0:00:11 > 0:00:16Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home
0:00:16 > 0:00:27Department. Secretary Amber Rudd. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I recognise
0:00:27 > 0:00:30the role firefighters play in protecting communities as the
0:00:30 > 0:00:34mistreated during the tragic fires recently at Liverpool Echo Arena car
0:00:34 > 0:00:42park. Fire Services have the funds they need and will receive £2.3
0:00:42 > 0:00:47billion in 2018-19 to continue their vital work. Single purpose
0:00:47 > 0:00:53authorities' non-ringfenced reserves increased by 88% to £615 million
0:00:53 > 0:00:58between March 2011 and March 2000 17. This is equivalent to 49% of net
0:00:58 > 0:01:05expenditure.The Home Secretary will be aware that there are 20% fewer
0:01:05 > 0:01:08firefighters in Plymouth today than there were in 2010, but the risk has
0:01:08 > 0:01:12not gone down. With the combustible cladding still on the tower blocks
0:01:12 > 0:01:16in Devonport, the risk remains high. Will the Home Secretary be able to
0:01:16 > 0:01:19give us the reassurance that there will be no further reductions in
0:01:19 > 0:01:21firefighters in Plymouth and no further reductions in firefighting
0:01:21 > 0:01:27funding?The honourable gentleman raises an interesting point. He is
0:01:27 > 0:01:32right that there are 20% less firefighters, but there are 50% less
0:01:32 > 0:01:38incidence of fire that firefighters have to attend. It seems to me that
0:01:38 > 0:01:42we are still able to get the best service from our firefighters. If
0:01:42 > 0:01:44the honourable gentleman has requirements for his community in
0:01:44 > 0:01:52terms of tower blocks, he should approach the DGC to assist with
0:01:52 > 0:01:57additional needs.In Northamptonshire, we now have a
0:01:57 > 0:02:00joint police and fire commissioner. Does the Home Secretary agreed what
0:02:00 > 0:02:05is the best way to make the best use of limited resources?My honourable
0:02:05 > 0:02:11friend is right. It is an excellent way to use resources most
0:02:11 > 0:02:17efficiently, to make sure we have those sort of mergers. There is now
0:02:17 > 0:02:20an obligation from legislation passed last year to make sure that
0:02:20 > 0:02:25fire authorities work more closely with the police.The Home Secretary
0:02:25 > 0:02:31has already referred to the major fire that ravaged the car park at
0:02:31 > 0:02:36Liverpool Arena car park on New Year's Eve. Around 1400 vehicles
0:02:36 > 0:02:41were destroyed. It was only because of the magnificent efforts of
0:02:41 > 0:02:46Merseyside firefighters that there was no loss of life. But would she
0:02:46 > 0:02:51take it as a warning that government cuts, slashing 42 full-time
0:02:51 > 0:02:57appliances down to 26 now and 18 next year are putting lives at risk?
0:02:57 > 0:03:03Will she undertake to review funding for the Merseyside fire and rescuers
0:03:03 > 0:03:08are to?I would point out to the honourable lady the scale of the
0:03:08 > 0:03:12reserves that I have already highlighted and ask her to work with
0:03:12 > 0:03:17her own fire authority to ensure that they are using that wisely.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22Following up on her comments, I pay the utmost respect and admiration
0:03:22 > 0:03:27for the firefighters who did such an excellent job in that incident.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Michael Fabricant.In Lichfield, we have a new fire station, but we have
0:03:31 > 0:03:38one less fire appliance, which seems an odd sense of priorities to me and
0:03:38 > 0:03:41the weather Fire Service is run in Staffordshire. There would be a £10
0:03:41 > 0:03:46million saving if only the police and the Fire Service merged their
0:03:46 > 0:03:50back-office function. What can the Home Secretary do to encourage them
0:03:50 > 0:03:55to do that?It's an excellent point from my honourable friend and it
0:03:55 > 0:04:01reinforces the point made by one of our colleagues about the best way to
0:04:01 > 0:04:04achieve efficiencies, which is close working between police and fire. I
0:04:04 > 0:04:09urge him to encourage his authority to put in the business case review
0:04:09 > 0:04:15for us to look at.May I wish you a happy new year, Mr Speaker. The
0:04:15 > 0:04:20Secretary of State has already mentioned the fire in the lighthouse
0:04:20 > 0:04:23tower in the Northern Quarter in Manchester. Would she join with me
0:04:23 > 0:04:28in praising the quick efforts of the Manchester Fire Service that meant
0:04:28 > 0:04:33that everybody was safely evacuated from what looked to be a serious
0:04:33 > 0:04:38fire in that tower block, and would she reassure me and communities in
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Manchester and across the country that the Fire Services will not only
0:04:41 > 0:04:46have the resources they need, but the powers to inspect and ensure
0:04:46 > 0:04:51that private as well as social housing residential blocks are fire
0:04:51 > 0:04:56safe so that these fires don't spread?I will happily join the
0:04:56 > 0:04:59honourable lady in thanking the firefighters for doing an excellent
0:04:59 > 0:05:05job. She raises an important point, which is that it is not just about
0:05:05 > 0:05:08resources, it is also about having the right powers. That is why we
0:05:08 > 0:05:12have commissioned a report on building regulations from Dame
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Judith Hackett, who reported her interim findings in December. We
0:05:15 > 0:05:21will hear from her later in the spring with her final report. I hope
0:05:21 > 0:05:24that will give us additional guidance on what powers are
0:05:24 > 0:05:28necessary to make sure these fires don't take place in future.Tackling
0:05:28 > 0:05:35race presents a significant financial burden for Fire And Rescue
0:05:35 > 0:05:41Services -- tackling waste fires. Will my right honourable friend meet
0:05:41 > 0:05:44with me to discuss the measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of
0:05:44 > 0:05:51waste fires?Again, I congratulate her local fire authority on the good
0:05:51 > 0:05:56work they have done and I am happy to volunteer the fire minister to
0:05:56 > 0:06:05have an early meeting with her.We constantly hear ministers coming to
0:06:05 > 0:06:09the dispatch box, talking about reserves in the Fire and Rescue
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Service, as if there is a magic money tree. But is the Secretary of
0:06:12 > 0:06:17State aware that most of the reserves are already earmarked for
0:06:17 > 0:06:20future spending? The annual budget for the Fire and Rescue Service in
0:06:20 > 0:06:26England is £2.3 billion, yet it only holds 143 million in an allocated
0:06:26 > 0:06:31reserves. That is less than a month's operating costs was the
0:06:31 > 0:06:34issue seriously suggesting that capital reserves of just 6% are an
0:06:34 > 0:06:38adequate cover for all emergencies? If she is, she is living in cloud
0:06:38 > 0:06:46cuckoo land.I can generously deny that I am living in cloud cuckoo
0:06:46 > 0:06:51land. I think the honourable gentleman is being too lenient on
0:06:51 > 0:06:56these enormous reserves that have been accumulated. They have grown by
0:06:56 > 0:07:01150%. They are 40% now of annual revenue. I know the Labour Party is
0:07:01 > 0:07:08not familiar with careful public finance guarding, and I would urge
0:07:08 > 0:07:10him to scrutinise this matter rather than treating us like a Venezuelan
0:07:10 > 0:07:26dictatorship.Question two.I would like to group these with five, 13
0:07:26 > 0:07:29and 15. Before Christmas the government proposed a new police
0:07:29 > 0:07:36funding settlement for 2018-19 that will increase funding by up to £450
0:07:36 > 0:07:39million across the police system. It is the police and crime
0:07:39 > 0:07:42commissioners and Chief constables to determine the number of officers
0:07:42 > 0:07:50required for their force areas.On New Year's Eve in West Norwood,
0:07:50 > 0:07:5317-year-old Kyle Parnell became the 39th victim of a fatal knife attack
0:07:53 > 0:07:57in England and Wales in 2017. To solve the growing tragedy of knife
0:07:57 > 0:08:01crime, the police need to be able to work in partnership with
0:08:01 > 0:08:05communities, the NHS and other public sector agencies. But the loss
0:08:05 > 0:08:09of 20,000 officers since 2010 means forces across the country are
0:08:09 > 0:08:12stretched to breaking point. Will the minister guarantee that there
0:08:12 > 0:08:18will be no further drop in police numbers?
