Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to update the annual data requirement to ensure that police forces record and submit data on the biological sex of suspects, victims and complainants; and if so, when this will take place.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is carefully considering the implications of the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of sex within the Equality Act in the context of what needs and is proportionate to record for a policing purpose and the Annual Data Requirement will be updated in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 2 October 2025 (HL10716), when they intend to publish the statutory guidance to accompany the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Public sexual harassment is a crime that often leaves victims, who are disproportionately likely to be women, feeling very unsafe. That is why tackling it is an important part of our mission on VAWG.
The “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, published on 18th December 2025, committed to commence the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2023 on 1 April 2026. This includes publication of the statutory guidance for police on the same day, which is a requirement of Section 2 of the Act. We are working directly with policing to ensure everything in is in place to support them in enforcing the aggravated offence from 1 April 2026.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Home Office has declined to lay before Parliament a draft statutory code submitted by an arm's-length body between January 2015 and December 2025, where that code has not been subject to litigation.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
For all Home Office administratively classified arm’s length bodies, with the exception of National Crime Agency and Investigatory Powers Tribunal, the Home Office has not declined to lay before Parliament any draft statutory codes submitted in the time frame given, where that code has not been subject to litigation.
For National Crime Agency and Investigatory Powers Tribunal a reasonable search has failed to locate the requested information in the time available.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many incidents relating to the group Bash Back have been recorded by (1) the Metropolitan Police, and (2) other police forces, in each year from 2023 to 2026.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This government upholds the democratic right that people must be free to peacefully express their views, but they must do so within the bounds of the law.
Where the activity of protestors breaks the law, the police have the powers they need to respond.
It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those operational decisions, but we continue to work closely with policing to ensure they have the right capabilities and support in place to keep the public safe and uphold the law.
There are a number of ongoing police investigations and court proceedings relating to potential criminal behaviour of individuals associated with the protest group, Bash Back. However, this process is independent of government and the Home Office does not hold complete data for arrests, charges, convictions or criminal justice outcomes.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the activities of the group Bash Back, and what steps they are taking to prevent theft and destruction of property by that group.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This government upholds the democratic right that people must be free to peacefully express their views, but they must do so within the bounds of the law.
Where the activity of protestors breaks the law, the police have the powers they need to respond.
It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those operational decisions, but we continue to work closely with policing to ensure they have the right capabilities and support in place to keep the public safe and uphold the law.
There are a number of ongoing police investigations and court proceedings relating to potential criminal behaviour of individuals associated with the protest group, Bash Back. However, this process is independent of government and the Home Office does not hold complete data for arrests, charges, convictions or criminal justice outcomes.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what information they, and the Metropolitan and other police forces, have on the identities of members of the group Bash Back.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This government upholds the democratic right that people must be free to peacefully express their views, but they must do so within the bounds of the law.
Where the activity of protestors breaks the law, the police have the powers they need to respond.
It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those operational decisions, but we continue to work closely with policing to ensure they have the right capabilities and support in place to keep the public safe and uphold the law.
There are a number of ongoing police investigations and court proceedings relating to potential criminal behaviour of individuals associated with the protest group, Bash Back. However, this process is independent of government and the Home Office does not hold complete data for arrests, charges, convictions or criminal justice outcomes.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of the group Bash Back have been convicted of a crime relating to that group.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This government upholds the democratic right that people must be free to peacefully express their views, but they must do so within the bounds of the law.
Where the activity of protestors breaks the law, the police have the powers they need to respond.
It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those operational decisions, but we continue to work closely with policing to ensure they have the right capabilities and support in place to keep the public safe and uphold the law.
There are a number of ongoing police investigations and court proceedings relating to potential criminal behaviour of individuals associated with the protest group, Bash Back. However, this process is independent of government and the Home Office does not hold complete data for arrests, charges, convictions or criminal justice outcomes.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current investigation into the downing of MH17 and the establishment of a tribunal in the Netherlands.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Metropolitan Police Service’s approach to overseas acts of terror where there are UK victims is that the crimes are usually best prosecuted by the national authorities where the attack occurred. However, while the UK is not part of the MH17 JIT, the Metropolitan Police Service has provided operational support to the JIT including direct liaison officer support and extensive victim identification support.
The Government cannot comment on the current investigation into the downing of MH17 and the establishment of a tribunal in the Netherlands, as we are unable to comment on ongoing investigations.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the UK is not a party to the Joint Investigation Team considering the downing of MH17 given the number of victims who were UK citizens.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Metropolitan Police Service’s approach to overseas acts of terror where there are UK victims is that the crimes are usually best prosecuted by the national authorities where the attack occurred. However, while the UK is not part of the MH17 JIT, the Metropolitan Police Service has provided operational support to the JIT including direct liaison officer support and extensive victim identification support.
The Government cannot comment on the current investigation into the downing of MH17 and the establishment of a tribunal in the Netherlands, as we are unable to comment on ongoing investigations.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 14 November (HL2794), whether they will clarify why information relating to failure rates of biometric passports, and resulting delays, raise national security concerns.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
There are many reasons why passports fail at ePassport Gates, and to provide information relating to the use and performance of biometric passports may give those that want to cause harm to the UK an insight into security measures and cause vulnerability at our borders.