Topical Questions 2026-03-23

2026-03-23

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Mary Foy Lab
City of Durham
Context
Four Jewish community ambulances were set on fire in Golders Green, London, last night. The Metropolitan police are treating this as an antisemitic hate crime.
Why has the government's programme failed to recognise the impact on organisations across Bristol South?
The Government will absolutely engage fully and constructively with the debate that she mentions.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide details about funding or specific actions to address antisemitic hate crimes beyond stating full support for the debate.
Under Review Engaging Constructively
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Mary Foy Lab
City of Durham
Context
The Maya's law campaign seeks to improve child protection laws in the UK. The hon. Member for Blaydon and Consett has secured a debate on this topic.
Does the Minister agree that it is unforgiveable for someone who is supposed to look after a child to hurt them instead?
The Government will absolutely engage fully and constructively with the debate that she mentions.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specifics on how the government would address unforgivable cases of child abuse beyond stating full support for the debate.
Under Review Engaging Constructively
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Chris Philp Con
Croydon South
Context
The Jewish community in Golders Green feels under attack following an incident where four Hatzola ambulances were set on fire. The hon. Member visited the scene and met with members of the Jewish community.
What more can the Home Secretary say about the Government's plans to protect the Jewish community?
This Government take the rise in antisemitism very seriously. We have a whole-of-Government response, including social cohesion action plan measures to tackle hate crime.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific plans or commitments on deporting non-British citizens who are antisemites or extremists and did not address calls for jihad explicitly beyond stating zero tolerance of antisemitism.
Under Review Working With Partners
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Chris Philp Con
Croydon South
Context
Reports suggest the Home Secretary is under pressure from the former Deputy Prime Minister on her indefinite leave to remain policy.
Who is running the Government's immigration policy now?
The assertion he just made is absolute rubbish. The Government have already said that we will consult on changes and bring forward proposals in due course.
Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm who runs the immigration policy or address the question of consultation process directly.
Assertion Is Rubbish Will Consult
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Peter Swallow Lab
Bracknell
Context
The hon. Member visited Estonia to learn about early-years education where even nursery-aged children are taught to spot fake news.
What conversations has the Minister had with colleagues across Government about a whole-of-society approach to misinformation?
The defending democracy taskforce is addressing these threats through a whole-of-society approach and we are working closely with partners to hold platforms accountable for harmful content.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on conversations or timelines for implementing the Online Safety Act 2023.
Under Review Working Constructively
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Max Wilkinson Lib Dem
Cheltenham
Context
An agreement to fund French police activities to prevent small boats from leaving the French coast is about to run out, risking a resurgence in asylum seekers crossing.
Will she go to Cabinet colleagues and advise them that it would be easier to fix the asylum system if we had a much closer relationship with Europe?
We are having conversations with France at the moment, and I do not think he would expect me to negotiate from the Dispatch Box.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a commitment or timeline for reintegration with EU or speed up efforts in dealing with asylum system issues.
Negotiating Cannot Happen From Dispatch Box Under Review
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Ian Lavery Lab
Blyth and Ashington
Context
Northumbria police closed the Bedlington custody suite, forcing arrests in southeast Northumberland to be moved to Newcastle. This impacts frontline policing in Blyth and Ashington.
Northumbria police have announced that they had to close the custody suite in Bedlington in my constituency. That means that anybody arrested in south-east Northumberland will have to travel to the city of Newcastle for a custody suite. That will ultimately reduce frontline policing in the already stretched community of Blyth and Ashington. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this unacceptable situation?
Without wanting to step in on the operational independence of my hon. Friend's local police force, I am very happy to have a meeting with him to talk about this issue.
Assessment & feedback
Without Wanting To Step In On The Operational Independence
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Peter Fortune Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
Context
Sadiq Khan pledged not to close Bromley's 24-hour police counter during the recent London elections, but it has now been closed. This affects safety in Bromley.
During the recent London elections, Sadiq Khan made a manifesto pledge not to close Bromley's 24-hour police counter, so Bromley's 24-hour police counter is obviously now closed. Does the Minister think that the closure of this vital service is good for my constituents or the safety of the community?
I think Boris Johnson closed a lot more front counters than Sadiq Khan has, but that is a different issue. We are putting more funding into frontline policing.
