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1304451

registered interest
date	22/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Drugs: Organised Crime
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps her Department is taking to protect vulnerable children from county lines drugs networks.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Mick Whitley
uin	913715
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2021 answer text <p>Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would like to group this question with question 31.</p><p>We are determined to roll up county lines and protect vulnerable children from this harmful form of exploitation.</p><p>Through our £25m county lines programme we have already seen 3,400 people arrested, more than 550 lines closed and more than 770 vulnerable people safeguarded.</p><p>We have also increased investment in dedicated one-to-one support for county lines victims and their families.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 22/03/2021 16:25:57 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4755 label Biography information for Mick Whitley

1304456

registered interest
date	22/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Drugs: Organised Crime
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps her Department is taking to protect vulnerable children from county lines drugs networks.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Rachel Hopkins
uin	913729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2021 answer text <p>We are determined to roll up county lines and protect vulnerable children from this harmful form of exploitation.</p><p>Through our £25m county lines programme we have already seen 3,400 people arrested, more than 550 lines closed and more than 770 vulnerable people safeguarded.</p><p>We have also increased investment in dedicated one-to-one support for county lines victims and their families.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 22/03/2021 16:27:19 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4873 label Biography information for Rachel Hopkins

1304558

registered interest
date	22/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Drugs: Organised Crime
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to protect vulnerable children from county lines drugs networks in (a) Slough and (b) the South East.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	173141
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2021 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Home Office is currently considering a response to this question and will respond shortly.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government recognises the devastating impact of county lines activity on children and vulnerable people.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We are determined to disrupt these ruthless gangs and put an end to exploitation. In January we announced £40 million of new money to tackle county lines and drugs supply in the financial year 2021/22. This will bring the total invested in tackling this threat to £65 million since November 2019.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Through our £25m county lines programme we have already seen 3,400 people arrested, more than 550 lines closed and more than 770 vulnerable people safeguarded. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We are also investing £105.5m into 18 Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) until March 2022 to tackle the root causes of serious violence via a whole system approach which can include activity to prevent and support victims of county lines.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Thames Valley VRU, backed by £3.48m investment to develop and sustain their VRU in reducing serious violence, are also targeting and supporting victims of county lines. For example, Thames Valley have established an enhanced information sharing network, which shares information on young people that might be at risk of county lines with specialist departments. The VRU can then provide support for those young people by introducing early intervention strategies embedded within the trauma informed approach. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">In addition, we have extended the specialist support available for those affected by county lines exploitation and we continue to fund Missing People’s SafeCall service which provides confidential, specialist advice and support to young people and their families/carers who are affected by county lines exploitation anywhere in England and Wales.</ins></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 30/03/2021 16:46:20 question first ministerially corrected 06/04/2021 10:02:50 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 94512 answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1304653

registered interest
date	22/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Internet: Offences against Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the cross-platform nature of grooming and abuse for children online; and what steps he will take in the forthcoming Bill on online safety to tackle that risk to children.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	Carla Lockhart
uin	173223
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2021 answer text <p>We are working across Government and engaging industry to prevent all forms of online child sexual exploitation and abuse.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is continuing to engage with technology companies around the Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, a framework of principles launched by the Five Country Ministerial partners in March 2020. These are a set of 11 actions tech firms should take to ensure children are not sexually exploited on their platforms. Principle 10 includes how companies should support opportunities to share relevant expertise, helpful practices, data and tools where appropriate and feasible.</p><p> </p><p>The strongest protections from harmful or inappropriate content in the Online Safety Bill are for children and young people. These laws will close the gap between what companies say they do, and what they will actually do. All companies in scope will be required to fulfil the duty of care by ensuring that they take reasonably practicable steps to tackle relevant illegal content, and protect children where they are likely to access their services.This includes bearing down on the threat of livestreaming and taking necessary steps to target grooming and the proliferation of child sexual abuse material.</p><p>We have published the interim code of practice on online child sexual exploitation and abuse, the code will help to ‘bridge the gap’ between Government’s response to the Online Harms White Paper, and the establishment of the independent regulator. This will enable companies to take swift action in tackling the most serious of online harms before the regulator is established.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 30/03/2021 15:58:56 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4857 label Biography information for Carla Lockhart

