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1717997
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-05-14more like thismore than 2024-05-14
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Department for Work and Pensions: Email more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the use of e-mail to communicate with his Department's customers. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 26076 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-17more like thismore than 2024-05-17
answer text <p>DWP utilises technology which allows encryption with most providers of personal email services, such as Gmail or Outlook, helping this stay secure. As such, email communication with customers is currently permitted in certain circumstances, for example, where the customer has a reasonable adjustment in place.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is keen to utilise the benefits provided by email communication, as part of its work in modernising customer contact channels to deliver modernised services. The department is currently exploring a number of specific possibilities to expand its use of outbound email to communicate with customers, recently testing sending of notifications via email to overseas customers in areas where the postal system is unreliable.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys more like this
answering member printed Paul Maynard more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-17T12:09:44.967Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-17T12:09:44.967Z
answering member
3926
label Biography information for Paul Maynard more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this
1715334
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-05-01more like thismore than 2024-05-01
answering body
Home Office more like this
answering dept id 1 more like this
answering dept short name Home Office more like this
answering dept sort name Home Office more like this
hansard heading Immigration: Translation Services more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department has issued on the provision of culturally appropriate oral and written professional translation when communicating with (a) applicants for asylum, (b) people in immigration detention, (c) people appealing application decisions and (d) people identified for deportation to Rwanda. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 24398 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-07more like thismore than 2024-05-07
answer text <p>The Home Office aims to provide interpreter and translation services for refugees and asylum seekers at public expense whenever and wherever necessary. Interpreters are engaged by the Home Office to act on its behalf. They are not Home Office employees and undertake freelance work commissioned by the Home Office. In some circumstances interpreting services are provided by commercial partners.</p><p>Interpreters/translators engaged are required to operate to a high standard on a range of protection-based and human rights topics including (though not limited to) religious conversion, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), sexuality and gender-based claims, all types and forms of persecution, medical (physical and mental health) and political activity.</p><p>The Home Office also works with other commercial providers and public sector bodies which provide interpreters and linguists to ensure the best sector-wide standards are applied.</p><p>Guidance on the use of interpretation and translation services, Detention Services Order ‘Interpretation Services and use of Translation Devices’, was published in July 2022. This guidance sets out the provisions, including interpretation services and translation devices, available for individuals held in immigration detention and the circumstances in which these should be used.</p>
answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole more like this
answering member printed Michael Tomlinson more like this
grouped question UIN 24399 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-07T12:49:50.647Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-07T12:49:50.647Z
answering member
4497
label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this
1715335
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-05-01more like thismore than 2024-05-01
answering body
Home Office more like this
answering dept id 1 more like this
answering dept short name Home Office more like this
answering dept sort name Home Office more like this
hansard heading Immigration: Translation Services more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what culturally appropriate oral and written professional translation services are provided by his Department when communicating with (a) applicants for asylum, (b) people in immigration detention, (c) people appealing application decisions and (d) people identified for deportation to Rwanda. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 24399 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-07more like thismore than 2024-05-07
answer text <p>The Home Office aims to provide interpreter and translation services for refugees and asylum seekers at public expense whenever and wherever necessary. Interpreters are engaged by the Home Office to act on its behalf. They are not Home Office employees and undertake freelance work commissioned by the Home Office. In some circumstances interpreting services are provided by commercial partners.</p><p>Interpreters/translators engaged are required to operate to a high standard on a range of protection-based and human rights topics including (though not limited to) religious conversion, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), sexuality and gender-based claims, all types and forms of persecution, medical (physical and mental health) and political activity.</p><p>The Home Office also works with other commercial providers and public sector bodies which provide interpreters and linguists to ensure the best sector-wide standards are applied.</p><p>Guidance on the use of interpretation and translation services, Detention Services Order ‘Interpretation Services and use of Translation Devices’, was published in July 2022. This guidance sets out the provisions, including interpretation services and translation devices, available for individuals held in immigration detention and the circumstances in which these should be used.</p>
answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole more like this
answering member printed Michael Tomlinson more like this
grouped question UIN 24398 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-07T12:49:50.603Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-07T12:49:50.603Z
answering member
4497
label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this
1714945
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-30more like thismore than 2024-04-30
answering body
Home Office more like this
answering dept id 1 more like this
answering dept short name Home Office more like this
answering dept sort name Home Office more like this
hansard heading Repatriation more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken was for the conclusion of an application for a voluntary return through the Voluntary Returns Service in (a) Wales and (b) the UK, in the most recent period for which data is available. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 24199 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-07more like thismore than 2024-05-07
answer text <p>Information on processing times for voluntary return applications is not held centrally and is not currently captured in a publishable form.</p><p>Our priority is to consider applications as efficiently and fairly as possible. There may, however, be circumstances which delay the progression of a case, for example waiting for evidence that is of importance in deciding an application, or a need to obtain documentation to enable travel. In these circumstances, regular reviews are undertaken at appropriate intervals, dependant on the reason why the application cannot be progressed.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole more like this
answering member printed Michael Tomlinson more like this
grouped question UIN 24200 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-07T12:55:59.683Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-07T12:55:59.683Z
answering member
4497
label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this
1714946
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-30more like thismore than 2024-04-30
answering body
Home Office more like this
answering dept id 1 more like this
answering dept short name Home Office more like this
answering dept sort name Home Office more like this
hansard heading Repatriation more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the (a) financial and (b) other impacts of delays in assessing voluntary return applications by the Voluntary Returns Service on applicants remaining in the UK. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 24200 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-07more like thismore than 2024-05-07
answer text <p>Information on processing times for voluntary return applications is not held centrally and is not currently captured in a publishable form.</p><p>Our priority is to consider applications as efficiently and fairly as possible. There may, however, be circumstances which delay the progression of a case, for example waiting for evidence that is of importance in deciding an application, or a need to obtain documentation to enable travel. In these circumstances, regular reviews are undertaken at appropriate intervals, dependant on the reason why the application cannot be progressed.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole more like this
answering member printed Michael Tomlinson more like this
grouped question UIN 24199 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-07T12:55:59.747Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-07T12:55:59.747Z
answering member
4497
label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this
1700947
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-15more like thismore than 2024-04-15
answering body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept id 208 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
hansard heading Israel and Palestinians: Aid Workers more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the safety of aid workers operating in (a) Israel and (b) Palestine. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 21568 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-18more like thismore than 2024-04-18
answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary has called on Israel to reform its deconfliction mechanism to ensure the safety of aid workers and to make progress on the UN's minimal operating requirements, including more visas and driver approvals granted, as well as more trucks permitted to cross into Gaza.</p><p>The Prime Minister set out the need for more aid to enter Gaza in his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 2 April, and that far too many aid workers and ordinary civilians have lost their lives.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield more like this
answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell more like this
grouped question UIN
21569 more like this
21570 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-18T16:18:49.667Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-18T16:18:49.667Z
answering member
1211
label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this
1700948
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-15more like thismore than 2024-04-15
answering body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept id 208 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
hansard heading Gaza: Humanitarian Aid more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking to help implement effective deconfliction in Gaza in order to facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 21569 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-18more like thismore than 2024-04-18
answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary has called on Israel to reform its deconfliction mechanism to ensure the safety of aid workers and to make progress on the UN's minimal operating requirements, including more visas and driver approvals granted, as well as more trucks permitted to cross into Gaza.</p><p>The Prime Minister set out the need for more aid to enter Gaza in his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 2 April, and that far too many aid workers and ordinary civilians have lost their lives.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield more like this
answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell more like this
grouped question UIN
21568 more like this
21570 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-18T16:18:49.713Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-18T16:18:49.713Z
answering member
1211
label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this
1700950
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-15more like thismore than 2024-04-15
answering body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept id 208 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
hansard heading Gaza: Humanitarian Aid more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of reports that a UNICEF humanitarian convoy was hit by live ammunition in northern Gaza on 9 April 2024. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 21570 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-18more like thismore than 2024-04-18
answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary has called on Israel to reform its deconfliction mechanism to ensure the safety of aid workers and to make progress on the UN's minimal operating requirements, including more visas and driver approvals granted, as well as more trucks permitted to cross into Gaza.</p><p>The Prime Minister set out the need for more aid to enter Gaza in his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 2 April, and that far too many aid workers and ordinary civilians have lost their lives.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield more like this
answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell more like this
grouped question UIN
21568 more like this
21569 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-18T16:18:49.743Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-18T16:18:49.743Z
answering member
1211
label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this
1700079
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-12more like thismore than 2024-04-12
answering body
Home Office more like this
answering dept id 1 more like this
answering dept short name Home Office more like this
answering dept sort name Home Office more like this
hansard heading Knives: Sales more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the enforcement of regulations on the sale of bladed items (a) to and (b) by persons under the age of 18. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 20903 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-17more like thismore than 2024-04-17
answer text <p>Since 2019, the Home Office has provided over £5 million of funding for a Violence Reduction Unit in Wales (known as the Wales Violence Prevention Unit (VPU)) which is providing a multi-agency, preventative response designed to tackle the drivers of serious violence and knife crime. Over the same period, we have invested c.£3.5 million (including c.£535k in 2023/24) in ‘hotspot policing’ to boost the policing response to serious violence in South Wales. In 24/25, we are providing c.£4.4 million of funding to all force areas in Wales under the Hotspot Response fund to deliver high-visibility patrols and problem-solving tactics in the streets and neighbourhoods worst affected by serious violence and Anti Social Behaviour.</p><p>The Wales VPU is tasked with investing in evidence-based approaches designed to steer vulnerable young people away from involvement in violence. As part of this approach, the VPU is funding local interventions including A&amp;E Navigators, delivering advice, support and guidance to patients of any age who have experienced violence with injury, with the aim of engaging with those injured whilst they are in hospital to help break the cycle of violence at the point of crisis. The VPU is also funding youth workers to deliver sessions to young people within both education and community settings covering issues such as knife crime. Additionally, just under £1m was awarded in 2023/24 to support delivery of the Serious Violence Duty across Wales.</p><p>We have also introduced new legislation which, subject to parliamentary approval, will ban zombie-style knives and machetes from 24 September 2024. Through the Criminal Justice Bill 2023, we are providing more powers for police to seize knives held in private that they believe will be used for unlawful violence, increasing the maximum penalty for the offences of selling prohibited weapons and selling knives to under 18s and creating a new offence of possessing an article with blade or point or an offensive weapon with intent to commit unlawful violence.</p><p>It is an offence to sell bladed articles to people under the age of 18 and with measures in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 we strengthened the requirements for age verification, and made it an offence to send bladed articles to residential addresses after they are bought online, unless the seller has arrangements in place with the delivery company to ensure that the product would not be delivered into the hands of a person under 18. This legislation is enforced by Trading Standards and the police. The Home Office does not hold enforcement data in relation to breaches of this legislation.</p><p>The Online Safety Act 2023 has finished its parliamentary passage and received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. The Government's intention is to have the regime operational as soon as possible.</p><p>Ofcom published the first draft codes of practice on illegal content for consultation on 9 November 2023. The Government expects these to be finalised in late 2024. These codes of practice will set out the steps companies can take to fulfil the duties for illegal content. In scope services will either need to follow these codes, or show their approach is equally effective. Tech companies will need to remove and limit the spread of illegal content. This means less illegal content online and when it does appear it will be removed quicker.</p><p>Schedule 7 of the Act sets out a series of priority offences which includes the sale of weapons. Companies will need to take particularly robust action to prevent the proliferation of this content online and ensure that their services are not used for offending. This means companies will need to proactively mitigate the risk that their services are used for illegal activity or to share this illegal content, to design their services to mitigate the risk of this occurring and to remove any content that does appear as soon as they are made aware of it.</p>
answering member constituency Croydon South more like this
answering member printed Chris Philp more like this
grouped question UIN 20904 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-17T15:22:25.263Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-17T15:22:25.263Z
answering member
4503
label Biography information for Chris Philp more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this
1700080
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-12more like thismore than 2024-04-12
answering body
Home Office more like this
answering dept id 1 more like this
answering dept short name Home Office more like this
answering dept sort name Home Office more like this
hansard heading Knives: Wales more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to help tackle (a) knife crime by and (b) the online sale of bladed weapons to people under the age of 18 in Wales. more like this
tabling member constituency Arfon more like this
tabling member printed
Hywel Williams more like this
uin 20904 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-17more like thismore than 2024-04-17
answer text <p>Since 2019, the Home Office has provided over £5 million of funding for a Violence Reduction Unit in Wales (known as the Wales Violence Prevention Unit (VPU)) which is providing a multi-agency, preventative response designed to tackle the drivers of serious violence and knife crime. Over the same period, we have invested c.£3.5 million (including c.£535k in 2023/24) in ‘hotspot policing’ to boost the policing response to serious violence in South Wales. In 24/25, we are providing c.£4.4 million of funding to all force areas in Wales under the Hotspot Response fund to deliver high-visibility patrols and problem-solving tactics in the streets and neighbourhoods worst affected by serious violence and Anti Social Behaviour.</p><p>The Wales VPU is tasked with investing in evidence-based approaches designed to steer vulnerable young people away from involvement in violence. As part of this approach, the VPU is funding local interventions including A&amp;E Navigators, delivering advice, support and guidance to patients of any age who have experienced violence with injury, with the aim of engaging with those injured whilst they are in hospital to help break the cycle of violence at the point of crisis. The VPU is also funding youth workers to deliver sessions to young people within both education and community settings covering issues such as knife crime. Additionally, just under £1m was awarded in 2023/24 to support delivery of the Serious Violence Duty across Wales.</p><p>We have also introduced new legislation which, subject to parliamentary approval, will ban zombie-style knives and machetes from 24 September 2024. Through the Criminal Justice Bill 2023, we are providing more powers for police to seize knives held in private that they believe will be used for unlawful violence, increasing the maximum penalty for the offences of selling prohibited weapons and selling knives to under 18s and creating a new offence of possessing an article with blade or point or an offensive weapon with intent to commit unlawful violence.</p><p>It is an offence to sell bladed articles to people under the age of 18 and with measures in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 we strengthened the requirements for age verification, and made it an offence to send bladed articles to residential addresses after they are bought online, unless the seller has arrangements in place with the delivery company to ensure that the product would not be delivered into the hands of a person under 18. This legislation is enforced by Trading Standards and the police. The Home Office does not hold enforcement data in relation to breaches of this legislation.</p><p>The Online Safety Act 2023 has finished its parliamentary passage and received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. The Government's intention is to have the regime operational as soon as possible.</p><p>Ofcom published the first draft codes of practice on illegal content for consultation on 9 November 2023. The Government expects these to be finalised in late 2024. These codes of practice will set out the steps companies can take to fulfil the duties for illegal content. In scope services will either need to follow these codes, or show their approach is equally effective. Tech companies will need to remove and limit the spread of illegal content. This means less illegal content online and when it does appear it will be removed quicker.</p><p>Schedule 7 of the Act sets out a series of priority offences which includes the sale of weapons. Companies will need to take particularly robust action to prevent the proliferation of this content online and ensure that their services are not used for offending. This means companies will need to proactively mitigate the risk that their services are used for illegal activity or to share this illegal content, to design their services to mitigate the risk of this occurring and to remove any content that does appear as soon as they are made aware of it.</p>
answering member constituency Croydon South more like this
answering member printed Chris Philp more like this
grouped question UIN 20903 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-17T15:22:25.217Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-17T15:22:25.217Z
answering member
4503
label Biography information for Chris Philp more like this
tabling member
1397
label Biography information for Hywel Williams more like this