Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of antique firearms (a) traded in the UK in each year since 2017 and (b) in circulation now.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK has some of the toughest firearms legislation in the world and we keep the controls under constant review to keep the public safe.
Following a sharp increase in the criminal use of antique firearms, the Government introduced the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021, which provide a statutory definition of ‘antique firearm’ to clarify which firearms can safely be exempt from the controls and which should be subject to licensing. We took the opportunity to omit from that definition seven cartridges which had regularly featured in crime, making firearms chambered for use with those cartridges subject to licensing.
Antique firearms are not identified separately in official crime statistics. However, information provided by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service shows the following:
- there were two fatalities from obsolete calibre firearms in each year from 2017 to 2021 and one fatality so far in 2022;
- injuries involving obsolete calibre firearms (excluding suicides) were 15 in 2017, 13 in 2018, 9 in 2019, 7 in 2020, 6 in 2021, and 5 so far in 2022;
- obsolete calibre firearms recovered from crime or from suspicious circumstances were 87 in 2017, 75 in 2018, 77 in 2019, 83 in 2020, 84 in 2021, and 41 so far in 2022.
When making the 2021 Regulations, the Government committed to an annual review to consider the latest developments with the criminal use of antique firearms, and to a full review of the Regulations themselves every three years.
A first review of the criminal use of antique firearms has just been completed and identified no need to revise the controls further at this time. The position will be monitored and reviewed again next year, but we will not hesitate to act sooner should the need arise.
For a firearm to qualify as exempt from licensing control it must be possessed, sold or purchased as a curiosity or ornament. Ammunition cannot be similarly exempt and is subject to licensing. If an owner wanted to acquire ammunition for use with an antique firearm, the firearm would no longer qualify to be exempt as an antique and would revert to certificate controls.
Since antique firearms are exempt from most firearms controls, including the need for licensing, we do not hold figures on the trade in antique firearms nor the number currently in circulation.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the current regulatory regime for antique firearms on their (a) use in crime and (b) modifications.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK has some of the toughest firearms legislation in the world and we keep the controls under constant review to keep the public safe.
Following a sharp increase in the criminal use of antique firearms, the Government introduced the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021, which provide a statutory definition of ‘antique firearm’ to clarify which firearms can safely be exempt from the controls and which should be subject to licensing. We took the opportunity to omit from that definition seven cartridges which had regularly featured in crime, making firearms chambered for use with those cartridges subject to licensing.
Antique firearms are not identified separately in official crime statistics. However, information provided by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service shows the following:
- there were two fatalities from obsolete calibre firearms in each year from 2017 to 2021 and one fatality so far in 2022;
- injuries involving obsolete calibre firearms (excluding suicides) were 15 in 2017, 13 in 2018, 9 in 2019, 7 in 2020, 6 in 2021, and 5 so far in 2022;
- obsolete calibre firearms recovered from crime or from suspicious circumstances were 87 in 2017, 75 in 2018, 77 in 2019, 83 in 2020, 84 in 2021, and 41 so far in 2022.
When making the 2021 Regulations, the Government committed to an annual review to consider the latest developments with the criminal use of antique firearms, and to a full review of the Regulations themselves every three years.
A first review of the criminal use of antique firearms has just been completed and identified no need to revise the controls further at this time. The position will be monitored and reviewed again next year, but we will not hesitate to act sooner should the need arise.
For a firearm to qualify as exempt from licensing control it must be possessed, sold or purchased as a curiosity or ornament. Ammunition cannot be similarly exempt and is subject to licensing. If an owner wanted to acquire ammunition for use with an antique firearm, the firearm would no longer qualify to be exempt as an antique and would revert to certificate controls.
Since antique firearms are exempt from most firearms controls, including the need for licensing, we do not hold figures on the trade in antique firearms nor the number currently in circulation.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) deaths, (b) injuries and (c) crimes involving an antique firearm in each year since 2017.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK has some of the toughest firearms legislation in the world and we keep the controls under constant review to keep the public safe.
Following a sharp increase in the criminal use of antique firearms, the Government introduced the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021, which provide a statutory definition of ‘antique firearm’ to clarify which firearms can safely be exempt from the controls and which should be subject to licensing. We took the opportunity to omit from that definition seven cartridges which had regularly featured in crime, making firearms chambered for use with those cartridges subject to licensing.