1304654

registered interest
date	22/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Social Media: Cryptography
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with (a) Facebook, (b) Google and (c) other social media companies on the introduction of end-to-end encryption within their platforms; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of that encryption on child abuse online.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	Carla Lockhart
uin	173224
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2021 answer text <p>Ministers and officials have regular contact with technology companies, including Facebook and Google, about the safety of their platforms.</p><p>The UK supports strong encryption, but we are clear that the implementation of end-to-end encryption which wholly precludes tech companies’ access to content will have a disastrous impact on public safety.</p><p>As well as preventing law enforcement from securing lawfully authorised access to vital content as part of their investigations, it severely erodes tech companies’ ability to tackle the most serious illegal content on their platforms, including online child sexual exploitation and abuse.</p><p>All communication service providers must ensure that there will be no reduction to public safety when they implement new technology or other design choices.</p><p>Facebook’s proposals are of particular concern due to the risk profile of the platform. In 2020 Facebook provided 20.3 million child sexual abuse referrals to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC, the US body which processes industry reports of child sexual abuse). NCMEC’s previous assessment is that 70% of Facebook’s total referrals relate to Messenger and are therefore likely to be lost once that service is end-to-end encrypted.</p><p>The UK is leading work across the world urging all tech companies to collaborate with governments on mutually agreeable solutions that ensure user privacy is protected.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 30/03/2021 16:08:31 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4857 label Biography information for Carla Lockhart

1304656

registered interest
date	22/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Internet: Offences against Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Government has made of the extent of online content that does not meet the criminal threshold, but facilitates abuse and grooming; and what steps she is taking through the Online Safety Bill to tackle that matter.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	Carla Lockhart
uin	173226
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government is firmly committed to making the UK the safest place to be online and taking action against online material that may not be illegal, but is linked to abuse and grooming.</p><p> </p><p>We are working across Government and engaging industry to prevent all forms of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. The interim code of practice on online CSEA made clear that we expect companies to already start taking voluntary action against such content, including material that doesn’t meet a criminal threshold.</p><p> </p><p>The Online Safety Bill will require companies to ensure the safety of children on their services. They will need to seriously consider the risks their services may pose to children using their services and take action to mitigate this. This will include taking measures against all content that facilitates abuse or grooming of children on their services.</p><p>The Government is also continuing to engage with technology companies around the Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, a framework of principles launched by the Five Country Ministerial partners in March 2020. These are a set of 11 actions tech firms should take to ensure children are not sexually exploited on their platforms, , including taking steps to stop the livestreaming of abuse and stop grooming and predatory behaviour.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 30/03/2021 16:01:28 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4857 label Biography information for Carla Lockhart

