Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to tackle violence against women and girls through the criminal justice system.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
This Government’s track record in tackling violence against women and girls includes introducing
• Our landmark Domestic Abuse Act, which created the new criminal offence of non-fatal strangulation; recognised wider forms of abuse, such as emotional and economic abuse, in law for the first time; and extended the controlling and coercive behaviour offence to include post-separation abuse; and,
• The Rape Review, through which we have tripled the number of cases the police are now referring to the CPS and more than doubled the number of adult rape cases reaching court since 2019.
And we are going further by introducing:
• The Sentencing Bill, which will legislate to ensure that rapists and the most serious sexual offenders remain in prison for the whole of their custodial sentences, up from 2/3 currently and after the last Labour Government lowered it to only 50%; and
• The Criminal Justice Bill, which will strengthen the multi-agency management of offenders convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress he has made on repairing the Torquay temporary jobcentre; and what his planned timetable is for when the work will be completed.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP announced the decommissioning of the Torquay Temporary Jobcentre on 17 May 2023. Customers and staff exited the site by June. The Department is in the process of preparing the site ready to hand back to the landlord.
We sincerely apologise that this work has taken so long. Since this issue was brought to our attention, we have escalated this to ensure the contractor completes the work as a matter of urgency.
The Department has provided the honourable member with a letter from DWP Estates with further information and a full explanation of the delay, which resulted from a combination of supplier failure and the transition to decommissioning this site.
We can confirm that replacement glazing units have been ordered and the Department will ensure installation is completed as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on preventing convicted sex offenders from working as personal fitness instructors.
Answered by Sarah Dines
The UK has some of the toughest powers in the world to deal with sex offenders and those who pose a risk, and we are committed to ensuring that the system is as robust as it can be.
Civil orders are available to the police (on application to the court) to manage the risk posed by registered sex offenders and those who pose a risk of sexual harm. Sexual Harm Prevention Orders can be applied to anyone convicted or cautioned for a sexual or violent offence, including where offences are committed overseas; and Sexual Risk Orders can be applied to any individual who poses a risk of sexual harm in the UK or abroad, even if they have never been convicted. Both orders can place a range of restrictions and/or requirements on individuals depending on the nature of the case, such as prohibiting offenders from engaging in certain kinds of employment. For both, breach is a criminal offence punishable by a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment
We are further strengthening the regime for managing registered sex offenders through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, and we continue to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that the right powers are available for the authorities to tackle sexual crimes and bring perpetrators to justice.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on energy costs for the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I would like to thank my hon Friend the Member for Torbay for his tireless work to support the hospitality and tourism sector across his constituency.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme has provided much needed support with high energy costs over the winter. We continue to work closely with the sector, including through the newly-established Hospitality Sector Council and across Government to ensure a successful future for these important industries.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2023 to Question 122475 on Members: Correspondence, if her Department will respond to unanswered correspondence of 5 December 2022 from the hon. Member for Torbay, reference KF22583.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office will respond shortly.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2022 to Question 108259 on Members: Correspondence, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Torbay of 5 December 2022.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office replied on 13 December 2022.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on transport infrastructure between Wales and the South West of England.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
I have regular discussions with the Transport Secretary on a range of transport measures, including infrastructure between Wales and the South West of England. Sadly, the Welsh Government is against the M4 Relief Road which would be of huge benefit to the region.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Torbay of 5 December 2022.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office will reply by 5 January 2023.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support her Department is providing to the fishing industry in (a) Devon and (b) Cornwall.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In England, the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme invests at least £6 million in the sector annually. Last year, it approved around 240 projects worth almost £4 million in Devon and Cornwall investing in health and safety, limiting the environmental impact of fishing and improving the value and quality of fisheries products. Wider support via the £100 million United Kingdom Seafood Fund is also available.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Home Office:
What steps he is taking to tackle domestic abuse.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This Government is committed to transforming the response to domestic abuse.
On 21 January 2019, we published a landmark draft Domestic Abuse Bill alongside a wide-ranging package of measures to protect and support victims.
We have also recently refreshed our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and published a position paper on Male Victims, demonstrating our commitment to tackle all forms of abuse.