0:08:19 > 0:08:24The short answer is it is down to the Mayor and the leader of the Met.
0:08:24 > 0:08:30She is right to talk about this tragic loss of life, lives cut
0:08:30 > 0:08:32short. I think she is wrong to focus entirely on the question of police
0:08:32 > 0:08:39officers. The last time we had a spike in deaths from knife crime in
0:08:39 > 0:08:42London was 2008, when we have roughly the same amount of police
0:08:42 > 0:08:48officers as we have now.In December, I went out with my local
0:08:48 > 0:08:53Safer Neighbourhood team. Despite the tremendous work they do, two
0:08:53 > 0:08:55officers pay award is not enough. My local police station recently
0:08:55 > 0:09:07closed. -- two officers to a ward full stop Wilbur Government
0:09:07 > 0:09:10committed to investing in police? Police numbers in London have been
0:09:10 > 0:09:16stable for some time. Any decisions for the future are to be taken by
0:09:16 > 0:09:20the Mayor on the head of the Met. What I will say to the honourable
0:09:20 > 0:09:23lady, as a result of the settlement, if the Mayor does what we are
0:09:23 > 0:09:27empowering him to do, it will mean an additional £4.3 million for the
0:09:27 > 0:09:34Met on top of the reserves, for a force that has made great strides
0:09:34 > 0:09:39and efficiency, but continues to require improvement. Safety in the
0:09:39 > 0:09:44capital matters a great deal, which is why the Met police has more
0:09:44 > 0:09:49officers per head than the national average.Constituents are bearing
0:09:49 > 0:09:53the brunt of the police cuts, with Greater Manchester Police officers
0:09:53 > 0:09:58cut by 23% since 2010. That is nearly 2000 fewer officers on the
0:09:58 > 0:10:03streets of Manchester. The Home Secretary rightly praised the
0:10:03 > 0:10:09officers in response to last year's terror attack in the city. Yet GMP
0:10:09 > 0:10:15face further real terms cuts to their resources. What steps shall
0:10:15 > 0:10:19she take to make sure that the local police forces adequately resourced
0:10:19 > 0:10:23to keep people safe?I am sure the honourable lady will welcome the
0:10:23 > 0:10:28fact that the number of police officers has risen in Greater
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Manchester in 2016. She will also welcome that the police funding
0:10:30 > 0:10:33settlement will result in nine additional £10 million going into
0:10:33 > 0:10:39Greater Manchester Police. She may also want to ask the Mayor why
0:10:39 > 0:10:47reserves for Greater Manchester have gone up by £29 million.In 2014-15,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51the provisional grant allocation for the police was just over £8 billion.
0:10:51 > 0:11:00In December of last year, the Home Office announced that it would be
0:11:00 > 0:11:04just 7.35 billion pounds, despite the fact that according to the
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Office for Budget Responsibility, inflation has been projected to be
0:11:07 > 0:11:117% over this period. As this is a substantial real cut in police
0:11:11 > 0:11:14funding, with the Secretary of State like to suggest where savings can be
0:11:14 > 0:11:19made on a scale that would protect police numbers?I am sure the
0:11:19 > 0:11:21honourable gentleman will welcome the fact that Thames Valley Police
0:11:21 > 0:11:27will benefit if the Police and Crime Commissioner exercises the flex
0:11:27 > 0:11:35ability that we are offering. An initial £12.7 billion in 2017. How
0:11:35 > 0:11:39that works out, I don't know.I thought I had better get in quick,
0:11:39 > 0:11:51before the Prime Minister's inevitable call to me. Mr Speaker,
0:11:51 > 0:11:55there has been a very worrying increase in crime across the Shipley
0:11:55 > 0:12:01constituency over recent months. I expect to see more police officers,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04and my constituents expect to see more police officers. The first duty
0:12:04 > 0:12:09of the government is to protect the public and keep them safe. I have to
0:12:09 > 0:12:12say, they are not putting enough focus on police resources. These
0:12:12 > 0:12:17would they give them the resources they need to keep our constituents
0:12:17 > 0:12:21safe? They are in danger of being very greatly out of touch with
0:12:21 > 0:12:28public opinion.I am sure she is keeping the position open for him.
0:12:28 > 0:12:36Minister?I had better keep my answer short, I understand that the
0:12:36 > 0:12:40point that he is making is that there is more cash going into
0:12:40 > 0:12:46policing in Yorkshire. How that money is allocated is up to police
0:12:46 > 0:12:50constables. They are accountable to the public they serve and members of
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Parliament that serve those constituencies. These
0:12:53 > 0:12:57representations need to be made directly. As a result of the funding
0:12:57 > 0:13:02settlement, there are up to £450 million of investment going into
0:13:02 > 0:13:07British policing next year.The Mayor of London has something like
0:13:07 > 0:13:09half a billion in reserves. But the Minister agree that some of that
0:13:09 > 0:13:16should be spent on strengthening police resources in my constituency?
0:13:16 > 0:13:23The budget is set to grow to £2.5 billion. The reserves of half £1
0:13:23 > 0:13:29billion for the Met. The Mayor has his own reserves, funding per head.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33Officer numbers per head is running at 1.5 times the national average in
0:13:33 > 0:13:37London. It is time, and I speak as a Londoner and London MP, for the
0:13:37 > 0:13:42Mayor of London to get a serious answer to the question, what are you
0:13:42 > 0:13:45doing? At the moment, it is just writing letters to the Home
0:13:45 > 0:13:51Secretary, and that is not good enough.While the number of police
0:13:51 > 0:13:53officers is very important, so are their skills and the nature of the
0:13:53 > 0:13:59crime they are dealing with. Given that we are now more likely, 20
0:13:59 > 0:14:02times more likely, to be a victim of online crime than off-line crime,
0:14:02 > 0:14:07can the Minister assure us that the police have the skills to deal with
0:14:07 > 0:14:10crime in the digital age?Can I thank my honourable friend for
0:14:10 > 0:14:12making an incredibly important point? I know that my constituents
0:14:12 > 0:14:17are much more vulnerable to crime on their computers at home than walking
0:14:17 > 0:14:20down the High Street. We have to respond to the changing nature of
0:14:20 > 0:14:24crime in this country. The number of police officers matters a great
0:14:24 > 0:14:28deal. The capabilities inside this service matter enormously. That is
0:14:28 > 0:14:31why the government not go has invested £1.9 billion in cyber
0:14:31 > 0:14:36security.Happy New Year, Mr Speaker. It is all about service
0:14:36 > 0:14:39delivered for the funds invested, getting the best service. Aided and
0:14:39 > 0:14:51Somerset police have seen a 180% rise in sexual offences, and a 42%
0:14:51 > 0:14:53rise in recorded domestic abuse is on the last four years. Could the
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Minister confirm any new funding, either from Government, which is
0:14:55 > 0:14:58much welcome, or that a raise in the preset could be directed to these
0:14:58 > 0:15:04growing areas?I thank my honourable friend for that question. If the PCC
0:15:04 > 0:15:07uses their new powers, Avon and Somerset should receive £8 million
0:15:07 > 0:15:12of new investment next year. That would need to be allocated to local
0:15:12 > 0:15:16priorities. The numbers she states about the growth in reporting of
0:15:16 > 0:15:19crime rates and domestic violence are striking, and I would expect
0:15:19 > 0:15:27that to be reflected in local priorities.Number three?Mr
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Speaker, the Government is very keen to encourage further collaboration
0:15:30 > 0:15:38between the blue lights services, and have taken action through the
0:15:38 > 0:15:42Policing And Crime Act 2017, to empower just that.I think this
0:15:42 > 0:15:45question is grouped with number four?
