Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Metropolitan Police concerning the future of its Wildlife Crime Unit; and whether they will meet them to discuss the ramifications of this move for animal welfare.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the importance of tackling wildlife crime. We are committed to safeguarding rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing, and stronger laws to prevent farm theft and fly-tippers.
Along with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Home Office directly funds the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) to help tackle these crimes. Future funding will be subject to a forthcoming Spending Review.
The NWCU works on behalf of all police forces to assist in the prevention and detection of wildlife crime and reduce the harm posed by organised crime.
The Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit is a separate MPS unit and as such is a matter for the Mayor of London.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to re-introduce measures to make the reporting of child sex abuse mandatory; and if so, when.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Child sexual abuse is a despicable crime, and this Government will be taking robust action to better safeguard children and ensure that perpetrators face the full force of the law.
In its final report, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recommended the introduction of a mandatory reporting duty for certain individuals. We thank the Independent Inquiry for all their work on this important matter and pay tribute to all the brave survivors who shared their experience. We will be quickly identifying how we can move forward with delivery of the Inquiry’s recommendations.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what funding is being made available to Operation Grange into the disappearance of Madeline McCann in the financial year 2024–25; how many police officers are currently involved in the investigation; when the next review of funding will occur; and what are the total costs of the police operation to date.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
For the year 2024-25 the Home Office has agreed to provide up to £192,000 to the Metropolitan Police Service through Special Grant funding for Operation Grange, the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. At 31 March 2024, the total cost of the investigation was £13.2m.
Operation Grange’s Special Grant budget currently funds a team of three police officers and one member of police staff, all of whom operate on a part-time basis.
Special Grant funding is reviewed annually by the Home Office. The Department also liaises regularly with the Operation Grange investigation team to assess progress and challenge the use of funds as necessary.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine to tour the UK this autumn, particularly in regard to the granting of visas.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
UK Visas and Immigration can confirm that the Visa application centre (VAC) is open in Kyiv along with 242 other global VACs. Visa applications for those intending to visit or work in the UK are currently being processed within 15 days, or should a decision be required quicker, there are priority services available in a number of locations.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 21 September (HL2204), what specific criteria within the Special Grant processes were applied to the most recent application for continued funding of Operation Grange; and what plans they have to publish (1) their analysis of these criteria, and (2) their reasons for approving the application.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In May 2011, the then Home Secretary commissioned the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to undertake an investigation into the disappearance of Madeline McCann. As this was a request from Government and not within the MPS’s normal duties, the Home Office agreed to fund the investigation though the Police Special Grant. Funding is approved annually, in line with normal Special Grant processes. The length of the investigation is an operational decision for MPS. The Home Office receives progress updates from the operational team.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 6 December 2021 (HL4255), whether funding for Operation Grange has now ceased; and if not, (1) for what reason it has been extended, and (2) how much longer funding will continue.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office continues to provide funding for Operation Grange; in 2022/23 we will provide up to £303k funding to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to cover continuing costs. The Home Office maintains an ongoing dialogue with the MPS regarding funding for Operation Grange and all applications are made and considered in line with Special Grant processes.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cat thefts have been recorded in each of the last 10 years for which records are available.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Information on the number of recorded cat thefts is not held centrally.
We recognise the distress pet theft causes and are committed to preventing these cruel crimes.
However, information on the scale of pet theft was gathered as part of the Pet Theft Taskforce, which engaged a number of key organisations and experts in the field to shine a light on the existing evidence and is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-theft-taskforce-report/pet-theft-taskforce-report.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 21 June (HL709), whether further funding for Operation Grange into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann was granted; if so, (1) how much, and (2) until when; whether any further review of the effectiveness of Operation Grange has been undertaken; and how much has been spent on it up until the end of October 2021.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office has agreed to provide up to £350,000 of Special Grant funding in respect of Operation Grange up to March 2022. The current total spend as of October 2021 rounds to £13.2 million.
The Home Office regularly liaises with the Operation Grange investigation team to assess progress and challenge the use of funds as necessary. I also refer the Lord to my response to HL1446 and HL1447 concerning the National Audit Office’s review of Operation Grange in 2019 which determined that its oversight and governance by the Home Office was effective and that the Operation was compliant with the principles of Managing Public Money.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date the National Audit Office last reviewed (1) financial, and (2) other records, held by the Home Office on Operation Grange.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office has a dedicated team assigned to Operation Grange which regularly liaises with the Metropolitan Police investigation team to assess progress and challenge the use of funds as necessary. In addition, as part of the Special Grant funding framework, all operations receiving Police Special Grant are subject to periodic review by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Fire and Rescue Services to ensure that they are using funding in a way that is reasonable and proportionate.
The National Audit Office conducted enquiries with the Home Office concerning the provision of funding for Operation Grange in the summer of 2019. They determined that the oversight and governance of Operation Grange was effective and that the operation was compliant with the principles of Managing Public Money.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 21 June (HL709), what are the arrangements for overseeing the Metropolitan Police's Operation Grange to ensure the proper use of public funds and value for money.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office has a dedicated team assigned to Operation Grange which regularly liaises with the Metropolitan Police investigation team to assess progress and challenge the use of funds as necessary. In addition, as part of the Special Grant funding framework, all operations receiving Police Special Grant are subject to periodic review by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Fire and Rescue Services to ensure that they are using funding in a way that is reasonable and proportionate.
The National Audit Office conducted enquiries with the Home Office concerning the provision of funding for Operation Grange in the summer of 2019. They determined that the oversight and governance of Operation Grange was effective and that the operation was compliant with the principles of Managing Public Money.