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1699287

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Edward Heath
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 26 March (HL3210), when they anticipate that officials will complete their work and that a decision will be taken by ministers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Lexden
	uin	HL3683
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2024 answer text <p>As per my response on 26<sup>th</sup> March, I will return to the House in due course after receiving advice from officials on the considerations of whether the type of review of Operation Conifer the noble Lord and colleagues call for is necessary.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 11/04/2024 12:40:02 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4202 label Biography information for Lord Lexden

1699296

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Georgia
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the government of Georgia introducing a bill that would curtail LGBT+ rights on the UK government’s declaration that Georgia is a safe country for immigration purposes.
	tabling member printed	Lord Scriven
	uin	HL3693
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2024 answer text <p>In line with 80AA of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, we work closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to regularly monitor and review the situation in countries where migrants originate from, including how any new legislation is applied in practice.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 11/04/2024 12:53:02 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4333 label Biography information for Lord Scriven

1699297

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Georgia and India
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what evidence they have examined, and from which organisations, to determine that (1) Georgia, and (2) India, are safe countries.
	tabling member printed	Lord Scriven
	uin	HL3694
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2024 answer text <p>As with all our country assessments to inform asylum and immigration decision making, we have drawn on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 12/04/2024 09:31:45 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4333 label Biography information for Lord Scriven

1699298

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Rwanda
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what evidence they have considered, and from which organisations, which has led them to the conclusion that Rwanda is a safe country.
	tabling member printed	Lord Scriven
	uin	HL3695
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2024 answer text <p>The list of sources used are listed in the extensive country information notes, and the annexes that accompany them. This – alongside the additional assurances agreed with the Government of Rwanda under the terms of the UK-Rwanda Treaty: Provision of an Asylum Partnership – allow us to conclude that Rwanda is safe.</p><p>Detail of these is available via the ‘Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: policy statement and evidence pack’ page on the GOV.UK website.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 11/04/2024 12:37:31 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4333 label Biography information for Lord Scriven

1699299

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Rwanda
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what conditions exist in Rwanda that have led them to conclude that appropriate and professional age assessments will be capable of being carried out on people sent there for immigration purposes where special requirements apply in respect of an uncertainty over an individual’s age.
	tabling member printed	Lord Scriven
	uin	HL3696
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2024 answer text <p>Our age assessment policies for immigration purposes seek to protect genuine children and identify those who are adults.</p><p>The UK-Rwanda Treaty makes clear at Article 3 that the agreement reached between the governments of Rwanda and the UK does not cover unaccompanied children and that the UK Government shall not seek to relocate unaccompanied children under the age of 18. It is therefore only those individuals who are confirmed to be, or have been assessed to be, adults who will be removed to Rwanda.</p><p><br> We have already strengthened the age assessment process through measures introduced in the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 11/04/2024 14:49:41 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4333 label Biography information for Lord Scriven

1699311

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police: Pay
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the pay of (1) Police and Crime Commissioners, and (2) Chief Officers of Police in England and Wales, has been increased since November 2012; and when these increases took place.
	tabling member printed	Lord Wasserman
	uin	HL3708
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2024 answer text <p>The independent Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) makes recommendations to the Government on the pay of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). PCCs are currently placed into five salary groups aligned to the 12 force weightings used to govern chief constables’ pay. The current PCC pay bands range from £68,200 to £101,900.</p><p> </p><p>PCC pay has increased twice since 2012, with uplifts taking effect from 1 May 2018 and 1 May 2022. SSRB reviews in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 pay rounds recommended that the rates of pay should remain unchanged in those years.</p><p> </p><p>PCC pay has increased by 2% to 5% since November 2012. Chief police officer pay has increased by 22% to 27%. PCC pay remains above that for chief inspectors, which ranges from £64,449 to £67,017.</p><p> </p><p>In its last review, the SRRB recommended adjustments to PCC remuneration, including reducing the current five groups to three. The recommendations were not accepted by the Government at that time, who concluded the issue should be considered when the future structure of chief police officer pay is settled. The next review of PCC pay is scheduled to take place in the 2025/26 pay round.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom grouped question UIN HL3709 HL3710 question first answered 11/04/2024 12:39:08 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4207 label Biography information for Lord Wasserman

1699312

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police: Pay
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government by what percentage the pay of (1) Police and Crime Commissioners, and (2) Chief Officers of Police in England and Wales, has been increased between November 2012 and 15 March 2024.
	tabling member printed	Lord Wasserman
	uin	HL3709
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2024 answer text <p>The independent Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) makes recommendations to the Government on the pay of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). PCCs are currently placed into five salary groups aligned to the 12 force weightings used to govern chief constables’ pay. The current PCC pay bands range from £68,200 to £101,900.</p><p> </p><p>PCC pay has increased twice since 2012, with uplifts taking effect from 1 May 2018 and 1 May 2022. SSRB reviews in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 pay rounds recommended that the rates of pay should remain unchanged in those years.</p><p> </p><p>PCC pay has increased by 2% to 5% since November 2012. Chief police officer pay has increased by 22% to 27%. PCC pay remains above that for chief inspectors, which ranges from £64,449 to £67,017.</p><p> </p><p>In its last review, the SRRB recommended adjustments to PCC remuneration, including reducing the current five groups to three. The recommendations were not accepted by the Government at that time, who concluded the issue should be considered when the future structure of chief police officer pay is settled. The next review of PCC pay is scheduled to take place in the 2025/26 pay round.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom grouped question UIN HL3708 HL3710 question first answered 11/04/2024 12:39:08 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4207 label Biography information for Lord Wasserman

