Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with the Prime Minister on the potential merits of establishing a new homeland security ministerial post.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As Security Minister, I am responsible for matters covering a range of homeland security issues - counter terrorism and extremism; state threats; cyber security and crime; serious and organised crime; oversight of the National Crime Agency; anti-corruption; and economic crime (excluding fraud). In addition, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is the Minister responsible for resilience and civil contingencies.
Given that CDL and my respective responsibilities cover homeland security, there are therefore currently no plans for the Home Secretary to discuss a new Ministerial post with the Prime Minister. However, as set out in our recently published National Security Strategy, the Government recognises action is needed to ensure we are secure at home and will continue to explore the best ways to undertake the steps set out in the strategy.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the level of risk of violence faced by children in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government is determined to reduce violent crime in every area of the county including in West Dorset, and will continue to take action towards that goal through its Safer Streets Mission, and in particular its objective to halve crime over the coming decade.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with (a) charities and (b) experts on the (i) recording and (ii) sharing of peer-on-peer violence by children online.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We are working to enhance our understanding of how social media platforms are being used by gangs and violent offenders, and how online content translates to ‘real-world’ violence. We know from 2024 survey results published by the Youth Endowment Fund that 70% of young people had encountered real-world violence online in the past 12 months. The most frequently observed content was footage of fights involving young people.
We are working with police and investing in targeted law enforcement capabilities to disrupt gangs and violent criminals operating online and to reduce the crime and harms they bring to our communities. The National Crime Agency is also working in partnership with policing colleagues across the UK and internationally to map and target key offenders operating online, including the darknet markets.
We have also formed the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime which brings together campaign groups, charities, families of people who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime, young people who have been impacted and community leaders, united in their mission to save lives and make Britain a safer place for the next generation. This Coalition is working with the Government to help identify risks and design policy based on the best possible evidence. This will include considering the challenges and risks presented online.
The Online Safety Act 2023 is a key mechanism to monitor and tackle illegal content online. It requires providers within the scope of the Act to implement measures to remove illegal content, including that related to inciting violence. If providers fail to abide by their duties under the Act, Ofcom, as the independent regulator, can now enforce against the illegal content duties and have already launched several enforcement programmes to monitor compliance with the regime.
The Government is closely monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the Online Safety Act and is committed to ensuring it delivers the necessary protections to ensure a safer online environment and tackle illegal content.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of children (a) recording and (b) sharing incidents of peer-on-peer violence online.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We are working to enhance our understanding of how social media platforms are being used by gangs and violent offenders, and how online content translates to ‘real-world’ violence. We know from 2024 survey results published by the Youth Endowment Fund that 70% of young people had encountered real-world violence online in the past 12 months. The most frequently observed content was footage of fights involving young people.
We are working with police and investing in targeted law enforcement capabilities to disrupt gangs and violent criminals operating online and to reduce the crime and harms they bring to our communities. The National Crime Agency is also working in partnership with policing colleagues across the UK and internationally to map and target key offenders operating online, including the darknet markets.
We have also formed the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime which brings together campaign groups, charities, families of people who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime, young people who have been impacted and community leaders, united in their mission to save lives and make Britain a safer place for the next generation. This Coalition is working with the Government to help identify risks and design policy based on the best possible evidence. This will include considering the challenges and risks presented online.
The Online Safety Act 2023 is a key mechanism to monitor and tackle illegal content online. It requires providers within the scope of the Act to implement measures to remove illegal content, including that related to inciting violence. If providers fail to abide by their duties under the Act, Ofcom, as the independent regulator, can now enforce against the illegal content duties and have already launched several enforcement programmes to monitor compliance with the regime.
The Government is closely monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the Online Safety Act and is committed to ensuring it delivers the necessary protections to ensure a safer online environment and tackle illegal content.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the (a) recording and (b) sharing of peer-on-peer violence by children online.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We are working to enhance our understanding of how social media platforms are being used by gangs and violent offenders, and how online content translates to ‘real-world’ violence. We know from 2024 survey results published by the Youth Endowment Fund that 70% of young people had encountered real-world violence online in the past 12 months. The most frequently observed content was footage of fights involving young people.
We are working with police and investing in targeted law enforcement capabilities to disrupt gangs and violent criminals operating online and to reduce the crime and harms they bring to our communities. The National Crime Agency is also working in partnership with policing colleagues across the UK and internationally to map and target key offenders operating online, including the darknet markets.
We have also formed the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime which brings together campaign groups, charities, families of people who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime, young people who have been impacted and community leaders, united in their mission to save lives and make Britain a safer place for the next generation. This Coalition is working with the Government to help identify risks and design policy based on the best possible evidence. This will include considering the challenges and risks presented online.
The Online Safety Act 2023 is a key mechanism to monitor and tackle illegal content online. It requires providers within the scope of the Act to implement measures to remove illegal content, including that related to inciting violence. If providers fail to abide by their duties under the Act, Ofcom, as the independent regulator, can now enforce against the illegal content duties and have already launched several enforcement programmes to monitor compliance with the regime.
The Government is closely monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the Online Safety Act and is committed to ensuring it delivers the necessary protections to ensure a safer online environment and tackle illegal content.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with (a) local police and (b) police and crime commissioners on the (i) recording and (ii) sharing of peer-on-peer violence by children online.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We are working to enhance our understanding of how social media platforms are being used by gangs and violent offenders, and how online content translates to ‘real-world’ violence. We know from 2024 survey results published by the Youth Endowment Fund that 70% of young people had encountered real-world violence online in the past 12 months. The most frequently observed content was footage of fights involving young people.
We are working with police and investing in targeted law enforcement capabilities to disrupt gangs and violent criminals operating online and to reduce the crime and harms they bring to our communities. The National Crime Agency is also working in partnership with policing colleagues across the UK and internationally to map and target key offenders operating online, including the darknet markets.
We have also formed the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime which brings together campaign groups, charities, families of people who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime, young people who have been impacted and community leaders, united in their mission to save lives and make Britain a safer place for the next generation. This Coalition is working with the Government to help identify risks and design policy based on the best possible evidence. This will include considering the challenges and risks presented online.
The Online Safety Act 2023 is a key mechanism to monitor and tackle illegal content online. It requires providers within the scope of the Act to implement measures to remove illegal content, including that related to inciting violence. If providers fail to abide by their duties under the Act, Ofcom, as the independent regulator, can now enforce against the illegal content duties and have already launched several enforcement programmes to monitor compliance with the regime.
The Government is closely monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the Online Safety Act and is committed to ensuring it delivers the necessary protections to ensure a safer online environment and tackle illegal content.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of streamlining the visa processes for overseas-qualified dentists seeking to work in the UK.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Dentists are eligible for the Health and Care visa. They usually receive a decision within 3 weeks and have a dedicated UKVI team that assists them with the application process.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including dentists on the Shortage Occupation List for immigration purposes.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including reforms to work visas, further details of which will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to streamline visa processes for overseas-qualified dentists seeking to work in the UK.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including reforms to work visas, further details of which will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has received applications for (a) the Safer Streets Fund and (b) other funding streams for fall-prevention equipment from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 13 May to Question 50409.