Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9549 on Royal and VIP Executive Committee, who represents her on the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Secretary is responsible within Cabinet and accountable to Parliament for the protective security of members of the Royal Family and public figures at particular risk.
The Home Secretary has delegated responsibility to the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC).
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date she declared the hospitality of tickets to the Taylor Swift concert in August 2024 to her Permanent Secretary.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
As is standard practice, all ministerial gifts and hospitality received are declared on the Ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings transparency data on gov.uk
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the estimated cost to the public purse of the special escort group policing for Taylor Swift and her entourage; and whether any external sources contributed to that cost.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The safety of the British public is the first priority of this Government. We make no apologies for ensuring citizens are protected.
It is entirely right that for major events in the capital, the Government has a dialogue with the Metropolitan Police and Mayor to discuss planning to ensure events happen safely. Operational decisions on security arrangements are made by the police, independent of politicians.
It is long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on security arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions (a) she has had and (b) officials in her Department have had with the Metropolitan Police on Special Escort Group policing for (i) Taylor Swift and (ii) her entourage.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The safety of the British public is the first priority of this Government. We make no apologies for ensuring citizens are protected.
It is entirely right that for major events in the capital, the Government has a dialogue with the Metropolitan Police and Mayor to discuss planning to ensure events happen safely. Operational decisions on security arrangements are made by the police, independent of politicians.
It is long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on security arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Metropolitan Police originally recommended that the Special Escort Group was necessary to escort Taylor Swift to and from Wembley Stadium.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The safety of the British public is the first priority of this Government. We make no apologies for ensuring citizens are protected.
It is entirely right that for major events in the capital, the Government has a dialogue with the Metropolitan Police and Mayor to discuss planning to ensure events happen safely. Operational decisions on security arrangements are made by the police, independent of politicians.
It is long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on security arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to revise guidance issued to her Department on accepting hospitality from the (a) football and (b) music industry.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
I refer the hon. Member to the answers by my hon. Friend, the Minister without Portfolio, during the Urgent Question, Reporting Ministerial Gifts and Hospitality, on 14 October 2024, Official Report, Columns 594-602.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has participated in discussions on the provision of escorted policing to private individuals who are not formally classified as protected individuals in its capacity as her representative on the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)
The government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on protective security arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.
Decisions on security arrangements are independent operational decisions for the police.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the fraudulent and criminal behaviour of car-hire companies which operate in tandem with organised crime to (a) use and (b) steal motor vehicles of customers.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Shadow Minister (Home Office) (Security)
The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this devastating crime, including those perpetrated by organised criminals.
We will shortly publish a new strategy to address the threat of fraud.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has has with her EU counterparts on tackling Hezbollah fundraising efforts within the EU.
Answered by James Brokenshire
The UK has a strong reputation for tackling terrorist financing and we work very closely with international partners and financial institutions to exchange and analyse information. This ensures we are better able to detect, prevent and disrupt the movement of global terrorist funds. Our EU cooperation is part of a wider landscape of international counter terrorism work, which includes cooperation through relationships such as Interpol, the Five Eyes, and bilateral work with individual countries.
The entirety of Hizballah is proscribed and designated under the UK’s domestic counter terrorism sanctions regime (the Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 (TAFA)). Hizballah’s Military Wing is also designated along with two named individuals associated with the group under the EU CP931 regime. The investigation and prosecution of offences relating to proscribed organisations is a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.