Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of cyberflashing images that were reported to law enforcement in England and Wales in the last five years.
Answered by Damian Hinds
Official estimates on the number of cyberflashing images that were reported to law enforcement in England and Wales have not been made. However, a YouGov survey in 2017 estimated that around four in ten (41%) of young women (aged 18 to 36 years) had experience of having been sent an unsolicited obscene images of men.
This level of prevalence is why the Government is considering making unsolicited sending of obscene images, for example via wi-fi or Bluetooth, a specific criminal offence.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including (a) coded welders, (b) steel fabricators, (c) mechanical fitters and (d) pipe fitters on the Immigration Rules Appendix K: Shortage Occupation List.
Answered by Kevin Foster
In March, the Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on the composition of the Shortage Occupation Lists (SOL) in light of the expanded skills threshold of the new Skilled Worker route, which will come into effect on 1 December.
The MAC published its findings and recommendations on 29 September. The Government welcomes the MAC’s comprehensive advice; however, we do not consider changes to the SOLs should be made at this time, before assessing how the UK labour market develops post-Covid 19 and in response to the introduction of the new Points-Based Immigration System on 1 January 2021.
As published on 22 October, the Immigration Rules for the new Points-Based Immigration System include an Appendix Shortage Occupation Lists. This replaces the existing lists under Appendix K. The contents are the same.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what visa options are available to the ship building industry for the use of non-UK labour for the delivery of shipbuilding projects.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The UK’s new Points-Based Immigration System will come into effect from 1 January 2021; however, to provide certainty for UK-based employers and individual migrants, a number of new routes – including the new Skilled Worker route – will open on 1 December 2020.
Occupations such as boat and ship builders and repairers will be eligible for the Skilled Worker route subject to meeting the wider criteria, including the relevant salary threshold and English Language requirements.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to update the Immigration Rules Appendix K: Shortage Occupation List before the end of the transition period.
Answered by Kevin Foster
In March, the Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on the composition of the Shortage Occupation Lists (SOL) in light of the expanded skills threshold of the new Skilled Worker route, which will come into effect on 1 December.
The MAC published its findings and recommendations on 29 September. The Government welcomes the MAC’s comprehensive advice; however, we do not consider changes to the SOLs should be made at this time, before assessing how the UK labour market develops post-Covid 19 and in response to the introduction of the new Points-Based Immigration System on 1 January 2021.
As published on 22 October, the Immigration Rules for the new Points-Based Immigration System include an Appendix Shortage Occupation Lists. This replaces the existing lists under Appendix K. The contents are the same.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve the identification of children who are sexually abused and are (a) aged under 10, (b) LGBTQ+, (c) disabled and (d) BAME.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
We are committed to tackling all forms of child sexual abuse.
The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse provides practical support to commissioners and frontline professionals across local authorities, police, health services and the voluntary sector; embedding what works to prevent and tackle child sexual abuse, for all groups of children, into practice. This includes looking into additional barriers to identification, such as age, disability, sexuality or ethnicity.
We have worked with the College of Policing, providing £1.9m of funding to develop a more comprehensive package of training for first responders, so they are better able to identify signs of vulnerability and provide support to victims. We have also funded the police’s own Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme to develop policing best practice in response to vulnerability as a whole. We are also working with the police to strengthen their response to vulnerability through multi-agency safeguarding partnerships. The partnerships will lead to better protection for all vulnerable children and young people, through clearer strategic decision-making and sharing of expertise across safeguarding agencies.
We are determined that all children who experience sexual abuse, regardless of age, background, or disability can access the support they need to help them in their recovery. We have recently launched a CSA support service transformation fund which will promote best practice and improve the quality of support to children from diverse backgrounds. We have also published guidance for commissioners of CSA support services which underlines the importance of commissioning services that meet the needs of all children in the local community who have experienced sexual abuse.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has of the adequacy of the response times of Action Fraud.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Victims in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are encouraged to report these crimes directly to Action Fraud, the centralised reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Those in Scotland should report directly to Police Scotland, via the 101 service.
It is vital that victims of fraud have the confidence to come forward and know that their case will be dealt with.
