Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the time taken by police forces to issue (a) firearm and (b) shotgun licences.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
We do not collect data on the time taken by police forces to issue firearm and shotgun certificates.
I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners about the importance of an efficient and effective firearms licensing process in police forces and I continue to receive regular updates on force performance. In addition, force performance is being actively monitored by the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for firearms licensing.
Particular focus is being made on the backlogs in those areas of greatest risk, with a reduced routine reliance being made on the use of temporary permits, as well as a reduction in those whose certificates have expired, who have not been given temporary permits and who remain in possession of their firearms.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit held discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care on ensuring that appropriate conditions are being met for the accurate quantification of controlled substances used for scientific and medical purposes in the last 12 months.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The Home Office Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU) enables, through delivery of its licensing functions the lawful use of controlled drugs in the United Kingdom, including internationally controlled narcotic substances. DFLU’s regulatory function does not cover illicit drug use.
UK ‘anticipated needs’ (estimates) of individual drug substances are given in base drug quantities- or the amount of ‘active ingredient’ contained in a raw material, substance or product. Estimated needs of specific medicinal products are not provided to the INCB. Initial estimates are submitted to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) by 30 June each year, for the next calendar year; these are subject to regular review and a process exists for ‘in year’ variations to be requested if there is a demonstrable need for this to be increased. Similarly, adjustments can be made by the INCB in the course of processing Annual Returns information.
Estimates are primarily based on previous years actual ‘use’, which will include domestic production and imports, factoring in UK patient needs and global requirements where a product is to be exported. This information is provided to DFLU by their licensees as part of the ‘Annual Returns’ process. Regular discussions between the Home Office DFLU and officials in the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) occur whereby any shortfalls in our estimates can be raised as needed. This recognises that patient-ready medication is only a component of the estimates submitted.
Estimates, confirmed by the INCB for the calendar year 2023 (for all internationally controlled narcotic drugs) are available at Microsoft Word - EstAug (incb.org). Copies of the previously published INCB issued ‘confirmed estimates’ from January 2022, December 2022 and January 2023 have been placed in the House library.
DFLU did not have to request uplifts for the substance cannabis in either 2022 or 2023 (year to date) as the confirmed estimates adequately met UK needs.
In 2022 a total of 7,762 Kg of cannabis (in base drug form) was imported. Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal use in Humans (CBPMs), in the form of flos (flower) are included in this.
In 2023 a total of 23,890 Kg cannabis (in base drug form) has been confirmed as imported, as of 19 September 2023. Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal use in Humans (CBPMs), in the form of flos (flower) are included in this.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what quantity of controlled narcotic drugs her Department has estimated was necessary to enable legitimate scientific and medical use in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023; and what proportion of such drugs was (i) cannabis for medical use and (ii) imported in each year.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The Home Office Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU) enables, through delivery of its licensing functions the lawful use of controlled drugs in the United Kingdom, including internationally controlled narcotic substances. DFLU’s regulatory function does not cover illicit drug use.
UK ‘anticipated needs’ (estimates) of individual drug substances are given in base drug quantities- or the amount of ‘active ingredient’ contained in a raw material, substance or product. Estimated needs of specific medicinal products are not provided to the INCB. Initial estimates are submitted to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) by 30 June each year, for the next calendar year; these are subject to regular review and a process exists for ‘in year’ variations to be requested if there is a demonstrable need for this to be increased. Similarly, adjustments can be made by the INCB in the course of processing Annual Returns information.
Estimates are primarily based on previous years actual ‘use’, which will include domestic production and imports, factoring in UK patient needs and global requirements where a product is to be exported. This information is provided to DFLU by their licensees as part of the ‘Annual Returns’ process. Regular discussions between the Home Office DFLU and officials in the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) occur whereby any shortfalls in our estimates can be raised as needed. This recognises that patient-ready medication is only a component of the estimates submitted.
