Freedom of Movement

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Wednesday 8th May 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, why are the Government making it difficult for EU citizens living in the United Kingdom to exercise the right to vote in the European elections?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, the noble Lord strays into another department again with election law. Election law is quite firmly fixed. I would have to refer to—

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

You are speaking for the Government.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I am speaking for the Government on Home Office matters.

Equality Act 2010: Commencement of Section 106

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Thursday 7th March 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I think the issue is that the Government feel that all political parties should be responsible for being diversity-inclusive when they select and elect their candidates. We have given funding of £250,000 for the EnAble fund, which will help this year, but we feel that individual political parties should then show leadership in this area.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

The Minister said, rightly, that both Houses should represent the country as a whole more effectively. Is she aware that half the Members of this House live in London? What does she suggest might be done to make it easier to have better representation from other parts of the country in this Chamber?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I thank the noble Lord for that question. I am sure that he lives not in London but in Scotland. I am another of that half who do not live in London, quite deliberately, because we need to look outside London—for example, when we think about the Northern Powerhouse or employment opportunities. London is a bubble unto itself and it is very important for the other regions to play their part, in the economy and otherwise.

Brexit: Security

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Tuesday 29th January 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The noble Lord makes a very constructive point—

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

It is a good question.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

Yes, it is a good question, and it is going to get an answer, if I can get a word in edgeways.

We have to work very hard to make sure that there are no gaps in capability and that, if we leave the European Union without a deal, some of the alternative mechanisms and instruments are in place.

Police and Crime Commissioners

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Monday 15th October 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, I do not know the answer to that question. I will have to take that back, if the noble Lord does not mind, and come up with a reply, because I am not quite sure of the history of this.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that a senior police officer who had to leave Police Scotland under allegations of bullying has been appointed an inspector of constabulary in England? Has she any comments on that?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

As I said, I do not have comments to make on individual cases, but I said in response to a previous question that moving forces does not absolve you from being accountable for the actions that you have taken in another force.

Peru: Visa Requirements

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Monday 4th June 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I shall certainly take back what my noble friend has said—what the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, said certainly triggered alarm bells for me. I shall take back the points made by my noble friend and the noble Lord, get an answer and write to them.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, notwithstanding Peru’s lucky victory over Scotland at football last week, I support everything that the noble Baroness, Lady Coussins, said. I was astonished on a recent visit to New Zealand to find that some visitors from New Zealand, of all places, still require visas. What is the Minister doing about that?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I will personally look into that, but of course there are certain countries where visas are required. As I said to the noble Baroness—I totally understand the point that she makes—we keep these arrangements under review on a regular basis.

Passport (Fees) Regulations 2018

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Thursday 22nd March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 29 January be approved. Considered in Grand Committee on 15 March.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, there is a story going around that—

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

I am speaking on the regulations. There is a story going around, which I am absolutely sure must be fake news, that the proposed iconic blue passport is going to be produced in France. Will the Minister confirm whether that is true or not, because, if it is true, it must be a great embarrassment for Her Majesty’s Government?

[The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Williams of Trafford) (Con)]

My Lords, any questions about this issue should have been raised in Committee. The question that the noble Lord asks has nothing to do with the regulations.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

What is the answer to the question? This is an opportunity to raise it. Surely the Minister must know what the position is.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, this is not an opportunity for noble Lords to stand up and ask random questions.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, as noble Lords will know, when things are discussed in this House is entirely a matter for Members.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

My Lords, this matter was not known last Thursday; it has only become public recently. For once, I actually agree with the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth. The Government of France insist that French passports are produced only in France for reasons of security. If we are, sadly, going to have to leave the European Union, and I hope that we are not, and if we are going to have these iconic blue passports—well, the last one I had was more black than blue, to be honest—then they ought to be produced in Britain, in Gateshead or somewhere else. Why is that not the case? The Minister must answer this.

Air Guns

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Monday 5th March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I can certainly tell my noble friend about the number of fatalities. I know that the number of these crimes has fallen. I am trying to find the figure, but will have to write to her about that.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, as we know, the Scottish Government do not always get everything right. However, in this case, the law there seems to be working effectively. Why is England having to wait?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

As I have said twice now, we will certainly look to the regime in place in Scotland as part of the review and in coming to a view.

Serious Fraud Office

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Wednesday 13th December 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, I am not involved in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill—unlike every other piece of legislation, which I do seem to be involved in. However, I take the noble Baroness’s point. I think the broader point here is that there will be a multiagency response to different types of fraud and that they can perhaps do more good as a partnership than they can as a series of isolated bodies.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, will the Minister confirm that one of the most effective crime-fighting agencies is the British Transport Police? Would it not be a travesty if the Scottish Government were allowed to incorporate the northern part of the British Transport Police into the chaos that is Police Scotland?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I wish I had listened in more depth to the statutory instrument that the noble Lord discussed the other day instead of looking at the notes for my own statutory instrument. I understand that transport is devolved and therefore that this would be a matter for the Scottish Government. However, I will look into that more closely for the noble Lord because it is not precisely my area.

Domestic Violence: Police Resources

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Monday 27th November 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

All circumstances are taken into account when someone is prosecuted. My noble friend is right about the cycle of abuse. Someone who is a victim of domestic violence will go on to have perhaps depression or other mental health problems, or drug or alcohol problems, which may lead to crimes being committed. Certainly within the justice system this cycle of abuse and crime needs to be unlocked.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, will the noble Baroness have discussions with her counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland so that we can learn from experience and exchange ideas in this United Kingdom? In that context, will she welcome the visit by the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament to Westminster today?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I certainly welcome the visit of the Justice Committee. As to whether we have lessons to learn, I am sure that we have lessons to learn from each other in examples of good practice. However, I say to the noble Lord that I am proud to stand here, given what this Government have done over the past seven years to help victims of domestic violence.