Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers are available to local authorities to (a) investigate and (b) record breaches of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to licensed premises.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Public Sector Equality Duty, enshrined within the Equality Act 2010, requires all public bodies, including local authorities, to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity in respect of all of the protected characteristics established by the 2010 Act. It is for each public body to demonstrate that they have fulfilled this duty and have considered the impact of their policies on each of the protected characteristics. Anyone with concerns that public bodies are not fulfilling this duty should, in the first instance, contact the relevant authority directly.
The Government is sympathetic to issues in relation to accessibility to licensed premises for disabled people and with ensuring businesses and service providers comply with the requirements in the 2010 Act. The Government has previously announced it will consult relevant organisations to better understand the extent of the problem. We will also work with the National Association of Licensing Enforcement Officers and representatives of the licensed trade to explore what practical measures can be taken to ensure significant improvements.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department is making on its review of air weapons.
Answered by Nick Hurd
We are reviewing the regulation of air weapons in England and Wales, and requested the views of interested parties by 6 February 2018. The review is looking at issues such as manufacturing standards, secure storage and whether current arrangements are sufficient to prevent children gaining access to air weapons. We will also take account of the arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland where air weapons are subject to a licensing regime. The Department has received a large number of representations on these topics, and we will consider them carefully before deciding how to proceed. We will publish the outcome of the review in due course.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conclusions on gender and passport markings the Government has drawn from its 2016 survey of International Civil Aviation Association Organisation members.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Responses to the survey are currently being reviewed and a report is aimed to be submitted to the International Civil Aviation Authority in the autumn.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to review controls on the online sale of crossbows.
Answered by Sarah Newton
We keep the legislation on age restricted items, including crossbows, under review to ensure it remains relevant and robust. It is an offence to sell a crossbow to a person under 18 years of age, and that includes online sales. If an online retailer has made an underage sale they should be reported to the police or trading standards so that inquiries can be made.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to raise awareness of the seriousness of stalking (a) through social media and (b) otherwise.
Answered by Karen Bradley
Stalking is a deeply disturbing crime which can leave its victims living in fear for years. That is why we introduced new legislation in 2012 which made stalking an offence in its own right.
To mark National Stalking Awareness Week, we are using Twitter to raise awareness of the increases in prosecutions and convictions for these crimes to help improve victim confidence in the criminal justice system.
The Government has committed £80 million to support victims of violence against women and girls, including, stalking, between 2016 and 2020. This includes funding for the National Stalking Helpline run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. Additionally, we have consulted on the introduction of a new civil Stalking Protection Order to tackle perpetrators at an early stage to help prevent victims becoming targets of a prolonged campaign of abuse. Our response to this consultation will be published in due course. Through the Police Innovation Fund, we are supporting the police to identify ways to manage the significant volume of online material in abuse, harassment and stalking cases, so that evidence can be collected more easily and a strong case built to bring a prosecution.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make a public statement of support for (a) survivors of stalking and (b) National Stalking Awareness Week.
Answered by Karen Bradley
Stalking is a deeply disturbing crime which can leave its victims living in fear for years. That is why we introduced new legislation in 2012 which made stalking an offence in its own right.
The latest published figures on stalking show that this legislation is taking effect. In 2014-15, over 1,100 prosecutions were commenced under the new offences, a rise of nearly 50% from the previous year. The number of referrals by the police to the CPS, the number of convictions and the number of custodial sentences have also risen. However, legislation is not always enough and we are determined to provide all victims of stalking with the protection and support that they need.
The Home Office is currently considering the results of a public consultation on the possible introduction of a Stalking Protection Order aimed at providing immediate and earlier protection for victims.
We welcome National Stalking Awareness Week and the opportunity to bring attention to these crimes. As part of the dedicated funding to tackle violence against women and girls we provide support to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust for its National Stalking Helpline.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to protect and support victims of stalking.
Answered by Karen Bradley
Stalking is a deeply disturbing crime which can leave its victims living in fear for years. That is why we introduced new legislation in 2012 which made stalking an offence in its own right.
The latest published figures on stalking show that this legislation is taking effect. In 2014-15, over 1,100 prosecutions were commenced under the new offences, a nearly 50% rise from the previous year. The number of referrals by the police to the CPS, the number of convictions and the number of custodial sentences have also risen.
However, legislation alone is not enough and we are determined to provide all victims of stalking with the protection and support that they need. As part of the dedicated funding to tackle violence against women and girls we provide support to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust for its National Stalking Helpline to provide support and advice to victims.
The Home Office is currently considering the results of a public consultation on the possible introduction of a Stalking Protection Order aimed at providing immediate and earlier protection for victims. Through the Police Innovation Fund, we are supporting the police to identify ways to manage the significant volume of online material in abuse, harassment and stalking cases, so that evidence can be collected more easily and a strong case built to bring a prosecution.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will take steps to support National Stalking Awareness Week.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Government has committed £80 million to support victims of violence against women and girls, including, stalking, between 2016 and 2020. This includes funding for the National Stalking Helpline run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.
We have strengthened the law by introducing new offences of stalking in 2012. In 2014-15, there were 1,103 prosecutions commenced under the new stalking offences, an increase of 50% over the previous year (2013-14).
To mark National Stalking Awareness Week, we are raising awareness of the increases in prosecutions and convictions for these crimes to help improve victim confidence in the criminal justice system.
Additionally, we have consulted on the introduction of a new civil Stalking Protection Order to tackle perpetrators at an early stage to help prevent victims becoming targets of a prolonged campaign of abuse. Our response to this consultation will be published in due course. Through the Police Innovation Fund, we are supporting the police to identify ways to manage the significant volume of online material in abuse, harassment and stalking cases, so that evidence can be collected more easily and a strong case built to bring a prosecution.