The City of London Corporation (as the Police Authority for the City of London Police) commissioned an independent review by Sir Craig Mackey QPM into the standards, culture and management of Action Fraud. The findings and recommendations of that review were published on 24th January on the City of London Police Authority’s website, currently available at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/About-us/action-fraud-report.pdf
The review highlights the need to improve the victim experience, with a focus on answering times, the time callers spend waiting in queues and the percentage of calls that are answered. The City of London Police are addressing Sir Craig’s recommendations regarding Action Fraud and the NFIB, working with the City of London Corporation, the National Crime Agency and the Home Office.
City of London Police transparently publish their response times. These are currently available at: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud-stats. We monitor these stats closely, working with City of London Police to understand any monthly drops in response times.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what avenues of redress there are for people who have been defrauded by an individual who is based outside of the UK.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Victims in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are encouraged to report these crimes directly to Action Fraud, the centralised reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Those in Scotland should report directly to Police Scotland, via the 101 service.
It is vital that victims of fraud have the confidence to come forward and know that their case will be dealt with.
The City of London Corporation (as the Police Authority for the City of London Police) commissioned an independent review by Sir Craig Mackey QPM into the standards, culture and management of Action Fraud. The findings and recommendations of that review were published on 24th January on the City of London Police Authority’s website, currently available at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/About-us/action-fraud-report.pdf
The review highlights the need to improve the victim experience, with a focus on answering times, the time callers spend waiting in queues and the percentage of calls that are answered. The City of London Police are addressing Sir Craig’s recommendations regarding Action Fraud and the NFIB, working with the City of London Corporation, the National Crime Agency and the Home Office.
City of London Police transparently publish their response times. These are currently available at: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud-stats. We monitor these stats closely, working with City of London Police to understand any monthly drops in response times.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the level of threat related to online child sexual abuse during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Based on reporting from law enforcement partners and expert opinion, our assessment suggests the risk of online abuse has increased. We continue to develop our understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on child sexual abuse, gathering input from law enforcement, safeguarding leads, charities, international partners and other colleagues. We are working with all our partners to strengthen this assessment and deliver a whole system response.
The Government is committed to tackling online child sexual exploitation and abuse and recognises that whilst there are huge benefits to being online in order to stay connected to family and friends during this period, many parents may feel concerned about the activities and content their children are accessing. We have published Guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-online/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-parents-and-carers-to-keep-children-safe-online) for parents and children outlining resources to help keep children safe from different risks online, including online grooming, and where to go to receive support and advice.
In May, the Government pledged more than £76?million?extra funding to support the most vulnerable in society during pandemic. The funding has been made available for charities to support?survivors of abuse, including child sexual abuse.
Recognising the impact of the current situation, the Prime Minister hosted the government’s first Hidden Harms virtual summit. It was attended by over 70 representatives from across government, the NHS, law enforcement, charities and frontline services, as well as survivors of hidden harms. The summit was an opportunity to share emerging best practice at the local and national level and identify areas to go further over the coming months.
Home Office Ministers have met the Internet Watch Foundation, children charities, the tech industry and other parties on the threat during the pandemic, including writing to industry partners on countering online child sexual exploitation and abuse during the pandemic.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether an individual who is on a spousal visa will be penalised if their employer places them on the furloughed workers scheme.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
These concessions are set out for customers on GOV.UK and are available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents.
We continue to monitor the situation closely and take the current exceptional circumstances into account.
To ensure a spouse or partner applying for entry clearance, leave to remain or indefinite leave are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control, for the purpose of the minimum income requirement an applicant or sponsor furloughed under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be deemed as earning 100% of their salary.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the covid-19 lockdown, what assessment she has made of when people will be able to register births, marriages and civil partnerships.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The local registration service in England has been advised that birth registrations can recommence where these can be safely delivered in line with Public Health and local authority guidelines. The restrictions in Wales have not yet been lifted. The Government is further considering the options for how marriages and civil partnerships can be registered while respecting prevailing public health guidance and regulations to slow the spread of Covid-19.