0:15:46 > 0:15:51Can I wish you and your family happy New Year from this side of the
0:15:51 > 0:15:54house, and congratulate my right arm or friend for retaining her job,
0:15:54 > 0:15:59where she is doing a splendid role. -- my right honourable friend. Can I
0:15:59 > 0:16:02ask the Minister come on that last question, if he can reassure me and
0:16:02 > 0:16:07my constituents that this collaboration, leading to a
0:16:07 > 0:16:09patchwork quilt, potentially, across the country of service, can he
0:16:09 > 0:16:15ensure that the integrity of the services will be maintained?My
0:16:15 > 0:16:20honourable friend makes an important point. I say two things, joint
0:16:20 > 0:16:23police and fire governance will improve accountability because there
0:16:23 > 0:16:26will be a single point of accountability, democratically
0:16:26 > 0:16:30elected. The second point, in relation to the efficiency and
0:16:30 > 0:16:33integrity of Fire Services, I hope he will welcome a very significant
0:16:33 > 0:16:39reform introduced by this government, independent inspection
0:16:39 > 0:16:42of Fire Services.I recently held meetings with both the Chief
0:16:42 > 0:16:47Constable and the chief fire officer for the Humberside area. I welcome
0:16:47 > 0:16:53the fact they are collaborating more closely. In an area that contains
0:16:53 > 0:16:59chemical plants, oil refineries and other dangerous plants, could the
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Prime Minister reassure my constituents that the Fire Service
0:17:01 > 0:17:06will not take their eye off the ball in their main role?Well, I thank my
0:17:06 > 0:17:11friend for that intervention. I am well aware of the risks in his
0:17:11 > 0:17:14constituency. As the Home Secretary said, local Fire Services are
0:17:14 > 0:17:20adequately resourced, and they do sit on relatively high levels of
0:17:20 > 0:17:26reserves. We believe our Fire Service have the resources to do the
0:17:26 > 0:17:33job.The 22-year-old Stephen Dyson's body was found in Ramsbottom on
0:17:33 > 0:17:37Saturday morning, six days after he went missing on New Year's Day. Mr
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Speaker, it is at the worst of times that we often see the best of
0:17:41 > 0:17:45people. Will the Home Secretary join me in thanking Greater Manchester
0:17:45 > 0:17:49Police, our Fire Service and the hundreds, hundreds of local
0:17:49 > 0:17:55volunteers who spent last week looking for Stephen, as well as the
0:17:55 > 0:17:59Ramsbottom British Legion, which hosted the campaign centre, and the
0:17:59 > 0:18:03local businesses that donated items. The outpouring of support was
0:18:03 > 0:18:07incredible, and I hope it goes some way of giving strength to Stephen's
0:18:07 > 0:18:14dear mum and everybody mourning.I am sure the whole house would want
0:18:14 > 0:18:16to associate themselves with the honourable gentleman's remarks and
0:18:16 > 0:18:22pass on our condolences to the young man's family. I join him in paying
0:18:22 > 0:18:25tribute to the hard work of all of the emergency services involved in
0:18:25 > 0:18:31that tragic circumstance.Does the Minister accept that there is
0:18:31 > 0:18:34already a great degree of cooperation and collaboration
0:18:34 > 0:18:38between our bluelight services and that any move by Government to force
0:18:38 > 0:18:45further formal collaboration through mergers could be detrimental to all
0:18:45 > 0:18:48services?I agree entirely, there are fantastic examples of
0:18:48 > 0:18:54collaboration across the country. Fire and fire, police and police,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58across the blue services. The benefits, not just financial, but in
0:18:58 > 0:19:03terms of to the public. Where Police and Crime Commissioner is wanted to
0:19:03 > 0:19:08seize the opportunity to improve accountability for local
0:19:08 > 0:19:12performances, we are going to enable that. But they still have to deliver
0:19:12 > 0:19:19and consult with communities.I am slightly uneasy about the
0:19:19 > 0:19:22amalgamation of the Wiltshire and Dorset Fire Services last year.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27Would my honourable friend not agree with me that it makes subsequent
0:19:27 > 0:19:31cooperation with the Ambulance Service or local authority very much
0:19:31 > 0:19:34more difficult? Is the amalgamation and reversible, and if so, what are
0:19:34 > 0:19:41we going to do about the amalgamation that he seeks?My
0:19:41 > 0:19:45understanding is that the amalgamation is working well and is
0:19:45 > 0:19:50largely welcomed across the system. It does present challenges in terms
0:19:50 > 0:19:57of further amalgamation, because of boundary issues. I would ask him to
0:19:57 > 0:20:01perhaps open his mind to the benefits of that merger, which
0:20:01 > 0:20:05appeared to me to be very real.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Provisions contained in the policing and crime act 2017 ban the use of
0:20:14 > 0:20:20police cells as places of safety for under 18s, restrict their use for
0:20:20 > 0:20:25adults and reduce the maximum period of the French detention to 24 hours.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Information for the length of time that people are detained under the
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Mental Health Act, pending an assessment, is not held by the Home
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Office, but we are seeking to ascertain the scale and nature of
0:20:34 > 0:20:39the issue and will review information provided by the College
0:20:39 > 0:20:44of nursing.Under the police and criminal evidence act 1984, police
0:20:44 > 0:20:48have just 24 hours to hold somebody with a mental illness. The College
0:20:48 > 0:20:52of policing shared with the BBC last year that 264 people were held for
0:20:52 > 0:20:56longer than this, including a mentally ill child, for five days.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Is the Home Secretary aware of the report and what steps have been
0:21:00 > 0:21:04taken to remedy the situation?Very much. I thank the honourable lady
0:21:04 > 0:21:08for raising this important issue. We know there is an issue in this area
0:21:08 > 0:21:11and she will be pleased to know that her constabulary, West Midlands,
0:21:11 > 0:21:17does very well on this. It did not use police cells at all for such
0:21:17 > 0:21:21detentions last year, and indeed since 2030 and it has only used it
0:21:21 > 0:21:25on 14 occasions. Any occasion as one occasion too much. She will join me,
0:21:25 > 0:21:30I am sure, in being pleased that the use of police stations as places of
0:21:30 > 0:21:40safety nearly harvest last year. -- was nearly halved last year.Does
0:21:40 > 0:21:43the Minister agree that a police station is not a suitable place for
0:21:43 > 0:21:48an innocent person suffering mental health problems, and would she
0:21:48 > 0:21:51support initiatives like those in the West Midlands to make sure that
0:21:51 > 0:21:53people with mental health problems get the medical support they need,
0:21:53 > 0:21:59when they need it?Very much so. My honourable friend will be pleased to
0:21:59 > 0:22:04know that last year health places were used as places of safety in
0:22:04 > 0:22:11more than 26,000 cases, compared with 1029 cases when it came to
0:22:11 > 0:22:18using cells. We are determined to try to sort this out.On the
0:22:18 > 0:22:21question of detention, the Minister will have read recent reports that
0:22:21 > 0:22:27immigration detainees have been paid £1 an hour. Can the Minister assure
0:22:27 > 0:22:32the house that no children are currently held in detention, that no
0:22:32 > 0:22:35pregnant women are currently being held in detention and that nobody is
0:22:35 > 0:22:40being paid below the legal minimum wage in any of the immigration
0:22:40 > 0:22:46detention centres?As I say, we are determined to ensure that places of
0:22:46 > 0:22:52safety are in appropriate places, and we are investing £30 million to
0:22:52 > 0:22:56try to ensure that happens. If there are any individual case is that you
0:22:56 > 0:22:59would like to bring to my attention, of course, I will consider and
0:22:59 > 0:23:05review them very carefully.Question number seven, Mr Speaker.The
0:23:05 > 0:23:09government Baku is clear that carefully controlled migration
0:23:09 > 0:23:14benefits the economy, the Exchequer and our communities in general.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19Thank you for that answer. The Scottish Government, as well as SNP
0:23:19 > 0:23:24members, have been calling for immigration to be devolved. Does my
0:23:24 > 0:23:27right honourable friend agree with me that any separate systems on
0:23:27 > 0:23:34immigration would do nothing except lead to chaos, confusion, and extra
