Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they propose to bring into force section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, which provides for a safe buffer zone around abortion clinics.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to proscribing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
While the UK Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review, we do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not being considered for proscription.
The UK Government has long been clear about our concerns over the malign activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The UK maintains sanctions on over 300 Iranian individuals and entities covering human rights abuses, nuclear proliferation and terrorism. The Government has also imposed sanctions on the IRGC in its entirety and on several senior security and political figures in Iran, including senior commanders within the IRGC and its Basij force. The Government will continue to hold Iran and the IRGC to account.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the European Commission in relation to Hungary's refusal to participate in the EU-wide programme of relocation of refugees.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford
The UK does not participate in the EU relocation scheme for asylum-seekers and, therefore, we are not involved in the related discussions.
The Government notes the recent Court of Justice of the European Union judgment on the legality of the scheme in a case brought by Hungary and Slovakia. The court found the scheme was legal and proportionate.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Berlin Christmas market attack, what assessment they have made of the European Counter Terrorism Centre.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford
The UK supports Europol’s efforts to assist Member States in addressing the key security threats emanating from firearms, finance, the internet, and serious and organised crime.
As part of this, the UK welcomes the role of the European Counter-Terrorism Centre (ECTC) in disrupting terrorist activities, particularly in detection of international flows of terrorist financing and illegal firearms, and enhanced internet referrals. The ECTC can and does play an important complementary role in supporting Member States in important areas such as, terrorist financing (Europol Financial Intelligence Unit), foreign fighters (Europol Focal Point Travellers), and the removal of online terrorism related material (Europol Internet Referral Unit).
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of developments in European intelligence sharing since the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and the 2016 terrorist attacks in Brussels.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford
We do not comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to ensure the cooperation of the authorities in California with United Kingdom law enforcement agencies in securing information from Twitter in respect of alleged online offences.
Answered by Lord Bates
HM Government works closely, and has regular discussions, with the US Government to help ensure that UK law enforcement agencies are able to secure the information they need in respect of alleged online offences.