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Written Question
Cybercrime
Tuesday 4th February 2020

Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to review the effectiveness of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 in tackling the threat posed by cyber crime.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

Home Office officials have been engaging in regular discussions with all relevant stakeholders regarding possible reform of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 which includes the National Cyber Security Centre. 10417

The Home Office keeps the Computer Misuse Act 1990 under regular review. It was last amended through provisions contained in the Serious Crime Act 2015. The Home Office is engaged in ongoing discussions with relevant partners in law enforcement, government and the private sector to ensure that the legislation continues to remain effective. 10418


Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 27 Jan 2020
Automated Facial Recognition Surveillance

"Policing sporting events such as the Cheltenham festival, which will soon be upon us, presents unique challenges for the police. How does the Minister see this technology, once appropriately considered and reviewed, acting to assist the police to ensure that those who might wish to do harm to large numbers …..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

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Written Question
Sex Establishments: Licensing
Friday 24th January 2020

Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has plans to review the current policy on sexual entertainment licences that allows for venues to operate pop-up sexual entertainment venues.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

We currently have no plans to amend the legislation surrounding the licensing of sexual entertainment venues. However, we routinely review local licensing regulations and we continue to work with the police to make sure that public nuisance issues are being tackled.


Written Question
British Nationality: Assessments
Wednesday 30th October 2019

Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the Life in the UK citizenship test questions are intelligible and accessible to applicants of all backgrounds and age groups.

Answered by Seema Kennedy

The Life in the UK test is based on the Life in the UK handbook, “Life in the UK: a guide for new residents”. The test is administered by PSI on behalf of the Home Office. The questions were set with the assistance of linguistic experts and professional question writers.

The tests have a number of accessibility features which are available to all candidates. These include the ability to adjust settings and use audio. Additional tailored access arrangements can be provided by test centres.


Written Question
Harassment: Fixed Penalties
Monday 28th October 2019

Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a fixed penalty offence for harassment.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Government takes all forms of harassment extremely seriously.

Unwelcome advances that intimidate, degrade or humiliate, are an abuse of power and are unlawful. This Government has incorporated sexual harassment into the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy for the first time, in recognition of its disproportionate impact on women.

Several criminal offences already cover sexual harassment in public places, including the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Public Order Act 1986, the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the Equality Act 2010.

Together with the Government Equalities Office, we are working to better understand the prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace and in public places. This autumn we will be running a nationally representative survey that will go out to 12,000 respondents. We will then consider next steps when we have access to this important evidence.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"11. What support she is providing to EU citizens applying to the EU settlement scheme. ..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Oct 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I am delighted that the settlement scheme is progressing at pace, with 2 million or so people signing up. However, some individuals in my constituency really benefit from face-to-face contact, so what steps are being taken, through pop-up shops or whatever, to ensure that they can get the vital hands-on …..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 23 Oct 2019
Major Incident in Essex

"TRiM—trauma risk management—is a protocol adopted by Gloucestershire police to provide swift support to police officers who have witnessed deeply traumatic episodes. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that if the support Essex police provide to their officers requires them to reach out to other police forces for additional …..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Oct 2019
Public Services

"Does my right hon. Friend agree that it appears the Labour party has not learned any lessons at all? They have a plan to spend over £150 billion on renationalisation, which would leave no money for schools and hospitals...."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

View all Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) contributions to the debate on: Public Services

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Oct 2019
Public Services

"It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Layla Moran), but I cannot agree with what she had to say. Indeed, when I look at the positive measures in the Queen’s Speech, it is the news on schools and school funding that shines out …..."
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View all Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) contributions to the debate on: Public Services