0:23:34 > 0:23:38barriers for those looking to live and work in Scotland, as well as the
0:23:38 > 0:23:42rest of our United Kingdom?My honourable friend is absolutely
0:23:42 > 0:23:46right, immigration is a reserved matter, apply different rules of
0:23:46 > 0:23:49immigration to different parts of the UK would complicated system. I
0:23:49 > 0:23:52believe he might share my view that if Scotland wants to attract the
0:23:52 > 0:23:56brightest and the best, as the rest of this country does, they might
0:23:56 > 0:24:03think twice about raising their own taxes? That might put people off.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07The NHS has reported that almost 10,000 EU doctors, nurses and
0:24:07 > 0:24:10support staff left the country in the year following the referendum.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13As the Home Secretary aware of levels of staff shortages and how
0:24:13 > 0:24:17does she see the situation developing if there are further
0:24:17 > 0:24:22restrictions on migration for work purposes?We value the important
0:24:22 > 0:24:26work that EU migrants do in our health service. There are no plans
0:24:26 > 0:24:31to restrict the way they can work here. They make an important
0:24:31 > 0:24:35contribution. I am aware that some of them have gone back. There are
0:24:35 > 0:24:38countries which have had a strong economic recovery like Spain, and
0:24:38 > 0:24:42they are going back there to work. There has also been a higher level
0:24:42 > 0:24:48of test for English language to make sure that all health professionals
0:24:48 > 0:24:54in our service can communicate clearly.What progress has been made
0:24:54 > 0:25:04designing a system allowing firms to access seasonal labour from
0:25:04 > 0:25:07overseas?My honourable friend is concerned to make sure that
0:25:07 > 0:25:12agriculture has the support it needs from overseas workers. This is
0:25:12 > 0:25:14something the migration advisory councils will be looking out for us
0:25:14 > 0:25:20and we expect them to report later in the year.Can I congratulate the
0:25:20 > 0:25:25Home Secretary on making a positive economic case for immigration? But
0:25:25 > 0:25:32how does she think the message from the immigration cap, Brexit, hostile
0:25:32 > 0:25:34approach to immigrants and general rhetoric from many of her
0:25:34 > 0:25:42conservative colleagues helps make the case?The honourable gentleman
0:25:42 > 0:25:45can't have the moral high ground on immigration in that way. We on the
0:25:45 > 0:25:50side of the house recognise the value to immigrants played to
0:25:50 > 0:25:53arriving in the UK, the brightest and the best working in our
0:25:53 > 0:25:56hospitals, attending our universities. We are positive about
0:25:56 > 0:26:03immigrants. We want to do it in a way that controls our borders and
0:26:03 > 0:26:08delivers on the reductions that we have committed to.Education is
0:26:08 > 0:26:13vital for the economy. I have a constituent who returned to Canada,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16leaving a vacancy in the primary school where she taught, due to the
0:26:16 > 0:26:21delays in the Home Office dealing with her application. Could the Home
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Secretary look at this urgently so that we can find a conclusion for
0:26:24 > 0:26:31this case?I know that my honourable friend has been concerned about this
0:26:31 > 0:26:35issue. I can't comment on this individual one now, but as soon as
0:26:35 > 0:26:40we have a new Immigration Minister, I will volunteer him or her to speak
0:26:40 > 0:26:47to the honourable gentleman. International students make an
0:26:47 > 0:26:53enormous contribution to our economy. 25 billion a year. Can the
0:26:53 > 0:26:58minister confirm that the government supports Labour's policy of removing
0:26:58 > 0:27:05international students from the net migration target?I would like to
0:27:05 > 0:27:07reassure the honourable gentleman that we value the contribution that
0:27:07 > 0:27:14students make to our economy, our cultures and university towns. In
0:27:14 > 0:27:17the past ten years, we have seen at 25% increase in the number of
0:27:17 > 0:27:22students attending. We have seen a 9% increase in the Russell Group
0:27:22 > 0:27:24attendance of international students. Those numbers remain
0:27:24 > 0:27:35uncapped.Business, the trade unions and universities in Scotland have
0:27:35 > 0:27:38all asked this government to look at the issue of devolving immigration
0:27:38 > 0:27:43to Scotland. In a report just before Christmas, the think-tank IPPR said
0:27:43 > 0:27:48that devolving immigration would assist the Scottish economy. Will
0:27:48 > 0:27:57she now looks seriously at these recommendations and at the request
0:27:57 > 0:28:00of business and universities in Scotland to devolve immigration?The
0:28:00 > 0:28:04right honourable lady and I have discussed this before, privately as
0:28:04 > 0:28:08well as publicly. She is aware that the migration advisory Council on
0:28:08 > 0:28:13going to be looking at different areas within the United Kingdom. So
0:28:13 > 0:28:17I would suggest that she might come back to me and we can continue that
0:28:17 > 0:28:19conversation when they report. We have no plans to devolve
0:28:19 > 0:28:25immigration.I thank the Home Secretary for saying she will at
0:28:25 > 0:28:30least look at the issue. A primary school on the island of Marvel has
0:28:30 > 0:28:34received only one application for a vacancy for a Gaelic teacher. The
0:28:34 > 0:28:38application came from a fully qualified teacher who was Canadian,
0:28:38 > 0:28:42but had trained in Scotland. Despite the fact that she was the only
0:28:42 > 0:28:46candidate for this job, the Home Office have refused her visa
0:28:46 > 0:28:51application twice. Doesn't this show that a one size fits all UK
0:28:51 > 0:28:54immigration policy is not working for the Scottish economy and not
0:28:54 > 0:29:01working for rural communities?I'm surprised to hear that they're not
0:29:01 > 0:29:05more Gaelic speakers in Scotland who might be able to apply for the job,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08rather than Canadians. But in this instance, I would again suggest that
0:29:08 > 0:29:13she comes to see the new Immigration Minister at some stage. There may be
0:29:13 > 0:29:17more to this that she has spoken of in the House. It is difficult to
0:29:17 > 0:29:21comment on individual cases.The minister will all about the
0:29:21 > 0:29:32situation on the island of Mull. Minister Ben Wallace.I'm standing
0:29:32 > 0:29:35in for the Immigration Minister, but hopefully not for too long. With
0:29:35 > 0:29:44your permission, I will group a few questions together. The Border Force
0:29:44 > 0:29:48hasn't ongoing programme of its cutters. They recently installed new
0:29:48 > 0:29:52surveillance systems on cutters and are currently upgrading radars and
0:29:52 > 0:29:57replacing original boats used by cutters to deploy boarding teams to
0:29:57 > 0:30:01ensure they remain effective maritime security platforms.Does
0:30:01 > 0:30:04the minister believe that the UK Border Force is adequately resourced
0:30:04 > 0:30:09to safeguard small harbours and landing sites such as in my
0:30:09 > 0:30:12constituency in Chichester? Our harbour master has already been
0:30:12 > 0:30:14involved in the apprehension of people smugglers working with
0:30:14 > 0:30:19coastal communities to look out for suspicious activity. Can he confirm
0:30:19 > 0:30:21if he is considering using volunteers to support patrols in
0:30:21 > 0:30:26areas like Jesus the harbour, and -- like Chichester Harbour, and does he
0:30:26 > 0:30:29agree that there can be no substitute for trained and qualified
0:30:29 > 0:30:35Border Force professionals?By the end of this financial year, the
0:30:35 > 0:30:40Border Force maritime fleet will have six CPVs and three cutters in
0:30:40 > 0:30:44the UK plus two cutters deployed overseas to deal with the issue
0:30:44 > 0:30:47upstream, one in the Aegean and one in the central Mediterranean. The
0:30:47 > 0:30:52Border Force has invested £108 million in new technology to deal
0:30:52 > 0:30:55with those challenges and will be committed a further £71 million this
0:30:55 > 0:31:04year.Whilst I was volunteering with the lifeboats in Walton-on-the-Naze,
0:31:04 > 0:31:08I learned how important local maritime knowledge is. And I believe
0:31:08 > 0:31:12such intelligence would be useful to the Border Force when solving and
0:31:12 > 0:31:16preventing crime. With the minister tell me if the Border Force is
0:31:16 > 0:31:19engaging with other agencies including the RNLI coastguard boats
0:31:19 > 0:31:25to share intelligence, tackle crime and keep our coastline safe and
0:31:25 > 0:31:33secure?The key to improving coastal security is better exploitation of
