Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 15 April 2024 · 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 1 Partly answered 9 Not answered 0

Key points

  • John Whittingdale (Conservative) inquired about closing over 100 asylum-seeker hotels and praised the stolen vehicle intelligence unit for recovering 14 million in vehicles.
  • The Home Secretary confirmed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is sanctioned and stated the UK keeps its response to Iran under constant review.
  • Yvette Cooper (Labour) requested a review of the government's stance on state-sponsored threats like the IRGC, to which the Minister expressed support for existing security measures.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Whittingdale Con Maldon
Asylum & Refugees Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP notes the closure of over 50 asylum-seeker hotels by January 2024, which is more than the original commitment. He highlights a rise in vehicle thefts despite overall crime being down.

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities and close over 100 asylum-seeker hotels by January 2024, and welcome efforts to establish a stolen vehicle intelligence unit that has so far recovered £14 million-worth of vehicles?

Answer from James Cleverly

My right hon. Friend is right to highlight the fantastic work of Roger Hirst and the stolen vehicle intelligence unit. A number of large-scale seizures have been made against attempted vehicle exports. The Government have reduced vehicle-related crime by 39% since 2010, and we seek to go further through the Criminal Justice Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for additional support for Roger Hirst was not addressed directly

How: He Highlighted Previous Efforts But Did Not Commit To New Ones

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Q2 John Whittingdale Con Maldon
Justice & Courts Foreign Affairs
Context

The Hillsborough tragedy was 35 years ago to the hour. There have been recent Iran-related security threats in London, including an attack on a journalist.

Question

We remember the 97 who were lost at Hillsborough and support the families' campaign for a Hillsborough law. Does the Home Secretary believe it is now time to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in light of recent Iran-related security threats?

Answer from James Cleverly

The right hon. Lady will know that we keep our response to Iran under constant review, and of course we have done so in the light of the attack in Wimbledon. We do not speculate about future designations or sanctions, but she will know that the IRGC is sanctioned in its entirety and a number of its members are sanctioned as individuals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for proscription was not directly addressed; instead it was stated that they do not speculate about future designations or sanctions

How: We Keep Under Constant Review But Do Not Speculate

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Q3 Yvette Cooper Lab Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Defence
Context

The Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati was attacked in London following repeated security threats related to Iran. Labour has proposed new security legislation for proscription-style restrictions on state-linked organisations.

Question

Does the Minister believe it is time to review his previous resistance and work with us on any necessary legislation to address state-sponsored threats like those from the IRGC?

Answer from James Cleverly

We have the National Security Act 2023 and a range of tools at our disposal. Defence against state threats is one of the Department's priorities, and my right hon. Friend the Security Minister leads on its practical implementation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for review and collaboration was not addressed; instead general tools were mentioned

How: Defence Against State Threats Is A Priority But No Commitment To Review Previous Stance

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Q4 Yvette Cooper Lab Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Employment Transport
Context

Several Conservative police and crime commissioners have proposed including the filling of potholes in community payback initiatives for offenders.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend support this excellent idea and apply pressure on the Ministry of Justice to get it up and running as soon as possible?

Answer from Chris Philp

My hon. Friend raises an excellent idea that has my enthusiastic support.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q5 Philip Hollobone Con
Migrants & Borders Care & Healthcare Workers
Context

The former chief inspector of borders and immigration reported that a company used forged documents to obtain 275 certificates of sponsorship, putting vulnerable workers at risk.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to make the system more robust and protect vulnerable people who come here to work in our care system?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

We responded within the eight-week deadline to that ICIBI report and accepted the recommendations made to us. We are working through them, but work was already in train, particularly in collaboration with the Care Quality Commission.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for steps to protect vulnerable people was not fully addressed; instead progress on ICIBI recommendations is noted

How: We Are Working Through The Recommendations But No Specific New Measures Announced

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Q6 Pauline Latham Con
Justice & Courts Safeguarding & DBS
Context

Outdated laws allow child sexual predators to enter or leave the country with illegal material on their devices. Border Force lacks the power to access these devices.

Question

My constituents are concerned that outdated laws are allowing child sexual predators and offenders to enter or leave our country while in possession of illegal material on their digital devices because Border Force does not have the power to access them. Will my right hon. Friend work with his colleagues in the Ministry of Justice to consider the merits of a new offence of wilful obstruction, under which an individual could be prosecuted if they fail to unlock their devices to allow them to be properly searched?

