Asked by: Lord Anderson of Ipswich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the figures presented in section 5.9 of the HM Government Transparency Report 2018: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers (Cm 9609), published on 23 July 2018, (1) how many UK citizens were deprived of British citizenship under section 40(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 in 2018 and 2019; and (2) when the next transparency report on disruptive and investigatory powers will be published.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The HM Government transparency report on disruptive powers 2018-19 was published 19 March this year and confirms that 21 individuals were deprived of British citizenship under section 40(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 in 2018. Figures for 2019 will be available in the following transparency report on disruptive powers which will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Anderson of Ipswich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons formerly resident in the UK are known to have returned to the UK after travelling to the so-called Islamic State in Iraq or Syria; how many such persons have been subject to Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures and/or Temporary Exclusion Orders; how many such persons have been convicted of terrorist offences since their return; how many such convictions are for offences committed while abroad with the so-called Islamic State; and how many such convictions are for offences committed after their return to the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government’s number one priority remains the safety and security of its citizens. All of those who have returned have been investigated and the majority have been assessed to pose no, or a low security risk. There have been around 40 convictions of individuals following their return from Syria, for a range of offences connected to their activities overseas or subsequent counter-terrorism investigations.
There are a number of tools available to law enforcement and security agencies to manage the threat posed by returning UK citizens suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activity abroad including Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIMs) and Temporary Exclusion Orders (TEOs).
The total number of TEOs imposed in 2017, the first year the power was used, was nine. As at 31 May 2018, there were eight TPIM notices in force, seven of which related to British Citizens. These figures were published in the 2018 Disruptive and Investigatory Powers Transparency Report. Due to national security considerations, it would not be appropriate to provide a further breakdown of these figures.
Asked by: Lord Anderson of Ipswich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the commitment in the Home Office Biometrics Strategy, published in June 2018, to update the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice in collaboration with the Surveillance Camera Commissioner; when they expect the result of any updated Code; and whether such an update will include stronger guidance on the use of automatic facial recognition.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
We are planning to update the Surveillance Camera Code by the end of the year, subject to consultation with stakeholders, coordination with the Information Commissioner’s update to their guidance on the related data protection issues, and obtaining the necessary parliamentary time.
The Government believes that there is a legal framework for the use of live facial recognition technology. We are supporting the National Police Chiefs’ Council in developing operational guidance for the police, informed by the independent reviews of the trials.
Asked by: Lord Anderson of Ipswich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the post of Independent Reviewer of Prevent, provided for by section 20(8) of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, will be (1) classified as a public appointment, (2) included in the Schedule to the Public Appointments Order in Council, and (3) subject to the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Independent Reviewer will be a public appointment made Ministers. Short term appointments of this nature are not usually included in the Schedule to the Public Appointments Order in Council. Best practice with regards to public appointments will be followed as outlined in the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments 2016.