0:31:33 > 0:31:36data, some of that through full-time people, but also through the many
0:31:36 > 0:31:41volunteers that populate the coastal paths and watch stations in our
0:31:41 > 0:31:46community. That is why Border Force has set up the multi-agency general
0:31:46 > 0:31:49maritime intelligence bureau to bring together existing
0:31:49 > 0:31:52organisations of HM coastguard, HM Revenue and Customs, Border Force
0:31:52 > 0:31:58and the MoD, and the bureaus report to the national maritime information
0:31:58 > 0:32:01centre.What other measures is the government undertaking to protect
0:32:01 > 0:32:09and secure the UK border?Border Force, the National Crime Agency and
0:32:09 > 0:32:12other agencies are working with international partners to secure
0:32:12 > 0:32:16borders from a range of threats including modern slavery, human
0:32:16 > 0:32:21trafficking and terrorism. In the last two years, Border Force has
0:32:21 > 0:32:28invested £108 million.In addition to the work of the Border Force
0:32:28 > 0:32:31vessels, will my honourable friend congratulate the Royal Navy and
0:32:31 > 0:32:41other agencies for ensuring that the rules are enforced on fishing
0:32:41 > 0:32:45waters?Many people often forget that our border is mounted models by
0:32:45 > 0:32:51Border Force, but HM customs, the Royal Navy, who do an amazing job on
0:32:51 > 0:32:55our fisheries protection, and volunteers from the royal national
0:32:55 > 0:32:58lifeboat Institute and coastguard. Together, that forms a large set of
0:32:58 > 0:33:01eyes to keep an eye on our coastline. That is why we have
0:33:01 > 0:33:05developed something to make sure that all reporting goes centrally
0:33:05 > 0:33:12into a place where we can analyse it.The Telegraph today reports that
0:33:12 > 0:33:16there will be new checks introduced at ports to help stop the import of
0:33:16 > 0:33:19dangerous high-powered laser pens. Does this mean the ports of Grimsby
0:33:19 > 0:33:27will see more Border Force staff to help with these new checks?There
0:33:27 > 0:33:30will be better use of the information we have two target our
0:33:30 > 0:33:33resources in the right place. Just sending Border Force officers to
0:33:33 > 0:33:38turn up randomly usually gets no proper effect. If we can base it on
0:33:38 > 0:33:45information and we work with shippers and parcel organisations
0:33:45 > 0:33:48shipping contraband into the country, or we can make sure the
0:33:48 > 0:33:52right resources are delivered to the right place.The minister will no
0:33:52 > 0:33:57that his own figures show that 27 of the 62 small ports had no visit from
0:33:57 > 0:34:05a Border Force operative in the 12 months of last year. That needs not
0:34:05 > 0:34:07volunteers, but Border Force staffing.The honourable gentleman
0:34:07 > 0:34:11will know from his previous job that the border is not believed by Border
0:34:11 > 0:34:16Force, it is policed by counterterrorism officers, HMRC
0:34:16 > 0:34:19officers, coastguard officers and fishery protection officers. He will
0:34:19 > 0:34:23know that on top of that, the voluntary network of people like the
0:34:23 > 0:34:30RNLI are the eyes and ears. When a report or suspicion is raised or
0:34:30 > 0:34:32intelligence received, the National Crime Agency and others attend the
0:34:32 > 0:34:36scene to deal with it.And there was another body to add to that list.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39Over Christmas, we learned that the government planned to put in place a
0:34:39 > 0:34:43special volunteer force to help police our coastal communities. This
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Dad's Army type operation is apparently to be responsible for
0:34:46 > 0:34:51helping keep us safe and protect us from terrorism. I wonder if the
0:34:51 > 0:34:55minister will tell us if we are all going to be doomed or whether he
0:34:55 > 0:35:00will complacently tell us, don't panic.The only people that are
0:35:00 > 0:35:06doomed are the SNP. Unlike the honourable member, I have worn a
0:35:06 > 0:35:12uniform and he will know that uniformed services rely on a range
0:35:12 > 0:35:14of specials, Territorial Army support to meet the specialist
0:35:14 > 0:35:20requirement we need. All uniformed services should be able to take
0:35:20 > 0:35:24advantage of the goodwill that people want to provide. If we want
0:35:24 > 0:35:28to use specials and territorial support, we will.Happy new year
0:35:28 > 0:35:31from my party. Given what the minister has just said about the
0:35:31 > 0:35:35role of the Royal Navy, isn't it worrying when we read about these
0:35:35 > 0:35:41Royal Navy warships that have been tied up in harbour, not at sea?I'm
0:35:41 > 0:35:45sure the honourable gentleman wants to make sure our naval ships put to
0:35:45 > 0:35:51sea are properly serviced and equipped. That is why ships tie up
0:35:51 > 0:35:55in port, not for any other reason. That is why we deploy ships were
0:35:55 > 0:36:00needed to match the threat. Fisheries protection vessels are
0:36:00 > 0:36:10often up and down the north-east of Scotland, where he represents.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13The government take the threat of cyber crime extremely seriously,
0:36:13 > 0:36:18which is why we have committed to spending £1.9 billion to support a
0:36:18 > 0:36:20national cyber security strategy including boosting the capabilities
0:36:20 > 0:36:25of the National Crime Agency 's, national cyber crime unit and
0:36:25 > 0:36:27investing in the cyber team within which an organisation crime units to
0:36:27 > 0:36:36bolster our response.A UK wide charity with its headquarters based
0:36:36 > 0:36:40in Southend, yet another reason why Southend should be a city, recently
0:36:40 > 0:36:46had £10,000 hacked from its account. Would my honourable friend give us
0:36:46 > 0:36:49some reassurance what further safeguards can be given to
0:36:49 > 0:36:55vulnerable charities to prevent them from cyber crime?If you write to me
0:36:55 > 0:36:59about the details of that case, I am concerned that where something has
0:36:59 > 0:37:04been hacked, that is usually called a cyber enabled crime which would
0:37:04 > 0:37:08get a reimbursement. I am happy to look into his case. That is why we
0:37:08 > 0:37:14have invested in general to stop that type of fraud into the national
0:37:14 > 0:37:18cyber security centre, which advises many organisations, voluntary and
0:37:18 > 0:37:23large-scale, about how to be safer online. We have also invested in
0:37:23 > 0:37:27technology to counter it.Cyber crime is one of the fastest-growing
0:37:27 > 0:37:31forms of crime. But on leaving the European Union, it will still be the
0:37:31 > 0:37:35case that the European Commission will issue directives that relate to
0:37:35 > 0:37:39tackling cyber crime. Europol will still continue to apprehend
0:37:39 > 0:37:45criminals, and a European Court of Justice will still issue rulings.
0:37:45 > 0:37:50What steps is the Home Office taking to ensure continued alignment of UK
0:37:50 > 0:38:01laws and regulation in this field? We are working on a third-party
0:38:01 > 0:38:06treaty to address just that. We intend to continue collaborative
0:38:06 > 0:38:08working in all areas of security with our international partners, be
0:38:08 > 0:38:14they in Europe or further afield.I apologise if I missed something
0:38:14 > 0:38:18valuable. If I did, I suggest the honourable lady should place it in
0:38:18 > 0:38:21the library of the House, where I imagine it will be regularly
0:38:21 > 0:38:30consulted.
0:38:30 > 0:38:37The government's extremism strategy was published in October 2015 and
0:38:37 > 0:38:40detailed a comprehensive approach aimed at countering extremist
0:38:40 > 0:38:44ideology. We are also launching a new commission for countering
0:38:44 > 0:38:48extremism. It will identify and challenge extremism and advise
0:38:48 > 0:38:51government on new policies to address it. A lead commissioner will
0:38:51 > 0:38:59be announced shortly.Flying the flag of the political wing of the
0:38:59 > 0:39:09anti-Semitic terrorist organisation has -- Hezbollah is deeply offensive
0:39:09 > 0:39:15to our Jewish community. But it can still be seen flying on certain
0:39:15 > 0:39:17marches in London. What steps are being taken to prevent this
0:39:17 > 0:39:29happening.I'm very sympathetic to the issues. I know that the police
0:39:29 > 0:39:35are not ignoring it. As he has rightly said, only Hezbollah's
0:39:35 > 0:39:37military wing is currently a prescribed terrorist organisation
0:39:37 > 0:39:44and their flags are the same.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47For an offence to be committed, the flag must demonstrate that it is in
0:39:47 > 0:39:55support of the prescribed military wing of the group.Last month, I met
0:39:55 > 0:40:06a British national due to be deported.
