Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the data breaches by the Home Office which led to the sharing of personal data of applicants for settled status and of applicants for the Windrush Compensation Scheme do not recur.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Home Office takes its data protection responsibilities very seriously and is committed to the continued improvement of its performance against the UK’s high data protection standards.
Strict controls have been put in place on the use of emails when communicating with two or more members of the public, including oversight of communications by Senior Civil Servants and use of alternative technology to prevent reoccurrence. Along with internal reviews which are currently underway, an independent review of the Department’s compliance with its data protection obligations has also been commissioned which will report in due course.
The written ministerial statements addressing the data breaches involving Windrush compensation customers and EUSS customers can be found at the links below:
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-04-08/HCWS1496/
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-04-11/HCWS1508/
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review fire safety guidance with a view to including escape provisions when the stay put policy has to be abandoned.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must undertake and review regularly a fire risk assessment of the premises and put in place and maintain adequate and appropriate fire precautions to mitigate the risk to life from fire. This includes ensuring adequate means of escape for building users.
The Local Government Association (LGA) produced guidance on fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats to support responsible persons to deliver an appropriate level of fire safety. In May 2018, the National Fire Chiefs Council published a guidance note on simultaneous evacuation, which should be considered alongside the LGA guidance – https://www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk/Simultaneous-evacuation-guidance. The LGA will be reviewing the guidance in the light of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Buildings Regulations and Fire Safety and the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, what legislation from the Home Office has been passed into law since 1 June 2010 but is still waiting to be brought into force.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
2010/2012 Session
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 – law in force except:
• s.121 (not yet in force)
• s.150 (partially in force)
• Schedule 10 (partially in force)
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012– law in force except:
• s.4 (partially in force)
• s.19 (partially in force)
• s.39 (partially in force)
• s.40 (partially in force)
• s.41 (partially in force)
• s.43–46 (partially in force)
• s.46 (partially in force)
• s.53 (not yet in force)
• s.72 (partially in force)
• s.73-74 (not yet in force)
• s.75-76 (partially in force)
• s.78 (partially in force)
• s.115 (partially in force)
• Schedule 1 (partially in force)
• Schedule 3 (not yet in force)
• Schedule 7 (partially in force)
• Schedule 9 (partially in force)
• Schedule 10 (partially in force)
2012/2013 Session
Crime & Courts Act 2013 – law in force except:
• s.15 (partially in force)
• s.17 (partially in force)
• s.20 (partially in force)
• s.26 (partially in force)
• s.34-40 (not yet in force)
• s.41 (partially in force)
• s.42 (partially in force)
• s.44 (partially in force)
• s.49 (partially in force)
• s.50 (partially in force)
• s.55 (partially in force)
• s.56 (partially in force)
• Schedule 8 (partially in force)
• Schedule 13 (partially in force)
• Schedule 15 (partially in force)
• Schedule 16 (partially in force)
• Schedule 20 (partially in force)
• Schedule 23 (not yet in force)
2013/2014 Session
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 – law in force except:
• s.131 (partially in force)
• s.133 (partially in force)
• s.168 (not yet in force)
• s.181 (partially in force)
• Schedule 11 (partially in force)
Immigration Act 2014 – law in force except:
• s.20-31 (partially in force)
• s.54 (partially in force)
• s.73 (partially in force)
• Schedule 3 (partially in force)
• Schedule 9 (partially in force)
2014/2015 Session
Serious Crime Act 2015 – law in force except:
• s.15 (not yet in force)
• s.24-36 (partially in force)
• s.85 (partially in force)
• Schedule 4 (partially in force)
Modern Slavery Act 2015 – law in force except:
• s.48 (partially in force)
• s.50 (not yet in force)
• s.57 (partially in force)
• Schedule 2 (partially in force)
2015/16 Session
Immigration Act 2016 - law in force except:
• s.42 (not yet in force)
• s.43 (partially in force)
• s.44 (not yet in force)
• s.68 (not yet in force)
• s.74 (not yet in force)
• Schedule 10 (partially in force)
• Schedule 11 (partially in force)
• Schedule 12 (not yet in force)
• Schedule 13 (not yet in force)
2016/17 Session
Investigatory Powers Act 2016 - law in force except:
• s.2 (partially in force)
• s.11-12 (not yet in force)
• s.14 (not yet in force)
• s.61 (partially in force)
• s.62-86 (not yet in force)
• s.102 (partially in force)
• s.106-107 (not yet in force)
• s.108 (partially in force)
• s.111 (partially in force)
• s.115 (partially in force)
• s.117 (partially in force)
• s.123-124 (not yet in force)
• s.125 (partially in force)
• s.128 (partially in force)
• s.129 (partially in force)
• s.229 (partially in force)
• s.231 (partially in force)
• s.242 (not yet in force)
• s.243 (partially in force)
• s.248 (partially in force)
• s.270 (partially in force)
• s.271 (partially in force)
• Schedule 2 (not yet in force)
• Schedules 4-6 (not yet in force)
• Schedule 8 (partially in force)
• Schedule 9 (partially in force)
• Schedule 10 (partially in force)
Policing and Crime Act 2017 – law in force except:
• S.9 (partially in force)
• s.11 (partially in force)
• s.13-24 (partially in force)
• s.28 (partially in force)
• s.29 (partially in force)
• s.31 (partially in force)
• s.34 (partially in force)
• s.46-48 (partially in force)
• s.51 (partially in force)
• s.126 (partially in force)
• s.132 (partially in force)
• s.142 (partially in force)
• s.159-161 (partially in force)
• s.166 (partially in force)
• Schedule 2 (partially in force)
• Schedules 4-7 (partially in force)
• Schedules 13-14 (partially in force)
• Schedule 18 (partially in force)
Criminal Finances Act 2017 – law in force except:
• s.11 (partially in force)
• s.22 (partially in force)
• s.23 (partially in force)
• s.25 (partially in force)
• s.27 (partially in force)
• s.31 (partially in force)
• s.32 (partially in force)
• s.34 (partially in force)
• s.36 (partially in force)
• Schedule 1 (partially in force)
• Schedule 5 (partially in force)
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the UK has not sought death penalty assurances for British nationals or former British nationals when agreeing to their trial in another country.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Her Majesty’s Government does not have a role in agreeing to the trial of British or former British nationals in another country.
