Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of refugees that have been settled in Cumbria in the last 12 months; and whether she has further plans to settle refugees in Cumbria.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Progress on resettlement is reported in quarterly immigration statistics, including the local authorities participating in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and how many refugees have been resettled in each area. This is a voluntary scheme whereby local authorities sign up to accept refugees on a voluntary basis. No refugees have been resettled to Cumbria under any of our other resettlement schemes.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to implement the coercive and controlling behaviour offence, as defined by the Serious Crime Act 2015; and what training the (a) police, (b) judiciary and (c) other statutory agencies will have on coercive control and the new offence.
Answered by Karen Bradley
We are aiming to introduce the offence of coercive and controlling behaviour as soon as practicable. We have been clear that before the offence can be introduced it is essential that frontline agencies receive proper training and guidance on how to use the new offence.
We have been working with the College of Policing and Crown Prosecution Service to develop statutory guidance.
New guidance on investigating domestic abuse was published by the College of Policing last month including coercive and controlling behaviour and new training for the police incorporating coercive control has been developed and piloted. In addition, every Police force in England and Wales has now published an action plan on domestic abuse and the College of Policing is reviewing risk assessment tools used by officers.
Upon commencement of the offence, a circular will be issued, including to the Lord Chief Justice, to ensure criminal justice partners are fully aware.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to ratify the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The previous Government signed the Istanbul Convention in June 2012. This Government remains committed to its ratification.
The UK already complies with the vast majority of the articles through its comprehensive work to protect women and girls. However, primary legislation will be required to comply with the extra-territorial jurisdiction provisions in Article 44 of the Convention before ratification.
The Government is liaising with the devolved administrations about ratification, including any further legislative steps necessary. The Government takes its international commitments very seriously and will only commit to such ratification when we are absolutely satisfied that we comply with all articles.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether refugees offered a home in Britain will be vetted before entry.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The operation of the UK’s resettlement schemes, including the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Scheme, involves the UNHCR submitting potential cases for our consideration. The cases are then screened and considered by the Home Office for suitability for entry to the UK: we retain the right to reject individuals on security, war crimes or other grounds.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on parity between Great Britain and Northern Ireland with regard to police officers' widows and widowers pensions.
Answered by Mike Penning
In the Budget on 18 March, the Chancellor announced that widows, widowers and surviving civil partners of police officers who have died on duty in England and Wales will no longer lose their survivors’ benefits in future if they remarry, form a civil partnership or cohabit. These pensions will not be re-instated for those who have already lost them through remarriage or cohabitation, though current rules already allow re-instatement if the 'new' relationship ends.
Changes will be limited to those deaths which have occurred whilst on duty. The Home Office will consult the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales (PABEW) shortly on proposals to implement this change and this will include the definition of “on duty”.
As policing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Northern Ireland Executive and Scottish Government respectively are responsible for the design and funding of police pensions in those parts of the United Kingdom. The Government has a continuous duty to ensure that public service pensions are affordable, sustainable and fair, both for the members of those schemes and for other taxpayers.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on pensions for police officers' widows and widowers; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Mike Penning
In the Budget on 18 March, the Chancellor announced that widows, widowers and surviving civil partners of police officers who have died on duty in England and Wales will no longer lose their survivors’ benefits in future if they remarry, form a civil partnership or cohabit. These pensions will not be re-instated for those who have already lost them through remarriage or cohabitation, though current rules already allow re-instatement if the 'new' relationship ends.
Changes will be limited to those deaths which have occurred whilst on duty. The Home Office will consult the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales (PABEW) shortly on proposals to implement this change and this will include the definition of “on duty”.
As policing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Northern Ireland Executive and Scottish Government respectively are responsible for the design and funding of police pensions in those parts of the United Kingdom. The Government has a continuous duty to ensure that public service pensions are affordable, sustainable and fair, both for the members of those schemes and for other taxpayers.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will issue guidance on the definition of on duty with regard to police officers' widows and widowers pensions.
Answered by Mike Penning
In the Budget on 18 March, the Chancellor announced that widows, widowers and surviving civil partners of police officers who have died on duty in England and Wales will no longer lose their survivors’ benefits in future if they remarry, form a civil partnership or cohabit. These pensions will not be re-instated for those who have already lost them through remarriage or cohabitation, though current rules already allow re-instatement if the 'new' relationship ends.
Changes will be limited to those deaths which have occurred whilst on duty. The Home Office will consult the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales (PABEW) shortly on proposals to implement this change and this will include the definition of “on duty”.
As policing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Northern Ireland Executive and Scottish Government respectively are responsible for the design and funding of police pensions in those parts of the United Kingdom. The Government has a continuous duty to ensure that public service pensions are affordable, sustainable and fair, both for the members of those schemes and for other taxpayers.