campaign that her family have launched surrounding this?

Answer from Priti Patel

I will absolutely meet my hon. Friend to discuss Charley Patterson's case and, if the opportunity arises, meet the family as well. These are tragic cases and I am so saddened and sorry to hear of the case that my hon. Friend has raised. So much more work is required by social media companies. Extensive work is taking place across Government. In fact, I will also speak to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport because we are looking to introduce the online harms Bill and across Government we need to come together to hold these social media companies to account. It is a tragedy. So many of us have constituents and know of constituents who have suffered in the same way as the Patterson family and that is wrong. We need to stop that.

Partly answered

How: I Will Meet My Hon. Friend

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Q10 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Immigration NHS
Context

A Bill is before Parliament aiming to secure the right of foreign-born NHS staff to reside in the UK indefinitely due to their service during the pandemic.

Question

There are reports today of a covid infection control specialist in the NHS potentially facing deportation from the UK. At the moment, I have a Bill before Parliament expressing the desire that those who work on the frontline and have put their lives at risk have the right to remain in this country indefinitely. Can the Home Secretary assure me that this matter will be given some consideration by her Government in the light of the sacrifices that people have made?

Answer from Priti Patel

The hon. Lady is absolutely right, and I thank her for raising the case. I will look at the specific case that she has spoken about, but she is right. There are many measures that we have undertaken to ensure that those from overseas who are on the frontline in the NHS are supported, and we have made various changes to ensure that they can stay, but I will happily look at the case she raises.

Partly answered

How: I Will Look At The Specific Case

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Q11 Jacob Young
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Last year, Cleveland had the highest rate of violent crime victims compared to other areas in the UK. This situation has prompted concerns about local governance and policing.

Question

Last year, a person was more likely to be a victim of violent crime in Cleveland than anywhere else in the country. Does the Home Secretary agree that it is vital that we end Labour's running of Cleveland police and elect a Conservative police and crime commissioner, Steve Turner, on 6 May, and will she visit Teesside to meet our 159 new police officers, who are doing all they can to make our area safe?

Answer from Priti Patel

You bet—absolutely. My hon. Friend will know of the support that we are giving to Cleveland police in particular, which had a particularly difficult time, but I will join him and others campaigning to get absolutely the right outcome in the police and crime commissioner elections.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details about ending Labour's running of Cleveland police or supporting Steve Turner's election were not provided. The Home Secretary did not give a clear commitment regarding her support for these actions.

How: Under Review, Will Join Him And Others Campaigning

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