Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reason he is bringing forward legislative proposals to create criminal offences for (a) vagrancy and (b) begging.

This Government is clear that the Vagrancy Act is antiquated and no longer fit for purpose. That is why the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 committed to repeal the Act once an appropriate and modern replacement for the Act is in place.

We launched a consultation on options to replace the out-dated Vagrancy Act which closed on 5 May. We are currently working to analyse responses and a Government response will be issued in due course.