Answer from Laura Farris

I thank my hon. Friend for her work in this area. The issues that she raises are of direct importance to intelligence gathering and child protection. My officials have been working closely with Border Force to ensure that its powers keep pace with the digital age. When the next legislative opportunity arises, if not before, we will carefully consider giving Border Force powers to compel individuals to submit to searches of their devices, if they are suspected of holding child sexual abuse material.

Partly answered

How: Under Review

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Q7 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

The murder of Gracie Spinks in Chesterfield highlighted inconsistencies in how stalking and violence against women are handled by police.

Question

The murder of Gracie Spinks sent shockwaves through the town, and the report on Derbyshire police's handling of this situation was salutary. There is still far too much inconsistency in how stalking and violence against women are handled, so will the Home Secretary back Labour's plan to bring in mandatory national standards, and mandatory training on tackling violence against women, so that we see consistency in policing on stalking right across the country?

Answer from James Cleverly

I reassure the hon. Gentleman and the House that, under my leadership, the Home Office and policing across the UK will maintain its focus on preventing violence against women and girls. We have a roll-out of police guidance and training when it comes to women and girls. I will listen carefully to the proposals he has put forward, because we want to make sure that women and girls feel safe in this country.

Partly answered

How: Will Listen

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Q8 Lisa Cameron SNP
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Government supports high animal welfare standards, and constituents want updates on alternatives to animal testing.

Question

This Government champion fantastic animal welfare standards. My constituents would like to see alternatives to animal testing wherever possible, and would be keen to hear a vital update from the Department.

Answer from Thomas Tugendhat

Given that interest is about to switch in this House to a different matter, I will be brief. I promise to write to my hon. Friend on this, but she should know that this Government have already doubled spending on finding alternatives to animal testing. We will continue to make sure that the inspection regime is as strict as possible, to make sure that when animals need to be used, the conditions are as humane as possible.

Partly answered

How: Promise To Write

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Q9 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Hundreds of millions of pounds are being sent to Rwanda under the asylum deal, raising concerns about transparency.

Question

Will the Home Secretary tell us what level of auditing there will be of the hundreds of millions of pounds being sent to Rwanda? In particular, will he guarantee that no UK taxpayers' cash will, either directly or indirectly, be used to fund the M23 militia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Answer from James Cleverly

All our overseas expenditure, whether it is through official development assistance or through contractual relationships, such as the ones with Rwanda, is always robustly policed to ensure that it is spent exclusively on the issues that it is designed to address. We have a strong, good working relationship with the Government of Rwanda, who are absolutely committed to being the exporter of solutions to global problems, rather than the exporter of problems.

Partly answered

How: Robustly Policed

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Q10 Andrew Rosindell Reform Romford
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Crime rates are rising in Romford and there is frustration with the police service provided by the Mayor of London.

Question

The people of Romford are angry that they are not getting the police cover from the Mayor of London that we pay for. We are seeing a crime wave across Romford, including in Gidea Park, and we have seen a stabbing in the town centre. We have had enough. Will the Minister please ensure reform, so that Essex towns such as Romford get the service that Roger Hirst gives to the people of the historic county?

Answer from Chris Philp

My hon. Friend is quite right to draw attention to the contrast between the excellent work done by Roger Hirst in Essex and the appalling job being done by Sadiq Khan in London. Sadiq Khan is the only one of the 43 police and crime commissioners to have missed his recruitment target and, tragically, police officer numbers are falling in London, in contrast to the rest of the country. Londoners will have a chance to cast their vote on 2 May, and I hope that they kick him out.

How: Contrast With Other Areas

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Q11 James Murray Labour (Co-op) Ealing North
Immigration
Context

A British citizen's parents in Gaza had their visas expire and cannot apply for new ones due to lack of functioning visa application centres.

Question

My constituent Maysara is a British citizen, and his parents live in Gaza. His parents successfully applied for visas to visit him in the autumn last year, but they were unable to travel after 7 October, and their visas expired. I contacted the Home Office on Maysara's behalf to ask if those visas could be extended, but I was told that his parents would have to make new applications. However, there are no functioning visa application centres in Gaza, so will the Minister explain what exactly my constituent's parents should do?

Answer from James Cleverly

I am more than happy to look at the details of the case. The hon. Gentleman has to understand that the circumstances on the ground changed dramatically after Hamas' brutal mass murder rampage on 7 October, and our security posture in the region has had to be enhanced. I am not making any implications about his constituent's family, but he and the House will understand that we must be careful in everything we do when it comes to accepting people who are leaving Gaza in these circumstances.

Partly answered

How: Security Posture

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