0:40:12 > 0:40:19What is the total number and how many of those are facing charges in
0:40:19 > 0:40:23the UK?The honourable gentleman draws attention to important
0:40:23 > 0:40:26relationship we have with Turkey which is when people are returning
0:40:26 > 0:40:32who have been potentially fighting for Isis, we have a managed return
0:40:32 > 0:40:36process so that we can prosecute. I will certainly come back to him with
0:40:36 > 0:40:40an update but I would like to reassure him and the House that we
0:40:40 > 0:40:45take every return seriously and where we can we will always
0:40:45 > 0:41:00prosecute.Thank you Mr Speaker.In March 2016 we published the violence
0:41:00 > 0:41:05against women and girls strategy which sets out an ambitious
0:41:05 > 0:41:09programme of reform and is supported by £100 billion of funding. We will
0:41:09 > 0:41:16also introduce a draft domestic abuse Bill to better support victims
0:41:16 > 0:41:23and bring perpetrators to justice. Can I ask specifically what action
0:41:23 > 0:41:28this government is taking to support refugees Sikh refuges for women
0:41:28 > 0:41:32fleeing domestic violence in Walsall and across the Black Country whose
0:41:32 > 0:41:35excellent staff do so much to protect the safety of women and
0:41:35 > 0:41:41children?He is right, there is excellent work done in the Black
0:41:41 > 0:41:45Country. I visited myself a women's eight Black Country refuge and it
0:41:45 > 0:41:50was impressive to see the excellent work done there to support them. I
0:41:50 > 0:41:59can reassure him that Walsall local authority received £639,000 of the
0:41:59 > 0:42:04funding in partnership with local authorities. In addition to this
0:42:04 > 0:42:10Wolverhampton and Birmingham received £1.1 million between them
0:42:10 > 0:42:14from the department.Psychological abuse is happening to women in
0:42:14 > 0:42:17custody in our prisons as they struggle to get access to sanitary
0:42:17 > 0:42:21products, a potential breach of their human rights. Does she agree
0:42:21 > 0:42:26it is essential that women in custody have access to sanitary
0:42:26 > 0:42:30products?I thank you for raising this very important point. I
0:42:30 > 0:42:34completely agree, it would be outrageous if women did not receive
0:42:34 > 0:42:38access to sanitary products when they are held as detainees. I have
0:42:38 > 0:42:42seen the report which the Home Office commissioned and we will be
0:42:42 > 0:42:46acting immediately to ensure that where it is not on a statutory
0:42:46 > 0:42:49footing, we will put it on a statutory footing to ensure that it
0:42:49 > 0:42:55doesn't take place like that in the future.The Home Secretary will be
0:42:55 > 0:42:58aware of the deep public concern about the parole board decision to
0:42:58 > 0:43:02release the serial sex offender and rapist John Warboys after only eight
0:43:02 > 0:43:07years. I'm sure we'll also be shocked to learn that some of the
0:43:07 > 0:43:10victims still have not been contacted by either probation or
0:43:10 > 0:43:16fixed in liaison. I realise the issues around the parole board
0:43:16 > 0:43:18decision are matters for the Ministry of Justice but can she say
0:43:18 > 0:43:23whether she's had any contact with the police about whether they are
0:43:23 > 0:43:29able to further pursue the case of 19 women who came forward after the
0:43:29 > 0:43:33conviction took place to see whether they can be prosecuted, to see
0:43:33 > 0:43:39whether justice can be done and women kept safe? I do share the
0:43:39 > 0:43:41right honourable lady's views on this matter and I'm sure she will
0:43:41 > 0:43:46have seen the justice Minister's comments about making sure there is
0:43:46 > 0:43:51more transparency in the parole board. I am aware of certain victims
0:43:51 > 0:43:57who are talking about possible judicial reviews and talking to the
0:43:57 > 0:44:01police. I did think I can say any more than that because it is subject
0:44:01 > 0:44:04to potential legal proceedings. Further to the answer the Home
0:44:04 > 0:44:17Secretary gave to the member from Sussex, there was... Lewes, I do
0:44:17 > 0:44:23apologise. I just want to clarify with the Home Secretary, we would
0:44:23 > 0:44:27not think it acceptable to deny somebody access to loo roll so why
0:44:27 > 0:44:31is it acceptable to deny somebody access to tampons? She say she is
0:44:31 > 0:44:35committed to looking at statutory footing, does that include amending
0:44:35 > 0:44:43posed seat of the police and criminal Act? -- Code C.We
0:44:43 > 0:44:48commissioned this report. I can respectfully say I do not need
0:44:48 > 0:44:53reminding, I completely agree of course women should have access to
0:44:53 > 0:44:58sanitary products. Yes I will put it on a statutory footing, if it is
0:44:58 > 0:45:01confirmed that the current guidance is inadequate which it looks likely
0:45:01 > 0:45:11to.
0:45:13 > 0:45:16The Shadow Home Secretary wanted to comment on this question. Diane
0:45:16 > 0:45:21Abbott.I'm grateful to you Mr Speaker. Further to the Home
0:45:21 > 0:45:26Secretary's response and the question of the John Warboys case,
0:45:26 > 0:45:33can be Home Secretary explain why her department is still pursuing two
0:45:33 > 0:45:42of John Warboys' victims all the way to the Supreme Court in an apparent
0:45:42 > 0:45:46effort to avoid paying compensation? The Home Secretary will be aware
0:45:46 > 0:45:52that these victims are women whose cases the lower courts have already
0:45:52 > 0:45:57found were not investigated properly. How does pursuing them
0:45:57 > 0:46:01through the courts assure the public that the government is serious about
0:46:01 > 0:46:08keeping women and girls safe?The government is committed to keeping
0:46:08 > 0:46:11women and girls safe, and I hope that some of the points I have set
0:46:11 > 0:46:15out today will reassure the House that that is the case. I recognise
0:46:15 > 0:46:20the point the right honourable lady has raised, however I cannot comment
0:46:20 > 0:46:29on it for the moment.This government is committed to doing
0:46:29 > 0:46:34everything we can to tackle domestic abuse. We've introduced a new
0:46:34 > 0:46:39offence of coercive and controlling behaviour, we've introduced orders
0:46:39 > 0:46:43such as domestic violence protection orders and Claire's law. We put
0:46:43 > 0:46:47domestic homicide reviews and a statutory footing and committed £100
0:46:47 > 0:46:50billion to support victims of violence against women and girls. We
0:46:50 > 0:46:56look forward to introducing a draft domestic abuse Bill.Can my
0:46:56 > 0:46:59honourable friend tell me the fact refuges and a specialist service
0:46:59 > 0:47:04they provide tabs such valuable services in protecting women from
0:47:04 > 0:47:09returning to abusive situations, can she tell us what commitment the
0:47:09 > 0:47:13government has for refuge services, particularly those that affect
0:47:13 > 0:47:18people in Sutton and chain?He's spoken many times on the issue of
0:47:18 > 0:47:22domestic abuse, particularly the help that Sutton women's Centre
0:47:22 > 0:47:27provides to the victims. The government has made available £40
0:47:27 > 0:47:30million in dedicated funding for specialist accommodation and refuges
0:47:30 > 0:47:36and bed spaces have increased 10% since 2010. We are committed to
0:47:36 > 0:47:40renewing funding for refuges and making sure victims get the support
0:47:40 > 0:47:46they need when they need it. We will explore all models within the
0:47:46 > 0:47:55sector.Home Secretary.Mr Speaker. I'd like to update the House on
0:47:55 > 0:47:58plans for the royal wedding in May. The marriage of Prince Harry and
0:47:58 > 0:48:03Meghan Markle is an occasion of national celebration. That is why
0:48:03 > 0:48:06yesterday I launched a public consultation seeking views on a
0:48:06 > 0:48:09repose or to relax the licensing hours in England and Wales over the
0:48:09 > 0:48:14weekend but the royal wedding takes place. Extending licensing hours on
0:48:14 > 0:48:19the nights of Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th of May until 1am
0:48:19 > 0:48:24will enable licensed premises to sell alcohol for consumption on site
0:48:24 > 0:48:28to those who want to continue their celebrations beyond the normal
0:48:28 > 0:48:32licensing hours. Whether toasting of the royal couple celebrating a
0:48:32 > 0:48:35football triumph, everyone should have the opportunity to make the
0:48:35 > 0:48:43most of this weekend in May.I thank my right honourable friend for that
0:48:43 > 0:48:48answer. Following the police funding settlement last year, would my right
0:48:48 > 0:48:52honourable friend agreed that now is the right time to work with and
0:48:52 > 0:48:54alongside police forces in Hertfordshire and across the
0:48:54 > 0:48:59country, to keep improving and reforming the service to ensure it
0:48:59 > 0:49:05is that for the future?I thank him for his question. We are able to
0:49:05 > 0:49:11confirm there is up to £450 million of new money going into support
0:49:11 > 0:49:13police and another £50 million on counterterrorism and policing. This
0:49:13 > 0:49:18doesn't mean we want to slow down the pace of reform. We still expect
0:49:18 > 0:49:22and will work with the police to ensure reforms take place to make
0:49:22 > 0:49:25them more efficient, better servants to the community, and that everyone
0:49:25 > 0:49:34has an overall better service.Last week Theodore Johnson, a serial
0:49:34 > 0:49:37killer and repeated domestic violence perpetrator, was sentenced
0:49:37 > 0:49:44to 26 years for his crimes. Despite the fact to women murdered weekly,
0:49:44 > 0:49:47high risk perpetrators like Johnson face very little intervention from
0:49:47 > 0:49:52statutory services. With fewer than 1% perpetrators of domestic violence
0:49:52 > 0:49:56receiving any form of intervention, can the Minister provide reassurance
0:49:56 > 0:49:59that the government will urgently look at innovative programmes such
0:49:59 > 0:50:14as cat code -- such as Drive?.We offer our condolences to the
0:50:14 > 0:50:21families of the women who he murdered. This case shows how
0:50:21 > 0:50:26manipulative the most violent domestic abusers can be, and I join
0:50:26 > 0:50:31her in ensuring that we treat perpetrators, to try and stop the
0:50:31 > 0:50:35cycle of violence. I had the pleasure of speaking at an event
0:50:35 > 0:50:45recently with her honourable friend for Bristol at Respect. We must look
0:50:45 > 0:50:49at perpetrators as well as supporting victims.If everyone asks
0:50:49 > 0:50:53a short one sentence question and replies are correspondingly brief,
0:50:53 > 0:50:58it's not magic, far more people will be able to contribute, and then we
0:50:58 > 0:51:06will spread the happiness across the chamber.I do apologise for not
0:51:06 > 0:51:10wishing you a very happy New Year from the sunny shores of Clacton on
0:51:10 > 0:51:18Sea. Does my right honourable friend agree with me that sheer numbers of
0:51:18 > 0:51:25police alone is not the whole answer in tackling crime? In Clacton Essex
0:51:25 > 0:51:28Police have established a successful community safety hub with some 47
0:51:28 > 0:51:32partners. With the Minister please come to sunny Clacton on Sea and see
0:51:32 > 0:51:36how this has been working and see some of the successes we've achieved
0:51:36 > 0:51:44there?An invitation to visit Clacton on Sea, of course the answer
0:51:44 > 0:51:52is yes.Given the cuts in police numbers and resources, how many
0:51:52 > 0:52:03police forces will not be processing certain types of crime?What I say
0:52:03 > 0:52:07to the honourable gentleman, I know he knows this, is that the proposed
0:52:07 > 0:52:13funding settlement will not lead to cuts. It will lead to increased
0:52:13 > 0:52:16investment of £450 million which will help police forces across the
0:52:16 > 0:52:22country cope with the changing face of crime.The Minister has already
0:52:22 > 0:52:26spoken about online crime and my constituent has been defrauded out
0:52:26 > 0:52:32of a considerable sum when she was given false bank account details
0:52:32 > 0:52:36when her e-mail was hacked into. She reported it on the same day and has
0:52:36 > 0:52:41been unable to recover it. What is the government able to do to reduce
0:52:41 > 0:52:47crime of this nature?The payment systems regulator is working with
0:52:47 > 0:52:51the joint fraud task force and National crime agency to invest in
0:52:51 > 0:52:54new technology and work together to improve the speed funds
0:52:54 > 0:53:01repatriations.According to the Fire Brigade's union, since 2010 Cheshire
0:53:01 > 0:53:09Fire Service have lost over 170 firefighters. Instant response times
0:53:09 > 0:53:14are up, and casualties are rising year-on-year. Will the Minister now
0:53:14 > 0:53:22except government cuts are having a detrimental effect?Funding for Fire
0:53:22 > 0:53:27Services has been held flat against the backdrop of a decline in fire
0:53:27 > 0:53:31incidents. At the same time the system is sitting on hundreds of
0:53:31 > 0:53:39millions of pounds of public money in reserves. We believe the Fire
0:53:39 > 0:53:41Services adequately resourced.Will the Home Secretary confirm her
0:53:41 > 0:53:49commitment to the right to peaceful protest in this country? Given that
0:53:49 > 0:53:53there have been no successful prosecutions for harassment outside
0:53:53 > 0:53:57abortion agencies in recent history, it will she resist the campaign to
0:53:57 > 0:54:01set up buffer zones and accept that if peaceful protest is banned, they
0:54:01 > 0:54:11will have to ban it outside for instance animal laboratories?
0:54:11 > 0:54:14The honourable gentleman and I have already met to discuss this and it
0:54:14 > 0:54:18was a pleasure to meet with him and various colleagues about their
0:54:18 > 0:54:21concerns about peaceful protests being able to continue. I hope I was
0:54:21 > 0:54:25able to reassure him that this government plans to always ensure
0:54:25 > 0:54:31that peaceful protests can continue. It is also this government's
0:54:31 > 0:54:34commitment to make sure that women can access abortion, safe from
0:54:34 > 0:54:39harassment and intimidation.One of the missing links in packing
0:54:39 > 0:54:43violence against women and girls has been the failure to deal with
0:54:43 > 0:54:48perpetrators. Whilst the minister responded to my friend from the
0:54:48 > 0:54:53front bench by being sympathetic, what can we do to put research into
0:54:53 > 0:54:57what makes a difference to make sure that we empower our police forces
0:54:57 > 0:55:00and other agencies to deal with the perpetrator?There are many things
0:55:00 > 0:55:05we can do. One is to have effective inspections, which we already do. We
0:55:05 > 0:55:10are bringing forward a domestic abuse and violence Bill. I hope we
0:55:10 > 0:55:13will get lots of contributions, perhaps including from the
0:55:13 > 0:55:17honourable gentleman, to make sure we address how we can stop it at an
0:55:17 > 0:55:22early stage and make sure the perpetrators are dealt with.Does
0:55:22 > 0:55:26the minister share my concern that there were 59 known cases of drunk
0:55:26 > 0:55:32driving unkempt roads in 2016? 16 of these resulted in serious injury,
0:55:32 > 0:55:37three in deaths -- driving on roads in Kent. What action is the
0:55:37 > 0:55:41government taking to address this?I thank my honourable friend for
0:55:41 > 0:55:45rating this. We have developed mobile drunk driving enforcement
0:55:45 > 0:55:49devices to help police identify suspected drunk drivers at the
0:55:49 > 0:55:54roadside. This helps to enforce the new drunk driving offence introduced
0:55:54 > 0:56:01in 2016 medicolegal to drive with a garden in the body of a certain
0:56:01 > 0:56:10limits. -- it made it illegal to drive with a drug in the body.As
0:56:10 > 0:56:13the Immigration Minister has done a runner, can ask the Home Secretary
0:56:13 > 0:56:18what she will do to cheer up his lamentable record? In particular,
0:56:18 > 0:56:21does she think six months is an acceptable benchmark for resolving
0:56:21 > 0:56:28immigration cases, with the department evading even that target
0:56:28 > 0:56:37with spurious excuses about cases being complex?The minister should
0:56:37 > 0:56:41not be characterised in that way. Nor do I share the honourable
0:56:41 > 0:56:46gentleman's characterisation of that department. If he has particular
0:56:46 > 0:56:50concerns, I would urge him to bring them to us. Otherwise, the vast
0:56:50 > 0:56:57majority of our cases are dealt with within the statutory guidance.Will
0:56:57 > 0:57:01the Secretary of State or minister for policing meet me to discuss what
