Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is his Department’s policy that Palestinian citizens of Israel have a well-founded fear of persecution if returned to Israel.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made by considering any relevant extant caselaw and the latest available country of origin information.
Our position for different groups is set out in the respective country policy and information note(s), which are published on the gov.uk website.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of (a) compliance with fire regulations by providers of small paying guest accommodation and (b) the numbers of fire assessors to ensure that compliance.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) is the main piece of fire safety legislation that applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales. The FSO places a legal duty on Responsible Persons (RPs) to undertake a fire risk assessment and put in place a suitable set of fire safety precautions to ensure the safety of those who use the premises.
Fire and Rescue Authorities are the main enforcement body for the FSO. Each FRA is required to deliver an independent annual risk-based inspection programme to check the compliance of premises in their area.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has made an assessment of compliance with the recommendations contained in Police perpetrated domestic abuse: Report on the Centre for Women’s Justice super complaint, updated 23 November 2022.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
We were grateful to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and the College of Policing for carrying out an investigation into a supercomplaint on police-perpetrated domestic abuse in 2022. Responses to the recommendations from relevant organisations, including the Home Office, were published on gov.uk and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/responses-to-police-perpetrated-domestic-abuse-report-on-the-cwj-super-complaint.
We expect forces to take allegations of police-perpetrated domestic abuse very seriously, and to take steps to ensure that investigations are carried out impartially. By law, allegations of serious assaults, serious sexual offences or abuse of position by police officers must be referred to the IOPC to determine the appropriate mode of investigation, which can include an independent investigation.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of appointing an external force to investigate police domestic abuse cases.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
We were grateful to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and the College of Policing for carrying out an investigation into a supercomplaint on police-perpetrated domestic abuse in 2022. Responses to the recommendations from relevant organisations, including the Home Office, were published on gov.uk and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/responses-to-police-perpetrated-domestic-abuse-report-on-the-cwj-super-complaint.
We expect forces to take allegations of police-perpetrated domestic abuse very seriously, and to take steps to ensure that investigations are carried out impartially. By law, allegations of serious assaults, serious sexual offences or abuse of position by police officers must be referred to the IOPC to determine the appropriate mode of investigation, which can include an independent investigation.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has provided (a) guidance and (b) directions to the College of Policing when setting out its strategic ambitions.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Department liaises closely with the College of Policing, assisting them in the setting of the College’s Business and Strategic plans.
Alongside the College of Policing, all Home Office Arm’s Length Bodies contribute to the delivery of the Department’s Outcome Delivery Plan, with the College of Policing contributing to the outcome Reduce Crime.
The Home Secretary, Policing Minister and Officials regularly meet the CEO of the College.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase the duration of seasonal workers’ visas to nine months for people in (a) all sectors of the food supply chain and (b) the ornamental horticulture sector.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Government has no plans to extend the scope of the Seasonal Worker route or the maximum visa grant beyond the existing six months.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
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 legislative proposals on banning animal testing of substances exclusively for use in cosmetics (a) where testing is required in order to assess the risk to workers of exposure to that substance and (b) in all other circumstances.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
Animal testing of cosmetics for consumer safety has been banned in the UK since 1998 and this remains in force.
On 17 May 2023 the Government announced it is going further by banning, with immediate effect, licences to test ingredients exclusively used in the production of cosmetics for the purposes of worker safety.
The Home Secretary has issued a Written Ministerial Statement, which can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-05-17/hcws779.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her oral contribution of 27 March 2023, Official Report, column 666, on the Antisocial Behaviour Action Plan, whether she plans to permit the sale of nitrous oxide for domestic culinary purposes.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises that there are many legitimate uses for nitrous oxide in a wide range of sectors, including, but not limited to, medical, industrial and catering.
That is why we will shortly publish a consultation to understand the full range and scale of legitimate uses of nitrous oxide.
The consultation will enable the Government to design a legal framework that continues to enable legitimate uses and minimises the impact on businesses and individuals.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken to (a) issue or renew passports, (b) arrange appointments to verify applicants’ identity and (c) respond to correspondence from hon. Members on the time taken to process applications.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
HM Passport Office has processed more than 1.67 million UK standard applications across January and February with a total printed output of 1.86 million. Over 99.5% of standard UK applications processed within ten weeks and 95.5% within 3 weeks.
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made on (a) recruiting and (b) appointing a new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The role of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) as set out in the 2015 Modern Slavery Act is to encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of slavery and human trafficking offences and the identification of victims.
The Home Secretary recognises the importance of the role of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and has committed to running a new open competition to recruit for this role; the process will begin shortly.
The competition will be conducted as quickly as possible, whilst ensuring we take the necessary steps to recruit the best person for the role.