1699313

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police and Crime Commissioners: Pay
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government why the pay of Police and Crime Commissioners, which was initially roughly equivalent to that of Assistant Chief Constables, is now roughly equivalent to that of Chief Inspector.
	tabling member printed	Lord Wasserman
	uin	HL3710
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2024 answer text <p>The independent Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) makes recommendations to the Government on the pay of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). PCCs are currently placed into five salary groups aligned to the 12 force weightings used to govern chief constables’ pay. The current PCC pay bands range from £68,200 to £101,900.</p><p> </p><p>PCC pay has increased twice since 2012, with uplifts taking effect from 1 May 2018 and 1 May 2022. SSRB reviews in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 pay rounds recommended that the rates of pay should remain unchanged in those years.</p><p> </p><p>PCC pay has increased by 2% to 5% since November 2012. Chief police officer pay has increased by 22% to 27%. PCC pay remains above that for chief inspectors, which ranges from £64,449 to £67,017.</p><p> </p><p>In its last review, the SRRB recommended adjustments to PCC remuneration, including reducing the current five groups to three. The recommendations were not accepted by the Government at that time, who concluded the issue should be considered when the future structure of chief police officer pay is settled. The next review of PCC pay is scheduled to take place in the 2025/26 pay round.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom grouped question UIN HL3708 HL3709 question first answered 11/04/2024 12:39:08 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4207 label Biography information for Lord Wasserman

1699007

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Demonstrations: Loughborough
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) safe and (b) peaceful protests can take place outside the Envigo laboratory in Loughborough.
	tabling member constituency	North West Leicestershire
	tabling member printed	Andrew Bridgen
	uin	20632
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2024 answer text <p>It is a long-standing tradition in this country that people are free to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law. This government supports these rights, including the right of individuals to engage in peaceful protest. However, a balance must be struck between the rights of protesters and the rights of others to go about their lives without serious disruption or intimidation.</p><p>The management of protests is an operational matter for the police. The government expects the police to act where necessary to maintain public safety. In certain circumstances, the police will have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect those who want to exercise their rights peacefully.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 16/04/2024 15:29:59 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4133 label Biography information for Andrew Bridgen

1699011

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrant Workers: Care Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the time taken for care providers to receive Certificates of Sponsorship for (a) overseas and (b) senior care workers.
	tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
	tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
	uin	20561
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>The Defined Certificate of Sponsorship process for carers and senior carers from overseas is the same and frequently requires an assessment to establish whether or not the sponsor is able to offer a genuine vacancy. This usually requires the sponsor to submit additional documentation, while the timeframes involved are adequate for the purposes of preventing the exploitation of proposed migrant workers.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 15/04/2024 08:54:59 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

1699030

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: LGBT+ People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the (a) needs and (b) vulnerabilities of LGBTQI+ people as part of Operation Maximise.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	20674
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>The safety and wellbeing of asylum seekers in our care is of paramount importance to the Home Office. We expect high standards from all of our providers, and we have a robust governance framework in place to manage service delivery of the Asylum Accommodation Support Contracts (AASC). Further details can be found at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdata.parliament.uk%2FDepositedPapers%2FFiles%2FDEP2018-1112%2FAASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7CASRA-briefingcorrespondence%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Cb0515ff8dbca4511cc1008dc4e48c0da%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638471321571131596%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2FGmoMa2oHASh8CyVjbzNUXRIhsBeV4pvkpYMrZMqsFQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf</a>.</p><p>Section G.2 of the AASC provides examples of factors which accommodation providers should consider as part of their case-by-case assessment of an individual’s needs in room sharing, including whether they identify as LGBT. This aligns with the allocation of accommodation policy which sets out that the circumstances of every person in asylum accommodation should be assessed individually. Where an individual need or safeguarding concern exists, accommodation may be provided to meet such need.</p><p>Additionally, the Home Office has published the Asylum Support Contracts Safeguarding Framework at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fasylum-support-contracts-safeguarding-framework&amp;data=05%7C02%7CASRA-briefingcorrespondence%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Cb0515ff8dbca4511cc1008dc4e48c0da%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638471321571141722%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=e%2FyzVn0Wkbenx4uVYkjTsA2r%2FtZfH%2BifV2KYSwdjqmw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-support-contracts-safeguarding-framework</a>. This framework sets out a joint, overarching approach, as well as the key controls and reporting mechanisms in place, across the AASC contracts, for safeguarding arrangements.   All asylum seekers have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help where they can raise any concerns regarding accommodation or support services and they can get information about how to obtain further support.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 15/04/2024 16:47:28 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

1699242

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Religion
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings have taken place between the Home Office and faith communities regarding those claiming asylum in the UK due to genuine faith-based persecution; and what steps are being taken to ensure that they receive appropriate and compassionate support.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
	uin	HL3632
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2024 answer text <p>On 22 February, the Home Secretary held an initial meeting with ten Christian faith leaders to discuss the role of religious conversions in asylum applications. Following the meeting, the Home Secretary commissioned the establishment of a working group.</p><p>The aim of this group is for Home Office representations and Christian faith leaders to discuss ways in which each party can better scrutinise asylum claims based on religious persecution and ensure those in genuine need of protection by the UK asylum system are supported.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 11/04/2024 12:33:26 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1700644

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Detection Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to help reduce the number of unsolved crimes.
	tabling member constituency	Twickenham
	tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
	uin	902331
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring all partners across the Criminal Justice System (CJS) work better together to increase the number of cases being charged and prosecuted and improve case progression.</p><p>We welcome the commitment from police forces across England and Wales to pursue all leads where there is a reasonable chance it could result in catching a perpetrator and solving a crime.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 15/04/2024 14:51:37 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson

1700645

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police: Labour Turnover and Recruitment
	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 he has taken to help recruit and retain police officers.
	tabling member constituency	Maldon
	tabling member printed	Sir John Whittingdale
	uin	902332
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>We delivered our commitment to recruit 20,000 additional police officers. There are now over 149,000 officers in England and Wales, higher than the previous peak in 2010. Forces have been fully funded to maintain this uplift.</p><p>Retention is a key priority. Voluntary resignation rates, at around 3%, are low compared to other sectors and 72% of new recruits say they intend to stay until retirement.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 15/04/2024 14:52:57 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale

1700646

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Corruption
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish an updated anti-corruption strategy.
	tabling member constituency	North East Fife
	tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
	uin	902335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>Development of a new Anti-Corruption Strategy is well underway with publication expected shortly.</p><p>The new Strategy will build on progress made in the 2017 Strategy and set out how the Government will go further to counter corruption.</p><p>The Strategy will outline steps to prevent institutions from being corrupted, bring corrupt actors to justice, address the harms caused and combat corruption internationally.</p> answering member constituency Tonbridge and Malling answering member printed Tom Tugendhat question first answered 15/04/2024 14:54:18 answering member 4462 label Biography information for Tom Tugendhat
	tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1700647

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police: Havering
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to improve police recruitment and retention in the London Borough of Havering.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	902337
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>We delivered our commitment to recruit 20,000 additional police officers. There are now over 149,000 officers in England and Wales, higher than the previous peak in 2010. Forces have been fully funded to maintain this uplift.</p><p>Retention is a key priority. Voluntary resignation rates, at around 3%, are low compared to other sectors and 72% of new recruits say they intend to stay until retirement.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 15/04/2024 14:55:16 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1700648

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police: Neurodiversity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will hold discussions with the National Police Chiefs' Council on increasing awareness of neurodiverse conditions in recruitment processes.
	tabling member constituency	West Suffolk
	tabling member printed	Matt Hancock
	uin	902338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>Our Police Uplift Programme supported forces with a variety of attraction and recruitment strategies, whilst delivering a campaign that was designed to reach diverse audiences.</p><p>We continue to work with The College of Policing and NPCC to support efforts to recruit a diverse workforce, and to ensure policing is a career where recruits can thrive.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 15/04/2024 14:56:31 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock

1700649

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Firearms: Licensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of fees for firearms licences.
	tabling member constituency	Rugby
	tabling member printed	Mark Pawsey
	uin	902339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>Fees for firearms licences were last increased in 2015 and the Government is currently considering proposals for new firearms licensing fees.</p><p>I hope to make an announcement about fees shortly.</p><p>Income received from firearms licensing fees should be invested into ensuring forces’ licensing teams are adequately resourced, trained and equipped.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 15/04/2024 14:57:41 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4052 label Biography information for Mark Pawsey

1698270

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Stone: Theft
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to combat the theft of stone from historic sites.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Clancarty
	uin	HL3574
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2024 answer text <p>The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 48% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010; however, this Government recognises the significant impact crimes affecting heritage sites can have.</p><p>The Home Office is working closely with Historic England to prevent and tackle theft from historic buildings, monuments and sites, and through the established, expert Stolen Goods Working Group, is collaborating with policing and other partners, to deliver a programme of work that will make it harder for criminals to profit financially from acquisitive crime, including heritage crime.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office has encouraged the police, as part of their neighbourhood policing commitment, to work with communities to develop an understanding of the scale and extent of these crimes, whilst welcoming their commitment made last year to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry so more perpetrators can be bought to justice.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, crime prevention advice is published by Secured By Design, the police security initiative, including advice on how to improve the security of buildings and their surroundings, here: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.securedbydesign.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CKhadijah.Ishaq%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Cafe660417d7e49f90d6e08dbeff1f043%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638367594608060003%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=SCoVxRj8NCU7GMwQbc5IYvsNrDV%2BbA9K3PCjFPZ6yxE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Secured by Design - Secured by Design</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom grouped question UIN HL3575 question first answered 10/04/2024 15:38:25 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	3391 label Biography information for The Earl of Clancarty

1698271

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Cultural Heritage: Crime
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to improve crime reporting in relation to national heritage, including through the development of a heritage crime marker to highlight protected sites and other cultural property in police call handling.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Clancarty
	uin	HL3575
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2024 answer text <p>The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 48% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010; however, this Government recognises the significant impact crimes affecting heritage sites can have.</p><p>The Home Office is working closely with Historic England to prevent and tackle theft from historic buildings, monuments and sites, and through the established, expert Stolen Goods Working Group, is collaborating with policing and other partners, to deliver a programme of work that will make it harder for criminals to profit financially from acquisitive crime, including heritage crime.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office has encouraged the police, as part of their neighbourhood policing commitment, to work with communities to develop an understanding of the scale and extent of these crimes, whilst welcoming their commitment made last year to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry so more perpetrators can be bought to justice.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, crime prevention advice is published by Secured By Design, the police security initiative, including advice on how to improve the security of buildings and their surroundings, here: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.securedbydesign.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CKhadijah.Ishaq%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Cafe660417d7e49f90d6e08dbeff1f043%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638367594608060003%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=SCoVxRj8NCU7GMwQbc5IYvsNrDV%2BbA9K3PCjFPZ6yxE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Secured by Design - Secured by Design</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom grouped question UIN HL3574 question first answered 10/04/2024 15:38:25 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	3391 label Biography information for The Earl of Clancarty

1698273

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	UK Border Force: Complaints
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many complaints to Border Force are not answered within the service standard of 20 days.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
	uin	HL3577
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2024 answer text <p>The latest transparency data showing performance against service standards in relation to replies to customer complaints for UKVI, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force is available at the following: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/customer-service-operations-data-q3-2023" target="_blank">Customer service operations data: Q3 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 10/04/2024 15:37:30 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom attachment 1 file name PQ Customer Service Standards attachment HL3577 (2).xlsx title Customer service operations data: Q3 2023
	tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1698274

