Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Retail Crime Action Plan.

Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

In October 2023, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the Retail Crime Action Plan. Through this Plan, all police forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.

This builds on the NPCC commitment that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there are reasonable lines of enquiry, actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender, including shoplifting.

Early indications suggest that there has been improved police attendance at the retail crime incidents prioritised. This has been echoed by major retailers.

Though this is a welcome step from policing, we know more needs to be done. That’s why, on 10 April, we launched the Government’s plan – "Fighting retail crime: more action" which highlights five areas of work this Government will drive forward to tackle retail crime:

• Introducing a standalone offence for assaults on retail workers;
• Additional electronic monitoring for prolific shoplifters;
• Working with police and businesses to roll out the latest facial recognition to catch these perpetrators;
• Championing good practice to design out crime; and
• Making it easier for retailers to report crime.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will make representations to his Greek counterpart on the removal of military personnel from Southern Cyprus.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani

We do not routinely comment on the activities of non-UK personnel. The UK actively supports peace and stability in Cyprus as a leading troop contributor to UNFICYP and through our support for the UN-led settlement process.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2023 to Question 3452 on Cyprus: Land Mines, what progress the Government has made on encouraging the Greek Cypriot administration to join efforts to de-mine the island of Cyprus.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani

The UK is unequivocal in its support for a mine-free Cyprus. As UN Security Council penholder on Cyprus and a leading troop contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), we led the drafting of UN Security Council Resolution 2723 in January to renew UNFICYP's mandate and welcomed its unanimous adoption. The resolution included language urging both leaders to overcome existing barriers and expedite demining progress in Cyprus. We engage all sides to encourage the flexibility needed to make progress on tangible cooperation now, and ultimately to reach a just and lasting Cyprus settlement.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what his Department's advice is on direct air travel to (a) Kosovo, (b) Taiwan, (c) Northern Cyprus and (d) other non-UN member states.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani

The FCDO publishes travel advice which provides guidance on the most relevant issues for British nationals visiting Kosovo, Taiwan and Cyprus, including the north of Cyprus. There are direct flights between the UK and Kosovo, and the UK and Taiwan. Under the Chicago Convention, direct flights are not permitted between the UK and the north of Cyprus. To allow otherwise would be counter to the UK's international obligations. The situations in Kosovo, Taiwan and Cyprus are different and require different approaches.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to take steps to help simplify the licensing regime for (a) mopeds and (b) motorcycles.

Answered by Guy Opperman

On 8 May, I chaired a roundtable with several stakeholders from the motorcycle industry to discuss motorcycle licensing. The Department is working with these stakeholders to bring together evidence to consider any future measures for licensing.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to help ensure that parents who are eligible for tax free childcare in Northern Ireland access that support.

Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Tax-Free Childcare provides financial support across the UK to eligible working parents with their childcare costs. For every £8 parents pay into their childcare account, the Government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 in top up per year for each child up to age 11, and up to £4,000 per disabled child up to the age of 16.

To further support parents and childcare providers, a series of engagement events took place from autumn 2022 to autumn 2023, including with Northern Ireland local councils. This gave families and childcare providers additional support at local levels to improve their understanding and promote the scheme.

The Childcare Choices website provides information on what’s available to help parents with their childcare costs, including what schemes are available in the devolved Nations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of families eligible for tax free credits have not taken up their entitlement for tax free childcare in each of the last 5 years.

Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Statistics relating to Tax-Free childcare account usage are published quarterly in "Tax-Free Childcare Statistics" on the gov.uk website.

The current estimated number of families in the UK that are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare is 1.2 million. As this is an estimate, it is not possible to give an exact number of the number of eligible families not using Tax-Free Childcare.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families have taken up tax free childcare allowances in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Answered by Laura Trott - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Statistics relating to Tax-Free childcare account usage are published quarterly in "Tax-Free Childcare Statistics" on the gov.uk website.

The current estimated number of families in the UK that are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare is 1.2 million. As this is an estimate, it is not possible to give an exact number of the number of eligible families not using Tax-Free Childcare.

Larne Football Club

Government surveillance of bank accounts

Armenian Genocide

Building societies

Childcare for working parents

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Found: Mr Philip Hollobone Bob Seely Bob Blackman Jess Phillips Ben Lake Dame Caroline Dinenage Sammy

Found: Wilson Rob Butler Graham Stringer Carol Monaghan Mary Robinson Miriam Cates Eddie Hughes

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Found: Wilson Rob Butler Graham Stringer Mary Robinson Miriam Cates Eddie Hughes Mrs Flick Drummond

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Found: Jacob Rees-Mogg Sir Gary Streeter James Gray Greg Smith Mrs Natalie Elphicke Sir Liam Fox Sammy

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