Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 review will be published on the Home Office website.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government has commenced the formal review of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 as required by section 18 of that Act. We will publish the findings of the review when completed during 2017.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Syrian Dom people will be included in the 20,000 refugees selected to be given refuge in the UK.
Answered by Lord Bates
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) identifies refugees for potential resettlement under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement (VPR) scheme using its established vulnerability criteria. Although these do not include membership of a particular ethnic group, Dom people may qualify under the criteria, which include survivors of violence and/or torture and refugees with legal and/or physical protection needs. The scheme prioritises those who cannot be effectively supported in the region, and there are no quotas for the number of refugees that will qualify under each criteria.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider the work undertaken by Thames Valley Police in their newly published review of good practice in policing local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to be innovative; and what plans they have to encourage other police forces to undertake a similar approach to policy and practice in their areas.
Answered by Lord Bates
Equality and diversity are important – people across all communities want the police to fight crime while having confidence that their needs will be understood and respected.
The Government are pleased that Thames Valley Police have undertaken this piece of work which was co-authored by one of the Executive Directors of the national Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Police Association.
The Government established the College of Police as the professional body for policing to set standards, establish an evidence base for policing and disseminate what works.
It remains a matter for forces how they deal with issues to do with Gypsy Roma and Traveller communities. However, we would expect the College of Policing to make an assessment of effective policing practice and share effective and innovative practice where they find it.