Estimates, confirmed by the INCB for the calendar year 2023 (for all internationally controlled narcotic drugs) are available at Microsoft Word - EstAug (incb.org). Copies of the previously published INCB issued ‘confirmed estimates’ from January 2022, December 2022 and January 2023 have been placed in the House library.
DFLU did not have to request uplifts for the substance cannabis in either 2022 or 2023 (year to date) as the confirmed estimates adequately met UK needs.
In 2022 a total of 7,762 Kg of cannabis (in base drug form) was imported. Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal use in Humans (CBPMs), in the form of flos (flower) are included in this.
In 2023 a total of 23,890 Kg cannabis (in base drug form) has been confirmed as imported, as of 19 September 2023. Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal use in Humans (CBPMs), in the form of flos (flower) are included in this.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects to publish the report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on Part 2 review on barriers to research affecting Schedule 1 drugs; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
As the ACMD is an independent Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), sponsored by the Home Office, the timings concerning its report on Barriers to Research is a matter for the ACMD.
I expect to receive an update from the ACMD in due course.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Government plans to take steps to increase police pay by (a) three, (b) four, (c) five, (d) six and (e) seven per cent.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) considers and makes recommendations to the Government on the appropriate level of pay and allowances for police officers. The Government values its independent and expert advice.
The Home Secretary’s remit letter, issued on 29 November 2022, asks the PRRB to make recommendations for the 2023/24 pay award and to submit its report in May. The Government will give very careful consideration to the Review Body’s recommendations.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to help prevent migrants crossing the channel in small boats.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office is working at pace to introduce legislation to tackle illegal migration.
The Bill will deliver the Prime Minister’s commitment, as set out in his oral statement on 13 December 2022 (Official Report, column 885 to 888), “to make it unambiguously clear that, if you enter the UK illegally, you should not be able to remain here. Instead, you will be detained and swiftly returned either to your home country or to a safe country where your asylum claim will be considered. You will no longer be able to frustrate removal attempts with late or spurious claims or appeals, and once removed, you should have no right to re-entry, settlement or citizenship.”
Further details will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's departure from the EU on their ability to deliver successful policy outcomes.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
Leaving the EU has provided the UK with the freedom to conceive and implement laws and policies that put the UK first and the opportunity to think boldly about how it regulates its economy for the good of the country as a whole.
At the start of this year, the Government set out its plans to maximise the benefits of Brexit across each major sector of the economy and transform the UK into the best regulated country in the world.
So much progress has been made, whether that be removing red tape to encourage investment in new technologies and infrastructure, taking back control of alcohol duties to simplify the system or establishing freeports across the country—but there remains a lot more to do.
To seize the benefits of Brexit more quickly we are introducing the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, which will enable the Government, via parliament, to remove years of burdensome EU regulation in favour of a more agile, home-grown regulatory approach that benefits the UK—to stimulate economic growth, innovation and job creation. Departments will be able to use the powers within the Bill, to repeal, reform or preserve REUL, in the best interests of the UK.
The Home Office is working to maximise the opportunities of Brexit by removing outdated regulation whilst maintaining public safety and national security. In addition, as a result of leaving the EU, the Government ended free movement and launched a points-based immigration system which is tailored to work in the UK’s national interests. It allows us to exercise control and flex the system as we choose, giving us access to the talent and skills we need from across the world.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department is doing with rubber dinghies and boats seized from illegal immigrants arriving on British beaches.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
Rubber dinghies and boats seized under the immigration act are stored under the control of the Queen’s warehouse. All goods that are seized that are not required for forensic and/or criminal proceedings are required to be held for a period of 12 months before consideration of disposal.
Where no claim request has been received by the Queen’s warehouse the goods will be disposed of after the required time.
Due to the duration that the goods seized are held, they have not been worthy of consideration of sale or donation due the question of their seaworthiness and significant deterioration whilst in storage.
A Statutory instrument has been developed to amend current legislation to enable the disposal of said goods in a reduced time where no forensic or criminal proceedings are outstanding.