Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that financial services firms operating within the defence supply chain, and their employees, are adequately protected from threats and incidents of political violence.

The Government fully supports the police to use all the powers available to them to prevent crimes occurring as a result of unlawful direct-action tactics, and to ensure those who do commit them face the full force of the law.

The National Police Coordination Centre has been working closely with the financial sector to understand the nature of the problem and is helping to co-ordinate a robust policing response.

I have also met representatives from the industry and a further meeting is scheduled with them and representatives from the National Police Chiefs’ Council.