Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 31 July (HL9677), which Overseas Territories have proposed a review of their constitutional arrangements with the UK; and what was their response to any such requests.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Anguilla, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands have proposed amendments to their constitutions, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is analysing these. I will be discussing the proposals with individual Territory leaders in the margins of the Joint Ministerial Council taking place 4-5 December.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which government departments will be responsible for providing financial and technical assistance to the British Overseas Territories to support the introduction of public registers of beneficial ownership, as established in section 51 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Government will discuss any initial requests for support from the Overseas Territories with respect to the implementation of public registers during the Joint Ministerial Council, taking place in December this year. Subsequent to those discussions, officials will discuss which departments will be involved in providing financial and technical assistance.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK funding is being used, or has been used, to support special criminal sessions in the High Courts of Sierra Leone; if so, what assessment they have made of whether those sessions have resulted in the passing of death sentences; and whether that funding complies with their Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Human Rights Guidance published in January 2017.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Her Majesty's Government funding is not being, and has not been, used to support special criminal sessions in the High Courts of Sierra Leone.Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the contract held by G4S to operate Oakhill Secure Training Centre, following the report published by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission on 21 November, which concluded that the overall functioning of Oakhill Secure Training Centre was inadequate.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Ofsted inspection report on Oakhill Secure Training Centre is completely unacceptable and we have taken urgent action to address the concerns raised by Ofsted. A new interim Director, with extensive experience, has been appointed at Oakhill and an experienced HMPPS Governor has been brought in to provide extra scrutiny.
We are robustly monitoring performance against the contract and are clear that we will take further steps, if needed, to improve delivery.
More widely across the estate, we are investing £64 million to reform youth custody and increase staffing, to improve safety and reduce violence.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the United States regarding the legal criteria under which an individual is deemed to be a member of ISIS.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Everyone who returns from taking part in the conflict in Syria or Iraq must expect to be investigated by the police to determine if they have committed criminal offences, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security.
Those who have committed criminal offences should expect to be prosecuted for their crimes under the full range of existing counter terrorism legislation. Any decision on whether to prosecute will be taken by the police and Crown Prosecution Service on a case by case basis
We continue to work closely with the US and our other partners in the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh and to ensure justice for those who have suffered at their hands. The Foreign Secretary discusses the Global Coalition's action against Daesh on a regular basis with US colleagues.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government by what criteria they assess an individual to have taken a direct role in hostilities in Iraq and Syria.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
UK individuals suspected of taking part in the conflict in Syria or Iraq will be investigated to determine if they have taken part in terrorist related activity. This assessment is an operational matter, determined on a case by case basis by police. Where there is evidence that crimes have been committed, those responsible should expect to be prosecuted under the full range of existing counter terrorism legislation.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to combine the Serious Fraud Office with any other law enforcement agencies.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government is committed to strengthening the UK's response to bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud and other forms of economic crime. The Government is continuing to review options to improve the effectiveness of the UK's response to economic crime, and any measures resulting from this work will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the findings of their internal economic crime review will be made public; and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government is committed to strengthening the UK's response to bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud and other forms of economic crime. The Government is continuing to review options to improve the effectiveness of the UK's response to economic crime, and any measures resulting from this work will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect section 1 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 to come into force.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Subject to Parliamentary time being available, we are aiming to fully commence the provisions relating to unexplained wealth orders by the end of this financial year.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 10 July (HL Deb, col 1080), when they intend to publish the UK anti-corruption strategy.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The government is working on a new Anti-Corruption Strategy which will be published in due course.