Assessment & feedback
Boris Johnson Closed A Lot More Front Counters
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Michelle Welsh Lab
Sherwood Forest
Context
Persistent antisocial behaviour, including a recent racist attack on a shop owner, has impacted community safety and confidence in Hucknall.
What urgent steps is the Minister taking to tackle antisocial behaviour in town centres such as Hucknall's? We have had persistent disorder there, including a recent racist attack on a shop owner. This is impacting on community safety and confidence, and residents expect a visible police presence.
As well as increasing the number of police officers on our streets and in our neighbourhoods, we are introducing respect orders to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Assessment & feedback
Increasing The Number Of Police Officers
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Richard Foord Lib Dem
Honiton and Sidmouth
Context
Residents want visible community policing, and a new town called Marlcombe is being built in east Devon.
Residents in Devon want visible community policing. The new towns taskforce recommended a new settlement called Marlcombe in east Devon. When new towns are built, how are additional police officers allocated to the area?
We are ensuring that each police force has the additional funding that it needs, and we are rolling out our target of 13,000 additional police officers.
Assessment & feedback
Additional Funding Rolling Out
Response accuracy
Q11 Direct Answer
Tony Vaughan Lab
Folkestone and Hythe
Context
Welcomes the Home Secretary's commitment to community sponsorship of refugees, including examples in his constituency.
I welcome the Home Secretary's commitment to community sponsorship of refugees who come here under proposed new safe and legal routes; we have several good examples of that in my constituency. What steps is she taking, in line with the recent asylum policy statement, to allow more communities like mine to sponsor refugees and support the Government's safe and legal routes programme?
My hon. and learned Friend knows that we have announced three specific types of safe and legal route for students and workers, as well as a community sponsorship scheme.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Gregory Stafford Con
Farnham and Bordon
Context
Ongoing national security concerns, including risk of foreign interference in elections.
Given the ongoing national security concerns, including the risk of foreign interference in elections, will the Home Secretary set out what her Department is doing to ensure that individuals convicted of terrorism offences are prevented from standing for elected office in the UK?
As the hon. Gentleman knows, these are matters that we take very seriously and are addressing through the work of the defending democracy taskforce.
Assessment & feedback
Very Seriously
Response accuracy
Q13 Partial Answer
Kirith Entwistle Lab
Bolton North East
Context
Supporting a constituent who was locked out of her home, left with arrears and denied access to bank account after leaving abuser.
I am currently supporting a constituent who, after leaving her abuser, was locked out of her home, left with thousands of pounds of arrears that had been run up in her name, and denied access to her own bank account. Does the Minister agree that post-separation abuse is too often overlooked and still not recognised widely enough? What steps is she taking to better protect victims?
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. The violence against women and girls strategy will focus on the specific issue of ensuring that services such as the police get it right about post-separation coercive and controlling behaviour.
Assessment & feedback
Strategy Will Focus
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Sarah Dyke Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
Context
Criminal gangs are targeting isolated farmland and woodland, dumping lorry loads of illegal waste.
Criminal gangs are targeting isolated farmland and woodland, dumping lorry loads of illegal waste, which poses serious environmental risks. The Environment Agency reports that offenders are saving thousands of pounds in disposal costs while landowners face the financial responsibility of clearing the site. Will the Minister support the National Crime Agency in preventing and effectively prosecuting serious and organised rural waste crime?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right. Rural waste crime is completely unacceptable; it is often driven by larger, serious organised criminal gangs, and we are determined to bear down on it.
Assessment & feedback
Completely Unacceptable
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Graham Stringer Lab
Blackley and Middleton South
Context
The Macdonald inquiry was set up to investigate hate crime and public order, originally promised for February but now delayed until May.
The Home Secretary has been commendably robust in her response to antisemitism and attacks on Jewish institutions. After the Heaton Park synagogue attack, the Macdonald inquiry was set up to look into hate crime and public order. However, it is now reported that this inquiry will not report until May, when it was promised for February. Can the Home Secretary speed it up?
It is an independent review and Lord Macdonald has requested a short extension to deal with matters comprehensively. The independent review needs time but will be brought forward very soon.
Assessment & feedback
specific timeline for the report was not provided, only that it would 'be brought forward very soon'
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
John Lamont Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Context
Reports claim Police Scotland has written off 25,000 crimes without investigation.
Under the SNP, Police Scotland has allegedly written off 25,000 crimes without investigation. Does the Minister agree this is a surrender to criminals and shows life in Scotland is a soft touch for criminals?
I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that England and Wales policing will get support to bear down on criminals.
Assessment & feedback
question about Police Scotland's practices in Scotland was not addressed, instead focusing on England and Wales
Response accuracy
Q17 Partial Answer
Janet Daby Lab
Lewisham East
Context
The questioner regularly meets lead stakeholders who work to keep children safe and reduce knife crime.
I regularly meet lead stakeholders in my constituency who work passionately to keep children safe and reduce knife crime. What work are the Government doing with grassroots organisations to support them in their prevention efforts?
This Government fund violence reduction units and police and crime commissioners ensure funding for local interventions. Community leaders are the bedrock, and we must support them as much as we can.
Assessment & feedback
specific details on government work with grassroots organisations were not provided
Response accuracy
Q18 Partial Answer
Sarah Pochin Reform
Runcorn and Helsby
Context
The Home Secretary was unable to stand and pray alongside the Mayor of London at an event.
Is the Home Secretary comfortable with the reality that she could not stand and pray alongside the Mayor of London at last week's event in Trafalgar Square?
I am, and will always be, a very proud British Muslim.
Assessment & feedback
question about praying was not answered directly; instead expressed personal stance
Response accuracy
Q19 Partial Answer
Jonathan Hinder Lab
Pendle and Clitheroe
Context
Northumbria police successfully policed a Newcastle-Sunderland match but officers are taken from normal day jobs.
I commend Northumbria police for overseeing a huge and safe policing operation at the Newcastle-Sunderland match. However, given that those officers are taken from normal day jobs, does the Minister agree it is time to think about the Premier League contributing more than 20% to these costs?
Yes, and we are looking at that issue as we speak, making sure we strike the right balance. The cost of policing from football matches is not covered currently.
Assessment & feedback
specific commitment on Premier League contributions was not made
Response accuracy
Q20 Partial Answer
John Cooper Con
Dumfries and Galloway
Context
The Home Secretary denies that small boat returns are related to the European Convention on Human Rights.
Small boat returns run at around 6% of total numbers arriving. If not due to ECHR, which part of the Government's flawed policy is responsible for this low rate?
Under this Government, removals have now reached 60,000. The routes by which people come generally depend on country and likelihood of claim acceptance.
Assessment & feedback
specific cause for low small boat returns was not identified
Response accuracy
Q21 Partial Answer
Rachael Maskell Lab Co-op
York Central
Context
A constituent was exploited in county lines, served time and is now facing deportation.
My constituent came to the country at 13 months old. As a teenager, she was taken into care, groomed and exploited in county lines, and is now serving time in prison. Why are this Government deporting her when she has only known this country?
The Secretary of State must remove anybody with a sentence over one year. Nevertheless, I will look at the case closely if sent details.
Assessment & feedback
specific reason for deportation was not provided; only mentioned legal requirement
Response accuracy
Q22 Partial Answer
Steve Barclay Con
North East Cambridgeshire
Context
The Government are making top-up payments to asylum support enablement cards but refused to answer written parliamentary questions regarding the number of payments and amount spent.
The Government are making top-up payments to asylum support enablement cards, but have refused to answer my written parliamentary questions about how many payments have been made and how much is being spent. Can the Home Secretary say why she is covering up this information?
I answer a lot of questions from colleagues daily and seek to give full available information. Cost and person time are factors in what we can release.
Assessment & feedback
specific reason for not disclosing payments was not given; only mentioned cost and time as considerations
Response accuracy
Q23 Partial Answer
Pete Wishart SNP
Perth and Kinross-shire
Context
The Home Secretary has announced new restrictive asylum policies which have been contentious.
In the past few weeks, the Home Secretary has announced a swathe of new restrictive asylum and immigration policies. When will we have a vote on them?
The hon. Gentleman secured a good debate last week. There will be primary legislation if needed, secondary legislation when required, and policy matters addressed accordingly.
Assessment & feedback
specific timeline for voting was not provided; only mentioned debates and legislative processes
Response accuracy