Antique firearms are not identified separately in official crime statistics. However, information provided by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service shows the following:
- there were two fatalities from obsolete calibre firearms in each year from 2017 to 2021 and one fatality so far in 2022;
- injuries involving obsolete calibre firearms (excluding suicides) were 15 in 2017, 13 in 2018, 9 in 2019, 7 in 2020, 6 in 2021, and 5 so far in 2022;
- obsolete calibre firearms recovered from crime or from suspicious circumstances were 87 in 2017, 75 in 2018, 77 in 2019, 83 in 2020, 84 in 2021, and 41 so far in 2022.
When making the 2021 Regulations, the Government committed to an annual review to consider the latest developments with the criminal use of antique firearms, and to a full review of the Regulations themselves every three years.
A first review of the criminal use of antique firearms has just been completed and identified no need to revise the controls further at this time. The position will be monitored and reviewed again next year, but we will not hesitate to act sooner should the need arise.
For a firearm to qualify as exempt from licensing control it must be possessed, sold or purchased as a curiosity or ornament. Ammunition cannot be similarly exempt and is subject to licensing. If an owner wanted to acquire ammunition for use with an antique firearm, the firearm would no longer qualify to be exempt as an antique and would revert to certificate controls.
Since antique firearms are exempt from most firearms controls, including the need for licensing, we do not hold figures on the trade in antique firearms nor the number currently in circulation.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the amount of ammunition for antique firearms traded in the UK since 2017.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK has some of the toughest firearms legislation in the world and we keep the controls under constant review to keep the public safe.
Following a sharp increase in the criminal use of antique firearms, the Government introduced the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021, which provide a statutory definition of ‘antique firearm’ to clarify which firearms can safely be exempt from the controls and which should be subject to licensing. We took the opportunity to omit from that definition seven cartridges which had regularly featured in crime, making firearms chambered for use with those cartridges subject to licensing.
Antique firearms are not identified separately in official crime statistics. However, information provided by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service shows the following:
- there were two fatalities from obsolete calibre firearms in each year from 2017 to 2021 and one fatality so far in 2022;
- injuries involving obsolete calibre firearms (excluding suicides) were 15 in 2017, 13 in 2018, 9 in 2019, 7 in 2020, 6 in 2021, and 5 so far in 2022;
- obsolete calibre firearms recovered from crime or from suspicious circumstances were 87 in 2017, 75 in 2018, 77 in 2019, 83 in 2020, 84 in 2021, and 41 so far in 2022.
When making the 2021 Regulations, the Government committed to an annual review to consider the latest developments with the criminal use of antique firearms, and to a full review of the Regulations themselves every three years.
A first review of the criminal use of antique firearms has just been completed and identified no need to revise the controls further at this time. The position will be monitored and reviewed again next year, but we will not hesitate to act sooner should the need arise.
For a firearm to qualify as exempt from licensing control it must be possessed, sold or purchased as a curiosity or ornament. Ammunition cannot be similarly exempt and is subject to licensing. If an owner wanted to acquire ammunition for use with an antique firearm, the firearm would no longer qualify to be exempt as an antique and would revert to certificate controls.
Since antique firearms are exempt from most firearms controls, including the need for licensing, we do not hold figures on the trade in antique firearms nor the number currently in circulation.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the allocation of the National and International Capital Cities Grant to the Metropolitan Police has been adjusted for inflation.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
In 2022-23 the Metropolitan Police Service will receive up to £3.24bn of funding. This is an increase of up to £169m when compared to 2021-22. In addition, the MPS receives funding for a number of other functions including as the lead for counter-terrorism, around £47m of funding relating to crime reduction programmes, and specific funding through the Police Special Grant.
The discretionary National and International Capital City (NICC) Grant, which is included in these figures totals £185.3m, unchanged from 2021-22.
Funding since 2010 cannot be directly compared as elements have changed or been amalgamated over time.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will take steps to ensure that allocation of the National and International Capital Cities Grant to the Metropolitan Police Service is sufficient to meet the needs of policing in London.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
In 2022-23 the Metropolitan Police Service will receive up to £3.24bn of funding. This is an increase of up to £169m when compared to 2021-22. In addition, the MPS receives funding for a number of other functions including as the lead for counter-terrorism, around £47m of funding relating to crime reduction programmes, and specific funding through the Police Special Grant.
The discretionary National and International Capital City (NICC) Grant, which is included in these figures totals £185.3m, unchanged from 2021-22.
Funding since 2010 cannot be directly compared as elements have changed or been amalgamated over time.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) general and (b) specific funding the Government has allocated to the Metropolitan Police Service in each year since 2010.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
In 2022-23 the Metropolitan Police Service will receive up to £3.24bn of funding. This is an increase of up to £169m when compared to 2021-22. In addition, the MPS receives funding for a number of other functions including as the lead for counter-terrorism, around £47m of funding relating to crime reduction programmes, and specific funding through the Police Special Grant.