1302568

registered interest
date	15/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Slavery
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on the provision of Government support to victims of modern slavery after a decision has been made on their status.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool North and Cleveleys
tabling member printed	Paul Maynard
uin	168874
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the process by which the UK identifies and supports victims of modern slavery, with support being delivered through the specialist Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) in England and Wales, the asylum system, local authorities and other mainstream services.</p><p>The MSVCC, which went live on 4 January 2021, builds on the wide-ranging support provided through the previous Victim Care Contract to deliver a service that is needs-based and better aligned to the requirements of individual victims. It provides accommodation, financial support payments, translation and interpretation, transport and access to a support worker for those who are identified as a potential victim, having received a positive Reasonable Grounds decision from the Single Competent Authority.</p><p>Support continues until the individual receives a Conclusive Grounds (CG) decision. If a victim receives a positive CG decision, they will receive a minimum of 45 calendar days of 'move on' support. The Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) takes place shortly after a positive CG decision to ensure that ongoing support after this period is tailored to the individual recovery needs of the confirmed victim. The RNA informs a tailored move-on plan, with the aim of establishing longer-term stability by helping victims to transition out of MSVCC support and back into a community, as appropriate. The MSVCC has also introduced a number of new services, including the ‘reach-in’ service, which is available to all confirmed victims to help support a smooth and sustainable transition after exit from MSVCC support.</p><p>If an individual receives a negative CG decision, they will receive nine working days of move-on support from date of receipt of the decision by the individual or the party acting on their behalf. An extension request may be made where an individual has received a negative decision and needs an additional period to become self-supporting or to transition into mainstream support.</p><p>In addition to this, the Government recognises the particular vulnerabilities of child victims of modern slavery, including trafficking.</p><p>Local authorities are responsible for the safeguarding and promotion of welfare of all children in their area, co-operating closely with police and other statutory agencies to offer child victims of modern slavery required protection and support. In addition, through Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Government provides <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-trafficking-advocates-early-adopter-sites" target="_blank">Independent Child Trafficking Guardians</a> (ICTGs), an independent source of advice and support for all potentially trafficked children, irrespective of nationality. ICTGs are currently available in one third of local authorities in England and Wales. We are now progressing the national rollout of ICTGs as part of the NRM Transformation Programme.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/03/2021 16:21:33 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard

1302193

registered interest
date	12/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clauses 148-150 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, what constitutes a positive requirement; and what assessment she has made of the effect of the positive requirements for registered sex offenders imposed would make to the police’s ability to manage sex offenders.
tabling member constituency	Rotherham
tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
uin	167874
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2021 answer text <p>The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill includes measures to reform and strengthen the regime for managing sex offenders and those who pose a risk.</p><p>Once enacted, the Bill will enable Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO) and Sexual Risk Orders (SRO) to include provisions imposing positive obligations on offenders where appropriate. This could include, for example, requiring an individual to engage in a behaviour change programme or be subject to regular polygraph testing.</p><p>The Home Office has published an impact assessment alongside the introduction of the Bill which is available via the following link:</p><p><a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-01/0268/20210304%20HO0383%20-%20PCSC%20Overarching%20IA%20-%20FINAL%20CLEAN%20(signed).pdf" target="_blank">https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-01/0268/20210304%20HO0383%20-%20PCSC%20Overarching%20IA%20-%20FINAL%20CLEAN%20(signed).pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 17/03/2021 15:58:46 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1302219

registered interest
date	12/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Animal Experiments: Licensing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many project licences granted under The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were amended as a result of developments in the 3Rs between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2020.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	167946
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2021 answer text <p>For project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, data are not collected on amendments that specifically relate to developments in the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement).</p><p>Standard conditions in establishment licences require that each establishment must have systems in place to ensure activities at the establishment follow the principles of the 3Rs.</p><p>Project holders are required to ensure that the regulated procedures applied as part of the programme of work specified in their licence are those which, to the greatest extent, use the minimum number of animals and only involve animals with the lowest capacity to experience pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.</p><p>Project licences do not always need to be amended before a licence holder can implement 3Rs developments.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 17/03/2021 16:09:59 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1301263

registered interest
date	10/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Stalking: Sentencing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the length of custodial sentences for people who have committed stalking offences.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	166433
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2021 answer text <p>Stalking is a terrible, insidious crime that can have a devastating impact on victims’ wellbeing. This Government is committed to protecting and supporting victims and is determined to do everything we can to stop perpetrators at the earliest opportunity.</p><p>In 2012 the Government created two stalking offences to highlight stalking as a specific behaviour, and through the Policing and Crime Act 2017 the maximum sentences for both stalking and harassment were raised from 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment. There are currently no plans to make further changes to the maximum sentences for stalking offences. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts. When deciding what sentence to impose, within the maximum available for the offence, the courts take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts are also required to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the independent Sentencing Council.</p><p>In January 2020 we introduced new civil Stalking Protection Orders to protect victims of stalking at the earliest possible opportunity and address the perpetrator’s behaviours before they become entrenched or escalate in severity. A breach of this order carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 15/03/2021 16:47:45 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis