Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to monitor far-right activity.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The government is absolutely committed to tackling those who spread views that promote violence and hatred against individuals and communities in our society, and that radicalise others into terrorism.

To understand such threats, we routinely monitor and assess all forms of extremist activity and behaviour, which includes Extreme Right Wing. We work closely with law enforcement and multi-agency partners to respond to any such activity which may pose as a threat.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Metropolitan Police in relation to (a) reports of planned protests by Tommy Robinson on Saturday 26 October 2024 and (b) public protection during those protests.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Secretary is in regular contact with the Metropolitan Police Service on a range of issues, including public order.

The management of demonstrations is an operational decision for the police, who are independent from government.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Merseyside Police on tackling (a) violent and (b) knife-related crime.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Tackling knife crime and violence is a top priority for the Government.

We are already taking action to get dangerous weapons off the street. We have banned Zombie style knives and zombie style machetes, and the manufacture, supply, sale and possession of zombie-style knives and machetes became illegal on 24 September 2024. We will also be taking action to ban ninja swords in line with our manifesto commitment and a review of online sales of knives is currently being conducted by the national police lead, Commander Clayman, at the request of the Home Secretary.

We will also create a new Young Futures programme - intervening earlier to stop young people being drawn into crime. It is vital we have a system that can identify and support those young people who need it most and we will be introducing Prevention Partnerships and Young Futures Hubs to help deliver this.

In addition, we are working closely with policing partners, including Merseyside Police, and we will be looking to initiatives such as the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership that works with a range of local agencies to deliver preventative interventions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help support Merseyside Police to tackle organised crime gangs.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The impact of Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) is felt on our streets and in our communities. The Home Office is committed to ensuring that the police have the capabilities they need to tackle this significant threat.

Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) continue to diversify their tactics and activity, supported by a rise in the use of technology and online platforms. Home Office funding to the NCA has enabled capacity building to tackle the threat from SOC including the supply of illicit drugs. This includes the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership - a joint NCA and policing unit to tackle the highest harm OCGs involved in drugs and firearms trafficking in the region.

This collaboration has significantly impacted the threat in Merseyside with a notable reduction in firearms discharges, and community safety perceptions have significantly improved, particularly in wake of the tragic gang related murder of 9-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

Since 2022, Merseyside Police have also been delivering Clear, Hold, Build (CHB) a dedicated programme designed to tackle SOC treats and harms, which is now operating across three sites in the force area, receiving additional Home Office funding following the murder of Olivia and several other innocent members of the community by OCGs. CHB aims to reduce the SOC threat and crime levels in high-harm local areas and build sustained community resilience which prevents this harm returning.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that growth in the British film industry is shared across the UK.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The government is firmly committed to supporting the growth of the film industry across every nation and region. Through our UK-wide funding programmes, investment in infrastructure, tax reliefs and support for independent British content, we want the UK to be the best place in the world to make films.

We fund the British Film Institute (BFI) to support the film sector through nationwide funding and initiatives. The BFI’s ten year strategy, Screen Culture 2033, sets out its core principle to reach across the full breadth of our nation. The BFI have sought to devolve funding, share power, and support networks across regions, in particular through their Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) which is a collaboration of 8 film hubs, managed by leading film organisations and venues around the UK. Film Hub North covers Liverpool.

The BFI is also tackling skills shortages in the sector to underpin growth across the UK. Under the BFI’s National Lottery Skills Clusters Fund, £8.1 million has been awarded to enable six Skills Clusters across the UK to identify skills gaps, coordinate local skills training, and develop clearer pathways to long-term employment in the sector. This programme includes £2.3m awarded to Screen Alliance North - created by the Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester, and Screen Yorkshire - over 2023-2026.

We support the British Film Commission (BFC) work, with £6 million in funding, to support the growth of seven geographic production hubs across the UK, by investing in infrastructure and attracting global film productions that bring inward investment into the local and national economy. This includes support for Liverpool, most recently supporting and advising on the Liverpool Littlewoods film studio development.

We also want to support independent British content, to ensure stories from across the UK are told on screen. We recently brought in the Independent Film Tax Credit to support homegrown talent, and we support indie content to grow internationally through the £28 million UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF). Daliland and The Almond and The Seahorse, both of which were shot in Liverpool, received international distribution awards from UKGSF.

