Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the written agreement made with the Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP, as mentioned in her resignation letter, was used as the basis for any policy direction in the Home Office; and if so, what the nature of that policy direction was.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
I refer the noble peer to the answer of 20 November 2023, Official Report, House of Commons, PQ 1905.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police last updated the Home Secretary on the implementation of the recommendations contained within An Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Handling of Non-Recent Sexual Offence Investigations Alleged Against Persons of Public Prominence, published on 31 October 2016.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In October 2019, the Home Secretary asked His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to assess the Metropolitan Police Service’s progress in learning lessons and embedding the recommendations from Sir Richard Henriques Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Handling of Operation Midland (published in October 2016). HMICFRS published its report in March 2020 and wrote to all Chief Constables to make them aware of their report’s findings and recommendations. In May 2021, at the then Home Secretary’s request, the MPS provided an update on their progress to Sir Richard Henriques – available on Gov.uk Letter from Dame Cressida Dick (MPS) to Sir Richard Henriques (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Government continues to work with policing partners, including the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to ensure police handling and investigation of such sensitive matters is both fair and impartial, while also responding to the needs of victims and survivors. We fund the police Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme, which identifies and shares best practice between forces in engaging with vulnerable people and investigating crimes such as child sexual abuse.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what advice they provide to senior police officers for dealing with parliamentary correspondence in a timely manner.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office does not provide guidance to senior police officers for dealing with parliamentary correspondence. That is a matter for Chief Constables themselves, who are operationally independent and PCCs, who provide the most direct line of accountability for local Police Forces.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the circumstances under which documents relating to the murder of Daniel Morgan, which were discovered locked in a cabinet at Scotland Yard, were not provided to the Independent Panel reviewing the conduct of Metropolitan Police inquiries into Mr Morgan’s murder.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has informed the Home Office of the discovery of information relevant to the work of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel (DMIP) and the subsequent inspection, commissioned by the former Home Secretary, of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). HMICFRS will review the undisclosed material. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has also been informed.
The MPS has informed the family of Daniel Morgan and Baroness Nuala O’Loan, Chair of the now concluded DMIP, of the discovery, and offered to provide both with access to the material if required.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the records management policy of police forces following recent revelations that the Metropolitan Police failed to disclose 95 pages of documents relating to the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel Inquiry.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has informed the Home Office of the discovery of information relevant to the work of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel (DMIP) and the subsequent inspection, commissioned by the former Home Secretary, of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). HMICFRS will review the undisclosed material. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has also been informed.
The MPS has informed the family of Daniel Morgan and Baroness Nuala O’Loan, Chair of the now concluded DMIP, of the discovery, and offered to provide both with access to the material if required.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of (a) problem gambling and (b) gambling addiction on acquisitive crime.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Home Office has not undertaken an assessment.
The Modern Crime Prevention Strategy published in March 2016 sets out how we analyse and respond to crime through the consideration of six drivers of crime (opportunity, character, effectiveness of the criminal justice system, profit, drugs and alcohol). This includes looking at new and emerging trends in acquisitive crime where we work closely with the police and relevant industry leads. While there are various studies suggesting that the prevalence of gambling is higher in offenders than the general population, the issue of problem gambling and gambling addiction has not been raised as a specific issue during our conversations about acquisitive crime with the police and others.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the effect on crime of problem gambling and gambling addiction.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Home Office Ministers have regular meetings as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Tier 1 exceptional talent visas for the arts were (a) applied for, (b) accepted and (c) rejected in each of the last four years.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The specific information you have requested is not currently published.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Tier 1 exceptional talent visas for the digital economy were (a) applied for, (b) accepted and (c) rejected in each of the last four years.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The specific information you have requested is not currently published.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of problem gambling and gambling addiction on acquisitive crime.
Answered by Sarah Newton
I have not undertaken an assessment. The Modern Crime Prevention Strategy published in March 2016 sets out how we analyse and respond to crime through the consideration of six drivers of crime (opportunity, character, effectiveness of the criminal justice system, profit, drugs and alcohol). This includes looking at new and emerging trends in acquisitive crime where we work closely with the police and relevant industry leads.