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Written Question
Fires
Monday 24th July 2023

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the article by Dr Gareth Clay Spreading like wildfire: the need for a UK Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS), published by the University of Manchester on 26 June; and what plans they have to introduce such a system.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office works across Government with a wide range of stakeholders including the National Fire Chiefs Council, England and Wales Wildfire Forum and other Departments and Agencies including DEFRA and the Met Office to promote planning and prevention for wildfire incidents in England.

The government is aware of the work to which you refer [“Toward a UK Fire Danger Rating System”]. The government would welcome seeing the full outputs from the research in due course which will help inform any future plans.


Written Question
Police: Medals
Wednesday 5th July 2023

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether (1) police officers in England and Wales, (2) police officers in Scotland, and (3) Police Service of Northern Ireland officers who had completed five full calendar years of service on 6 May, or who participate in Armed Service Coronation events during the course of 2023, will receive a Coronation Medal.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The King’s Coronation Medal will be awarded to all emergency services personnel in the UK who have been in paid service, in a retained or voluntary capacity, dealing with emergencies as part of their conditions of services and have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 May 2023. Individuals who have actively contributed to the official Coronation events in Westminster Abbey and processions, and other officially recognised ceremonial Coronation events will also be awarded with the medal.


Written Question
Insulate Britain: Demonstrations
Monday 22nd November 2021

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) Metropolitan Police officers were diverted from their other duties, and (2) police staff hours were expended, due to policing the Insulate Britain protest in Westminster on 3 November.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) confirmed that there were 59 arrests made in connection to the protest by Insulate Britain at Parliament Square on 4 November.

Figures are not currently available relating to number of officers diverted, police hours expended, or total cost of that protest. However, MPS has stated that the cost of policing Insulate Britain protests between the 13 September and the 10 October totalled £1,961,616.44. The breakdown of these costs are; opportunity costs of £1,721,700.31, fleet costs of £22,020.90 and overtime amounting to £217,895.23.


Written Question
Insulate Britain: Demonstrations
Monday 22nd November 2021

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government the total cost of policing the Insulate Britain protest in Westminster on 3 November.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) confirmed that there were 59 arrests made in connection to the protest by Insulate Britain at Parliament Square on 4 November.

Figures are not currently available relating to number of officers diverted, police hours expended, or total cost of that protest. However, MPS has stated that the cost of policing Insulate Britain protests between the 13 September and the 10 October totalled £1,961,616.44. The breakdown of these costs are; opportunity costs of £1,721,700.31, fleet costs of £22,020.90 and overtime amounting to £217,895.23.


Written Question
Insulate Britain: Demonstrations
Monday 22nd November 2021

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) Metropolitan Police officers were injured, and (2) protesters were arrested, during the Insulate Britain protest in Westminster on 3 November.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

There were no reports of injuries to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers who responded to the protest by Insulate Britain on Thursday 4 November, which took place on Parliament Square in Westminster. MPS confirmed that there were 59 arrests made in connection to the protest.

The right to peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. However, this does not extend to unlawful behaviour. Should a protest contravene the law, the police have comprehensive powers to deal with activities that spread hate or deliberately raise tensions through violence or public disorder. The use of these powers and the management of demonstrations are an operational matter for the police.

Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, the Government is introducing new measures which will allow the police to take a more proactive approach in managing highly disruptive protests.


Written Question
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services
Monday 21st June 2021

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what formal role Ministers have in scrutinising the work of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

HMICFRS is deliberately independent of government and the bodies they inspect. However, Home Office Ministers have a number of formal scrutiny / oversight roles in relation to its inspection work, which are laid out in legislation:

  • Provisions in the Police Act 1996 require Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary in England & Wales to obtain the Home Secretary’s formal approval of the Inspectorate’s annual police inspection programme and framework. The Chief Inspector must also submit to her (and lay before Parliament) an annual report on these inspections, including its assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of policing in England and Wales. The Chief Inspector may also decide to carry out inspections that have not been set out in the inspection programme, but prior to doing so must consult the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary can also direct HMICFRS to carry out additional policing inspections on issues of concern.
  • Provisions in the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 require Her Majesty’s Chief Fire and Rescue Inspector for England to obtain the Home Secretary’s formal approval of the Inspectorate’s fire & rescue inspection programme and framework. The Chief Inspector must also submit to her (and lay before Parliament) an annual report on these inspections, including its assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of fire & rescue services in England. The Chief Inspector may also decide to carry out an inspection of a Fire & Rescue Authority in England not set out in the inspection programme, but prior to doing so must consult the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary can also direct HMICFRS to carry out additional fire & rescue service inspections on particular issues of concern.

For both policing and fire & rescue service inspections, Ministers can ask for HMICFRS to take account of pertinent issues. Ministers also have the opportunity to scrutinise HMICFRS inspection findings. They will often receive embargoed copies and a briefing prior to publication of reports where they can discuss and raise any concerns on any of HMICFRS’ findings.

Responsibility for scrutiny of the corporate aspects of HMICFRS lies with the Permanent Secretary (as the Principal Accounting Officer). However, Ministers will have sight of pertinent issues and their approval is sought where necessary e.g. Ministers approve the annual operating budget for HMICFRS.


Written Question
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 8th June 2021

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how the legal powers of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services differ in relation to Northern Ireland compared to Great Britain.

Answered by Lord Greenhalgh

HMICFRS carries out inspections under a range of legislative powers. Police Forces in England and Wales are inspected under powers set out in the Police Act 1996. HMICFRS inspections of the Police Service of Northern Ireland are carried out under powers set out in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.


Written Question
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services: Powers
Tuesday 8th June 2021

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the powers of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

There are currently no plans to review the powers of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.


Written Question
Migrant Workers: Veterinary Medicine
Wednesday 17th July 2019

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to add veterinarians to the Shortage Occupation List in sufficient time for them to be trained and ready to deploy in advance of a no-deal Brexit.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to HL16474 on the 2nd July 2019.


Written Question
Migrant Workers: Veterinary Medicine
Wednesday 17th July 2019

Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to accept the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendation to add veterinarians to the Shortage Occupation List; and if not, why not.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to HL16474 on the 2nd July 2019.