Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the squatting of premises in the commercial property sector.

We have no current plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit squatting in commercial properties. The investigation of offences committed during squatting in commercial properties is a matter for the police and, where there is sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution, it is for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether one is required in the public interest. There have been no recent discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service about this.