Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Scottish Government to ensure that policies on fentanyl are aligned across the UK.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We have ongoing discussions with the Scottish Government on drug policy issues, including in relation to drugs such as fentanyl, to understand current threats and the opportunities for collaboration. In addition, the UK Drugs Ministerial is the forum for discussions at ministerial level between His Majesty’s Government and the devolved administrations. The next UK Drugs Ministerial is planned for the Autumn.
While fentanyl is controlled as a Class A drug across the UK through the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Scottish Government is responsible for policies addressing drug use and drug harms in areas that are devolved, including healthcare and criminal justice.
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the illicit (1) importation, and (2) distribution, of fentanyl.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The UK Government published its 10-year drug strategy ‘From Harm to Hope’ in 2021. Within this strategy we commit to disrupting all parts of drug supply chains from production and trafficking, to disrupting the retail market and attacking the profits of organised criminal activity. The Government and partner agencies are highly alert to the risk from fentanyl.
Fentanyl is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a Class A drug and two fentanyl precursors, ANPP and NPP, are also controlled in the UK.
Working with law enforcement partners, we are monitoring the supply of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into the UK and act decisively when they are discovered. Operationally, the NCA works closely with the Home Office, National Policing, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), and Border Force, to review the threat and ensure a rapid response to any escalation.
At the UK border, Border Force prioritises intelligence-based activity to detect all Class A drugs (including fentanyl), and works closely with the NCA to investigate and shut down distribution networks when they are identified. The NCA proactively monitors dark web sales, and has acted effectively to take down markets and vendors. Additionally, the NCA and Home Office work closely with international partners to identify, disrupt and share intelligence on the trafficking of synthetic opioids.
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of (1) torture, (2) mistreatment, and (3) disappearances, of LGBT individuals in Tanzania; and what steps they are taking in response.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The rights of LGBT+ individuals in Tanzania are coming under increasing pressure. The UK Government is clear that there needs to be an end to violence and discrimination against LGBT+ people in Tanzania and around the world. The British High Commission in Dar es Salaam is in regular contact with the LGBT+ community and human rights defenders to ensure we have a full understanding of the situation. Mindful that overt western interventions can exacerbate the situation, our responses are always informed by the LGBT+ community's perspective on what will best assure their safety.
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total budget for the Home Office for each year since 2009.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Home Office reports budgetary information in the Annual Report and Accounts by financial year (April to March).
Financial Year | £000s |
2021-22 | 18,681,143 |
2020-21 | 17,974,929 |
2019-20 | 14,892,011 |
2018-19 | 15,694,071 |
2017-18 | 14,154,085 |
2016-17 | 13,530,820 |
2015-16 | 12,615,214 |
2014-15 | 13,644,128 |
2013-14 | 12,461,515 |
2012-13 | 10,492,524 |
2011-12 | 10,641,338 |
2010-11 | 10,854,940 |
2009-10 | 10,991,194 |
2008-09 | 10,627,462 |
Source: HO annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff have been employed by the Home Office for each year since 2009.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The number of staff employed by the Home Office is published in our annual reports.
2008/09 | 3189 | |
2009/10 | 3719 | |
2010/11 | 3350 | |
2011/12 | 11141 | *Machine of Government change increase |
2012/13 | 12456 | |
2013/14 | 26328 | *Machine of Government change increase |
2014/15 | 31556 | |
2015/16 | 31034 | |
2016/17 | 32173 | |
2017/18 | 31790 | |
2018/19 | 34982 | |
2019/20 | 33628 | |
2020/21 | 34469 | |
2021/22 | 35781 | |
*Based on headcount (not full-time equivalent). Include permanent employees | ||
Sources - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ho-annual-reports-and-accounts
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-home-office-departmental-report-2009
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will negotiate with the government of France for centres in that country where asylum seekers can apply for asylum to the UK, rather than crossing the Channel to apply.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The UK maintains regular contact with the Government of France on our joint cooperation to tackle illegal migration at the shared border at Ministerial and official level. The UK has committed several funding packages to supporting this work, including a bilateral arrangement which was reached between the UK and France on 20 July 2021.
The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. However, there is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.
France is a safe country, and, like the UK, it has an asylum system which provides protection to those who need it. People in France who need protection, can and should claim asylum there rather than refuse the chance to do so and travel illegally and dangerously to the UK instead.
It is for this reason that the UK Government will not negotiate to have centres in France where asylum seekers can apply for asylum to the UK. All asylum claims that are lodged from within the UK and admitted to the UK asylum system, are given full and careful consideration so that we do not remove anyone who faces persecution or serious harm on return to their country of origin.
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of France regarding an agreement to stop asylum seekers undertaking unsafe Channel crossings.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The UK maintains regular contact with the Government of France on our joint cooperation to tackle illegal migration at the shared border at Ministerial and official level. The UK has committed several funding packages to supporting this work, including a bilateral arrangement which was reached between the UK and France on 20 July 2021.
The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. However, there is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.
France is a safe country, and, like the UK, it has an asylum system which provides protection to those who need it. People in France who need protection, can and should claim asylum there rather than refuse the chance to do so and travel illegally and dangerously to the UK instead.
It is for this reason that the UK Government will not negotiate to have centres in France where asylum seekers can apply for asylum to the UK. All asylum claims that are lodged from within the UK and admitted to the UK asylum system, are given full and careful consideration so that we do not remove anyone who faces persecution or serious harm on return to their country of origin.
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any countries, other than Iran, to which the UK owes money for contracts agreed, and for which money was received, but for which goods were not delivered; and if so, (1) which countries are involved, and (2) what reasons are there for the decision to withhold delivery of the goods in each case.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
There are no such countries, other than Iran.
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
Her Majesty's Government which public body is responsible for enforcing regulations concerning the retail prices of medicines; and what enforcement mechanisms are in place to sanction non-compliant retailers.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The price of over-the-counter medicines charged by retailers is not subject to regulatory control. Competition between retailers acts to prevent excessive prices.
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees (1) small and medium-sized businesses, and (2) companies employing more than 250 people, have in total in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The 2015 Business Population Estimates show that employment in small and medium-sized businesses in the UK was 15.6 million, whilst employment in large businesses was 10.3 million. Small and medium-sized businesses are those with 0-249 employees and large businesses are those with 250 or more.