In addition, to boost the contribution of film tourism to local economies, DCMS Arm’s-Length Body VisitBritain uses high profile filming locations as part of its international tourism marketing activity.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the growth of the film industry in Liverpool.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The government is firmly committed to supporting the growth of the film industry across every nation and region. Through our UK-wide funding programmes, investment in infrastructure, tax reliefs and support for independent British content, we want the UK to be the best place in the world to make films.

We fund the British Film Institute (BFI) to support the film sector through nationwide funding and initiatives. The BFI’s ten year strategy, Screen Culture 2033, sets out its core principle to reach across the full breadth of our nation. The BFI have sought to devolve funding, share power, and support networks across regions, in particular through their Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) which is a collaboration of 8 film hubs, managed by leading film organisations and venues around the UK. Film Hub North covers Liverpool.

The BFI is also tackling skills shortages in the sector to underpin growth across the UK. Under the BFI’s National Lottery Skills Clusters Fund, £8.1 million has been awarded to enable six Skills Clusters across the UK to identify skills gaps, coordinate local skills training, and develop clearer pathways to long-term employment in the sector. This programme includes £2.3m awarded to Screen Alliance North - created by the Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester, and Screen Yorkshire - over 2023-2026.

We support the British Film Commission (BFC) work, with £6 million in funding, to support the growth of seven geographic production hubs across the UK, by investing in infrastructure and attracting global film productions that bring inward investment into the local and national economy. This includes support for Liverpool, most recently supporting and advising on the Liverpool Littlewoods film studio development.

We also want to support independent British content, to ensure stories from across the UK are told on screen. We recently brought in the Independent Film Tax Credit to support homegrown talent, and we support indie content to grow internationally through the £28 million UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF). Daliland and The Almond and The Seahorse, both of which were shot in Liverpool, received international distribution awards from UKGSF.

In addition, to boost the contribution of film tourism to local economies, DCMS Arm’s-Length Body VisitBritain uses high profile filming locations as part of its international tourism marketing activity.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has responded to the regulation 28 prevention of future deaths report issued on 20 May 2024 in the case of deaths in the Forbury Gardens terror attack of 20 June 2020, to which a response was due under statute by 15 July 2024.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The deaths of James Furlong, Joseph Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails in the Forbury Gardens terror attack of 20 June 2020 were a tragedy. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of James, Joseph and David, and with all of those individuals impacted by this incident.

The Home Office response to the Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths was submitted to the Judge Coroner on 9 September 2024 and can now be viewed on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-0276-Response-from-the-Home-Office.pdf. The Home Office and other interested persons received an extension from the original deadline of 15 July 2024 due to the timing of the General Election.

In this response, the Home Secretary fully supported the Judge Coroner’s conclusion that the Home Office has made improvements since this tragic incident and that effective monitoring of these improvements is required. The Home Secretary will be overseeing the rigorous and robust implementation of recommendations and new commitments made.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to address the intelligence failings outlined in the regulation 28 prevention of future deaths report issued on 20 May 2024 in the case of deaths in the Forbury Gardens terror attack of 20 June 2020.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The deaths of James Furlong, Joseph Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails in the Forbury Gardens terror attack of 20 June 2020 were a tragedy. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of James, Joseph and David, and with all of those individuals impacted by this incident.

The Home Office response to the Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths was submitted to the Judge Coroner on 9 September 2024 and can now be viewed on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-0276-Response-from-the-Home-Office.pdf. The Home Office and other interested persons received an extension from the original deadline of 15 July 2024 due to the timing of the General Election.

In this response, the Home Secretary fully supported the Judge Coroner’s conclusion that the Home Office has made improvements since this tragic incident and that effective monitoring of these improvements is required. The Home Secretary will be overseeing the rigorous and robust implementation of recommendations and new commitments made.

Support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency

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Found: 2024 _NC8 Helen Hayes Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Simon Opher Rachael Maskell Ms Stella Creasy Paula

Found: 2024 _NC8 Helen Hayes Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Simon Opher Rachael Maskell Ms Stella Creasy Paula

Found: 2024 12 _NC8 Helen Hayes Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Simon Opher Rachael Maskell Ms Stella Creasy Paula

Found: 2024 _NC8 Helen Hayes Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Simon Opher Rachael Maskell Ms Stella Creasy Paula

Found: 2024 _NC8 Helen Hayes Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Simon Opher Rachael Maskell Ms Stella Creasy Paula

Found: _NC8 Helen Hayes Mr Jonathan Brash Dr Simon Opher Rachael Maskell Ms Stella Creasy Paula Barker