Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Theresa May and Justin Tomlinson

Wednesday 7th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

As the hon. Lady will have heard earlier, the Government are making changes to ensure that we build more homes in this country. But I also say to the hon. Lady that one of the issues we have had to look at is making sure that local councils are producing local plans. I believe that York has not had a local plan for 50 years; I suggest the hon. Lady speaks to her council about it.

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

On Sunday evening it was not Meryl Streep winning an Oscar but my constituent Maisie Sly, just six years old and born profoundly deaf, after her amazing performance in the film “The Silent Child”. Will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute to the inspirational Maisie Sly and her school Red Oaks Primary, which has helped her fulfil her true potential?

[The Prime Minister]

I think everybody was captivated by Maisie’s example and the film that won the Oscar, and I am very happy to join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to Maisie for her incredible achievement. This is important in highlighting the issue of disabled people, particularly deaf children, and it has captured the imagination of so many across the world.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Theresa May and Justin Tomlinson

Monday 23rd March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs May]

The right hon. Gentleman’s question is the third that I am answering from Labour Members. In response to the first two, I said clearly that the Government have not met their net migration target. I am not trying to claim that we have; I am very clear about the fact that we have not met our net migration target, but this Government have recognised the significance of immigration as an issue, and the impact that it has on public services and wages at the lower end of the income scale, and it is this Government who are doing something about it.

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

2. What assessment she has made of the risks to the UK from gaps in communications data capability.

Child Sexual Abuse (Independent Panel Inquiry)

Debate between Theresa May and Justin Tomlinson

Wednesday 4th February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs May]

My hon. Friend raises another important issue about how we deal with incidents currently taking place. I have been considering this matter along with a number of my right hon. Friends, including my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. We have focused particularly on looking at what we can do in response to the Alexis Jay report on Rotherham, and my right hon. Friend is of course about to make his own statement on the Louise Casey inspection. The Government will come forward with a number of proposals that will hit at the very issues my hon. Friend has raised. He is right that we need to look at issues around training and co-ordination in respect of bodies looking at incidents, or potential incidents, of child sexual abuse today.

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

I very much welcome this measured statement. Will the Home Secretary confirm that there will be absolutely no hiding place—regardless of time, status or influence—for those involved in these abhorrent acts?

[Mrs May]

I am very clear that this inquiry should go where the evidence takes it and that there should be no hiding place for anybody. We should be very clear that the aim of this inquiry is to get to the truth—to find out what happened, but crucially also to learn the lessons to make sure that this cannot happen again.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Theresa May and Justin Tomlinson

Monday 28th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

10. What steps she is taking to address domestic violence.

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mrs Theresa May)]

Domestic violence is a dreadful form of abuse and is totally unacceptable. Our approach to tackling it is set out in the Government’s updated violence against women and girls action plan. Key initiatives include piloting domestic violence protection orders, which I referred to in a previous answer, and a domestic violence disclosure scheme. We have also extended the definition of domestic violence to include 16 and 17-year-olds and to include the use of coercive control.

[Justin Tomlinson]

I have visited the women’s refuge in Swindon and was extremely impressed by the help and facilities that it provides. What steps is the Home Secretary taking to support the work of those vital safe havens for victims of domestic violence across the country?

[Mrs May]

Like my hon. Friend, I pay tribute to all those who work in refuges and provide refuge for the victims of domestic violence. They are predominantly for women, as the majority of such victims are women, but we must never forget that men can also be the victims of domestic violence, as my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) said earlier. The Government are providing stable funding of £40 million to support specialist domestic and sexual violence services, such as the independent domestic violence advisers who offer further valuable support to victims.

Disturbances (London)

Debate between Theresa May and Justin Tomlinson

Monday 28th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

What action will my right hon. Friend take to recover the costs of the damage from the extremists who have been arrested?

[Mrs May]

My hon. Friend makes an interesting point. If he looks at the Riot Act of 1886, he will see that it presents us with an interesting suggestion in dealing with those costs, and I am currently looking into its operation.

Public Order Policing

Debate between Theresa May and Justin Tomlinson

Monday 13th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mrs May]

Of course I was not actually down there talking to every protester. The police have assured me that a significant number of peaceful protesters left Parliament square, that that option was open to individuals, and that they facilitated it.

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

Will the thugs responsible be made to pay financially for the criminal damage caused?

[Mrs May]

It is important that the full force of the law is brought down on those identified as clearly guilty of criminal damage and violence.