Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will meet with the family of Collette Gallacher to discuss changing the law to ensure that those convicted of committing violent sexual offences against children before 1997 can be included on the sex offenders register.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The UK has some of the toughest powers in the world to deal with sex offenders and those who pose a risk.
In addition to the notification requirements for registered sex offenders (“sex offenders’ register”), where someone poses a risk of sexual harm, the courts can impose Sexual Harm Prevention Orders on individuals convicted of certain sexual or violent offences (including murder), and Sexual Risk Orders, on any individual who poses a risk of sexual harm, even if they have never been convicted. Both orders can place a range of restrictions on individuals, and breach is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
We are strengthening these orders through the Policing and Crime Bill, including enabling the imposition of positive requirements.
Although I am unable to comment on specific cases, I thank my Noble Friend for raising this case, and I will look into this matter to see what appropriate actions can be taken.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of fires since 2012 in buildings over (1) 18 metres or six storeys high, and (2) 11 metres or four storeys high, have had (a) non-combustible insulation, (b) combustible cavity insulation, and (c) no cavity insulation.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Home Office does not collect this information. Data on fires in high-rise and medium-rise purpose-built flats are available in Table 0205 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fire-statistics-data-tables#dwelling-fires-attended but we do not collect information on cavity insulation in the property in which the fire took place.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many high rise buildings retrofitted with combinations of composite or other forms of cladding which are not formed from solid metal and mineral wool insulation have had fires that resulted in fatalities in the last 10 years in the UK; and what estimate they have made of the number of such buildings internationally that have had fires resulting in fatalities in the last 10 years.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Home Office does not hold this information.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many high rise buildings retrofitted with combinations of composite or other forms of cladding which are not formed from solid metal along with phenolic foam insulation have had fires that resulted in fatalities in the last 10 years in the UK; and what estimate they have made of the number of such buildings internationally that have had fires resulting in fatalities in the last 10 years.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Home Office does not hold this information.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department for International Development will continue to contribute funds to the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme when the current scheme ends in 2020.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Work has begun with key stakeholders and international organisations on our future Asylum and Resettlement Strategy. This includes consideration of the UK’s resettlement offer, and how it is funded, beyond 2020.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the number of metal thefts in England and Wales since 2013; and what steps they are taking to address this issue.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Data published by the Office for National Statistics on 6 December 2017 shows that there were 12,970 metal theft offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales in the year ending March 2017. This was a reduction of 22 per cent compared with the previous year and a fall of 79 per cent from the year ending March 2013. These statistics are set out in the report of the Government’s review of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 which was published on 11 December 2017.
The Government will continue to work with the police and others through the police-led National Metal Theft Working Group to see what more can be done to prevent metal theft
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect a decision to be made on the proposals by five police and crime commissioners to take on the functions of fire and rescue authorities under the Policing and Crime Act 2017.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Six PCCs have submitted proposals to take on governance of local fire and rescue services (Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Cambridgeshire and North Yorkshire). Five of these did not have agreement from the relevant local authorities and so in November 2017 the Secretary of State commissioned independent assessments of the proposals in accordance with the legislation.
These assessments have now been received and decisions will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce the number of assaults on firefighters; and whether they intend to review the legal framework to offer additional protection to emergency workers.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
All attacks on emergency service workers are deplorable and are taken very seriously.
Fire and rescue authorities are tackling attacks on firefighters in various ways including engaging with the local community, and having CCTV cameras on their vehicles to help identify culprits. We will be shortly publishing data on the number of firefighter attacks in England and will continue to work closely with the National Fire Chiefs Council and fire authorities to monitor any emerging trends.
The Government is supporting the Private Members Bill tabled by Chris Bryant MP on assaults on emergency workers. The Bill will provide police and courts with further powers to deal with those who use violence against emergency workers including firefighters.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the special thematic report by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services’ <i>Safeguarding Pressures Phase 5, </i>on unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children published on 3 November 2016, and of its finding that the higher funding rates available from 1 July 2016 are not sufficient to meet the full costs of caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government significantly increased the funding provided to local authorities looking after Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) in July 2016. These rates are based on a detailed analysis of financial information sent to the Home Office by local authorities about their actual cost of caring for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. That analysis showed the average cost across all local authorities of looking after an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child aged under 16 was approximately £41,610 per annum and the average cost of supporting those aged 16 and 17 was approximately £33,215 per annum. The Government has made additional funding available for local authorities through the Controlling Migration Fund.
We have committed to regularly review the rates and will work with the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services and local authorities to ensure their views form part of that review.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding has been allocated to support unaccompanied children being resettled in the UK beyond 31 March 2017.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In July 2016, we significantly increased the national rates of funding to local authorities taking responsibility for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. We will keep these arrangements under review, but we have no current plans to reduce the rates.