Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Seema Kennedy and Tracey Crouch

Monday 28th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) (Con)]

T5. The Vagrancy Act 1824 criminalises vulnerable people for simply having nowhere to go, and wastes valuable police time and resources with issues that could be far better managed by outreach workers and multi-agency support services. Local police officers tell me that they have plenty of other tools to deal with rough sleeping. With that in mind, will my right hon. Friend reassure me that she is engaging positively with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in its review of this outdated, unnecessary and damaging piece of legislation?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Seema Kennedy)]

I can reassure my hon. Friend that we are working with MHCLG colleagues. The Government believe that no one should be criminalised simply for sleeping rough. We committed to reviewing the Vagrancy Act in the cross-governmental rough sleeping strategy. Rough sleeping is obviously a complex issue, and we are looking closely at all the options, including retention, repeal, replacement and amendment of the Act.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Seema Kennedy and Tracey Crouch

Thursday 3rd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Tracey Crouch]

As I said earlier, we are working hard to ensure that we get visitors out of London and into the regions. I encourage my hon. Friend and his local destination organisation to apply for Discover England funding to ensure that we can attract visitors to all parts of the country, including Lancashire and his constituency, where one can purchase the finest sticky toffee pudding I have ever had.

[Seema Kennedy (South Ribble) (Con)]

4. What support her Department is providing for Local Charities Day.