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration Controls
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government why no reason is given to inward travellers for being held for 6 hours; why they are offered no food or drink during such detention; and why no apology is offered when nothing untoward has been found in their travel to the UK.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
	uin	HL3578
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2024 answer text <p>A passenger remains liable to examination on arrival in the United Kingdom until all necessary enquiries have been concluded and a decision is made on their application for permission to enter or admission.</p><p>Anyone detained beyond two hours is detained in compliance with the relevant guidance and legislation (notably The Short Term Holding Facility Rules 2018). The detained person is informed of their bail rights and reasons for their detention, and this is explained in a language that they understand.</p><p>Temperature controlled food was temporarily withdrawn from BF managed facilities during 2023 whilst we implemented a new training and governance procedure to ensure we were complaint with current food standards. Throughout this period, we followed Government guidance, continuing to serve water, hot drinks and snacks.</p><p>We always look to minimise detention as far as possible; however, the power to detain must be retained in the interests of maintaining effective immigration control.</p><p>It would not be appropriate for Border Force to apologise for conducting legitimate border security checks.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 10/04/2024 15:38:37 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1698275

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	UK Border Force: Complaints
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what procedures Border Force has in place to learn lessons from incidents of unnecessary detention or of the loss of paper-work such that a complaint takes 11 months to process.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
	uin	HL3579
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2024 answer text <p>A Transformation Programme of work is currently underway to reduce the time taken to process incoming complaints within service level agreement. Part of the programme includes identifying and sharing lessons learned to improve the overall service at the border and monitor detention related complaints.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 10/04/2024 15:38:32 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1698290

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Undocumented Migrants: Tunisia
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, have they made of the number of illegal migrants who have reached the UK from or via Tunisia in each of the last 3 years.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL3594
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office publishes statistics on detected irregular arrivals to the UK in the ‘Irregular migration to the UK statistics’ release published on gov.uk. Data on detected irregular arrivals by nationality is published in table Irr_D01 of the ‘<a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65d63f15188d77001603886b/irregular-migration-to-the-UK-detailed-dataset-year-ending-dec-2023.xlsx" target="_blank">Irregular migration to the UK detailed datasets</a>’ with the latest data up to the end of December 2023.</p><p>Please note these statistics do not include details of countries of transit, and nationality may differ from country of origin.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 10/04/2024 15:38:12 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom attachment 1 file name irregular-migration-to-the-UK-detailed-dataset-year-ending-dec-2023 (5).xlsx title Irregular migration to the UK detailed datasets
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

1698370

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Shoplifting: Rural Areas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has had recent discussions with the police on taking steps to help tackle shoplifting in rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	20151
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2024 answer text <p>he Government recognises the significant impact shoplifting has on businesses, communities, and consumers. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 48% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010.</p><p>However, Police Recorded Crime figures show shoplifting offences increased by 32% in the 12 months to September 2023. Statistics also show the number of people charged with shoplifting offences has risen by 34% in the year ending September 2023, showing that police are taking action.</p><p>We have recently taken significant steps to improve the police response to retail crime, including shoplifting.</p><p>In October 2023, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.npcc.police.uk%2Fresources%2Fe6e5n-gfsgg-qru39-qjnkc-dbait&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRebecca.Khosla2%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C2866bb4a3f554fdf3e4208dc014e95e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638386684221640764%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=k3DpuJZSdEOv4zGEcy3P7WC8Cajku%2F9%2BKH6vpSTM2Y4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Retail Crime Action Plan</a>. Through this Plan, all forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.</p><p>This builds on the NPCC commitment that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there is actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender, including shoplifting.</p><p>October also saw the launch of Pegasus, a unique private-public partnership, which involves retailers providing data, intelligence and evidence to Opal, the national police intelligence unit on organised acquisitive crime, to develop a better strategic picture and help forces crack down on serious offenders.</p><p>The Government’s plan – <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fighting-retail-crime-more-action" target="_blank">&quot;Fighting retail crime: more action&quot;</a> was launched on 10 April, which highlights five areas of work this Government will drive forward to tackle retail crime:</p><ul><li>Introducing a standalone offence for assaults on retail workers;</li><li>Additional electronic monitoring for prolific shoplifters;</li><li>Working with police and businesses to roll out the latest facial recognition to catch these perpetrators;</li><li>Championing good practice to design out crime; and</li><li>Making it easier for retailers to report crime.</li></ul><p>This builds on the police-led Retail Crime Action Plan.</p><p>We are continuing to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG), which meets on a quarterly basis, to ensure the response to retail crime, including shoplifting, is as robust as it can be.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 16/04/2024 15:24:12 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1698428

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration Controls: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were charged with criminal offences as a result of Operation Gull in Northern Ireland in 2023.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	20204
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>In 2023, Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigation teams (CFI) charged 39 individuals with criminal offences as part of Operation Gull.</p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson question first answered 15/04/2024 13:03:17 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1698507

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Sleeping Rough: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many 16 to 25 year olds have been arrested for rough sleeping under the Vagrancy Act.
	tabling member constituency	Chatham and Aylesford
	tabling member printed	Tracey Crouch
	uin	20265
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2024 answer text <p>The government does not collect figures on police usage of the Vagrancy Act where this does not result in prosecution. Policing is operationally independent of the Home Office, and we cannot comment on operational decisions.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 16/04/2024 15:31:02 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	3950 label Biography information for Tracey Crouch

