Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Prime Minister, whether he plans to meet with Figen Murray to discuss Martyn's Law.

Answered by Rishi Sunak - Leader of HM Official Opposition

My thoughts continue to be with all the victims of the terrible attack that took place in Manchester Arena in 2017. I pay tribute to Figen Murray for her courage and the bravery of her campaigning in Martyn’s memory.

I spoke to Figen Murray after becoming Prime Minister to discuss Martyn’s Law, and more recently, she met the Minister for Security (my right hon. Friend, the Member for Tonbridge and Malling). As set out in The King’s Speech, this government is committed to bringing in Martyn’s Law.

Details of my official engagements will be announced by my Office is the usual way.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Minister for Legal Migration and the Border's Oral Statement of 8 May 2024 on Passport e-Gates Network Outage, Official Report, column 592, if he will publish a report of the investigations into the failure of passport e-gates on 7 May 2024.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

It has never been Government practice, for reasons of law enforcement, to comment on operational issues relating to border security and immigration controls. This includes offering commentary on the performance of border systems and of ePassport Gates data specifically.

The Home Office has a number of contingency arrangements in the event of a system failure, including technical and business contingency measures.

In the UK, all arriving passengers need to establish their eligibility for admission. Every passenger is required to establish their nationality and identity. To maintain a safe and secure border, a passenger’s passport or national identity card is checked electronically. The eGates and face-to-face checks are two methods of conducting the same process.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of security at passport e-gates.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

It has never been Government practice, for reasons of law enforcement, to comment on operational issues relating to border security and immigration controls. This includes offering commentary on the performance of border systems and of ePassport Gates data specifically.

The Home Office has a number of contingency arrangements in the event of a system failure, including technical and business contingency measures.

In the UK, all arriving passengers need to establish their eligibility for admission. Every passenger is required to establish their nationality and identity. To maintain a safe and secure border, a passenger’s passport or national identity card is checked electronically.

The eGates and face-to-face checks are two methods of conducting the same process.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2024 to Question 24982 on Oppression, if he will publish the details of future reforms made to the systems and processes for tackling transnational repression.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Shadow Minister (Home Office) (Security)

The UK will not tolerate transnational repression (TNR) and will stand up for the rights of all people to live here safely and freely. The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our legal powers to counter foreign interference, and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce, is reviewing the UK’s response to TNR to ensure we have a robust and joined up response across government and law enforcement.

The review is nearing completion and I will be updating Parliament in due course. The review is an in-depth exploration of the issue, including material which is classified, it would therefore be inappropriate to publish the document in full. I intend to provide the House with a statement which summarises the key findings and recommendations.

It is crucial that those who believe themselves to be victims of state-backed threats report concerns to the police. At the UK - Hong Kong Symposium on 27 April, I set out that the police are in the process of finalising a new suite of resources to raise awareness and capabilities of frontline officers across the UK, which will be launched over the next few months. This will enable frontline officers to increase their understanding of the threats that foreign powers present, support their engagement with communities who may be at risk, and respond appropriately to reports from members of the public.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2024 to Question 24982 on Oppression, what his expected timetable is for the publication of his Department's review on transnational repression.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Shadow Minister (Home Office) (Security)

The UK will not tolerate transnational repression (TNR) and will stand up for the rights of all people to live here safely and freely. The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our legal powers to counter foreign interference, and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce, is reviewing the UK’s response to TNR to ensure we have a robust and joined up response across government and law enforcement.

The review is nearing completion and I will be updating Parliament in due course. The review is an in-depth exploration of the issue, including material which is classified, it would therefore be inappropriate to publish the document in full. I intend to provide the House with a statement which summarises the key findings and recommendations.

It is crucial that those who believe themselves to be victims of state-backed threats report concerns to the police. At the UK - Hong Kong Symposium on 27 April, I set out that the police are in the process of finalising a new suite of resources to raise awareness and capabilities of frontline officers across the UK, which will be launched over the next few months. This will enable frontline officers to increase their understanding of the threats that foreign powers present, support their engagement with communities who may be at risk, and respond appropriately to reports from members of the public.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May to Question 24982 on Oppression, on what date his Department announced new training for front line officers.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Shadow Minister (Home Office) (Security)

The UK will not tolerate transnational repression (TNR) and will stand up for the rights of all people to live here safely and freely. The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our legal powers to counter foreign interference, and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce, is reviewing the UK’s response to TNR to ensure we have a robust and joined up response across government and law enforcement.

The review is nearing completion and I will be updating Parliament in due course. The review is an in-depth exploration of the issue, including material which is classified, it would therefore be inappropriate to publish the document in full. I intend to provide the House with a statement which summarises the key findings and recommendations.

It is crucial that those who believe themselves to be victims of state-backed threats report concerns to the police. At the UK - Hong Kong Symposium on 27 April, I set out that the police are in the process of finalising a new suite of resources to raise awareness and capabilities of frontline officers across the UK, which will be launched over the next few months. This will enable frontline officers to increase their understanding of the threats that foreign powers present, support their engagement with communities who may be at risk, and respond appropriately to reports from members of the public.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May to Question 26458 on Oppression, if he will publish his speech to the Hong Kong Symposium on 27 April 2024.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Shadow Minister (Home Office) (Security)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.