Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Smith and Diana Johnson
Monday 7th July 2025

(6 days, 21 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Diana Johnson Portrait Dame Diana Johnson
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The right hon. Gentleman raises a really important point. We will continue to crack down on the organised gangs that target retailers. As we have set out, we will provide £5 million over the next three years to continue to fund a specialist analysis team within Opal, the national police intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime, to share information and make sure that retailers are part of the conversation. We are doing everything we can to tackle organised gangs.

Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney) (Lab)
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22. What steps her Department is taking to tackle the antisocial use of off-road bikes.

Diana Johnson Portrait The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)
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Our Crime and Policing Bill, which Opposition Members voted against on Third Reading, is giving the police greater powers to clamp down on off-road bikes and other nuisance vehicles that cause chaos in our communities. Once the changes come into force, officers will no longer be required to issue a warning before they seize a bike that is being used antisocially. On 28 May, we published a consultation to explore changes to the circumstances in which the police can seize and destroy these vehicles, and we will not hesitate to go further if needed.

Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith
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I thank the Minister for that answer. Gwent police are taking on dangerous, illegal off-road bikes, but a related problem is electric bikes, which are sometimes chipped to go faster and have become a new danger. Will the Minister please look into this? The bikes can be switched up from being a means to get from A to B into being a real menace.

Diana Johnson Portrait Dame Diana Johnson
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Yes, I am very happy to look into that issue and to meet my hon. Friend to discuss it. He may want to know that the 60 additional officers that are going to be available in his police force area by the end of this year will help to tackle some of the antisocial behaviour involving e-bikes and other vehicles.

Contaminated Blood

Debate between Nick Smith and Diana Johnson
Tuesday 11th July 2017

(8 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson
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It is delightful to see you in your new place in the Chamber, Madam Deputy Speaker. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford East (Anneliese Dodds) on her maiden speech. That was an excellent start, and I am sure she will have a very long career in the House of Commons.

We have heard some really important and excellent contributions. I think we were all moved by the contribution from my hon. Friend the Member for Newport East (Jessica Morden) when she talked about Colin Smith—a little boy who received contaminated blood products when he was quite tiny, and who eventually died of AIDS and hepatitis C. That reminded us all that this is about boys and girls, husbands and wives, and brothers and sisters who have been affected by this scandal.

Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
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Does my hon. Friend agree that these blood products should have been withdrawn as soon as the risks involved in their use became clear?

Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson
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That is a good point, and I hope the inquiry will be able to get to grips with it.

I am really pleased we have had this announcement today from the Government, but I gently say to the Minister that we will not be going away on this: parliamentarians on both sides of the House will be following carefully how the consultation takes place and who is consulted, and making sure that there is a good, timely timetable, that there is legal support for those who need help with representation, and that there are regular updates to Parliament.

I want to finish with a quote from a person who has just emailed me and says that this is

“just the end of the beginning and still a long way to go before truth, justice and holding to account are achieved”.

We will now be watching very carefully what the Government do next.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House has considered the need for an independent public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Smith and Diana Johnson
Tuesday 15th May 2012

(13 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
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3. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on ensuring quality services for victims after the election of police and crime commissioners.

Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
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12. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on ensuring quality services for victims after the election of police and crime commissioners.