Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Herbert of South Downs and Gavin Shuker(12 years, 5 months ago)
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Nick Herbert
I know of the hon. Lady’s long-standing concern. The Government seek to draw the distinction between the unlawful use of weapons, which we aim to deal with as robustly as possible, and the lawful possession of such weapons. We have the tightest set of firearms controls in the world, but sporting shooting, particularly in relation to the Olympics, is of course important.
Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op)
3. What recent assessment she has made of the operational effectiveness of the UK Border Agency.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Herbert of South Downs and Gavin Shuker(12 years, 8 months ago)
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Nick Herbert
I am not sure how many times I can repeat to the right hon. Gentleman that I have said that the Government are considering these matters. I am not going to announce policy on the hoof when very serious issues are raised. It is not proper to make a link between the provisions in the Bill and the case that arose because the restriction on custodial remands in the Bill applies only to magistrates courts and not to the Crown courts—so it would not have affected the case that gave rise to the question.
Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op)
5. Whether his Department has undertaken a cost-benefit analysis of the implementation of the office of chief coroner.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Herbert of South Downs and Gavin Shuker(13 years, 3 months ago)
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Nick Herbert
Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will pay more attention to what the chief constable of the Greater Midlands—[Hon. Members: “Greater Manchester”]—police is saying. I am sorry, I mean the chief constable of the Greater Manchester police. He told The Bolton News that cuts would not affect the front line and went on to say that there was “no reason” why crime should go up. He pointed out to the Home Affairs Committee that some of the force’s headquarters operations had got too big and that some police officer numbers had been kept artificially high. He said that they had lots of police officers doing administrative posts just to hit that number.
Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op)
17. What recent assessment she has made of the extent of the activities of the English Defence League.