0:57:01 > 0:57:05more they be done to provide protection for police dogs and
0:57:05 > 0:57:09police horses? She will be aware of the concerns which arise from the
0:57:09 > 0:57:14experience of my constituent, PC Dave Waddell, and his police dog
0:57:14 > 0:57:21Finn, who lives in my constituency. I congratulate my finger on his ten
0:57:21 > 0:57:29minute rule Bill. -- I congratulate my friend Raqqa. Defra have
0:57:29 > 0:57:33published a draft animal welfare Bill penalties for animal cruelty
0:57:33 > 0:57:37including attacks on service animals. Of course I would be
0:57:37 > 0:57:41delighted to meet him.The cuts in police services do not just mean
0:57:41 > 0:57:46fewer pumps, it also falls on the crews of those pumps. Some brigades
0:57:46 > 0:57:51are now sending crews out instead of five, there are cut to four,
0:57:51 > 0:57:56sometimes three or even two. Isn't this dangerous and unsustainable?He
0:57:56 > 0:58:01said police, but I think he meant fire, in which case I refer to my
0:58:01 > 0:58:08earlier example. Funding to Fire Services has been kept flat against
0:58:08 > 0:58:12a background of falling fire incidents. We feel Fire Services are
0:58:12 > 0:58:16adequately resourced. How those resources are allocated is down to
0:58:16 > 0:58:20local authorities.Prior to Christmas, I met some Syrian
0:58:20 > 0:58:23refugees who now call East Renfrewshire home. One of them is
0:58:23 > 0:58:26looking to be reunited with his family who remain in Lebanon. Whilst
0:58:26 > 0:58:30I appreciate that the Home Office can only consider applications which
0:58:30 > 0:58:34come directly from the UNHCR, can the Home Secretary explain how our
0:58:34 > 0:58:36department worked with them to facilitate the resettlement schemes
0:58:36 > 0:58:42so that families don't get stuck in an administrative logjam?The
0:58:42 > 0:58:47honourable gentleman has been a constant representative for his
0:58:47 > 0:58:53constituents on this issue. We rely on UNHCR to identify and process
0:58:53 > 0:58:57vulnerable refugees, as they are uniquely placed to determine refugee
0:58:57 > 0:59:00status and assess vulnerabilities, needs and suitability for
0:59:00 > 0:59:05resettlement. If UNHCR decide resettlement is the best solution,
0:59:05 > 0:59:08they will consider which resettlement scheme best suits their
0:59:08 > 0:59:14needs, which may be a UK scheme. Crime is rising sharply in the West
0:59:14 > 0:59:18Midlands, yet police numbers are falling. 2000 gone and more to go at
0:59:18 > 0:59:26the next stage. How can it be right or fair that Hampshire, with nowhere
0:59:26 > 0:59:28near the same challenges, gets treated more favourably than the
0:59:28 > 0:59:36West Midlands?I don't recognise that the depiction. West Midlands
0:59:36 > 0:59:44Police are set to get an additional £9.5 million. They can keep
0:59:44 > 0:59:48increases in council tax. And this is a force that has increased its
0:59:48 > 0:59:55reserves by £26.9 million since 2011.The government has a clear
0:59:55 > 0:59:57strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. Does my right
0:59:57 > 1:00:04honourable friend share my concern about the use of nondisclosure
1:00:04 > 1:00:09agreements to hide violence against women in the workplace?I thank my
1:00:09 > 1:00:15honourable friend for that. I know she is a huge champion for women and
1:00:15 > 1:00:20it is something she may be able to assist us with when we go ahead with
1:00:20 > 1:00:25our consultation for the new domestic violence and abuse Bill.In
1:00:25 > 1:00:29the last two years alone, we have lost over 160 police officers in my
1:00:29 > 1:00:33area, yet we are seeing rising levels of anti-social behaviour.
1:00:33 > 1:00:37Rather than passing the buck to police and crime commission is, why
1:00:37 > 1:00:41won't the Home Secretary give Northumbria Police the funding to
1:00:41 > 1:00:45tackle this blight on our community? It's not a question of passing the
1:00:45 > 1:00:48buck. We have a devolved system whereby police and crime
1:00:48 > 1:00:51commissioners are accountable to the public they serve for the
1:00:51 > 1:00:55performance of the police. In relation to Northumbria Police, I am
1:00:55 > 1:00:59sure she will welcome the fact that that force is due to get another
1:00:59 > 1:01:06£5.1 million next year.The Home Secretary tell the house but we are
1:01:06 > 1:01:13doing to support schools to identify websites accessing the top web by
1:01:13 > 1:01:18some of our most vulnerable children who are accessing Isis beheading
1:01:18 > 1:01:21footage and other disturbing imagery fuelled by extremists to get
1:01:21 > 1:01:24recruits?The honourable lady is right to raise concerns about online
1:01:24 > 1:01:31. That is why the Home Office works on campaigns like cyber aware,
1:01:31 > 1:01:33bringing into the classroom good computer hygiene and caution for
1:01:33 > 1:01:37children to make sure they are not exploited online. That is why the
1:01:37 > 1:01:41government invested in the Prevent programme to make sure people doing
1:01:41 > 1:01:47it are brought to justice and the online space is not dangerous.In
1:01:47 > 1:01:54Staffordshire, 106 councils unanimously opposed the commission's
1:01:54 > 1:01:57proposal to take over the Fire Service. He is progressing with that
1:01:57 > 1:02:02despite there being no public support. Why are the opinions of one
1:02:02 > 1:02:09commissioner with more than 106 councillors.I think he misrepresent
1:02:09 > 1:02:11the situation entirely. The obligation on the police and crime
1:02:11 > 1:02:17commissioners is that there is a business case and to ensure that he
1:02:17 > 1:02:24consults with the local community. Despite the rhetoric that we heard
1:02:24 > 1:02:27earlier, would my right honourable friend agree with me that what the
1:02:27 > 1:02:31majority of people want to see in this country is an immigration
1:02:31 > 1:02:34system that delivers both fairness and control and that is underpinned
1:02:34 > 1:02:39by common-sense? Was she deliver just that?I thank my honourable
1:02:39 > 1:02:43friend for that. That is exactly what we want, fair and controlled
1:02:43 > 1:02:48immigration which is good for this country, but also gives the public
1:02:48 > 1:02:51confidence that we are protecting our borders and Iraqi about the
1:02:51 > 1:02:56numbers we are targeting.Why does the government's domestic violence
1:02:56 > 1:03:01strategy not include fully funding refuges so that no woman fleeing
1:03:01 > 1:03:08domestic violence is denied access to vital support?We are committed
1:03:08 > 1:03:15to ensuring that there are fully funded refuges. There are 10% more
1:03:15 > 1:03:20beds available to women now than there were in 2010. The honourable
1:03:20 > 1:03:24lady may be aware that there is a review going on with DC LGI at the
1:03:24 > 1:03:27moment to make sure we have the best outcomes for supported housing. I
1:03:27 > 1:03:31will ensure that we engage with them to ensure that we continue to
1:03:31 > 1:03:39maintain high levels of availability of beds for women fleeing violence.
1:03:39 > 1:03:43In 2009, John Warboys was found to be a dangerous, predatory sex
1:03:43 > 1:03:48offender and rightly so. It's a feature of those sorts of offenders
1:03:48 > 1:03:53that they are also clever and coming. What assurances can the Home
1:03:53 > 1:03:57Secretary give us that upon his release if he has to be released,
1:03:57 > 1:04:05may I say, women will be safe? Making women safe and ensuring that
1:04:05 > 1:04:10we have the legislation in place for that is a priority for me and this
1:04:10 > 1:04:14government. She has raised a particular case which has been under
1:04:14 > 1:04:19discussion in this chamber through these questions. She may be aware
1:04:19 > 1:04:23that there is going to be a review of some of the procedures and
1:04:23 > 1:04:27element of the parole board and the transparency required. The Prime
1:04:27 > 1:04:33Minister has said she wants this looked at.Control operators in
1:04:33 > 1:04:35north Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service are working under such
1:04:35 > 1:04:40pressure that sometimes just trainees are on duty. Will the
1:04:40 > 1:04:45minister look at this with me and meets me to assess the risk of our
1:04:45 > 1:04:46Fire and Rescue Service?I am