The discretionary National and International Capital City (NICC) Grant, which is included in these figures totals £185.3m, unchanged from 2021-22.
Funding since 2010 cannot be directly compared as elements have changed or been amalgamated over time.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how old each the 116 unaccompanied migrant children missing from Home Office funded hotels are; and for how long each of those children (a) were housed in hotels before they went missing and (b) have been missing.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The UK is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the number of people making life-threatening journeys to cross the Channel. These boats are often carrying unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) and this has placed unprecedented pressure on the National Transfer Scheme. Out of necessity and with the children’s best interests in mind, we have arranged for them to be accommodated on an emergency and temporary basis in hotels whilst placements with local authorities are being vigorously pursued.
We have safeguarding procedures in place to ensure all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in emergency interim hotels are as safe and supported as possible, whilst we seek urgent placements with a local authority. Young people are supported by team leaders and support workers who are on site 24 hours a day. Further care is provided in hotels by teams of social workers and nurses.
The Home Office has no power to hold children in hotels or any temporary accommodation if they wish to leave. To minimise the risk of a child going missing, records of children leaving and returning to the hotel are kept and monitored. Support workers accompany children off site on activities and social excursions, or where specific vulnerabilities are identified.
Any child going missing is extremely serious, and we work with the police and local authorities to seek to urgently locate them and ensure they are safe.
Since July 2021 to 19 October this year, there have been 391 missing episodes of young people from the Home Office UASC Hotels (the term missing episodes is used as the same young person may go missing on more than one occasion).
As of 19 October, 222 young people are missing - please see table below. Please note that the data is taken from a live information database and therefore is subject to change as that system is updated.
Age When Went Missing | No Of Days Accommodated in Hotels for Before They Went Missing | No of Days They Have Been Missing For |
|
17 | 7 | 339 |
|
17 | 0 | 333 |
|
15 | 9 | 331 |
|
17 | 4 | 330 |
|
16 | 9 | 272 |
|
17 | 1 | 234 |
|
17 | 0 | 231 |
|
17 | 1 | 212 |
|
16 | 1 | 210 |
|
17 | 1 | 185 |
|
17 | 1 | 185 |
|
16 | 0 | 186 |
|
17 | 0 | 186 |
|
17 | 1 | 185 |
|
17 | 1 | 185 |
|
17 | 4 | 181 |
|
16 | 3 | 181 |
|
17 | 0 | 170 |
|
17 | 1 | 169 |
|
17 | 0 | 169 |
|
17 | 0 | 165 |
|
16 | 2 | 155 |
|
17 | 0 | 153 |
|
17 | 5 | 151 |
|
17 | 2 | 147 |
|
17 | 5 | 144 |
|
17 | 1 | 139 |
|
16 | 0 | 138 |
|
17 | 5 | 136 |
|
16 | 2 | 121 |
|
16 | 5 | 120 |
|
17 | 6 | 118 |
|
17 | 4 | 116 |
|
17 | 1 | 113 |
|
17 | 4 | 109 |
|
15 | 5 | 107 |
|
17 | 17 | 107 |
|
17 | 1 | 105 |
|
17 | 2 | 100 |
|
17 | 1 | 97 |
|
17 | 1 | 97 |
|
17 | 1 | 97 |
|
17 | 0 | 95 |
|
17 | 1 | 92 |
|
17 | 1 | 92 |
|
15 | 3 | 91 |
|
17 | 5 | 89 |
|
17 | 1 | 90 |
|
15 | 0 | 86 |
|
16 | 1 | 85 |
|
17 | 8 | 84 |
|
16 | 10 | 82 |
|
16 | 1 | 80 |
|
16 | 1 | 80 |
|
17 | 0 | 78 |
|
17 | 2 | 78 |
|
17 | 2 | 77 |
|
17 | 4 | 76 |
|
16 | 2 | 76 |
|
17 | 2 | 76 |
|
17 | 3 | 76 |
|
17 | 1 | 76 |
|
16 | 1 | 76 |
|
17 | 2 | 74 |
|
16 | 3 | 72 |
|
17 | 2 | 71 |
|
17 | 5 | 71 |
|
16 | 2 | 71 |
|
16 | 2 | 71 |
|
17 | 3 | 69 |
|
16 | 6 | 69 |
|
15 | 5 | 70 |
|
17 | 3 | 68 |
|
15 | 3 | 68 |
|
17 | 2 | 66 |
|
17 | 1 | 66 |
|
16 | 10 | 66 |
|
16 | 2 | 65 |
|
16 | 1 | 64 |
|
17 | 2 | 64 |
|
17 | 2 | 64 |
|
17 | 3 | 64 |
|
17 | 1 | 63 |
|
