Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Anas Sarwar Excerpts
Tuesday 12th February 2013

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Attorney-General was asked—
Anas Sarwar Portrait Anas Sarwar (Glasgow Central) (Lab)
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1. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the establishment of the National Crime Agency.

Oliver Heald Portrait The Solicitor-General (Oliver Heald)
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Although the Attorney-General and I have frequent discussions with the Home Secretary, there have been no recent discussions on the NCA, which is created by the Crime and Courts Bill. I am currently serving on the Bill Committee.

Anas Sarwar Portrait Anas Sarwar
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Will the Solicitor-General join me in welcoming Gordon Meldrum, the former director-general of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, as the new director of the NCA? As the Solicitor-General will know, organised crime happens across the UK, irrespective of borders. Will he outline the scale of the NCA and its budget and give the House an example of why we truly are better off together as one United Kingdom?

Oliver Heald Portrait The Solicitor-General
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As the hon. Gentleman will know, this is a large and important area of the UK economy that is threatened by serious and organised crime, estimated to be £20 billion a year. It is therefore right, as he says, to have a cross-United Kingdom response. Funding for the agency is a matter for the Home Secretary. The indicative budget for the first year is £407 million.