1698556

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports: British National (Overseas)
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to expand the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passport to include children of BN(O) passport holders.
	tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
	tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
	uin	20477
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office cannot issue a BN(O) passport to someone who does not hold BN(O) status. BN(O) status was only available by registration before 1 July 1997, and people born on or after that date cannot become a BN(O). There are no plans to retrospectively allow BN(O) status to be acquired by descendants of BN(O) status holders.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 15/04/2024 11:44:23 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1698066

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Marriage: Passports
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason people born after 1 January 1983 are required to provide a valid passport when giving notice of marriage.
	tabling member constituency	St Albans
	tabling member printed	Daisy Cooper
	uin	20108
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>Every person who gives notice to marry or to form a civil partnership in England and Wales must provide evidence of their given name, surname, date of birth, and nationality. A valid passport or another specified document can be used as evidence of nationality.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 02/04/2024 11:23:32 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4769 label Biography information for Daisy Cooper

1698087

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Women's Aid: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department plans to provide funding to Women's Aid in the next three financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	20103
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2024 answer text <p>Tackling violence against women and girls is a government priority. Our strategies aim to transform the whole of society’s response to these crimes with actions to prevent abuse, support victims and ensure more perpetrators are bought to justice.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office has provided funding to Women’s Aid of up to £1.34m until March 2025 to deliver the Flexible Fund. This fund will help hundreds of domestic abuse victims next year who will receive lifeline payments to help escape tormenting and often life-threatening abuse, providing the chance to rebuild their lives. We are also investing £753k into Women’s Aid next year to improve the awareness of domestic abuse amongst young people.</p><p> </p><p>Funding beyond March 2025 is subject to future budgets which will be set through the next Spending Review process.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris question first answered 03/04/2024 08:50:27 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1698098

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police Custody: Women
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to ensure that women who are held in police cells are supported by at least one officer who is a woman.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	20078
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that custody is a safe and dignified environment for all detainees, visitors and staff which operates professionally, respectfully and lawfully.</p><p> </p><p>Police custody is governed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes of Practice which sets out the legal framework for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers. PACE Code C requires that as soon as practicable after arrival at the police station, each detainee must be given an opportunity to speak in private with a member of custody staff of the same sex as them about any matter concerning their personal needs relating to their health, hygiene and welfare that might affect or concern them whilst in custody. Arrangements must also be made for ensuring that a girl under the age of 18 is placed under the care of a female member of staff.</p><p> </p><p>As policing is operationally independent of Government, Chief Constables and elected Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for the operational management of custody suites.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 03/04/2024 08:23:50 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1698099

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Spiking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will issue guidance to the police on ensuring that people providing statements are asked whether they have had their drink spiked.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	20079
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office does not intend to issue guidance as described, as it would not be appropriate for such a question to be asked to all individuals providing statements to the police.</p><p>All incidents are taken seriously by the police, and officers will always seek to follow relevant lines of enquiry. The questions asked by the police will therefore be specific to the circumstances of each particular incident, including the individual’s version of events.</p><p>If there is anything to indicate that there is an element of spiking it will be fully investigated.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris question first answered 03/04/2024 08:53:54 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1698100

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Spiking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training is provided to police officers on the impact of the spiking of drinks on victims of that crime.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	20080
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2024 answer text <p>Each Police force has a dedicated spiking lead who all meet regularly to share learning. At present, forces design and deliver their own spiking training and this is informed by NPCC and Home Office policies.</p><p>Some forces, including Cumbria Police and the Metropolitan Police Service, are in the process of reviewing their spiking training.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris question first answered 03/04/2024 08:52:00 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1698149

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Nitazenes: Imports
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to tackle the importation of nitazenes into the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	20087
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.</p><p>The HMG Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partner agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the level of risk posed by synthetic opioids, and implement policies to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.</p><p>As of 20 March, 15 dangerous synthetic opioids have come under the tightest controls as Class A drugs. An impact assessment has been published which outlines the potential impacts of the legislation, and which includes a qualitative assessment of the potential use and spread of these substances.. By controlling these substances, we anticipate an increase in public awareness of their harms and that law enforcement are able to respond to the supply and production of these drugs.</p><p> </p><p>To stem the supply of illicit synthetic opioids to and within the UK, the NCA, Police and Border Force are working together in a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued. This involves mapping and targeting key offenders, including dark net markets. Dedicated teams use a range of tools and techniques generally unavailable to most investigators and we make sure they have the resources and powers they need to keep our country safe.</p><p> </p><p>Border Force are leading on a series of intensifications at the border to strengthen our intelligence on how these substances reach the UK. Furthermore, Home Office supports the NCA’s International Liaison Officer network and Border Force’s international work through funding posts in key transit and source countries to stop drugs from coming to the UK in the first place.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 20088 20091 20092 question first answered 02/04/2024 15:51:48 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1698150

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Opioids
	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 his Department's press release entitled More synthetic opioids banned to protect communities, published on 20 March 2023, what assessment he has made of the impact of the change in legal status on the (a) spread and (b) use of these substances.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	20088
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.</p><p>The HMG Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partner agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the level of risk posed by synthetic opioids, and implement policies to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.</p><p>As of 20 March, 15 dangerous synthetic opioids have come under the tightest controls as Class A drugs. An impact assessment has been published which outlines the potential impacts of the legislation, and which includes a qualitative assessment of the potential use and spread of these substances.. By controlling these substances, we anticipate an increase in public awareness of their harms and that law enforcement are able to respond to the supply and production of these drugs.</p><p> </p><p>To stem the supply of illicit synthetic opioids to and within the UK, the NCA, Police and Border Force are working together in a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued. This involves mapping and targeting key offenders, including dark net markets. Dedicated teams use a range of tools and techniques generally unavailable to most investigators and we make sure they have the resources and powers they need to keep our country safe.</p><p> </p><p>Border Force are leading on a series of intensifications at the border to strengthen our intelligence on how these substances reach the UK. Furthermore, Home Office supports the NCA’s International Liaison Officer network and Border Force’s international work through funding posts in key transit and source countries to stop drugs from coming to the UK in the first place.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 20087 20091 20092 question first answered 02/04/2024 15:51:48 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1698153

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Opioids: Sales
	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) the National Crime Agency and (b) local police forces on collaboration on tackling dark net markets involved in the distribution of synthetic opioids.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	20091
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.</p><p>The HMG Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partner agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the level of risk posed by synthetic opioids, and implement policies to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.</p><p>As of 20 March, 15 dangerous synthetic opioids have come under the tightest controls as Class A drugs. An impact assessment has been published which outlines the potential impacts of the legislation, and which includes a qualitative assessment of the potential use and spread of these substances.. By controlling these substances, we anticipate an increase in public awareness of their harms and that law enforcement are able to respond to the supply and production of these drugs.</p><p> </p><p>To stem the supply of illicit synthetic opioids to and within the UK, the NCA, Police and Border Force are working together in a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued. This involves mapping and targeting key offenders, including dark net markets. Dedicated teams use a range of tools and techniques generally unavailable to most investigators and we make sure they have the resources and powers they need to keep our country safe.</p><p> </p><p>Border Force are leading on a series of intensifications at the border to strengthen our intelligence on how these substances reach the UK. Furthermore, Home Office supports the NCA’s International Liaison Officer network and Border Force’s international work through funding posts in key transit and source countries to stop drugs from coming to the UK in the first place.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 20087 20088 20092 question first answered 02/04/2024 15:51:48 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1698154

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Opioids
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how his Department plans to assess the impact of the Synthetic Opioid Taskforce on the (a) supply and (b) demand for these drugs.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	20092
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.</p><p>The HMG Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partner agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the level of risk posed by synthetic opioids, and implement policies to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.</p><p>As of 20 March, 15 dangerous synthetic opioids have come under the tightest controls as Class A drugs. An impact assessment has been published which outlines the potential impacts of the legislation, and which includes a qualitative assessment of the potential use and spread of these substances.. By controlling these substances, we anticipate an increase in public awareness of their harms and that law enforcement are able to respond to the supply and production of these drugs.</p><p> </p><p>To stem the supply of illicit synthetic opioids to and within the UK, the NCA, Police and Border Force are working together in a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued. This involves mapping and targeting key offenders, including dark net markets. Dedicated teams use a range of tools and techniques generally unavailable to most investigators and we make sure they have the resources and powers they need to keep our country safe.</p><p> </p><p>Border Force are leading on a series of intensifications at the border to strengthen our intelligence on how these substances reach the UK. Furthermore, Home Office supports the NCA’s International Liaison Officer network and Border Force’s international work through funding posts in key transit and source countries to stop drugs from coming to the UK in the first place.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 20087 20088 20091 question first answered 02/04/2024 15:51:48 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1698155

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Official Visits: Rwanda
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department takes to assess the (a) potential impact and (b) value for money of (i) his visit to Rwanda in December 2023 and (ii) other ministerial overseas visits.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	20093
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2024 answer text <p>All Government spend goes through thorough due diligence to ensure best value for money.</p><p>Stopping the boats is one of our top priorities. The cost of the asylum system could reach up to £11 billion per year by 2026, so bold solutions like our partnership with Rwanda are required.</p><p>Various elements, such as security and timing, will be taken into consideration when looking at Government travel, including use of the Government’s plane.</p><p> </p><p>On the visit, the Home Secretary signed a joint treaty with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Dr Vincent Biruta, strengthening the UK and Rwanda’s Migration and Economic Development Partnership and directly addressing the concerns of the Supreme Court.</p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson grouped question UIN 20094 question first answered 03/04/2024 08:26:55 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1698156

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Official Visits: Rwanda
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons he used a private charter flight for his visit to Rwanda in December 2023; and whether his Department made an assessment of the potential merits of using alternative forms of transport.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	20094
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2024 answer text <p>All Government spend goes through thorough due diligence to ensure best value for money.</p><p>Stopping the boats is one of our top priorities. The cost of the asylum system could reach up to £11 billion per year by 2026, so bold solutions like our partnership with Rwanda are required.</p><p>Various elements, such as security and timing, will be taken into consideration when looking at Government travel, including use of the Government’s plane.</p><p> </p><p>On the visit, the Home Secretary signed a joint treaty with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Dr Vincent Biruta, strengthening the UK and Rwanda’s Migration and Economic Development Partnership and directly addressing the concerns of the Supreme Court.</p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson grouped question UIN 20093 question first answered 03/04/2024 08:26:55 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1698158

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure the (a) integrity and (b) confidentiality of digital evidence in sexual assault cases.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	20095
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government’s Rape Review highlighted the importance of digital forensics and disclosure of digital material in improving our response to sexual offences.</p><p> </p><p>We have legislated to put the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) and code of practice on a statutory footing. Compliance with the FSR’s code will ensure the integrity of digital evidence presented to the courts, helping to maintain public confidence in our systems.</p><p>Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (2022), we introduced a clear statutory basis for requesting devices from victims of crime so that information is only shared with their agreement and where necessary and proportionate and in response to a reasonable line of enquiry. This helps forces to ensure that the high standards of Data Protection Act are met when processing sensitive personal information belonging to victims of crime.</p><p>We are also working across the system to ensure that police forces have the technology and capabilities they require. In 23/24, the Home Office invested £8.2m to increase capacity and speed in digital forensics, including supporting selective extraction and examination of data on digital devices to better protect victims from intrusive investigations.</p><p> </p><p>To drive further improvements in the response to sexual offences, we invested £9.4m in Operation Soteria, bringing together police and academics to develop a new national operating model for the investigation of rape which is currently being implemented by all police forces in England and Wales.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris question first answered 02/04/2024 11:05:21 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1698220

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Housing
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the National Audit Office’s report Investigation into asylum accommodation, published on 20 March, which found that (1) using large sites to accommodate asylum seekers could cost £46 million more than using hotels, and (2) the Home Office rated their own plans as “high risk or undeliverable”, why the large sites accommodation programme will be continued.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Leicester
	uin	HL3561
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government has always been clear that the use of asylum hotels is unacceptable, and that’s why we acted swiftly to reduce the impact on local communities by moving asylum seekers on to barges and former military sites.</p><p>Thanks to the actions the Government has taken to maximise the use of existing space and our work to cut small boat crossings by a third last year, the cost of hotels will fall, and we are now closing dozens of asylum hotels every month to return them to communities.</p><p>Large sites provide adequate and functional accommodation for asylum seekers and are designed to be as self-sufficient as possible, helping to minimise the impact on local communities and services. They reduce demand on an already pressured private rental market and their larger capacity allows the Home Office to be agile in responding to fluctuations in demand.</p><p>It is better value for money for the taxpayer to continue with these sites than to continue using hotels. The latest assessment of value for money, which excludes committed or spent costs in line with the Green Book methodology, shows that large sites would be £153 million cheaper than hotels.</p><p>Despite the need to stand up large sites at speed, controls were in place to assure value for money for the taxpayer. Operational challenges at the sites have changed our costs since original estimates. We continue to keep costs under review while developing ways to reduce it.</p><p>The latest Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) review has upgraded the rating of the programme, meaning that the successful delivery of time, quality and cost is feasible.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 10/04/2024 11:06:52 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
	tabling member	4947 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Leicester

1697842

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of whether private providers responsible for running asylum accommodation are meeting their contractual requirements.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Lloyd Russell-Moyle
	uin	19922
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>The Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC) Statement of Requirements below gives a detailed breakdown of all of the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and to the standards we expect:</p><p><a href="https://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1112/AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf" target="_blank">AASC_-_Schedule_2_- _Statement_of_Requirements.pdf (parliament.uk)</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Home Office accommodation providers are required to visit each property at least monthly, and assurance that contractual requirements are met is tested by the Home Office Contract Assurance Team, which inspects properties and undertakes other assurance activities on an intelligence-led basis. Formal governance mechanisms are in place, to oversee performance and delivery against contractual requirements.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 02/04/2024 11:10:29 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove attachment 1 file name AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements (3).pdf title AASC - Schedule 2 - Statement of Requirements
	tabling member	4615 label Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle

1697847

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrant Workers: Sponsorship
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many certificates of sponsorship have been (a) suspended and (b) revoked in each year for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	19913
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office do not suspend or revoke Certificates of Sponsorship, therefore we do not hold the requested data.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 02/04/2024 11:02:17 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1697849

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrant Workers: Sponsorship
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many certificates of sponsorship which have been (a) suspended and (b) revoked have been successfully appealed in each year for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	19914
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office do not suspend or revoke Certificates of Sponsorship, therefore we do not hold the requested data.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 02/04/2024 11:12:53 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1697934

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Undocumented Migrants: Aviation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of illegal immigrants who gain entry to the United Kingdom via air travel; and what steps he has taken to tackle illegal immigration to the United Kingdom via air travel.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	19813
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office publishes statistics on detected irregular arrivals to the UK in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/irregular-migration-detailed-dataset-and-summary-tables#most-recent-summary-tables" target="_blank">‘Irregular migration to the UK’ statistics release, available on gov.uk</a>. Data on irregular arrivals by method of entry is published in table Irr_D01 of the ‘Irregular migration to the UK detailed datasets’, with the latest data up to the end of September 2023.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 02/04/2024 11:14:34 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1697936

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to help promote the integration of immigrants.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	19815
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>All refugees and those granted protection in the UK should be able to fully integrate into British life and become self-sufficient, providing for themselves and their families, and contributing to the economy.</p><p> </p><p>Refugees, as well as individuals arriving through refugee resettlement schemes with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK, have access to the labour market and to mainstream benefits and services to enable their integration. We are working across Government to ensure these services meet the needs of refugees.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that the ability to speak English is key to helping refugees integrate into life in England, as well as to breaking down barriers to work and career progression. The Home Office works closely with other Government departments to ensure mainstream English language provision meets the needs of refugees.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 02/04/2024 11:27:10 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1697937

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Drugs: Sales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to help tackle the sale of illegal drugs on (a) social media and (b) other websites.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	19816
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>Drugs ruin lives and devastate communities. The Government is committed to driving down drugs supply in the UK through tough law enforcement against the sale of drugs online.</p><p> </p><p>Our Online Safety Act will introduce measures requiring platforms, including social media sites, to remove content relating to the sale of illegal drugs online. Under this ground-breaking piece of legislation, tech companies must proactively tackle this type of content and prevent users from being exposed to it. If they fail to comply, they risk stiff financial penalties or in the most serious cases, having their sites blocked by the independent regulator, Ofcom. The Online Safety Act delivers the government’s manifesto commitment to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online.</p><p> </p><p>We also recognise that social media, gaming sites and other online platforms are critical enablers in the targeting, grooming and facilitation of county lines exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we are developing a better understanding of how these platforms are being used and how to disrupt harmful activity.</p><p> </p><p>Considering other websites, the National Crime Agency, along with policing colleagues across the UK and internationally, is mapping and targeting key offenders operating online. Dedicated teams use a range of tools and techniques generally unavailable to most investigators and we make sure they have the resources and powers they need to keep our country safe.</p><p> </p><p>Law enforcement agencies work with internet service providers to shut down UK-based websites found to be committing offences such as selling controlled drugs. To support this, proposals are also being taken forward in the Criminal Justice Bill to create a new power enabling law enforcement to suspend IP addresses and/or domain names being used for criminal purposes. This new power will allow agencies to obtain a court order to formally request action by organisations both domestically and outside of the UK.</p><p>Furthermore, the Government has commissioned the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to undertake a review into internet-facilitated drug markets. The ACMD ran a call for evidence which closed in January and expects to publish its findings later this year.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 02/04/2024 11:17:55 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1697946

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Shoplifting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken with relevant authorities to reduce shop lifting in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	19824
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the significant impact theft has on businesses, communities, and consumers. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 51% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010.</p><p>We have recently taken significant steps to improve the police response to acquisitive crime, including car theft and shoplifting. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has made a commitment that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there is actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire &amp; Rescue Services (HMICFRS) have commenced a thematic inspection on the effectiveness of police investigations which will include an assessment of how police forces are implementing the reasonable lines of enquiry commitment.</p><p>The Government is working closely with police and motor manufacturers through the National Vehicle Crime Working Group, chaired by ACC Jennifer Sims, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, to take forward a programme of work to prevent and reduce vehicle crime nationally. A network of vehicle crime leads has been established in every police force in England and Wales, ensuring forces share information about emerging trends in vehicle crime and are better able to tackle regional issues. The Metropolitan Police Service are represented on the Working Group and have an established vehicle crime lead.</p><p>We are legislating through the Criminal Justice Bill to create two new offences where a person possesses, makes, adapts, supplies or offers to supply electronic devices where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they will be used in vehicle theft. The legislation will make it easier for police to prosecute criminals making and supplying these devices, as well as vehicle thieves.</p><p>In October 2023, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnbcc.police.uk%2Fimages%2F2023%2FNews%25202023%2FRetail%2520Crime%2520Action%2520Plan%2520-%2520October%25202023.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7CKhadijah.Ishaq%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C8b18b703bcd74360c86208dc4e4ae8f6%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638471330832400997%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=5e7W%2BvmSjzdF4LYfcXbmPUp5E0xKCZUe0aWBOkhQHsw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Retail Crime Action Plan - October 2023.pdf (nbcc.police.uk)</a>. Through this Plan, all forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.</p><p>We are continuing to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG), which meets on a quarterly basis, to ensure the response to retail crime, including shoplifting, is as robust as it can be.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 19825 question first answered 02/04/2024 11:20:45 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1697947

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Cars: Theft
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking with relevant authorities to help reduce instances of car theft in (a) Romford constituency and (b) England.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	19825
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the significant impact theft has on businesses, communities, and consumers. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 51% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010.</p><p>We have recently taken significant steps to improve the police response to acquisitive crime, including car theft and shoplifting. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has made a commitment that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there is actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire &amp; Rescue Services (HMICFRS) have commenced a thematic inspection on the effectiveness of police investigations which will include an assessment of how police forces are implementing the reasonable lines of enquiry commitment.</p><p>The Government is working closely with police and motor manufacturers through the National Vehicle Crime Working Group, chaired by ACC Jennifer Sims, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, to take forward a programme of work to prevent and reduce vehicle crime nationally. A network of vehicle crime leads has been established in every police force in England and Wales, ensuring forces share information about emerging trends in vehicle crime and are better able to tackle regional issues. The Metropolitan Police Service are represented on the Working Group and have an established vehicle crime lead.</p><p>We are legislating through the Criminal Justice Bill to create two new offences where a person possesses, makes, adapts, supplies or offers to supply electronic devices where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they will be used in vehicle theft. The legislation will make it easier for police to prosecute criminals making and supplying these devices, as well as vehicle thieves.</p><p>In October 2023, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnbcc.police.uk%2Fimages%2F2023%2FNews%25202023%2FRetail%2520Crime%2520Action%2520Plan%2520-%2520October%25202023.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7CKhadijah.Ishaq%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C8b18b703bcd74360c86208dc4e4ae8f6%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638471330832400997%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=5e7W%2BvmSjzdF4LYfcXbmPUp5E0xKCZUe0aWBOkhQHsw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Retail Crime Action Plan - October 2023.pdf (nbcc.police.uk)</a>. Through this Plan, all forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.</p><p>We are continuing to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG), which meets on a quarterly basis, to ensure the response to retail crime, including shoplifting, is as robust as it can be.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 19824 question first answered 02/04/2024 11:20:45 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1697970

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrants: Domestic Abuse
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing migrant victims of domestic abuse to access support from (a) police and (b) statutory services.
	tabling member constituency	Streatham
	tabling member printed	Bell Ribeiro-Addy
	uin	19998
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>Victims are entitled to access services under the Victims Code regardless of their resident status, including support services. They are rightly able to access statutory services irrespective of their immigration status and the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. As an example, the statutory guidance for the Duty to Provide Safe Accommodation under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act is clear that this provision is for all victims of domestic abuse, including migrant survivors with insecure immigration status.</p><p>The government has kept the range of support under review and have made recent changes.</p><p>We allocated up to £5.6 million from April 2021 until March 2025 for the Support for Migrant Victim Scheme, which provides a support net for migrant victims of abuse with no recourse to public funds. And we have expanded access to the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC) to partners of workers or students, giving 3 months recourse to public funds whilst they potentially apply for an appropriate immigration status or return to their country of origin if it is safe for them to do so.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris question first answered 26/03/2024 15:10:32 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4764 label Biography information for Bell Ribeiro-Addy