17 | 3 | 63 |
|
17 | 0 | 63 |
|
17 | 3 | 62 |
|
17 | 1 | 59 |
|
17 | 15 | 60 |
|
17 | 1 | 60 |
|
16 | 1 | 60 |
|
17 | 15 | 60 |
|
16 | 4 | 58 |
|
17 | 4 | 58 |
|
17 | 4 | 57 |
|
17 | 18 | 57 |
|
17 | 1 | 56 |
|
15 | 0 | 56 |
|
17 | 1 | 56 |
|
17 | 0 | 56 |
|
17 | 0 | 56 |
|
17 | 1 | 55 |
|
17 | 3 | 55 |
|
17 | 3 | 55 |
|
17 | 2 | 55 |
|
17 | 9 | 55 |
|
17 | 21 | 55 |
|
17 | 2 | 55 |
|
16 | 3 | 54 |
|
17 | 2 | 54 |
|
17 | 2 | 54 |
|
17 | 2 | 54 |
|
17 | 7 | 53 |
|
17 | 1 | 53 |
|
17 | 3 | 53 |
|
16 | 3 | 53 |
|
16 | 3 | 53 |
|
17 | 2 | 52 |
|
17 | 2 | 52 |
|
17 | 3 | 52 |
|
17 | 3 | 52 |
|
17 | 4 | 52 |
|
17 | 1 | 52 |
|
17 | 2 | 52 |
|
17 | 3 | 52 |
|
16 | 10 | 52 |
|
17 | 1 | 53 |
|
15 | 4 | 51 |
|
15 | 4 | 51 |
|
16 | 4 | 51 |
|
16 | 2 | 51 |
|
16 | 3 | 51 |
|
16 | 6 | 50 |
|
17 | 3 | 50 |
|
17 | 3 | 50 |
|
17 | 3 | 50 |
|
17 | 3 | 48 |
|
17 | 3 | 48 |
|
17 | 15 | 48 |
|
17 | 15 | 48 |
|
16 | 3 | 48 |
|
17 | 0 | 45 |
|
17 | 5 | 45 |
|
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support (a) Hourglass and (b) other charities that provide advice to older victims of domestic abuse.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We know that domestic abuse affects a wide and disparate group and that a “one size fits all” approach is not appropriate to support all victims. Whilst anyone can suffer from domestic abuse, for older victims, abuse may be more hidden and disguised, or compounded by other age-related factors such as ill health.
We understand the importance of specialist and ‘by and for’ services (specialist services that are designed and delivered by and for the users and communities they aim to serve) in providing the tailored support that victims and survivors of domestic abuse need. We work closely with and fund organisations providing this vital support, including the charity Hourglass. In 2021/22, the Home Office provided Hourglass over £200,000 to support their work in enhancing their helpline, providing casework support, and training specialist IDVAs. For 2022/23, we have provided pro-rata funding for an extended 8 months.
In July 2022, we published our Domestic Abuse Statutory Guidance which will support frontline services in identifying and responding to domestic abuse, including recognising unique barriers and experiences that some victims, including with protected characteristics or complex needs, may face.
The guidance follows on from the landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and our Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan, published in March 2022, which invests over £230 million of new funding to tackle domestic abuse, with over £140 million to support victims. This includes over £47 million in ringfenced funding for victims’ services.
Our Domestic Abuse Plan also commits to, where possible, offering multi-year awards to funding to organisations supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse to support smaller organisations, including ‘by and for’ services, to offer a stable service to victims and survivors. The VAWG National Statement of Expectations, and Commissioning Toolkit, published alongside the Plan, supports commissioners to increase provision of ‘by and for’ and specialist services.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when Afghan refugees referred by the UNHCR will begin arriving in the UK under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) commenced on 6 January 2022, providing up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.
We are working closely with UNHCR to begin receiving referrals under Pathway 2 of the ACRS. Under this Pathway, UNHCR will refer individuals and families based on an assessment of protection needs. Further detail will be set out in due course.
The pace of actual arrivals in any particular period will depend on a range of factors including the flow of referrals from UNHCR and the availability of suitable accommodation and support in the UK.