Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress the Defending Democracy Taskforce has made.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

Mr Speaker, it is vital that elected representatives and their staff can discharge their duties without threat of intimidation or assault.

We have seen wholly unacceptable behaviour, especially around the general election.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce is looking urgently at these issues and I will update the House further in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help increase levels of innovation in Cardiff West constituency.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Spending Review supports the UK’s R&D ambitions, with total Government investment in R&D rising to a record £20.4 billion in 2025/26

This will build on the investments we have already made in the Cardiff region such as £25 million through the Strength in Places Fund to build on regional strengths in advanced semiconductor materials and manufacturing, and £22 million to accelerate growth in the Cardiff Capital Region's media sector.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress her Department has made with the (a) Defending Democracy Taskforce and (b) Welsh Government on protecting all levels of democracy from harm.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

It is vital that elected representatives and their staff can discharge their duties without threat of intimidation or assault. We have seen wholly unacceptable behaviour, especially during the general election.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce is looking urgently at these issues, and I will update the House further in due course.

The Taskforce also regularly engages with all devolved administrations including Wales, on tackling our shared threats including protective security. Officials will be holding their next meeting with devolved administrations following the next Taskforce due to be held in early 2025.

Found: Tuesday 11 September 2024 Members present Lucy Powell, in the Chair Mike Amesbury Mr Alex Barros -Curtis

Found: Session 202 4−25 Tuesday 26 November 2024 Members present1 Nick Smith , in the Chair Mr Alex Barros -Curtis

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Andy Slaughter (Chair); Josh Babarinde; Mr Alex Barros- Curtis;

Found: Q29 Mr Alex Barros-Curtis: What Lord Timpson said is encouraging.

Submit Evidence (by 10 Jan 2025)

The Justice Committee has launched its inquiry into Resettlement and Rehabilitation, which is centred around investigating the cycle of reoffending. 

Submit Evidence (by 31 Jan 2025)

The Justice Committee has launched an inquiry that will examine the scale and impact of drugs in prisons in England and Wales, including the primary factors driving demand. The inquiry will consider the implications of drug misuse in prisons including safety, security, staffing and prisoner well-being.