Topical Questions 2020-06-08

2020-06-08

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Natalie Elphicke Woking Conservative
Context
UK's stance on the proposed national security law in Hong Kong.
Does the Home Secretary agree that it is humanitarian as well as the right thing to do to tackle and put a stop to ruthless criminal gangs, to return boats to France and to give her legal powers that she needs to stop small boat crossings once and for all?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. She will know from the discussions we had as recently as Friday the extent of the criminality, exposure and abuse undertaken by people traffickers, who are forcing mothers and children onto unseaworthy vessels, and the horrendous circumstances that they are put in. My hon. Friend the Immigration Minister earlier outlined the approach the Government are taking to tackle these abuses, and to go after the criminals and the facilitators of this crime. We will not stop pursuing this policy until we absolutely break the pathway that these criminal gangs are using.
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Q2 Direct Answer
Steve McCabe Birmingham Selly Oak Labour
Context
Protests involving violent behaviour towards emergency workers.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the right to protest is a fundamental part of our democracy, but that it does not extend to physically assaulting our heroic police officers? Can she confirm that those perpetrators who assaulted police officers and engaged in public disorder over the last few days will feel the full force of the law?
My hon. Friend is absolutely correct. We strongly support the right to protest peacefully, but that does not extend to the violent behaviour we have witnessed across the country throughout the weekend. Any assault on our brave police is completely unacceptable. Any perpetrator should be in absolutely no doubt that they will be arrested and prosecuted. Assaults on emergency workers must be handled with the appropriate severity by the entire criminal justice system in a consistent way, and this Government will go even further, as we have committed to consult shortly on doubling the minimum sentence for those who assault emergency workers, to ensure that the sentence truly fits the crime.
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Q3 Direct Answer
Chi Onwurah Newcastle upon Tyne Central Labour
Context
Eligibility of looked-after children for EU settled status.
The Government need a refresher course in their own policies: the Prime Minister does not know what “no recourse to public funds” means and the Equalities Minister and apparently the Home Secretary think it means that lots of help and support are available. In Newcastle today, “no recourse to public funds” means a mother unable to buy food or nappies for her baby, a British citizen, in the middle of a pandemic with no public help available. Does the Home Secretary know that? Does she care?
The hon. Lady is completely wrong in her categorisation. First, public health measures are available right now, in addition to the fact that this is a public health emergency, so it is wrong to assert that in the way she has done. Also, I have outlined the funds. Working across Government, with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, vital funds and resources have been provided to local authorities to provide support to people who need that extra support. That is something the Government are committed to.
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Q4 Direct Answer
Priti Patel Con
Witham
Context
The Home Secretary has committed to returning to the House with recommendations from the Windrush Lessons Learned Review.
From a statement made earlier this year, you will be aware that I am looking at all the recommendations in the Windrush lessons learned review and have committed to returning to the House to outline those recommendations and their implementation. It is important for me to say categorically again, on the record, that the review was distressing and many strands in terms of institutional thoughtlessness were applied to the Home Office.
I thank my hon. Friend for her question and for raising a distressing and horrendous case. Too many young lives have been lost to knife crime, which is why we continue with our plans and determination to recruit 20,000 police officers—the Policing Minister has already outlined a way that is working and the funds allocated.
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Q5 Direct Answer
Luke Evans Con
Worcestershire
Context
The Member of Parliament for Bosworth raised a distressing case involving knife crime.
Just a couple of weeks after I gained the nomination to stand for election as the Member of Parliament for Bosworth, a young man was stabbed to death at the end of my road in Hinckley. What has the Home Secretary's Department been doing to rid us of the horrible scourge of knife crime both before and during the covid-19 outbreak?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for raising a distressing and horrendous case. Too many young lives have been lost to knife crime, which is why we continue with our plans and determination to recruit 20,000 police officers—the Policing Minister has already outlined a way that is working and the funds allocated. Importantly, it is right that we have legislated to take more knives off our streets and that our serious violence Bill will place a new duty on public agencies to reduce serious violence.
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Q6 Direct Answer
Barry Sheerman Lab
Huddersfield
Context
The Member of Parliament for Huddersfield highlighted the need for long-term funding for violence reduction units.
I only wish I could be with you, Mr Speaker, to ask this question to the Home Secretary. She will know that drugs and drug running are at the heart of so much violence when it occurs in our constituencies. There is some good money that she is responsible for—the violence reduction units—and which is very welcome because it enables police forces to have those extra resources, but it is on a yearly basis.
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and also for highlighting some of the most shocking aspects of serious violence. He mentions the violence reduction units, which play a phenomenal role in reducing violent crime at a local level. He also touched on drugs, and particularly county line drugs.
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Q7 Direct Answer
Jonathan Gullis Lab
Stoke-on-Trent North
Context
The Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent North highlighted the issue of illegal use of off-road bikes in local nature reserves and parks.
In Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, residents report the illegal use of off-road bikes around natural beauty spots, such as Ford Green nature reserve, the football pitches of Kidsgrove Ladsandads and Birchenwood country park. Will my right hon. Friend join me and local councillor Dave Evans in encouraging my local police and crime commissioner, Matthew Ellis, to work with the chief constable to start taking tougher action on the illegal use of vehicles, and to confiscate those vehicles when the law has repeatedly been broken?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Of course, the rule of law applies to everybody. I particularly commend the work he has led, with his local council colleagues, on working with the chief constable to urge the police and crime commissioner to tackle this scourge.
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Q8 Direct Answer
Tracey Crouch Lab
Chatham and Aylesford
Context
The Member of Parliament for Chatham and Aylesford raised concerns about the clarity of travel quarantine policies affecting insurance claims.
While many people completely understood the impact of the strict global lockdown on their personal travel plans, things are beginning to change at destinations across the world. Many of our constituents are due to travel in the next few weeks but now face potential financial loss because of the lack of clarity over whether the quarantine policies are a refundable reason for cancellation under their insurance policies.
My hon. Friend will be well aware of my comments last week about travel corridors, and specifically international travel corridors. I have been working across Government, with Transport but also the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
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Q9 Direct Answer
Pauline Latham Con
Stoke-on-Trent South
Context
The Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent South highlighted a decline in the use of domestic abuse helplines due to language barriers.
Some charities are reporting a decline in the use of domestic abuse helplines during this lockdown, as people are entrapped with their abusers. This is a particular problem for those victims facing language barriers, where English is not their first language.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight that. A great deal of work has taken place with specialist domestic abuse organisations, particularly those that offer bilingual services.
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Q10 Direct Answer
Stephen Flynn Lab
Aberdeen South
Context
Discussion about the removal of statues depicting individuals associated with slavery.
We learn our history through schools and museums, and erect statues for those we admire. Does the Secretary of State agree that statues honouring white men who enslaved and killed black people can be removed if there is a democratic desire to do so?
We live in an open democracy where processes must be maintained for people to voice their opinions democratically, without resorting to violence or breaking the law.
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Q11 Direct Answer
Lee Rowley Con
North East Derbyshire
Context
Concerns expressed by constituents regarding violent methods used in pursuit of political goals.
Following the previous question, does my right hon. Friend agree with local residents that violence is never an acceptable method to achieve political objectives?
We are in a democratic country with values entrenched in our constitution and rule-based system; there is no justification for violence, which can be addressed through local council engagement.
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