However, a review of available records (dating back to 2001) has been undertaken and I can confirm that we have identified one occasion where we provided mutual legal assistance without a death penalty assurance where the death penalty was an available sentence which involved a British or former British national.
Due to the potential to harm on-going criminal investigations or future prosecutions, and the confidentiality attached to mutual legal assistance, it would not be appropriate to share further information.
I reiterate the statement by the Minister of State for Security on 23 July who sought to reassure the House that our long-standing position on the use of the death penalty has not changed. The UK has a long-standing policy of opposing the death penalty as a matter of principle regardless of nationality. Requests for Mutual Legal Assistance must be considered in accordance with the Government’s Overseas, Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) Guidance, which requires an assessment of both human rights and death penalty risks.
The OSJA guidance, which has been in existence since 2011, permits the provision of assistance, without obtaining assurances, where there are strong reasons for doing so:
“Ministers should be consulted to determine whether, given the specific circumstances of the case, we should nevertheless provide assistance.”
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether measures to protect the partners and children of people in public life from harassment outside their homes by demonstrators are adequate.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. However, rights to peaceful protest do not extend to violent or threatening behaviour, harassment or intimidation.
The police have a range of powers to deal with such acts in line with their duties to keep the peace, to protect communities, and to prevent the commission of offences.
Decisions on how these powers are deployed are an operational matter for the independent judgement of chief officers of police.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what data are collected through landing cards; and how such data are used.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Passengers are required to complete fourteen pieces of data on landing cards. These are first name(s); date of birth; sex; nationality; town and country of birth; occupation; contact address in the UK; passport number; place of issue; length of stay in the UK; port of last departure; arrival flight/train number/ship name; and signature.
Landing cards are predominantly used to produce National Statistics on purpose of journey by category and nationality.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government from which countries citizens are required to complete landing cards on arrival in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Nationals of all non-EEA countries are required to fill out a landing card on arrival to the UK.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of proposals for police officers in rural areas to be routinely issued with firearms.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The policy in this country has long been that the police should not generally be armed. This gives character to our policing that we should not readily give up and is vital in promoting good relations with the public and the community they serve.
Any proposal to change this longstanding position would have to be considered very carefully.
It is for chief officers to determine the number of armed officers in their areas. This is based on a thorough assessment of threat and risk, and capability is kept under constant review by the National Armed Policing Lead and the National Police Coordination Centre.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take to tackle moped crime.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Reports of crimes involving motorcycles, mopeds and scooters are clearly a concern. That is why the Government has worked with the police, industry and other partners to develop a comprehensive action plan focusing on what more can be done to prevent offending and keep the public safe.
This work sits alongside the review the Government has conducted into the law, guidance and practice surrounding police pursuits and response driving. The outcome of the review was published on 22 May.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to tackle modern slavery involving children; and what financial support they are giving to local authorities, in the context of the level of funding available for children’s services by 2020.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Tackling human trafficking and modern slavery remains a top priority for this Government and we are committed to stamping out this abhorrent crime.
The Government recognises the particular vulnerabilities of child victims of modern slavery, including trafficking, and acknowledges the tailored support these children require in order to addresses their specific needs and vulnerabilities. To achieve this, the Government will continue with the implimentation of Independent Child Trafficking Advocates nationally; has committed £2.2m from the Child Trafficking Protection Fund to seven organisations to support victims of child trafficking, with a number of these projects working directly with local authorities to support trafficked children in their care; commissioned training for existing Independent Advocates which are a statutory provision available to all looked after children; and, working alongside our NGO partners, have trained thousands of foster carers, so that they are more aware of the specific needs of children who have been trafficked.
Funding for children’s services is an un-ring-fenced part of the wider local government finance settlement, to give local authorities the flexibility to focus on locally determined priorities, including tackling modern slavery. In addition, where a victim of modern slavery or potential victim of modern slavery is also an unaccompanied asylum seeking child, the Home Office provide separate funding to the local authority. These funding arrangements are currently under review.