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1660128

registered interest
date	12/09/2023
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Knives: Sentencing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing the maximum penalty for carrying a knife to more than four years’ imprisonment on trends in the level of knife crime.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	198982
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2023 answer text <p>The maximum penalty for being in possession of a knife in public is 4 years imprisonment. In year ending March 2023, the average custodial sentence lengths for knife possession and threatening offences are the highest they have been in the last 10 years, 7.5 months and 14.8 months respectively. Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts. When deciding what sentence to impose, courts must consider the circumstances of the case in line with any relevant sentencing guidelines issued by the independent Sentencing Council.</p><p>However, in recognition of the seriousness of offences related to knives, the law provides for minimum custodial sentences for repeat knife possession and offences that involve threatening with a weapon. Measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act which came into force in 2022 strengthened existing legislation to make sure that the courts always impose at least the minimum term unless there are exceptional circumstances.</p><p>Whilst the government is not currently considering increasing the maximum penalty of 4 years imprisonment, the government continues to strengthen knife legislation.</p><p>On 30 August, the government published its response to the consultation on new legislative proposals to tackle knife crime. We will introduce a ban on certain types of large knives that seem to appeal to those who want to use these items as weapons, for instance zombie style knives or machetes. We will also give the police more powers to seize dangerous weapons, create a new offence of possession of a bladed weapon with an intent to harm, and increase sentences for those who import, manufacture or sell dangerous weapons to under 18s.</p><p>The full government response can be found here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1181991/Government_Response_to_Machetes_Consultation_-_sent_to_gov.uk_31-08-23_CLEAN.pdf" target="_blank">Government response to consultation on proposals to tackle the use of machetes and other bladed articles in crime. (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The measures detailed in the government response will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows, and we will continue to keep our knife legislation under review.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 20/09/2023 11:17:39 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1611676

registered interest
date	18/04/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Crime: Data Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the term crime in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill includes fraud and scams.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	181220
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>Tackling fraud requires a unified and co-ordinated response from government, law enforcement and the private sector to better protect the public and businesses from fraud, reduce the impact of fraud on victims, and increase the disruption and prosecution of fraudsters. This is why we will shortly publish a new strategy to address the threat of fraud.</p><p>The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which is currently before Parliament will make it easier for businesses to process personal data in order to tackle all types of crime, including fraud and other types of economic crime. When the Bill is commenced, they will be able to rely on a new lawful ground of ‘recognised legitimate interests’ under the UK GDPR to process personal data for these purposes. Unlike the current legislation, this will not require businesses to do a detailed assessment of the potential impact of the processing on the rights of individuals, which may affect the speed at which intelligence information relating to suspected fraud is shared.</p><p>Reforms in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill will also enable businesses, in certain situations, to share information more easily for the purposes of preventing, investigating or detecting economic crime by disapplying civil liability for breaches of confidentiality for firms who share information to combat economic crime.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/04/2023 08:49:29 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1583372

registered interest
date	02/02/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Prices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had recent discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority on mid-contract price increases on (a) mobile and (b) broadband contracts.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	138267
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>This is clearly a very difficult time for families up and down the country who are struggling to pay their bills as a result of the global rise in the cost of living.</p><p>On 23 January, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport met with Chief Executives from major broadband and mobile providers at which she asked them to consider carefully the need, at this time, for above inflation price increases and highlighted the impact they may have on those already struggling to pay their bills.</p><p>In addition, Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, has rules in its General Conditions which ensure that any price increases which may occur during the length of the contract are clear, transparent and prominent at the point of sale.</p><p>Both the Competition and Markets Authority and Ofcom are independent. The government engages regularly with Ofcom on matters relating to affordability of communication services, and we continue to carefully monitor retail pricing in the sector.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 08/02/2023 17:40:07 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1419196

registered interest
date	02/02/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Government: Research
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the status is of the Government Social Research Publication Protocol entitled Publishing research and analysis in government; and what the consequences are in the event of a breach of that protocol.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	116832
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2022 answer text <p>The status of the Government Social Research Publication Protocol entitled ‘Publishing research and analysis in government’ was updated and published in December 2021. This is available on gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-social-research-publication-protocols#full-publication-update-history</p><p> </p><p>The protocol applies to government departments in England and Wales that conduct or commission social research; the Scottish Government procedures for publishing social research are compliant with this protocol. Non-departmental public bodies and agencies are not obliged to follow the protocol, although as it is a statement of good practice for the publication of social research and analysis, compliance is encouraged.</p><p> </p><p>This update builds on and supersedes the GSR Publication Protocol published in 2015, and is signed off by Jenny Dibden (Head of GSR), Professor Sir Ian Diamond (National Statistician &amp; Head of the Analysis Function) and Sir Patrick Vallance (UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser &amp; Head of the Government Science &amp; Engineering Profession.</p><p> </p><p>There is an escalation route for breaching the guidelines in the Protocol, this can be found on page 7 in Principle 2:</p><p> </p><p>Where publication is not within 12 weeks, the relevant GSR Head of Profession should be notified and the reason for delay recorded. Reason for delay could be practical or legal, for example during an election period or prior to the budget announcement. The extent to which departments publish within 12 weeks will be monitored by GSR Heads of Profession and regularly reported to the GSR Board. Where systematic issues and/or delays on individual reports are identified, these will be escalated via Department Directors of Analysis and the Analysis Function Board for further scrutiny. GSR will also work with the Office for Statistics Regulation.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 07/02/2022 10:20:53 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1417014

registered interest
date	26/01/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department is providing to Afghan citizens associated with minority-faith based humanitarian and development organisations wishing to resettle in the UK.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	112463
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2022 answer text <p>The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme commenced on 6 January, providing up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.</p><p>The scheme will prioritise those who have assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for UK values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech and rule of law; and vulnerable people such as women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+).</p><p>Details of how the ACRS will operate including the referral pathways for those outside and inside Afghanistan are set in the oral statement of 6 January can be found here <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/oral-statement-on-the-afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/oral-statement-on-the-afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/02/2022 13:41:59 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 47635 answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1357468

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of extending means-tested free school meals to all universal credit or equivalent benefits claimants.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	53167
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2021 answer text <p>Under this government, eligibility for free school meals (FSM) has been extended several times, and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half century. Our analysis in 2018 estimated that extending eligibility to all families on Universal Credit would result in almost half of all school pupils becoming entitled to FSM. We think it is important that FSM support is targeted at those that need it most, and FSM is an integral part of our provision for families on low incomes, and our wider actions to promote social mobility.</p><p>In 2018, the government introduced new eligibility criteria for families on Universal Credit, following a consultation in 2017. It is estimated that this will be more generous in its reach by 2022, in comparison to the legacy benefit system. Further to this we included generous protections, which mean any family eligible for FSM transitioning to Universal Credit from a legacy benefit will continue to have access to FSM even if they move above the earnings threshold.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 18/10/2021 16:16:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1315147

registered interest
date	17/05/2021
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Overseas Students: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what preparations his Department has made for covid-19 hotel quarantine for international students from (a) India and (b) other countries in autumn 2021; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	2175
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2021 answer text <p>The Department will continue to ensure that the system has enough capacity to meet the challenges of arrivals from overseas, which includes international students arriving from red-list countries. The Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Education are working together on this issue.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 20/05/2021 16:40:06 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1170392

registered interest
date	13/01/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Musicians: EEA Nationals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the status will be of visiting musicians from EEA countries on 1 January 2021 in the event that the UK does not reach an agreement with the EU by the end of 2020.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	2410
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced that, at the end of the transition period, EEA and Swiss nationals will be able to continue to travel to the UK for holidays or short-term trips, without needing a visa.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office is currently engaging with other government departments, including DCMS, to ensure that the future immigration system continues to support the thriving cultural sector in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 2411 question first answered 03/02/2020 16:15:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1139321

registered interest
date	16/07/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Financial Services: Islam
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of using Islamic financial certificates, sukuk to finance infrastructure projects without adding to Government debt on the public sector balance sheet; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	277616
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text The proceeds from the Sukuk, like the proceeds from the wider gilt programme, flow into the consolidated fund. This is used for general expenditure, including expenditure on infrastructure. The government considers the core gilt program rather than the Sukuk to be the most cost-effective way of raising money for expenditure, including that of infrastructure projects. The main purpose behind the decision to issue a second Sukuk is to reaffirm the government’s commitment to the UK being the Western hub for Islamic finance, whilst also providing high-quality liquid assets to UK-based Islamic banks. answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 277781 question first answered 22/07/2019 14:01:35 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1050433

registered interest
date	29/01/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit: Civil Proceedings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions each local authority has been subject to legal action for the provision of inaccurate advice on universal credit to claimants in each of the last two years.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	213888
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will respond to any questions relating to Universal Credit policy if asked to do so by local authorities. However, DWP would have no wider role to play in, and would collect no data in relation to, legal challenges brought against individual local authorities as a result of their advice about Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 04/02/2019 18:07:48 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms