Tuesday Volume 691 16 March 2021 No. 191

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Tuesday 16 March 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 141 16 MARCH 2021 142

they wish to join the UK Government on many of our House of Commons reforms in the White Paper, and we will continue to work closely with them in order to secure that partnership. Tuesday 16 March 2021 Covid-19: Legal Aid Sector Support The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) (LD): What support PRAYERS his Department is providing to the legal aid sector during the covid-19 outbreak. [913461] [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Virtual participation in proceedings commenced The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Orders, 4 June and 30 December 2020). (): With regard to the legal aid sector during this crisis, we have expanded the scope of and [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] relaxed the evidence requirements for hardship payments in Crown court cases, including reducing the threshold for work done; we have increased opportunities to claim Oral Answers to Questions payment on account in civil legal aid cases, as well as increasing the amounts; we have halted the pursuit of outstanding debts owed by providers of legal aid to the JUSTICE Legal Aid Agency; and we have suspended sanctions in relation to mixed deadlines. That is in addition to the The Secretary of State was asked— range of measures that we have taken in order to support the sector through this crisis. Mental Health Act Reform

Suzanne Webb (Stourbridge) (Con): What steps the Sarah Olney [V]: The latest Ministry of Justice figures Government are taking to reform the Mental Health show that there are 56,544 outstanding Crown court cases at the end of January. Given that defence lawyers Act 2007. [913459] are paid for litigation when a case finishes, can the Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd) (Con): What steps Secretary of State confirm what steps have been taken the Government are taking to reform the Mental Health to assist legal aid lawyers with their cash flow at this Act 2007. [913467] time? The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Robert Buckland: The hon. Lady will be glad to know (Robert Buckland): We are determined to work across that, as I referred to in my initial reply, we have already Government to modernise the Mental Health Act 2007 relaxed the evidence requirements for hardship payments so that it ensures that patients receive the right care in and, importantly, reduced the threshold for work done the right setting at the right time. Prison should be a by criminal lawyers to £450 from the current £5,000. It place for rehabilitation, not a convenient holding pen is absolutely essential that we maintain throughput, and for those people for whom mental health is the primary as we move on through this year with the road map out driver of their offending. of lockdown, I am confident that the court system will be able to list even more proactively, making sure that Suzanne Webb: What is the timetable for the Mental there is plenty of work for dedicated criminal legal aid Health Act consultation and how can interested parties lawyers. participate? Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) (Lab) [V]: Robert Buckland: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for criminal legal aid review is a once-in- her continuing interest in this important process. We are a-decade opportunity to fix a vital element of our consulting widely on these proposed reforms, including criminal justice system. There are more than 400 fewer service users, carers and professionals, to ensure that we criminal legal aid firms than in 2015. That means get this once-in-a-generation opportunity right. The that more than one in four has left the system. When consultation is now available on the gov.UK website, these firms fold, legal aid family law departments often and will close on 21 April. go with them, leaving domestic abuse victims without Dr Davies [V]: Will the Secretary of State explain representation. Does the Secretary of State agree that the how reforms of the Mental Health Act will strengthen Government cannot simply wait for the recommendations the role that the justice system plays in protecting of CLAR before taking action and that we must make society’s most vulnerable, both in north Wales and sure that the number of unrepresented domestic abuse across the country? victims does not increase yet further. Robert Buckland: I am very grateful to my hon. Robert Buckland: The hon. Gentleman is right to talk Friend who, from his professional experience, has a about the need for representation for domestic abuse great deal of expertise and knowledge in this area. victims. He knows, of course, that in criminal scenarios Among other reforms, we want, in particular, to increase the Crown Prosecution Service will act with regard to patient access to the Mental Health Tribunal, which the prosecution of offences. He will also note that, in provides vital independent scrutiny of detention orders. phase 1 of the CLAR process, up to £51 million a year We wish to expand its powers so that it plays a greater has already been injected into criminal legal aid fees. safeguarding role. Health policy is devolved to Wales, That is the most significant increase in investment in so it will be for the Welsh Government to decide whether legal aid for a quarter of a century. We are working on 143 Oral Answers 16 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 144 the existing body of evidence with the new chair of the Andrew Jones: I am encouraged by the measures my criminal legal aid review, Sir Christopher Bellamy QC, hon. Friend is taking to catch up on the backlog. Will who is already engaging with the professions. I am he update me specifically on how many Nightingale confident that his work will deal not only with the courts are now open and in use for Crown court work? situation with regard to fees in court, but, as he says, the “sustainability” of those criminal legal aid firms that Chris Philp: There are currently, as we speak, are the lifeblood of representation in that sector. 49 Nightingale courtrooms open and available for work. There are five more opening this week, one of which is HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Backlog Croydon, the borough that I have the honour of representing in south , and by the end of this month we will get up to a total of 60. Many of those (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab): What courtrooms can be used for Crown court work, but even he has made on tackling the backlog of cases where they cannot—for example, because they do not in HM Courts and Tribunals Service. [913462] have custodial facilities—they are very often able to do work that would otherwise be done in a Crown court Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): centre that is then freed up for work where, for example, What steps he has taken to help tackle the backlog of custody suites are required. This is making a real criminal cases before the courts. [913465] contribution and we intend to go further. Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): Chi Onwurah [V]: Justice delayed is justice denied. What progress he has made on tackling the backlog of That is no cliché; it is the lived reality for the many, cases in HM Courts and Tribunals Service. [913472] many victims who have not had their day in court during this pandemic. The Minister has said that he Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con): expects the number of cases to be brought back to What steps he has taken to help tackle the backlog of acceptable levels before Easter 2023. Is this really acceptable, criminal cases before the courts. [913473] and what confidence can victims have that this late date will be met? Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab): What Chris Philp: I do agree that timely justice is essential. recent estimate he has made of the size of the backlog In the magistrates courts, the outstanding caseload has of cases before the criminal courts. [913476] already come down by about 50,000 cases since last summer, which is very welcome progress. In Crown (Truro and Falmouth) (Con): What courts, we are now getting through about 2,000 cases a steps he has taken to help tackle the backlog of criminal week, which is about the same as it was before the cases before the courts. [913489] pandemic. But we do need to go faster: the hon. Lady is right. I think the judiciary eased off listing a little bit in The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the January, February and the early part March owing to Home Department (Chris Philp): In common with so the more recent lockdown. Now we are moving out of much of the public sector, and life in general, courts those restrictions, in phases, our expectation is that have been profoundly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. listing levels will go up again. We have certainly created The Government have taken decisive action to address the capacity to do that, with 290 jury courtrooms this, investing a quarter of a billion pounds in covid available. As listing levels increase, using the capacity recovery, which has paid for, among other things, we have created I expect the outstanding caseloads to 40 Nightingale courtrooms, soon to increase to 60 by come down. the end of this month, and installing video technology enabling over 20,000 hearings a week across all jurisdictions Mr Mohindra [V]: This is an issue that is very close to to take place. As a result of that, for example, the the heart of many of my residents in South West outstanding caseload in the magistrates courts has dropped Hertfordshire. How is the Department increasing use of by about 50,000 cases over the past eight months. remote hearings to ensure the safety of the people involved during the covid-19 outbreak? Cat Smith: Three court buildings have now failed safety inspections by the Health and Safety Executive, Chris Philp: I thank my hon. Friend for a very prescient yet the Government continue to say that courts are question. We have made a huge investment in IT and covid-secure. What evidence is there to support this technology.Wehave purchased getting on for 10,000 laptops claim, and what steps are Ministers going to take to to enable remote working and video working. We have ensure that no more court buildings fail safety inspections? rolled out the cloud video platform on an expedited basis. As a result of that work, more than 20,000 hearings Chris Philp: We work very closely with Public Health per week across all jurisdictions are now being held and follow the guidelines that it gives us. The remotely. That is orders of magnitude higher than was number of coronavirus cases that have been detected the case before, and that is why we have managed to among court users is no higher than among the general keep getting work done across so many parts of the population. It is not true to say that there are any more jurisdiction when in many other countries around the coronavirus cases in courts than anywhere else. That is, world work has considerably slowed down or even in part, because we have invested so much in coronavirus stopped. measures like installing plexiglass screens, ensuring there is social distancing, and having overspill rooms so that Christian Matheson: An application for bail to Chester people can space out when using courts. Where we have Crown court today will not be listed until February next tested people in courts, we found extremely low levels of year. This is not a problem of the pandemic, as there coronavirus cases. was already a backlog because of court closures and 145 Oral Answers 16 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 146 because the Government chose to reduce the number of and the Lord Chancellor, and will be reporting very sitting days at Chester Crown court and others. As my shortly. Much of the waits actually relate not to the hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne court system but to the time taken to collect evidence, to Central (Chi Onwurah) says, how can the Government disclosure issues and to the time taken to prosecute, claim to be the party of law and order when justice is which is why we are putting £85 million extra into the being delayed and justice is being denied? Crown Prosecution Service. The shadow Minister asked about section 28. The Chris Philp: The hon. Gentleman talks about sitting application of section 28 has been considerably widened days, and the Lord Chancellor has confirmed that there recently, and we want to make that available as widely will be no constraint on sitting days at present. The as we can, as quickly as possible. We also want to judiciary can list as many cases as they like, and we are support victims. That is why we will be spending anticipating a very considerable increase in sitting days £140 million in the next financial year—a significant for the next financial year. The hon. Gentleman talks increase—on supporting victims and witnesses. about the justice system prior to the pandemic, and he may be aware that the outstanding Crown court caseload Finally, on rape, perhaps the shadow Minister can prior to the pandemic was 39,000—considerably lower explain to the country and his constituents why it is that than 47,000, as it was under the last Labour Administration. this evening the Labour party will vote against— He talks about our record on law and order, and he may be aware that the only authoritative source of crime Mr Speaker: Order. Minister, we need to calm down. figures, the crime survey, shows a 41% reduction in [Interruption.] I am not being funny; you are taking crime since 2010, from 9.5 million to 5.6 million, so I advantage of a situation and I do not expect that. will certainly be taking no lectures on law and order [Interruption.] It is no use looking at me in that way. from the Labour party. Trying to score points at the end is not the way we need to do it. We need shorter answers to get through the Mr Speaker: Well, let us see what you can do with the questions as well. next question. I call Cherilyn Mackrory. Sentencing Policy Cherilyn Mackrory [V]: Will my hon. Friend join me in recognising the efforts made by the police and crime Ben Bradley (Mansfield) (Con): What steps he is commissioner in Devon and Cornwall, Alison Hernandez, taking to ensure the (a) fairness and (b) effectiveness of in helping to ensure that our area was the first outside sentencing policy. [913463] of London to set up virtual remand hearings in police custody during the pandemic? Can he assure me that The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice Devon and Cornwall will continue to receive its fair (Chris Philp): This question is about sentencing, and the share of resources and funding to continue dealing with Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is the backlog in criminal cases? before the House on Second Reading today, will see whole-life orders for premeditated child murder. It will Chris Philp: I pay tribute to police and crime see life sentences imposed for causing death by dangerous commissioner Alison Hernandez and all those working driving and causing death by careless driving when in Devon and Cornwall and across the country. I under the influence. It will also see longer prison sentences congratulate them on being first out of the blocks on for rapists, which I believe the Labour party plans to video remand hearings. We are continuing to do video vote against. remand hearing work, particularly during the recent lockdown, and we have in fact made some funding Ben Bradley [V]: This month, a Nottinghamshire available to support some forces to do that. I am sure removal man was convicted of possessing 8,000 indecent that Devon and Cornwall will be receiving its fair share images and videos of children ranging from 15 to just of support as part of the Government’s commitment to one year old, with many classed as category A or recruit 23,000 extra police officers, underlining our extreme child pornography.This man was given a two-year commitment to law and order. suspended sentence and, as a result, is unlikely ever to see the inside of a prison cell. I welcome proposals to Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab): As we toughen sentencing and be tough on crime, but a sentence have already heard, the Crown court backlog has reached like that one seems to be inconsistent with that work. nearly 57,000 cases. Many victims of rape and sexual Will my hon. Friend look again at guidance that says violence face waits of three or four years until their case that a suspended sentence is the same as a custodial one, comes to trial, all the while unable to fully access the because it is pretty clear that in practical terms that is therapeutic support they desperately need. It is yet not the case? Will he also ensure that people who another example of this Government failing to support commit serious crimes like that, where children have victims of male violence properly. Will the Minister been exploited and abused, are given a punishment that finally listen to calls from the Victims’ Commissioner fits the crime? and urgently roll-out section 28 measures to all intimidated witnesses, so that victims of these horrific sexual crimes Chris Philp: Individual sentencing decisions are obviously can give evidence as soon as possible, relieving some of for the judge who sentences the case, having regard to the burden of stress and anxiety that they carry as they the facts of that case, but we do take very seriously the journey through our criminal justice system? kind of offences that my hon. Friend has described. In fact, the maximum penalty for the offence of taking Chris Philp: I share the shadow Minister’s concern indecent photographs of children is 10 years’imprisonment. about rape prosecutions. There is a rape review currently Where an offence is sentenced at a lower level and under way. It is being worked on by the police Minister somebody thinks that that is inappropriate, they can 147 Oral Answers 16 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 148 apply under the unduly lenient sentence scheme within Kit Malthouse: With his usual wisdom, my right hon. 28 days. In 2019, the Government added those kinds of Friend has put his finger on two of the three pillars of offence to the list of offences eligible under that scheme. success after prison—a job, a house and a friend—and If anyone feels that a sentence is too light, I strongly we are working hard to ensure that all those released urge them to make an application to the Attorney from prison have exactly that. The majority of the General under the ULS scheme, and she will then look £70 million investment that I referred to is being focused at that again. on providing accommodation for prison leavers. We are working closely with the New Futures Network, a specialist Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North East) (SNP) [V]: part of the Prison and Probation Service that brokers Reconviction rates in Scotland are at a 21-year low. partnerships with employers to ensure that ex-offenders That is because of the community justice approach of have access to jobs, which is critical to their success. the SNP Government for less serious crimes. Even the There is lots of work being done at the moment and lots Minister has admitted that harsher sentencing has more to do, and I welcome his concern in this area. “limited or no general deterrent effect.” It is not a competition; all countries can learn from each Robin Millar: I thank the Minister for his reply. The other. If he truly aspires to reduce reoffending—because Farmer review in 2017 concluded that family is the that is what keeps people safe—will he at least consider golden thread in reducing offending rates. It cited evidence a community justice approach, in the knowledge that it including a 39% reduction in reoffending among those is working in Scotland? who had maintained family contact during incarceration. Does he agree that such effective measures should be at Chris Philp: I understand that Scotland has the highest the heart of any effective strategy to reduce reoffending, rate of imprisonment of any country in western Europe, and will he commit to refreshing the data to ensure that so I find the question slightly surprising. However, we the best available evidence is informing the Government’s do accept that, particularly for less serious offences, approach? community sentences have a role to play in rehabilitating. That is why we are keen to expedite the roll-out of Kit Malthouse: My hon. Friend is absolutely right community sentence treatment requirements, whereby that maintaining strong family links has a significant if someone has a mental health problem, a drug addiction impact on the likelihood of reoffending for people who problem or an alcohol problem, we treat that as a health have been in the secure estate. We are committed to problem as an alternative to short custody. That is being trying to retain those links as much as we possibly can rolled out. both to families and to the communities from which offenders are drawn. We have made good progress on Reoffending Rates the Farmer review in embedding that as part of our work, and we will be looking at innovative approaches Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): What plans to offender management in the future. he has to reduce the rate of reoffending. [913464] My hon. Friend may be interested to know that, any minute now, we will be rolling out sobriety tagging in Robin Millar (Aberconwy) (Con): What plans he has the rest of England; it is already operational in Wales. to reduce the rate of reoffending. [913468] The critical thing about this disposal is that it does not Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) mean that somebody goes to prison. Nevertheless, it (Con): What plans he has to reduce the rate of reoffending. does mean that their offending is managed in a way that [913469] weknownowseesenormouscompliance—90%compliance. This means, critically, that they can maintain their job Stuart Anderson (Wolverhampton South West) (Con): and maintain their connections with the family in the What plans he has to reduce the rate of reoffending. community, and that is the kind of innovative approach [913475] that we want to look at in the future. (Harrow East) (Con): What plans he Stephen Metcalfe [V]: I thank my hon. Friend for his has to reduce the rate of reoffending. [913486] previous answer. What are those innovative approaches, and how are he and his Department bringing them to The Minister for Crime and Policing (Kit Malthouse) the reducing offending challenge? [V]: Probation, the police and other services are working together to address the drivers of reoffending, to cut Kit Malthouse: It is no surprise that my hon. Friend, crime and keep our neighbourhoods safe. We recently with his background and interest in science and technology, announced a £70 million investment in accommodation can see the potential for the use of technology in and rehabilitative support for prison leavers to reduce particular for managing offenders. As I say, alongside reoffending—part of a £220 million Government plan our sobriety tagging programme, we are going to be to cut crime and protect the public. I am pleased to say rolling out GPS tagging for those convicted of acquisitive that, hopefully tomorrow morning, I will lay legislation crimes—burglary, robbery and theft—so that when they to impose GPS tracking on offenders who have committed are released on licence, we can put a tag on their ankle burglary and theft offences, who often have the highest meaning that, 24 hours a day for up to a year, they will rates of reoffending. know that we know where they are. We think that will be an enormous deterrent to reoffending and in particular, Damian Hinds [V]: What happens immediately upon if there is any offending, it will allow the police to make release is fundamental. What progress has been made much swifter detection. It is all part of our plan to on ensuring that prison leavers have access to benefits revolutionise the management of offenders in the future, and accommodation and can get on the road towards and I would welcome my hon. Friend’s ongoing interest sustainable employment? and input. 149 Oral Answers 16 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 150

Stuart Anderson: What is my hon. Friend doing to Legal Aid Advice Deserts help the young people of Wolverhampton who have previously offended to turn their lives around and build Imran Hussain (Bradford East) (Lab): What steps he a better, brighter future? is taking to tackle legal aid advice deserts. [913466] The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Kit Malthouse: My hon. Friend is a strong voice for (Robert Buckland): The Legal Aid Agency is currently Wolverhampton and in particular for the young people acting to fill any gaps in the market, and it frequently of that town. I know that he will commend the brilliant renews capacity, to ensure adequate provision. We are work of probation, police and other partners in currently considering civil legal aid market sustainability, Wolverhampton to support young people to, as he says, and I have provided £5.4 million in emergency funding turn their backs on crime. There is a very proactive for not-for-profit legal advice providers during covid-19. community safety partnership in the area, which is committed to making those communities safer. We have Imran Hussain [V]: Bradford’scommunity advice centres been putting pressure on the local services to make sure that provide legal support have been devastated by the that they are focused particularly on driving down Government’s funding cuts and preference for bigger violence in the town and turning people away from providers. As a result, some of our excellent, hard-working, crime. There is fantastic intervention in Wolverhampton, local grassroot community advice centres have been run as I say, and I know he will be very supportive of it in into the ground, creating legal aid and advice deserts in the future. some of our most vulnerable communities that need the greatest support. Will the Justice Secretary commit to a Bob Blackman [V]: Four years on from my landmark “local first” policy, to ensure that community advice Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, which required prison centres get the funding they need to help some of governors to ensure that ex-offenders had secure society’s most vulnerable people, who cannot afford accommodation on leaving prison, we are still letting help elsewhere? Will he commit to ensuring an increase people go from prison with £46 in their pockets, two in the number of grassroot community advice centres in bags of clothes, no accommodation to go to and no job. Bradford? I welcome the money the Minister is providing for new accommodation, but what action is he taking to make Robert Buckland: The hon. Gentleman is right to talk sure that prison governors carry out their statutory about the importance of community provision. Indeed, duty to ensure that ex-offenders are started off, on among those sectors that were helped by the £5.4 million leaving prison, in the right way? funding during covid was the Law Centres Network, which plays an invaluable role. He will be glad to know that the Legal Aid Agency has launched a procurement Kit Malthouse: My hon. Friend has done fantastic process to identify new providers in the areas of housing work over the last few years on the issue of homelessness, and debt, where there is currently little or no provision, and it is to his great credit that he has focused on this to help citizens get that advice. It will shortly announce particular cohort. As he knows, I hope, we are spending a positive outcome to that process. £50 million to expand our approved premises, providing temporary accommodation for prison leavers at risk of Covid-19: Justice System homelessness and ensuring that there is a proper rehabilitative approach to reintroducing them into society. Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab): What recent However,he makes a good challenge on prison governors, assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 and I will go away and make sure that we are seeing outbreak on the justice system. [913470] maximum compliance in the way that he intends. The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Peter Kyle (Hove) (Lab): Some 20% of sex offenders (Robert Buckland): At the beginning of the pandemic, already have a previous conviction for sexual assault. we were guided by public health advice, and we took The latest figures show that, in the last year, 37 convicted immediate and decisive action across prison, probation, rapists already have convictions for the same crime and youth justice and courts services, to implement a range 14 have been convicted for rape three times previously. of measures to respond. Our protection of those in When will protecting women drive policy? The Minister prisons, through compartmentalisation, testing, the use cannot say it is now—just look at the numbers. of exceptional delivery models and probation services and the creation of Nightingale courts, alongside physical changes to courtrooms and increased video technology, Kit Malthouse [V]: The protection of women is at the helped to mitigate the severe impact of the pandemic. forefront of much of the work we do. The hon. Gentleman will know that the Bill, which I gather he is going to Ruth Jones [V]: I am grateful for the Lord Chancellor’s oppose tonight, contains a number of measures that response. We all know the impact that the pandemic has would help us in that fight, not least the serious violence had on life in our country, and I have seen for myself its duty, which will bring all partners in an area together to impact on many communities who live, learn and work diagnose the problems related to violence in that area across Newport West. What discussions has he had with and promote a strategy to address it. I am surprised that the Welsh Government about ensuring that those who he raised those particular points, given that the Bill need justice are able to get it in a timely manner? currently going through the House contains the notion of longer sentences for those convicted of serious sexual Robert Buckland: The hon. Lady will be glad to know offences. Wethink that that will be an enormous deterrent that I regularly engage with the Welsh Government, for those who are thinking about offending, and such Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, and Her measures will protect women in the future. Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service in Wales to 151 Oral Answers 16 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 152 ensure that the prison estate is safe, and the probation the public safe, punishing criminals and helping to service is delivering. We have heard about the sobriety reduce reoffending. I wonder whether my right hon. tags that have been piloted in Wales, and our courts are and learned Friend can tell the House how measures in working well. I am glad that in Wales the management the White Paper will enable the courts, prisons and of cases has demonstrated that, now that there is no probation services to exploit new technology. backlog. In particular, Newport Crown court was home to a multi-handed murder trial, which was dealt with Robert Buckland: As ever, I am grateful for my hon. successfully in recent weeks. A lot of good work is going Friend’s continued commitment to this issue. We are on in Wales. Wales is leading the way, and I am proud expanding the use of electronic monitoring to support of that. robust and responsive community supervision. Following its well-received launch in Wales, as I mentioned, courts Prison Education Programmes in England will shortly be able to impose the alcohol Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): What funding abstinence and monitoring requirement—the sobriety his Department has provided for technology to support tag—to help tackle offending. Wewill shortly lay legislation prison education programmes. [913471] to impose GPS tracking on offenders released from custody who have committed burglary and theft offences. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice The Bill will extend the maximum length of a curfew (Alex Chalk): Education helps prisoners to boost their from 12 months to two years, making the use of those employability, build their self-esteem, and make a law- powers more flexible, and we will use those powers to abiding contribution to society post release. Since test the house detention order concept outlined in the April 2019, we have invested more than £20 million in White Paper to see how that can contribute to reducing improving technology in prisons, including investing in reoffending. infrastructure that will support educational delivery. Ms Lyn Brown (West Ham) (Lab) [V]: The Secretary Kerry McCarthy [V]: I thank the Minister for that of State’s own strategy says that short prison sentences answer. As he says, prison education programmes can for women do not work because they fail to tackle the be hugely beneficial, in terms of rehabilitation and reasons women are there, which is often due to the preventing reoffending; future employability, life skills abuse and trauma caused by the men in their lives. His and literacy; or simply, as he says, boosting self-esteem. own strategy says that. When the Government’s neglect However, despite the figures that he mentions, there has of crimes against women is under the spotlight, why is been a dire lack of investment over the years. Can he tell he still insisting on spending another £150 million on us why the Government’s promised prison education ineffective prison places when that money could be service, which was in last year’s sentencing White Paper spent on action to break the cycle of abuse and reoffending? and, indeed, the Government’s2019 manifesto,is completely absent from the Bill that we will vote on later today? Robert Buckland: The hon. Lady is absolutely right to refer to the female offender strategy, which is at the Alex Chalk: We do not need to legislate for that. We heart of our approach to women offenders—the trauma- are absolutely committed to an enhanced prison education informed approach that she knows is so important. I service, and I am pleased to be able to say that, in a can reassure her that the prison places that we are prison close to the hon. Lady’s constituency, we are building will improve and enhance the existing female rolling out additional curriculum and neurodiversity estate, some of which, frankly, is not fit for purpose. specialists to drive reform. We absolutely believe in This will replace and revivify the estate and allow education and we are putting in the resources to ensure women to be in a secure environment where they can do that it gets better every day. purposeful activity, support each other and, indeed, benefit—[Interruption.] I do not know why Labour “A Smarter Approach to Sentencing” White Paper Front Benchers think it is so funny, Mr Speaker. I have Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con): What progress his certainly supported the female offender strategy, and I Department has made on the proposals in its September will repeat the point that what we are doing is improving 2020 White Paper, “ASmarter Approach to Sentencing”. and enhancing the custodial experience while delivering [R] [913474] the strategy and, of course, residential centres such as the one in Wales that will be opening very shortly The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice indeed. [Interruption.] I really fail to see why women (Robert Buckland): Last week, we introduced the Police, offenders are so funny, Mr Speaker. Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. This landmark piece of legislation will deliver on the commitments that I Mr Speaker: Can I just reassure you, Secretary of made in the White Paper to make punishments tougher State, that they were not laughing at you? I think it was for the most serious offenders and those who commit the expressions of the shadow Minister that they were crimes against women and girls, and to introduce more laughing at—and people might think that those on the effective community sentences. We are working on those Government side were, too. I just want to reassure you non-legislative reforms in the White Paper that aim to that nobody was laughing at that situation. tackle the underlying causes of criminal behaviour and to improve the rehabilitation of offenders in our community. Human Rights Rob Butler [V]: I thank the Lord Chancellor for that answer. Over the years that I have been involved in the Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP): criminal justice system, I have often been struck by the What plans he has to amend the Human Rights Act 1998. potential for technology to play a greater role in keeping [913477] 153 Oral Answers 16 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 154

Amy Callaghan (East Dunbartonshire) (SNP): What for power grabs in many other areas of Scottish Parliament steps his Department is taking to maintain human competence and the fact that Scotland’s legal system is rights standards after the end of the transition period. separate and distinct, does the Minister agree that when [913482] published the review should include a commitment that they cannot and must not impinge on the integrity of Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) Scottish law? (SNP): What plans he has to amend the Human Rights Act 1998. [913491] Chris Philp: The review is into human rights. As I said, the has been a beacon of human The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the rights for many centuries now and we intend to honour Home Department (Chris Philp): The UK has a long- our ECHR obligations. There is no intention to interfere standing tradition of securing human rights. Indeed, with the Scottish legal system, although I am rather the United Kingdom, for many decades and centuries, concerned by the remarks Lord Hope made about the has been a beacon around the world for the protection apparent problems with the independence of Scotland’s of human rights. The operation of the Human Rights prosecutors. Act, now over 20 years old, is being reviewed. The Prison Service Pay Review Body: Recommendation 3 review is being led by Sir Peter Gross, a retired Court of and Prison Safety Appeal judge, supported by, among others, two QCs and two professors. Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) (Lab): What assessment he has made of the potential effect on Allan Dorans [V]: The pandemic has seen necessary prison safety of the decision to reject the Prison Service but drastic restrictions on human rights, including the Pay Review Body’s recommendation 3. [913478] right to assembly and protest. There are fears that not all of those restrictions will be fully rolled back. The The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice campaign group Liberty has said that the United Kingdom (Alex Chalk): Prison safety and security is a key priority. Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts The Government are investing £100 million to introduce Bill will undermine protest, stifle dissent and make it robust measures such as x-ray body scanners and phone harder for us to hold the powerful to account. Does the blocking technology, as well as tools such as body-worn Minister agree that as the Bill moves through Parliament cameras and PAVA spray. On pay, in July 2020 the it should be guided by the principle of the right to Government accepted in full six out of seven peaceful assembly and protest, as fundamental human recommendations made by the Prison Service pay review rights must be protected at all costs? body, delivering an increase in pay of at least 2.5% for all Prison Service staff, from those working on the gate Chris Philp: I agree that fundamental human rights through to those on the landings. should be protected at all costs. The Bill we are debating Mary Kelly Foy [V]: We heard at last month’s Justice does protect the right to peaceful protest, while at the questions that rejecting this expert advice will undermine same time respecting the rights of other people to get to prison safety and is, in fact, a false economy, because their work and the need of emergency vehicles to secure once tax receipts and staff retention are taken into safe passage down the highway, for example. On human consideration this pay rise practically pays for itself, so rights, I was concerned by the passage through the what is the real reason for denying prison officers pay Scottish Parliament last week of a law that had a justice? Is it because the Treasury is worried it will chilling effect on free speech. encourage other public sector workers to demand a decent pay rise too? Amy Callaghan [V]: [Inaudible.]—of the Human Rights Act, in which it is made clear that it would robustly Alex Chalk: It is important to note that six out of the oppose any attempt to undermine the UK’s commitment seven recommendations were accepted in full. The freeze to the European convention on human rights or distance will not apply to those people earning under £24,000. the UK from membership of the Council of Europe. When it comes to safety, which was the central premise Does the Minister agree it is crucial that those assurances of the hon. Lady’s question, we have to consider the are given to Scotland and will he be working to ensure conditions that make a difference to those valuable and that the views of Scotland’s Government are heard and professional officers on the landings. Do they feel safe? respected? Do they have a body-worn camera? Do they have SPEAR—spontaneous protection enabling accelerated Chris Philp: Yes, most certainly. There is no plan to response—personal safety training? That is what we repudiate our obligations under the European convention want to focus on, so they can get the protection they on human rights and there is certainly no plan to leave deserve. the Council of Europe, so I can absolutely give the hon. Reclaiming Fines: Universal Credit Lady the assurance she asks for. On working closely with the Scottish Government, yes we are doing that (Birmingham, Ladywood) (Lab): and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Scottish Government for the response to the review’s court fine deductions in reclaiming fines for people in call for evidence, which I believe has already been receipt of universal credit. [913479] received. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice Gavin Newlands [V]: [Inaudible.]—my hon. Friend (Chris Philp): Deductions from benefit orders are made the Member for East Dunbartonshire (Amy Callaghan) by the court, and when the court makes them, the judge has just referred to, and both this Government’s desire will take into account the affordability and the means of 155 Oral Answers 16 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 156 the person who is having the deduction order made. but given the many voices expressing grave concerns Someone can, of course, make an application later to about the impact of that Bill on our human rights remit part or all of the deduction, if their personal —especially rights relating to protest—did he have circumstances have changed. second thoughts about making that statement and, most importantly, will he listen to those concerns and Shabana Mahmood [V]: I am grateful to the Minister act on them? for that answer, but he will know that the Government have ordered jobcentre staff to apply the maximum Robert Buckland: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his 30% deduction from universal credit for claimants who comments, but no, I do not have any second thoughts. have to pay a court fine, regardless of their circumstances. The particular provisions on protests are a reflection of This approach is failing on two fronts. It pushes vulnerable the Law Commission’s 2015 report and of the common claimants further into poverty and recoups less money. law in England and Wales on public nuisance, which The Ministry’s own data shows that the amount of refers to, among other things, “annoyance”, “serious money recouped in respect of court fines fell by over annoyance” and other terms that are well known to law. 13% between June and August last year, when the The maximum penalty in common law for public nuisance arbitrary 30% deduction was applied to all claimants. was life imprisonment. That is being reduced to 10 years. Does the Minister accept that this is the worst of all Frankly, I really do not see what the fuss is about. I worlds, and will he begin urgent discussions with his rather think it is a confection designed to assist an counterparts in the Department for Work and Pensions Opposition in difficulty. to follow the data and allow local decision makers a Mr Speaker: Let us go to Sir Robert Neill, the Chair greater degree of discretion as to how much is deducted of the Justice Committee. from each individual claimant to pay a court fine? Sir Robert Neill ( and Chislehurst) (Con) [V]: Chris Philp: I ask the House to be aware that these I, and I am sure all the members of the Justice Committee, deductions pay not only for fines, but for compensation will also want to associate ourselves with the Secretary to victims, and we should be mindful of that. These of State’s comments. Does he agree that protection of orders are ultimately made by a judge, who, in making the public is served not only by deterrent sentencing the order, has discretion and will take someone’s where necessary, but by a much a broader and more circumstances into account. I repeat the point that I nuanced suite of alternatives for less serious offenders? made previously: if someone is experiencing difficulty, Can he help us, in particular, on the timescale for the it is always open to them to go back to the court to have roll out of problem-solving courts, which have been the order remitted, either in part or in whole. called for by the Select Committee and by many other commentators over a number of years, but which, until Topical Questions now, have perhaps not always had the ministerial or governmental impetus behind them that is required to [913519] Stuart C. McDonald (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth make them succeed as part of that smarter sentencing and Kirkintilloch East) (SNP): If he will make a statement package? on his departmental responsibilities. Robert Buckland: I am grateful to my hon. Friend the The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Chair of the Justice Committee for raising the important (Robert Buckland): The entire country has been shocked issue of problem-solving courts.This will be an opportunity and appalled by the disappearance of Sarah Everard to bring together not just the courts system but other and the discovery of her body last week, and I know the agencies around the issue in order to deal with the thoughts of the whole House are with Sarah’s family particular challenge being faced by a family or by and friends. Our minds are also on our constituents—the somebody who has been accused of a criminal offence. women who have shared their own stories of harassment The work on this is ongoing, and I want to launch the and harm over the last week. After a quarter of a pilots later this year. This is very much at the heart of century of working with victims as a criminal practitioner the sentencing White Paper that I published last September. and sitting as a part-time judge, and as someone who It is all about getting smart on sentencing and making has worked with Members of all parties to successfully sure that we reflect the reality of the challenges that are include stalking offences in our criminal law, and having often faced by our courts. taken groundbreaking legislation through this House Mr (Tottenham) (Lab): A study by UN on coercive control, these stories were all too depressingly Women UK has shown that 97% of young adult women familiar to me. Our country today should be a place in the UK have experienced sexual harassment in public where no woman has to live in fear of men, and I will places. One in five women will suffer sexual assault in continue to work tirelessly to build a criminal justice their lifetime. Under the Lord Chancellor’s watch, rape system that is better able to protect women and girls convictions have fallen to an all-time low of just 1.4%. and that, most notably through our landmark Domestic What does he have to say to the 96% of abuse victims Abuse Bill and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts who feel it is no longer worth making a complaint? Bill, delivers more protection. The Government will What does he have to say to the 45% who said complaining work across this House to achieve that end. would make no difference? What does he have to say to all women who have suffered abuse and who have given Stuart C. McDonald [V]: I thank the Justice Secretary up hope of this Government’s ability to deliver justice? and echo the sentiments that he expressed. It was the Justice Secretary who made the required Robert Buckland: The right hon. Gentleman is right statutory statement that the Police, Crime, Sentencing to raise the worrying statistics about the gap that exists and Courts Bill is compatible with convention rights, between the system and the confidence of women, in 157 Oral Answers 16 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 158 particular, who feel that the system does not work for £140 million next year supporting women and victims; them. I would remind him that this Government have and we have been prioritising domestic violence protection pioneered important legislation in areas such as coercive orders throughout the pandemic. I look forward to control, stalking reform, and the changes in the Domestic continuing our conversation about that Nightingale Abuse Bill that I know he and his party support and court in . that have been further refined in their lordships’ House to include offences such as non-fatal strangulation, an Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North East) (SNP) [V]: extension to coercive control, and threats to inflict Will the Cabinet Secretary or a Minister welcome revenge porn. We are able, in the Bill that we are the announcement from the debating today, to go even further and impose longer Government that while the UK Government seem intent sentences for those who commit crimes predominantly on rolling back human rights in the UK, Scotland will against women and girls. He and his party have an aim to strengthen them in a truly groundbreaking human opportunity tonight to help the very women that he rights Bill? That Bill will incorporate four United Nations talks about, but they choose to vote against the Bill and treaties, to further enhance the rights of women, people not to support the Government in their fight against with disabilities, older people and minority ethnic crime and in their support for victims such as women communities. Does the Minister agree that independence and girls. is the only way for the people of Scotland to truly safeguard their fundamental human rights? Mr Lammy: The Secretary of State has got to watch it, because I think he is getting annoyed, and he has Robert Buckland: If the answer to the hon. Lady’s made that something that you can go to prison for in question is separation, it is entirely misconceived. The the Bill that we are voting on a bit later. jurisdictions of England and Wales,Scotland and Northern Ireland should be standing shoulder to shoulder in that Some 80% in prison of women are there for non-violent fine tradition of the rule of law and respect for human offences, serving short sentences that the Government rights. She correctly refers to the Holyrood Parliament’s know do not work. Most are themselves victims of decisions, and of course we respect that, but across the crime—often much more serious crimes than those they UK we have world-leading, world-beating laws and have been convicted of. Separated from their families, provisions relating to the rights of vulnerable people, they lose their children, their jobs and their hope. They which she talks about. The job is to make sure that that make up 5% of the prison population, but they account becomes more of a reality for more and more people, for almost 20% of the self-harm, which has gone up and that is what we should all be working together to under the Secretary of State’s watch. While he works to achieve. save statues and gag protesters, more and more women become victims. When will he admit that his Government [913526] Joy Morrissey (Beaconsfield) (Con) [V]: What just do not care? progress has been made on the independent review of administrative law? Robert Buckland: I think I am entitled to be more than a little annoyed by the refusal of the Opposition to Robert Buckland: I will be making announcements come together to work to achieve a better society for on the independent review and the next steps very women and girls—[Interruption.] No, they have chosen shortly. Judicial review plays a vital review in upholding the path of party politicking, and in an attempt to cover the rule of law, and the reason we established the review the deep divisions that exist on their side, they are was that we wanted to look carefully at whether it was politicising an issue that should rise above politics. I am running as it needs to or whether changes will be needed. deeply disappointed and, yes, I am annoyed on behalf I will make announcements to this House very shortly. of the thousands of women and girls who see this as an opportunity for change. The right hon. Gentleman is T8. [913520] Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD): More rejecting that, he is voting against tougher sentences, than 230 people have now been prosecuted under the and he will have to answer to his constituents and the , but according to the Crown country. Prosecution Service every single one was incorrectly charged. Does the Secretary of State agree that this [913521] Laura Trott (Sevenoaks) (Con) [V]: Nightingale amount of confusion and mistakes brings the law into courts have played a pivotal role in keeping our justice disrepute? Will he therefore accept that the Act should system going throughout the pandemic. May I ask the not be renewed in full this month and that instead we Minister for an update on when a Nightingale court will should look at the replacement “protect everyone Bill” be established in Kent? This will be vital to speeding up proposed by Liberty and others? access to justice for my constituents and helping with the cases at the highest risk of attrition, such as those of Robert Buckland: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for sexual violence. raising that question. The primary responsibility for the superintendence of the CPS rests with my right hon. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice and learned Friend the Attorney General, but the hon. (Chris Philp): My hon. Friend has been a tireless and Lady does make an important point about the reputation energetic advocate for a Nightingale court in Kent, and of the rule of law, and I know that these matters are the options are being studied carefully by officials, who being looked at carefully. I commend the existing will continue to work with her and her colleagues. We coronavirus legislation to her; it has been carefully have got 49 courtrooms open for Nightingale courts, sunsetted with review provisions, and I assure her that and that will shortly increase to 60. On the terrible Ministers, including me, take that responsibility very problem of domestic abuse and violence against women, seriously and will not hesitate to remove provisions that which she mentions, the Domestic Abuse Bill is, of either have not been used or are just not proportionate course, going through Parliament; we will be spending to deal with the problems we face. 159 Oral Answers 16 MARCH 2021 Oral Answers 160

[913530] Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con) [V]: Covid-19 women’s residential centre in south Wales. I thank my has had a significant impact on victims, witnesses and hon. and right hon. Friends for the engagement that I defendants involved in court proceedings in the past have had so far on this issue, through which I have year. This is similar to the point made by my hon. conveyed strong feelings of opposition to both sites. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Laura Trott), but Will he reiterate to the constituents of Bridgend and the backlog of cases in Nottinghamshire stands at Porthcawl that he will consider the feelings of local 1,200 in the Crown court and 8,000 in the magistrates residents and stakeholders before a decision is made? court. To ensure the timely administration of justice, has my right hon. and learned Friend considered a Robert Buckland: My hon. Friend is a doughty Nightingale court in Nottinghamshire, so that cases can representative of his constituency. Rightly, he has be heard as quickly as possible? If not, will he agree to consistently raised those issues with me on behalf of meet me to discuss what steps his Department is taking concerned local residents. The Department has already to make sufficient inroads into the backlog of cases in written to residents living near the proposed locations Nottinghamshire? in the options listed. We have advised them of the proposal, and are seeking their views. We also want the Robert Buckland: I am delighted to let me hon. Friend views of Senedd Members, local Members of Parliament know that, as a result of the campaigning that he and such as my hon. Friend, and councillors before any final other Nottinghamshire colleagues have undertaken, we decision is made. will be opening a Nightingale court in Nottingham before the end of this month. I agree that adding [913524] (Rhondda) (Lab): When I additional capacity through opening up Nightingales is introduced the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) the key to tackling the higher level of outstanding cases Act 2018 in 2008 as a private Member’s Bill, with great caused by the pandemic. Wehave now opened Nightingales support from the Minister, I was always anxious that in every Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service just passing the law would not be enough; we would region, and we are on track to have a total of 60 additional have to do lots of other things to ensure that we really courtrooms by the end of March. were cracking down on assaults on emergency workers. One problem is that it is all very well doubling the [913522] Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab): sentence, as my Bill did and as the Government intend After the post-war recovery, legal aid was celebrated as to do later today, but magistrates courts can only issue a being one of the great pillars of the welfare state, but sentence of up to six months, so it has next to no effect thanks to a decade of Tory cuts many of my constituents unless the Government implement section 154 of the and vulnerable people across our country no longer Criminal Justice Act 2003. When will they do that? have access to justice. So what exactly is the Secretary of State doing to halt the terminal decline in the number of Robert Buckland: The hon. Gentleman—I nearly said legal aid firms and solicitors? my hon. Friend—makes a very important point. I am looking very carefully at those provisions. It is important Robert Buckland: I greatly respect the hon. Gentleman, to remember that the magistrates have the power to and I am more than happy to have a longer discussion commit for sentence to the Crown court where they with him in real time about the evolution of the legal consider their powers to be inadequate. I urge that they aid system, which evolved under Governments of both do that with regard to particular—[Interruption.] Well, colours. Civil legal aid was slashed considerably by the I am listening to him, and I do not want to get into a Labour Government in 1999. This Government still debate with him, but it is important that that point is spend £1.7 billion on legal aid. We are already dealing strongly made in the guidance issued to legal advisers in with criminal legal aid, and have a big review into it. magistrates courts. I will look into that point to ensure With regard to civil legal aid providers, I have already that the maximum sentence that should be imposed, answered questions about the way we are seeking to consistent with the facts in a case, is imposed to meet procure more housing and debt advice. I assure him the justice that this House wanted to achieve for blue that the challenges are great, but my personal commitment light emergency workers. to legal aid, having been a practitioner in legal aid in my professional career, is real, sincere and will yield proper Mr Speaker: Order. I am suspending the House for results. three minutes in order for the necessary arrangements to be made for the next business. [913531] Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con): As my right hon. and learned Friend knows, the Atlantic hotel in Porthcawl and the Sunnyside Wellness Village in Bridgend 12.33 pm are two of the five sites that have been shortlisted for a Sitting suspended. 161 16 MARCH 2021 Integrated Review 162

Integrated Review to become a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and we will seek to join the 12.35 pm trans-Pacific free trade agreement. The Prime Minister (): With permission, But all our international goals rest upon keeping our Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on the Government’s people safe at home and deterring those who would do integrated review of security, defence, development and us harm, so we will create a counter-terrorism operations foreign policy, which we are publishing today. centre, bringing together our ability to thwart the designs of terrorists, while also dealing with the actions of The overriding purpose of this review, the most hostile states—it is almost exactly three years since the comprehensive since the cold war, is to make the United Russian state used a chemical weapon in Salisbury, Kingdom stronger, safer and more prosperous, while killing an innocent mother, Dawn Sturgess, and bringing standing up for our values. Our international policy is a fear to a tranquil city. I can announce that the National vital instrument for fulfilling this Government’s vision Cyber Force, which conducts offensive cyber-operations of uniting and levelling up across our country, reinforcing against terrorists, hostile states and criminal gangs, will the Union, and securing Britain’s place as a science in future be located in a cyber-corridor in the north-west superpower and a hub of innovation and research. The of England. review describes how we will bolster our alliances,strengthen our capabilities, find new ways of reaching solutions, Mr Speaker: Chorley. and relearn the art of competing against states with opposing values. We will be more dynamic abroad and The Prime Minister: Close, Mr Speaker. more focused on delivering for our citizens at home. We will also establish a cross-Government situation I begin with the essential fact that the fortunes of the centre in the Cabinet Office, learning the lessons of the British people are, almost uniquely, interlinked with pandemic and improving our use of data to anticipate events on the far side of the world. With limited natural and respond to future crises. resources, we have always earned our living as a maritime The first outcome of the integrated review was the trading nation. In 2019, the UK sold goods and services Government’s decision to invest an extra £24 billion in overseas worth £690 billion—fully a third of our gross defence, allowing the wholesale modernisation of our domestic product—sustaining millions of jobs and armed forces and taking forward the renewal of our livelihoods everywhere from Stranraer to St Ives, and nuclear deterrent. The new money will be focused on making our country the fifth biggest exporter in the mastering the emerging technologies that are transforming world. Between 5 million and 6 million Britons—nearly warfare, reflecting the premium placed on speed of one in 10 of us—live permanently overseas, including deployment and technical skill, and my right hon. Friend 175,000 in the Gulf and nearly 2 million in Asia and the Defence Secretary will set out the details next week. Australasia, so a crisis in any of those regions or in the trade routes connecting them would be a crisis for us Later this year, HMS Queen Elizabeth will embark from the very beginning. on her maiden deployment, leading a carrier strike group on a 20,000-mile voyage to the Indo-Pacific and The truth is that even if we wished it, and of course back, exercising with Britain’s allies and partners along we do not, the UK could never turn inward or be the way and demonstrating the importance that we content with the cramped horizons of a regional foreign attach to freedom of the seas. policy. For us, there are no far away countries of which we know little. Global Britain is not a reflection of old By strengthening our armed forces, we will extend obligations, still less a vainglorious gesture, but is a British influence, while simultaneously creating jobs necessity for the safety and prosperity of the British across the United Kingdom, reinforcing the Union and people in the decades ahead. maximising our advantage in science and technology. This Government will invest more in research and I am determined that the UK will join our friends to development than any of our predecessors because ensure that free societies flourish after the pandemic, innovation is the key to our success at home and abroad, sharing the risks and burdens of addressing the world’s from speeding our economic recovery,to shaping emerging toughest problems. The UK’s presidency of the G7 has technologies in accordance with freedom and openness. already produced agreement to explore a global treaty We will better protect ourselves against threats to our on pandemic preparedness, working through the World economic security. Health Organisation to enshrine the steps that countries will need to take to prevent another covid. We will host Our newly independent trade policy will be an instrument COP26 in Glasgow in November and rally as many for ensuring that the rules and standards in future trade nations as possible behind the target of net zero by agreements reflect our values. Our newly independent 2050, leading by example since the UK was the first sanctions policy already allows the UK to act swiftly major economy to accept this obligation in law. Britain and robustly wherever necessary, and we were the first will remain unswervingly committed to NATO and European country to sanction the generals in Myanmar preserving peace and security in Europe. after the coup last month. From this secure basis, we will seek out friends and In all our endeavours, the United States will be our partners wherever they can be found, building a coalition greatest ally and a uniquely close partner in defence, for openness and innovation and engaging more deeply intelligence and security. Britain’s commitment to the in the Indo-Pacific. I have invited the leaders of Australia, security of our European home will remain unconditional South Korea and India to attend the G7 summit in and immoveable, incarnated by our leadership of NATO’s Carbis Bay in June, and I am delighted to announce deployment in Estonia. that I will visit India next month to strengthen our We shall stand up for our values, as well as for our friendship with the world’s biggest democracy. Our interests, and here I commend the vigilance and dedication approach will place diplomacy first. The UK has applied of hon. Members from all parties, because the UK, 163 Integrated Review 16 MARCH 2021 Integrated Review 164

[The Prime Minister] Eighteen months ago, the Russia review concluded that the threat was “urgent and immediate”, so why has with the wholehearted support of this whole House, has none of its recommendations been implemented? led the international community in expressing our deep The integrated review talks about the importance of concern over China’s mass detention of the Uyghur upholding international law, I agree, but from Europe people in Xinjiang province, and in giving nearly to the Indian Ocean, this Government now have a three million of Hong Kong’s people a route to British reputation for breaking international law, not defending citizenship. it. We welcome the deepening of engagement in the There is no question that China will pose a great Indo-Pacific region, but that comes on the back of an challenge for an open society such as ours, but we will inconsistent policy towards China for a decade.Conservative also work with China where that is consistent with our Governments have spent 10 years turning a blind eye to values and interests, including in building a stronger human rights abuses while inviting China to help build and positive economic relationship and in addressing our infrastructure. That basic inconsistency is now catching climate change. up with them. The greater our unity at home, the stronger our The review also talks of conflict resolution, yet there influence abroad, which will, in turn, open up new is nothing about updating our arms export regime, and markets and create jobs in every corner of the UK, not in particular suspending arms sales to Saudi Arabia. only maximising opportunities for the British people, The Prime Minister’s statement did not mention but, I hope, inspiring a sense of pride that their country international development, and I wonder why—because is willing to follow in its finest traditions and stand up he is cutting development spending for the first time in for what is right. With the extra investment and new decades and denying the House a vote on it. If global capabilities of the integrated review, the United Kingdom Britain is to mean anything, it cannot mean selling arms can thrive in an ever more competitive world and fulfil to Saudi Arabia and cutting aid to Yemen. our historic mission as a force for good. I commend this statement to the House. I voted for the renewal of Trident, and the Labour party’s support for nuclear deterrence is non-negotiable, but this review breaks the goal of successive Prime 12.45 pm Ministers and cross-party efforts to reduce our nuclear (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab): We stockpile. It does not explain when, why or for what want the integrated review to work. Threats to our strategic purpose, so the Prime Minister needs to answer national security are increasing; they are becoming that question today. more complex and less predictable. The Government On trade, we recognise the need for new and ambitious must get this review right, but it is built on foundations trade deals. There needs to be a major boost in UK that have been weakened over the past decade. The exports over the next decade, but that has to start with Prime Minister has spoken of an era of retreat; he is making a success of the deal, and that will not right. In the last decade of Conservative Government, happen unless we remove the new red tape that is now defence spending and pay for the armed forces both fell holding British businesses back. in real terms. Our armed forces’ numbers have been cut by 45,000, and there is still a black hole of £17 billion in Britain should and could be a moral force for good in the defence equipment plan. Although we welcome the the world. After a decade of neglect, this review was the long-overdue increase in capital funding, the creation of chance to turn a corner, but there is now a very real risk a counter-terrorism operations centre and new investment that our armed forces will be stripped back even further, in cyber, the Prime Minister cannot avoid the question and that this review will not end the era of retreat—in that everyone in our armed forces and their families will fact, it will extend it. be asking today: will there be further cuts to the strength of our Army and our armed forces? The British Army is The Prime Minister: First, we have one of the toughest already 6,000 below the minimal level set out in the last arms export regimes in the world under the consolidated review. It has been cut every year for the past decade, guidance. Anybody listening to the right hon. and learned and it is being reported that the Army will see a further Gentleman would not realise that we are the second reduction of 10,000, alongside fewer tanks, fewer jets biggest international donor of aid in the G7. for the RAF and fewer frigates for the Royal Navy. It is absolutely preposterous to hear the Labour Prime Minister, if those reports are untrue, can that leader calling for more investment in our armed forces be said today? Successive Conservative Prime Ministers when this is the biggest investment in our armed forces have cut the armed forces, but at least they have had the since the cold war—£24 billion—and when it was not so courage to come to this House and say so. This statement long ago that he was campaigning very hard, without was silent on the issue. After everything that the armed dissent, to install a leader of the Labour party as forces have done for us, the Prime Minister has a duty to Prime Minister who wanted to withdraw from NATO be straight with them today. and disband our armed forces. [Interruption.] The hon. Turning to foreign policy, Britain needs to be a moral Member for Wigan () heckles me from the force for good in the world once again, leading the fight shadow Front Bench, but it is ridiculous for the right against climate change; strengthening multinational hon. and learned Gentleman to talk about our nuclear alliances, including NATO; championing human rights; defences when the reality is that Labour is all over the valuing international development; and ensuring that place. The last time the House voted on protecting our trade deals protect high standards and public services. nuclear defences, the shadow Foreign Secretary voted But there is a huge gap between that and the Government’s against it, and so did the current Labour deputy leader. actions. The review rightly concludes that Russia remains They want to talk about standing up for our armed the most acute threat to our security. That is not new. forces. Just in the last year, the Labour party has been 165 Integrated Review 16 MARCH 2021 Integrated Review 166 given the opportunity to back our armed services, our Given the limited time available, let me ask a number armed forces, our troops and our soldiers in the Overseas of specific questions to which we demand answers. On Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill. They cuts to Army personnel, we were promised that had the chance to stand up for veterans. They voted 12,500 personnel would be stationed permanently in against it on a three-line Whip. Those are the instincts Scotland; not only does the current number remain well of the Labour party—weak on supporting our troops, below 10,000, but overall cuts to the Army of 10,000 are weak on backing Britain when it matters, and weak expected. Is the Prime Minister prepared to admit that on defence. this is one more broken Tory promise to our armed forces and to the people of Scotland? Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con): My right On international aid cuts, the review fails to reinstate hon. Friend the Prime Minister has pointed out that the immediately our moral obligation and the Conservative present Labour leadership is more on the side of Ernest party’s manifesto commitment to spending 0.7% of Bevin, who was against fascism and against the left gross national income on aid and development. Under wing both at home and abroad, and that is a sign of the Prime Minister’s plan, countries devastated by war some kind of unity. and famine—Yemen, Syria and South Sudan—will have The Prime Minister did not mention development their humanitarian aid slashed. Only this morning, it much in his statement, and I ask him to meet us to have has emerged that the UK Government also plan to cut a discussion on it. The question of meeting the 0.7%—70p in their human rights support and anti-corruption measures every £100 of our income—has been agreed; the by a staggering 80%. If the Prime Minister is prepared Government said that that would be maintained. They to stand up for such callous cuts, is he also prepared to now say that there will be a gap and it will be restored. guarantee that he will allow for a straight vote on them We want that gap to be evaporated—to go away and not in the House of Commons? to happen. The aid goes down with our income; it Finally, on Trident nuclear weapons, the review should go up with our income, and we should meet the disgracefully endorses the attainment of 80 more of commitment we made in successive manifestos. I leave it these weapons of mass destruction. Will the Prime to the Prime Minister to say when those who are concerned Minister tell us who gave his Government the democratic for aid for Yemen, the Voluntary Service Overseas and right to renege on the UK’s obligations under the others will get an answer as to whether they will be cut nuclear non-proliferation treaty? as well. I want to stand beside the Prime Minister as well as behind him, and we want to do what he wrote in our 2019 manifesto and proudly meet that commitment. The Prime Minister: This Government continue to invest massively in projects that will bring benefit to the The Prime Minister: I am grateful to my hon. Friend whole of the UK, including Scotland. I can tell the right for his points. People listening to this debate might not hon. Gentleman that there will be further investments grasp that this country is actually the biggest European in Lossiemouth, and that there is no threat to the Black donor to Yemen; we have given £1 billion over the past Watch, which he and his colleagues sometimes like to six years and £87 million this year. I do not think people raise in order to alarm people. grasp that we are giving £10 billion in international aid. We will continue to invest massively in overseas We can be very proud of what we are doing. Of course, development aid, which the right hon. Gentleman rightly we will return to the 0.7% target when fiscal circumstances mentioned. Weare very proud of what we are doing—and allow. by the way, it delivers 500 jobs in East Kilbride. We will continue to invest in shipbuilding, which drives jobs Ian Blackford (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (SNP) [V]: I across the whole of the UK, and particularly in Scotland. thank the Prime Minister for advance copy of his It is fantastic to see ships being built by apprentices in statement, and I thank my Scottish National party Govan, as I am sure the right hon. Gentleman has. The colleagues, led by my hon. Friends the Members for only thing that endangers those investments and our Glasgow South (Stewart Malcolm McDonald) and working together as one UK—working with all the for Stirling (Alyn Smith), who compiled on behalf of fantastic people in the armed services in Scotland—is the SNP a substantial and constructive submission to the reckless referendum that his party insists on calling the consultation on the review. at the most inapposite time possible for this country. This statement is one more insight into just how hollow the brand of global Britain actually is. The Mr (Bournemouth East) (Con): I Prime Minister’s rhetoric always fails to come close to very much welcome the comprehensive ambitions set reality. Today, the Prime Minister preaches about out in this important integrated review paper. There is a international obligations, but only yesterday we saw 1930s feel to the scale of challenges that we face today, that our closest partners in the EU are bringing his with rising authoritarian powers, weak global institutions, Government to court for breaking international law. and an absence of western leadership and collective The Prime Minister talks about partnership with resolve. I was hoping for a Fulton, Missouri moment nations around the world in the very week that the most when we finally call out China for the geo-strategic senior figures in the US, including the Speaker of Congress, threat that it is, and a commitment to our aid budget. I warned against the UK’sincreasingly unilateralist approach. do hope that the Prime Minister will summon that The chasm between the Prime Minister’s rhetoric and Atlantic charter spirit of working together with our the reality of his Government’sactions is deeply damaging. closest ally,the United States, to strengthen the rules-based Just because the Prime Minister wastes £2.6 million on order, such as advancing the G7 to the G10, which desperately trying to copy the White House’s press could form the backbone for revising the trade and briefing room, that does not hide the reality of the UK’s security standards that our ever-dangerous world so weakening global influence. desperately needs. 167 Integrated Review 16 MARCH 2021 Integrated Review 168

The Prime Minister: I must say that I think there is a The Prime Minister: Those who call for a new cold balance to be struck, because, after all, we have a strong war on China or for us to sequester our economy trading relationship with China worth about £81 billion. entirely from China, which would seem to be the new China is the second largest economy in the world and a policy of the Opposition, weaving, as they generally do, fact of our lives, and we must accept that fact in a from one position to the next, are, I think, mistaken. We clear-eyed way. But we also have to be tough where we have a balance to strike and we need to have a clear-eyed see risk. That is why this Government have brought in relationship with China. Of course we are protecting the National Security and Investment Bill to protect our critical national infrastructure, and we will continue our intellectual property. That is why we are protecting to do that, and we will make sure that through the our critical national infrastructure. That is why my right National Security and Investment Bill we protect our hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has done more than intellectual property. We will take tough measures, as I virtually any other Foreign Secretary around the world have said, to call out China for what it is doing in to call out what China is doing in Xinjiang. That is why Xinjiang. There is no one around the world who has this Government have offered a place—a refuge and done more on that matter than my right hon. Friend the abode—to 3 million Hong Kong Chinese who may be in Foreign Secretary or this Government, and we will fear of persecution as a result of what is happening continue to do that. Companies that profit from trade in Hong Kong. This Government take a very, very in forced labour will not be allowed to do so in this clear-eyed approach to what is happening in China. It is country. I think the whole House should be very proud a balanced approach and one that I think the British of what we are doing. people understand. () (Lab) [V]: I am really (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/ shocked that development is barely mentioned in the Co-op): We have heard a lot of words like “ambition” integrated review.When will the Prime Minister understand and “innovation”, so let me bring the Prime Minister a that full tummies, economic opportunity and stable little bit back down to earth, and sea. We have an Governments create the stronger,safer and more prosperous aircraft carrier strike group with not enough aircraft world that he wants, not more nuclear weapons? Looking and not enough ships to support it. We have rotting at the cuts that we know of so far— cuts to the conflict, nuclear submarines, not a single one of which has been stability and security fund and 80% cuts in aid corruption decommissioned. We have living accommodation for work—how do they make sense to create this stable single personnel and families that is woefully inadequate world? When do the Government plan to publish their and needing investment. Quite simply, the maths does development strategy, and will they actually consult the not add up. The gap in what is needed to just deliver non-governmental organisations, the global south and, what is in-plan now is huge, even with the additional indeed, Parliament and the International Development investment, so perhaps the Prime Minister could level Committee on this review? Please, tell us—we need to with the House, the country and our armed forces and know the details. tell us now what is going to be cut so that this can be afforded. The Prime Minister: As I have just explained, development remains an absolutely critical part of the The Prime Minister: The hon. Lady should recognise UK’s foreign and overseas policy, and £10 billion is that this is the biggest commitment in spending on our being spent this year alone. Given what this country has armed forces since the cold war. Labour left a black been going through and given that we have been obliged hole in our defence money of £38 billion. [Interruption.] to spend £280 billion to prop up jobs and livelihoods, Yes, they did. This is a massive investment and it is another £63 billion to support the NHS and £37 billion designed to deal with the chronic problems that previous on supporting local councils, I think it is up to Members Governments have failed to address—modernising our opposite to say which of that support for the NHS they forces with AI, with the future combat air system, and would cut and what they would reduce to spend more finally moving into cyber. I think that is the hard-edged on overseas aid. Of course we want the percentage to go investment this country needs to modernise our forces back up again when fiscal circumstances allow, but I and take them forward. Labour consistently failed to do think people of common sense understand that £10 billion that. is a huge sum in the current circumstances, and they will appreciate that it is right to wait until fiscal circumstances Dr (New Forest East) (Con): As the have improved. Prime Minister just mentioned the National Security and Investment Bill, I hope I can rely on him to help the (Tonbridge and Malling) (Con): I Intelligence and Security Committee to remove the very much welcome the integrated review as it is set out, obstacles that are being placed in our way in wishing to and I welcome its aspiration to coherence. I also welcome scrutinise the work of the Investment Security Unit. the fact that many of the ideas, not just the author, have Although there are strong analytical aspects to this been stolen from the Foreign Affairs Committee, and review, it is suggested on pages 62 to 63 that our for that I am very grateful. But may I ask that some of adversary, communist China, the aspects we have touched on in the past few years are addressed in the strategies that have not been clarified “is an increasingly important partner in tackling global challenges like pandemic preparedness”— in today’s paper—strategies on artificial intelligence and, indeed, on different forms of financial threats? if you please—and that we want Where we need to see the UK setting up for ourselves is “deeper trade links and more Chinese investment in the UK.” not just in aid and sticking to the 0.7%, which the Prime Does not that unfortunately demonstrate that the grasping Minister has already touched on, but also in platforms, naivety of the Cameron-Osborne years still lingers on making sure that we do not just reallocate aid to defence, in some Departments of State? but actually increase the number of ships so that our 169 Integrated Review 16 MARCH 2021 Integrated Review 170 presence in the east is real, not digital. We also need to talking Britain down. The investments we are making look hard at the new threats—from cryptocurrency to are colossal—absolutely colossal—by any international the financial mis-dealings in the city of London—that standards. We are the second-biggest contributor of aid threaten our national security so obviously, whether in the G7 already, and in spite of all the difficulties that is dirty Russian money or, increasingly, dirty Chinese occasioned by the pandemic, we are contributing £10 billion money. We need to stand up for Britain’s interests and this year to support the poorest and neediest in the bring these tools together. This is a very welcome start, world. Yes, I can reassure my right hon. Friend that we but will the Prime Minister please put some meat on will return to the 0.7% when the fiscal circumstances those bones and make sure, when we hear the Command allow, but the law makes it very clear that when we have Paper next week, that we do not find that this is a exceptional circumstances—I do not think anybody in snowstorm without the pounds attached? this House or around the world would contest that we have had exceptional circumstances—we are entitled to The Prime Minister: It is a pretty big blizzard of a vary that 0.7% commitment, and that is what we are snowstorm when we consider that there is £24 billion doing. and the biggest investment since the cold war. We cover every aspect of the subjects that my hon. Friend has just Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green) [V]: Given raised, from artificial intelligence to the threat of that the Prime Minister said the climate crisis is his cryptocurrencies, and it remains the case that the UK, No. 1 international priority, it is disappointing that under these proposals, will continue to be able to project— there is a climate-shaped hole at the heart of the Prime one of the few countries in the world to be able to Minister’s review, with resources dangerously diverted project—force 8,000 miles, thanks to our carrier strike to nuclear weapons. Earlier today, the Foreign Secretary force, and we are making the investments now. We are justified breaking our nuclear non-proliferation treaty making the investments now that are grasping the nettle obligations on the grounds that nuclear weapons are that previous Governments have failed to grasp for “the ultimate insurance policy against the worst threat from decades. hostile states.” The logical consequence of that position is surely that Layla Moran (Oxford West and Abingdon) (LD) [V]: every country should be allowed to acquire nuclear Reneging on the commitment to retain 0.7% of GNI on weapons on the same insurance policy grounds. If such development spending is a short-sighted mistake, and nuclear proliferation happens, and since we are increasing the Prime Minister’s promise that it will be just temporary our nuclear warheads by more than 40%, how could we is not good enough. After all, he said in his own party’s possibly have any moral authority to speak out against manifesto he would not cut it. Weasel words on aid will it? If that nuclear proliferation happens, does the Prime not wash. The Prime Minister has said a number of Minister think the world as a whole will be more safe or times during this statement so far that aid spending will less safe? be restored “when fiscal circumstances allow”, but we all know that the fallout from this pandemic is going to The Prime Minister: It is entertaining to see the last years, if not decades, so will the Prime Minister shadow Foreign Secretary nodding along to the hon. promise the House today that this unlawful development Lady’s denunciation of nuclear weapons after what we cut will be for one year, and if it might be for longer, heard from the Labour leader—quite extraordinary. I why does he not just seek a vote on it? really do not think the hon. Lady can have been reading the integrated review at all, because it sets out very The Prime Minister: The habit of reading out questions clearly that we will be investing £11.6 billion internationally that have been prepared means that I am obliged to on tackling climate change. It develops the 10-point return the hon. Lady the answer I gave just a little while plan that the UK is advancing for tackling the emission ago. We will of course return to the 0.7% when fiscal of greenhouse gases. It stresses that this is the major circumstances allow, but I think that, in the meantime, western economy to go for a net zero target by 2050. most people in this country will be amazed, proud and She should be applauding the document, but I have to pleased that, in spite of the difficulties we face, we are assume that she has not yet properly read it. spending £10 billion on the poorest and neediest around the world. Dr Liam Fox (North Somerset) (Con): I very much welcome this integrated review, although I think there Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) (Con): There will be challenges in re-engineering Whitehall for this is much to be welcomed in my right hon. Friend’s common purpose. How does my right hon. Friend statement today, but is he not concerned that our position assess the threat from Iran to the Gulf region and the as chair of the G7 is undermined by Britain being the UK’s strategic interests? What does he believe the only country in the G7 that is cutting its development opportunities are for increased peace and prosperity as budget, in breach of our clear party manifesto commitment? a result of the signing of the Abraham accords between If he is determined to pursue this aspect of his policy—I Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain? know my right hon. Friend; he is a democrat—when will he bring it to the House for a vote? Otherwise, he The Prime Minister: I thank my right hon. Friend, may be in danger, as from the start of the new financial who knows whereof he speaks and has done much to year, of creating an unlawful Budget. advance the cause of peace in the middle east. It was an unexpected breakthrough for many in the foreign policy The Prime Minister: I have great respect and admiration establishment to see the Abraham accords, and I think for my right hon. Friend, who has campaigned for a significant and positive step forward. As for Iran, I many years on international development and done must tell him—I am sure he knows—that we remain much good, but I have to say, listening to contributions extremely concerned by Iran’s influence and disruptive from around the Chamber, that we are in danger of behaviour in the region. In particular, of course, we are 171 Integrated Review 16 MARCH 2021 Integrated Review 172

[The Prime Minister] land forces and particularly in cyber-forces. We are taking the tough decisions needed to modernise and concerned by the risk of Iran developing a viable nuclear improve our armed forces. Yes, it is expensive—it weapon. That is why we think it right that Iran should requires £24 billion to do it—but it means taking historic be in compliance with the joint comprehensive plan of and difficult decisions now, and that is what we are action not just for the benefit of the region, but for the doing. benefit and security of the people of Iran. (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Con) [V]: (Arfon) (PC) [V]: This integrated As someone who is proud to represent a constituency review looks like a desperate, confused and self-important with tens of thousands of defence and aerospace jobs, I search for purpose, far, far removed from the concerns am delighted that at the heart of the review is investment of the people of Wales. With Welsh trade with our most in domestic industries. Does the Prime Minister think important trading partner, the EU, collapsing as a that increasing our sovereign defence manufacturing result of the fundamental political and strategic error of capability will assist us strategically in projecting power our exit, is it not increasingly clear that the best interests and sustaining operations across the globe? of my country would be served not by squandering billions and more on literally useless nuclear weapons, The Prime Minister: Yes, and one of the things that but by our ability to pursue our own course in the our defence investments can do is help to entrench our world? Union and build jobs and growth across the whole of the United Kingdom. There is now a steady stream of shipbuilding contracts and many other defence contracts The Prime Minister: I remind the hon. Gentleman that will drive high-quality jobs for a generation to that the people of Wales voted to leave the EU. I think come. they did the right thing, for all sorts of reasons. Not that I think he supports them, but it is the Welsh Dame (Kingston upon Hull North) Labour Government who continue to squander money (Lab) [V]: Will the Prime Minister explain how building hand over fist on all sorts of projects that I do not national resilience will include the digital transformation believe are in the interests of the people of Wales, of the security and intelligence agencies, where the including £144 million on a study for a bypass alone. resources will come from, and whether it will include industry and international partners? (South West Surrey) (Con) [V]: I welcome this integrated review. I recognise how difficult it is to The Prime Minister: As I just said to the hon. Member do one during a pandemic. I am worried about designating for Strangford (Jim Shannon), we are investing massively China simply as a systemic challenge, given the terrible in cyber and in upgrading the cyber-skills of our troops. events in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Will the Prime Minister keep that under review? Does he agree that (Harlow) (Con) [V]: The late and because the 0.7% cut is strictly temporary, relating to respected American Senator John McCain said in a the pandemic, there is no need to amend legislation? 2008 speech: Finally is not one of the most important reasons to “We have to strengthen our global alliances as the core of a build up Britain’smight to stand squarely behind individual new global compact—a League of Democracies—that can harness British citizens in peril, such as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the vast influence of the more than 100 democratic nations so that there are no more victims of Iran’s vile hostage around the world to advance our values and defend our shared diplomacy? interests.” Can my right hon. Friend’s welcome vision, set out The Prime Minister: Yes indeed, my right hon. Friend today, be aligned with smaller nations around the world is right in what he says about the ODA commitment such as Kurdistan, in northern Iraq, and Israel, which and right in what he says about China. Of course we are vanguards of religious pluralism, democracy, a free will keep that under review, although, as I said, the society, the rule of law and security against terrorism? balance has to be struck. He is also right that the UK Can Great Britain lead a new alliance of democracies Government should stick up for British citizens, and I around the world, as proposed by the late Senator John thank him for everything he did during his tenure as McCain? Foreign Secretary to secure the release of Nazanin The Prime Minister: Yes. Our commitment to Israeli Zaghari-Ratcliffe.It is a disgrace that she remains effectively security is unwavering, and we continue to work closely in captivity in Tehran, and on 10 March I raised that with our partners in the Kurdish region of Iraq. very matter with President Rouhani myself. Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): Will the Prime Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I thank the Prime Minister level with the country and tell us exactly how Minister for his statement. Will he outline the strategy he plans to reduce the armed forces by 10,000 in the to bring back into line recruitment of foot soldiers post years ahead? covid, as well as recruitment of cyber-soldiers? May I highlight that the centre for cyber security in Europe is The Prime Minister: I have already explained that this Belfast in Northern Ireland, with trained staff and low is the biggest investment in our armed forces since the rates? Will he consider basing security in Northern cold war, and there will be no redundancies across the Ireland as an integral part of the United Kingdom? armed forces.

The Prime Minister: The first point to make about Jane Stevenson (Wolverhampton North East) (Con) the armed forces is that there will be no redundancies [V]: I have been absolutely honoured this year to spend under this plan. There will be massive investment in our time with the Royal Navy, as part of the armed forces 173 Integrated Review 16 MARCH 2021 Integrated Review 174 parliamentary scheme. In a world where new powers are Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con) [V]: I strongly welcome using new tools to redefine the international order, does the much greater coherence that this review will deliver my right hon. Friend agree that it is vital that we now to our national security strategy, both for our nation’s invest in new technologies such as cyber so that our immediate defence and so that all its elements are fantastic armed forces personnel are fully equipped to working together towards an open international order face 21st-century challenges to our nation’s defence? and being a force for good in the world, supporting open societies, human rights and good governance. As The Prime Minister: Yes, indeed, and that is why we part of this, can I continue to assume that we will are investing in cyber and in shipbuilding. By the end of honour our commitment to be the country that leads this decade, we will have 24 frigates, as opposed to the the world in helping hundreds of millions of LGBT 15 today. people to have the freedom to be themselves, with all the benefits that come from that for the prosperity of Peter Kyle (Hove) (Lab): The Prime Minister says those states and the wealth of the spirit of the individuals that he is tough on illegal migration at home, but involved? withdrawing and reducing aid, development and military support in areas of conflict, famine, war and instability The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is totally right. will drive a new wave of international migration. Does This is one of the areas that I know that every embassy he not accept that he cannot be tough, and claim to be and consulate in the Foreign Office campaigns on. I tough, on illegal migration at home if his policies are believe that we make a huge difference around the driving it to start with? world. There are countries that have changed their policies on marriage and their approach to LGBT issues in response to British lobbying. The latest Magnitsky The Prime Minister: The hon. Gentleman is not right; sanctions that we have implemented are in respect of in fact, I think he is talking total nonsense. The most Chechnya for its policy on LGBT issues. We will continue effective thing we can do to ensure that we protect to campaign and evangelise for our values and our ourselves against illegal migration is to do what we have beliefs around the world. done, which is take back control of our borders—a measure that he and the Labour party opposed, and that the Labour party would repudiate. Christine Jardine ( West) (LD) [V]: I draw the House’s attention to the fact that I am a member of the board of governors of the Westminster Foundation Sir David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con) for Democracy. In that capacity, I am aware of the [V]: I strongly welcome and support my right hon. importance of the work that it and other organisations Friend’s statement today on our post-Brexit strategy, do in protecting open, democratic societies across the which is set out in the integrated review. Does he agree globe. Not being a Scottish nationalist, I am also aware that global Britain needs to maximise and co-ordinate how important that is to the UK’s own national interest. its opportunities to promote and protect British industry Can the Prime Minister assure us that that work will and interests across the world, including those of our continue despite the difficulties we face following the overseas territories? current financial year?

The Prime Minister: I thank my right hon. Friend. He The Prime Minister: Yes, I can. I have seen the excellent is quite right because this integrated review supports work that the Westminster Foundation for Democracy our overseas territories and our , does around the world. I have personally attended and our armed forces will continue to deter challenges debates that it has championed in countries where to Gibraltar. We will maintain a permanent presence on democracy is precarious, and I thank the hon. Lady the Falkland Islands, Ascension Island and the British very much for what she is doing. Indian ocean territories. We will use our increased maritime presence around the world to protect the very Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Con) [V]: Our territories and dependencies that he mentions. international ambitions must start at home, and through the integrated review we will drive investment back into Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP) our communities. It is essential that we ensure that the [V]: Today we heard the PM speak about a premium UK is on the cutting edge of innovation and create an based on speed. However, Scotland’s waters make up entire country that is match-fit for a more competitive over 60% of UK waters, while the Royal Navy’s most world. In my constituency of Stoke-on-Trent Central, northern surface warship base is on the UK’s southern advanced ceramics from local firm Lucideon recently coast. Can he confirm that this review means that, landed on Mars. Does my right hon. Friend agree that despite regular territorial incursions from Russia’s navy the sky is not the limit when it comes to innovation? and air force, Scotland still hosts no major surface warships—a fact that means that scrambling the fleet The Prime Minister: I am thrilled and amazed to hear ready escort to Scottish waters takes 24 hours? How on that ceramics from my hon. Friend’s constituency have earth is that a premium based on speed? landed on Mars. That is not the limit of our ambitions, as she knows, because the National Space Council has The Prime Minister: I am interested to hear the hon. recently approved all sorts of missions and ambitions Gentleman’s emphatic desire, as a Scottish nationalist—a for the UK. But the point of what we are doing is not member of the SNP—for a UK defence role. I think he just to push back the frontiers of science and knowledge is absolutely right. But I can tell him that the salient across the universe, but to drive jobs and growth in her point is that all our nuclear deterrent—all our submarines, constituency and around the whole UK. That is the I should say, are based on the Clyde. point of the global Britain agenda, because we believe 175 Integrated Review 16 MARCH 2021 Integrated Review 176

[The Prime Minister] in our technologies, such as cyber, will be key to our defence? Will he take account of Lancashire’s skills and that by exerting British influence in the world in the way ability to deliver? that we are, we can drive the UK economy and drive prosperity here at home. The Prime Minister: I know that my hon. Friend was listening very carefully to the statement, and she will Darren Jones (Bristol North West) (Lab) [V]: I declare have spotted that there is a commitment to the north-west my interest as set out in the Register of Members’ and to cyber in Lancashire. [Interruption.] I have heard Financial Interests. your representations, Mr Speaker. You will have to wait for the Defence Secretary to explain exactly where it is I welcome the recognition in the integrated review of going to be. To boost those skills and jobs for the long threats to our democracy and the role that technology, term and to make that transformation in defence technology disinformation and other forms of hybrid warfare play that Lancashire is undoubtedly going to lead, we are in those threats. On that basis, can the Prime Minister investing £6.6 billion in defence research and development confirm that the online safety Bill that will be presented over the next four years. to the House this year will contain sufficient powers to tackle collective online harms, including threats to our Mr Speaker: We will certainly take Lancashire, even democracy? if the Prime Minister cannot say whereabouts.

The Prime Minister: Yes, I can. Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab) [V]: The review and the Prime Minister’s statement are Marco Longhi (Dudley North) (Con) [V]: The integrated typically big on words, but scant on detail or strategy. It review is clearly extremely welcome. Does my right hon. was a mass of contradictions steeped in a lack of Friend agree that a vigorous approach to foreign policy realism when it comes to affordability and scope, and that recognises the importance of the Indo-Pacific region there was zero acknowledgement of the harm that years is key? Does he also agree that a truly global Britain of underinvestment in our nation’s defence have caused. that forges strategic ties with future superpowers, such Ultimately, the world will judge him and his Government as Brazil, which partnered with us in the development on their actions, so can he explain how breaching of the Oxford vaccine, is also of crucial importance? article 6 of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty fits with his commitment to international law? The Prime Minister: I know that I speak for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and, indeed, for my The Prime Minister: I never saw such a seething mass hon. Friend the Member for Dudley North himself of contradictions as the Opposition Front Bench, because when I say that we understand the importance of Brazil. we only have to go a few yards from the Leader of the I share his analysis about the future of Brazil. Together Opposition to the shadow Foreign Secretary to find a with the Canning of our times, the Foreign Secretary, complete gulf in their view on the very matter that the we intend to build closer relationships not just with hon. Lady raises. The Leader of the Opposition claims Brazil and the rest of the Mercosur countries, but with to be in favour of the nuclear deterrent, and the shadow the Pacific Alliance countries too. Foreign Secretary voted against it. The most consistent thing that our friends and allies, as well as our foes Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) around the world need to know is that the UK is (Ind) [V]: With hostile states, non-state actors, terror committed to the defence of this country and to our and crime groups all posing a threat to the UK and our nuclear defence. allies, it is important to be prepared to adapt and Mr Speaker: We do have to make sure that when we develop our cyber-technology and capabilities. However, say how people voted, we are correct. increasing our nuclear weapons arsenal is something I cannot condone. Both President Biden and Putin renewed Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con) [V]: their bilateral New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty on There is much to commend in this statement from the nuclear weapons reductions just last month, so why is Prime Minister, but I am saddened to hear that we will the Prime Minister going against the flow by increasing be balancing the books on the backs of the poor. We are our arsenal? devastating the amount of money going to Yemen and Sudan, to mention just two countries where children, The Prime Minister: Of course we are committed to mothers and whole families are devastated by what they nuclear arms reduction. Indeed, we believe that China have to face. We are also aware that although funding is should be brought into strategic nuclear arms reduction, being decided, VSO currently does not know when that but one of the most important things about having a funding is coming. If it does not have funding by the credible deterrent for friend and foe alike is setting out end of this month, it will have to end its covid-19 what we have, and that is what this integrated review does. response programme in 18 countries, leaving 4.5 million people without support. That decision cannot easily be Katherine Fletcher (South Ribble) (Con) [V]: I thank reversed, so will the Prime Minister tell the House the PM for an important statement about the future whether VSO will have some money to continue, and if security of our proud nation. Addressing both the not, when that funding decision will be taken? challenges and opportunities the UK faces in a more competitive world is needed, especially when those who The Prime Minister: I have much enjoyed working seek to harm us are using all the tools of modern with my hon. Friend over the years, and I understand technology at their disposal. Lancashire has a proud what she says about Yemen. I repeat: most people in this history of engineering technology solutions, so does the country will be reassured to know that the UK Government Prime Minister agree that in the future more investment continue to be one of the biggest providers for the 177 Integrated Review 16 MARCH 2021 Integrated Review 178 people of Yemen—the biggest in Europe. I strongly Stuart C. McDonald (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and support VSO, which some of my family have done. My Kirkintilloch East) (SNP) [V]: Why on earth slash budgets right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will be setting used to tackle corruption and promote good governance out the position shortly. around the world? Why slash support for the research that our universities do to help the poorest countries to (Barnsley Central) (Lab) [V]: Despite combat disease? Are not these exactly the sort of soft-power 20 years of bloodshed, the integrated review makes only policies that deliver positive results and earn respect, two glancing references to Afghanistan. Given that rather than extortionate, grotesque and provocative nuclear 150,000 people, including 457 British servicemen and weapons spending? women, have lost their lives in that conflict, will the Prime Minister say how the UK will help to establish a The Prime Minister: This is the country that spends lasting peace in the region? the most on the global vaccine alliance. This is the The Prime Minister: As I have repeatedly told President country that spends £548 million on COVAX and Ghani of Afghanistan, our commitment is for the long £1.6 billion on Gavi. We lead the world in health term. He knows the difficulties of the current situation, protection, in tackling conflict and poverty,in championing and the decisions that the US Government have to take. female education around the world. I really think The UK is working hard to ensure that there is a viable international observers who come across Britons around process, and that we do not see a return to the kind of the world working in these fields would simply not civil war that I am afraid has bedevilled Afghanistan. I recognise the discussion and debate that they are hearing believe that the legacy of this Government and this today in the House of Commons. They know that this is country in Afghanistan—and the commitment of British a country that is massively committed to the welfare of troops, as well as the loss of life to which the hon. the poorest and neediest in the world and will remain so. Gentleman rightly draws attention—is a proud one. We must ensure that it is not betrayed, and that we leave a Mr Speaker: Let us go back to Florence Eshalomi. legacy in the education of women and the security of the people of Afghanistan that is lasting and that endures. Florence Eshalomi [V]: Many of my constituents are concerned that much of this review seems to have James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con): As a former prioritised the global projection of hard power. The soldier, may I reassure the Prime Minister that taking Government have chosen to cut our aid budget to the review back to first principles, and assessing the countries in need, such as Syria and Yemen, and this future capability requirements against the threat, is will have serious knock-on effects. My constituent wrote absolutely the right thing to do? Will he reassure me to me and said: that where restructuring is needed—notably perhaps in “Britain has a good track record in recognising the crucial role my own service—our people will be looked after? that aid has in alleviating poverty and enhancing health equity.” The Prime Minister: We are determined to look after Does the Prime Minister agree that this Government’s all the wonderful men and women of our armed services, cuts to aid will not just let the world’s poorest down, but not just by protecting them after they have served, and make it more difficult for the Government to achieve by protecting veterans who may be at risk of vexatious their foreign policy objectives and maintain Britain’s litigation in the way I have described; we also have to global moral authority? ensure that we look after people during their service. In particular, we must look after families, who often bear The Prime Minister: No, I do not remotely agree with the brunt of the commitments and sacrifices that our that. armed services make. That is why we have committed to wraparound childcare for those involved in our armed Sir Roger Gale (North Thanet) (Con) [V]: I share the services. view expressed by the Father of the House, my hon. Friend the Member for Worthing West (Sir Peter Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall) (Lab/Co-op) [V]:— Bottomley), at the start. I am proud to be a member of [Inaudible.] a party which, in its last manifesto, said that it would spend 0.7% of gross national income on overseas aid, Mr Speaker: We cannot hear. We will come back to but we all know that because of the fall in GNI, the Ms Eshalomi. 0.7% represents less money than it did a year ago. Now Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con) [V]: May I welcome is not the time to cut our aid to Yemen or to withdraw the Prime Minister’s putting diplomacy at the very our support for voluntary services overseas, so will my heart of the integrated review? With new resources right hon. Friend consider bridging the gap by additionally going into the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development donating extra supplies of the world’s finest, safest Office, do we not have an independent Britain which covid vaccine—the Oxford vaccine—to developing still needs to be at the heart of multilateral democracy, countries? multilateral institutions and multilateral diplomacy around the world? That includes conflict prevention and conflict The Prime Minister: I am very grateful to my right resolution. hon. Friend for his suggestion. I remind him of what I said about the commitment of this country to overseas The Prime Minister: We continue to support all the aid, which is enormous by any objective view. On the sustainable development goals that my right hon. Friend Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, this is the only vaccine in rightly mentions, and we believe passionately in diplomacy. the world, under the terms of the deal struck between The flag is going up around the world in embassies, the UK Government, the Oxford scientists and legations and continents. The UK flag is going up, I am AstraZeneca, that is sold at cost around the world. I proud to say, in Australasia, Africa—around the world. thank him for raising that, because it is another reason 179 Integrated Review 16 MARCH 2021 180

[The Prime Minister] Levelling Up for people in this country to be proud of the outward- 1.49 pm looking, engaging, fundamentally compassionate attitude of the British Government and people. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Eddie Hughes): Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): Dealing with With permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I will make a authoritarian regimes around the world, especially those statement on levelling up. Levelling up is central to the that do not want to play by the rules, is always complicated Government’s agenda, and we are working with local and difficult. I understand that, but we have to be areas to ensure that every region, every city and every consistent, coherent, determined and brutally tough town will recover from covid-19 and level up. Investing when we need to be. What I do not understand, in in our local areas has the potential to improve lives, give relation to Russia and to China, is why the Government people pride in their communities, bring more places still refuse to declare what is happening in the Xinjiang across the UK closer to opportunity, and ensure that province as genocide, why they have used every power everywhere can build back better. to try to prevent Parliament from coming to a determination Economic differences remain between places across on that, why we will still not use the Magnitsky sanctions— the UK, and those economic differences have real which I applaud the Foreign Secretary for having introduced implications. They affect people’s lives through their in the first place—against Carrie Lam for what is happening pay, their work opportunities, their health and their life in Hong Kong, and why we still refuse to do enough chances. Tackling them, and driving prosperity as part about the dirty Russian money that is imperilling our of levelling up the UK, remains a priority for the financial transparency in the City of London and in our Government. As set out in the spending review, the overseas territories. Government’s capital spending plans for the coming financial year,2021-22, will total £100 billion—a £30 billion The Prime Minister: As the House has heard many cash increase compared with 2019-20. That is part of times, it is up to a competent court to determine whether the Government’s plans to deliver more than £600 billion genocide has taken place. We have consistently called in gross public sector investment over the next five out what has happened in Xinjiang, and what continues years, delivering the highest sustained level of public to happen. As for the use of Magnitsky sanctions, sector net investment as a proportion of GDP since the actually they have been used by this Government against late 1970s. In the Budget, we published the prospectus Russia for what it did, and by the way, at that time, for the new £4.8 billion levelling-up fund. The fund will Labour Front Benchers, including the right hon. and operate UK-wide, extending the benefits of funding for learned Member for Holborn and St Pancras, were priority local infrastructure across all regions and nations. sitting like great squatting Buddhas, immobile, while This cross-departmental fund represents a new approach the then Labour leader was effectively endorsing the to local investment and will end silos in Whitehall that line from the Kremlin. make it difficult to take a holistic approach to the infrastructure needs in local areas. Mr Speaker: I think we need to be careful about what The fund will invest in the infrastructure that matters allegations we are making. to local areas, creating economic benefits and bringing communities together as we recover from the economic Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con) [V]: “Global impact of the pandemic. The levelling-up fund will Britain” remains the buzzword, and our armed forces invest in regenerating our town centres and high streets, have a key role to play with the integrated review. With upgrading local transport and investing in our cultural that in mind, and given the many responsibilities that and heritage assets across the UK. That could be repairing my right hon. Friend has committed to, can he reassure a bridge, investing in new or existing cycling provision, me that he will expand the Army to 100,000 as our chief upgrading an eyesore building, regenerating key leisure ally, the US, has recommended, rather than see it wither and retail sites to encourage new businesses, or even on the vine to 72,000 by cutting recruiting, thereby maintaining museums, galleries and community spaces avoiding redundancies? that are important to the local area. The fund will create opportunity across the country, The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend will be pleased prioritising bids from those places in need of economic to know that the Army, including reserves, will be over recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity 100,000, but it is the duty of this Government to take and regeneration. In order to target those places in the tough decisions that are necessary to modernise our need, an index has put places in categories 1, 2 or 3, armed forces as well. That is why we are investing with category 1 representing places with the highest £24 billion and undoing some of the mistakes that I am levels of identified need. However, it is important to afraid were made by the previous Labour Government. stress that the bandings do not represent eligibility criteria, nor the bid amount or number of bids that a Mr Speaker: I will now suspend the House for two place can submit. Bids from categories 2 and 3 will be minutes in order for the necessary arrangements to be considered for funding on the merits of their deliverability, made for the next business. value for money and strategic fit. We published the index, and the methodology used to 1.46 pm develop the index, to help the fund to deliver its core Sitting suspended. objective of improving local communities by investing in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people. The Government recognise the important role of Members in championing the interests of their 181 Levelling Up 16 MARCH 2021 Levelling Up 182 constituents, and we expect them to be consulted as In exceptional cases, up to £1 million match funding part of wider local stakeholder engagement on bids, will be available to help establish a community-owned although it is not a necessary condition for a successful sports club or to help buy a sports ground that is at risk bid. Members can have a positive role in prioritising of being lost without that valuable community intervention. bids and helping to broker local consultation. When Working with Mayors and local enterprise partnerships, considering the weighting given to bids, the expectation the £900 million Getting Building Fund will also deliver is that an MP will back one bid that they see as a jobs, skills and infrastructure across the country, targeting priority, and any bid may have priority backing from investment at those areas that are facing the biggest multiple MPs and local stakeholders. Members may economic challenges as a result of the pandemic. also want to support any bid that will benefit their We want to devolve and decentralise to give more constituencies in the usual way. power to local communities, providing an opportunity Where appropriate, the UK Government will seek for all places to level up. Through an ambitious programme advice from the devolved Administrations as part of of nine devolution deals, £7.49 billion-worth of investment bid assessments in their geographical areas on shortlisted is being unlocked over 30 years. The recently implemented projects regarding alignment with existing provision. West Yorkshire devolution deal will give the newly The fund is part of a broad package of complementary elected Mayor control over an annual £38 million investment UK-wide interventions. Along with the levelling-up fund, as well as new powers over transport, education, fund, the UK shared prosperity fund will create a housing and planning. package of UK Government support, which invests in skills, infrastructure and innovation at local, regional The Department has also recently announced plans and national levels, enabling the Government to provide for more homes in urban areas and on brownfield land, the same support to communities in all nations as we as well as changes to our funding rules to ensure that we build back from covid-19. To help local areas prepare level up all parts of England as we progress towards for the introduction of the UK shared prosperity fund, 300,000 new homes every year. The Prime Minister the UK Government are also providing an additional announced that seven mayoral combined authorities £220 million of funding through the UK community were each receiving a share of the £400 million brownfield renewal fund. This fund aims to support people and housing fund. That will help unlock 26,000 homes by communities most in need across the UK to pilot bringing under-utilised brownfield land back into use programmes and new approaches. Through these funds, and contribute to levelling up our country. we will establish new ways of working between the UK I hope that hon. Members will agree that this Government and places right across the UK. demonstrates the importance that this Government attach The UK Government will work more directly with to the levelling-up agenda and the many ways in which local partners and communities across England, Wales, we are addressing the causes of inequality.I am confident Scotland and Northern Ireland, which are best placed that the measures that I have set out today will make a to understand the needs of their local area and more real difference to people and places across the whole of closely aligned to the local economic geographies to the United Kingdom. I commend this statement to the deliver quickly on the ground. House. In the Budget we also announced the eight successful locations in England, which will move to the next stage 1.59 pm of freeport designation. Teesside, Liverpool City Region, Humber region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames, Felixstowe (Croydon North) (Lab/Co-op): I welcome and Harwich and East Midlands Airport will benefit the Minister to his new role and thank him for advance from this investment. Freeports will bring together ports, sight of his statement. The Labour party welcomes local authorities, businesses and key local stakeholders funding for every town and region, especially after the to achieve a common goal of shared prosperity and Conservatives have held them back with unfair cuts and opportunity for their regions, and they will allow the deliberate disinvestment over the past decade, but this UK to take advantage of the benefits of leaving the EU. funding is only a fraction of the money the Conservatives As part of the towns fund, 101 towns were selected to took away in the first place. Despite all the Minister’s develop proposals for town deals. All towns have now claims about the levelling-up fund, regions will still be submitted their proposals, and 52 towns have so far getting less than they got before the crisis. It is a bit like been offered town deals, meaning that we now have a burglar who sneaks into your house in the dead of committed £1.28 billion to the programme. Assessment night, strips it bare and then expects gratitude for continues for the remaining towns, with further handing back your TV set. announcements expected in due course. Through the Every region should get the funding it needs to towns fund, we will invest up to £25 million in each recover, but instead the Government are pitting regions town, or more in exceptional cases, to drive the economic and towns against one another and forcing them to regeneration of towns to deliver long-term economic fight one another for funding. Council leaders are furious and productivity growth. We are also creating a new that millions of pounds are being wasted on consultancy £150 million community ownership fund to ensure that fees for putting bids together. All that money could communitiesacrossEngland,Scotland,WalesandNorthern have been spent on actually levelling up areas that the Ireland can support and continue benefiting from the Conservatives have held back. local facilities, community assets and amenities that are Ministers have deprioritised areas that desperately most important to them. need funding, such as Barnsley, Salford, Bolsover and From summer 2021, community groups will be able Ashfield, in favour of wealthier areas such as to bid for up to £250,000 match funding to help them Richmondshire that just happen to be represented by buy or take over local community assets that are at risk Cabinet Ministers.It looks very much as if the Government of being lost and run them as community-owned businesses. are fiddling the formula to funnel money into wealthier 183 Levelling Up 16 MARCH 2021 Levelling Up 184

[Steve Reed] The shadow Secretary of State also asked us to publish all the data associated with the methodology; I areas and away from the areas that need it most, and the am not going to do his homework for him. All that methodology confirms that fear. Despite the Prime information is freely available. He might be able to get Minister’s promise that funding would be allocated to some of his research team to get to work on that. tackle poverty,the Conservatives have removed deprivation levels from the funding formula. That is how 14 areas Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): For the record, that are wealthier than average appear in the highest the shadow Secretary of State said, “I always have a priority category, while areas that need investment the pudding.” Very wise. most have been blocked. The Government will not fix regional inequalities by ignoring deprivation when they (Thirsk and Malton) (Con) [V]: I allocate funding. They are not levelling the country up; welcome my hon. Friend the Minister to his place on they are pulling it further apart and deepening the the Front Bench. He has made a great start. inequalities that they created in the first place. Will my hon. Friend confirm that the levelling-up I would be grateful if the Minister could tell us why fund will welcome applications from rural areas, such as the index of multiple deprivation was excluded from the Ryedale in my constituency, which may look prosperous funding formula, and why Barnsley, Salford, Ashfield from the outside but whose average earnings are below and Bolsover were deprioritised in favour of Richmondshire the regional average, partly because of a past lack of in North Yorkshire. How much is being spent in total infrastructure investment? The situation could be reversed on red tape and consultants in the bidding process for if funds were provided to important projects such as the these funds? How much of the levelling-up fund is improvement of railway stations in Malton and in Thirsk. recycled money that the Government have announced before from the local growth fund, the towns fund or Eddie Hughes: I thank my hon. Friend for his kind other pre-existing funds? The Government only published words and his question. I encourage him to work with the methodology after the Good Law Project threatened his local council to develop bids along the lines that he them with court action, so will the Minister come clean has just set out. Those bids will be assessed based on and publish all the data that underlies the methodology, deliverability, strategic fit and value for money. We hope so that taxpayers can see exactly what the Government that that strategic fit element will be partly determined are doing with their money? by the good work of local MPs who engage with local councils to determine priorities for their area. Eddie Hughes: Where do I start? I would like to trade analogies with the shadow Secretary of State. He reminds Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP) me of a man who has been out for an evening with [V]: I welcome the Minister to his place and thank him friends, and at the end of the night, when it comes to for his statement. splitting the restaurant bill, he is the guy who complains Although additional funding for communities is always about the division of the bill because he did not have a welcome, I am sure the Minister will understand that it pudding. [Interruption.] I am here setting out an incredibly is greeted with a degree of scepticism. Indeed, the bold future for the country in a post-pandemic environment, much-vaunted towns fund continues to be mired in with a very optimistic and enthusiastic Prime Minister controversy and allegations of pork barrel politics that who sees ambitious things for the future of our country, just will not go away. According to the Financial Times, and the shadow Secretary of State is talking about with this new announcement we are seeing more of the methodologies and whether this constituency or that same today and the bias in favour of Tory-held seats in constituency did not get the funding. I am talking about respect of so-called levelling-up funding is “pretty blatant”. levelling up across all four nations of the United Kingdom. The Minister does not want to talk about He is talking about whether individual constituencies methodologies—and no wonder. The Tory priority list get their pudding today. Really, we need to move on. We ignores additional poverty-related criteria based on sparse are talking about significant investment over an extended rural populations, meaning that rural populations and period and a bright future for this country. islands are bumped down the list. However, Tory-held The shadow Secretary of State says that some councils seats in Scotland have been ranked among the most in are unhappy about the amount of money that has been need of help from the Government fund, while spent on consultants. Many councils do not have the coincidentally the seats in Scotland that the Tories do capacity to build up a bid of the standard required for not hold have been given a lower funding priority that is this funding, which is why we are providing £125,000 each not borne out by deprivation levels. Perhaps the Minister for those in category 1, so that they can develop those could explain that. bids. It is also clear that the Tory priority list ignores The shadow Secretary of State says that the methodology additional poverty-related criteria. We in Scotland can has been twisted in some way to benefit one constituency see that this is yet another step on the road towards this over another; I say tell that to Oldham and Gateshead, Tory Government completely bypassing and disrespecting which I strongly suspect are very grateful for the funding the Scottish Parliament as they seek to impose their they are getting and the opportunity to develop bids. Tory priorities on Scotland’s democratically elected The shadow Secretary of State asked why we excluded Government in devolved policy areas, which they already deprivation as one of the factors; I say that we decided intend to do through the shared prosperity fund. to leave the criteria to civil servants. We set out the If the real criteria for benefiting from levelling up are expectation—what we hoped to achieve—and left it to not simply to have a Tory MP or live in a Tory target civil servants to decide the criteria so that we did not seat, will the Minister set out clearly what the criteria have any of the political influence that he suggests. for the fund are and how the awarding of funds will be 185 Levelling Up 16 MARCH 2021 Levelling Up 186 made completely transparent? The awarding of funds these projects, the British electorate will probably do does not seem to be related to areas of deprivation in that at the next general election. I look forward to Scotland, so how can we believe that it is truly about seeing how that turns out. levelling up and not just more old-fashioned pork barrel politics? Sarah Atherton (Wrexham) (Con) [V]: One of the many reasons why the Conservatives won seven out of Eddie Hughes: I am slightly embarrassed, because the the nine north Wales seats at the last general election information that I have suggests that North Ayrshire in was the two decades of financial neglect by the Welsh the hon. Lady’s constituency was in category 1 for the Labour Government in Cardiff. Does my hon. Friend levelling-up fund, which seems counterintuitive given agree that the levelling up fund is the opportunity for the speech she just made about the Conservative party the UK Government to answer the call of the people prioritising Conservative areas. I imagine that that council, and use true devolution, via local authorities, to directly which I believe is Labour-run, will embrace with alacrity improve areas such as north Wales and Wrexham, which the idea of being provided with £125,000 of funding by has been starved of infrastructure funding and therefore the UK Government to help it to develop its bid. It is progression? important that we are taking this opportunity to reach Eddie Hughes: I thank my hon. Friend for her question. out to all corners of the United Kingdom; I hope that I think we should just repeat part of it: seven out of the in future the hon. Lady is simply pleased about that. nine north Wales seats are now held by Conservatives. Matt Vickers (Stockton South) (Con): Thornaby has Ben Lake (Ceredigion) (PC): Seven out of 10. just landed a whopping £23.9 million through its town deal, but that is not going to stop me asking for more. Eddie Hughes: Well, we can argue about that—it is May I welcome the more than £4 billion set aside for still seven. When we make very good use of the £125,000 this levelling-up fund and invite the Minister to come to that will be given to Wrexham County Borough Council join me to look at some projects across Stockton, to help it work up its bid for the levelling up fund, I have Ingleby Barwick and Yarm that would be perfect for no doubt that the enthusiasm for voting Conservative this game-changing Government investment? will spread to the remaining seats in north Wales. Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab) [V]: If the Eddie Hughes: I thank my hon. Friend for his question. Government’s formula says that the Chancellor’s I am very much a fan of the “can I have some more?” Richmondshire constituency is in greater need of investment approach, so I think it is completely appropriate that he than Barnsley, the Government’s formula is wrong. But should ask for more funding, even though, as he says, it is not too late to do the right thing, so will the he has already secured nearly £24 million. I will convey Minister commit to urgently reviewing how money is to his invite to the Secretary of State and the Minister for be allocated from the levelling up fund? Regional Growth and Local Government, and I have no doubt that both or either of them will soon be up Eddie Hughes: We have no intention of reviewing to visit. how the money is allocated. The criteria were determined by civil servants. There was no political influence, so we Mr ( South East) (Lab) [V]: May are still comfortable with the basis on which funds are I say to the Minister that it is one thing to announce lots being allocated. However,the hon. Gentleman will probably of policies and lots of money, but another to make sure not be short of cash. Like you, Mr Deputy Speaker, I the policies and the spending are successful in delivering am a keen reader of The Yorkshire Post and I understand the achievements that he obviously want so make? that it is the hon. Gentleman’s intention to borrow What indicators are going to be used to demonstrate the £500 million to spend in the local region, so that area, success of levelling up? Are the Government going to for one, will not be short of money. set targets so that we can all decide at the end of this Parliament whether those indicators have been achieved? Andrew Griffith (Arundel and South Downs) (Con) If he cannot set them out for us today, I would be more [V]: Can my hon. Friend assure the House that areas than happy if he wanted to put that list in the House of such as the districts of Arun, Chichester, Horsham and Commons Library so that we can judge them in due Mid Sussex, which all fall into my constituency but course. which are not in category 1, will still be able to succeed if we submit compelling bids? Eddie Hughes: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. With regard to the Government providing Eddie Hughes: I can absolutely offer my hon. Friend funding and the impact or success of it, I understand that assurance. What is important is that those bids will that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local be assessed on deliverability,value for money and strategic Government has allocated more than £40 million to the fit. As I said, that strategic fit element will include the Sheffield city region through the brownfield fund, so it support of an excellent local MP, such as my hon. will be up to local people there to determine whether Friend. that money has been spent wisely.I hope he will contribute (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab) [V]: to ensuring that it is. The criteria for allocations of the Despite having higher rates of child poverty and funding, or applying for the funding, include unemployment, Salford has been categorised as priority 2 “need for economic recovery and growth, need for improved for investment, behind the constituencies represented transport connectivity and need for regeneration.” by the Communities Secretary and the Chancellor. We I know that this is not quite what he asked, but I suggest now know that the single biggest factor in prioritisation to him that if we are going to determine the success of was the length of commute by car. Can the Minister 187 Levelling Up 16 MARCH 2021 Levelling Up 188

[Barbara Keeley] Government, and I welcome the opportunity that the levelling-up fund will bring. Does he agree that delivering explain why funding is being diverted to relatively affluent jobs and opportunity in Darlington is not giving up but commuter towns, rather than being used to create jobs truly levelling up, and does he have a levelling-up message in areas that need them, such as Salford? for the voters of Hartlepool?

Eddie Hughes: I suspect that like me, Mr Deputy Eddie Hughes: I have been a bit tired of seeing my Speaker, you are a keen reader of the Salford Star, hon. Friend’s face in my social media feeds over the past where I read the hon. Lady’s comments about pork-barrel weeks and months showing him celebrating the various politics and accusations of Conservative party political successes as funding and opportunity flows towards his influence on the allocation of funding, which is peculiar constituency. I am delighted to say that I am a similar given that Oldham, 12 miles away across Greater beneficiary in the Black Country, because HCLG has , has been placed in category 1, as have decided to move one of its offices to Wolverhampton. It Leicester and Gateshead. It is difficult to argue that the is great to see that this Government are deploying staff Conservative party is manipulating money when it is around the country to ensure that we level up right ending up in a large number of Labour seats. across the country. Under no circumstances is that giving up; we are levelling up everywhere. Dr Kieran Mullan (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con) [V]: Crewe struggles with railway bridges and congestion, Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD) [V]: which risk holding it back. This fund gives us the During this pandemic South Lakeland has had the chance to tackle that once and for all and to help level biggest increase in unemployment and has the highest up the town and surrounding area. Can my hon. Friend proportion of its workforce on furlough of any community confirm that the fund will support such local transport in the country,and yet the Government have our community infrastructure projects? in the bottom priority for levelling-up funding because they are using old pre-pandemic data. The Lake district Eddie Hughes: I can absolutely offer my hon. Friend is Britain’s biggest visitor destination outside London, that assurance, but I urge him to work with the local and so if the Government rethink, using accurate data, council to identify a priority bid for his area and assess and choose to invest in the Lakes line, in rural bus that against deliverability, strategic fit and value for routes, in cycling, and in culture and our visitor economy money to ensure he is supporting the bid in his area that here, they will not just be preventing hardship in our is most likely to succeed. South Lakeland communities but boosting the whole British economy. So will the Minister rethink? Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab) [V]: The cat is out of the bag. I am amazed that the Minister is being Eddie Hughes: As I said in answer to a previous quite as brazen as he is. A moment ago, my hon. Friend question, the Government will not be rethinking the the Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts) asked data or the methodology that they apply to distributing the Minister how we will know whether levelling up has their funding, but given the circumstances that the hon. been a success. The Minister’s response—I am Gentleman has set out, I strongly urge that he engages paraphrasing—was, “Well, we’ll see if the Conservative with Ministers in the Department, because, as I have Government get re-elected.” It is absolutely shameless. explained, a significant number of funding streams are There is no attempt to pretend that this is a genuine available, and I would like to think that one of them is a process that has been properly worked through. It is good fit for his constituency. purely about getting re-elected. (Rother Valley) (Con) [V]: I welcome We in Chesterfield were recently successful in the my hon. Friend to his place. High streets across Rother town deals fund and I know how important it is for Valley have been ignored and neglected for decades. councils to put in quality bids for support. Can the The levelling-up fund presents a once-in-a-lifetime Minister assure us that anyone who wants to make a bid opportunity to rejuvenate our high streets, providing up will get support from consultants to ensure that they to £20 million of funding to bring them back to life. can get a bid in front of the Minister? Here in Rother Valley we cannot allow any more dither and delay for economic recovery of our communities. Eddie Hughes: Who ultimately decides whether we What encouragement can he give to Rotherham continue to sit here? I thought we were beholden to the Metropolitan Borough Council, my council, which is a public. I thought it was our job to serve them. The hon. priority 1 area, to fully grasp this amazing opportunity Gentleman seems a bit confused as to whose job it is to to get a bid in for the first round of funding for Rother serve who. I am very clear, and this Conservative Valley, so that we can start the necessary work of Government are very clear, that it is our job to serve the regenerating our high streets as quickly as possible? British public and we are doing that. They will determine whether our decisions and priorities for funding or Eddie Hughes: I would suggest two things: first, that policy development have been a success, and they will the council engages quickly with its excellent local MP determine who forms the next Government on that basis. to identify appropriate projects for this funding; and secondly, that it fully utilises the £125,000 that will be Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con) [V]: I welcome my given to help it work up an impressive and commercially hon. Friend to his place and thank him for all he is appropriate bid. doing on levelling up. Whether it is investing £105 million in Darlington station, £23.3 million invested through Ben Lake (Ceredigion) (PC): I, too, welcome the the towns fund, or establishing “Treasury North” in my Minister to his place. He made reference in his statement constituency,we are seeing the benefits of this Conservative to devolution and bringing economic decision making 189 Levelling Up 16 MARCH 2021 Levelling Up 190 closer to the communities that it affects, but the levelling-up Eddie Hughes: I congratulate my hon. Friend on the fund seems to do the opposite as far as Wales is concerned funding that he has already secured for his local area, by excluding the Senedd from decisions that would be and I completely encourage him to continue to bid for taken in Whitehall. It does, however, tie the success of the levelling up fund. These are not mutually exclusive community projects to representations made by MPs in opportunities. If he has a high-quality bid, then it has a this place. Can he give us any reassurances that Wales good chance of success. Once a priority bid is identified, will not lose out now that his Government are cutting I look forward to its being submitted. the number of Welsh MPs by a fifth? Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab): If we are truly going to Eddie Hughes: I think the thrust of the statement I level up, much more radical and cross-departmental have made today is that we fully intend to reach out to work and funding will be needed to address structural all four nations to ensure that everybody joins in our inequalities. I will be working with Gateshead Council attempt to level up right across the United Kingdom. to put in a bid to the levelling-up fund, but why have the As Ceredigion is in category 1 of the levelling up fund, I Government not come forward with a plan to tackle hope the hon. Gentleman will be identifying suitable child and family poverty and social care, as well as this projects to support and endorse to ensure that further levelling-up fund? funding comes to his constituency. Eddie Hughes: The hon. Lady has identified very Derek Thomas (St Ives) (Con) [V]: I am pleased that important funding needs. The fund will tackle one the Isles of Scilly were included in the recent Budget for element of the problems that we are seeking to address. category 1 capacity funding for the levelling up fund. As I set out, there will be about £600 billion of public The transport link to Scilly is the most important issue sector investment funding over the next five years; for everyone on Scilly. They rely on it for everything— through other funding opportunities, I am sure there literally—that they need. Will the Minister confirm that will be the chance to tackle the concerns that she raised. finding a solution for a resilient and affordable transport I am delighted that she will be working with her local system is the kind of levelling up this fund could council to identify a priority bid for the levelling-up deliver? fund. Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): The last Eddie Hughes: Absolutely. One key aim of the fund is award of funds to my constituency, from the Getting connectivity and transport in local need, so that is Building Fund last year, has already been worked on absolutely at the heart of what this fund is about. I and constructed; a fantastic construction industry training encourage my hon. Friend to work with local councils centre will admit its first students next January.Therefore to identify a priority bid for his area to ensure the I welcome my constituency’s being a priority 1 area for maximum opportunity for success. the levelling-up fund. I am already working with my local authority—we had our first kick-off meeting last Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab) week—so will he confirm that bids that reflect genuine [V]: This Government have devastated the finances of local need, supported by the local authority and the local authorities, such as Newcastle City Council, cutting Member of Parliament, have the best chance of success their funding year after year, breaking their promise to in getting that funding to turn into real opportunities pay their covid costs and forcing them to raise council for our constituents? tax, which itself raises more in some areas than in others and takes money out of the pockets of those who Eddie Hughes: I thank my right hon. Friend for his need it most. This fund pits councils against each other question, and for being an exemplar of how an excellent to compete for meagre and recycled pots of money, with local MP can not only bring funding to his constituency Government Departments taking all the decisions. Why but see the project through to completion—a great does levelling up mean putting Whitehall in charge? example for us all to follow. I endorse the idea that through this scheme we need to identify quality local Eddie Hughes: I thank the hon. Lady for her question, projects that will make a visible difference to local but I am slightly confused. This process will allow local people in the constituency. That is why it is so important MPs to work with their local councils to identify priority that MPs work with their local councils to prioritise projects for their area and will provide those councils such schemes and ensure maximum opportunity for success. with funding—£125,000 in the case of Newcastle upon Tyne, which is a category 1 authority—so that they have Sammy Wilson (East Antrim) (DUP) [V]: I welcome the funds available and they have the opportunity,working the Minister to his place. I assure him that I am looking collaboratively, to identify a good project. I ask the hon. not for a pudding or a slap-up meal, but simply to Lady to work with the council to get on and identify a ensure that Northern Ireland receives its fair share of project and bring money to her constituency. the levelling-up cake. He will be aware that Northern Ireland is still one of the poorest regions of the United Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness) (Con) [V]: I was Kingdom, and that our economic advantage has been delighted when Barrow-in-Furness was awarded a deteriorating. The Northern Ireland protocol has disrupted £25 million town deal in October. It will make a huge trade, which has added to costs and created uncertainty. difference to revitalising our town centre, bring a university In what practical ways will the levelling-up fund benefit campus to Barrow and improve our cycling and walking Northern Ireland? Can the Minister assure the House provision. Can my hon. Friend confirm that places that that, although under the Northern Ireland protocol we have benefited from a town deal will also be able to are still subject to EU state aid rules and interference in secure backing from the levelling up fund for other how the Government can spend money, the Northern schemes that will support our communities? Ireland protocol will not interrupt the Government’s 191 Levelling Up 16 MARCH 2021 Levelling Up 192

[Sammy Wilson] Stockton-on-Tees is a category 1 in the levelling-up fund, and I hope the hon. Gentleman will support a bid ability to spend money to level up the economic disparities for his area. between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom? Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): I do not know what it is about this statement, but I am absolutely Eddie Hughes: I had the opportunity to visit Northern hungry now. Ireland with the Secretary of State fairly recently, to see for myself the difficult conditions that the right hon. Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con) [V]: In Lowestoft and Gentleman has explained. We absolutely will work with Waveney, there are significant areas of poverty, and yet, Northern Ireland to ensure that we continue to provide as part of the wider East Suffolk Council area, we are in funding and continue to level up, as we aim to do across the priority 2 category. I would be most grateful if my all four nations of the United Kingdom. A different hon. Friend could provide an assurance that applications approach is being taken in Northern Ireland, and the from the Waveney area that support the creation of UK Government will accept bids at the most local level much-needed new jobs will be given full and fair from a range of local applicants, including but not consideration and will not be disadvantaged by our limited to businesses, voluntary and community sector being in a lower category area. organisations, district councils, the Northern Ireland Executive, and other public sector bodies. Local councils Eddie Hughes: I thank my hon. Friend for his question. in Northern Ireland should indicate whether they support He gives me the opportunity to say again that it is bids in their geographical area. incredibly important that those who are not in category 1 do not feel in any way discouraged from submitting a Damien Moore (Southport) (Con) [V]: I welcome the good-quality bid. I hope that local Members will identify Minister to his place. At the last election, people voted a good-quality bid in their area that they can support. Conservative, some for the first time, because they That bid will be assessed against deliverability, value for believed in levelling up, and in our vision of spreading money and strategic fit. prosperity to areas neglected by Labour. Does my hon. Friend agree that by ensuring that every part of the Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab) [V]: Halton is 23rd in the country can bid and benefit from the levelling-up fund, index of multiple deprivation but does not meet the we are accelerating our transformational levelling-up criteria to be a priority 1 area in the levelling-up fund or agenda? a priority area for the community renewal fund. The Government’s criteria seriously disadvantage my Eddie Hughes: I congratulate my hon. Friend on the constituents, who live in one of the most deprived £37.5 million that he has already secured for his constituency. communities in England, but not those in leafy He demonstrates that an active and able constituency Richmondshire, which is 256th in the index of multiple MP can bring funding to their area. It is important that deprivation and which, remarkably, is in the priority 1 everybody looks for bids they can support and submit category. Can the Minister explain how that can by any in their constituency. Regardless of the prioritisation stretch be levelling up, and can he share publicly the category,those bids will be assessed, based on deliverability datasets used by the Government to perpetuate this and value for money, as well as strategic fit, which is the gross inequality? bit to which an MP will be able to contribute. Eddie Hughes: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab) [V]: May I question. As I said earlier, the datasets are all publicly also welcome the Minister to Stockton, to visit Billingham, available information. With regard to the criteria that which was told not even to bother to bid for town centre we are using to determine where funding is targeted, funds? We have lost 12,500 jobs across the Tees Valley there is the need for economic recovery and growth, the in the past 11 months, yet Stockton local authority has need to improve transport connectivity, and the need to bid for levelling-up funds to carry out relatively for regeneration. I appreciate that some places will be minor road projects that should have been covered by disappointed that they are not a priority 1 area, but I the other road funds that were stripped away by the would still encourage the hon. Gentleman to work with Government. Surely the Minister will agree that the his local council to identify a high-quality bid that £4 billion fund for the entire north of England—incidentally, they can submit for this funding, because it will be it is a small fraction of the cash spent on Crossrail in considered. London—needs to be increased considerably so that our areas can have a starter, a main course and a Siobhan Baillie (Stroud) (Con): I really welcome the pudding, as well as big structural and support projects, range of opportunities we are being given by the rather than just a bit of tarmac here and there. Government to get investment into Stroud. The ideas are already flowing as part of a 20-year campaign to Eddie Hughes: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his reopen Bristol Road/Stroudwater station. We also have question, but this is quite a significant pie—if we are high-street regeneration schemes, and cycling and walking going to continue to use the food analogy—that we are schemes such as the greenway, and we are going to need talking about splitting up. As I mentioned in my statement, that sustainable, environmentally friendly transport. Large £600 billion will be invested over the coming years. I rural constituencies such as mine have pockets of completely understand that when you have a successful deprivation across them, so will my hon. Friend clarify Government providing funding across all regions, people whether the Government will consider a strategy bid see that and want more. That is no surprise. I am glad that includes a series of connected projects to truly that hon. Members are ambitious for their region. benefit and level up more lives across Stroud? 193 Levelling Up 16 MARCH 2021 Levelling Up 194

Eddie Hughes: I thank my hon. Friend for her question. Alyn Smith (Stirling) (SNP) [V]: Can the Minister tell County councils with transport powers are eligible to us how much less money will come to Scotland under submit one transport bid, but—this is perhaps more this scheme than we would have received under the EU pertinent to her question—local authorities may wish funding scheme? If he will not commit to sending this to consider pooling funding from their bids to improve lesser sum of money to Holyrood and leaving it at that, the chances of taking forward a larger transport scheme. how can we view this as anything other than a power grab from Scotland, for less money than we would get if Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab) [V]: I welcome the we were independent in Europe? Minister to his new position; we were sparring partners in the Whips Offices. I wonder whether he can clarify Eddie Hughes: I hope that the hon. Gentleman will something. The levelling-up fund means £50 million per understand that I mean him no ill when I say that I year for Wales over the four years for which the fund suspect the good people of Stirling will soon come to has been set out, yet according to all the statistics, Wales realise that they were better represented by their previous should have been receiving £375 million in structural MP, my dear friend Stephen Kerr. However, I would funding each year. The Prime Minister has promised imagine that the hon. Gentleman’s local authority will very many times that Wales will not receive a penny less, be delighted that this Government are providing £125,000 to so can the Minister tell us when he will allocate the help it work up a high-quality bid so that it can draw shortfall of £325 million for Wales—or is that just more funding to Stirling. another broken promise from the Prime Minister and the Conservatives, who continually let the people of Simon Baynes (Clwyd South) (Con) [V]: I, too, welcome Wales down? my hon. Friend to his place. Will he meet me to discuss possible projects in Clwyd South that fulfil the Eddie Hughes: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his requirements of the levelling-up fund, such as Wrexham kind words, although perhaps they evaporated when we Council’s bold regeneration plans and the reopening of got to the question. Clearly, as I set out in my statement, Corwen station on the Llangollen steam railway in it is the ambition of this Government to level up across Denbighshire? all four nations of the United Kingdom. I fully appreciate that he might have some reservations with regard to the allocation of funding from the levelling-up fund, but Eddie Hughes: What a great finish—questions from there are a number of other funds, which I mentioned in England, Scotland and Wales, and good news for those my statement, and, taken together, I imagine that will areas, as we explain the funding that this Government represent significant investment for Wales. will provide to them. I hope that my hon. Friend works with his local council to develop a priority bid that he Kate Griffiths (Burton) (Con) [V]: I am very proud of can support, and I will ensure that the Minister for the work that this Government have undertaken to Regional Growth and Local Government and the Secretary drive the regeneration of many of our town centres and of State are aware of the invitation to visit the area, so attract people back to them. Burton in my constituency they can see the excellent bids on offer in Llangollen. recently benefited from town deal funding. Can my hon. Friend confirm that, as well as that £22.7 million Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): I thank the investment, Burton and Uttoxeter will be able to secure Minister for his statement, and for responding to backing from the levelling-up fund for other schemes, 30 questions. Before I suspend the House for three such as those offering local road improvements or creating minutes, I want to say that when we go on to the main safe community spaces in our town centres? business after the ten-minute rule motion we will start with a three-minute limit, in continuation of the debate Eddie Hughes: It is fantastic to see colleagues who from yesterday. I will remind everybody about that have been here just over a year already securing substantial later. Everybody should leave the Chamber in a funding for their constituencies. Given the success that covid-friendly manner in order for us to sanitise the my hon. Friend has had so far, I would in no way Dispatch Boxes. discourage her from continuing to work with her local council to identify a high-quality bid that she can support in her constituency, so that she can continue 2.45 pm her success in securing that ongoing funding. Sitting suspended. 195 16 MARCH 2021 Goods and Services of UK Origin 196

Goods and Services of UK Origin What is striking too is that many of these firms were based outside London and the south-east—for example, Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order the Birmingham firm that offered to supply a quarter of No. 23) a million aprons and masks, or the company further north, in Ripon, that could have provided 100,000 face 2.48 pm visors per week. Some British firms that offered to help Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op): I beg to and revealed the source of their supplies discovered move, deals were done directly with their overseas supplier That leave be given to bring in a Bill to establish a presumption rather than with them. Indeed, in a scathing report last in public sector procurement in favour of purchasing goods and year on the PPE scandal, the National Audit Office services from businesses based in the UK; to require the Secretary found that just 12% of all PPE ordered by the Government of State to publish data on the value of Government contracts supply chain between February and July came from awarded to such businesses, and estimates of jobs created as a UK manufacturers. If even at a time of national crisis, result, by region and nation; to make provision for a kitemark when the need for basic supplies was on the front page scheme for goods of predominantly UK origin; and for connected of every newspaper and running on every news bulletin, purposes. British companies’offers of help were not getting through, Ministers could and should do more to help British it is difficult not to wonder what on earth it must be like firms win British Government contracts. After more for British businesses that want to offer their products than 10 years of this Government in power, too often and services to Government when there is not a national the best British companies are ignored when Ministers crisis happening. give out contracts. This is about jobs, and how quickly Britain emerges from recession. It is about the huge Ministers made a series of claims that they were social value that Government can create for our constituents, building up the UK supply of PPE, going so far as to and the stability for families and new career opportunities claim that 70% of PPE was now from British sources. when procurement is done with imagination. Sadly, this was not true; no such data was being kept. The Conservative party’shandling of covid and lockdown My Bill would put that right. Data would be kept and has made the economic damage, never mind the cost in could be scrutinised. There has recently been a review of lives and health, so much worse. One extra measure that Government procurement, but despite its spirit, there is Ministers could take to speed the recovery is to encourage nothing in that review that will shift the dial, no great consumers to buy local, to buy British, and they should new move to help British firms to find favour in Whitehall, start with Whitehall. and no move either to help those outside London and The PPE scandal law year saw British firm after the south-east. Many will remember the contract that British firm that was offering to make personal protection Ministers gave a French firm to make our British passports. equipment ignored. Only those who had the mobile Today, when Russia is declared enemy No. 1 by the number of a Minister or two had the chance to win a Prime Minister, we find out that a Russian company got lucrative contract. Time after time, British manufacturers, £2.5 million to build his new briefing room. often on the doorstep of the very hospitals and care Without question, tough rules that force civil servants homes where staff were crying out for more PPE, to secure the best prices and the best value must be struggled to get doors in Whitehall to open for them. maintained. Taxpayers should not pay over the odds, Many were firms that because of covid were having to certainly not after the scandal of the billions spent on look for new products and new markets to keep staff Test and Trace, which those who have investigated think employed. As the National Audit Office has set out, made little difference. The rules in international treaties Ministers spent £12.5 billion on PPE that one year on procurement that we have signed up to must be earlier would have cost just £2.5 billion. There was, respected. But once those rules are met, British firms without doubt, a huge scramble to secure PPE, but our creating jobs in the United Kingdom should have a country ended up buying equipment that was five times, better chance of winning the contract than an overseas or £10 billion, more expensive than the year before. If rival. British firms in general work to high standards, more British manufacturers had been helped to win and while our markets are far from perfect, effective PPE contracts, Ministers might have got better value unions and a robust media all help to reinforce higher and now have the money to spend on proper pay rises standards in our high street shops than in some overseas for NHS staff. markets. Contracts with overseas firms led to the extraordinary situation of much hailed deliveries of PPE from China The suspicion in many boardrooms is that it helps to and Turkey ending up being paid for, but not all used. be close to London to win Government contracts. Indeed, Huge contracts were given to overseas firms such as the what limited figures there are confirms that London Miami-based Saiger jewellery company, and who can and the south-east do disproportionately better for forget the Spanish businessman paid vast sums to be the firms winning big Government contracts. If a business middleman, ultimately by British taxpayers? All the is based in the north-east, the east of England, the while, local firms employing our constituents were missing midlands or Yorkshire and Humber, there is a lower out. As Make UK, Britain’s lead manufacturing body, chance of it winning a large Government contract. made clear at the time, lots of firms that work with Ministers have no plans to do anything about that. At textiles and are used to working with plastics were the very least, and after recent court cases, figures extremely keen to help, registered on the relevant should have to be published as part of the levelling-up Government website and, all too often, then heard very and recovery agendas in which the Conservative party little. Thirty-six British companies went as far as contacting claims to believe. There should be debate about whether Labour Members to make it clear that they had offered every region is getting a fair chance of its businesses to help and had been ignored. landing a big job-creating deal from Government. 197 Goods and Services of UK Origin 16 MARCH 2021 198

Lastly, for those of us who want to buy British Police, Crime, Sentencing and whenever we can, why is there not a national kitemark, Courts Bill the flag of the United Kingdom, on every good and service provided in Britain, which British businesses can use to demonstrate to British consumers that a product [2ND ALLOTTED DAY] is at least 50% made in the UK? The British Standards Second Reading Institute could provide this service and promote it alongside Debate resumed. the other kitemarks it operates for us. Question (15 March) again proposed, That the Bill be The last thing that Britain should do is to close its now read a Second time. mind to the world outside our shores. It would be madness to turn our backs on expertise from overseas, Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Before we on the imagination and enterprise in the great goods resume the debate, I want to remind the House of what and services that we can purchase from our friends in was said yesterday regarding the Sarah Everard case. Europe, across the Commonwealth, in Asia, Africa Charges have now been brought in that case. The sub and, of course, in the Americas and Australasia, but judice resolution does not apply formally when the just as many of our allies overseas seek to buy local House is legislating. However, I would urge all Members when they can, so should we. The Conservative party to exercise caution and not say anything about the has been in power for a decade, yet it has never backed a detail of the case or of the identity of those against serious “Buy British” campaign. My Bill would change whom charges have been brought that might affect any the landscape for British businesses across the UK and subsequent court case. not just those in our capital city. Never again will our I have decided to select the reasoned amendment in own businesses’expertise be ignored in a national emergency. the name of the Official Opposition and I will call Ministers should get on board. I commend my Bill to David Lammy to move their reasoned amendment when the House. he comes to speak later in the debate. Question put and agreed to. I remind all hon. Members,whether they are participating Ordered, remotely or otherwise, that there is a three-minute limit That Gareth Thomas, Yvonne Fovargue, Rosie Cooper, on all contributions. For those participating remotely, Graham Stringer, Dan Jarvis, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, there is a timer on the bottom righthand corner of the , Mr Kevan Jones, Mr , device that you are utilising. If, for whatever reason, you Steve McCabe, Mr Virendra Sharma and Sarah Champion cannot see that, please ensure that you have another present the Bill. timing device because we have to be very strict. Not everyone will get in today, quite clearly, so please do not Gareth Thomas accordingly presented the Bill. push the limit beyond three minutes.For those participating Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time physically, the timer will be demonstrated in the usual tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 275). manner.

2.59 pm Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab) [V]: How often have we heard the notion that somehow liberty is an integral part of the English character, and that we fortunate few in this country are somehow different from the rest of humanity? Not for us authoritarianism, autocracy or, God forbid, the dark slide into fascism. No, no, no—that is for other people and other countries, not us. Yet here we stand, yet again with yet another Bill from this Government stripping the people of this country of yet more liberty and more of their democratic rights. English exceptionalism is a dangerous fallacy, none more so than when it comes to the constant vigilance required of any democracy. It is hubris of the first order—one I fear has infected those on the Government Benches. The potential for the slide into authoritarianism and worse is, as history has clearly demonstrated, part of the human condition. That is the painful and bloody lesson from the 20th century. Yet here we are, with this Bill before us. It is the tip of an authoritarian iceberg—one that is on a collision course with public defiance. Democracy is being swept away in a calculated programme to leave the public muted and powerless. We have the demonisation of the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma community, a planned voter suppression Bill to strip the right to vote from black and other disadvantaged communities, and the limiting of judicial review to stop the public challenging the Government’s decisions in court and shifting yet more power to the Executive. We 199 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 200 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Clive Lewis] I also welcome the fact that those serving an SOPC— sentence for offenders of particular concern—for a have the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and child sex offence will be made to serve two thirds of Veterans) Bill, which creates a two-tier, “them and us” their sentence before they are eligible for parole. system of human rights. Now, having passed that, the These changes will make a difference, but we need to Government are coming for our rights with a review of go further. It is difficult to believe that only 4% of child UK human rights legislation. sexual abuse offences result in a charge or summons—to Those on the Government Benches are fast moving put that another way, when the police record a child from becoming a Government to becoming a regime. sexual abuse offence, more than nine times out of 10, They want to stifle dissent, so that they are not accountable the perpetrator is not brought to justice—or that to the public. Our country—our economy, our politics sentencing guidelines recommend the same punishment and our media—is controlled by a small clique of for stealing a bicycle worth £500 and viewing the rape of individuals. Over the past 40 years, they have taken a child. more power for themselves at the expense of our democracy. Lenient sentences make poor deterrents, and they say Now they are not even happy with us clinging on to the to victims that society does not take the damage that is scraps we currently have. done to them seriously enough. That is why I urge the I have directed this speech at Government Members, Government to consider three further measures: first, but to those on my own Front Bench who have finally including online offences in the SOPC scheme; secondly, been brought to the right position of opposition, I say moving to a presumption of cumulative sentencing; and this: it should not have taken the police assault on thirdly, asking the Sentencing Council to undertake a people gathered peacefully in memory of Sarah Everard full review. It is only when we take the scourge of child to see the assault on democracy that this Bill is. It is writ sexual abuse seriously that we will start to make sure large, so let this be a wake-up call. We have never seen that the punishment truly fits the crime. anything like this Government before. If the Bill goes through, anyone who values their 3.5 pm democratic rights must get organised and fight back. I Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP) will stand with protesters, irrelevant of the laws passed [V]: I join others across the House in extending my by this place. I say to anyone in this place and outside sincere condolences to the family and friends and all who values democracy that we must create a democracy affected by the horrific murder of Sarah Everard last that is fit for purpose for the challenges we face—climate week. and ecological breakdown, the epidemic of inequality— The House has heard many passionate speeches objecting Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Order. We are to certain aspects of the Bill that impose disproportionate moving on. restrictions on our freedom of expression and right to protest. Those are fundamental human rights and a 3.2 pm cornerstone of our democracy,and they must be protected. I (Bromsgrove) (Con): May I start by joining totally support those objections to the restriction of our colleagues in expressing my condolences to the friends liberties. The right to peacefully protest on any issue and family of Sarah Everard? must not be interfered with by the Government. I rise to support the Second Reading of this Bill. I am Part 2, chapter 1 of the Bill deals with duties to particularly pleased that it delivers on three promises collaborate and plan to prevent and reduce serious that I made in two Departments: stronger police powers violence. Specifically, it places a legal duty on local and a new criminal offence around unauthorised Traveller authorities, police, criminal justice agencies, health camps; putting the police covenant on the statute book authorities, fire and rescue services and others to and completing the public health approach to serious collaborate through sharing data and intelligence with violence. one another to prevent and reduce serious violence and Given the short time I have, I will focus my remarks a duty to plan together to prevent and reduce such on child sexual abuse and exploitation. I want to leave violence. In particular, they must identify the kinds of Members in no doubt that we are facing an epidemic in serious violence that occur, identify the causes of that child sexual abuse, the severity of which has left me violence and prepare and implement a strategy to prevent crushed at times. Although the Government are doing and reduce violence. Without any doubt, it is imperative outstanding work, it is clear that there are still inadequacies that the impact of violence by men against women, the and blind spots enabling predators to operate undetected prevalence of that violence—particularly domestic violence for decades. That is why for the best part of a year, I and sexual violence—controlling and coercive behaviour have been leading an inquiry into child sexual abuse and by men and the impact on the community are included exploitation with the Centre for Social Justice. Although in that strategy to reduce violence against women and the findings will not be published until later this month, girls. I am grateful that the and the Justice I want to highlight the outstanding work of the Secretary have taken an interest in this work and have Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, funded by the included some of the initial recommendations in the Bill. Scottish Government. It has reduced homicides in Scotland I am particularly pleased that the Bill will close a from 137 over a number of years to 64 last year, using loophole in the law that allows sports coaches and other an innovative, proactive public health partnership people in positions of trust to have sex with 16 and approach to violence reduction, driven by the conviction 17-year-olds who are in their care. I congratulate my that violence is preventable and not inevitable. A number hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford of police services across England and Wales have sought (Tracey Crouch) for the excellent work she did to bring advice from the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and that about. are at varying stages of setting up similar schemes. 201 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 202 Courts Bill Courts Bill It is therefore very welcome that the Bill will pave the Council has requested that an amendment is added that way for the police service and other agencies to adopt gives local authorities the powers to seek recovery costs schemes and strategies based on that model, which has for the damage caused. As challenging as this may be in proven to be highly successful. That approach must be practice, concerting the power that enables them to do included in the formal strategy mentioned by the Home so is something that I am willing to table, and I hope Secretary yesterday for the reduction of all forms of that the Government will seek to support it. The second violence by men against women and girls. This will, of point, which was raised eloquently yesterday by my course, come at a significant cost, but whatever that right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford cost is, we simply cannot afford not to take this action, Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith), is the need for a specific as by not doing so, we will continue to fail to protect offence and stronger punishment for pet theft. There women and girls now and in the future. We must act, has been an extraordinary and worrying rise in the theft and we must act now. of dogs, and many of my constituents are fearful for their beloved pets, so using this Bill as an opportunity Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): The clock has to strengthen protections is essential. not been started, because I did not want to eat into your Given the time, let me conclude by saying that there is time, Tracey, but I want to say that it is fantastic to see so much more that I could add, but this is a good Bill, you back in the House of Commons where you belong. albeit with plenty of scope for improvement and for new things to be added to it. First and foremost, I look 3.9 pm forward to supporting it in the Lobby tonight. Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) (Con): Thank 3.11 pm you for your kind words, Mr Deputy Speaker. Time is exceptionally limited, so I shall keep my remarks short, (Hemsworth) (Lab): I join others in but like others, I wish to extend my condolences to the expressing my condolences. This Bill continues the family and friends of Sarah Everard. authoritarian drift of this Government. First, we had the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) I welcome this Bill, which draws on our manifesto Bill, which basically gives immunity to people abroad commitment to make the country safer by equipping serving our country who committed torture. Then we the police with the powers needed to protect themselves had immunity given to state agents breaking the law in and the public, while strengthening sentencing laws to our country, including the crime of rape. Now we have keep serious sexual and violent offenders in prison for clause 59 of the Bill, which proposes a 10-year jail longer. It is unfortunate that recent events have sentence for causing the risk of “serious annoyance”—those overshadowed the good intentions of the copious measures are the words in the Bill. Note that is not even for in this Bill, and I share the views of those in the House causing “annoyance”, but for causing the risk that there and outside it that we need to do more to protect may be annoyance. There are many things with which women and girls. Why should we be afraid to walk we might risk causing annoyance every day, but it is somewhere or even exercise after dark? But, rather than only in dictatorships or repressive regimes that such trying to kill off the Bill, we should be working cross-party actions are subject to drastic sentencing. to strengthen it to that end. This Government claim to have their roots in I am a supporter of the police and I am afraid that I libertarianism and, of course, they are champions of do not think we stand up for them often enough in this liberty, but it is liberty only for the powerful and the place. We read about the occasions when they misjudge wealthy, the “get rich quick” merchants and the spivs, or mishandle things, but we do not read about the those whose freedoms allow them to cause all kinds of 99% of the time where they silently get on with annoyance—firing decent, hard-working employees and keeping us safe. Like all other key workers, our police then rehiring them on worse conditions and paying officers have continued to work throughout the pandemic poverty wages. Now we have a new freedom—the freedom on the frontline, often being spat at and assaulted. I to bung multimillion-pound taxpayer contracts to mates have many police officers living in my constituency and in the private sector. They have set their sights on our I am a proud aunt of a policeman. The measures in the tradition of dissent, because their legislation is designed Bill will better protect them and other emergency workers, to crack down on our rights to take action against not least by doubling the maximum sentence for assault injustice. Black Lives Matter activists, workers who take on emergency workers, which is much overdue. industrial action, environmentalists and the women’s I am delighted that the Bill includes measures to movement are all in their sights. extend the positions of trust provisions to include those who coach, teach, train or supervise in sport or religion. ( North West) (Lab/Co-op): My This has been a long process, but I am exceptionally hon. Friend and I have organised and been on many grateful that this Home Secretary and Justice Secretary peaceful protests together. The measures in this Bill are have listened to me, the hon. Member for Rotherham so regressive that, under them, surely some of those (Sarah Champion), Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, protests that we have been on would have ended up in the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to scenes like those we saw on Clapham common, with us Children and, most importantly, the brave victims who and others being arrested. This shows that peaceful spoke out about the abuse that they suffered at the protest is not safe under the remit of the Bill. hands of their coach or religious leader. The need for Jon Trickett: I have indeed worked many times with change has finally been accepted. my hon. Friend on all kinds of activities. What the There is so much that I could speak about in this Government have in their sights are the ancient rights 296-page Bill, but I just want to mention two things. of assembly and freedom of association, which are now First, my local council very much welcomes the Bill’s threatened by clause 59. The fundamental right to free provisions that deal with illegal encampments, but Medway speech means nothing if these other freedoms come 203 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 204 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Jon Trickett] I am pleased to see that those who use their car as a weapon will receive longer sentences, but as we increase under attack. We may end up with a situation in which sentences for careless driving I look to the Minister for we are free to shout at the telly in the privacy of our reassurance that we will not criminalise those who have own homes but not free to organise ourselves collectively a momentary lapse in concentration—something most in public. of us experience at some point. It is not as if our country has done away with all Burglary is a particularly invasive crime that many of forms of injustice and inequality, is it? Yet instead of my constituents fear, and it leaves people feeling unsafe standing against injustice alongside, for example, the in their home. Will the Minister consider increasing women on Clapham common the other night, the sentences for those who commit this particularly invasive Government appear to be more interested in empowering crime? the police force to arrest people who the state judges to The Bill represents a significant strengthening of our have risked causing annoyance. It is interesting that judicial system, with the flexibility to tackle both serious many police officers have said that they do not wish that crime and the causes of crime. I am proud to see this power to be bestowed upon them. Government delivering on their manifesto commitment This House of Commons should be a beacon of to empower our judicial system and make our country liberty—a protector of our rights to speak, associate safer, and I will support the Bill today. freely and assemble in public to express our reservations about how the country is going. Repressive legislation 3.18 pm will never eliminate the thirst and hunger for justice that Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab): This remains so powerful in our country today. It is the monster of a Bill includes the word “women” zero times duty of the Commons to stand up this evening and in 295 pages, yet statutes, war memorials and monuments reject this Bill. are mentioned multiple times. The Bill is likely to go into Committee, so it is then 3.15 pm that I will seek to improve it by tabling an amendment Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and North Hykeham) to prohibit the long-standing and continual, daily (Con) [V]: The first duty of any Government is to harassment and intimidation of women at abortion protect members of the public from harm, and I welcome facilities. Every year, 100,000 women across England the swift progress that the Government have made on and Wales who try to exercise their right to a termination that. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the are told that they are going to hell, filmed, followed and Government have beaten the target of recruiting given propaganda that is inevitably medically wrong 6,000 extra officers by March 2021 and are ahead of and unwanted. That is not healthy, noisy protest but the schedule to recruit, as promised, 20,000 more police shaming of individual vulnerable women for decisions officers by 2023. With a new cohort of police officers taken perhaps as a result of rape or similar. It is protecting our communities, we should give them the gendered harassment, which is not included in the Bill protection that they need to do the job to the best of but overlaps with part 3—the explanatory notes talk their ability. about At a time when we are battling an invisible enemy—the “disruption to the life of the community” coronavirus—our exceptional frontline workers should when not be at risk of violence from the very people they are “the purpose of the organiser is to intimidate others into doing or trying to protect. I am glad that the Government have not doing something that they have a right to do”. shown that they will not tolerate such attacks and are Many women will have recognised what the Home legislating to double the maximum penalty for assaults Secretary said yesterday about how we all too often on emergency workers from 12 months to two years in quicken our pace or grab our keys or phone in prison—the penalty that fits such an abhorrent and uncomfortable street encounters. Factor in being booked selfish crime. for a time-sensitive medical operation and there is no At a time when we have been tragically reminded of easy escape. This intimidatory activity is calculated to the senseless violence perpetrated against women and make women cancel their appointment or, at the very girls, it is important that our communities are protected best, rebook it for when those people are not there. from the most serious offenders. A previous Labour There is unpredictability and inconsistency: only three Government introduced automatic early release at the local authorities have gone down the byelaw route of halfway point; we are legislating to ensure that that local public space protection orders. This cannot continue; stops and that those convicted of the most serious it is unequal access to justice, if nothing else. violent and sexual offences must serve at least two When I asked the Health Secretary in this Chamber thirds of their sentence before parole is considered. for his opinion on anti-vaxxers, he told me that no one’s I welcome the fact that more robust sentences for the access to legal medicine should be barred or prevented. worst offenders will be combined with greater efforts to By lumping such a measure in with prosecuting sports rehabilitate. For offenders stuck in the revolving door of coaches who groom teams,criminalising already-persecuted crime there will be things such as electronic monitoring Traveller lifestyles and introducing excessive sentences tags to ensure that long and restrictive curfews are for toppling statues, the Government are inevitably adhered to. Sobriety tags, which were first piloted here going to accuse those who oppose the Bill of being soft in Lincolnshire, will ensure that individuals comply on sex offenders, which is really disappointing. with alcohol abstinence orders. Such measures will ensure Harassment of women is objectively wrong; it is that once criminals have left custody, robust monitoring surely not party political. Indeed, the cross-party will of is still in place both to stop further harm and to break the House is behind such a measure. The last time my the cycle of reoffending. private Member’s Bill was put to a vote in June, the 205 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 206 Courts Bill Courts Bill House voted for it by 213 to 47. I even had Government and sex offenders. However, the Bill also attacks, on a Members on the payroll coming up to me all day saying, permanent basis, the fundamental human right of peaceful “Good on you, I wish we could have voted for this too.” assembly. Banning gatherings, or a single person protest, So it is high time we updated what is being done in on the grounds of noise or annoyance is deeply troubling. common law and put into statute, followed Canada— Noting the disgraceful events at Clapham Common on Saturday, I will vote against the Bill tonight. Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Order. I am The Bill also needs to do much more on tackling terribly sorry; we have to move on. violence against all women and girls. The Government’s 3.21 pm announcement on a council bidding process for lighting and CCTV funding does not cut the mustard. The Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con) [V]: Opposition’s reasoned amendment points out that the Given the recent focus on violence against women and Bill fails to introduce a single new measure specifically the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has increased designed to tackle the epidemic of violence against physical and sexual violence, the Bill represents an women. Indeed, anyone damaging a statue would receive opportunity to fix oversights in the law regarding child a heavier sentence than many rapists. safeguarding. It contains some welcome provisions that I want to raise three issues that the Bill should cover. will protect women in the UK. However, child marriage First, if Ministers are serious about protecting women, remains an oversight, and a new clause criminalising they must recognise that exchanging money, food and the practice would protect vulnerable girls in this country accommodation for sex is a form of violence. Scotland’s and around the world. Government, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Under the , adults commit a London Mayor recognise prostitution as violence against criminal offence if they have sex with a child—defined women. Why not this Government? Our current laws on as a person under the age of 18—with whom they are in prostitution are unfit for purpose. The UK today is a a position of trust. Clause 45 of this Bill would extend low-risk, high-profit destination for sex traffickers and the list of positions of trust to include sports coaches pimps. Pimping websites operate openly and legally. and religious figures, thanks to my hon. Friend the Women are subjected to sexual exploitation by men, Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Tracey Crouch). who face no criminal sanction. We must bust the business The explanatory notes state that the logic is that children model of this modern slavery, cracking down on online are susceptible to abuse, exploitation and manipulation. pimping, deterring sex-buyers and supporting victims. I If a child’s will can so easily be manipulated by those in will be tabling cross-party amendments to introduce a position of trust, with abusive consequences, why laws that support women and hold men accountable. does the law allowed them to marry at the age of 16 or Secondly, pornography websites currently profit from 17 with their parents’ consent? exposing children to misogynistic violent pornography, In 2018, the Forced Marriage Unit recorded 1,500 cases fostering attitudes that underpin violence against women. of suspected forced marriage, 35% of which involved We need the Government to take action on that. children under the age of 18, and since 2017, Karma Finally, we must join the dots. Individual incidents of Nirvana has responded to 375 calls involving child violence against women are often not random, one-off marriage. However, the true prevalence of child marriage or unconnected. Effective prevention of violence requires is likely to be much greater as it often occurs in unofficial early intervention. We need a way to flag up where customary ceremonies. The crime of forced marriage, low-level sexual offences are often the gateway to potential introduced in 2014, does not adequately protect children. serious escalation. Libby Squire was raped and murdered The Forced Marriage Unit reports feeling unable to in Hull by a man who had, for 18 months prior to intervene in cases involving children because coercion is attacking Libby, wandered the streets committing sexual difficult to prove and vulnerable children have been acts of indecent exposure, voyeurism and burglary of groomed to appear willing. Children being groomed underwear and sex toys. Many offences were not reported, into child marriages often cannot understand what is but even if they had been, the current law would not happening to them and feel unable to challenge their have dealt with the underlying problem. parents. The current law effectively places the reporting obligation of a serious crime on young and vulnerable In conclusion, violence against women is endemic, victims. For that reason, many contact charities such as but also preventable. In remembering Libby Squire, Karma Nirvana only later in life when the damage has Sarah Everard and many others, we need deeds from been done, so could Ministers please include a new this Government, not words. clause in the Bill to enable us to stop child marriage in 3.27 pm this country? Craig Mackinlay (South Thanet) (Con): What a rare Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): I should just treat to be able to speak in the Chamber. like to remind those who are on the call list but who, for One of my colleagues said earlier that the primary whatever reason, are unable to take part in the debate, role of Government is to keep people safe: to keep those please to get in touch with the Speaker’s Office as usual. who are the law-abiding majority safe, those who want That message will then get through to us. The sooner to do the right thing and those who simply just want to the better, please. get on with their lives. We made commitments in our 2019 manifesto on law and order. This substantial Bill 3.24 pm fills many holes and codifies some loose ends of common Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) law interpretations, but mainly it protects the public (Lab) [V]: This Bill has provisions that I support, including whom we are here to serve. There are a number of whole-life orders for premeditated child murder and features in the Bill and I just want to highlight a few in ending automatic early release of dangerous prisoners the time available. 207 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 208 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Craig Mackinlay] abysmal failure, with considerable financial loss to the local community or the landowners. The legislative Whole-life orders, as the starting point for premeditated change criminalising this type of illegal camping is child murder,has to be right. The prevention of automatic exceptionally welcome and has been long awaited. It is early release of serious, violent and sexual offenders has for the protection of local people—my constituents. to be right. The public, for too many years, have wondered I note that in certain circumstances a fine can be of what madness we have had that that was not so. imposed. Considering the phenomenal mess of human The doubling of the maximum sentence to two years detritus and general waste, often including hardcore, for assaulting emergency workers, again, has to be that is almost without exception left behind when the right. These people have worked hard for us over the illegal occupiers are removed, it would be helpful if past year. Too often, we hear stories of them being spat some form of recompense for the cost of returning at and abused during the covid period. We have spoken the site to its pre-invasion state could be available. I about the protection of victims and witnesses over realise that that would be technically possible using the many years, but finally Kay’s law, as it has been called, Compensation Act 2006, but this would need civil action will mean that victims will be able to play a part in the requiring identification and service of notice on individuals bail conditions that the police impose. who will have already moved and be able to claim that Strengthening powers to tackle protests that cause the mess was no fault of theirs. Hence, I wonder if it significant disruption to the public is the area that would be possible to require the site that has been seems to have got a lot of people exercised over the past occupied illegally to be returned to its previous state or few days. What we saw at Clapham Common was an to apply an appropriate cost to those who are abusing unedifying scene, but it was not a result of this Bill or the site. where we are at the moment. It was a result of the There is much in this Bill that I like, but this particular draconian covid legislation that I have not supported change will be overwhelmingly welcomed by an enormous throughout but, strangely, Labour has. This Bill does number of my constituents who have been abused by not attempt to stop protest—far from it, and I would these people over many years. not be supporting it if it were, because I quite enjoy a good protest. 3.33 pm Very importantly, the Bill criminalises trespass to tackle unauthorised encampments. I can imagine that Gavin Robinson (Belfast East) (DUP) [V]: I am grateful hardly any, if any, hon. Members or right hon. Members to be called in this debate. I wish to place on record my in this House have not had communities that have had thanks to the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for to bear the cost of such unauthorised damage, cost to Croydon South (Chris Philp), for meeting me to discuss the local taxpayer, and often a “couldn’t care less” this Bill. The scale of the Bill, the wide-ranging import attitude by those who conduct it. The Bill also backs up of its provisions and indeed the two days set aside for our significant commitment to deliver 20,000 new police the Second Reading debate all indicate the magnitude officers, and some of the excellent work in disrupting of what is contained within it. county lines and action against drugs in general. First, I wish to indicate my support for the provisions I will support the Bill this evening, and I am somewhat that directly apply to Northern Ireland. The ability to intrigued that Her Majesty’s Opposition are opposed to access information from encrypted devices, the ability it at this stage, but there seem to be more flip-flops than to take samples from human remains, changes to the on a summer holiday. Sexual Offences Act 2003 and mutual recognition across our United Kingdom are all welcome provisions that 3.30 pm will assist in the fight against serious crime. Ministers Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley) (Con) [V]: This is a are aware that I have raised my concern that, although broad and significant Bill. There are many areas that I they are not part of this Bill, unexplained wealth would like to discuss, but I have only three minutes, so I orders, provided for in the Criminal Finances Act 2017, will concentrate on the long overdue changes relating to have not yet commenced in Northern Ireland, despite illegal Traveller camping. our Department of Justice seeking a commencement order. My constituency has a number of legitimate Traveller sites. The relationship between the settled communities With paramilitarism and organised crime still having and the so-called Travellers on official sites is generally a significant impact in Northern Ireland generally, and harmonious. Surrey County Council and Surrey District in my constituency of East Belfast particularly, we need and Borough Councils are in the process of setting up a immediate progress on this issue. I am prepared to table transit site, with facilities, for Travellers. All this is very amendments to the Bill if necessary,though I am somewhat different from the frequent illegal Traveller invasions. assuaged to hear that progress may come in the next Surrey has had hundreds of these incidents, and my week or two. I would therefore be extremely grateful if constituency has more than its fair share. Over recent confirmation of that could be given from the Dispatch years, the numbers of these illegal land-squatting camps Box this evening. have increased. If access is inhibited by barriers, gates Separately, the House is well aware of the strength of or any form of obstruction, they are broken down or feeling following the abhorrent murder of Sarah Everard removed, and generally damaged. The Travellers then so I am pleased that the Bill will increase the time served squat on-site regardless of the ownership, be it common in prison from half to two-thirds of the sentence as a land, parkland, farmland, private land or even a school minimum for the most serious sexual offences. It will playground. I note that a number of Members are bring in provisions on abuse of positions of trust and opposed to change and would prefer that this remained enact Kay’s law with greater protections linked to pre- a civil matter. That approach has been an absolute, charge bail. 209 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 210 Courts Bill Courts Bill Finally, and regretfully, I rail against in the strongest the Bill must be amended to preserve the freedom of possible terms the overarching sweeping and draconian assembly and the right to protest. provisions on protests. I have heard what the Government’s The real issue that the Bill should address is the mess intention is, but the loose and lazy way the legislation is that the Government have made of the justice and drafted would make a dictator blush. Protests will be courts system. There is currently a backlog of 56,000 cases noisy. Protests will disrupt. No matter how offensive we in the Crown courts, which means four years to wait for may find the issue at their heart, the right to protest a trial. Justice delayed is surely justice denied. Since should be protected. 2015, the percentage of recorded crime that reaches Unless we wish to proceed with societal constraints the court has halved. Rape convictions are down to that permit only graceful, genteel and humble protest, I just 2% of cases reported, and while domestic violence urge the Government to indicate that they accept the has soared in lockdown, convictions have fallen off a strength of feeling on this issue, that they will work with cliff. The Government would do better to run the colleagues across the House to amend the provisions existing court system efficiently and effectively before significantly, and that they will not proceed without they come to the House with the new laws contained in publishing guidance underpinned by statute on the the Bill. operative implications. I wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and all colleagues a happy St Patrick’s Day for tomorrow. 3.39 pm Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con) Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame ): [V]: I will be supporting this important piece of legislation, Thank you. We now go by video link to Dame Angela which delivers on our manifesto pledge. It covers many Eagle. important elements, and during my contribution I will have time to address only some of them. First, may I associate myself with the comments about Sarah Everard? 3.36 pm My thoughts are with her loved ones. Dame (Wallasey) (Lab) [V]: Thank you, I am not a lawyer, but there are many learned hon. Madam Deputy Speaker. This is a huge portmanteau Members of this House, and it is worth noting that the Bill. It contains proposals that I would sum up as the LawSociety supports the overall ambition of this substantial good, the bad and the ugly. The good includes measures Bill to tackle crime, support the police and build safer that give particular protection to emergency service communities.Going into detail, one of the bits I particularly workers from assault, the problem-solving courts pilot, want to highlight is clause 46. Following an excellent and long overdue reform of the criminal records disclosure campaign by my hon. Friends the Members for Bracknell regime. The bad is the Government’s appalling assault (James Sunderland) and for Stoke-on-Trent North on the right to protest and free assembly, which is (Jonathan Gullis), with the private Member’s Bill on the causing concern and alarm across the House, including desecration of war memorials, it is good to see this from the former Conservative Prime Minister, the measure included in the Bill. It is not just about war right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), who memorials; it includes roadside memorials and gravestones expressed her misgivings about this in no uncertain as well. terms yesterday. On part 3 on public order and the right to protest, it The ugly is the complete absence from the Bill of any is worth reiterating that the police response does need coherent attempt to protect the freedom of women and to be proportionate. I would cast the House’s memory girls to live their lives free of harassment and violence. back to six months ago when we all saw images on Clause 46 further criminalises assaults on statues by social media of an ambulance trying to access St Thomas’s increasing the maximum penalty for such vandalism to and not being able to do so. The other theme worth a scarcely believable 10 years in jail. The Government’s highlighting on this particular issue is that there have obsession with using the law to stoke a culture war by been effects on freedom of the press with print media giving more protection to inanimate statutes than to not being able to print. living people is an abuse. Part 4 on unauthorised encampments—clause 61 Clauses 54 to 60 are a premeditated attack on the onwards—is a really important piece of legislation. I right to assemble and protest, which is the cornerstone know of many colleagues who have campaigned on this of our democracy. While Ministers purport to be particular provision for many years. It will make trespass the defenders of our rights and freedoms, the Bill a criminal offence, and it has a significant effect on diminishes both. It extends already wide powers to law-abiding communities. I would echo the comments police demonstrations much further, by creating new made by others in the House that civil actions have not offences and new criteria that can be used to close down been a suitable avenue of discouraging poor behaviour. protest. The Bill seeks to place draconian limits on the Clause 62, which changes the period of no return from method, location and even the noise demonstrators will three months to 12 months, targets the bad apples, and I in future be allowed to make if they are to remain think it is a welcome addition. lawful. Finally, part 7 on sentencing and release is a really Apparently demonstrators are henceforth to be seen important piece of legislation that gives the law-abiding but not heard, like children in a particularly reactionary citizens of our country the confidence that those found Victorian novel; yet the whole point of demonstrations guilty of heinous crimes will have a proportionate sentence. is precisely to draw attention to injustice and give voice Clause 108 on referring to the Parole Board in place to issues that have been ignored. Democracy can be of automatic release is another aspect that is well loud and messy sometimes—that is the point of it—so worth mentioning. 211 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 212 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Mr Gagan Mohindra] responsibilities in our society against the rights and liberties of our fellow citizens, and the tactics that have In summing up, this Bill will be warmly welcomed by been deployed have clearly gone too far. law-abiding citizens. It offers increased protection to The second ground that Labour relies on is that the those who protect us, it increases the options available Bill is not ambitious enough in its protection of women to the courts to ensure that sentences are in line with the and girls, and some of the remarks by the hon. Member offence and it ensures that disruptive behaviour is actively for Wallasey (Dame Angela Eagle) sum up the damaging discouraged. things that are being said about this legislation, which will undermine public confidence and are, in fact, simply 3.42 pm wrong. She spoke about statutes being attacked, as though they were some kind of worthless thing to Martin Docherty-Hughes (West Dunbartonshire) (SNP) defend. I would defend our heritage on its own terms, [V]: On the day the Parliament of Scotland seeks to but, of course, the relevant provision is also about place the United Nations convention on the rights of protecting gravestones, for example, from being desecrated; the child at the heart of our nation’s legal system, the it is not just about statues. British Parliament seeks to criminalise thousands of Gypsy and Traveller children for daring with their families, The hon. Lady also said that we had not taken action in the 21st century, to live their traditional and historic on protecting people from harassment. Well, the way of life. Imprinted on vellum, this archaic legislation Government have taken action on stalking, and they will enshrine centuries of resentment, bigotry and racism, introduced a 10-year sentence for it recently. That is entrenching inequalities and proscribing specific ethnic something I am very proud of, and it should not be groups, even against the advice of the police forces of forgotten. It has added to a very strong record on the England. It is a law that facilitates the narrative of protection of women’s rights, on issues from forced exclusion, well exposed in recent weeks when Dochertys marriage to strangulation to coercive control. We should like me, merely for being from the Traveller community, be proud of all of that, because this Government care are excluded from the life of the state. deeply. The Bill strengthens those provisions further, from ending early release for serious sex offenders, to As a Scottish constituency MP, I see this is a direct stricter pre-charge bail conditions, to measures on the attack on the Scottish Traveller community, which this abuse of positions of trust and on arranging or facilitating Parliament refuses to recognise as a distinct ethnic child sex abuse. This is really important legislation, and group—Scots who will be at the mercy of Dickensian that should not be forgotten. attitudes, and exposed to imprisonment and financial ruin by the mother of Parliaments. As the co-chair of That all goes to show how far the Labour party has the all-party group on Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, I drifted from the values of its traditional heartlands. In see this as a misguided, reprehensible attack on the places such as Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, it is not ancient and historic rights of the nomadic peoples of just that local people feel ignored and taken for granted these islands. It is clear that England’s green and pleasant by the Opposition, but that they now feel actively lands are not for the likes of us, and the Conservative betrayed by them. This legislation is a litmus test about and Unionist party does not give a damn who knows it. values, and it deserves the full support of the House today. 3.44 pm 3.47 pm Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Con): It is a pleasure to speak in this Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: In important debate and to support this vital legislation. any legislation, any of us on any of these Benches can At the outset of my remarks, I too would like to set on always find some good, and this legislation is no different. record my deep sympathy for the family and friends of For example,there are the measures on providing protection Sarah Everard—what happened last week was the most from being abused by adults in positions of trust and appalling story, and it will cast a lasting shadow for the measures on dangerous driving, as well as the increase many of us as we reflect on these issues today and, in sentences for those who assault our emergency workers. indeed, in the years ahead. However, this legislation is a curate’s egg, and what little This legislation matters because it is about the good there is in it is overwhelmed and infected by the Conservative party delivering on our promise to the bad. It breaches the covenant between us in Parliament public to cut crime and ensure that we have tougher and the public about the consent that is part of a free, sentencing for some of the most violent criminals in our fair and equal society. society, and I find myself genuinely astonished at the All of us recognise that it is time for some reform of attitude of Opposition parties in opposing it. how public order is managed in this country. The scenes I want to address the two main grounds being relied of chaos that we saw on Saturday are a clear embodiment on by the official Opposition to justify its stance. First, of that. The trust between the police and women, there are the provisions to stop some of the most extreme particularly in London, has been broken—trust that tactics of protest groups such as Extinction Rebellion, many communities have not had in the police for some which go too far. I well remember the tactics of Extinction time—but this legislation will do little to heal those Rebellion and the misery they brought to hundreds of relationships. thousands of people across the capital and elsewhere. I will be honest: I have a long list of things that cause Blocking roads so that ambulances cannot pass, because me “severe annoyance”. Some, Members may agree people are glued to the ground, is not a legitimate tactic with; many, they probably would not. However, I pity for protest. The right to protest is fundamental, but it is the commanding officer trying to enforce this legislation not unqualified. We have to balance all rights and if it becomes law and trying to explain decisions around 213 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 214 Courts Bill Courts Bill severe annoyance. The legislation is simply unworkable. Falmouth who, throughout my time as their Member of I am also ashamed to be part of a Parliament that is Parliament, have consistently highlighted the need for seeking to demonise a minority community in the measures proper punishment of hit-and-run drivers. Unfortunately, being brought forward around Gypsy and Traveller they will be familiar with the tragic death of Ryan Saltern, communities—measures, indeed, that the police themselves a postman from Probus, a husband and a dad of young have said they do not wish to see. children. The man responsible for Ryan’s death left the The public have to be able to tell us when we are scene and was sentenced to just four months, which was getting something wrong. Sometimes that message is suspended for a year. He was disqualified from driving noisy and messy, but it is important that we do not seek for just 12 months. Needless to say,Ryan’sfamily have been to silence it no matter how uncomfortable it might left devastated. My hon. Friend the Member for North make us feel. This legislation seeks to do that. Cornwall (Scott Mann) has been working closely with The Bill also breaches that covenant between us and Ryan’s parents, and I join him in asking Ministers to the public by what it does not contain. The hon. Member consider a new criminal offence of leaving the scene of for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Mr Clarke) an accident that later resulted in death. Wewould welcome does not quite understand the concern that there is no further meetings with Ministers about this matter. mention of women, but plenty of mention of statues. Finally, I pay tribute to the Bill for the changes that At a time when we are all concerned about the lack of will bring about better protection for women. I am action over tackling violence against women, this legislation proud to sit on the Benches of a Government who have could have been the perfect vehicle for the Government already introduced, or who are progressing the introduction to implement the Law Commission’s recommendations of, the following measures specifically aimed at the on making misogyny a hate crime, but those are measures protection of women: outlawing upskirting; creating an are absent. It could also have been an opportunity for offence of coercive control; strengthening the ban on a the Government to recognise when they are at fault rough sex defence; outlawing non-fatal strangulation; in the courts. Let me give just two examples. For the creating the offence of stalking and then doubling the past three years, the Government have been found at maximum sentence; criminalising the sending of revenge fault by the courts on how they treat bereaved parents porn images or threats to do so; introducing measures in this country and on how they treat victims of domestic to make it easier for victims to give evidence in court; violence who have a sanctuary room—they charge them the passing of the Modern Slavery Act 2015; the increased the bedroom tax—but no measures have been brought funding for rape support centres by 50%—the list goes forward. What respect for the courts does that show from on. In addition, Cornwall Council is receiving £1.1 million a Government who are now seeking to reform those of funding, which was announced last month, to ensure areas? that domestic abuse victims and their children are able Human rights mean little if they cannot be actioned to access life-saving support. and if they are not upheld, even when it goes against As always, I welcome the Prime Minister’s further what appears to be the Government’s interests. I urge announcements this week of the doubling of the investment the Government to use this legislative time for something for our safer streets. There is more to do, but the Bill is a more constructive, to work across the House, to recognise great start, and I will happily back it this evening. the concerns over violence against women and to uphold all our rights. We shall all regret it if they do not. 3.54 pm (Garston and Halewood) (Lab) [V]: 3.51 pm This 300-page incoherent mish-mash of a Bill contains Cherilyn Mackrory (Truro and Falmouth) (Con) [V]: some truly odious measures, and I have time to deal There is so much to say in such a short time. First and with only one of them: the dangerous and unjustifiable foremost, I wish to thank the brilliant officers of Devon crackdown on the freedom to protest in clauses 54 to 60. and Cornwall police for their unshakeable commitment, Those clauses alone are enough for me to vote against as well as our fantastic police and crime commissioner, Second Reading tonight, despite the Bill containing Alison Hernandez, who has done a huge amount of some good measures. work, particularly around combating domestic violence This populist Government have swiftly developed a and modern slavery in our region. penchant for authoritarianism, born of their approach I am afraid that I have to take issue with some to getting the vast amount of Brexit legislation necessary Opposition voices that have described the new measures through Parliament. They have got into the habit of around policing protests as dangerous and draconian. writing framework Bills with extensive Henry VIII powers, Ensuring that a protest cannot prevent an ambulance leaving vast scope for Ministers to change primary from reaching a hospital in an emergency is the exact legislation by personal fiat, without adequate parliamentary opposite of dangerous. Ensuring that police can impose scrutiny.This trend has been made worse by the necessity conditions on protests that are noisy enough to cause to legislate swiftly for public health reasons because of intimidation, alarm and distress to innocent bystanders covid, again with no scrutiny ahead of laws being is the exact opposite of draconian. As the Home Secretary brought into force. The coronavirus crisis has led to a said yesterday,the right to peaceful protest is the cornerstone draconian removal of basic liberties that is necessary of our democracy,and all of us in this Chamber understand temporarily for health reasons, but not for a minute to and cherish that fundamental right. It does not, however, be thought of as desirable. The Government now want extend to causing damage to property or injury to others. to make this emergency way of doing things the norm, I am pleased that the Bill introduces maximum life to enable police officers to have far too much power sentences for drivers who cause death by dangerous effectively to silence any protest. driving or by driving under the influence of drink and We have a Government who attack judges who decide drugs. I want to thank my constituents in Truro and cases in ways they do not approve of; some Law Officers 215 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 216 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Maria Eagle] is simply a demonstration of the Opposition playing party politics on an issue that goes far beyond any point who will not defend the independence of the judiciary; scoring in this Chamber today. a Government who legislate to enable themselves to However, it is always important to look at what more break a treaty that they have only just signed; Ministers, we can do. I have spoken before about my long-standing including the Home Secretary, who break the ministerial concerns about the use of standard determinate sentences, code with impunity, while senior civil servants they particularly for rape. I welcome the action that the disagree with are hounded out of their jobs; and a Government are taking to end the use of standard Government who now want to take the power to ban determinate sentences for terrorist offenders, and the demonstrations or vigils if they are too noisy—they are power to refer high-risk offenders to the Parole Board literally silencing any protest they do not like. in place of automatic release. However, the reoffending This legislation allows for convictions for breach of rate for sexual offenders is 14%, and we know that conditions that the police have imposed, even where the 84% of rape convictions are dealt with by standard person on trial has no knowledge of what that condition determinate sentences. That means that the Parole Board was; it increases the punishment for such a breach from is not involved at all in the release of those criminals. I 12 weeks to 51 weeks in prison. The Home Secretary seems think we should look at that further, to add to the to have hijacked what was a worthy enough sentencing already significantly increased protections that we are Bill to insert her divisive and polarising measures on giving women and children as a result of this Bill—and protests. The original timetable for the Bill gave the any accusation that we are doing otherwise is false. game away. It was due to be completed in time for the 3.59 pm police and crime commissioner elections in May. This is (Leeds East) (Lab) [V]: This is a being done to enable the Government to claim that dangerous Bill in many ways, both in what it contains their political opponents are not supporting the police and in what it omits, including in its stark failure to enough—indeed, we have already heard speeches from really tackle violence against women. I want to concentrate, some Government Back Benchers claiming just that. in my three minutes, on the draconian threat to the right There has been no real focus on how the law should to protest. be changed for the good of society. For example, we have Under this Government’s plans, protests will still be just seen how much it fails to meet the needs of women, allowed, just as long as the police say so, just as long as who just want to be safe. This Bill just does not tackle the protests are not too noisy, just as long as they do not any of those issues. Clauses 54 to 60 are intended to cause too much of a nuisance, just as long as they do destroy the fundamental rights of citizens in our democracy not seriously annoy anyone, and just as long as they are to protest, and just for some cheap headlines ahead of not too near Parliament. So protests can go ahead, just an election. The Bill is draconian and undesirable, and as long as they do not do what protests are meant to do. the Government should not get away with enacting it. And those who do not abide by the new rules could get 10 years in prison—longer than the sentences most men 3.57 pm convicted of rape ever get. Let us be clear: this is a political attack—an attack on Laura Trott (Sevenoaks) (Con) [V]: First, I want to people’s ability to exercise of one of their key democratic join in the sympathies and prayers expressed by Members rights, an attack on one of the ways people have to from across the House to the family and friends of speak out against Government policies they oppose, an Sarah Everard. attack on free speech. The Government have already I rise, virtually, to support this welcome Bill, and in made it much more difficult for people to go on strike, the limited time I have I wish to focus on the aspects and now they want the police to make it much harder that concern violence against women, girls and children. for people to protest. I have been disappointed by the approach that Opposition Even without this new law, we have seen the state, Members have taken to this Bill, which stands in marked under this Government, clamping down on democratic contrast to the constructive tone taken to the Domestic rights: last week, a nurse fined £10,000 after protesting Abuse Bill. It is clear that today’s Bill takes a stride against pay cuts; women at the Clapham common vigil forward in protecting women and girls. The hon. Member attacked. And it goes way back: students kettled for for Walthamstow (Stella Creasy) describes the “little opposing higher tuition fees; fracking activists jailed. good” the Bill is doing. I would not describe ending the This Bill, written in direct response to the growth of automatic halfway release of those convicted of offences Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion, is aimed such as rape, extending the law on abusing positions of at suppressing further political opposition and dissent. trust to better protect children, better protecting victims Instead of tackling the underlying grievances, the state of domestic violence and introducing tougher sentences is responding by attacking those challenging injustice. for sex offenders as “little good”. Indeed, when this is paired It is a form of state intimidation, designed to stop with the Domestic Abuse Bill and the upcoming violence people organising and attending protests, but people against women strategy, we see that the Government are will not be stopped. taking concrete steps to address the many challenges we Throughout our history, significant gains have been still face to make women safe in their homes and on the won through demonstrations: eight-hour days won by streets. the trade unions; votes for women won by the suffragettes. I also take serious issue with the conflation of maximum Such movements were always denounced at the time as and minimum sentences that we have heard in the violent by politicians standing on the wrong side of course of this debate. The maximum sentence for rape is history. If the Government proceed, this law will be life. That message should ring out from this Chamber. broken repeatedly, and trust between the state and its The conflation of the minimum and maximum sentences citizens further shattered. 217 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 218 Courts Bill Courts Bill 4.2 pm 4.6 pm Ms Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston) Edward Timpson (Eddisbury) (Con) [V]: On a sunny (Lab) [V]: First, may I pay my respects to the loved ones spring morning early on a Saturday in 2017, weeks away of Sarah Everard? My thoughts and prayers are with from the general election, I was at home, where I am them. now, with my then nine-year-old daughter, my wife having just left to go out with my then 11-year-old and Causing death by dangerous driving deserves a life three-month-old daughters. I looked out of the window sentence. That is the justice that Violet-Grace Youens’s and saw a car parked outside, with a man holding a parents deserved. Their angelic four-year-old daughter ladder walking towards the house. We were not expecting Violet-Grace was so cruelly taken from them. The family anyone, so I went out to ask if I could help. continue to tirelessly campaign and help others through the Violet’s Gift charity. Last year I was proud to Things then took a sinister turn. What unfolded was co-sign the private Member’s Bill promoted by the right an orchestrated, organised mass takeover around and hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) on this very on our private home, with two men forcing their way up issue. Since then, the Government have indicated that on to our roof while others appeared with camera phones they will not support that Bill. Instead, they have included and a loudhailer as they circled our house, taking photos the dangerous driving changes in this far-reaching Bill and video footage through the windows and broadcasting before us. Unfortunately, this means that I will not be unsavoury and baseless claims about me. My nine-year-old able to support the changes this time, for this Bill hid upstairs while I called the police for help. infringes on our very freedom and democratic rights. Like many, I agree that protests can sometimes cause The guise of this protest was to rail against cases of some personal annoyance. Protests can make us late for children being taken into care and adopted. As the then work. Protests can cause a little harm to our finances. Minister for Children, I knew that strong views on this Protests can force us to listen to views we do not agree sensitive subject came with the territory, but never in my with. But should protests be a criminal act because they wildest dreams believed this would ever be literal. We cause the risk of some “serious annoyance”? I do not were forced to vacate our family home under police think so, and I am sure that most Members agree. escort and were unable to return for three days as our Perhaps worse still, the Bill empowers a judge to imprison roof remained occupied, save for my wife recovering someone convicted of causing the risk of serious annoyance some personal belongings for her and our baby with the for 10 years. police in attendance. The freedom and right to protest is the cornerstone As this trespass was, in law, a civil matter, my only of everything we believe in. It is the bedrock of liberal recourse at that stage was to apply for an injunction, democracy. Across the world to this day, we see people unless it could be shown that a criminal offence had taking to the streets to protest for their rights. Throughout subsequently been committed on site. We were all left my life, I have seen how protests have brought about feeling helpless, intimidated, frightened and let down by change—the fall of the Berlin wall, the collapse of the the current construct of trespass and public order law. Soviet Union, and more recently in Belarus and Myanmar. The children were confused and worried, and I ended We have also seen where putting down protests can lead up having to relive the whole experience in court, after us. The Tiananmen Square protests live on in our which, thankfully, convictions were secured. For many memory. Every adult alive that day remembers that months afterwards, I would still jump when a vehicle I brave man walking in front of those tanks. Giving up did not recognise parked outside our house. We can all our freedoms simply so that the Home Secretary can subscribe to physical non-violent protests on public appear to be tough on crime is not justifiable. Doing so land, but the mental and emotional impact on those would be a betrayal of everything this Chamber represents. caught up in it, especially where trespass is involved, 4.8 pm cannot be overlooked. That is one of a number of Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con) [V]: It is a privilege reasons why I am very supportive of the provisions in to speak in this important debate. I, too, would like to parts 3 and 4 of the Bill. extend my deepest condolences to Sarah Everard’s family As a former children’s Minister, I am pleased to see and friends. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for measures to extend definitions in relation to those who Eddisbury (Edward Timpson) for sharing his powerful abuse positions of trust by engaging in sexual activity personal experience to bring to life how important the with minors, as well as measures establishing secure changes in the Bill are. schools, preventing knife crime, promoting and improving A couple of weeks ago, a young female in my the use of youth rehabilitation orders and others. I constituency started working as a police officer. On just know that many parishes in Eddisbury will welcome the her second shift, she was assaulted when someone spat Bill’s proposals to protect our war memorials from at her. Spitting and coughing on police officers has desecration. become more common since covid-19 came into our lives. North Wales police alone recorded 100 attacks on As the Bill goes through Committee and Report officers including coughing and spitting or biting between stages, there is a chance to consider what more we can February and November last year. This is part of an do to tackle the growing and devastating scourge of pet unacceptable trend of increased assaults against police theft, which is an emotive issue among many of my and other emergency service workers. Of respondents constituents. Finally, it would be remiss of me not to to the Police Federation demand, capacity and welfare mention my private Member’s Bill to raise the retirement survey last year, 55% said they had been the victim of age of magistrates to 75, which I am delighted is now an unarmed physical attack in the previous 12 months, official Government policy. Is this not the perfect Bill in and in some frontline roles the figure was as high which to make that law? as 83%. 219 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 220 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Virginia Crosbie] in rapid succession legislation that provides legal immunity for members of the armed forces and the police, even in Since 2020, at least 30 officers have been killed while cases of rape, torture and murder. performing their duties, despite massive improvements Historically, we have had policing by consent in this in protective and defensive equipment. The data shows country. This Government seem to be intent on ending that we are living in a more violent society, and the that, with more armed police and more random stop- threats to our police officers are increasing, but those and-search, despite the evidence of racist discrimination, who attack or assault police officers are often let off ploughing on with the failed Prevent programme and with little more than a slap on the wrist. What an the obvious demonisation and disproportionate impact offence that is to our police. I speak regularly with the on the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and police on Anglesey; I have been out with them on patrol now the suppression of peaceful gatherings and protests. and I helped to man the Britannia bridge with them This is draconian legislation. It will not make us safer. It during the first lockdown. I know how seriously they should be opposed by everybody who believes in democracy. take protecting people on the island, but they tell me of the difficult and often threatening situations they handle every single day. John Apter, the national chair of the 4.13 pm Police Federation, said: Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) (Con): In the last three “We need officers to have the very best protection, and there years, there have been 1,329 assaults against emergency must be a strong deterrent—that deterrent should be time in services workers in Nottinghamshire, and I will share prison, no ifs, no buts.” some of their stories. The Bill doubles the maximum sentence for those who On 1 February last year, police were called to assist assault police and other emergency workers. paramedics at a reported insulin overdose. As they I end by saying that I will back the Bill tonight. I reassured the patient, Lance Morgan, that there was no applaud this Government for using the Bill to follow sign of an overdose, he became abusive, kicking out at through on their manifesto commitment to take serious officers and paramedics, shouting racist abuse. Emergency action on sentencing of those who assault our police, as workers Paul Pointon and Michael Phipps were injured, part of their raft of measures to improve provision for as Lance Morgan punched Michael in the groin and those who serve our communities daily. Paul in the abdomen. He was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of assaulting an emergency worker. 4.11 pm On 16 August, a female police officer was punched in the face and shoved in the chest after she stopped a Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Streatham) (Lab): The Government driver who had been speeding, lost control and crashed admit that there is a crisis in policing, the criminal justice into another car. The offender, Andrew Robbins, got system and courts, and the publication of such an 14 months in prison for assaulting an emergency services interminably long Bill speaks to that. Members of the worker and a string of driving offences. public may be left wondering, given that the Conservative I have been speaking about violent assaults, but 64% of party has been in office for well over 10 years now, who the 1,329 assaults were non-physical, such as spitting, is responsible for the multiple crises. In that time, we coughing on, or threatening officers. The majority of have had innumerable pieces of legislation on these those assaults were carried out by people who claimed matters—onpolicing,criminaljusticeandcourts—including to have coronavirus—covid assaults. In Nottinghamshire, statutory instruments. Logically, we can conclude that Omar Osman spat in the mouth of the police officer none of that legislation has dealt with the admitted arresting him, while claiming he was covid-positive. In problems, and may even have exacerbated them. custody that evening, he spat in the face of a detention We should not expect the outcome of this Bill to be officer, splashed water and urine at another, and hit the different, because it is designed not to address fundamental custody sergeant over the head while spitting in his face. problems but to infringe on our civil liberties and prosecute As one officer said to me when I accompanied him on culture wars, with more protection for a statue than for patrol, these things happen over and over, and people a woman and a longer sentence for damaging public live with that constant, nagging fear: “Have I got covid? property than for sexual assault. The Bill does not even What if I pass it on to my family?”. attempt to address the crisis of plummeting conviction The Bill will double the maximum sentence for assaults rates for some of the most serious crimes, including on all emergency service workers. This issue has too rape. Reported rapes are soaring; they almost reached often been overlooked in debates of the past 24 hours, 60,000 last year, but barely 2,000 resulted in prosecution. because Labour Members do not want their constituents The Victims’ Commissioner has spoken of the effective to know that they are voting against it. So that we all decriminalisation of rape in this country. know where we stand, tonight Conservative Members Ministers are fooling no one when their default response will vote for tougher sentences for child murderers; is to talk about tougher sentences and more police. Labour Members will be voting against. We are voting Tougher sentences are useless if the perpetrators can to keep rapists in jail longer; Labour is voting against. reasonably expect never to be convicted. More police on We are voting for tougher penalties for those who the streets are a waste of time if they are instructed to desecrate the memory of the fallen; Labour is voting prioritise guarding statues. The Bill seeks to make that against. We are voting to keep our streets safer and to style of policing commonplace, with the major focus on tackle violent crime; Labour is voting against. Labour powers to prevent non-violent protests, such as Saturday’s Members are soft on crime, and soft on the causes of vigil in memory of Sarah Everard, whose family we crime. They are failing to protect their constituents, and continue to hold in our thoughts and prayers. It follows failing to back our police. 221 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 222 Courts Bill Courts Bill 4.16 pm with the National Crime Agency and senior police officers warning that Facebook’s plans for encryption Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: Our risk serious child abuse offenders going undetected, I hearts are with the family and friends of Sarah Everard, urge Facebook to rethink. and our thoughts with those who gathered in peace and solidarity to mourn her death, in a vigil that was so If we are to increase confidence in the justice system, badly and aggressively handled, and into which we need it is important that sentencing reflects the severity of an immediate inquiry. In its aftermath, this Bill is our crimes, and I welcome minimum terms for repeat offences, opportunity to help women to reclaim the streets for including burglary,drug and knife crimes,unless exceptional good, turn back the tide of rapes, and replace fear with circumstances apply. Very serious violent and sexual confidence. Instead, however, the Bill curtails our rights offenders should rightly serve longer sentences. to peaceful protest and assembly. It gives harsher There has been much focus on the clauses relating to punishments for attacks on slave-owner monuments public order, and rightly so; the right to protest is an than for sexual violence against women. It persecutes essential part of our democracy. I share concerns about our Roma and Gypsy communities, and it attacks our the policing in Clapham, and I welcome the independent right to roam the countryside while giving rapists freedom review. However, the powers in the Bill are not about to roam our streets; rape is up by 35%, and 99% of that; nor are they about the temporary covid restrictions. recorded rapes never go to court. They are there to deal with deliberate tactics that have We need investment at scale in Nightingale courts, led to disproportionate disruption. Some call the blocking equipped with the latest DNA forensic testing technology, of ambulances, closing of bridges and people gluing so that rapists can be charged, prosecuted and convicted themselves to trains legitimate protest. My view is that in weeks, instead of victims living in fear for years, as those actions undermine the careful balance between this Bill allows. The Government should empower our the rights of protesters and the rights of people to go citizens and communities, but instead they attack the about their daily lives. I recognise that there are concerns, rights of all of us to peaceful assembly and protest—trade and those provisions will be considered further in unionists, EU remainers, climate change activists, anti-war Committee. protesters, and vote-at-16 enthusiasts. They are curtailing Finally, there is strong concern about dog theft in the freedom of expression that feeds a healthy, responsive North West Norfolk, as elsewhere. Pets are part of our democracy.That will drive protest underground, generating families, and the emotional hurt that the loss of a pet heat in place of light. can cause is immense. I hope that during the passage of This Trojan horse Bill may display popular measures the Bill, the Government will bring forward measures to on dangerous driving, protecting protectors and Lammy increase penalties for that crime. reforms, and I am sure that in Committee, Labour will Tonight, I will back these measures in the Bill, and support those few crumbs of goodness beside the poison others to support rehabilitation and more effective chalice that this Bill represents. This thoroughly rotten community sentences to tackle serious violence. Anyone Bill needs to be rejected and recast in the next Queen’s who votes against this Bill is voting against measures to Speech. It fails to reclaim our streets from the grip of make our streets safer. fear; and amid a pandemic, a recession, and the serial abuse of women on our streets, it constitutes an attack on our fundamental values, our democracy, our freedom, 4.22 pm and the very laws that protect those things. We should Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab) [V]: What reject the Bill. a shame that the Government have chosen to turn a piece of legislation that we could have all got behind 4.19 pm into a divisive attempt at a culture war. In this House, we all support the police covenant. We all want better (North West Norfolk) (Con): The Bill protections for our emergency workers. We all want the delivers on our manifesto commitments to tackle crime. right sentences for people who cause death by dangerous Let me start with protection for those on the frontline. driving, and we all want to protect vulnerable young The new police covenant will bring increased focus to people from abuse by people in a position of trust. I the issues of physical protection, help and support for the am pleased those measures are in the Bill, and I am families of officers. I know from my time in the Ministry grateful to my hon. Friends the Members for Rhondda of Defence the galvanising effect that the reporting (Chris Bryant), for Halifax (), for Barnsley duty in the Bill will have, just as the duty introduced for East () and for Rotherham (Sarah the armed forces covenant had. Champion), and the hon. Member for Chatham and There has been an unacceptable increase in assaults Aylesford (Tracey Crouch), for their campaigning on on emergency workers.In Norfolk alone, 659 police officers those issues. were assaulted last year. Doubling the sentence for such There is more the Government could have done that attacks will better reflect the risk that the police, firefighters, we would have supported, such as introduce better paramedics, prison workers and others face. protection for shop workers, as well as emergency workers. Protecting young people is an important part of the I refer to the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, Bill. I support including faith leaders and sports coaches as I am a member of the Union of Shop, Distributive in the provisions relating to sexual activity and positions and Allied Workers. Its survey of shop workers last year of trust. Extending the offence of arranging a child sex showed that 60% were threatened by a customer, and crime will close a gap in criminal law.I take this opportunity 9% were assaulted. We have been trying to tackle the to acknowledge the role that Facebook played in providing intimidation of shop workers in Didsbury in my information that was crucial to securing a 25-year sentence constituency, and it is time for real action to deter that for a serial paedophile in my constituency. However, kind of behaviour. 223 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 224 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Jeff Smith] We are sick of male violence, whether it is at the hands of the state, our partners, our family members or strangers. We could have seen real measures to tackle violence We march because some people do not survive male against women and girls. On sentences, we agree on violence: Sarah Everard, Bibaa Henry, Christina Abbotts, whole life orders for the premeditated murder of a Naomi Hersi and many more. The public realm belongs child, but why not whole life sentences for the abduction, to women too, and women should have the right to go assault and murder of a woman? Why not make street wherever we choose without men harassing us, assaulting harassment a crime? We could even have seen measures us and raping us. We have a right to walk home. to seriously tackle drug policy and sentencing. In my This Bill does nothing to protect women. In fact, the view, it is counterproductive to criminalise people for Bill protects statues of dead men—slave owners, even— the possession of drugs for personal use. It runs the risk more than living women. It hands unaccountable power of ruining their future life chances, wastes the time of to the police—the same police who were forcing women the police and courts, and does not reduce the harm to the ground at Clapham common on Saturday night. I that drugs cause to individuals or society. A serious will be voting against the Bill. debate on drug policy is long overdue. Even without those measures that the Government 4.27 pm could have introduced, we could have supported the Bill on the basis of the good things it proposes if it did not Matt Vickers (Stockton South) (Con): I was elected have measures that are disproportionate, divisive to represent the people of Stockton South on a manifesto and dangerous—and that, most importantly, put our that pledged to get tough on crime, protect our emergency fundamental right to protest in jeopardy. The right to service workers and give real justice to the victims of protest is one of the most important rights we have, some of the most heinous crimes. I am therefore delighted because it helps us to stand up for all other rights. Even to support the Bill, which will do exactly that. It will the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) said ensure that we are on the side of the victims, not the yesterday that criminals; it has tougher sentences for those who vandalise our memorials, those who prey on children, sex offenders, “freedom of speech is an important right…however annoying…that might sometimes be.”—[Official Report, 15 March 2021; Vol. 691, killer drivers and child murderers. The victims of those c. 78.] awful crimes are often left scarred by them for the rest of their life, and I am glad that the Bill will go some way The Home Secretary would do well to listen to her to delivering real justice for them. predecessor. The Bill contains fundamental, wide-ranging improve- This is a big Bill with very significant measures on ments to our justice system, and it is impossible to cover complex issues, and it needs serious scrutiny. I hope the its breadth in just three minutes, so I will focus on what Government will extend time on it to the time that it it does for our emergency service workers across the needs, and will rethink the measures that we do not country. The pandemic has been awful for us all, but need, and that the police often do not want. I support many of our emergency service workers have borne the the Labour party’s reasoned amendment, and will vote brunt of it. While we retreated to the safety of our against a Bill that puts our fundamental right to protest homes, our emergency service workers rolled up their at risk. I ask the Government to rethink and withdraw sleeves and got on with it, running towards danger those measures as the Bill progresses. As the shadow when so many of us would run away. It is therefore Home Secretary said yesterday, we should press pause unbelievable that during this most terrible year, assaults on the Bill and bring the whole House together. This is against our emergency service workers have increased too important an issue for us not to. substantially. Yes, our policemen and policewomen who do so much to protect us, and our doctors and nurses 4.24 pm who help us when we need them most, have faced record numbers of assaults this year. In Cleveland, that Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East) (Lab): There is has meant 662 assaults on emergency service workers; so much wrong with the Bill that three minutes could that is up more than 50% on the previous year. not possibly cover it. It marks a descent into authoritarianism. Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab): I am grateful We are debating the Bill today because the Home to my next-door neighbour in Stockton for giving way. Secretary despises Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives We have the third-most serious level of serious crime in Matter, having described them as hooligans, thugs and Cleveland, yet the hon. Gentleman’s Government refused criminals. The Bill is designed to make it more difficult us additional funding time and again. Why? for working people to hold the powerful to account by expanding police powers to a level that should not be Matt Vickers: Today the hon. Gentleman has the chance seen in any modern democracy. In fact, if this proposed to be on the side of the emergency workers, those brave legislation was being debating in another country, I am men and women who put themselves out on the frontline sure Members of this House would be condemning that to keep our communities safe. We are putting more country as an authoritarian regime. Make no mistake, police on the streets and giving them the powers and this is the biggest assault on our rights and freedom to equipment that they need to do the job, and I am very protest in recent history. It moves to criminalise Gypsy, happy that there are more than 150 more police officers Roma and Traveller communities. on the streets of Cleveland, thanks to this Government. I attended the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in I welcome the fact that the Bill will increase the Nottingham East, and the protests and vigils at Scotland maximum sentence imposed on those who assault our Yard and Parliament on Sunday and yesterday. We took emergency service workers. It is much overdue and there to the streets because people are angry. We are hurting. must be no further delay in protecting our protectors, 225 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 226 Courts Bill Courts Bill doing justice for those who put themselves in harm’s communities across the UK safe. The Bill is a clear way to uphold the law or who are there to help us when commitment from the Government that they are following we need them most. I am hopeful that a tougher approach through on those promises, and I commend them for it. to sentencing will send a signal and go some way to Throughout the pandemic, our local police forces ensuring that our emergency service workers get the have continued to work through extremely difficult respect that they so rightfully deserve. The Bill enshrines circumstances, often risking their safety to ensure the the police covenant into law, ensuring that our police safety of others—of ourselves and our loved ones—just officers—retired or serving—and their families get the as they do in normal times, running towards danger as additional support that they have rightly earned through we run away. I personally thank the North Wales police their service to our communities. force for its hard work in keeping all of us in Delyn and We have put more police officers on the streets. We across north Wales safe. have provided more equipment and more funding, and There is a particular challenge for the police in Wales, now, whether it is by tackling unauthorised encampments as responsibility for health regulations is devolved while or persistent violent offenders, we are giving the police responsibility for policing is not. I am proud that, despite the powers that they need to do the job. This legislation our local police force often being pulled in disparate is long overdue and, tonight, I will be on the side of the directions by some of the interestingly questionable political victims and the emergency service workers across this decisions that are made in Wales, they have carried on country. with their duties by keeping communities safe and tackling crime. 4.30 pm Just as our police have protected us, it is now time Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab): There is much in the Bill that we help to protect them and their work. As my to be welcomed, but there is an attempt to mislead the hon. Friend the Member for Bishop Auckland public—to accuse Labour MPs of wanting to be soft on (Dehenna Davison) said in her contribution yesterday, those guilty of assaulting or murdering children, emergency it is important that we protect the protectors and give workers, police or anyone else convicted of such crimes. them the support they need through appropriate powers Tory MP after Tory MP has done exactly that while, all and sentencing. We will protect our police forces and the time, ignoring the sinister measures in this Bill that frontline workers, who sacrifice so much to keep us safe, hit at the foundations of our democracy—the right to by increasing the maximum sentence for assaulting an assemble and to protest. No matter how loud the faux emergency worker and enshrining the police covenant anger and indignation of Tory MPs, Labour is right to into law. oppose this Bill and stand up for people’s democratic We will protect our communities by ensuring that the rights. Protest is awkward, inconvenient and noisy, but most dangerous criminals will be properly punished it does bring about change. The Bill will give the police through the introduction of life sentences for killer powers to determine which protests are acceptable, which drivers, the ending of the automatic early release of should be allowed and which should not. It opens the serious offenders, and the extension of whole-life orders police up to political pressure and to erring on the side for the worst—those guilty of killing children. of caution for fear of retribution if trouble occurs. The Bill will make a real difference and help to keep We are witnessing a Tory-led coup without guns. There us safe. It will protect our police and strengthen our has been a consistent pattern to this Tory Government’s justice system, thereby preventing further families from abuse of power. To avoid dissent in this House, including going through the pain of not getting the justice they dissent from their own side, they closed Parliament. We deserve. I do not pretend that the Bill is perfect, and I have seen Tories appointed to public bodies allocating sympathise with some of the concerns expressed about millions in covid contracts to Tory friends for personal the provisions on protest. Although I welcome the Bill protective equipment, goods and services. The Secretary for the good that it will bring to our society and our of State for Health and Social Care was found to be justice system, I am sure that those provisions will be acting unlawfully for failing to divulge details of contracts. carefully considered and scrutinised in Committee. The National Audit Office concluded that applicants with political contacts were 10 times more likely to be In closing, I remind all Members that on Second successful in bids for these contracts. We have seen Reading we consider and vote on the general aims and £22 billion wasted on track and trace. Our Home Secretary principles of a Bill, so to throw the whole thing out at has paid hundreds of thousands of pounds out from this stage would just be irresponsible. As the Bill works public funds in damages because of her bullying. We towards a safer and more just society, I will be deeply had a Budget that blatantly favoured Tory seats, even saddened if Opposition Members vote against its Second indulging the Chancellor’s seat. Reading, which they could do only to score a political point or, more worryingly, because they do not wish to This Bill is another example of the Tories’determination see a society that protects its people and its police force. to avoid democratic scrutiny. Now, they want to close down public dissent. This hits at the heart of democracy in this country. If we do not stand up and defend 4.36 pm people’s right to show dissent, as MPs in this House, we Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP) [V]: I commend are in dereliction of our duty. We must oppose this Bill. all those who have been involved in bringing the Bill before the House. It has much merit, not least in relation 4.33 pm to the penalty for those who cause death by dangerous Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Con): I will do my best to driving. I know of families who have suffered such loss, contain my remarks to the actual content of the Bill. and it is so tragic. Their pain and grief is compounded The Government were elected on a clear mandate to by the lenient sentencing of those who have taken away tackle serious crime, support our police and keep a loved one too soon. 227 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 228 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Carla Lockhart] has seen Opposition Members provide examples of positive elements to the Bill, and discuss what does I welcome the increase in penalties for the assault of work in it. To say that they will not vote for it is to throw an emergency worker. Weought never need to be reminded the baby out with the bathwater, and to give the Bill no of the contribution that emergency workers make in chance of success, no scrutiny, and, as my colleagues our society, but if we did, the past 12 months have done have said, no right to be improved in Committee. just that. Our nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, I believe passionately in freedom of speech. It is the paramedics, firefighters, police and others have been cornerstone of our democracy. It is sacrosanct. The right very much on the frontline. The least we can do is to to protest and to speak is no more reduced by the Bill protect them when they are attacked by mindless individuals than by the existing laws on libel, sedition or public order. when they are doing their job. I concur with the remarks As was said yesterday, in the words of John Stuart Mill, of the hon. Member for Shipley () in “we should all be free to do exactly as we like, provided that we yesterday’s debate: similar protective provisions for retail are not impeding someone else’s freedom to do exactly as they workers and others would be very welcome. like.”—[Official Report, 15 March 2021; Vol. 691, c. 99.] There are many other welcome provisions in the Bill, The measures in the Bill are not some governmental power such as the change to the provisions on early release, grab or conspiratorial coup, which is what we have heard which can cause so much hurt to victims. The provisions from some, but an overdue recommendation of the Law on attacks on war memorials are welcome and badly Commission from 2015. As my hon. Friend the Member needed in Northern Ireland where, sadly, such memorials for Bromley and Chislehurst (Sir Robert Neill) pointed have become a focus of attack for some time. out yesterday, if this House worries about the content I also have concerns that I hope the Government can of the Bill, it can scrutinise it in Committee and improve address. It will come as no surprise to the House to hear it, and we will be able to return something that will do that, as someone who represents the party of the late, justice to its intent. I will vote for the Bill tonight. great Ian Paisley, I believe that the right to protest must be protected. That right was hard won, and in a democracy 4.42 pm it must be protected. The hon. Member for Congleton (Luton North) (Lab) [V]: Much of what (Fiona Bruce) rightly highlighted the potential pitfalls has been said about the Bill goes to show just how of clauses 54 to 56 and 59 and 60, which would make divisive it is. Rather than seeking to make people feel significant changes to police powers to respond to protest. safer, to work with communities, and to bring peace and This issue must be approached with careful consideration cohesion to neighbourhoods, the Bill has been designed and caution. What is “serious disruption”? Who defines to divide us. We know that this mess of a Bill has some it? What is the definition of “serious annoyance”? We good things in it, such as strengthening the work done need these matters to be clarified. by my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Holly Lynch) on protecting the protectors, and I declare an interest as 4.39 pm a former GMB officer, previously working with the brave ambulance worker Sarah Kelly to protect emergency Anthony Mangnall (Totnes) (Con): It is a pleasure to workers such as her from assault. speak in this debate.Of course,it is somewhat disappointing The Bill also includes dangerously discriminatory to hear the Opposition change their position from one measures for Traveller communities, and silencing our of abstaining to one of voting against the Bill, but then right to protest in support of causes that we hold dear. again we have come to be unsurprised by their machinations Labour was born out of the trade union movement—out and changes of heart throughout this Parliament. of the working classes protesting for better pay and There is a great deal to welcome in the Bill, from the rights. We should never forget the power of protest, but ending of unauthorised encampments, to the changes with all the will in the world, and with all the opposition to sentencing for minors, dangerous driving—I pay to it, the Bill will sadly pass. I did not come to Parliament tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead to sit in opposition; I came to Parliament to put Labour (Mrs May) for her work on that—the desecration of values into action. A Labour Government would be monuments, and serious violence and assaults against making very different choices, but for now the Tories frontline workers,which so manyMembers have mentioned. have free rein for their politics of division. The Government are updating the law to a position that Just as disturbing as what is in the Bill is what is not ensures that sentencing fits the crime, and confidence included. Taking all politics out of it, fundamentally can be restored in our justice system. the Bill should be about making people safer. When Those are worthy steps that make a difference and 97% of women have been sexually harassed, and there restore the faith that people have in our Parliament, our are 233 rapes a day and 80,000 a year, with prosecution police and the way in which we conduct ourselves in this rates at an all-time low—about 1,000 this year—we Parliament; yet tonight’svote has already been misconstrued have to ask who is made safer by the Bill. There is not to the public as anti-freedom, anti-protests and with one mention of women in it. little impact on women’s rights, despite the fact that If the Government’s answer to making the country Parliament is this week debating the Domestic Abuse safer is delivering tougher sentences for attacking a Bill in the House of Lords, covering many of the issues statue than for raping a person, they have entirely the that have been raised by the Opposition and that the wrong priorities. If the Home Secretary really wants to Minister has already worked on so tirelessly. make people safer, she should fund refuges, clear the The hon. Member for Eltham (Clive Efford) may well court backlog, support victims throughout the entire stand up and not even speak to the Bill, but there is no process, and rid our streets and institutions of the restriction on people being able to protest. There is no misogyny that is a breeding ground for violence against restriction on freedom of speech. Speech after speech women and girls. 229 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 230 Courts Bill Courts Bill I welcome the amendments from the Labour Front Our culture historically taught men that they had a Bench on street harassment and seeking to bring much- duty to honour and protect women. It is a difficult thing needed measures to include the safety of women and to say, because it may appear that I want to turn back girls in the Bill. Any woman will say that sexual harassment the clock to a time when men chivalrously protected the is not just something that she worries about in the dark; weaker sex, but of course, as I have said, that is not how it is something that she risk-assesses in every part of her it always was in the old days, and even if it had been, we life, including at work. That is why I intend to table an do not accept the idea that women need protection by amendment that criminalises sexual harassment in the men; they just need men to behave themselves. So let me workplace. What we have currently are workplaces across say emphatically that I do not want to turn back the industries and sectors effectively policing themselves, clock; however, we do need to face the fact that our and this is failing. It fails victims of sexual harassment modern culture has not delivered all the progress it was every single day. If I were robbed on the street and the supposed to. I wonder whether that is because our robber was caught, he would end up behind bars, but if modern culture has a problem with telling people how I were robbed of my earnings, forced out of my job by a to behave—it has a problem with society having a moral man who sexually harassed me, he would do that without framework at all. fear of any time behind bars. That is not right. Other It is right that we are having this debate, and I hope countries have made sexual harassment a criminal act and we get to a better place because of it, because the key it is time for the UK to do the same. In the names of Sarah thing is that all the laws in the world will not stop Everard, Shukri Abdi, Blessing Olusegun, Bibaa Henry, violence against women and will not stop sexism if our Nicole Smallman and all the thousands of women who culture is not right. We need boys to grow up secure in have suffered at the hands of male violence: enough. We themselves, with good role models and an innate sense deserve better than this. We deserve to be safe. of respect for other people. That means stronger families and more supportive communities. 4.45 pm Danny Kruger (Devizes) (Con): I am delighted to 4.48 pm speak in support of this Bill. I particularly welcome the balance it strikes on sentencing, with longer sentences Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab) [V]: As we have for the most serious offenders but smarter justice, including heard through this debate, the right to demonstrate more community punishments, for young offenders. peacefully underpins democracy; people have an inalienable Having worked for 10 years with prisoners and young right to be heard. The explicit aim of this Bill seems to offenders, I know that this is the right balance, and that minimise that right. Clearly,the new definition of “nuisance” the Bill will be welcomed by my constituents and across could apply to almost any protest around Parliament, the country. where the whole purpose is to get the attention of That is why I am so disappointed by the stance taken politicians such as us. I, for one, have always felt that by the Labour party. It is understandable to object to Steve Bray, the “Stop Brexit” man, served to remind us aspects of the Bill, it is right for the Opposition to that we live in a thriving democracy. Protest gives the challenge the Government on civil liberties and police public a way to reach parliamentarians which should powers, and it is understandable to see whether this Bill make us proud of the country we live in. Let us not hide can be amended to include more protections for women away from the fact that this Bill is just a knee-jerk and girls, but for the Opposition to say that they will reaction to the Extinction Rebellion protests last year, vote against the whole Bill at this early stage—to vote and it appears to be a deliberate curb on free speech and against the aims and principles of the Bill—is to try to the right to protest peacefully. make such amendments impossible. It is also blatantly I enjoy a very good relationship with South Wales opportunistic. They had no such in-principle objections police, and I would like to pay tribute to the officers last week; there was no sense that the clauses on protests from the neighbourhood teams across Gower, the new or street safety, or the relative number of mentions of chief constable and the Labour police and crime women and statues, were so bad that the whole Bill had commissioner. One of my biggest concerns about the to be rejected. Last week, the Opposition were just new proposal is that its measures pit the public against planning to abstain on Second Reading. That in itself the police, creating a wedge at a time when we should be was pretty craven and showed Labour’sweak commitment building up trust. We all know where the buck stops, to law and order, but now they have been blown off the from the disgusting images we saw on Clapham Common fence and blown into voting against the whole Bill. at the weekend: it is firmly with the Home Secretary and They faced a test this week: would the party, under its this Government. Until the Government disclose the new leader, stand for law and order, or would it stand minutes of the Home Secretary’s meetings with the Met for gestures? It faced that test and failed it, and the on Friday, we can only judge from her own social public will notice. media, and it does not take a genius to work out where Of course it is right that we use this occasion to the blame lies. discuss the abuse and misogyny that women suffer every I am sure we have all had distressing casework around day in this country. Some of this abuse is already illegal, the difficult issue of rape. The derisory conviction rate of but all of it must be deprecated in the strongest terms, 3% stems in part from the burden that is put on the police because all of it has its root in male disrespect of to pull together enough evidence to take to the Crown women. This is not a modern phenomenon. I am afraid Prosecution Service. Cut after cut means that they do to say that it is as old as time and it is written on almost not have the time or the resources to do that successfully, every page of human history. But something else is and this has created a system that is failing women and written in our history too: the attempts by society to that fails to recognise the significance to society of all contain male violence and male disrespect. aspects of violence against women. We all know that 231 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 232 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Tonia Antoniazzi] that a few cause them distress and loss of amenity. They do not question the right to protest, but they do not institutional misogyny exists in many organisations, but accept becoming prisoners in their own home and the misogyny is a societal problem, and society is now at a distress that they often feel as a result of a small crossroads. minority of protesters. Criminality is what the Bill aims Last week on the Armed Forces Bill Committee, we to prevent, and that is surely something that everyone in heard evidence about prosecuting crimes, including rape, this place wants to achieve. through the military courts. Yesterday I asked the Home Secretary about the attitude of some of the armed forces 4.54 pm towards victims of male violence and, frankly, it really is worth taking the time to read the transcript of the Ian Byrne (Liverpool, West Derby) (Lab) [V]: I will evidence session, because in 2021, for men with fancy be voting against this Bill: it is a pernicious piece of titles to have such ignorant views is really distressing. I legislation and it must be stopped in its tracks today. have a huge amount of respect and admiration for those Yesterday the right hon. Member for Maidenhead who serve in the police force and the armed forces, but (Mrs May) mentioned “unintended consequences”. we must make sure that they are not part of the problem I respectfully disagree with the “unintended”. The and instead part of the solution. As politicians, it is our Government have brought forward a Bill knowing that responsibility to ensure that the full force of the law is it will criminalise people who want to make their voices always used to protect our citizens and keep them safe. and opinions heard on the future of this nation. It is a huge Bill that this Government are determined to bust 4.51 pm through the House of Commons at the same time as the unacceptable state tactics used at Clapham Common at Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Westminster) the weekend and at the Black Lives Matter protests last (Con): There is much to welcome in this far-reaching year. Despite this, and despite a shameful history of Bill, with tougher sentences for violent crime, for child callous injustices such as the events of Orgreave and murderers and for sex offenders, with greater efforts to Hillsborough, and the spy cops and blacklisting scandals, remove knives and weapons from our streets, and with this Government have doubled down and brought in the inclusion of Kay’s law to provide greater protection the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) for those who find the bravery to speak up against Act 2021 and now this Bill. violence and sexual offences in their own homes. I could go on, but in the time I have, I will focus on an issue that The Bill attacks civil liberties; threatens already limited greatly affects my constituency—namely, the right to rights to protest, march and demonstrate; risks worsening protest outside this place, in the heart of my constituency. the racial and gender disparities in the criminal justice system; expands stop-and-search powers; and further The recent history of legislating on protests outside criminalises Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Parliament makes for interesting reading. Labour Members It extends powers to police protests so that those causing who question the Bill’s impact on the freedom to engage what it calls “serious annoyance” could be faced with in democratic protest may wish to cast their minds back the prospect of 10 years in prison. As a former trade to sections 132 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime union organiser for Unite, and someone who has marched and Police Act 2005, in which a Labour Government and protested against injustices all my life, I am certain prohibited protest within a kilometre of Parliament that had this legislation existed then, it would have without prior agreement with the . risked criminalising every single person I marched alongside. Fortunately, the Conservative Government repealed those It represents a real and serious danger to those speaking restrictive sections in 2011. out about injustices going forward. Within this Bill are If this weekend has taught us anything, it is that there measures that excessively impact Gypsy, Roma and is a huge difference between a peaceful vigil where Traveller communities. The director of Liberty has said: people come together to express shared grief and outrage, “If enacted, these proposals would expose already marginalised and protests that take place day after day for weeks on communities to profiling and disproportionate police powers end and that can occasionally bring unpleasant disruption …and…communities may face increased police enforcement through to those living and working locally. Central London has the criminalisation of trespass.” seen changes in the way that protests are organised and This Bill must be voted down. As my hon. Friend the in their longevity. They are not always organised by Member for Streatham (Bell Ribeiro-Addy) said, this specific groups. They are movements, often with different is draconian legislation. I make a plea to all the aims and objectives. Some come to protest peacefully, parliamentarians who sit in this House and talk about but others may have the aim of causing disruption and civil liberties to step up to the plate, reject the politics of even destruction. I believe passionately in the right to division, and reject a Bill that shames this House and protest; it is one of the values we hold so dear in this everything it is supposed to stand for. country. The clauses in the Bill do not restrict the right to lawful protest. What they do is bring static protests into line with the provisions that already exist. 4.57 pm I accept that some of the language in the Bill could Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con) [V]: Despite benefit from tightening up, and I am sure that that will events in London over the weekend, I would like to be done as the Bill progresses. Much has been highlighted thank our police forces throughout the country for all about the democratic and human right to protest, and I their hard work in carrying out their duties, in a somewhat agree, but let us not forget the human rights of my tricky balancing act at times, throughout the pandemic. constituents who live with over 500 protests or marches Mistakes have clearly been made by some, but this a year. I see a huge spike in my mailbag when Westminster cannot detract from the good work done by most forces plays host to a major protest, with constituents highlighting throughout the country. 233 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 234 Courts Bill Courts Bill Sussex police, led by Chief Constable Jo Shiner and have finally responded. There are some welcome measures police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne, have in the Bill that reflect the hard work of many colleagues consistently exercised a calm and consent-based approach who have campaigned for change, but I would like to throughout the pandemic, engaging with the public, raise two specific issues. explaining Government advice to help prevent the spread First, clause 164 paves the way for deaf people to sit of coronavirusinourcommunities,encouragingcompliance, as jurors in England and Wales. Previously, language and using enforcement only as a last resort where service professionals have not been allowed to enter people refuse to comply. We must not forget that the the deliberation room, so anyone requiring in-person police are the public and the public are the police. We all communication support has been barred from jury service. have a duty in community safety and welfare. However, I ask the Minister to consider whether it is Much has been said over the past few days about the drafted too narrowly. The clause allows for a British right to protest: a new crackdown on protest, curbing Sign Language interpreter to support a deaf juror, but civil liberties, and putting rights fundamental to our of the 900,000 UK residents with profound or severe democracy at risk. This Bill does not do that. It is hearing loss, only around 100,000 use BSL as their first indeed our fundamental right to protest: to gather and language. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group to have a voice. No one is stopping that. But for some on deafness, I know that a large number of deaf people protestors, peaceful protest is just not enough. Last can only participate when they are supported by a year in London, for example, we saw extreme disruptive speech-to-text reporter, so will the Minister clarify how tactics in the Extinction Rebellion march that reportedly this affects them? Will a speech-to-text reporter also be cost the Metropolitan police £16 million. That is not provided in the deliberation room? Will the Minister police money; it is taxpayers’ money that would be consider amending the clause to use a catch-all term, to better spent on, say, nature-based solutions to climate give the Courts Service more flexibility to meet the change. This fundamental right does not come with a needs of all deaf jurors? right to act in a criminal way—to be violent or disruptive. Secondly, I would like to raise concerns about the There is no freedom without justice. effectiveness of measures in the Bill to tackle dangerous The actions of perpetrators in committing criminal driving. The increase in the maximum penalty is welcome, damage and Public Order Acts offences and assaulting but we must review the definition of dangerous and members of the public or police officers executing their careless driving and formalise the role of driving bans duty are unlawful and unacceptable. There is no reason as a sentencing option for those whose actions have for peaceful demonstrations to turn disruptive or violent. clearly caused danger but who are not dangerous drivers Unfortunately, even good causes often attract a malign who need to be imprisoned. I would also like to see element hellbent on using such a cause as a platform to stronger penalties for hit-and-run offences or where showcase their own agendas, undermining the aims and death or serious injury is caused by opening a car door message of the protest or demonstration that they have unsafely. Cyclists deserve better protection. Finally, the attached themselves to on that particular day. Government need to close the loophole that allows We have all witnessed the extreme disruption that convicted drivers to evade driving bans by claiming some protests have caused, stopping people getting on exceptional hardship. I hope the Minister will consider with their daily lives, hampering the free press and amendments on those matters. blocking access to roads, bridges and businesses, including 5.3 pm Parliament, and even hospitals. We cannot confuse current coronavirus regulations with a new Bill that James Murray (Ealing North) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: The introduces sensible measures to deal with disruptive need to protect women and girls from violence and the behaviours while maintaining a right to peaceful protest. importance of protecting our fundamental right to Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will protest are both long-standing issues that have been make violent revolution inevitable. I welcome and support brought into sharp focus by what has happened in the Bill, because as a Conservative, I stand for justice recent days. We should be using the Bill before us to put and for law and order. in place long overdue protections for women against violence, including domestic homicides, rape and street 5 pm harassment. We should be doing something about the fact that fewer people are prosecuted and convicted for (Nottingham South) (Lab) [V]: I rape now than at any time since records began, at a time would like to begin by echoing the comments of my when the number of reported rapes is increasing. We hon. and right hon. Friends yesterday and today who should be tackling the misogynistic attitudes that underpin have registered our concerns about the Bill, our disbelief the abuse women face. Those at the vigil for Sarah that this Government are seeking to treat attacks on Everard in Clapham on Saturday, like my constituents statues as more important than attacks on women, our who got in touch with me last year about what happened opposition to disproportionate restrictions on the right to Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry in Wembley, to protest and the missed opportunity to protect women want us to change as a society. Like so many others who and girls from violence and the hatred that underpins it. have spoken out for such a long time, they want us as Nottinghamshire police and our police and crime MPs, and as men in particular, to listen and to act. But commissioner, Paddy Tipping, have shown the way by rather than use the Bill as an opportunity to act in treating misogyny as a hate crime, and the Government support of women demanding to be able to walk the need to follow. streets without fear, it is instead being used to attack I remind the House that the Crown court backlog our fundamental rights as citizens by limiting the right is failing victims and witnesses. I welcome today’s to protest. Those assembled on Saturday were part of a announcement of a Nightingale court for Nottingham. vigil, yet they have drawn attention to the Government’s It has taken too long, but I am glad that the Government plans to restrict our right to protest with this Bill. 235 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 236 Courts Bill Courts Bill [James Murray] noise—the drums, horns and loudspeakers. Policing these so-called events costs a huge amount of money and, Protest is the foundation of our democracy. Like with Parliament being the seat of democracy, our work many Members of Parliament, I have protested outside should not be disrupted. of this place for far longer than I have been within it. Finally, I am delighted that the campaign of my right The right to protest must be protected for us all, and I hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford will use my position in here to do all that I can to defend (Mr Francois), which he started in 2018 to make deliberate it. The attempt to restrict our right to protest is not a sign acts of trespass a criminal rather than a civil offence, of a Government who are confident with the country has been successful. After a large number of Travellers that they seek to represent. The right to protest is a long set up encampments on Snakes Lane in Eastwood, many and deeply held part of British democracy. The Bill’s of my constituents complained about an increase in attempt to allow the police to restrict protest because of vandalism, crime and antisocial behaviour. I fully support “the noise generated by persons taking part” the Home Secretary in her decision to amend the existing would make a mockery of our rights. powers to remove trespassers, and I wish this Bill well. It is shameful that, rather than attack the injustices that people are protesting about, this Government seek 5.9 pm to attack the very right to protest itself. There are measures in the Bill that I and other Labour Members Mick Whitley (Birkenhead) (Lab) [V]: I draw the welcome, but the way it targets Gypsies, Travellers and attention of the House to my entry in the Register of Roma, fails to address violence against women and Members’ Financial Interests. girls, and seeks to attack our right to protest mean that It is a matter of deep regret that, after the deeply it is something that we must oppose. As MPs we can use tragic events of the last week, the Government have our votes today to voice our opposition to this Bill. It decided to move forward with this Bill, which does far would be inexcusable to use those votes to silence the too little to protect women and goes too far in restricting voices of protest outside. the right to peaceful protest. I am immensely grateful to all my hon. Friends who have spoken so movingly in 5.6 pm opposition to this Bill over the last two days. Sir (Southend West) (Con): The Second As a lifelong trade unionist and a veteran of countless Reading of a Bill is, for me, about the principle of the picket lines and demonstrations, I want to speak specifically legislation. As a candidate at the last general election, I to the implications of this Bill for our right to peacefully stood on the Government’s manifesto to make this protest. This is a matter of huge significance to my country safer by taking more effective action against constituents. In the last few days alone, I have been crime. Colleagues have the opportunity both in Committee inundated with messages urging me to speak up against and on Report to amend the Bill if they so wish. I say to this Bill from teenage climate strikers, anti-racist my hon. Friend the Minister that I was slightly disappointed campaigners and health workers opposed to the that the issue of “released under investigation” was not privatisation of the national health service. included in this particular Bill, but I am very glad that We must not forget that without protest, agitation the has announced today that we will be and industrial action, the freedoms we most cherish looking again at the role of police and crime commissioners. today would never have been won. People protest remains Local residents in my constituency have been shocked a vital democratic freedom and the very lifeblood of about a murder in Old Leigh and violent activities in any healthy democracy. Now the Government plan to Chalkwell Park. I raised the issue of knife crime in the impose unprecedented new restrictions on the ability of Chamber earlier this month and was told by the Prime citizens to make their voices heard, and I urge all Minister that we have more than 6,000 Members to vote against them. The additional restrictions “of our target extra 20,000 police already recruited.”—[Official that this Bill looks likely to impose on the right to Report, 3 March 2021; Vol. 690, c. 247.] public assembly are far too broad. They will do little to I hope that Essex police recruit enough police officers to improve public safety, but much to deter people from stop any more violent crime. exercising their democratic right to the streets. The This debate is taking place against a background of introduction of an exclusion zone around Parliament an horrendous murder. It appears that the management means that the voices of protestors simply will not of the Metropolitan police needs to give a far better and reach those who need to hear them most—us. fuller explanation of how it handled recent events. We should also all be concerned by the potential There should also be an external independent investigation, impact of this Bill on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller or a public inquiry,into the Metropolitan police’shandling communities. These are some of the most marginalised of . My former colleague and and discriminated against people in our country, and parliamentary neighbour,,and my former they are all too often the victims of social exclusion, colleague, the late Home Secretary, , among racial profiling and police brutality. Instead of using others, have been denied justice for far too long. The this Bill as an opportunity to honour their commitments Metropolitan police must not act as judge and jury on to rooting out racial prejudice in all its forms, the its own failings. There should be a full-scale debate in Government have instead launched an attack on the Parliament on Operation Midland and on who should very way of life of many Roma and Travellers by be held to account. criminalising trespass. The Home Office says that this My office looks over . I have long Bill is about making communities safer, but this Bill will complained about the endless demonstrations that take in fact leave GRT communities far less safe, more at risk place on this very busy roundabout. It is absolutely of criminal prosecution and even of having their homes ridiculous. It is very difficult to work because of the and property confiscated. Will the Home Secretary now 237 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 238 Courts Bill Courts Bill listen to the voices of police officers, who overwhelmingly Black Lives Matter protesters in London were kettled oppose these hard-line measures, and favour adequate and photographed and asked to provide their names as site provision as a means of dealing with unauthorised a condition of their liberty, with no legal basis, yet encampments? I will be voting against the Bill. police allowed football fans to party on the streets of Glasgow and even gave them a police escort to their 5.12 pm destination of choice. Then, last weekend, police officers manhandled and detained women protesting the alleged Jerome Mayhew (Broadland) (Con): This Bill works abduction and murder of a woman, with which a police to ensure that the criminal justice system continues to officer is charged. It is hard to imagine a more egregious reflect the views of society, delivering on our manifesto misuse of police powers. commitments, and I welcome it. All this has occurred because the law on protest in a I welcome the requirement for serious offenders sentenced pandemic is not clear, but the provisions in this Bill to to four years and more to serve two thirds of their curtail the right to protest beyond the pandemic are sentences before release on licence, rather than just even worse. The Bill affords significantly expanded powers 50%. Automatically releasing serious criminals on licence to the police to stop protests that would cause “serious well before their sentence is due to expire brings the unease” and creates criminal penalties for people causing criminal justice system into disrepute with ordinary “serious annoyance”. But causing annoyance is part of people and, more importantly, with the reasonable our freedom of speech. If a protest can be prevented for expectations of the victims of crime. While I recognise being annoying, any protest can be prevented. that early release and sentence are an important management tool for the prison population, the message All movements for change involve an element of needs to be clear that their sentence is what they serve. peaceful protest. Think of the suffragettes. I am sure many of us did when we saw the photographs from Labour is wrong to argue that police powers to search Clapham common on Saturday night. If women cannot a person who has already been convicted of knife crime speak up to protest their rights, what is our society without additional suspicion is somehow an unjustifiable coming to? Yes, the Extinction Rebellion protests may attack on their freedoms. My view is that if they do not have been very annoying to those of us going about our want to be considered a risk of carrying a knife, then business on London’s streets and public transport, but they should not be convicted of carrying one in the first those protesters were protesting the biggest problem of place. These court orders will help ordinary, law-abiding our age—climate change—and I think that gives them people to be protected. This is where our focus should the right to be a bit annoying. be, and it is. We have now seen what can happen when the law Labour is also against powers to help the police to governing our right to protest is unclear. The same manage the new wave of protest direct action, where problems will occur if the margin of discretion granted the aim is not so much to protest as to cause chaos and to the police and the Home Secretary is left as wide as it inconvenience to as many people as possible. We all have currently is in this Bill. Although these legal changes a right to protest and to make sure that our voices are will have force only in England and Wales, they will heard, but it is a right to protest, not to prevent. Whyshould impact people living in Scotland. There is a long tradition one section of the public have an unfettered right to of Scots travelling to London to protest. We saw that impose massive disruption on the rest of society? What most recently with the huge demonstrations against about their right to get on with life? Where competing Brexit, and past examples include the fight against rights clash, the law must maintain a balance. Modern section 28 and the fight of the anti-war movement. protest movements, such as XR, game the system, and Parliamentarians, whether of left or right, should disruption, not peaceful protest, is their objective. The never be in the business of giving Governments and law needs to adjust to maintain the balance of competing police forces powers to stifle dissent, particularly where rights, and I think this Bill helps to achieve that. there is a risk that those powers will be used against Is this new power open to abuse? Yes it is, like every those whose beliefs make the Government and the power that the police have, but there is no difference establishment of the day uncomfortable. I would say the between this power and every other power that we loan same if I were worried that the Scottish Government to the police. It is open to challenge and review through were in danger of curtailing freedom of expression—and the press and the courts. As a democracy, we are well indeed I have, which is part of the reason I am making used to holding those in power to account. Every single this speech from the Back Benches. member of the public has the power to become a citizen journalist immediately through their phone. As a result, 5.18 pm the police are subject to review and oversight like never before. Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Con) [V]: This is a thorough, ambitious and necessary Bill. Ministers This Bill has ordinary people at its heart, sticking know that the public expect those in positions of authority up for their priorities. It delivers on manifesto promises. to be subject to scrutiny and actively prevented from As such, it is democracy in action, and I will be abusing their power. Those who seek power in order to supporting it. do bad things must not be tolerated. That is true of those in sports and religious settings, as it is of those in 5.15 pm education, medical, care and justice settings. I welcome Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) (SNP) [V]: the extension of position of trust measures to protect During the pandemic, our civil liberties have been curtailed more young people. in a way that was previously unimaginable. Most of us Staffordshire police and our local emergency services have accepted that in order to protect life and public have shown the dedication to duty that the public health, but along the way injustices have occurred. expect and have done us proud in Stoke-on-Trent during 239 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 240 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Jo Gideon] for rape. Rape and sexual violence prosecutions are at their lowest ever level in England and Wales, and domestic the pandemic. The Home Secretary knows how important abuse prosecutions are down 19%, yet the Government it is to support emergency workers, including police are worried about statues. officers, who dedicate their working lives to keeping us In Bristol, of course, we know all about statues. safe. She knows they must be protected by the force of When Colston fell, I called out the Home Secretary for law, within the rule of law. her completely unwarranted attack on Avon and Somerset I therefore welcome the provisions for longer maximum police over their policing of the protests. Now, the sentences for those who assault emergency workers. Too independent report that the Home Secretary herself often we read comments from judges that they would commissioned has praised the decisions that the police have imposed more substantial punishment if they had made at the time and said that her criticisms of them been able to do so. It is right that we in this House were misguided. Last summer, we showed how protests enable justice to be done, and that includes against could and should be policed. The city and our Mayor those who desecrate war memorials. responded with dignity and maturity in the aftermath, It is also right that we seek to prevent crime from setting up the We Are Bristol history commission and being committed in the first place and that, where it has starting a city-wide conversation. We used that moment been committed, we rehabilitate those who commit it, to bring the city together. as well as punishing them. Effective community safety The Government are now doing the exact opposite. partnerships are key to reducing serious violent crime, The Communities Secretary wrote an op-ed for The and I am glad the Bill provides for their remit to do so. Telegraph, saying: Too often we see the twisted morality of gangs and “We will save Britain’s statues from the woke militants who extremist allegiances leading to violence. It is right that want to censor our past”. those who commit such crimes should not be able to We know what that is about: stoking social and cultural walk free from prison after just half their sentence and anxieties to win votes, seeking out not what we have in that Ministers should be able to refer to the Parole common but what divides us, and fanning the flames. Board the expected automatic release of individuals Now, whether it is Black Lives Matter, Reclaim the who pose a serious threat, including those who pose a Streets, the school climate strikes or just someone who terrorist threat. wants to pay tribute to a murdered woman by lighting a In Stoke-on-Trent, sadly, we know that the danger candle and holding a vigil, people are all collateral posed by a small number of individual extremists is damage in the Government’s trumped-up war on woke. very real indeed. We also know that almost everyone That is why I will be voting against the Bill tonight. else is law-abiding, or redeemable if they are ex- offenders. It is not just what is in the Bill; it is also what is Therefore, just as I welcome tougher sentences, meaningful missing. Labour’sproposals to increase minimum sentences cautions and stricter parole for those from whom we for rapists and stalkers, to make misogyny a hate crime need protection, I also welcome the provisions for the and to create a new street harassment law are not in rehabilitation of ex-offenders who have corrected their the Bill. Nor is our proposal that someone convicted of behaviour. the abduction, sexual assault and murder of a stranger I judge this Bill on how it delivers for Stoke-on-Trent. should be eligible for a whole-life order. The Bill could It provides for tackling the threat of radicalisation and have sent out a strong signal that the Government do for tackling serious violence, public nuisance and the take women’s safety seriously. It could have been so rehabilitation of ex-offenders. I am proud to vote for much better. I urge the Government to stop playing this wide-ranging Bill, which delivers on our manifesto politics and to start protecting women. commitment. 5.24 pm 5.21 pm Stephen Farry (North Down) (Alliance) [V]: This Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab) [V]: I want to legislation marks an undermining of human rights and start by remembering Sarah Everard and all women civil liberties. It represents a slide toward authoritarianism. who have died at the hands of violent men. Like all We have seen other legislative restrictions on human women, I have known what it is like to be scared when rights in the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel you are wondering whether you will make it home—taking and Veterans) Bill and the Covert Human Intelligence the long way round to avoid dark places, moving carriages Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act 2021. A fresh look at on the train to avoid men, and hearing footsteps behind the Human Rights Act and the right to judicial review you and then being hugely relieved when they pass by. I are looming. It must be seen in the wider context of have also known what it is like to be subjected to abuse manufacturing wedge issues and creating arbitrary divisions and assaults and to not bother reporting them, because within society as part of the politics of distraction from those things are so much part of the everyday experience genuine social, economic and environmental challenges. of being a woman. I also know what it is like not to be We should focus instead on reinforcing the norms and taken seriously when you do report them. foundations of liberal society, including democracy, This Bill does not take violence against women and human rights and shared public space. girls seriously either. I simply cannot imagine any scenario The Bill is so flawed that it should be rejected outright where an attack on a statue could be more serious than on Second Reading. Events of the past weekend relating a rape, no matter how important the man it commemorates to the vigil for Sarah Everard only reinforce that view. —and let’s face it: it will be a man. Yet that is exactly This is a major test for all MPs, and I am pleased that what this Bill suggests, with a 10-year maximum sentence many colleagues across a range of parties understand for harming statues and a five-year minimum sentence that, but there is a major challenge tonight facing the 241 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 242 Courts Bill Courts Bill so-called and self-styled Conservative libertarians. Liberal and put themselves and other people in danger by riding principles, human rights and civil liberties are not some their off-road bikes around the streets and on Eston Hills. form of pick and mix, to be selected only when they suit I know from those who live in the area that this causes a particular political agenda. Any necessary element of great concern, so I welcome the new resources in the the Bill, including those applying to Northern Ireland, Bill that will help to fix that dreadful situation for them. can readily be presented again by the Government via a The Bill also introduces new measures to crack down different piece of legislation. on repeat offenders. In Redcar and Cleveland, we have had Of many dangerous aspects of the Bill, the most a recurring problem of low-value thefts from cars and dangerous is the attack on the right to protest—a garages, due largely to the system’s inability to enforce cornerstone of democracy and a critical mechanism for proper sentences for repeat offenders. The Bill will help to holding power to account. It reminds me of the ill-advised change that, but new resources and measures can only and ill-fated proposed Public Assemblies, Parades and go so far. What we need in Redcar and Cleveland is Protests Bill in Northern Ireland. which went out to leadership and a police and crime commissioner my public consultation in 2010. Thankfully, better sense constituents can be proud of. We have had six chief prevailed and it was dropped. Protests have become constables in eight years, and a damning verdict from seminal moments in the UK’s history, with the protests Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in 2019, which against the Iraq war and against Brexit standing out in described Cleveland police as the “worst force” in recent memory. Protests have been a source of the country. empowerment for the politically marginalised and a Our officers are not at fault. They are being failed by powerful tool for securing rights for minorities. Recently, the force’s leadership and by Labour’s police and crime protests have been central to challenging institutional commissioner. I have full confidence in Chief Constable racism and misogyny. It is why protests work, and the Richard Lewis to turn the fate of our force around, but Government know that. we need an effective police and crime commissioner to Protests invariably involve a degree of nuisance and hold the force’s leadership to account. I urge people inconvenience—it goes with the territory. Nuisance and across Teesside to vote for better policing, and to vote excessive noise are not the same as illegality; they are not Conservative and for Steve Turner on 6 May. the same as violence. These are not even powers the police themselves are seeking; rather, they will put the police in 5.30 pm a much more challenging and invidious position. Rebecca Long Bailey (Salford and Eccles) (Lab) [V]: It is staggering that less than a month after the Pontins Many of the rights we enjoy today were won not blacklist brought to light just some of the discrimination because of politicians with great ideas, but because faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, the people came together and demanded that their voices Government’s response is to propose legislation to further be heard. The Peterloo massacre caused politicians to erode the rights of those communities. pass the Great Reform Act 1832, the suffragist movement forced politicians to grant women the right to vote, and 5.27 pm the striking Ford machinists and campaign for women’s Jacob Young (Redcar) (Con): My constituents have equal rights inspired the Equal Pay Act 1970. waited a long time for the justice system to feel like it is Our right to be heard is about to be eroded by one putting victims before criminals, and this Bill will deliver of the most pernicious pieces of legislation I have that, with tougher sentences for assaulting emergency ever seen. Provisions in the Bill enable restrictions to be workers, stricter conditions on bail in high-harm cases, placed on freedom of assembly and association, which including domestic abuse, increased jail time for sex arguably contravenes article 11 of the Human Rights offenders and child abusers, and extra funding for violence Act. Alarmingly, the Home Secretary will have the power reduction, including knife crime. This Government are to define what constitutes a “serious disruption” with making our communities safer. regard to protests, allowing the Government to effectively In 2020, someone was more likely to be a victim of determine what protests can and cannot take place. violent crime in the Cleveland force area than anywhere More insidious is the principle whereby protestors who else in the country, yet we missed out on violence “intentionally or recklessly cause a public nuisance”, reduction funding because of the criteria being based by causing what is termed “a serious annoyance” can be on the number of hospital admissions. When Ministers subject to jail sentences of up to 10 years. A “serious revisit the fund, I urge them to review the criteria so that annoyance” is purposely not defined, which should send Cleveland can benefit from the additional funding and chills down the spine of anyone who believes in democracy. bring a special violence unit to Teesside—something The Bill also fails to address the bias and discrimination championed by Theresa Cave and the Chris Cave that persists within our justice system. Indeed, the newly Foundation. created serious violence reduction orders, which would Outside violent crime, when it comes to tackling petty allow the power to stop and search a person at any time, crime and antisocial behaviour,the role of neighbourhood in any place, and even when completely free of suspicion, policing—better known as common-sense policing—must is at risk of being applied disproportionately to black not be underestimated. For that reason, I congratulate and minority ethnic communities. The proposals to the Government on their recruitment of 146 extra police criminalise “unauthorised encampments” and establish officers for Cleveland, which will help to keep people trespass as a criminal offence, effectively criminalise the safe in our town centres and elsewhere. way of life for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Antisocial behaviour is not limited to town centres, The Bill does not include any specific measures to and residents in TS6 have been experiencing it for far prevent male violence against women, and it does nothing too long. TS6 is a regular meeting place for illegal to address decades of underfunding for the sector tackling off-road bikers, who cause great nuisance to local residents violence against women and girls. 243 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 244 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Rebecca Long Bailey] the confected outrage we have heard today, and of course the Committee stage will provide for that. For a What of the right to speak out against such injustices former Director of Public Prosecutions to use a few when the Bill is enacted? The Bill fundamentally erodes bullet points on social media to contrast the maximum those rights, and consigns them to the history books, sentence for one offence with the starting point for only to be told to our children, like a fairy tale of another offence is beneath the standards of both the freedoms gone by. right hon. and learned Gentleman’s current and former “When people are free to choose, they choose freedom.” office, and, I suspect, is something that will, on reflection, Those are not my words; they are the words of Margaret be regretted. Ten years has long been the maximum Thatcher. The reality of her tenure was very different, penalty for criminal damage. Forgive me, but I must but frighteningly, her successors are now writing an have missed the right hon. and learned Gentleman’s even darker dystopian tale of their own, and it seems previous campaign for sentencing starting points to be our freedoms play no part in that at all. calibrated around that. This is a serious Bill dealing with serious issues and it 5.33 pm deserves proper scrutiny. We should expect more from Dr Kieran Mullan (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con) [V]: I the Leader of the Opposition. welcome measures in the Bill that will help to ensure that our justice system better reflects what the silent, 5.36 pm law-abiding majority rightly expect of it. There has never been public support for letting people out halfway (Cynon Valley) (Lab) [V]: The Secretary through their sentences. Most of the public would always of State no doubt thought that she could rush this Bill have wanted child murderers to spend the rest of their through Parliament, grouping mundane and relatively lives in prison, and the majority would feel that justice positive changes with sweeping attacks on our civil was done if people who murder, rape and sexually abuse liberties, and thought no one would notice. Last night, others spent much longer in prison than they currently thousands protested against the Bill and against the use do. We are addressing those issues. of excessive force by the police, and many more attended vigils over the weekend in memory of Sarah Everard, The Conservative party is making changes to ensure Wenjing Lin and all women affected by and lost to a justice system that does a better job of delivering violence. I am greatly saddened and angry that the vigil justice. The tragic loss of Sarah Everard, and the women in Clapham descended into violence due to heavy-handed victims who have spoken out, remind us how important policing. That contrasts with how demonstrations are that is. Although the measures in the Bill are much managed in Wales, where policing has been, in the welcomed, and the Government can be proud of bringing words of First Minister , sensitive and them forward, I hope that over time we do more. I still proportionate. I also share his concerns about the Bill. do not understand how someone can rape a child and not, as a default, expect to spend the rest of their life in Democracy is so much more than just ticking a box prison. I do not understand how someone could murder once every five years. It is a continuous process which someone, robbing decades from them and their families, involves protests, rallies, picket lines and outpourings of and come out of jail fewer than 20 years later. Even the grief, as we all saw and experienced this weekend. It term “life sentence” is an insult to victims and their means being able to uphold our hard-fought fundamental families. It is as if the threat of someone being recalled democratic rights. The Bill introduces worrying new to prison if they commit another offence is in any way restrictions on the ability to protest, allowing the police akin to being locked up. to make highly subjective judgements on what may result in the “intimidation or harassment” of bystanders There remains, I am afraid, an intellectual snobbery or cause them “annoyance” or around law and order in too many parts of the judicial establishment, which has decided for a long time now “serious unease, alarm or distress.” that people who think that justice is served by criminals It also allows the Secretary of State to curtail protests being locked up for longer are unsophisticated, do not through secondary legislation if she judges them to be understand crime or reoffending, and are acting on some disruptive—an incredibly concerning development. kind of unworthy baser instincts. We have, importantly, By limiting the type of protests that can take place made a start today and I am very glad to support these outside Parliament, this Parliament risks becoming even measures. more detached, even more of a bubble than it already is, Of course, nothing I have said stops our justice divorced from the very real concerns of the people we system doing much more to rehabilitate offenders who are elected to represent. Since becoming an MP, I have commit less serious offences, diverting people away joined protests outside Parliament alongside people from a life of crime. Not only is that the right thing to from my constituency in Cynon Valley, to save jobs in do, but it will free up prison spaces so that we can go Wales and demonstrate about climate change. further in locking up hardened criminals who should be I would also like to speak out against this Bill for locked up. I know the Justice Secretary is passionate criminalising the way of life for many in the Gypsy, about delivering a range of measures within and Roma and Traveller community, who already experience accompanying the Bill to do just that, and I welcome some of the starkest inequalities of any ethnic group in those equally. the United Kingdom. Having worked with people in As for the Opposition, I humbly suggest that yesterday this community, I can bear witness to the inequalities really was a new low for the right hon. and learned and hardships they suffer daily.In addition, the legislation Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer). introduces new measures likely to further criminalise We all recognise that any change in the laws around young black men, who are already disproportionately protest should be carefully scrutinised, as opposed to targeted by stop and search. 245 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 246 Courts Bill Courts Bill The Bill takes completely the wrong approach to Those in my constituency who have seen such encampments policing and justice. We need proactive and preventative over the last decade—time and again they smash through solutions that address the underlying causes and inequalities fences in parks,sports grounds and dog walking fields—have that exist in our society.Investment is needed in measures seen their access and rights infringed and their children such as early intervention and rehabilitation, and intimidated, while some, although by no means all, community-based solutions, not reactive measures such Travellers lift two fingers to the injunction processes. as those contained in the Bill that punish and criminalise The Bill also doubles the sentence for assaults on often the most vulnerable and our most marginalised in emergency workers and includes Kay’s law. That is why society. I will be supporting the Bill, and I am frankly astonished The crisis in our police and justice system has been that everyone in this House is not doing so, with the created by a decade of cuts and failed Tory ideology. details to be discussed on Third Reading. The Bill fails to address that at the same time as it curtails our civil liberties. That is why I could never have 5.42 pm voted for this Bill and I urge everyone to stand with me Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green) [V]: This in opposing it. Diolch yn fawr. Bill is a disgrace. It is dangerous, undemocratic and disproportionate. 5.39 pm It is dangerous, because it is trying to neuter protests Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con): Thank you for and undermine our most precious rights, including calling me to speak in this debate, Madam Deputy freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and the Speaker. Anyone listening outside might imagine that right to peaceful protest. The Government are seeking Members were talking in different debates. On the one to impose far-reaching conditions that would have the hand, we hear Opposition Members echoing Unite the effect of shielding those in power from criticism. They union’scalling this Bill “dangerous, totalitarian legislation”, would make Greta Thunberg sitting alone with a placard and on the other, we have colleagues such as my right a potential criminal, and likewise all the brave and hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Sajid Javid) passionate young people who know that the future of and my hon. Friends the Members for Chatham humanity and our planet depend on peaceful protest and Aylesford (Tracey Crouch) and for Rushcliffe exposing just how inadequate Government action is (Ruth Edwards) praising the Bill’s extra protections for given the scale of the climate and nature emergencies, children from sex offenders, and for emergency workers yet the Home Secretary wants the power to decide from attacks in our hospitals, ambulances and police whether these protests are necessary, too noisy or causing stations. What is going on? too much disruption, so that she can silence any criticism that does not meet her approval. By increasing the The confusion comes, I believe, from a conflation maximum penalty for exercising the right to protest, the after the ghastly death of Sarah Everard between the Government are creating new restrictions on where they policing of the peaceful vigil on Clapham common can take place, eliminating important aspects of human under emergency pandemic laws to maintain social rights law that require the state to facilitate protests. She distancing, and measures in the Bill to legislate on wants to deter any dissent yet further. public order, which are in part 3 of this vast Bill. The point is that they are separate issues. Let us not forget The Bill is undemocratic, too. The Government are the core aim of the Bill, which is laid out on page 1. It is rushing it through Parliament, with just a week between not domestic abuse, which is covered in a separate Bill publication and Second Reading. It is a knee-jerk reaction that is also live at the moment, but safety and protection, to last year’s Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion as the introduction makes clear. protests, because some right-wing MPs did not like them. It is over three years since I raised, after meeting In particular, the process is silencing the voices of constituents’ parents, the issue of the grooming of marginalised communities who should be heard, as well young people by a driving instructor and a sports as the MPs who seek to represent them. Just this weekend, coach. Any Member who has read the National Society we have seen who else is in the Government’ssights.Women for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s case studies attending peaceful vigils in memory of Sarah Everard would not oppose the core principle of the Bill, which is were pinned to the ground simply for exercising their the changes in the position of trust clauses. They are a rights, which brings me on to disproportionality. major step forward that every parent and teacher should not just welcome, but applaud. Will the Lord Chancellor, Having seen the response from police on Clapham either when he is on his feet later or on Third Reading, common on Saturday night, it beggars belief that the confirm that driving instructors are covered by clause 45(2)? Government are giving more powers and discretion to them via this legislation. As one of the few MPs to have When Opposition Members complain that there is been arrested during a peaceful protest—in my case, not enough to help women and girls in this Bill, I urge against fracking—and subsequently after a week’s court them to realise that the vast majority of those better case acquitted of any wrongdoing, I can tell the Home protected through clauses 44 and 45 and, indeed, through Secretary that I have first-hand experience of the parts 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10—and much else—are in fact disproportionate action of the police. I was therefore women and girls. proud to co-sponsor a cross-party amendment that Nor should anyone be misled by part 4 and clause 61, sought to deny the Bill a Second Reading. The legislation which concern unauthorised encampments. They take will perpetuate the systemic risk that infects our criminal action against Travellers camping on land without justice system, including by expanding stop and search, permission of the owner, if they fail to comply with a which sees black men targeted, and by creating a new request to leave trespass offence that criminalises the life of nomadic “as soon as reasonably practicable”. Gypsy and Traveller communities. 247 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 248 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Caroline Lucas] 5.48 pm John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab) [V]: Women like Sarah Everard, Bibaa Henry and Harold Laski, professor at the London School of Nicole Smallman need more than extra street lighting. Economics and chair of the Labour party in the Attlee They, and countless other women, deserve a legislative period, said that in this country, we will not see the framework that upholds and defends their fundamental arrival of fascism with some dictator strutting in his rights. Every UK citizen will be affected by what is a uniform, bedecked in medals. Instead, the risk to our dangerous attack on our universal rights. I urge every freedom will come from the creeping, incremental erosion MP who believes in free speech and democracy to of our civil liberties, leading to harsh Conservative oppose this Bill. authoritarianism. This Bill is a step in that direction. It is a step in undermining the constitutional safeguards 5.45 pm of our liberty, secured over generations of protest and struggle. It threatens the very basic human freedom of (Bexhill and Battle) (Con): I have a assembly and association. very different view from the hon. Member for Brighton, The Bill is aimed not just at the traditional progressive Pavilion (Caroline Lucas), my near neighbour in Sussex, campaigners and trade unions; its target is the young—the on this Bill. I wish to focus on its positives regarding not younger generation that rejects the racism, sexism and just perpetrators of violence, but victims. I am amazed misogyny that permeate our society and understands that any Opposition party would vote against the Bill that its future is being placed at risk by the existential on Second Reading. They should rather engage with threat of climate change. Through their participation in making it better if they feel that there is more road to mobilisations such as Black Lives Matter and Extinction travel. Rebellion, the young have discovered their power; so, First, I pay my respects to the family of Sarah Everard, too, have this Government recognised the power of the a fellow graduate of Durham University, as is the young. The Bill is about ensuring that the younger Lord Chancellor. Our thoughts are with all her family generation are prevented from exercising that power. following this abhorrent crime. This morning, I paid my I caution the Government to learn from the past. For respects at the shrine that has been created at the centuries,our history has shown that when the Governments bandstand in Clapham common. have imposed legislation that strikes at the heart of our There are 24 Members of this House who can say liberties, our people simply refuse to accept and comply that they objected to the Coronavirus Act 2020 extension with unjust laws. If a Government persist, division and in September, which gave the police the powers to act in conflict are always the result, so I warn the Government the way that they did on Saturday evening. I have heard that they provoke our younger people at their peril. right hon. and hon. Members criticising the police for If anything defines the disgraceful depths to which carrying out actions under legislation that they did not this Government have sunk, it is the attack in this Bill oppose. I do not think it reflects well on this House on the last group in our society against whom it appears when we create powers for the police and then criticise that for some it is still acceptable to openly racially them for using them. When we look to give the police discriminate: the Traveller community. Under this Bill, more powers, and when they look at the Acts on they will suffer the threat of not only action by the demonstrations and say that they do not work, they police but even the loss of the homes in which they live. must quiver at the thought that they will be hung out to I urge colleagues to wake up to the threat of this Bill, dry by the very Members who did not oppose the and to vote against and defeat it at every stage of its legislation, and I ask all hon. Members to bear that in passage. That is what I commit to doing. mind. In the minute I have left, I will focus on a much 5.51 pm smaller shrine, a few hundred metres from the one I Ben Everitt (Milton Keynes North) (Con): I associate mentioned, for another victim of knife crime. I welcome myself with the heartfelt and genuine comments from the serious violence reduction orders in the Bill that will Members of all parties about the tragic circumstances be placed on known knife-crime offenders and give the around Sarah Everard’s death. My thoughts are with her police further powers to act. Some 275 lives were lost in family, her friends and her community. It is a terrible the last year to knife-related homicide. We do not hear time. Opposition Members have sought to equate the enough in the House about how we can help. Those policing of Saturday’s vigil with measures in the Bill that victims lost their life merely for being on the streets. are intended to protect the public from disruptive protests, As vice-chair of the all-party group on knife crime but those measures make up only a small part of the and violence reduction, I have worked cross-party on Bill. It is a knee-jerk reaction. It is populist. I think the the introduction of a serious violence duty. We have Labour party will regret taking the decision to oppose talked about the health strategy going across agencies, the Bill and will find itself on the wrong side of history. and making sure that there is a duty to report and act. Let us have a look at what the Labour party proposes This type of carrot, which is being brought in as well as to vote against tonight. Labour Members will be voting the stick that I just mentioned, will allow us to tackle against protecting women and children from sexual abuse; knife crime and hopefully reduce the number of lives against tougher punishment for perpetrators of serious tragically lost. sexual and violent crimes; against tougher community Time does not allow me to say more. There is much sentences, which would ensure that offenders give back more in the Bill that I really support but look to the to society; and against measures giving police the tools that Government do more on, including on the protection of they need to deal with the harms caused by unauthorised shop workers. That is why the Opposition should vote encampments—something that is very important to the for this Bill and make it better. people of Milton Keynes. 249 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 250 Courts Bill Courts Bill Labour Members will be voting against the introduction that will protect women and girls; changes that will target of a serious violence duty on specified authorities that violent crime; and changes that will provide the treatment will require them to work together to prevent and reduce and addiction support that are so often overlooked in serious violence; against extending whole-life orders for the criminal justice system. the premeditated murder of a child; against ending the automatic early release of dangerous criminals; and 5.57 pm against life sentences for killer drivers. (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/ The Bill will ensure that those who commit the most Co-op) [V]: I will not support the Bill tonight. I have heinous of crimes will spend the rest of their lives behind been contacted by many constituents over the past few bars. It will ensure that the police will have the powers weeks who have serious concerns about both what it and support that they need to make our communities does and does not contain, and not least about the lack safer. As we vote on the Bill tonight, we need to look of measures to protect women from violence and abuse. ourselves in the mirror. We need to be able to look our As my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood constituents in the eye. I know that I will be able to look Green (Catherine West) was just explaining, there are my constituents in the eye; will Labour Members be aspects of the Bill we would welcome or support, not able to do the same? least those drawing on initiatives by Labour Members, such as measures on protecting emergency workers 5.54 pm from assault and on tackling sexual abuse, and others Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab): It from the Lammy review, but this Bill is sadly deficient in is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Milton so many other respects. Keynes North (Ben Everitt), although I am a bit The Government could have worked with Members disappointed that he doubled down so hard on the most across this House to bring forward measures that adequately discriminated against group in Europe, the Gypsy and tackle serious crime, improve the policing and justice Traveller group. systems, tackle the violence against and abuse of women, I wish to speak about a group who do not receive a and protect our democratic rights to liberties, but they mention in this Bill—women. The killings of Sarah Everard, did not. The provisions on protest are deeply concerning Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, and the fallout and disturbing—I would describe them as draconian. from the policing of vigils or events to remember these Having organised and taken part in many entirely peaceful terrible occasions, give us an opportunity in this debate protests, sometimes involving millions of people, I fear to bring about a new conversation. Unfortunately, this that this is yet another attempt by this Government to Bill just seeks to take away people’s right to protest and clamp down on legitimate dissent and democratic to freedom of speech. The Bill is packed with measures disagreement. to limit our democratic freedoms and to protect statues, However, the Bill’s greatest deficiency, as my hon. rather than address the glaring failures of the system. Friend has pointed out, is that despite being 296 pages Let us look at some facts. Data from the Prison long, the word “woman” does not appear once. That is Officers Association shows that the highest number of a staggering feat, given that more than 50% of victims women in prison are there for the non-payment of TV of violent crime in the past three years have been licences, and that 80% of women in detention are in women, that there was a 23% drop in rape convictions prison for non-violent offences. A majority of women last year, and that domestic abuse prosecutions fell by in prison commit crime as a result of abuse, whether 24% in 2019. We must take serious action, including by that be childhood trauma, abusive relationships, financial making misogyny a hate crime. The Bill does not increase abuse or drug use as a result of some sort of trauma. minimum sentences for rapists and stalkers, it does not Women are much more likely, even when in prison, to make street harassment a crime and it does not fast-track have been a victim of violent crime, yet this Bill does so rape or serious sexual assault cases. All women and girls little to deal with that. Ministers could have used this deserve better. legislation to address that, and to defend women and On domestic violence, may I thank my South Wales girls. Instead, they have packed this Bill, which lacks PCC colleague, my predecessor in this place, Alun Michael, focus, with draconian measures to try to divide the for his work, and colleagues in South Wales police, country and create yet another culture war. whose work on tackling domestic violence I have viewed? Ministers could have increased minimum sentences I am thinking in particular of the pilot project Drive, an for the most serious crimes, such as rape and stalking, initiative tackling perpetrators of domestic violence. An and shown that they really care about the dreadfully independent evaluation has shown that that is making a low rates of conviction for sexual violence. The Victims’ significant impact, and I am pleased to see that it now Commissioner Dame Vera Baird, QC, is right to say covers all seven local authority areas covered by South that “urgent and sustained action” is needed to Wales police. Unfortunately, like all forces, South Wales “redress the confidence in the police and criminal justice system—and police has had to struggle with substantial cuts and the really, frankly, half the population”. austerity of years of UK Tory rule, including cuts to Labour has done some homework for the Government, policing. It was thanks to the Welsh Government that and proposes a victims’ Bill and a survivor’s support funding was made available for additional police community plan for victims of rape. I hope that the Minister will support officers. I thank the community policing teams give due regard to that excellent work, which was prepared for the work that they do. I might also mention that through good consultation with many, many women. policing in Wales is disadvantaged this year to the tune I have been clear with my constituents that I will vote of £6 million because of the way the apprenticeship levy against this Bill, not because there are not some good system works. Will the UK Government fully fund the elements to it, but because I seek to defend the right of cost of police graduate training in Wales, as they do in my constituents not to be silenced. Labour wants changes England? 251 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 252 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Stephen Doughty] 6.3 pm

I end by raising serious and legitimate concerns raised (Ilford North) (Lab): I rise to deal with by my constituents, especially young people, about the the absolute brass neck that we have heard from the experiences of black constituents and other people of Government Benches during the course of the debate— colour in relation to the criminal justice system and interestingly standing up to laud what is in the Bill, policing in Wales and across the UK. I have had a which I can only describe as the “Government attempting number of frank and open conversations about that in to look busy on crime” Bill, because they do not want to recent weeks. Deeply concerning disparities continue. talk about their miserable record over the last 11 years. While 16% of the general population in England and It is a record that has left fewer police on our streets, Wales are from a black and minority ethnic background, fewer courts open for judgment, and fewer police staff the disparity in the numbers of people arrested, convicted to investigate crimes. of a crime and in prison from those communities is Wehave seen the impact: longer delays to investigations, stark and has to be dealt with. We need to implement longer waiting times for criminals to be brought to justice, the recommendations of the 2017 report by my right and indeed criminals getting off scot-free because often hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy). victims lose total faith in the criminal justice system. That is the Government’s record. We are asked on 6 pm Second Reading to support or oppose a Bill on the basis of principle, and I am opposing the Bill on the principle David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) that it fails women, it fails children, and it fails to (Con) [V]: All Governments come to power seeking to face up to the serious evolving nature of crime in our reduce crime and antisocial behaviour, and it is clear country. that most succeed to some extent, but the challenges that face our society change, and the weaknesses in laws that Since the appalling murder of Sarah Everard we have have been brought in with good intent are exposed by seen, in our family, an outpouring not just of grief, but experience, as we know. That is why I welcome the Bill. of a demand for change. That is why it so appalling that It addresses several issues of great concern to my there is no mention of women in this Bill and no new constituents, and, by improving the way in which we sentences. Indeed, there is the ludicrous and offensive conduct cases and sentence those convicted, will benefit position that someone can be given a longer prison our society as a whole. There is no doubt about that. sentence for throwing a lump of iron into the river than for throwing in a woman. That is the miserable Among many things, the Bill addresses the unacceptable experience. disruption caused to my constituents and many other people’s lives by protests that have caused enormous We also see the experience in case law. I would like the trouble but have remained within the bounds of the law Lord Chancellor to stand up and explain in his summation as it stands. We have learned from protests in the last how it was that a deputy children’s care manager in my couple of years that the police clearly need powers to borough could be involved in trafficking children to sell ensure that, while lawful process is facilitated, it is not at crack cocaine and heroin in Devon and Cornwall, and the expense of thousands of people who are simply receive the paltry sentence of four years—four years—for seeking to go about their daily business. trafficking children across the country. What does his Bill do to deal with that? What does he say to those Secondly, I welcome the steps to improve the handling children and victims of crime when, 11 years into his of cases of sexual abuse. Having spent many years Government, with county lines becoming a feature of working in local government on those matters, including crime in a way that it never was before, his Government— meeting with the Leader of the Opposition during his [Interruption.] days as Director of Public Prosecutions, the measures seem to me to be a proportionate and sensible culmination of the experience that we have gained in cases brought Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): Order. in recent years that have demonstrated some of the We have not had heckling here for a very long time. weaknesses in the present legal system. Many victims Now, behave! and complainants across the country will have waited a long time for the Government to take action to ensure Wes Streeting: They do not like it: Government Members that their circumstances are taken seriously and offenders do not like being confronted with their record. That is are prosecuted effectively. why, with this Bill, they are chasing headlines, instead of Thirdly, I strongly welcome the measures to tackle chasing serious criminals. They have the audacity to illegal encampments. Like many of my constituents and stand up and laud loads of provisions in this Bill that other people across the country, I have witnessed the they have taken from Labour Members and their private setting up of such an encampment within direct sight of Members’ Bills. I congratulate them on that, but it is home, so I know just how awful the consequences can still the case that they are not facing up to the serious be for that community and for that place—as well as nature of crime that affects women and children in my having, in my time as a councillor, to set aside hundreds community. They have thrown in loads of measures to of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money to clean look busy, but they are running from their record. up the consequences. Communities should not have to I am voting against this Bill, because it is perfectly suffer that any longer, and these robust measures are right for Members to say, “We demand better and well merited. we expect better of this Government”, and unlike For those reasons and many others, I strongly support Members elected at the 2019 general election, we do the Bill and I look forward to the benefits that it will not just read scripts from central casting, we demand bring to my constituents in Ruislip, Northwood and better. We demand better for our constituents, and so Pinner and to the whole country. should they. 253 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 254 Courts Bill Courts Bill 6.6 pm Like many of my constituents, I was shocked by the images that came out of Clapham common over the Sir John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings) weekend. There is something very ugly about a group of (Con): When the Home Secretary said that she wanted women being manhandled, pushed to the ground and criminals to “feel terror” at the thought of committing pinned for mourning yet another victim of male violence offences, she reflected the heartfelt sentiments of those against women. The Home Secretary says that the legislation who live on the frontline of crime, starkly contrasting will make us safer, but after this weekend, I do not feel the small clique of bourgeois liberals who use wealth to safer. The events on Saturday night show us the opposite segregate and insulate themselves from the reality of of what the Home Secretary has concluded—far from disorder and have sought to amplify time and again, as the police not having enough powers, the sad truth is the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas) that the powers they do have are already open to abuse. did tonight, the rights of thugs and villains and the civil That truth is not only demonstrated by the women who liberties of the violent mob. came to mourn and lay flowers over the weekend; it is This week, Members of Parliament have rightly resolved written in the headlines about the women who survived to redouble our efforts to prevent violence against women. the horrors of the spy cops scandal, the headlines about It is strange then that just months ago 70 Labour black, Asian and minority ethnic people being killed in parliamentarians sought to block the deportation of police custody and the headlines about the Alfie Meadows 50 violent criminals, including those convicted of murder and the Ian Tomlinsons who are struck down by police and rape, and that they will vote against a Bill tonight just for being in the presence of a demonstration. that cracks down on crime. It does seem that the Labour This Bill is the latest in a series that, rather than party is more motivated by the political posturing associated safeguarding our right to protest, grant even more with what the hon. Member for Ilford North (Wes powers to crack down on dissent. Rather than addressing Streeting), whom I greatly admire by the way, typically the real problems in our courts—just look at the gigantic described as headline grabbing, than it is with protecting backlog of cases waiting to go to trial, many of which the safety of the innocent. will be domestic abuse, violent crime and rape cases—this As figures show, our police forces are continually Government want to hand out harsher punishments for challenged by increasing demands. Hard-working officers damaging a statue than harassing a woman in the street. are frequently derailed by the malign advocates of the So I do not feel safer, and there is one group of rights of criminals and distracted by the politically people who will feel significantly less safe and secure correct delusions of the ideologically motivated elite. because of the Bill: the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Imagine the demoralising disappointment they must community. If the Government were serious about feel when, after working tirelessly to solve a crime, an addressing the issue of unauthorised encampments, unelected judge insists on awarding a derisory sentence, they would tackle the real problem: the shortage of inhibiting the incentive to prosecute, weakening deterrence places where it is permitted to stop and reside. All this and undermining public trust. legislation will do is strip people of their homes, push Typically, custodial sentences are drastically reduced, them into the criminal justice system and criminalise and even the most ruthless criminals are released early. the way of life of an already persecuted community. Many killers are released after a dozen or so years, What we needed today was a Bill that dealt with the while naive utopians in gated communities plead for very real problems in our criminal justice system, respecting even greater leniency.How the liberal left misunderstands our rights to protest and to live our lives how we choose. the criminal mind, for deviant individuals who have That is what makes people safer, and we got the opposite chosen crime as a career weigh up the balance between of that. risk and reward, cost and benefit. It is a measure of their trade. 6.12 pm The misassumption that crime is an illness to be treated has become so pervasive that it is barely questioned James Daly (Bury North) (Con) [V]: The right to in the broadcast media, yet to see those who choose to protest peacefully in this country is enshrined in article profit from the misfortune of others in the same way 11 of the European convention on human rights. Those that we regard the sick and infirm is to demean the provisions were put into domestic law and protect the latter and elevate the former to a status they do not freedom of assembly and the freedom of association deserve. This assumption that wickedness is a misfortune with others. I suspect that every Member of this House, of less significance than the suffering it causes means together with millions of our fellow citizens, has taken relegating such acts and the victims of them. In this part in such protest events. Such expressions of community way, justice is neither seen to be done, nor done at all. feeling are central to our way of life and part of each citizen’s interaction with the democratic process, and This Bill goes some way to regaining public faith by that should be protected at all costs. strengthening law and order and regaining that mantle for the Secretary of State and our party. All Members However, it is an established legal principle that article of this House who care about the innocent should vote 11 rights can never be unfettered, for if that were the for it, for our task is to be fierce in defence of the gentle. case, rampant criminality could be justified, providing a defence to those who indulge in such behaviour under the guise of legitimate protest. These are qualified rights, 6.9 pm and interference with them may only be justified in (Sheffield, Hallam) (Lab) [V]: First, I certain specific circumstances, including for the protection would like to offer my condolences to Sarah Everard’s of the rights and freedoms of others and the prevention family and friends. My thoughts are with them and all of crime and disorder. In my view, this Bill—specifically, those who have lost a mother, daughter, sister or friend parts 3 and 4—does not impact on article 11 principles to violence at the hands of men. but provides reasonable powers to ensure that the police 255 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 256 Courts Bill Courts Bill [James Daly] Manchester police’sdata system and the political leadership by in regard to this, we do not have any can improve the effectiveness of protest policing in of those figures because they got lost, for some reason. certain limited circumstances, as long as those powers On introducing life sentences for killer drivers, I want are applied proportionately and in line with human to start by thanking my right hon. Friend the Member rights law. for Maidenhead (Mrs May) for bringing forward her Labour appears to be arguing that the police should ten-minute rule Bill on this issue. Her Bill started the not have powers to address the most extreme antisocial process; this one goes much further in ensuring that behaviour during protests, therefore ignoring the rights those who are reckless, careless and selfish will face the of our fellow citizens who may be caused intimidation, full force of the law for depriving us of our loved ones. harassment, serious unease, alarm or distress in certain The linking of this Bill to the poor decisions of the circumstances outlined in the Bill. There were clearly Met over the weekend shows the true worst of the mistakes in the policing of the vigil at the weekend in Opposition. I think it is absolutely disgusting, and they memory of Sarah Everard, but that single example should be truly ashamed. Changing their mind at the should not be used as overwhelming evidence to suggest last minute because they think there are votes in it is not that the police will not use the powers in the Bill opposition; it is opportunism, and the public will see proportionately, reasonably and in line with existing through them. human rights legislation. If the choice presented to hon. Members is between 6.18 pm voting against the Bill due to the definition of the (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) controlled area outside Parliament and voting in favour (Lab) [V]: My hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey of it to ensure the longer imprisonment of rapists, I (Dame Angela Eagle) summarised the Bill perfectly: it know which way my constituents would expect me to contains the good, the bad and the ugly. There is some vote. By voting in favour of this legislation, I am voting good in it, and I pay tribute to Labour colleagues who in favour of tougher sentences for child murderers, have campaigned to protect the protectors and for ending early release for sex offenders, the imposition of increased sentences for dangerous driving, which are in strict conditions on bail, tougher sentences for assaults the Bill among some other stuff. However, I find some on emergency service workers, various measures to crack aspects of it deeply worrying for the future of our down on knife and violent crime, and the enshrining of democracy, particularly clauses 54 to 60. I cannot the police covenant in law, together with many other comprehend how a Government who, on 16 February, important provisions. I am astounded that the Labour declared that they were so concerned about free speech party cannot bring itself to support legislation that will that they were introducing a duty for universities to protect all our constituents. “stamp out unlawful ‘silencing’ on campuses”, can then introduce a Bill that will damage the right to 6.15 pm protest, because freedom to protest is part of our freedom Christian Wakeford (Bury South) (Con): I stand proud of speech. The Government need to make up their to support this Bill today.There are many good measures mind: they either support free speech or they do not. in it; in fact, we have even heard from Opposition Members Fully free speech does not mean just supporting the that there are many good measures in it. However, they newspaper columnists and outspoken TV presenters still cannot bring themselves to support it. that they agree with; it means supporting it for all. Traveller encampments, especially the unauthorised I do not agree with every protest I see, and, yes, some ones, cause distress to residents such as those on Kingston are really annoying and some are really noisy, but Road in Radcliffe in my constituency, who often thought I support the right for people to have that protest. I that the encampment had more rights than they did. supported the coach industry with its noisy, inconvenient They saw extreme antisocial behaviour such as their “Honk for Hope” protest. It is crucial that everyone fences being used as a toilet or being stolen for fires, and understands that when someone loses the right to protest, they actually feared for themselves. I went and met everyone loses it; we cannot pick and choose. There have them several times during the summer, because there been people protesting outside Parliament for centuries. was not just one encampment; there were two. It is What makes this Government so precious that they are about time we supported our residents and said that we the Government who suddenly cannot cope with it? I are not against Travellers, we are just against unauthorised will not support the silencing of people, for the Labour Traveller encampments. party stands for freedom for everybody, and that freedom On the sentencing measures in the Bill, I am pleased includes, yes, even the Members on the Government to see greater sentencing for attacks on shop workers Benches. and emergency workers and for the kind of desecration I will quickly turn to what else is missing. On of our memorials that we saw during the Black Lives 22 September 2020, I raised directly with the Lord Matter movement last year. The Bill provides greater Chancellor the increased abuse that shop workers were sentencing powers for the most serious and violent of facing during the pandemic. He replied that it was crimes. It also introduces Kay’s law, which will provide “incumbent on all of us to make sure that sentencing guidelines better protection for the victims and witnesses of violent properly reflect the role that they play.”—[Official Report, and sexual offences. That is a measure that we should 22 September 2020; Vol. 680, c. 793.] all welcome. In hand with the Domestic Abuse Bill, it I hope everybody can therefore understand why I was really does go the distance to protect our victims. I disappointed to see no specific reference to retail staff would love to quote several of the figures on violent and in the Bill. On 10 March, retail trade union USDAW sexual assaults in my constituency and, indeed, in Greater renewed a call for legislation to protect retail staff after Manchester. However, with the failure of Greater it released new statistics showing that 79% of shop workers 257 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 258 Courts Bill Courts Bill said that abuse was worse than last year. I pay tribute to including child murder, terrorism and dangerous driving, and for my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham North assaults on emergency service workers, because the Bill rushes (Alex Norris), who tried to bring in a private Member’s changes to protest law and fails to introduce a single new measure Bill on assaults on retail workers, but unfortunately the specifically designed to tackle the epidemic of violence against women and is therefore an abusers’ charter since domestic abuse Government objected to it. One shop worker living in rates have spiked and victims of rape are facing the lowest Hull West and Hessle stated some of the issues that they prosecution rates on record, and because the Bill fails to criminalise had faced, including bad language, spitting, throwing street harassment, fails to make misogyny a hate crime, fails to items at staff and verbal abuse, which had caused raise minimum sentences for rape or stalking, and fails to give anxiety and depression. Unlike some Conservative MPs, whole life orders to those found guilty of abduction and sexual I care about people more than I care about statues. assault and murder of a stranger.” People come first, and no one should face abuse for just It is an honour to close this debate on behalf of the doing their job. Opposition and to move the reasoned amendment standing in my name and that of the Leader of the Opposition. It 6.21 pm is a debate that has involved the lion’s share of Members across this House, and of course we meet at a time of a David Johnston (Wantage) (Con) [V]: There is lots to national cry to tackle violence against women and girls. welcome in this Bill, but I want to focus on the issue that it covers on which I have had more casework than It was in June last year, on one warm evening, amid any other—unauthorised Traveller encampments. the deep concerns about the pandemic at that time, that Unfortunately, these are a common feature in my my wife and I, on learning and reading the news, wept constituency. Since last July, I have been copied into a together as a friend of mine, Mina Smallman, and her weekly report on where there are unauthorised camps. husband Chris lost their two beautiful daughters, Bibaa In 20 of the 34 weeks since I have been getting that and Nicole, to terrible violence on a horrendous night report, there has been at least one other unauthorised in west London. We wept again just a few weeks ago camp in one of the two districts that my constituency because, on the evening of 3 March 2021, Sarah Everard, goes across, and in 32 of the 34 weeks there has been at after visiting a friend in south London and walking least one camp somewhere in Oxfordshire. across Clapham common, was spotted on CCTV at When my constituents, who I think respect the right 9.30 pm and then she disappeared. The whole country of Travellers to live their lives in the way that they do, and both sides of this House are mourning Sarah’s write to me about unauthorised camps, they typically disappearance, kidnap and murder. describe the same things: abuse, mess, noise throughout No story is more telling of the fact that we need the night, and vandalism. The clean-up costs of these things tough sentences on the most serious crimes to deter are considerable for local authorities. The vast majority criminals and protect the public, but we must not make of Travellers do not behave in this way, so it is wrong for the mistake of thinking that this horrific incident of the Opposition to say that the Bill is criminalising their violence against a woman is a one-off. The press may lifestyle, but for the minority who do behave in that way, not report it, but women of all backgrounds, from all it is right that we change the law to be able to tackle that. parts of the country and of all ages are killed every week. These unauthorised camps cause distress, disruption In 2016, 125 women in the UK were killed by men. In and damage, as the Bill acknowledges. It is common for 2017, the number was 147. It was 147 again in 2018. the police to say that they do not have the power to act, Over the past decade, 1,425 women have been murdered so it is right that we should lower the threshold to in the UK. That is roughly one woman every three days. enable them to do so. They are commonly set up on It is not only murder; all kinds of violence against highways, which in my constituency typically means the women are endemic in our country. In one year alone, slip road on the A34 at Drayton, so it is right that we 3.1% of women—510,000—experienced a sexual assault. should clear them from such roads. The Bill also Domestic violence has skyrocketed during the pandemic, acknowledges the cat-and-mouse game that often goes with 260,000 domestic abuse offences between March on whereby after a long time trying to get these camps and June. The Government knew about the crisis of removed, they then reappear in the same place within violence against women and girls before this week, but days or weeks, as they have been doing at Great Western when they were drafting the 20 schedules, 176 clauses park. I therefore support the Government’s measures and 296 pages of this Bill, they chose not to mention involving possible prison sentences, fines or confiscation women once. of vehicles. Maybe this Government do not like to talk about We all recognise the right of Travellers to be able to women because they know they have failed them. A set up camps inside sites that are designated—caravan decade of cuts, court closures and failed ideology is camp data suggests that those sites have increased by letting women down. Half the courts in England and 41% in the past decade—but we should also recognise Wales closed between 2010 and 2019. There are 27,000 the right of our constituents to live their lives peacefully fewer sitting days than in 2016. Under this Government, in their own homes and neighbourhoods, and we should just 1.4% of rapes end in conviction. That is a record vote for this Bill tonight to help them to do so. low and should shame us all. As my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Peter Kyle) 6.24 pm rightly asked, why are the Government not fast-tracking Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab): I beg to move rape victims through the CPS and the courts? The an amendment, to leave out from “That” to the end of Crown court backlog is now a record high of more than the Question and add: 56,000 cases. The Government like to pretend that is “this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Police, only because of the pandemic, but they have no answer Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, notwithstanding the need for to why they let the backlog grow to 39,000 before covid a police covenant and for tougher sentences for serious crimes, even hit. The result is that victims of crime are being 259 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 260 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Mr David Lammy] against the overreach of the state. I call on every member of the governing party who still believes in freedom to asked to wait up to four years to get to court. Many join the Opposition and vote against this Bill tonight. witnesses are dropping out of the justice system entirely According to the Government, not only those who because of delays. Violent criminals are being spared cause annoyance but those who damage statues of slave prison because of it. As my hon. Friend the Member for owners should be locked up for a decade. Unlike the Hammersmith (Andy Slaughter) rightly pointed out, Government, the Opposition will never condone criminal discussions on the justice system must always start with behaviour,but this Government’spriorities are backwards; delays in the system and the inadequacy of legal aid. Instead they are upside down. Unlike women, memorials are of tackling violence against women, the Government mentioned in the Bill eight times. The Government have prioritised giving the police the power to prohibit think that people who damage statutes should spend up the fundamental freedoms of protest that the British to 10 years in prison because of their emotional value, public hold dear. By giving the police this discretion to but it is fine to give five-year sentences for rape. This is use these powers some of the time, it takes away our not hypothetical: Anthony Williams strangled his wife to freedom all of the time. The Government’s Bill targets death, but received only a five-year sentence; John Patrick protesters causing too much noise and says that those raped a 13-year-old girl, but got only seven years in jail; who cause annoyance could be jailed for up to 10 years. Ferdinando Orlando and Lorenzo Costanzo were jailed I am thankful that the draconian limits on the power to for seven and a half years for raping a woman in a Soho protest were not in place during the great protests of the nightclub; James Reeve raped a seven-year-old disabled 20th century that led to real change. girl, but got only nine years; and David Nicholson raped an 11 year-old, but was given a sentence of nine Shaun Bailey (West Bromwich West) (Con) rose— years and four months. What does this Bill do to address those injustices that many people feel? Mr Lammy: I will not give way for the moment. The Government would rather blow a dog whistle When the suffragettes marched for the right to vote, against minorities than make women safe. Measures in some of them were prepared to break the law to make the Bill will further compound the inequalities experienced their point just outside the House of Commons. Does by Gypsies and Travellers who are already the most the Secretary of State believe that those women who disproportionately represented group in the justice system. shouted noisily should have been arrested, too? Protesters Those found guilty of trespass in the Bill could receive a marched from Jarrow in Tyneside all the way to London higher sentence than someone convicted of stalking. to demand the right to work in 1936. Does the Secretary Once again, this Government’s priorities are skewed. of State think that the police should have had the power Even police forces do not support the Government’s to stop them before they had even passed York? The criminalisation of trespass. The National Police Chiefs’ anti-apartheid movement, of which I was part, marched Council and the Association of Police and Crime continuously on Trafalgar Square for black and white Commissioners said: people to be treated as equal. Does the Secretary of “Trespass is a civil offence and our view is that it should State seriously believe that they should have been arrested remain so.” because they caused an annoyance? Why are the Government determined to lock up Gypsies Throughout Britain’s history, protest has been a and Travellers, even against the advice of their own fundamental method for the public to voice dissent. police? Pandemic aside, what is it about society that has changed Many of the other measures in the Bill will compound exactly that means that the police need more powers to the biases that the Secretary of State knows exist in the control protesters today than they did yesterday? What justice system. The Prime Minister likes to boast of is it about the images of police tackling a mourning following my review and recommendations, but as my woman to the floor last weekend that makes the Secretary hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Florence Eshalomi) of State think that the police do not have enough as it argued so convincingly, too often young people are still stands? The truth, as has been briefed to his favourite considered to be perpetrators, when in fact they are newspapers, is that the Government are introducing victims. Earlier this year we heard the roar “black lives these measures because they dislike Black Lives Matter, matter”, and it is clear by the fact that no full equalities because they hate Extinction Rebellion and because impact assessment accompanies the Bill that the Secretary both tell too many hard truths. of State simply does not agree. The Bill contains some important proposals that Shaun Bailey: When the Opposition vote against this Labour supports. Most of the best measures come from Bill tonight, does the right hon. Gentleman not think campaigns by Labour MPs, many of whom have spoken that the Labour party’s position will have finally changed eloquently about those campaigns in this debate. Labour to: weak on crime and weak on the causes of crime? supports my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley East (Stephanie Peacock) on dangerous driving, and my Mr Lammy: I know that the hon. Gentleman is just right hon. Friend the Member for Warley (John Spellar) getting started, but the party that introduced whole life on reform of the disclosure and barring service. Labour orders—the Labour party—will not, I am afraid, take supports my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham any lessons from him. (Sarah Champion) regarding sexual abuse by people in The former Prime Minister, the right hon. Member positions of trust, and my hon. Friends the Members for Maidenhead (Mrs May), was right in this debate for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) and for Halifax (Holly Lynch) when she said that there was a fine line between “popular on protecting the protectors. As the shadow Home and populist” and that our freedoms depend on it. The Secretary so powerfully said, why can those protections Conservative party’s principles are rooted in liberty and not be extended to shopworkers, social care workers, 261 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 262 Courts Bill Courts Bill and other front-line heroes? The Opposition are behind how far we still have to go. I look around this House those measures, alongside others to keep the public safe and think of colleagues from all parties—some of whom from terrorists, child murderers, and other dangerous are no longer here—with whom I have had the honour offenders. to work on a cross-party basis on issues such as stalking, However, Labour cannot vote for a Policing, Crime, child abuse and coercive control. I am proud of that Sentencing and Courts Bill that ignores the intimidation, work, and I know that they are, too. The Domestic violence and abuse that women face. We cannot vote for Abuse Bill, which is coming to the end of its progress this Bill when it fails to increase sentencing for rape and through both Houses, has in many ways been Parliament stalking. We cannot vote for this Bill when it fails to at its very best. criminalise street harassment, or to make misogyny a The events of last week have no doubt acted as a hate crime. We cannot vote for this Bill when it fails, on catalyst. Society is speaking. The response to the reopened the watch of the Secretary of State, to give whole life call for evidence on the Home Office’s violence against orders to those found guilty of abduction, serious assault, women and girls strategy has now received more than and murder of a stranger. We cannot vote for a Bill that 120,000 submissions in just three days. Society is speaking, fails to outline a strategy to tackle the culture of misogyny and it is for all of us to be up to the level of events. that underpins it. The Bill, on which I have worked for manymonths—from Richard Graham: The right hon. Gentleman mentioned well before the sentencing White Paper that I published stalking twice. It is worth remembering that in the in September last year—is not just the fulfilment of a Government in which he served, stalking was not a manifesto commitment, important though that is; it lies criminal offence. It became a criminal offence in 2012, at the very heart of the mission of this Government. It and we then doubled the maximum sentence for stalking is another milestone along the road to creating a higher a few years later. I hope he will recognise that that was degree of public protection for victims of crime—and achieved under this Government. that very much includes women and girls. I had hoped—in fact, I believed—that we were going to be able to work Mr Lammy: Given all that has been said by women with Members across this House not on the principle over the past few days, with the street harassment and of the Bill but perhaps on the detail. Imagine my stalking that they face, there is a simple question for the disappointment to hear that the Labour party has decided hon. Gentleman, who has tremendous experience in to oppose the Bill on Second Reading. this House: have we done enough? Given that this is an Let us remind ourselves of what Second Reading is omnibus Bill of a size we have not seen in a long time, all about: it is not about the detail of the Bill—whether could we have done more, and could the Secretary of it can be amended, improved, honed, polished or added State have done more? The simple answer to that question to, as we have seen with the Domestic Abuse Bill—but is, most obviously, yes, we could. about the principle. With the greatest of respect to This is a missed opportunity. The murder of Sarah Opposition Members, what beggars belief is that they Everard has led to a national outcry, and the Government think that now is the time to turn unity into bitterness must finally take action to tackle violence against women and partnership into strife—[Interruption.] I can tell and girls. The Government have responded with yet the right hon. Member for Tottenham that I am afraid another meeting. Instead of uniting the country around that is what I have been hearing across the House. It is a mission finally to address that violence, they are as if, somehow, we have descended into two nations bringing forward divisive legislation that pits people once again, speaking past each other and not engaging against one another and takes away our freedom. in the way that we did on the Domestic Abuse Bill. To Some time this week, another woman will be killed. say that I am perplexed and disappointed is an After around three more days, another woman’s life will understatement. be taken. Both those murders are likely to be committed But then I read today’s Order Paper, and sadly all by a man. For far too long, we in this country have had seems to be revealed, because we have not one reasoned a problem of men killing women. If we stand for amendment—we will vote on the one moved by the nothing, we fall for everything. Today, Labour is standing right hon. Member for Tottenham—but two from the up for women by voting against this Bill. I ask Members Labour party. The Front-Bench amendment, which has on both sides of the House to do the same. a few names attached to it, makes a brief reference to 6.39 pm the law on protest but, on analysis, does not really offer any solid reasons that are differences in principle in The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice respect of Second Reading. The other reasoned amendment, (Robert Buckland): As the right hon. Member for which has been signed by 42 Labour party Members, Tottenham (Mr Lammy) said, it is an honour to close offers much more direct resistance. It is clear that in this debate and to follow other right hon. and hon. principle those signatories are very much opposed to Members. This two-day debate has been an opportunity, the Bill. There, frankly, lies the heart of the dilemma for first of all, for all of us to pay tribute to the memory of the right hon. Gentleman and the Labour party: they Sarah Everard, her loved ones and the wider community, are trapped between parts of their party that oppose, in who have expressed their shock, revulsion and anger at principle, sensible, reasoned, proportionate measures what has happened and at the wider issues, too. that develop the law in a mature way, and the vast When we talk about safety, each and every one of us majority of the public, who want us to work together in has a responsibility.When women all too often feel unsafe, the national interest. I am afraid that it looks as if party it is the wrong response to say to them, “Stay indoors. interests are being put before the national interest. It Don’t go out alone.” Instead of questioning the victim, gives me no pleasure at all to say that, but I am afraid we have to deal with the perpetrator. When I think that that is what it looks like—not just to those on the about how far we have come, I sharply remind myself of Government side of the House, but to the country. 263 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 264 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Robert Buckland] I would suggest that what has happened here is the result of a conflation with the covid regulations and Let us look at what we did on the Domestic Abuse their interaction with the right to protest, which the Bill. By working together, we moved mountains. Labour party did not oppose—it voted in favour of those on occasions or did not oppose them. They have Mr Lammy: Will the Secretary of State give way? conflated those arguments with measures in the Bill that long predate what happened on the weekend—those Robert Buckland: No, I will not give way to the right regrettable scenes that we all saw and were upset and hon. Gentleman. I do not think I can do justice to the appalled by. They are now conflating those issues with number of inaccuracies, generalisations and false the issues relating to this Bill. There is no relation assertions—inadvertent assertions, I will concede—that between the two, and I would love to hear an explanation were made by him and, I am afraid, by other Opposition from the right hon. Gentleman. Members. They are concocting— Nick Thomas-Symonds: I am grateful to the Secretary Mr Lammy: Will the Secretary of State give way? of State for giving way. Last year, the Government spoke about additional protection for war memorials. Robert Buckland: No, I will not give way. We all understand the value of war memorials. What we Opposition Members are concocting synthetic arguments did not agree to, and I have never agreed to, is locking up in objection that just do not stand the closest scrutiny. people for 10 years for damaging all memorials, including They are inadvertently—I will say “inadvertently”, because those of slave traders. That just sums up everything that I will give them, of course, that courtesy—misstating is wrong with the Government’s approach. They could some of the key provisions of this Bill. have worked with us. They did not. They have created division. Let us start with the juxtaposition pf sentencing for rape and criminal damage. The starting point for the Robert Buckland: It is a very nice try from the right lowest category of the offence of rape, as set out by the hon. Gentleman, for whom I have the utmost respect, Independent Sentencing Council, is five years. With but it does not cut the ice. We know what has happened aggravating factors and different categories of offending, here. It is a party in panic that is weaving, twisting and rape offenders will receive, and very often do receive, wobbling because its internal management problems substantially longer sentences, leading up to those for are far more important than the public interest. That is campaigns of rape, where sentences of in excess of the truth. Here we are, at the end of a two-day debate, 20 years, or even life sentences, will be imposed, because with the Labour party, which I concede has a proud the maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment. record in supporting the police and maintaining law and order, now voting against measures to strengthen Mr Lammy: Will the Secretary of State give way? sentencing for rapists, burglars, drug dealers, sex abusers, killer drivers. All of that is being opposed by the Labour Robert Buckland: No, I will not give way. party. Let me tell Labour Members the price of that for In this Bill, we are making sure that those who their party. commit offences such as rape spend more of their time in prison. We are ending Labour’s automatic halfway Peter Kyle: Will the Secretary of State give way? release provisions for people who receive sentences of Robert Buckland: No, I am not going to give way. over four years for offences such as rape and section 18 grievous bodily harm, and we are making sure that they Much has been said about the excellent campaigns serve two thirds of their term of imprisonment. run by Labour Members. I pay tribute to the hon. Members for Barnsley East (Stephanie Peacock), for St Turning to criminal damage, the relevant Act is now Helens South and Whiston (Ms Rimmer) and for 50 years old, and for those 50 years the statutory Rotherham (Sarah Champion), with whom I have worked maximum has been 10 years where the value of the very well over the years on issues relating to child abuse. damage is over £5,000. The changes in relation to Imagine the impossible position that those doughty criminal damage of memorials simply remove the previous campaigners have been put in by their Front Benchers. restriction on the mode of trial and allow the full range They are now having to vote against the very measures of those powers to be used up to that maximum. We are that they campaigned for so assiduously. That is a simply giving the courts greater discretion as to how terrible predicament for them to be put in. It is a they sentence such offenders, taking into account the disgrace, and the Labour Front Benchers should hang emotional and community impact of those offences. their heads in shame. We had, I thought, cross-party support on these There have been in this debate many constructive and measures. Indeed, back in the summer, the right hon. important contributions, and I want to in the minutes Member for Torfaen (Nick Thomas-Symonds) publicly that I have left— backed our proposals. He said that he would work to support such efforts in Parliament. Now he is opposed. Wes Streeting: Unlike yours. Why? Why the change? What is going on here? I will tell Members what is going on. Robert Buckland: They don’t like it when the truth is explained to them. They think that they have the moral Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen) (Lab): Will the high ground on all these issues. Well, I can tell you that Secretary of State give way? there is no monopoly on morality in this place. Before I deal with the excellent contributions from Robert Buckland: No, I will not give way. I will Members across the House, may I deal with the canard explain what is going on, and then I will let the right about “annoyance”? Much has been made about the hon. Gentleman in. somehow strange use of a word that is seen as a massive 265 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 266 Courts Bill Courts Bill infringement on the civil liberties of men and women Wes Streeting: I asked whether the Lord Chancellor across this country, yet a brief perusal of the Law could explain to my community why someone who was Commission’s report of 2015 tells us that the law has in a position of trust—deputy manager of a care home— developed for centuries with phrases like “annoyance”. who peddled kids to deal drugs across the country got a It is a part of the common law on public nuisance. The prison sentence of only four years. What is he going to members of the Law Commission—they were all very do about that? good members; there was Lord Justice Lloyd Jones as he then was, and Professor David Ormerod, who is well Robert Buckland: The hon. Gentleman knows that known as an excellent academic in these fields— matters dealt with in court are matters for the independent recommended that the law needed to be codified. The judiciary, but I will look at the case, because it is vital law had been restated with reference to the use of the that we make sure that those who are involved in word “annoyance” by none other than the late and organised crime and abuse—that is what that case sounds noble Lord Bingham when he was in the House of like to me—are properly dealt with, and that the wider Lords. He set out the law very clearly. Clause 59 amounts issues are addressed. I share his concern. to no more than a reiteration of the excellent work of the Law Commission. To say anything else is, frankly, Peter Kyle: Will the Lord Chancellor give way? once again a confection, a concoction and a twisting of the reality. Robert Buckland: Not at the moment. I want to deal with the question of abuse in a position I am particularly pleased to thank my hon. Friend of trust. I pay particular tribute—I think all hon. Members the Member for North Wiltshire (James Gray), who will agree with me—to the outstanding work of my represented the family of Ellie Gould, the murder victim hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford of whose case I think everyone in this House is fully (Tracey Crouch). It has been a pleasure to see her back aware. It is important to take on board the points he here. She spoke earlier. I think she has now gone home, made about domestic homicide. I have spoken elsewhere but we all wish her well. She has, with great tenacity, about the importance of getting the balance right when campaigned to make sure that we make these provisions it comes to the categories of murder. I committed to a a reality. review—I did that last week—and I will bring before I also pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for the House further information on the content of that Gloucester (Richard Graham). He asked a particular important review. question about driving instructors. He will see in the In the minutes left, I am pleased to commend to the Bill that there will be provision, by way of statutory House a radical new approach to the way in which we instrument, to allow an amendment of the law to extend deal with young people—children—who are incarcerated to further categories of occupation. It is important that in the secure estate. The days of locking them up and there is a clear evidence base. We are dealing with young forgetting about them absolutely have to end; we all people who are transitioning to adulthood—they are agree on that. That is why the measures to clarify the 16 and 17 years of age—and it is quite clear that the legal framework surrounding new secure schools will evidence on sports coaches and religious leaders, sadly, allow a complete change in the way in which we deal did point to a need to change the law. I pay tribute to with, support, rehabilitate and educate children in our my hon. Friends and to my noble Friend Baroness care. Schools with security will have education, wellbeing Grey-Thompson for their excellent work. and purposeful activity at their very heart. As ever, I am On causing death by dangerous driving and causing grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury death by careless driving while under the influence of (Rob Butler) for his constructive suggestions and his drink or drugs, my right hon. Friend the Member for work as a member of the Justice Committee. Maidenhead (Mrs May) deserves our thanks and praise Let me outline on the record the important provisions for pressing her Bill. I know she has welcomed the in the Bill relating to unauthorised encampments. Many provisions. In the context of memorials, I thank my right hon. and hon. Members have raised the issue. It is hon.FriendstheMembersforBracknell(JamesSunderland) a real concern for many of our constituents. and for Stoke-on-Trent North (Jonathan Gullis) for pressing their case with extreme prejudice and alacrity Mr (Wycombe) (Con): The pages of the and for succeeding on the provision. Bucks Free Press attest to the sheer scale of the costs to The Home Office parts of the Bill were outlined very our green spaces and our communities of unauthorised well by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary yesterday. encampments. Does my right hon. and learned Friend In summary, I would say that important public health agree that on this issue and on protests, the Opposition duties are being extended in relation to serious violence. are refusing to engage with legitimate limits on both I have long held the view that it is only by bringing freedoms? together the local agencies that we truly get ahead of the trends in serious violence and in prevention, which Robert Buckland: My hon. Friend puts it very well. is of course nine tenths of what we need to be doing. This is all about balancing the rights of Traveller The Chair of the Justice Committee, my hon. Friend communities to use authorised encampments and to the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Sir Robert enjoy the lifestyle that they have chosen, and the rights Neill), made a weighty contribution to the debate, rightly of householders not to have their local communities pointing to the extra investment in alternatives to custody. At despoiled. That is what we are seeking to do. The Bill, in the heart of the approach I am taking as Lord Chancellor my strong submission, allows that balance to be maintained is enhancing and improving community sentencing. It and enhanced. has long been clear to me that we need to make sure that The Bill is part of our wider approach to making the sentencers have a proper choice of robust community criminal justice system smarter, and to keeping our alternatives. streets safe from the worst criminals, while giving offenders 267 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 268 Courts Bill Courts Bill [Robert Buckland] Jones, Sarah Powell, Lucy Kane, Mike Qureshi, Yasmin opportunities to turn their life around. We can rebalance Keeley, Barbara Rayner, rh Angela the justice system. We can restore faith in it, which has Kendall, Liz Reed, Steve sadly been in decline for too long. The Bill is a welcome Khan, Afzal Rees, Christina step forward, and I commend it to the House. Kinnock, Stephen Reeves, Ellie Kyle, Peter Reeves, Rachel Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): Order. Lake, Ben Reynolds, Jonathan We require social distancing in the Chamber at all Lammy, rh Mr David Ribeiro-Addy, Bell times, please. Lavery, Ian Rimmer, Ms Marie Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma Robinson, Gavin Question put, That the amendment be made. Lewis, Clive Rodda, Matt The House divided: Ayes 225, Noes 359. Lloyd, Tony Russell-Moyle, Lloyd Division No. 238] [7 pm Lockhart, Carla Saville Roberts, rh Liz Long Bailey, Rebecca Shah, Naz AYES Lucas, Caroline Shannon, Jim Abbott, rh Ms Diane Doughty, Stephen Lynch, Holly Sharma, Mr Virendra Abrahams, Debbie Dowd, Peter Madders, Justin Sheerman, Mr Barry Ali, Rushanara Dromey, Jack Mahmood, Mr Khalid Siddiq, Tulip Ali, Tahir Duffield, Rosie Mahmood, Shabana Slaughter, Andy Allin-Khan, Dr Rosena Eagle, Dame Angela Malhotra, Seema Smith, Cat Amesbury, Mike Eagle, Maria Maskell, Rachael Smith, Jeff Anderson, Fleur Eastwood, Colum Matheson, Christian Smith, Nick Antoniazzi, Tonia Edwards, Jonathan McCarthy, Kerry Smyth, Karin Ashworth, rh Jonathan Efford, Clive McDonagh, Siobhain Sobel, Alex Barker, Paula Elliott, Julie McDonald, Andy Spellar, rh John Beckett, rh Margaret Elmore, Chris McDonnell, rh John Starmer, rh Keir Begum, Apsana Eshalomi, Florence McFadden, rh Mr Pat Stevens, Jo Benn, rh Hilary Esterson, Bill McGinn, Conor Stone, Jamie Betts, Mr Clive Evans, Chris McGovern, Alison Streeting, Wes Blake, Olivia Farron, Tim McKinnell, Catherine Stringer, Graham McMahon, Jim Blomfield, Paul Farry, Stephen Sultana, Zarah McMorrin, Anna Brabin, Tracy Ferrier, Margaret Tami, rh Mark Mearns, Ian Bradshaw, rh Mr Ben Fovargue, Yvonne Tarry, Sam Miliband, rh Edward Brennan, Kevin Foxcroft, Vicky Thomas, Gareth Brown, Ms Lyn Foy, Mary Kelly Mishra, Navendu Moran, Layla Thomas-Symonds, rh , rh Mr Nicholas Furniss, Gill Thornberry, rh Emily Bryant, Chris Gardiner, Barry Morden, Jessica Morgan, , rh Stephen Buck, Ms Karen Gill, Preet Kaur Trickett, Jon Burgon, Richard Girvan, Paul Morris, Grahame Turner, Karl Butler, Dawn Glindon, Mary Murray, Ian Twigg, Derek Byrne, Ian Green, Kate Murray, James Vaz, rh Valerie Byrne, rh Liam Greenwood, Lilian Nandy, Lisa Webbe, Claudia Cadbury, Ruth Greenwood, Margaret Nichols, Charlotte Campbell, rh Sir Alan Griffith, Nia Norris, Alex West, Catherine Campbell, Mr Gregory Gwynne, Andrew Olney, Sarah Western, Matt Carden, Dan Haigh, Louise Onwurah, Chi Whitehead, Dr Alan Carmichael, rh Mr Alistair Hamilton, Fabian Oppong-Asare, Abena Whitley, Mick Champion, Sarah Hanna, Claire Osamor, Kate Whittome, Nadia Chamberlain, Wendy Hardy, Emma Osborne, Kate Williams, Hywel Charalambous, Bambos Harman, rh Ms Harriet Owatemi, Taiwo Wilson, Munira Clark, Feryal Harris, Carolyn Owen, Sarah Wilson, rh Sammy Paisley, Ian Cooper, Daisy Hayes, Helen Winter, Beth Peacock, Stephanie Cooper, Rosie Healey, rh John Yasin, Mohammad Pennycook, Matthew Cooper, rh Yvette Hendrick, Sir Mark Zeichner, Daniel Corbyn, rh Jeremy Hillier, Meg Perkins, Mr Toby Coyle, Neil Hobhouse, Wera Phillips, Jess Tellers for the Ayes: Creasy, Stella Hodge, rh Dame Margaret Phillipson, Bridget Colleen Fletcher and Cruddas, Jon Hodgson, Mrs Sharon Pollard, Luke Liz Twist Cryer, John Hollern, Kate Cummins, Judith Hopkins, Rachel NOES Cunningham, Alex Howarth, rh Sir George Adams, Nigel Andrew, rh Stuart Daby, Janet Huq, Dr Rupa Afolami, Bim Ansell, Caroline Davey, rh Ed Hussain, Imran Afriyie, Adam Argar, Edward David, Wayne Jardine, Christine Davies, Geraint Jarvis, Dan Ahmad Khan, Imran Atherton, Sarah Davies-Jones, Alex Johnson, rh Dame Diana Aiken, Nickie Atkins, Victoria De Cordova, Marsha Johnson, Kim Aldous, Peter Bacon, Gareth Debbonaire, Thangam Jones, Darren Allan, Lucy Bacon, Mr Richard Dhesi, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Jones, Gerald Amess, Sir David Badenoch, Kemi Dodds, Anneliese Jones, rh Mr Kevan Anderson, Lee Bailey, Shaun Donaldson, rh Sir Jeffrey M. Jones, Ruth Anderson, Stuart Baillie, Siobhan 269 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 270 Courts Bill Courts Bill Baker, Duncan Donelan, Michelle Hinds, rh Damian Merriman, Huw Baker, Mr Steve Dorries, Ms Nadine Hoare, Simon Metcalfe, Stephen Baldwin, Harriett Double, Steve Holden, Mr Richard Millar, Robin Barclay, rh Steve Dowden, rh Oliver Hollinrake, Kevin Miller, rh Mrs Maria Baron, Mr John Doyle-Price, Jackie Hollobone, Mr Philip Milling, rh Amanda Baynes, Simon Drax, Richard Holloway, Adam Mills, Nigel Bell, Aaron Drummond, Mrs Flick Holmes, Paul Mitchell, rh Mr Andrew Benton, Scott Duddridge, James Howell, John Mohindra, Mr Gagan Beresford, Sir Paul Duguid, David Howell, Paul Moore, Damien Berry, rh Jake Duncan Smith, rh Sir Iain Huddleston, Nigel Moore, Robbie Bhatti, Saqib Dunne, rh Philip Hudson, Dr Neil Mordaunt, rh Penny Blackman, Bob Eastwood, Mark Hughes, Eddie Morris, David Blunt, Crispin Edwards, Ruth Hunt, Jane Morris, James Bone, Mr Peter Ellis, rh Michael Hunt, rh Jeremy Morrissey, Joy Bottomley, Sir Peter Ellwood, rh Mr Tobias Hunt, Tom Morton, Wendy Bowie, Andrew Elphicke, Mrs Natalie Jack, rh Mr Alister Mullan, Dr Kieran Bradley, Ben Eustice, rh George Javid, rh Sajid Mumby-Croft, Holly Bradley, rh Karen Evans, Dr Luke Jayawardena, Mr Ranil Mundell, rh David Brady, Sir Graham Evennett, rh Sir David Jenkin, Sir Bernard Murray, Mrs Sheryll Braverman, rh Suella Everitt, Ben Jenkinson, Mark Murrison, rh Dr Andrew Brereton, Jack Fabricant, Michael Jenkyns, Andrea Neill, Sir Robert Bridgen, Andrew Farris, Laura Jenrick, rh Robert Nici, Lia Brine, Steve Fell, Simon Johnson, rh Boris Nokes, rh Caroline Bristow, Paul Fletcher, Katherine Johnson, Dr Caroline Norman, rh Jesse Britcliffe, Sara Fletcher, Mark Johnson, Gareth O’Brien, Neil Brokenshire, rh James Fletcher, Nick Johnston, David Offord, Dr Matthew Browne, Anthony Ford, Vicky Jones, Andrew Opperman, Guy Bruce, Fiona Foster, Kevin Jones, rh Mr David Parish, Neil Buchan, Felicity Fox, rh Dr Liam Jones, Fay Patel, rh Priti Buckland, rh Robert Francois, rh Mr Mark Jones, Mr Marcus Paterson, rh Mr Owen Burghart, Alex Frazer, Lucy Jupp, Simon Pawsey, Mark Burns, rh Conor Freeman, George Kawczynski, Daniel Penning, rh Sir Mike Butler, Rob Freer, Mike Kearns, Alicia Penrose, John Cairns, rh Alun Fuller, Richard Keegan, Gillian Percy, Andrew Carter, Andy Fysh, Mr Marcus Knight, rh Sir Greg Philp, Chris Cartlidge, James Gale, rh Sir Roger Knight, Julian Pincher, rh Christopher Cash, Sir William Garnier, Mark Kruger, Danny Poulter, Dr Dan Cates, Miriam Ghani, Ms Nusrat Kwarteng, rh Kwasi Pow, Rebecca Caulfield, Maria Gibb, rh Nick Lamont, John Prentis, Victoria Chalk, Alex Gibson, Peter Largan, Robert Pritchard, rh Mark Chishti, Rehman Gideon, Jo Latham, Mrs Pauline Quin, Jeremy Chope, Sir Christopher Gillan, rh Dame Cheryl Leadsom, rh Andrea Quince, Will Churchill, Jo Glen, John Leigh, rh Sir Edward Raab, rh Dominic Clark, rh Greg Goodwill, rh Mr Robert Levy, Ian Randall, Tom Clarke, Mr Simon Gove, rh Michael Lewer, Andrew Redwood, rh John Clarke, Theo Graham, Richard Lewis, rh Brandon Rees-Mogg, rh Mr Jacob Clarke-Smith, Brendan Grant, Mrs Helen Lewis, rh Dr Julian Richards, Nicola Clarkson, Chris Gray, James Liddell-Grainger, Mr Ian Richardson, Angela Cleverly, rh James Grayling, rh Chris Loder, Chris Roberts, Rob Clifton-Brown, Sir Geoffrey Green, Chris Logan, Mark Robertson, Mr Laurence Coffey, rh Dr Thérèse Green, rh Damian Longhi, Marco Robinson, Mary Colburn, Elliot Griffith, Andrew Lopez, Julia Rosindell, Andrew Collins, Damian Griffiths, Kate Lopresti, Jack Ross, Douglas Costa, Alberto Grundy, James Lord, Mr Jonathan Rowley, Lee Courts, Robert Gullis, Jonathan Loughton, Tim Russell, Dean Coutinho, Claire Halfon, rh Robert Mackinlay, Craig Rutley, David Cox, rh Sir Geoffrey Hall, Luke Mackrory, Cherilyn Sambrook, Gary Crabb, rh Stephen Hammond, Stephen Maclean, Rachel Saxby, Selaine Crosbie, Virginia Hancock, rh Matt Mak, Alan Scully, Paul Crouch, Tracey Hands, rh Greg Malthouse, Kit Seely, Bob Daly, James Harper, rh Mr Mark Mangnall, Anthony Selous, Andrew Davies, David T. C. Harris, Rebecca Mann, Scott Shapps, rh Grant Davies, Gareth Harrison, Trudy Marson, Julie Sharma, rh Alok Davies, Dr James Hart, Sally-Ann May, rh Mrs Theresa Shelbrooke, rh Alec Davies, Mims Hart, rh Simon Mayhew, Jerome Simmonds, David Davies, Philip Hayes, rh Sir John Maynard, Paul Skidmore, rh Chris Davis, rh Mr David Heald, rh Sir Oliver McCartney, Jason Smith, Chloe Davison, Dehenna Heappey, James McCartney, Karl Smith, Greg Dinenage, Caroline Heaton-Harris, Chris McPartland, Stephen Smith, Henry Dines, Miss Sarah Henderson, Gordon McVey, rh Esther Smith, rh Julian Djanogly, Mr Jonathan Henry, Darren Menzies, Mark Smith, Royston Docherty, Leo Higginbotham, Antony Mercer, Johnny Solloway, Amanda 271 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 272 Courts Bill Courts Bill Spencer, Dr Ben Vickers, Martin Clarke, Mr Simon Gove, rh Michael Spencer, rh Mark Vickers, Matt Clarke, Theo Graham, Richard Stafford, Alexander Villiers, rh Theresa Clarke-Smith, Brendan Grant, Mrs Helen Stephenson, Andrew Wakeford, Christian Clarkson, Chris Gray, James Stevenson, Jane Walker, Mr Robin Cleverly, rh James Grayling, rh Chris Stevenson, John Wallace, rh Mr Ben Clifton-Brown, Sir Geoffrey Green, Chris Stewart, rh Bob Wallis, Dr Jamie Coffey, rh Dr Thérèse Green, rh Damian Stewart, Iain Warburton, David Colburn, Elliot Griffith, Andrew Streeter, Sir Gary Warman, Matt Collins, Damian Griffiths, Kate Stride, rh Mel Watling, Giles Costa, Alberto Grundy, James Stuart, Graham Webb, Suzanne Courts, Robert Gullis, Jonathan Sturdy, Julian Whately, Helen Coutinho, Claire Halfon, rh Robert Sunak, rh Rishi Wheeler, Mrs Heather Cox, rh Sir Geoffrey Hall, Luke Sunderland, James Whittaker, Craig Crabb, rh Stephen Hammond, Stephen Swayne, rh Sir Desmond Whittingdale, rh Mr John Crosbie, Virginia Hancock, rh Matt Syms, Sir Robert Wiggin, Bill Crouch, Tracey Hands, rh Greg Thomas, Derek Wild, James Daly, James Harper, rh Mr Mark Timpson, Edward Williams, Craig Davies, David T. C. Harris, Rebecca Tolhurst, Kelly Williamson, rh Gavin Davies, Gareth Harrison, Trudy Tomlinson, Justin Wood, Mike Davies, Dr James Hart, Sally-Ann Tomlinson, Michael Wragg, Mr William Davies, Mims Hart, rh Simon Tracey, Craig Wright, rh Jeremy Davies, Philip Hayes, rh Sir John Trevelyan, rh Anne-Marie Young, Jacob Davis, rh Mr David Heald, rh Sir Oliver Trott, Laura Zahawi, Nadhim Davison, Dehenna Heappey, James Truss, rh Elizabeth Tellers for the Noes: Dinenage, Caroline Heaton-Harris, Chris Tugendhat, Tom Maggie Throup and Dines, Miss Sarah Henderson, Gordon Vara, Mr Shailesh Tom Pursglove Djanogly, Mr Jonathan Henry, Darren Docherty, Leo Higginbotham, Antony Donelan, Michelle Hinds, rh Damian Question accordingly negatived. Dorries, Ms Nadine Hoare, Simon The list of Members currently certified as eligible for a Double, Steve Holden, Mr Richard proxy vote, and of the Members nominated as their proxy, Dowden, rh Oliver Hollinrake, Kevin is published at the end of today’s debates. Doyle-Price, Jackie Hollobone, Mr Philip Drax, Richard Holloway, Adam Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)), Drummond, Mrs Flick Holmes, Paul That the Bill be now read a Second time. Duddridge, James Howell, John The House divided: Ayes 359, Noes 263. Duguid, David Howell, Paul Division No. 239] [7.10 pm Duncan Smith, rh Sir Iain Huddleston, Nigel Dunne, rh Philip Hudson, Dr Neil AYES Eastwood, Mark Hughes, Eddie Adams, Nigel Blunt, Crispin Edwards, Ruth Hunt, Jane Afolami, Bim Bone, Mr Peter Ellis, rh Michael Hunt, rh Jeremy Afriyie, Adam Bottomley, Sir Peter Ellwood, rh Mr Tobias Hunt, Tom Ahmad Khan, Imran Bowie, Andrew Elphicke, Mrs Natalie Jack, rh Mr Alister Aiken, Nickie Bradley, Ben Eustice, rh George Javid, rh Sajid Aldous, Peter Bradley, rh Karen Evans, Dr Luke Jayawardena, Mr Ranil Allan, Lucy Brady, Sir Graham Evennett, rh Sir David Jenkin, Sir Bernard Amess, Sir David Braverman, rh Suella Everitt, Ben Jenkinson, Mark Anderson, Lee Brereton, Jack Fabricant, Michael Jenkyns, Andrea Anderson, Stuart Bridgen, Andrew Farris, Laura Jenrick, rh Robert Andrew, rh Stuart Brine, Steve Fell, Simon Johnson, rh Boris Ansell, Caroline Bristow, Paul Fletcher, Katherine Johnson, Dr Caroline Argar, Edward Britcliffe, Sara Fletcher, Mark Johnson, Gareth Atherton, Sarah Brokenshire, rh James Fletcher, Nick Johnston, David Atkins, Victoria Browne, Anthony Ford, Vicky Jones, Andrew Bacon, Gareth Bruce, Fiona Foster, Kevin Jones, rh Mr David Bacon, Mr Richard Buchan, Felicity Fox, rh Dr Liam Jones, Fay Badenoch, Kemi Buckland, rh Robert Francois, rh Mr Mark Jones, Mr Marcus Bailey, Shaun Burghart, Alex Frazer, Lucy Jupp, Simon Baillie, Siobhan Burns, rh Conor Freeman, George Kawczynski, Daniel Baker, Duncan Butler, Rob Freer, Mike Kearns, Alicia Baker, Mr Steve Cairns, rh Alun Fuller, Richard Keegan, Gillian Baldwin, Harriett Carter, Andy Fysh, Mr Marcus Knight, rh Sir Greg Barclay, rh Steve Cartlidge, James Gale, rh Sir Roger Knight, Julian Baron, Mr John Cash, Sir William Garnier, Mark Kruger, Danny Baynes, Simon Cates, Miriam Ghani, Ms Nusrat Kwarteng, rh Kwasi Bell, Aaron Caulfield, Maria Gibb, rh Nick Lamont, John Benton, Scott Chalk, Alex Gibson, Peter Largan, Robert Beresford, Sir Paul Chishti, Rehman Gideon, Jo Latham, Mrs Pauline Berry, rh Jake Chope, Sir Christopher Gillan, rh Dame Cheryl Leadsom, rh Andrea Bhatti, Saqib Churchill, Jo Glen, John Leigh, rh Sir Edward Blackman, Bob Clark, rh Greg Goodwill, rh Mr Robert Levy, Ian 273 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 274 Courts Bill Courts Bill Lewer, Andrew Redwood, rh John Williams, Craig Young, Jacob Lewis, rh Brandon Rees-Mogg, rh Mr Jacob Williamson, rh Gavin Zahawi, Nadhim Lewis, rh Dr Julian Richards, Nicola Wood, Mike Tellers for the Ayes: Liddell-Grainger, Mr Ian Richardson, Angela Wragg, Mr William Maggie Throup and Loder, Chris Roberts, Rob Wright, rh Jeremy Tom Pursglove Logan, Mark Robertson, Mr Laurence Longhi, Marco Robinson, Mary Lopez, Julia Rosindell, Andrew NOES Lopresti, Jack Ross, Douglas Abbott, rh Ms Diane Debbonaire, Thangam Lord, Mr Jonathan Rowley, Lee Abrahams, Debbie Dhesi, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Loughton, Tim Russell, Dean Ali, Rushanara Docherty-Hughes, Martin Mackinlay, Craig Rutley, David Ali, Tahir Dodds, Anneliese Mackrory, Cherilyn Sambrook, Gary Allin-Khan, Dr Rosena Doogan, Dave Maclean, Rachel Saxby, Selaine Amesbury, Mike Dorans, Allan Mak, Alan Scully, Paul Anderson, Fleur Doughty, Stephen Malthouse, Kit Seely, Bob Antoniazzi, Tonia Dowd, Peter Mangnall, Anthony Selous, Andrew Ashworth, rh Jonathan Dromey, Jack Mann, Scott Shapps, rh Grant Bardell, Hannah Duffield, Rosie Marson, Julie Sharma, rh Alok Barker, Paula Eagle, Dame Angela May, rh Mrs Theresa Shelbrooke, rh Alec Beckett, rh Margaret Eagle, Maria Mayhew, Jerome Simmonds, David Begum, Apsana Eastwood, Colum Maynard, Paul Skidmore, rh Chris Benn, rh Hilary Edwards, Jonathan McCartney, Jason Smith, Chloe Betts, Mr Clive Efford, Clive McCartney, Karl Smith, Greg Black, Mhairi Elliott, Julie McPartland, Stephen Smith, Henry Blackford, rh Ian Elmore, Chris McVey, rh Esther Smith, rh Julian Blackman, Kirsty Eshalomi, Florence Menzies, Mark Smith, Royston Blake, Olivia Esterson, Bill Mercer, Johnny Solloway, Amanda Blomfield, Paul Evans, Chris Merriman, Huw Spencer, Dr Ben Bonnar, Steven Farron, Tim Metcalfe, Stephen Spencer, rh Mark Brabin, Tracy Farry, Stephen Millar, Robin Stafford, Alexander Bradshaw, rh Mr Ben Fellows, Marion Miller, rh Mrs Maria Stephenson, Andrew Brennan, Kevin Ferrier, Margaret Milling, rh Amanda Stevenson, Jane Brock, Deidre Flynn, Stephen Mills, Nigel Stevenson, John Brown, Alan Fovargue, Yvonne Mitchell, rh Mr Andrew Stewart, rh Bob Brown, Ms Lyn Foxcroft, Vicky Mohindra, Mr Gagan Stewart, Iain Brown, rh Mr Nicholas Foy, Mary Kelly Moore, Damien Streeter, Sir Gary Bryant, Chris Furniss, Gill Moore, Robbie Stride, rh Mel Buck, Ms Karen Gardiner, Barry Mordaunt, rh Penny Stuart, Graham Burgon, Richard Gibson, Patricia Morris, David Sturdy, Julian Butler, Dawn Gill, Preet Kaur Morris, James Sunak, rh Rishi Byrne, Ian Glindon, Mary Morrissey, Joy Sunderland, James Cadbury, Ruth Grady, Patrick Morton, Wendy Swayne, rh Sir Desmond Callaghan, Amy Grant, Peter Mullan, Dr Kieran Syms, Sir Robert Cameron, Dr Lisa Gray, Neil Mumby-Croft, Holly Thomas, Derek Campbell, rh Sir Alan Green, Kate Mundell, rh David Timpson, Edward Carden, Dan Greenwood, Lilian Murray, Mrs Sheryll Tolhurst, Kelly Carmichael, rh Mr Alistair Greenwood, Margaret Murrison, rh Dr Andrew Tomlinson, Justin Chamberlain, Wendy Griffith, Nia Neill, Sir Robert Tomlinson, Michael Champion, Sarah Gwynne, Andrew Nici, Lia Tracey, Craig Chapman, Douglas Haigh, Louise Nokes, rh Caroline Trevelyan, rh Anne-Marie Charalambous, Bambos Hamilton, Fabian Norman, rh Jesse Trott, Laura Cherry, Joanna Hanna, Claire O’Brien, Neil Truss, rh Elizabeth Clark, Feryal Hanvey, Neale Offord, Dr Matthew Tugendhat, Tom Cooper, Daisy Hardy, Emma Opperman, Guy Vara, Mr Shailesh Cooper, Rosie Harman, rh Ms Harriet Parish, Neil Vickers, Martin Cooper, rh Yvette Harris, Carolyn Patel, rh Priti Vickers, Matt Corbyn, rh Jeremy Hayes, Helen Paterson, rh Mr Owen Villiers, rh Theresa Cowan, Ronnie Healey, rh John Pawsey, Mark Wakeford, Christian Coyle, Neil Hendrick, Sir Mark Penning, rh Sir Mike Walker, Mr Robin Crawley, Angela Hendry, Drew Penrose, John Wallace, rh Mr Ben Creasy, Stella Hillier, Meg Percy, Andrew Wallis, Dr Jamie Cruddas, Jon Hobhouse, Wera Philp, Chris Warburton, David Cryer, John Hodge, rh Dame Margaret Pincher, rh Christopher Warman, Matt Cummins, Judith Hodgson, Mrs Sharon Poulter, Dr Dan Watling, Giles Cunningham, Alex Hollern, Kate Pow, Rebecca Webb, Suzanne Daby, Janet Hopkins, Rachel Prentis, Victoria Whately, Helen Davey, rh Ed Hosie, rh Stewart Pritchard, rh Mark Wheeler, Mrs Heather David, Wayne Howarth, rh Sir George Quin, Jeremy Whittaker, Craig Davies, Geraint Huq, Dr Rupa Quince, Will Whittingdale, rh Mr John Davies-Jones, Alex Hussain, Imran Raab, rh Dominic Wiggin, Bill Day, Martyn Jardine, Christine Randall, Tom Wild, James De Cordova, Marsha Jarvis, Dan 275 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 276 Courts Bill Courts Bill Johnson, rh Dame Diana Peacock, Stephanie The list of Members currently certified as eligible for Johnson, Kim Pennycook, Matthew a proxy vote, and of the Members nominated as their Jones, Darren Perkins, Mr Toby proxy, is published at the end of today’s debates. Jones, Gerald Phillips, Jess Jones, rh Mr Kevan Phillipson, Bridget Bill read a Second time. Jones, Ruth Pollard, Luke Jones, Sarah Powell, Lucy POLICE, CRIME, SENTENCING AND Kane, Mike Qureshi, Yasmin COURTS BILL (PROGRAMME) Keeley, Barbara Rayner, rh Angela Kendall, Liz Reed, Steve Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Khan, Afzal Rees, Christina Order No. 83A(7)), Kinnock, Stephen Reeves, Ellie That the following provisions shall apply to the Police, Crime, Kyle, Peter Reeves, Rachel Sentencing and Courts Bill: Lake, Ben Reynolds, Jonathan Committal Lammy, rh Mr David Ribeiro-Addy, Bell (1) The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee. Lavery, Ian Rimmer, Ms Marie Law, Chris Rodda, Matt Proceedings in Public Bill Committee Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma Russell-Moyle, Lloyd (2) Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as Lewis, Clive Saville Roberts, rh Liz not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Thursday Linden, David Shah, Naz 24 June 2021. Lloyd, Tony Sharma, Mr Virendra (3) The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on Long Bailey, Rebecca Sheerman, Mr Barry the first day on which it meets. Lucas, Caroline Sheppard, Tommy Proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading Lynch, Holly Siddiq, Tulip (4) Proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously MacAskill, Kenny Slaughter, Andy concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the MacNeil, Angus Brendan Smith, Alyn moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings Madders, Justin Smith, Cat are commenced. Mahmood, Mr Khalid Smith, Jeff (5) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously Mahmood, Shabana Smith, Nick concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption Malhotra, Seema Smyth, Karin on that day. Maskell, Rachael Sobel, Alex Matheson, Christian Spellar, rh John (6) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall Mc Nally, John Starmer, rh Keir not apply to proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading. McCarthy, Kerry Stephens, Chris Other proceedings McDonagh, Siobhain Stevens, Jo (7) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.— McDonald, Andy Stone, Jamie (James Morris.) McDonald, Stewart Malcolm Streeting, Wes Question agreed to. McDonald, Stuart C. Stringer, Graham McDonnell, rh John Sultana, Zarah McFadden, rh Mr Pat Tami, rh Mark POLICE, CRIME, SENTENCING AND McGinn, Conor Tarry, Sam COURTS BILL (MONEY) McGovern, Alison Thewliss, Alison Queen’s recommendation signified. McKinnell, Catherine Thomas, Gareth McLaughlin, Anne Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Thomas-Symonds, rh Nick McMahon, Jim Order No. 52(1)(a)), Thompson, Owen McMorrin, Anna Thomson, Richard That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Police, Mearns, Ian Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, it is expedient to authorise the Thornberry, rh Emily Miliband, rh Edward payment out of money provided by Parliament of: Mishra, Navendu Timms, rh Stephen Trickett, Jon (1) any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of the Act by a Monaghan, Carol Minister of the Crown, government department or other public Turner, Karl Moran, Layla authority, and Morden, Jessica Twigg, Derek Vaz, rh Valerie (2) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable Morgan, Stephen under any other Act out of money so provided.—(James Morris.) Morris, Grahame Webbe, Claudia Murray, Ian West, Catherine Question agreed to. Murray, James Western, Matt Nandy, Lisa Whitehead, Dr Alan POLICE, CRIME, SENTENCING AND Newlands, Gavin Whitford, Dr Philippa COURTS BILL (WAYS AND MEANS) Nichols, Charlotte Whitley, Mick Nicolson, John Whittome, Nadia Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Norris, Alex Williams, Hywel Order No. 52(1)(a)), O’Hara, Brendan Wilson, Munira That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Police, Olney, Sarah Winter, Beth Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, it is expedient to authorise the Onwurah, Chi Wishart, Pete charging of fees for courses offered as an alternative to prosecution Oppong-Asare, Abena Yasin, Mohammad for road traffic offences.—(James Morris.) Osamor, Kate Zeichner, Daniel Question agreed to. Osborne, Kate Oswald, Kirsten Tellers for the Noes: Owatemi, Taiwo Colleen Fletcher and POLICE, CRIME, SENTENCING AND Owen, Sarah Liz Twist COURTS BILL (CARRY-OVER) Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Question accordingly agreed to. Order No. 80A(1)(a)), 277 Police, Crime, Sentencing and 16 MARCH 2021 278 Courts Bill That if, at the conclusion of this Session of Parliament, proceedings Scotland Act 1998: Scottish Civil Service on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill have not been completed, they shall be resumed in the next Session.— Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House (James Morris.) do now adjourn.—(James Morris.) Question agreed to.

Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): I will 7.21 pm now briefly suspend the House for three minutes so that Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) (Con): arrangements can be made and people can leave and For the past few months, Scotland has been transfixed enter the Chamber with proper social distancing. by the Holyrood inquiry seeking the truth of what went wrong with the investigations into the former First 7.19 pm Minister, . The inquiry is investigating Sitting suspended. matters of the most serious kind—serious for the proper handling of sexual harassment complaints in Scotland; serious for the accountability of those in positions of power, including the Scottish Government’s permanent secretary and Lord Advocate; and serious, if the former First Minister’s claims hold any water, for the future of the present First Minister’s administration of Scotland. These matters are unquestionably something that should properly be dealt with in Holyrood, but Holyrood has great difficulties exposing what went on. The inquiry has come up against endless impediments in its efforts to fulfil its remit. Those difficulties can be traced back to the Scotland Act 1998, in which the British Government of the day and this House decided to devolve power to the Scottish Parliament but failed to do it properly. Those failures were broadly on three fronts. First, this House failed to guarantee separation of powers to Scotland. We have known for centuries that separation of powers is fundamental to a functioning democracy, yet in Scotland, the Lord Advocate both leads the prosecution service and serves in the Scottish Cabinet. That leaves him conflicted and compromised, with his Department’s independence undermined. Secondly, the Scottish civil service was left as a part of the wider UK civil service. It therefore does not have its own mechanisms of control and accountability in place, but it is only loosely controlled by Whitehall, as we shall see in a moment. The result has been tolerance of failings that ordinarily would have led to resignations. Thirdly and most importantly,Scottish parliamentarians were not given the same powers and privileges that Members of this House enjoy. That means that evidence relevant to the Holyrood inquiry can be freely discussed here today using parliamentary privilege, but if an MSP in Holyrood were to do the same, they would likely find themselves facing down prosecution. Indeed, the Crown Office has been making such threats to Mr Salmond’s lawyers, various journalists and even the Holyrood inquiry itself. It made it clear that it would deem disclosure of evidence to a Committee of elected representatives to be a criminal offence. We have, in effect, given the Holyrood inquiry the right to summon evidence but not to use it. It is because of these failings that I have brought this debate today. We need to reinforce the ability of the Scottish Parliament to hold its own Government to account. I am here to strengthen the Scottish Parliament, not to bury it. A few weeks ago, I was passed some papers from an anonymous whistleblower. The information in those papers consisted of a download of text messages from the telephone of Sue Ruddick, the chief operating officer of the Scottish National party. This download— 279 Scotland Act 1998: 16 MARCH 2021 Scotland Act 1998: 280 Scottish Civil Service Scottish Civil Service Owen Thompson (Midlothian) (SNP): On a point of had started their investigation of the criminal case, order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Obviously, I appreciate McCann expressed great disappointment to Ruddick the points that the right hon. Gentleman is making. that someone who had promised to deliver five However, there are court orders in place around the complainants to him by the end of that week had come identities of individuals involved in that case. I do up empty, or “overreached”, as he put it. One of the appreciate the points that he is making, but I would complainants said to Ruddick that she was appreciate your guidance on how we can ensure that “feeling pressurised by the whole thing rather than supported”. these court orders can in fact be adhered to in this place. The day following the Scottish Government’s collapse in a judicial review in January 2019, Ruddick expressed Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): I to McCann the hope that one of the complainants thank the hon. Gentleman for his very serious point of would be order. I can assure him that I am listening very carefully to what the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and “sickened enough to get back in the game.” Howden (Mr Davis) is saying. I think that he, being a Later that month, she confirmed to Murrell that the very experienced parliamentarian, understands the side complainant was now “up for the fight” and of the line on which he must stay, as far as mentioning “keen to see him go to jail”. sensitive matters and matters connected with courts, Ruddick herself, in one of her texts, expressed nervousness and so on. about “what happens when my name comes out as [redacted] fishing for Mr Davis: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I others to come forward”. have, I think, brought whistleblower views to the attention of this House on about a dozen occasions in the last 20 Note, again, that this was after the criminal investigation or 30 years and, on every single occasion, I have protected into Salmond had commenced. This is improper, to say the innocent people involved. the least. Contact with, and influence of, potential witnesses is totally inappropriate once a criminal investigation is The download that I am talking about—Sue Ruddick’s under way. That was known inside the SNP itself. telephone download—is held by the Scottish police, so the accuracy of this account can be checked if they Text messages reveal that at an SNP national executive need to. Alex Salmond has asserted that there has been, committee meeting early in January 2019, the hon. and and I quote, learned Member for Edinburgh South West (Joanna “a malicious and concerted attempt to….remove me from public Cherry) raised concerns among staff at Westminster life in Scotland” that SNP headquarters were engaged in “suborning” of witnesses, while on 28 August 2018, a senior member of by SNP staff in this building described in an email the SNP “a range of individuals within the Scottish Government and the headquarters move against Salmond as a “witch-hunt”. SNP”, Shortly after charges were brought against Salmond, who set out to “damage” his Peter Murrell sent messages saying that it was a “reputation, even to the extent of having” “good time to be pressurising” him “imprisoned.” detectives working on the case, and that the more fronts These are incredibly grave charges. The whistleblower Salmond was having to “firefight” on, clearly agrees with those charges. He or she starts their communication with the assertion that the evidence “the better for all complainers.” provided, and I quote, When the inquiry put those messages to Mr Murrell, he “point to collusion, perjury, up to criminal conspiracy.” said that they were “quite out of character”. That is no defence even were it true, but, having seen the evidence Since I received the data, it looks as though the Committee of other messages, it seems to me that they were all too has received at least some of it themselves, and some much in character for Mr Murrell. In a Committee has also been put in the public domain by the hon. evidence session on 8 December last year, Mr Murrell Member for East Lothian (Kenny MacAskill), a previous replied under questioning that there were no more Justice Secretary in the Scottish Government. It was messages of the type already in the public domain from described anonymously by one of the Committee January 2019. members as That statement, delivered under oath, is hard to “just private conversations that we had no business intruding on”. reconcile with the dozens of messages stretching over a Well, I will let the House be the judge of that. period of months from September 2018 that I have now No single sequence of texts is going to provide conclusive seen. There is more, but it would take the whole debate proof of what the whistleblower described as a “criminal to read them out. The Committee needs to gain access conspiracy”, but it does show a very strong prima facie to all this information. The anonymous Committee case, which demands further serious investigation, by member who described them as “just private conversations” which I mean, at the very least, a thorough review of all should understand that meddling in an ongoing police the emails and other electronic records for the relevant inquiry is at best improper, and at worst criminal, so it personnel at all relevant times. requires proper investigation. If the Committee does For example, these texts show that there is a concerted not feel it can do the job, perhaps it should ask the effort by senior members of the SNP to encourage police to do it instead. complaints. The messages suggest that SNP chief executive That brings us to the complaints process that Peter Murrell co-ordinated Ruddick and Ian McCann, Mr Salmond was subjected to. This process was new. the SNP’s compliance officer, in the handling of specific Created in late 2017, it was different from existing complainants. On 28 September, a month after the police Scottish Government complaints procedures in a number 281 Scotland Act 1998: 16 MARCH 2021 Scotland Act 1998: 282 Scottish Civil Service Scottish Civil Service of ways, including being retrospective, lacking a mediation The Scottish Government pressed on despite the counsel’s procedure and, extraordinarily, applying to previous continued concerns about their “untenable position”. Ministers but not to previous civil servants. The procedure Most remarkably,the counsel told the Scottish Government was shared with the head of propriety and ethics in that they were “personally horrified”, and that they Whitehall, who expressed discomfort with the proposals could and specifically asked whether they were only to apply “no longer rest on pleadings that they knew to be untrue.” to Ministers, not civil servants. As far as I can tell, she The defence had collapsed because of the Government’s did not get a reply. It is hard to imagine a Department lack of candour. Mr Salmond was very fortunate that in Whitehall essentially ignoring concerns expressed by the Government’s counsel, Mr Roddy Dunlop, now the head of propriety and ethics, which is one of the Scotland’s leading QC, behaved with impeccable honour reasons that I want Whitehall to review the checks and and honesty throughout. Let us be clear: this is not just balances built into the Scottish civil service. a case of a Government who failed to provide information The Scottish Government also ignored their own new because they could not manage their own filing systems. policy and appointed an investigating officer who, it This was a Government who actively withheld important, emerged, had had prior contact with the complainants, relevant information. In one case, a critically relevant and not just any contact—a potential complainant was email was actively removed from an information bundle asked for their input on the draft procedure before they that was going to the court and that had already been had formally made their complaint. They did not consult approved by the Government counsel. I do not know women’s advocacy groups, which would have been proper. who took that email out—I have it here. I do not know They did consult trade unions, but not in a proper or who gave the instruction, but in my view the removal of timely fashion. Instead, input was sought from the very that document would be a summary dismissal offence first complainant whose case would be investigated. and possibly a criminal offence. At the very least, it Mr Salmond sought judicial review of the process, and would be a contempt of court. Yet over his three evidence in due course, this complaints procedure and process sessions, the Lord Advocate, the Chief Law Officer of was judged by Lord Pentland in the highest civil court Scotland, did not see fit to mention this crucial incident in Scotland to be “unlawful”, “unfair” and “tainted to a parliamentary Committee trying to get to the truth. with apparent bias”—an astonishing judgment, backed It came to light just 10 days ago, when the Government up by the maximum possible punitive award of costs. were forced to publish their legal advice. The judicial review of 2018 led to further extraordinary It was only in January 2019, after months of increasingly behaviour by the Scottish Government. In her evidence damning advice, that the Scottish Government faced the before the Holyrood inquiry,the First Minister of Scotland, inevitable and conceded the judicial review. Costs were , said that her Government’s external awarded against the Scottish Government at a punitive counsel were “confident” at the outset of the civil case level reserved for defences conducted “incompetently or that they would be successful. That is a significant unreasonably”. The Scottish public will now pay the bill mischaracterisation of the advice. The Government’s for their Government’s dogged pursuit of a doomed case. external counsel had identified a central vulnerability in More than that, the Scottish Government behaved in the Scottish Government’scase. The complaints procedure a way that was misleading to the court in a case that had under which Salmond was investigated had a real risk serious implications for the criminal case that was to of being found to be unfair. Counsel stated: follow. The charges in that case were very serious. Had “the vulnerability arises from the Procedure itself, and not from Mr Salmond been guilty of them, he would, quite its implementation in this particular case.” rightly, have gone to prison, and his reputation would We now know that counsel came to that conclusion have been destroyed forever. Yet the Government were without being given the full facts of the case—facts willing to play fast and loose with the facts in a way that, in due course, took it from being an arguable case that, if they had succeeded, would have jeopardised the to a completely unarguable one. whole process of justice. For me, that is even bigger than the grotesque waste of £1 million. As it was, of course, External counsel Roddy Dunlop QC gave that first he was exonerated on all charges by a predominantly assessment of their chances in late September. By the female jury in a criminal court presided over by a end of October, he is clearly worried that the Government female judge. had not disclosed important facts about their operation The Scottish Government had committed abuses of of the process and says that at that point: process in the initial investigation. They had failed to “it makes little sense to continue to defend the indefensible.” live up to their duty of candour in court with an Within a few days, he is advising that the “least worst” indefensible case. At this point, we might have expected option is to concede the case. By 14 December, the some contrition. Instead, the Scottish Government have obvious failure of the Government to meet their duty of now set their sights on impeding the Committee tasked candour leads to a commission and diligence committee with investigating the whole affair. The Members of the being appointed to establish the real facts. Holyrood inquiry are valiantly struggling to do their job, or at least some of them are, but time and again On 19 December, after the first meeting of that they have been frustrated. The inquiry has had to cope commission, the Government’s external counsel tells with evasiveness from the Scottish Government and the the Government: constant threat of legal action by the Crown Office, the “With regret, our dismay at this case deepens even further...Suffice Scottish equivalent of our Crown Prosecution Service. to say that we have each experienced extreme professional embarrassment as a result of assurances which we have given, First, the Crown Office intervened by barring the both to our opponents and the court, which assurances have been publication of the evidence of Geoff Aberdein, given on instruction, turning out to be false as a result of the Mr Salmond’s former chief of staff. This evidence is revelation of further documents.” critical in determining whether Nicola Sturgeon breached 283 Scotland Act 1998: 16 MARCH 2021 Scotland Act 1998: 284 Scottish Civil Service Scottish Civil Service [Mr David Davis] Together, those form a litany of acts that repeatedly frustrated the Committee and denied the public full the ministerial code. It is clearly in the public interest to transparency and accountability. They fit squarely into see this evidence. However, it is not allowed to be a pattern of evasiveness and abuse of process that the published, so I have a suggestion for the Committee. I Scottish Government have woven from the start. As I have it on good authority that there exists from 6 February said in opening, the proper place for these matters to be 2018 an exchange of messages between civil servants determined is Holyrood. It would be eminently preferable Judith McKinnon and Barbara Allison suggesting that for MSPs to be exposing any relevant evidence, but the First Minister’s chief of staff is interfering in the given the British Government’s failure in 1998 to give complaints process against Alex Salmond. The investigating sufficient power to the Scottish Parliament, and given officer complained, “Liz interference v. bad”. I assume that the Scottish Parliament derives its authority from that that means very bad. If true, this suggests that the this House, certain evidence must now enter the public chief of staff had knowledge of the Salmond case in domain here. February, not in April, as she has claimed on oath. The The Holyrood inquiry has exposed some critical failings First Minister also tied herself to that April date in both at the heart of the Scottish Government. They failed parliamentary and legal statements. She was, of course, with the complaints process, they failed to heed legal aware earlier than that. The question is just how aware advice, and they failed to honour commitments to and how much earlier. ensure a transparent parliamentary review, but perhaps Secondly, the Crown Office intervened to see that the more worryingly the inquiry has revealed the limits of evidence of the former First Minister was redacted, what the Scottish Parliament can expose. There is a supposedly to protect the identity of complainants, deficit of power,and with it comes a deficit of accountability. which is the point that the hon. Member for Midlothian (Owen Thompson) made quite properly earlier. Again, At the very least, I ask the Minister to consider an that redacted evidence focused on whether or not the amendment to the 1998 Act to deliver separation of First Minister breached the ministerial code, but powers to Scotland—something that I believe a previous The Spectator magazine had already published online Justice Minister, the hon. Member for East Lothian, Mr Salmond’sentire evidence with only a single paragraph has written to the Justice Committee about already—to redaction. strengthen the civil service, and to reinforce the powers of the Scottish Parliament, correcting the fundamental When The Spectator went to court to secure the power imbalance between the Executive and the legislature publication of that evidence, the Crown Office made no in Scotland. Let us give the Scottish Parliament the objection whatsoever to the paragraphs that it bullied power to do the job. the Holyrood inquiry to redact. That leaves an absurd situation where the inquiry cannot speak about evidence that is freely available to anyone with an internet connection. 7.43 pm The redactions are therefore clearly not designed to protect the complainants; they are designed to protect The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland the First Minister from accountability to the inquiry. (Iain Stewart): May I start with the customary Thirdly,the Scottish Government withheld the damning congratulations to my right hon. Friend the Member legal advice given in the civil case. It was only with the for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) on securing threat of a no confidence vote in the Deputy First Minister this timely debate? He has a long and distinguished that the Committee could see part, and I emphasise record of shining a light on matters of probity and part, of that advice. However, what we do know is that accountability in public life. I should note that he does across November and December 2018 there were a series that against Governments of all political colours and is of meetings where it was decided to persist with the not discriminatory in his desire to see the truth and judicial review.That was against clear advice from counsel. accountability. Rather extraordinarily, those meetings appear to have My right hon. Friend has raised important questions been largely unminuted. I recommend that they ask for tonight, but I must make it clear from the outset that it the junior counsel’s notes. It was only at the last possible is not appropriate for me as a Minister to comment on minute that the Government conceded the case, and the specifics of the various inquiries to which he referred only after counsel had threatened to resign. The First that have not yet concluded, or on the information that Minister told the Committee: he has put before the House tonight. I am sure, though, “I am not aware that they threatened to resign”, that those matters will be of considerable interest and widely debated elsewhere. I hope my right hon. Friend but she will have seen a report that clearly states that understands why I have to limit my comments to some counsel of the general procedural and structural issues that he “in light of their professional duties” raised in his speech. and their view of the case I do not have a huge amount of time, so I will try to “will require to withdraw from acting on January 3”. cover three broad issues that my right hon. Friend Fourthly, the Scottish Government have repeatedly raised: first, the privilege and powers of MSPs to obtain denied the Committee relevant evidence for what they and discuss evidence, compared with the rights we have claim to be legal reasons. That position is nonsensical. in this House to hold the Executive to account; secondly, Of course there should be protections over sensitive the dual role of the Lord Advocate as both Scottish material exposed in criminal trials—we agree on that—but Government legal adviser and head of the Crown Office those protections should not prevent a parliamentary and Procurator Fiscal Service; and thirdly, a more committee from doing its job of holding Government general point on the lines of accountability in the to account. Scottish civil service in Scotland. 285 Scotland Act 1998: 16 MARCH 2021 Scotland Act 1998: 286 Scottish Civil Service Scottish Civil Service Let me take each issue in turn. In this House, matters civil service code.This includes provision for the publication of parliamentary privilege are regulated by Parliament of a separate code of conduct covering civil servants alone. Parliament holds sole jurisdiction—known as who serve the Scottish or Welsh Governments. The exclusive cognisance—over all matters that are subject Northern Ireland civil service is a separate organisation, to parliamentary privilege. That principle underpins all but shares the same culture and values as set out in the privilege, with article 9 of the Bill of Rights 1689 being civil service code. So although civil servants working to the most important statutory expression. It says that the different Administrations are accountable to their own “freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament Ministers—in the case of Scotland they are accountable ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place to Scottish Government Ministers, who are in turn out of Parliament”. accountable to the Scottish Parliament—with their own In comparison, Members of the Scottish Parliament political priorities and mandates, the core values of the are protected against defamation as set out in section 41 civil service support civil servants working across the UK. of the Scotland Act 1998 but are not covered by article 9 The civil service has a number of safeguards in place of the Bill of Rights, so they have fewer protections. It is to make sure that civil servants are able to raise concerns within the gift of the Scottish Parliament to amend the if they feel they are being required to act in a way that situation if it so wishes. As my right hon. Friend will conflicts with the code and its values. Departments and know, there are Scottish Parliament elections in a couple agencies have a duty to make their employees aware of of months’ time; the new Parliament can explore this the code and its values. If a civil servant believes they matter, should it wish. are being required to act in a way that conflicts with the The second point is on the dual role of the code or becomes aware of actions by others that they Lord Advocate, who is the Scottish Government’s most believe conflict with the code, their Department or senior Law Officer and principal legal adviser. Although agency must consider this concern and make sure they not a member of the Scottish Government Cabinet, he are not penalised for raising it. They can raise their or she may attend Cabinet in that capacity, and they concerns with someone in their line management chain represent the Government in civil proceedings. Given the or with nominated officers within their Department. If inclusion in the 1998 Act of the role of the Lord Advocate, a civil servant has raised a matter in line with the any formal separation of their responsibilities would relevant procedures and does not believe they have require legislation in Westminster. received a reasonable response, they can report the I note that my right hon. Friend referred to the fact matter to the Civil Service Commission. It is independent that the hon. Member for East Lothian (Kenny MacAskill) of Government and the civil service. It is established by has asked the Justice Committee of this House to statute to provide assurance that civil servants are selected consider the matter. The dual role is historical—it precedes on merit and help to safeguard an impartial civil service. the creation of the Scottish Parliament—and I imagine I hope that these background points are helpful to that unpicking the different roles would entail quite a my right hon. Friend and to the House in understanding complex debate, but that does not mean that it should the context in which he raised his important points. He not be considered. As I say, I mention that in a general has raised some serious questions. I am sure they will be way, not in relation to the matters of the specific case to widely debated in the weeks and months ahead, but for which my right hon. Friend referred. now I congratulate him on securing this important The third point I wish to touch on briefly in the two debate. or three minutes I have left relates to the civil service in Question put and agreed to. Scotland. My right hon. Friend is correct to point out that under devolution the civil service in Scotland is a reserved matter. The Constitutional Reform and 7.51 pm Governance Act 2010 provides a statutory basis for the House adjourned. 287 16 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 288

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The following is the list of Members currently certified Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con) as eligible for a proxy vote, and of the Members nominated Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew as their proxy: Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) Stuart Andrew (Con) Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy Clive Betts (Sheffield South East) (Lab) Mark Tami Ms (Hackney North and Bell Ribeiro-Addy Saqib Bhatti (Meriden) (Con) Stuart Andrew Stoke Newington) (Lab) Mhairi Black (Paisley and Renfrewshire Owen Thompson Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Mark Tami South) (SNP) Saddleworth) (Lab) Ian Blackford (Ross, Skye and Owen Thompson (Selby and Ainsty) (Con) Stuart Andrew Lochaber) (SNP) Bim Afolami (Hitchin and Harpenden) Stuart Andrew Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) Owen Thompson (Windsor) (Con) Stuart Andrew (SNP) Imran Ahmad Khan (Wakefield) (Con) Stuart Andrew Olivia Blake (Sheffield, Hallam) (Lab) Mark Tami Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Stuart Andrew (Sheffield Central) Mark Tami Westminster) (Con) (Lab) Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con) Stuart Andrew Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con) Stuart Andrew Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Mark Tami Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con) Stuart Andrew Bow) (Lab) Steven Bonnar (Coatbridge, Chryston Owen Thompson Tahir Ali (Birmingham, Hall Green) Mark Tami and Bellshill) (SNP) (Lab) Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire Stuart Andrew Lucy Allan (Telford) (Con) Stuart Andrew and Kincardine) (Con) Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Tooting) (Lab) Mark Tami Tracy Brabin (Batley and Spen) (Lab/ Mark Tami Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab) Mark Tami Co-op) Sir David Amess (Southend West) Stuart Andrew Ben Bradley (Mansfield) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Staffordshire Stuart Andrew (Putney) (Lab) Mark Tami Moorlands) (Con) Lee Anderson (Ashfield) (Con) Robbie Moore Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab) Mark Tami Stuart Anderson (Wolverhampton Stuart Andrew Suella Braverman (Fareham) (Con) Stuart Andrew South West) (Con) Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab) Mark Tami Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jack Brereton (Stoke-on-Trent South) Stuart Andrew Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab) Mark Tami (Con) Edward Argar (Charnwood) (Con) Stuart Andrew Andrew Bridgen (North West Stuart Andrew (Leicester South) Mark Tami Leicestershire) (Con) (Lab) Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sarah Atherton (Wrexham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Paul Bristow (Peterborough) (Con) Stuart Andrew Victoria Atkins (Louth and Stuart Andrew Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con) Stuart Andrew Horncastle) (Con) Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Owen Thompson Gareth Bacon (Orpington) (Con) Stuart Andrew Leith) (SNP) Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk) Stuart Andrew James Brokenshire (Old Bexley and Stuart Andrew (Con) Sidcup) (Con) Kemi Badenoch (Saffron Walden) Stuart Andrew Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudon) Owen Thompson (Con) (SNP) Shaun Bailey (West Bromwich West) Stuart Andrew Ms Lyn Brown (West Ham) (Lab) Mark Tami (Con) Anthony Browne (South Stuart Andrew Siobhan Baillie (Stroud) (Con) Stuart Andrew Cambridgeshire) (Con) Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) (Con) Stuart Andrew Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con) Stuart Andrew Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) Stuart Andrew Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab) Mark Tami (Con) Steve Barclay (North East Stuart Andrew Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con) Stuart Andrew Cambridgeshire) (Con) Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) Mark Tami Hannah Bardell (Livingston) (SNP) Owen Thompson (Lab) Paula Barker (Liverpool, Wavertree) Mark Tami Robert Buckland (South Swindon) Stuart Andrew (Lab) (Con) Mr John Baron (Basildon and Stuart Andrew Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) Stuart Andrew Billericay) (Con) (Con) Simon Baynes (Clwyd South) (Con) Stuart Andrew Richard Burgon (Leeds East) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Derby South) (Lab) Mark Tami Conor Burns (Bournemouth West) Stuart Andrew Apsana Begum (Poplar and Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Con) Limehouse) (Lab) (Brent Central) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Aaron Bell (Newcastle-under-Lyme) Stuart Andrew Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Ian Byrne (Liverpool, West Derby) Mark Tami (Leeds Central) (Lab) Mark Tami (Lab) 289 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote16 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 290

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Liam Byrne (Birmingham, Hodge Hill) Mark Tami Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Mark Tami (Lab) Southwark) (Lab) Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Mark Tami (Preseli Pembrokeshire) Stuart Andrew Isleworth) (Lab) (Con) Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) Stuart Andrew Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton Owen Thompson (Con) East) (SNP) Amy Callaghan (East Dunbartonshire) Owen Thompson Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab) Mark Tami (SNP) Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con) Stuart Andrew Dr Lisa Cameron (East Kilbride, Owen Thompson Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Stuart Andrew Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (SNP) Aylesford) (Con) Sir Alan Campbell (Tynemouth) (Lab) Mark Tami (Dagenham and Mark Tami Mr Gregory Campbell (East Ian Paisley Rainham) (Lab) Londonderry) (DUP) (Leyton and Wanstead) Mark Tami Dan Carden (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab) Mark Tami (Lab) Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Wendy Chamberlain (Bradford South) Mark Tami Shetland) (LD) (Lab) Andy Carter (Warrington South) (Con) Stuart Andrew Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) Mark Tami James Cartlidge (South Suffolk) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Sir William Cash (Stone) (Con) Stuart Andrew Janet Daby ( East) (Lab) Mark Tami (Penistone and Stuart Andrew James Daly (Bury North) (Con) Stuart Andrew Stocksbridge) (Con) (Kingston and Surbiton) Wendy Chamberlain Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con) Stuart Andrew (LD) Alex Chalk (Cheltenham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab) Mark Tami Sarah Champion (Rotherham) (Lab) Mark Tami David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con) Stuart Andrew Douglas Chapman (Dunfermline and Owen Thompson Gareth Davies (Grantham and Stuart Andrew West Fife) (SNP) Stamford) (Con) Bambos Charalambous (Enfield, Mark Tami Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/ Mark Tami Southgate) (Lab) Co-op) Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) Owen Thompson Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd) (Con) Stuart Andrew (SNP) Mims Davies (Mid Sussex) (Con) Stuart Andrew Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Stuart Andrew Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd) (Lab) Mark Tami Rainham) (Con) Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jo Churchill (Bury St Edmunds) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Stuart Andrew Feryal Clark (Enfield North) (Lab) Mark Tami Howden) (Con) (Tunbridge Wells) (Con) Stuart Andrew Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) Ben Everitt Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough Stuart Andrew (Con) South and East Cleveland) (Con) Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Owen Thompson Theo Clarke (Stafford) (Con) Stuart Andrew Falkirk) (SNP) Brendan Clarke-Smith (Bassetlaw) Stuart Andrew (Bristol West) Mark Tami (Con) (Lab) Chris Clarkson (Heywood and Stuart Andrew (Battersea) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Middleton) (Con) Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) Mark Tami James Cleverly (Braintree) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Stuart Andrew Caroline Dinenage (Gosport) (Con) Stuart Andrew Cotswolds) (Con) Miss Sarah Dines (Derbyshire Dales) Stuart Andrew Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Carshalton and Stuart Andrew Wallington) (Con) Martin Docherty-Hughes (West Owen Thompson Dunbartonshire) (SNP) Damian Collins (Folkestone and Stuart Andrew Hythe) (Con) (Oxford East) (Lab/ Mark Tami Co-op) Daisy Cooper (St Albans) (LD) Wendy Chamberlain Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Ian Paisley Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab) Mark Tami Valley) (DUP) (Normanton, Pontefract Mark Tami Michelle Donelan (Chippenham) (Con) Stuart Andrew and Castleford) (Lab) Dave Doogan (Angus) (SNP) Owen Thompson (Islington North) (Ind) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Owen Thompson Alberto Costa (South Leicestershire) Stuart Andrew Cumnock) (SNP) (Con) Ms Nadine Dorries (Mid Bedfordshire) Stuart Andrew Robert Courts (Witney) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Claire Coutinho (East Surrey) (Con) Stuart Andrew Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) Stuart Andrew Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP) Owen Thompson (Con) Sir Geoffrey Cox (Torridge and West Stuart Andrew Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Mark Tami Devon) (Con) Penarth) (Lab) 291 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote16 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 292

Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy

Jackie Doyle-Price (Thurrock) (Con) Stuart Andrew Dr Liam Fox (North Somerset) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Bootle) (Lab) Mark Tami Vicky Foxcroft (Lewisham, Deptford) Mark Tami Oliver Dowden (Hertsmere) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Lab) (Birmingham, Erdington) Mark Tami (Lab) Mr (Rayleigh and Stuart Andrew Wickford) (Con) Mrs Flick Drummond (Meon Valley) Stuart Andrew (Con) Lucy Frazer (South East Stuart Andrew Cambridgeshire) (Con) James Duddridge (Rochford and Stuart Andrew Southend East) (Con) George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Canterbury) (Lab) Mark Tami Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Stuart Andrew Green) (Con) David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) Stuart Andrew (Con) Richard Fuller (North East Stuart Andrew Bedfordshire) (Con) Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Stuart Andrew Woodford Green) (Con) Marcus Fysh (Yeovil) (Con) Stuart Andrew Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sir Roger Gale (North Thanet) (Con) Stuart Andrew Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab) Mark Tami (Brent North) (Lab) Mark Tami Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) Mark Tami (Wyre Forest) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Ms Nusrat Ghani (Wealden) (Con) Stuart Andrew Colum Eastwood (Foyle) (SDLP) Ben Lake Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Stuart Andrew (Dewsbury) (Con) Stuart Andrew Littlehampton) (Con) Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East Stuart Andrew Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Owen Thompson and Dinefwr) (Ind) Arran) (SNP) Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) (Con) Stuart Andrew Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con) Stuart Andrew Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab) Mark Tami Jo Gideon (Stoke-on-Trent Central) Stuart Andrew (Con) Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab) Mark Tami Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham, Mark Tami Michael Ellis (Northampton North) Stuart Andrew Edgbaston) (Lab/Co-op) (Con) Dame Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Stuart Andrew Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth Stuart Andrew Amersham) (Con) East) (Con) Paul Girvan (South Antrim) (DUP) Ian Paisley Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab) Mark Tami John Glen (Salisbury) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mrs Natalie Elphicke (Dover) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab) Mark Tami Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall) (Lab/Co- Mark Tami op) Mr (Scarborough and Stuart Andrew Whitby) (Con) Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab) Mark Tami (Surrey Heath) (Con) Stuart Andrew George Eustice (Camborne and Stuart Andrew Redruth) (Con) Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP) Owen Thompson Chris Evans (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op) Mark Tami Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con) Stuart Andrew Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Stuart Andrew Weald) (Con) Sir David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Stuart Andrew Crayford) (Con) Peter Grant (Glenrothes) (SNP) Owen Thompson James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con) Stuart Andrew Ben Everitt (Milton Keynes North) Stuart Andrew (Con) Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Owen Thompson Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con) Stuart Andrew Chris Grayling (Epsom and Ewell) Stuart Andrew (Con) Laura Farris (Newbury) (Con) Stuart Andrew Damian Green (Ashford) (Con) Stuart Andrew Tim Farron (Westmorland and Wendy Chamberlain Lonsdale) (LD) (Stretford and Urmston) Mark Tami (Lab) Stephen Farry (North Down) (Alliance) Wendy Chamberlain Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) Mark Tami Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Marion Fellows (Motherwell and Owen Thompson (Wirral West) Mark Tami Wishaw) (SNP) (Lab) Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Stuart Andrew Andrew Griffith (Arundel and South Stuart Andrew Hamilton West) (Ind) Downs) (Con) Katherine Fletcher (South Ribble) Stuart Andrew (Llanelli) (Lab) Mark Tami (Con) Kate Griffiths (Burton) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mark Fletcher (Bolsover) (Con) Stuart Andrew James Grundy (Leigh) (Con) Stuart Andrew Nick Fletcher (Don Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jonathan Gullis (Stoke-on-Trent Stuart Andrew Stephen Flynn (Aberdeen South) Owen Thompson North) (Con) (SNP) (Denton and Mark Tami Vicky Ford (Chelmsford) (Con) Stuart Andrew Reddish) (Lab) Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab) Mark Tami Yvonne Fovargue (Makerfield) (Lab) Mark Tami Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con) Stuart Andrew 293 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote16 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 294

Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy

Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey) Stuart Andrew (Leeds North East) Mark Tami (Con) (Lab) Tom Hunt (Ipswich) (Con) Anthony Mangnall Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) Stuart Andrew Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) Mark Tami (Con) (Lab) (West Suffolk) (Con) Stuart Andrew Imran Hussain (Bradford East) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) Stuart Andrew Mr Alister Jack (Dumfries and Stuart Andrew (Con) Galloway) (Con) Claire Hanna (Belfast South) (SDLP) Ben Lake Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) Wendy Chamberlain Neale Hanvey (Kirkcaldy and Owen Thompson (LD) Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab) Mark Tami Emma Hardy (Kingston upon Hull Mark Tami Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove) (Con) Stuart Andrew West and Hessle) (Lab) Mr Ranil Jayawardena (North East Stuart Andrew Ms (Camberwell and Mark Tami Hampshire) (Con) Peckham) (Lab) Sir (Harwich and Stuart Andrew Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con) Stuart Andrew North Essex) (Con) Carolyn Harris (Swansea East) (Lab) Mark Tami Mark Jenkinson (Workington) (Con) Stuart Andrew Rebecca Harris (Castle Point) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Morley and Stuart Andrew Trudy Harrison (Copeland) (Con) Stuart Andrew Outwood) (Con) Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) Stuart Andrew Robert Jenrick (Newark) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Boris Johnson (Uxbridge and South Stuart Andrew Simon Hart (Carmarthen West and Stuart Andrew Ruislip) (Con) South Pembrokeshire) (Con) Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and Stuart Andrew Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Mark Tami North Hykeham) (Con) Norwood) (Lab) Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Mark Tami Sir John Hayes (South Holland and Stuart Andrew Hull North) (Lab) The Deepings) (Con) Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sir Oliver Heald (North East Stuart Andrew Kim Johnson (Liverpool, Riverside) Mark Tami Hertfordshire) (Con) (Lab) (Wentworth and Dearne) Mark Tami David Johnston (Wantage) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Darren Jones (Bristol North West) Mark Tami James Heappey (Wells) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr David Jones (Clwyd West) (Con) Stuart Andrew Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Stuart Andrew Fay Jones (Brecon and Radnorshire) Stuart Andrew Sheppey) (Con) (Con) Sir Mark Hendrick (Preston) (Lab/Co- Mark Tami Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Mark Tami op) Rhymney) (Lab) Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Owen Thompson Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) Mark Tami Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP) (Lab) Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mike Hill (Hartlepool) (Lab) Mark Tami Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab) Mark Tami Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sarah Jones (Croydon Central) (Lab) Mark Tami (North Dorset) (Con) Stuart Andrew Simon Jupp (East Devon) (Con) Stuart Andrew Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD) Wendy Chamberlain Mike Kane (Wythenshawe and Sale Mark Tami Dame Margaret Hodge (Barking) (Lab) Mark Tami East) (Lab) Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Mark Tami Sunderland West) (Lab) Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Stuart Andrew Atcham) (Con) Kate Hollern (Blackburn) (Lab) Mark Tami Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) Stuart Andrew Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) Gillian Keegan (Chichester) (Con) Stuart Andrew Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles Mark Tami Paul Holmes (Eastleigh) (Con) Stuart Andrew South) (Lab) Rachel Hopkins (Luton South) (Lab) Mark Tami (Leicester West) (Lab) Mark Tami Stewart Hosie (Dundee East) (SNP) Owen Thompson Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) Mark Tami Sir George Howarth (Knowsley) (Lab) Mark Tami (Lab) John Howell (Henley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab) Mark Tami Paul Howell (Sedgefield) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sir (East Yorkshire) (Con) Stuart Andrew Nigel Huddleston (Mid Worcestershire) Stuart Andrew Julian Knight (Solihull) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Dr Neil Hudson (Penrith and The Stuart Andrew Danny Kruger (Devizes) (Con) Stuart Andrew Border) (Con) Kwasi Kwarteng (Spelthorne) (Con) Stuart Andrew Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con) Stuart Andrew Peter Kyle (Hove) (Lab) Mark Tami Jane Hunt (Loughborough) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab) Mark Tami 295 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote16 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 296

Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy

John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh Stuart Andrew Craig Mackinlay (South Thanet) (Con) Stuart Andrew and Selkirk) (Con) Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Mark Tami Robert Largan (High Peak) (Con) Stuart Andrew Tyne North) (Lab) Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) Mr Cherilyn Mackrory (Truro and Stuart Andrew (Con) Falmouth) (Con) (Wansbeck) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North Owen Thompson Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP) Owen Thompson East) (SNP) Andrea Leadsom (South Stuart Andrew Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con) Stuart Andrew Northamptonshire) (Con) Jim McMahon (Oldham West and Mark Tami Sir (Gainsborough) Stuart Andrew Royton) (Lab) (Con) Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North) (Lab) Mark Tami Ian Levy (Blyth Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew John Mc Nally (Falkirk) (SNP) Owen Thompson Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Mark Tami Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na Owen Thompson Shields) (Lab) h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Andrew Lewer (Northampton South) Stuart Andrew Stephen McPartland (Stevenage) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Esther McVey (Tatton) (Con) Stuart Andrew Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) Stuart Andrew (Con) Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port and Mark Tami Neston) (Lab) Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab) Mark Tami Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham, Perry Mark Tami Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) Stuart Andrew Barr) (Lab) (Con) Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater Stuart Andrew Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Mark Tami and West Somerset) (Con) Ladywood) (Lab) David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP) Owen Thompson Alan Mak (Havant) (Con) Stuart Andrew Chris Loder (West Dorset) (Con) Robbie Moore (Feltham and Heston) Mark Tami (Lab) (Rochdale) (Lab) Mark Tami Kit Malthouse (North West Stuart Andrew Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP) Ian Paisley Hampshire) (Con) Mark Logan (Bolton North East) Stuart Andrew Scott Mann (North Cornwall) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Rebecca Long Bailey (Salford and Bell Ribeiro-Addy Julie Marson (Hertford and Stortford) Stuart Andrew Eccles) (Lab) (Con) Marco Longhi (Dudley North) (Con) Stuart Andrew (York Central) (Lab) Mark Tami Julia Lopez (Hornchurch and Stuart Andrew Christian Matheson (City of Chester) Mark Tami Upminster) (Con) (Lab) Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stuart Andrew Mrs (Maidenhead) (Con) Stuart Andrew Stoke) (Con) Jerome Mayhew (Broadland) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mr Jonathan Lord (Woking) (Con) Stuart Andrew Paul Maynard (Blackpool North and Stuart Andrew Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Stuart Andrew Cleveleys) (Con) Shoreham) (Con) (Gateshead) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Green) Johnny Mercer (Plymouth, Moor View) Stuart Andrew Holly Lynch (Halifax) (Lab) Mark Tami (Con) Kenny MacAskill (East Lothian) (SNP) Owen Thompson Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) Stuart Andrew Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Mark Tami (Con) Oak) (Lab) Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and Stuart Andrew Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab) Mark Tami East Thurrock) (Con) Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Edward Miliband (Doncaster North) Mark Tami (Lab) Karl McCartney (Lincoln) (Con) Stuart Andrew Robin Millar (Aberconwy) (Con) Stuart Andrew Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Mark Tami Morden) (Lab) Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke) (Con) Stuart Andrew Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) Mark Tami Amanda Milling (Cannock Chase) Stuart Andrew (Lab) (Con) Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow Owen Thompson Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew South) (SNP) Navendu Mishra (Stockport) (Lab) Mark Tami Stuart C. McDonald (Cumbernauld, Owen Thompson Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) Stuart Andrew Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) (SNP) (Con) John McDonnell (Hayes and Bell Ribeiro-Addy Gagan Mohindra (South West Stuart Andrew Harlington) (Lab) Hertfordshire) (Con) Mr Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton Mark Tami Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North Owen Thompson South East) (Lab) West) Conor McGinn (St Helens North) Mark Tami Damien Moore (Southport) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Layla Moran (Oxford West and Wendy Chamberlain Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab) Mark Tami Abingdon) (LD) 297 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote16 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 298

Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy

Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North) Stuart Andrew Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) (Newport East) (Lab) Mark Tami Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con) Stuart Andrew Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) Mark Tami Stephanie Peacock (Barnsley East) Mark Tami (Lab) (Lab) Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) Stuart Andrew Sir Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) David Morris (Morecambe and Stuart Andrew Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich and Mark Tami Lunesdale) (Con) Woolwich) (Lab) Grahame Morris (Easington) (Lab) Mark Tami John Penrose (Weston-super-Mare) Stuart Andrew James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Stuart Andrew (Con) regis) (Con) (Brigg and Goole) (Con) Antony Joy Morrissey (Beaconsfield) (Con) Stuart Andrew Higginbotham Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills) Stuart Andrew Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab) Mark Tami (Con) Jess Phillips (Birmingham, Yardley) Mark Tami Dr Kieran Mullan (Crewe and Robbie Moore (Lab) Nantwich) (Con) (Houghton and Mark Tami Holly Mumby-Croft (Scunthorpe) Stuart Andrew Sunderland South) (Lab) (Con) Chris Philp (Croydon South) (Con) Stuart Andrew David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Stuart Andrew Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con) Stuart Andrew Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con) (Plymouth, Sutton and Mark Tami Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab) Mark Tami Devonport) (Lab/Co-op) James Murray (Ealing North) (Lab/Co- Mark Tami Dr Dan Poulter (Central Suffolk and Stuart Andrew op) North Ipswich) (Con) Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Stuart Andrew Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con) Stuart Andrew Cornwall) (Con) (Manchester Central) Mark Tami Andrew Murrison (South West Stuart Andrew (Lab/Co-op) Wiltshire) (Con) Victoria Prentis (Banbury) (Con) Stuart Andrew Lisa Nandy (Wigan) (Lab) Mark Tami Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sir Robert Neill (Bromley and Stuart Andrew Jeremy Quin (Horsham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Chislehurst) (Con) Will Quince (Colchester) (Con) Stuart Andrew Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Owen Thompson Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) Mark Tami Renfrewshire North) (SNP) (Lab) Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) Mark Tami Dominic Raab (Esher and Walton) Stuart Andrew (Lab) (Con) (Great Grimsby) (Con) Stuart Andrew Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con) Stuart Andrew John Nicolson (Ochil and South Owen Thompson (Ashton-under-Lyne) Mark Tami Perthshire) (SNP) (Lab) (Romsey and Stuart Andrew John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Southampton North) (Con) Steve Reed (Croydon North) (Lab/Co- Mark Tami Jesse Norman (Hereford and South Stuart Andrew op) Herefordshire) (Con) Christina Rees (Neath) (Lab) Mark Tami Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/ Mark Tami Co-op) (Lewisham West and Mark Tami Penge) (Lab) Neil O’Brien (Harborough) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Leeds West) (Lab) Mark Tami Brendan O’Hara (Argyll and Bute) Owen Thompson (SNP) (Stalybridge and Mark Tami Hyde) (Lab) Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con) Stuart Andrew Nicola Richards (West Bromwich East) Stuart Andrew Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) (LD) Wendy Chamberlain (Con) Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Mark Tami Angela Richardson (Guildford) (Con) Stuart Andrew Central) (Lab) Ms Marie Rimmer (St Helens South Mark Tami Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con) Stuart Andrew and Whiston) (Lab) Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Mark Tami Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Con) Stuart Andrew Thamesmead) (Lab) (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) Stuart Andrew (Con) Kate Osborne (Jarrow) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Gavin Robinson (Belfast East) (DUP) Ian Paisley Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) Owen Thompson (SNP) Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con) Stuart Andrew Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West) Mark Tami Matt Rodda (Reading East) (Lab) Mark Tami (Lab) (Romford) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sarah Owen (Luton North) (Lab) Mark Tami Douglas Ross (Moray) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Tiverton and Honiton) Stuart Andrew Lee Rowley (North East Derbyshire) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) (Witham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Dean Russell (Watford) (Con) Stuart Andrew 299 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote16 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 300

Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy

David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Central Devon) (Con) Stuart Andrew Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Ben Lake Graham Stringer (Blackley and Mark Tami Meirionnydd) (PC) Broughton) (Lab) Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con) Stuart Andrew Graham Stuart ( and Stuart Andrew Paul Scully (Sutton and Cheam) (Con) Stuart Andrew Holderness) (Con) Bob Seely (Isle of Wight) (Con) Stuart Andrew (York Outer) (Con) Stuart Andrew Andrew Selous (South West Stuart Andrew Zarah Sultana (Coventry South) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Bedfordshire) (Con) (Richmond (Yorks)) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Bradford West) (Lab) Mark Tami James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con) Stuart Andrew Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield) (Con) Stuart Andrew Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest Mr William Wragg Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con) Stuart Andrew West) (Con) Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) Mark Tami Sir Robert Syms (Poole) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Lab) Sam Tarry (Ilford South) (Lab) Mark Tami Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) Mark Tami Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) Owen Thompson (Lab/Co-op) (SNP) (Elmet and Rothwell) Stuart Andrew Derek Thomas (St Ives) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/ Mark Tami Tommy Sheppard (Edinburgh East) Owen Thompson Co-op) (SNP) Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen) (Lab) Mark Tami Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn) Mark Tami (Islington South and Mark Tami (Lab) Finsbury) (Lab) David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood Stuart Andrew Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab) Mark Tami and Pinner) (Con) Edward Timpson (Eddisbury) (Con) Stuart Andrew Chris Skidmore (Kingswood) (Con) Stuart Andrew Kelly Tolhurst (Rochester and Strood) Stuart Andrew Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab) Mark Tami (Con) Alyn Smith (Stirling) (SNP) Owen Thompson Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) Stuart Andrew Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) Mark Tami (Con) (Lab) Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and Stuart Andrew Chloe Smith (Norwich North) (Con) Stuart Andrew North Poole) (Con) Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con) Stuart Andrew Craig Tracey (North Warwickshire) Stuart Andrew Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) Mark Tami Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick-upon- Stuart Andrew (Lab) Tweed) (Con) Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) Stuart Andrew Jon Trickett (Hemsworth) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Con) Laura Trott (Sevenoaks) (Con) Stuart Andrew Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab) Mark Tami Elizabeth Truss (South West Norfolk) Stuart Andrew Royston Smith (Southampton, Itchen) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) Tom Tugendhat (Tonbridge and Stuart Andrew Karin Smyth (Bristol South) (Lab) Mark Tami Malling) (Con) Alex Sobel (Leeds North West) (Lab) Mark Tami Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) Mark Tami (Lab) Amanda Solloway (Derby North) Stuart Andrew (Con) Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab) Mark Tami Dr Ben Spencer (Runnymede and Stuart Andrew Mr Shailesh Vara (North West Stuart Andrew Weybridge) (Con) Cambridgeshire) (Con) Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) Stuart Andrew (Cleethorpes) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Matt Vickers (Stockton South) (Con) Robbie Moore Keir Starmer (Holborn and St Pancras) Mark Tami Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) Stuart Andrew (Lab) (Con) Chris Stephens (Glasgow South West) Owen Thompson Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con) Stuart Andrew (SNP) Mr Ben Wallace (Wyre and Preston Stuart Andrew Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con) Stuart Andrew North) (Cardiff Central) (Lab) Mark Tami Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jane Stevenson (Wolverhampton North Stuart Andrew David Warburton (Somerset and Stuart Andrew East) (Con) Frome) (Con) John Stevenson (Carlisle) (Con) Stuart Andrew Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) Stuart Andrew Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) Stuart Andrew Giles Watling (Clacton) (Con) Stuart Andrew (Con) Suzanne Webb (Stourbridge) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Wendy Chamberlain Claudia Webbe (Leicester East) (Ind) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Easter Ross) (LD) Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Mark Tami Sir (South West Devon) Stuart Andrew Green) (Lab) (Con) Matt Western (Warwick and Mark Tami Wes Streeting (Ilford North) (Lab) Mark Tami Leamington) (Lab) 301 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote16 MARCH 2021 Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote 302

Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy Member eligible for proxy vote Nominated proxy

Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Stuart Andrew Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC) Ben Lake Kent) (Con) Gavin Williamson (Montgomeryshire) Stuart Andrew Mrs Heather Wheeler (South Stuart Andrew (Con) Derbyshire) (Con) Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD) Wendy Chamberlain Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Mark Tami Test) (Lab) Sammy Wilson (East Antrim) (DUP) Ian Paisley Dr Philippa Whitford (Central Owen Thompson Beth Winter (Cynon Valley) (Lab) Bell Ribeiro-Addy Ayrshire) (SNP) (Perth and North Owen Thompson Mick Whitley (Birkenhead) (Lab) Mark Tami Perthshire) (SNP) (Calder Valley) (Con) Stuart Andrew Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con) Stuart Andrew John Whittingdale (Malden) (Con) Stuart Andrew Jeremy Wright (Kenilworth and Stuart Andrew Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East) Mark Tami Southam) (Con) (Lab) Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) (Lab) Mark Tami (North Herefordshire) Stuart Andrew (Con) Jacob Young (Redcar) (Con) Stuart Andrew James Wild (North West Norfolk) Stuart Andrew Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) Stuart Andrew (Con) (Con) Craig Williams (Montgomeryshire) Stuart Andrew Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab) Mark Tami (Con)

51WH 16 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 52WH

what few could ever achieve so well and has led it with Westminster Hall distinction over many years. The goal of the Commonwealth has and always will be to unite all of Tuesday 16 March 2021 this with three positive aims: prosperity, democracy and, of course, peace. It is a tall order in today’s world, [IAN PAISLEY in the Chair] which is less safe than it used to be, but it is worth every ounce of effort. Much of that effort is unsung, unreported Commonwealth Day 2021 and unseen—in my view, that is a great pity—but vital. A week ago, the media focused on a single American Virtual participation in proceedings commenced television interview. I barely saw a mention of the new (Order, 25 February). British trade deals agreed with the 27 Commonwealth [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] nations that have already held trade talks with us such as Kenya and Cameroon. Soon Australia, New Zealand, 9.25 am Canada and India and many more are coming on Ian Paisley (in the Chair): I remind hon. Members board, which shows that the Commonwealth, which we that there have been some changes to normal practice in are a part of, plays a vital role for all of us. order to support the new hybrid arrangements. Timings There are critics who will continue to claim that the of debates have been amended to allow technical Commonwealth is just a pale reinvention of the economic arrangements to be made for the next debate. There will model of old empire, but they could not be more wrong also be suspensions between each debate. I remind and, in a way, arrogant. The whole purpose of the Members participating physically and virtually that they Commonwealth is to stand up to prejudice and promote must arrive for the start of debates in Westminster Hall. diversity and prosperity at every level. The Commonwealth Members are expected to remain for the entire debate. is about recognising individual weaknesses and, above I should also remind Members participating virtually all, sharing our incredible strengths. The extraordinary that they are visible at all times, both to each other and range of study and research delivered by many arms of to us here in the room. If Members attending virtually the Commonwealth organisation has proved to be an have any technical problems, they should email the immense force for good worldwide—through the Clerk Westminster Hall Clerks’email address.Members attending system, Select Committees, our own Hansard, and all physically should clean their spaces before they use the things that we put together in all of our Parliaments them and before they leave the room. to make this work. There are no Members in the Public Gallery at the The many ways in which parliamentary government moment, but Members may sit there if there is not is promoted bear mentioning as well. The Commonwealth sufficient room in the horseshoe. They should take their applauds democracy, and I believe strongly that it helps place in the horseshoe after another Member has spoken to make it happen fairly. The Commonwealth is not a and moved from it. Members may speak only from the single answer to all the world’s ills—of course not: we horseshoe, because that is where the microphones are. do not try to be, and we never have. But the role it plays is of very valuable and lasting importance, and sometimes 9.26 am it is too easy to mock. However, its influence and impact are difficult to equal or—I would very strongly Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater and West Somerset) suggest—to replace. Next year, the biggest multi-sport (Con) [V]: I beg to move, event to be held in the UK in 10 years will take place in That this House has considered Commonwealth Day 2021. Birmingham. Thousands of acres of forest will be planted It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, around the city to ensure it meets its target of becoming Mr Paisley. I want to thank you personally for the work carbon neutral. I speak, of course, about our very that you have done for the Commonwealth Parliamentary special Commonwealth games, which I first went to as a Association over many years, as did your father before young boy in Edinburgh. you. This debate is always an absolute pleasure for me, The practical example behind this spirit of friendly as it is for colleagues. As I look at the list of speakers competition is its extraordinary organisation. Such today, I see that many have been in touch with the CPA international games have long been favoured by men, as and worked diligently with it and helped it over many we know, but the organisers and the public are convinced years. I am delighted to see so many on this call today. that this time more medals will be won by women. That Some might wonder why this debate is taking place is because the role of women in sport is now recognised after the formal date of Commonwealth Day.The answer as an overdue, realistic ambition by every nation in the is a very simple and good one: the Commonwealth Commonwealth. celebrations clashed with International Women’s Day, The role of women in tackling covid-19 has been a and the Commonwealth valiantly supports worldwide global reality recognised and nurtured by the whole women’s issues. It is, after all, led by one of the best and Commonwealth. The great thing is that we in the most renowned women in the world, who is totally Commonwealth all believe in equality. We believe in committed to her job. So we gracefully stood aside for a change—the right change; we believe in progress; and week, although in my book, and I think in most of my above all, we believe in tomorrow. We will continue to colleagues’ books, Commonwealth Day is every day. play that part. As chairman of the Commonwealth The work of the Commonwealth never stops; it goes on. Parliamentary Association, I am more delighted than I The Commonwealth brings together the 54 countries can say with my colleagues on the executive committee, of the family—very different nations with enormously which meets tonight, for all the work they put in. different cultures, languages and races of their own. However, we do face challenges with the situation of Some 2.5 billion human beings are part of our family. status. The status issue of the Commonwealth has gone The figurehead of this unique organisation has done on for too long. We all accept that. 53WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 54WH

[Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger] has not taken up all the time allotted to him, I am able to give each Member five minutes to speak. I call our At this point, I must pay tribute to the formidable colleague from Sunderland Central, Julie Elliott. Lord Ahmad, who has been extremely good at helping us to see that we can change the status of the 9.36 am Commonwealth. That does mean that we need Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab) [V]: As ever, parliamentary time and, to that end, I and so many it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley. colleagues have been in touch with the Leader of the I am very proud to be the treasurer of the Commonwealth House and the Prime Minister to see what we can do to Parliamentary Association UK branch, and I thank the foster that change—even if it is through a Private Member’s hon. Member for Bridgwater and West Somerset Bill, started either at this end or the other. We need to (Mr Liddell-Grainger) for securing the debate. I associate make this happen. It is crucial and, quite honestly, as an myself with all his warm words, both to colleagues on international organisation we now need to grasp that the executive committee and to the amazing staff who nettle. make our work on the CPA UK branch possible. They I would like to thank Emilia Lifaka, the chairperson do a wonderful job. of the CPA. She has done a phenomenal job and is a This is an incredibly timely debate, because the position great friend to all of us. She is a very formidable woman that the UK holds in the world and its relationships indeed—someone you do not cross. The Commonwealth with other countries have changed demonstrably over has been led beautifully the last few years, and I am the last couple of years. Although we are not here to delighted about that. debate that change or our opinion on whether it was the I also thank vice-chairperson John Ajaka, who is right thing to do, it is undoubtedly important to refer to standing down and leaving Parliament in Australia this the incredibly positive work done through our relationship year. He has done a remarkable job and, again, we must with other Commonwealth countries and through our give our grateful thanks. partnerships—in this case, therefore, the incredible amount Personally, I would like to thank my colleagues on of work done through the Commonwealth Parliamentary the executive council. It works because we work together, Association. I evidently declare an interest. and I am delighted with the vice-chairman, the treasurer, The CPA gives us an opportunity to work with and everyone else—we all know who we are; most of us parliamentarians across the Commonwealth, providing are on this call—for the work they put in to make sure a forum through which we can learn from each other that we can do what we do. and talk openly about the issues we face and how to I am sorry that we have not been able to travel or do solve them. It also gives me an opportunity to connect everything we would like to do, but today, for instance, with women parliamentarians across the world. we are meeting our Canadian counterparts. The meetings The representation of women in politics and democracy go on and on, and I am grateful to the Clerks of the is an incredibly important subject to me. Through my House, the Select Committee Clerks, Hansard and everyone involvement with the CPA, I have had the chance in this else who takes part in our Commonwealth meetings for Session to connect with women parliamentarians in the effort they put in, alongside clerks, reporters, Select Bangladesh, Sierra Leone and Australia, to name a few. Committee Chairs and Members from around the world. It was an incredible opportunity to learn about their We all learn from each other, and we keep on learning. relationship with their democracies and representative I would also like to thank the incredible team at the structures. I believe such conversations are incredibly CPA UK branch, led by Jon Davies and Helen Haywood. important: we may be in different countries, but we are They have all been remarkable over the past, rather more often than not faced with similar barriers difficult year. They have worked continuously not only to progression and achievement, similar objections and to support the executive committee, but to support the similar obstructions. Through a constant dialogue, we Commonwealth generally,and they have done so incredibly are able to learn how others have dealt with such situations. efficiently. It has not been easy, and at times it has been The debates that have happened about the place of intensely frustrating for them, but they have kept their women in society—the most recent is something of humour and done it with enormous aplomb. which we are all aware—show how important it is to have women in positions of decision making and Lastly, I would like to thank , our supporting other women across the world. Through the former colleague who took over as the secretary-general Commonwealth, we are able to work with women of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. He parliamentarians and show solidarity in an increasingly has done an incredible job, and I am very grateful to fractured world, so I return to the original point that I Jarvis Matiya for backing him up and stepping in when was making about a post-Brexit world. As we reset our it was needed to make sure that everything ran smoothly. relationships with other countries, the Commonwealth From what we have had over the last few weeks and provides existing strong bonds with a whole host of right across the Commonwealth, one can see the amount other countries. Although the UK is just one equal that is coming out from the secretary-general—all of it member among 54 other equals, it has a unique prominence challenging, all of it useful and all of it helpful. I can and significance that must be made the most of, for a only say that this is a very strong family led by a range of different reasons. remarkable woman, running together for the future of Finally, there are many issues that simply go beyond the Commonwealth and the future of the people. borders, much like the issues of representation and equality of women, as I have mentioned. Two further Ian Paisley (in the Chair): I thank Mr Ian Liddell- examples are climate change and modern slavery, which Grainger for his speech and for his very kind comments the CPA has done a lot of work on. These are issues that at the beginning of the debate. As Mr Liddell-Grainger simply cannot be solved unilaterally.The Commonwealth, 55WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 56WH with the bonds and relationships that it provides, is an I am, however, disappointed that so many British extremely important forum in which we can work with businesses,particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, others, learn what works and what does not, and ensure are unaware of the enormous opportunities in Africa that progress is made for the benefit of all. Even if the generally and South Africa in particular. I hope that debate is taking place a little after it happened, this businesses in my constituency and across the United Commonwealth Day is a chance to celebrate what joins Kingdom will grasp the opportunity to trade with and us together and the support that we give each other. invest in South Africa as South Africa continues to invest in the United Kingdom, so that we can be trading 9.40 am partners of choice for each other in the future and for many years to come. Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con) [V]: It is a great pleasure to take part in this Commonwealth Day debate. I do so as the Prime Minister’s trade envoy 9.44 am to South Africa. Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Streatham) (Lab) [V]: It is a pleasure Africa is, of course, home to a number of to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley, and to Commonwealth countries and it is a continent of enormous speak in today’s debate. At a time when increased opportunity. Today, the continent accounts for 17% of global co-operation is vital in tackling the coronavirus the world’s population but only 3% of its gross domestic pandemic, it is right that we celebrate our union on this product. By 2050, more than a quarter of the world’s Commonwealth Day, as well as the fantastic work of population will be African, and that population will be our Commonwealth Parliamentary Association as we overwhelmingly young and middle class. The continent look outwards to our family of nations. is experiencing the fastest growth of the middle class in It would be wrong, however, to celebrate the global the world. Its collective gross domestic product is nearly diversity of our Commonwealth without acknowledging $7 trillion and is among the fastest growing in the world. Britain’slegacy and standing in a post-covid and post-Brexit Business opportunities are soaring at an unprecedented world. Much has been documented on the historic rate. scourges of slavery, colonialism and empire, but I do All this presents an enormous opportunity for the not believe that the current Government are doing businesses of the United Kingdom. As we trade and themselves any favours by creating their own scourge: invest in each other’s economies, the United Kingdom the hostile environment policy towards immigrants, a looks forward to making our trading partners richer as points-based system, issues with students and tourists, our own prosperity grows. South Africa is the United and the recent accommodation of asylum seekers in Kingdom’s largest trading partner in Africa and we do disused military barracks. That is to say nothing of the trade together every year worth £8 billion, which I look Government’s missed opportunities to trade closely with forward to seeing increase significantly as we both the likes of India, which previously was one of our emerge from the covid pandemic. largest trading partners, because we refuse to make allowances on our immigration legislation. It would The United Kingdom is a major investor in South also have been appropriate for the Government to stand Africa, with almost £15 billion in investments, and fully behind Commonwealth nations and others for a many South African businesses invest here in the United waiver to access much-needed vaccines and treatments Kingdom. The United Kingdom is mobilising UK expertise during the covid crisis. Sadly, that opportunity to combat and capital to support President Ramaphosa’s ambitions inequalities in global vaccine distribution was missed, for infrastructure to act as a flywheel of recovery. That and I fear that it will only harm us all. represents a major commercial opportunity for UK businesses, with a pipeline of billions of pounds’ worth I want our celebration of the Commonwealth to be a of orders. renewal of our commitment to making things right for everybody across the world. I therefore fear that the The United Kingdom is also seeking opportunities Government may at times remain tone deaf to the for commercial partnership to support South Africa’s global needs of the wider world and the Commonwealth. transition from coal-based energy generation to renewables. Members may have heard me speak with pride about The South African Government will be seeking proposals my Ghanaian heritage, and will continue to do so. Like for 2.6 GW of solar and wind energy under round 5 of many people of Ghanaian heritage in the UK, however, the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer I was appalled to see Ghana’s LGBTQ centre in the programme. I am also keen to see what collaboration capital, Accra, close only one month after opening its the United Kingdom can put in place to help South doors to the community. There is a worrying trend of African coal miners and others in fossil fuel industries homophobia and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people to transition to high-skilled, highly paid renewable energy by Government, religious institutions and the media jobs. across some Commonwealth countries. No law in Ghana We already have existing partnerships between the states that being LGBTQ+ is illegal, but outdated colonial United Kingdom’s further education colleges and South law validates that unjust treatment, because it is deemed Africa’s technical vocational education and training to be “unnatural carnal knowledge”and a misdemeanour colleges. I would like to see that collaboration enhanced. offence with a penalty of up to three years’imprisonment. South Africa remains a very attractive proposition Since the closure of the centre by national security for UK businesses. It is the most diversified economy in forces, we have seen members and leaders of the Ghanaian Africa, drawing heavily on UK legal and financial systems. LGBTQ community being persecuted, and fearing for It uses English as the language of business and it is on a their own lives as a result. similar time zone. Its role as a gateway to Africa will That is why I was proud to join prominent Britons of continue, particularly with a strong investment in the Ghanaian heritage—including Edward Enninful, the African continental free trade area. editor of Vogue, Naomi Campbell and Idris Elba—in 57WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 58WH

[Bell Ribeiro-Addy] the soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought for the United Kingdom as part of the Commonwealth. I expressing my dismay at the ongoing situation and found it hard to understand as a child. I remember calling for the country to create a pathway for allyship, living in my little village, and I do mean a little village in protection and support for this marginalised community. the north of the south island of New Zealand, and we It is important that at this time we praise the work of had a war memorial. The war memorial walls were organisations that continue to go above and beyond in covered with the names of soldiers who had died—hundreds supporting LGBTQ people right across the world, such and hundreds of soldiers, just from that little village. as UK Black Pride and its formidable leader, Lady Phyll. I have visited Monte Cassino, the scene of the battle The Kaleidoscope Trust is also an LGBTQ+ for Rome in world war two, which took place between international human rights charity that continues to 17 January and 18 May 1944. In fact, four battles were work to uphold human rights in the Commonwealth—it fought there. The soldiers involved on our side were actually hosts the Commonwealth equality network as called allied troops. With the exception of the Polish well as being its secretariat. The Kaleidoscope Trust is forces, who finally went over the top, they all came from the only accredited human rights-based organisation Commonwealth countries. A total of 54,000 men from focused on these issues. The Government in the UK Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India must continue to do all they can to put pressure on any and Canada died at Monte Cassino, plus quite a number country that is causing issues with the human rights of of Gurkhas. The reality of what happened there came LGBTQ people right across the world. It is right that home to me during a visit, and I recommend anybody we use our influence and continue to do so with equality. who is in the area to go and visit, too. As we celebrate Commonwealth Day, it is important These Commonwealth countries were not particularly that we are 100% behind all of those who may face any happy when the United Kingdom went into the Common sort of persecution across these countries and right Market. However, rather than sitting and moping, they across the world. set about making trade deals with many nations, rather than just suffering from the loss of trade with the 9.49 am United Kingdom. Brexit and our eagerness for free Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley) (Con) [V]: I am trade deals will now enable us to use our Commonwealth delighted to see you in the Chair, Mr Paisley, and I ties to obtain trade deals more easily with Commonwealth congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater nations. and West Somerset (Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger) on obtaining Australia and New Zealand are formidable agricultural this important debate. He is obviously key, given his producers. Fortunately, rather than seeking to dominate position. Now that I have started to speak, it is clear the UK market in agriculture, they wish to work with that I have an interest: I have dual nationality. I carry a our farmers to fulfil the trade deals that they themselves New Zealand passport from one end of the world, and have with other nations, such as China and those in a UK passport from this end. the EU. As everybody has pointed out, and will continue to The opportunities that these Commonwealth countries do so, the Commonwealth is a unique worldwide family. offer for our manufactured goods are also formidable. It is international, colourful in every way, and a fantastic Neither Australia nor New Zealand have their own mixture of races, religions, languages and creeds. It is home vehicle production, and I believe that the same is based around the United Kingdom and the Queen. In true of Canada. They could and should be formidable saying that, I cautiously recognise that New Zealand’s markets for British-made cars, particularly Jaguar Land near neighbour—that little island called Australia just Rover cars. off the shore of New Zealand—occasionally has a few I disagree with the hon. Member for Streatham (Bell republican problems. Ask any New Zealander and they Ribeiro-Addy) about immigration. When I first came to will explain that merely being an Australian is a problem this country, immigration was easy, or at least easier, if in itself. someone came from a Commonwealth country and had I should explain that point a little. These two old professional training. Now that we are looking after Commonwealth nations in the south Pacific have had a our own immigration, we will be able to return to using huge rivalry for probably a century or longer. The the expertise that we can gain from abroad, particularly insults and jokes between them are phenomenal, but from the old Commonwealth nations, and the national every joke can be turned round and played back the health service in this country will benefit dramatically. other way. The two have huge battles, particularly in The possibilities that a partnership between Australia, sport and most especially in rugby, yet in normal work New Zealand, Canada and the UK will bring for this and normal life, and especially in times of war, these country, and the access that it should help to provide to two old Commonwealth nations work extremely closely, the trans-Pacific partnership, are also of great interest. and particularly as part of the British Commonwealth. Being a Commonwealth of nations must grease the Along with Canada and South Africa, Australia and wheels just as we desperately need trade—indeed, it is New Zealand make up what I call the old Commonwealth. starting to work. They have a Commonwealth link, reinforced by huge kith and kin links, and a two-way flow of tourism and 9.54 am migration dating back almost two centuries. Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con) [V]: It is a pleasure to The biggest examples of kith and kin links involves serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley. It is also a times of conflict. In the first world war, there was pleasure to follow the opening speech in this debate by Gallipoli, which led to Anzac Day, the antipodean my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater and West equivalent of Remembrance Day. Anzac Day there is Somerset (Mr Liddell-Grainger), who is proving to be very important. The people in these countries remember an excellent chair of the CPA. I well remember the last 59WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 60WH time I attended a CPA conference in 2014, with him and British high commission and embassies to ensure that other colleagues, in Cameroon. I had come from a visit we are standing up for the values that we profess as a to Kenya, which, given the health issues in Africa at nation and actually deliver them in practice. The the time, with the Ebola virus, ended up as a single-handed Commonwealth is a fantastic vehicle for doing that. As visit, but I was able to use the Commonwealth I said, it is a delight to take part in the debate. Parliamentary Association and its offices and get support from the British high commissions in both Kenya and 10 am Cameroon to advance the values, objectives and soft Theo Clarke (Stafford) (Con) [V]: It is a pleasure to engagement—the connections and everything else—that speak in this debate under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley. the Commonwealth brings to us. It is an institution of I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater enormous value in that soft sense, but it can also have a and West Somerset (Mr Liddell-Grainger) for securing slightly harder edge. this important and timely debate, as Commonwealth We ought to note that the Commonwealth appeared Day was last week and the Commonwealth Heads of in the conflict, stability and security fund for the period Government Meeting 2021 is due to be held in Kigali, between 2018 and 2020. There was a fairness programme, in Rwanda, this summer. aimedatCommonwealthnations,thatfocusedonsupporting CHOGM, in my view, is an excellent opportunity for universal access to justice; effective, accountable and the UK to lead by example in the Commonwealth, inclusive legal institutions; democratic participation and including by raising the importance of girls’ education, inclusive decision making; transparent Government and international conservation and women in trade, all of trade; fundamental freedoms and non-discriminatory which should be critical to the Government’s global laws and policies; and promoting greater civil engagement Britain agenda. I welcome the Prime Minister’s ambition among young people and disadvantaged groups. that all girls should receive 12 years of quality education, The advancement of those values, and of institutions and I commend the Government for the work they are on those lines, is hugely important for the future of doing on the SheTrades programme throughout the developing nations, because once they get those things Commonwealth. I was honoured to have been appointed right, international investors can take advantage of the as the Prime Minister’s trade envoy to Kenya, and I am labour price advantage of those countries, if they see it, particularly pleased that, in this role, I am able to work knowing that their investments will be secure in those with such a crucial Commonwealth country, and to nations and that they will not be subject to the terrible connect with its citizens. economic price that can be paid through corruption in Let me start by recognising the devastating impact the governmental and political process. The way would that the coronavirus pandemic has had, and not just on be open to enable those countries to move rapidly my constituency of Stafford but throughout the towards greater economic equality with us. That is a Commonwealth. According to a recent report from the huge security interest to the United Kingdom, and it OECD, covid-19 has now pushed the number of people would begin to address the issues raised by the hon. living in extreme poverty in Africa to over 1 billion. The Member for Streatham (Bell Ribeiro-Addy) about immense scale of the challenges that lie ahead demand immigration pressures on the United Kingdom. collaboration across the Commonwealth, and I am Fairness and equality are a central economic interest, determined to ensure that our countries work hand in and the values and policies to secure that can be advanced hand so that, together, we can build back better, stronger by the institutions of the Commonwealth quietly and greener than ever. coming together and engaging us, parliamentarian to At the end of last year, I attended the signing of the parliamentarian, civil service to civil service, as well as UK-Kenya economic partnership agreement, where we through the excellent Clerks’ programme about the were fortunate enough to host Cabinet Secretary Maina, management of Parliament that the chair of the CPA in person, at the Foreign Office. This new trade deal promoted. between Kenya and the UK ensures that, as the UK I will now focus on the announcement we will get forges a new path outside the European Union, businesses today from the Prime Minister on the integrated review in Kenya— such as those selling tea, coffee, food and of security, defence, development and foreign policy. To flowers—can continue to enjoy duty-free access to the a degree, that is the conflict, stability and security fund UK market, supporting jobs and livelihoods in both writ large as our policy. By bringing together elements our countries. Trade deals such as this have now been of expenditure around goals, values and the promotion replicated with countries throughout the Commonwealth, of institutions that deliver security as well as the harder and much of this, I believe, is due to the strong existing edge of security for the United Kingdom, there will be diplomatic ties that the UK has with our Commonwealth many advantages, and that will hopefully be a significantly partners. better way of managing the security challenge that is I was also pleased to attend the Africa investment inevitably linked to values. conference in January, where it was clear to me that the On values, I chair the all-party parliamentary group Government remain absolutely committed to the on global LGBT+ rights, and I am delighted that we Commonwealth and to delivering a global Britain agenda. have had a really good take-up for our parliamentary At the inaugural UK-Africa investment summit just liaison scheme, which will use the informal links we last year, which was hosted by the Prime Minister, I was have as a nation and as parliamentarians—the hon. pleased to see deals facilitated that totalled more than Member for Streatham, with her Ghanaian heritage, £6.5 billion and spanned sectors from infrastructure to made that clear—to find individuals to help institutions retail, technology and energy. in those nations representing LGBT groups who have In November, I also attended the UK-Kenya economic been criminalised and oppressed. It will quietly make development forum, which was also attended by the links with those parliamentarians to keep an eye on the UK’s Africa Minister, who is here with us today. I was 61WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 62WH

[Theo Clarke] turned its back on its historical ties. It is vital that we reunite and redevelop those ties. pleased that the UK announced so much funding for I want to concentrate on the Indian subcontinent. I trade and investment opportunities, which really showed have the privilege of representing a constituency with the Government’s commitment to this region. people from every country on the planet and every faith Last month, I hosted my first virtual visits to Kenya, on earth. We have a heavy concentration of people where I saw at first hand the aim of this year’s whose families originate from the Indian subcontinent. Commonwealth Day, which is a theme of delivering a Later this week we shall debate human rights in Sri Lanka. common future. I first met the UK-backed TradeMark There is no doubt that in 2016 CHOGM helped in East Africa to see the excellent work that it is doing to trying to isolate and highlight the problems in Sri Lanka improve trade infrastructure and improve the goods after the bloody civil war. I shall not dwell on that flow for British businesses. I also held discussions with longer. the Kenyan Insurance Regulatory Authority about how On 26 March we shall celebrate the 50th anniversary it is increasing financial inclusion, particularly in rural of the creation of Bangladesh as an independent state. Kenya. I also visited the Durham School, which I It is a cause for celebration. The United Kingdom was commend as the first British school to open in east instrumental in assisting Bangladesh to become independent Africa, to see this international school’s partnership and develop as a nation thereafter, and our strong links with the UK in transforming education opportunities must remain. I have had the opportunity, with others, to for children in Nairobi. visit Bangladesh to participate in social action projects Finally, to coincide with International Women’s to help to improve the life of ordinary Bangladeshi Day, I held a roundtable with the British Chamber of citizens. Parliamentarians are right to do that. Commerce on female businesses in Kenya. We had a Our relationship with India goes back more than very interesting discussion about inclusive leadership, 300 years and it is fascinating that even now India is the supporting SMEs and how to get more women involved third biggest investor in the United Kingdom. We used in businesses. to be the third biggest investor in India, but I am afraid I was reminded of the connections between the we have slipped down the leader board. There is much Commonwealth and my constituency when I spoke to recover. I look forward to the fact that in addition to with the executive director of General Electric in east visits by the Foreign Secretary and the International Africa, as many of my constituents are employed in its Trade Secretary the Prime Minister will, probably in Stafford-based facility, and it is of course exporting April, visit India to set out our new relationship as we generators to these less developed countries, creating go forward in the world. It will incorporate international jobs both at home and abroad. It is very clear to me that trade—and of course we have done new deals around increasing trade can lead to business opportunities across the world—combined with security, defence and other the Commonwealth, from Kenya to Stafford, helping aspects of our relationship. That will enable and entitle both to build back better. The Queen said in her citizens from India and across the Commonwealth to Commonwealth message last week: come here and study, and our citizens to study in India “Looking forward, relationships with others across the and other countries around the world. It is vital to allow Commonwealth will remain important as we strive to deliver a and encourage young people to build up friendships common future that is sustainable and more secure”. and relationships across the world, so that we and other For me, that is the key message. Our Commonwealth countries will be friendly and well disposed towards community is immensely valuable and we must continue each other. to increase trade for the UK, and throughout the That is part and parcel of the work that we have to Commonwealth. undertake in the Commonwealth. It is an institution with no parallel anywhere in the history of the world. 10.5 am We are now in reality equal partners—different countries Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con) [V]: It is a pleasure coming together because we have a shared past, but also to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley. I pay a shared future. tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford As we pay tribute to the Commonwealth, let us unite (Theo Clarke) for her speech. I also pay tribute to the in ensuring that we do so by encouraging diversity, and chairman of the UK branch of the Commonwealth encouraging different people from different backgrounds Parliamentary Association, my hon. Friend the Member to celebrate the fact that we are one Commonwealth. for Bridgwater and West Somerset (Mr Liddell-Grainger). When we look at sport, recreation, education and trade, He has done a brilliant job, with the entire team, to we realise that this is an unparalleled opportunity, and unite the UK in terms of our relationship with the we must grasp it for the good of not only our citizens, Commonwealth. It is of course right to pay tribute to but the citizens of the world. the leader of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty the Queen, and the entire royal family, who do so much 10.10 am good work, across the world, bringing together our Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con) [V]: Thank you disparate nations. for calling me to speak in this great Commonwealth The Prime Minister will set out Britain’s relationships debate, Mr Paisley, which I think was started shortly across the world in the integrated review. It is right that after I was the inaugural chair of the all-party parliamentary we will return to many of our historical links, which we group for the Commonwealth, as the Minister, who is in unfortunately turned our back on, in many ways, when his place, will remember. It is wonderful to hear so we joined the European Union. I am struck by the fact many colleagues talking about their positive experiences that on visits to Australia, New Zealand and Canada, with, and feelings for, the Commonwealth. We are, in the feeling was generally that the United Kingdom had one sense, all children of the Commonwealth—in my 63WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 64WH case, like one or two others, literally. My first years were which is still doing great things—there was a very spent in Kenya, where I later served as a diplomat and, successful visit by the Prince of Wales only a couple of perhaps even more importantly, was married, so our years ago—but today I have one clear plea for the children, too, are children of the Commonwealth. Minister: please make sure that the Westminster Today, I want to focus on one particular link that I Foundation’s funding can continue after the end of think is very important, which is the work of March, to maintain these valuable programmes in the the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in the Commonwealth. Commonwealth; I speak, obviously, as the chair of the Ian Paisley (in the Chair): There is nothing virtual WFD. This is particularly relevant with the Minister in about our next speaker—he is here with us in the his place, because he will remember vividly how in 2017, Committee Room. I call the Member for Bracknell, when he was chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary James Sunderland. Association—a role now ably held by our hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater and West Somerset 10.15 am (Mr Liddell-Grainger), who I congratulate on securing this debate—we forged the Commonwealth Partnership James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con): It is a great for Democracy, or CP4D, between his organisation at pleasure to be called to speak in this very important that time, the Westminster Foundation, and two other debate on Commonwealth Day, Mr Paisley. As we partners. know, the Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 sovereign states—it is pretty impressive. It covers At that time, during our period as chair-in-office of almost 30 million sq km, with almost 2.5 billion people, the Commonwealth, we did some remarkable work in and stretches across the entire globe, covering 21% of 15 different Commonwealth countries and 30 legislatures. the world’s land area. Along with Pakistan, India and Above all, we promoted the incredibly important values Bangladesh, the Commonwealth will have a larger share of inclusion and participation in democracy by those of the global population as time passes. Given that the with disabilities, those who are female, young people, majority of member nations are developing, the and the lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender community, Commonwealth share of global GDP will also increase. as well as increasing accountability through effective Combined GDP was £10.4 trillion in 2017, moving to and transparent parliamentary practices. If, during those an estimated £13 trillion in 2020. The Commonwealth two years, we did achieve some valuable things, can I is a big beast. encourage the Minister to consider—even though we Importantly, politically, no one Government within are in more strapped times today—the idea of a daughter theCommonwealthexercisespowerovertheothermembers. of CP4D, and not letting go of that precious momentum It is not a political union. The Queen exerts no political of inclusive and transparent democracy throughout the or Executive power; she merely occupies a symbolic Commonwealth? position. Rather, this is an international organisation However,even sadder would be the complete withdrawal made stronger by the social, political and economic of the WFD from our current Commonwealth programme. diversity of our members, where all are regarded as That is, sadly, a possibility unless the funding is secured equals. We operate with common values and goals and by the end of this month for our activities in the we do a lot of work on the promotion of individual remainder of this year and the years ahead. Currently, liberty, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, good we run the Commonwealth Equality Project, which is a governance, equality before the law, free trade and £1 million project in 15 Commonwealth countries. We world peace, so it is very persuasive. work in participation with decision makers and civic I want to make three points today. First, politically, society to make meaningful progress on gender equality we have a golden opportunity now with our position as and LGBT issues, which have been mentioned by several a strong voice within the Commonwealth to forge closer colleagues already this morning, and there is a strong links with the many up-and-coming nations that we need for that programme, as various Members, including share this membership with. In the post-EU world, the my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Crispin Blunt), UK is the diaspora—we have people from all over the have stressed. The UK has led real efforts to address world and the Commonwealth living in the UK—and these gaps. with this group of countries having a GDP of nearly The funding for this programme ends on 31 March, two thirds of that of the EU, it is a fantastic opportunity so I must be blunt in saying that unless we have confirmation to forge closer links.I am really pleased that the Government of funding for the Westminster Foundation within the have made great progress this year and last year in new next few weeks, there is a real danger that this programme free trade deals around the world, but so much more will come to an end, and the WFD will not be able to can be done. I urge the Minister to do everything in his run programmes in the Commonwealth at all. This power to enhance mutual prosperity through trade with would be particularly sad for women and girls and our Commonwealth friends. marginalised groups, who benefit directly from this Secondly, the Commonwealth games, due to be held programme, as those in the CPA who were fortunate in Birmingham in 2022, are a fantastic opportunity. We enough to meet some of the beneficiaries who visited must showcase what we do. It is good for Birmingham, here in 2019 will vividly remember. good for the Commonwealth and good for sport. I urge I will finish by saying that this is a wonderful debate; the Minister to ensure that the Government back the I am delighted it has been secured, and we should games fully. If we need more money, so be it. maintain this practice every year. There is masses we Lastly, I have been made aware of significant issues can all talk about in terms of the Commonwealth. I facing Commonwealth soldiers in our armed forces and would love to have time to mention Malaysia, a great Commonwealth veterans. It frustrates me deeply that Commonwealth country in the far east, where I had the their service to our nation has yet to be fully rewarded honour of being the Prime Minister’s trade envoy, and with a clear offer of right to remain. As the commanding 65WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 66WH

[James Sunderland] note, the Maldives will also participate in the Commonwealth games next year in Birmingham. officer for 27 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Aldershot When people think of the Maldives, they first think of only a few years ago, I was very proud to command the luxury holidays, with sandy beaches and all the rest of biggest and most diverse regiment in the British Army, it. However, that does not present an accurate reflection with soldiers from more than 40 countries serving in of the way people live in the Maldives. Tourism counts that regiment. My view is quite clear: if you wear the for nearly two thirds of the GDP, and covid-19 has uniform, go on operations, serve the Crown, serve Her forced the Maldives to close its borders and tourism Majesty, you are British—fact. These guys are not industry for months. GDP was forecast to contract mercenaries; they are British. between 11.5% and 29.7% in 2020. The country is now I urge the Minister to help make two things happen. in debt to the tune of 128% of GDP. First, I want to see informal resolution for the eight The Maldives’ main industry, after tourism, is fishing. Fijians who recently lost their court case. Notwithstanding I have had useful meetings with two of my hon. Friends the outcome from the court, it is really important that who are the responsible Ministers. The fishing industry we recognise their service with an offer of indefinite employs around 30% of the country’s population and is right to remain. Secondly, I urge the Ministry of Defence responsible for virtually all of the country’s exports. to consider a much better offer for our foreign and Last year, due to the pandemic, the tuna industry was Commonwealth soldiers. How fantastic would it be for the sole contributor to the Maldives economy. these guys who serve our country, who serve our Crown, The vast majority of the fish caught are tuna, all of to be given what they rightfully deserve? which are line and rod caught, which is much better Ian Paisley (in the Chair): Now for the erudite elder than the other method of, frankly, hoovering them up. statesman, Sir David Amess. The Maldives tuna industry has gone five times beyond the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s requirement to reduce overall catch of yellowfin tuna. The way the fish 10.19 am are caught and the scale of fishing make the industry Sir David Amess (Southend West) (Con): Today, I entirely eco-friendly and sustainable. Women have always will not be calling for city status for Southend, because I participated in the fishery sector. Although industry is know that will happen in any case, but I will be celebrating dominated by men in most of the world, in the Maldives with others Commonwealth Day. the current fisheries Minister is a woman. Women also The CPA is a wonderful organisation; the Minister is make up the majority of employees at the fish-processing a former chairman and is my parliamentary neighbour. plants. Over the years, I have been fortunate to visit many The Maldives is part of the Commonwealth Blue Commonwealth countries. Her Majesty the Queen does Charter action group on sustainable coastal fisheries, a brilliant job in leading the organisation. which aims to support ongoing fisheries programmes I will concentrate briefly on two countries: Sri Lanka and the sustainable management of coastal marine and the Maldives. I draw the House’s attention to my resources. That is central to the sustainability of the entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I country’s fishing industry in the face of climate change. am a supporter of British Tamils, especially the Tamil Given the importance of the fishing industry to the community in Southend. My constituents have raised Maldives economy and how sustainable and equal it is, the issue of how Mrs Ambihai Selvakumar is being one would have thought that the United Kingdom treated and her hunger strike. She is protesting at the would have a good trading deal with the country. violations of human rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka, and However, the UK currently imposes import tariffs of I want to raise that today. 20% on tuna. The Maldives is the only comparable I have recently written to the Foreign, Commonwealth Commonwealth country where that happens. Almost and Development Office about the hunger strike and all of the 38 small island developing states have a the destruction of Tamil memorials in Sri Lanka. I was preferential trade agreement with the UK, and the pleased to table early-day motion 305 in support of Maldives is the only Commonwealth country that is not improving water quality in northern Sri Lanka, where accorded preferential trading. the Tamil community is disproportionately affected. As I have yet to hear a good reason for that; it is such a a nation, we should help those individuals in shame. Considering how sustainable the fishing industry Commonwealth countries, and improve their quality of is, I hope the Minister will pass that message on to other life and access to freedom. That most certainly includes Ministers. the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Maldives is a wonderful country; I have been the Ian Paisley (in the Chair): Thank you, Sir David. We chair of the all-party British-Maldives parliamentary now go to the first of the Front-Bench spokesmen. group for a number of years, and we held the AGM yesterday. Last year, the Maldives was readmitted to the 10.25 am Commonwealth, so one nation leaves and another one Alyn Smith (Stirling) (SNP) [V]: It is a pleasure to joins. That has been a long-term goal for the nation for serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley. It is also a several years and it is a testament to the high regard in pleasure to contribute to this debate and to follow a which the Commonwealth is held that membership is so number of interesting contributions from various points important. on the political compass. As my party’s foreign affairs The benefits of membership have included the promotion lead at Westminster, I am fond of the idea of the of mutual understanding and friendship between its Commonwealth. I am glad to see 54 sovereign states member states, giving increased opportunity to strengthen working together,proving that post-independence countries conservation, democracy and human rights. On a lighter do work together closely to achieve common endeavours, 67WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 68WH can co-operate, and maintain bonds and the ties of 10.28 am affection that we all want to continue. Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/ Post-independence, which is my party’s proposition, Co-op): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairpersonship we will seek to join the Commonwealth as an independent today,Mr Paisley.I thank the hon. Member for Bridgwater state in our own right—making it 55. We want to and West Somerset (Mr Liddell-Grainger) for securing maintain the bonds that we have and work together, but this debate and for his work with the CPA, and the we want to work together as sovereign equals because excellent contributions from a number of Members, my party has a different vision of Scotland’s best future, including my hon. Friends the Member for Sunderland and that is a lively debate within Scotland parallel to Central (Julie Elliott) and the Member for Streatham Commonwealth membership. (Bell Ribeiro-Addy). Joining the Commonwealth is part of our foreign The Labour party has long been a supporter of the policy stance going forward, but it is part of our foreign positive agenda of the Commonwealth going back decades policy stance, not the main one, frankly. The cornerstone and we remain a strong supporter today. Many of us of Scotland’s foreign policy will be EU membership. will have heard Her Majesty the Queen’s powerful words The cornerstone of Scotland’s defence policy will be for Commonwealth Day last week reflecting on the NATO membership. The cornerstone of our trade policy impact of the pandemic on the Commonwealth, where will be EU membership, because it is possible to have she said the best of both. It is possible—as the UK enjoyed until recently—to be part of the Commonwealth and part of “as we celebrate the friendship, spirit of unity and achievements of the Commonwealth, we have an opportunity to reflect on a the EU, as has been proven. time like no other… stirring examples of courage, commitment We will look at the Commonwealth on its merits, but and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every the EU is our focus. We want to regain the real-world Commonwealth nation and territory”. practical advantages of individuals as citizens able to I wholeheartedly agree with those sentiments. live, work, study and retire across the whole of the European continent, and to maintain the good relationships I also begin by expressing my personal and family with the Commonwealth going forward that will also be connections and affection for the Commonwealth, having useful. visited members from Canada to Malawi to Cyprus to New Zealand, and the many meetings and events I have We think it is a potentially useful forum, but I must also had the pleasure of doing with the CPA. As a say—striking a slightly more critical note—that it is 16 year old, I studied in Canada, my brother lives and also an opportunity missed, and some of the praise that works there and my father worked with the Commonwealth we have heard for the Commonwealth today needs to be Youth Exchange Council for 40 years, helping link balanced with some of the reality that we need to see far young people from Cardiff and Wales to Uganda, Kenya, greater progress. In 2013, the Commonwealth adopted Malawi and all over the world. My constituency in the a charter on justice, democracy, human rights, tolerance, proud dock city of Cardiff has been shaped by the rule of law, the promotion of women’s rights and Commonwealth influences from south Asia to the south others—all laudable aims and very much to be supported. Pacific, from Africa to the Caribbean. We are also What we have not seen, however, is the progress proud of our historical links to European Commonwealth towards those aims that needs to actually happen to members such as Malta and Cyprus and, of course, the effect real change in the lives of the people of the strong links between Malaysia and Cardiff City football sovereign countries working together towards those club. aims. For Commonwealth countries, the reality is that The CPA has been rightly praised by many Members. far too many still fall far too short of the standards we I fully support its work, supporting and strengthening need to see on women’s rights, LGBTI equality and the parliamentary democracy throughout the Commonwealth rule of law. The Commonwealth has been far too quiet and particularly its key themes in relation to women in in that discussion. Parliament, modern slavery, financial oversight, security, I appreciate keenly that the Commonwealth is not and trade. I was pleased to take part recently in an event about telling one country or another how to run its with Sierra Leonian parliamentarians through the CPA. affairs, but where there are common aims it is incumbent I am proud of our overseas territories family too. The upon the centre to speak with a loud voice when those CPA UK Overseas Territories Project, now in its second standards are falling. We have seen the Commonwealth phase, is a particularly important programme supporting being far too quiet and too little resource being put into public financial management across our overseas territories. the Commonwealth secretariat. We are seeing a UK We have heard of the breadth of the Commonwealth, that is walking away from its official development assistance the 2.4 billion people, the voluntary nature of the commitments in terms of the 0.7%, which really is the association and, of course, that countries have joined gold standard of decency internationally.The gap between the Commonwealth that are not formerly part of the perception and reality is what we will be focusing upon British empire, including Rwanda and Mozambique. and upon which the Commonwealth can do much Others are also seeking membership or observer status, better. including Somaliland, on which I declare my interests, However, I believe in engaging to make things better. which the Minister knows. Throughout its history and I think the Commonwealth is a potentially useful forum, its proudest moments, the Commonwealth and its citizens and we wish it well on Commonwealth Day, albeit have united to create more prosperity through trade, recently passed. I look forward to an independent Scotland challenge those who undermine human rights and being part of that co-operation where we will be an democracy, share knowledge and inspire young people, enthusiastic voice for precisely the things that we all say share culture and act as a key player on trade and we want to see happen. climate change. 69WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 70WH

[Stephen Doughty] We have seen in recent days and weeks unacceptable attacks on LGBTQ+ organisations in Ghana, a media The work of the Commonwealth is as broad as its campaign and attempts by lawmakers to bring in laws membership, from the work of the CPA to the to further discriminate and restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ Commonwealth Foundation to the Commonwealth War citizens in Ghana. Such things are not in line with the Graves Commission to the Commonwealth games to principles of the Commonwealth nor, indeed, with other the Commonwealth Development Corporation, to name United Nations human rights institutions. I hope the but a few. There is much that is positive about our Minister can explain whether he has raised this issue continued relationship with the Commonwealth, but with the Ghanaian authorities, what representation our there are also examples of where we have failed and high commissioner has made and what work he will do continue to fail. Look at the Windrush scandal. Look at across the Commonwealth to strengthen human rights the inequitable treatment of Commonwealth armed and rights for the LGBTQ+ community and other forces personnel and veterans, as rightly pointed out by groups. the hon. and gallant Member for Bracknell (James Sunderland) and which I and others raised in the Armed Ian Paisley (in the Chair): Please ignore the clock. Forces Bill. Look at the proposed cuts in aid to our There’s plenty of time. Commonwealth partners, which were extraordinarily ill-judged when they face such pressures on health and Stephen Doughty: Thank you, Mr Paisley. Turning covid-19, education, challenges facing women and girls, to more positive matters, we cannot debate the climate change and conflict. Commonwealth without mentioning the Commonwealth It was particularly saddening, in that respect, to hear games. I was inspired as a child by people such as the this weekend that one of the UK’s genuine national two-time Commonwealth champion, and now one of treasures, the Voluntary Service Overseas, is under threat my constituents, Colin Jackson. With the youth of because of uncertainty about its FCDO grant. Its work the Commonwealth being so important, sports are among 9 million people, the majority of it in an increasingly important part of the life of the Commonwealth countries, stretches back to the early Commonwealth. Commonwealth parasport is also inspiring days of the Commonwealth in 1958. Without urgent millions of young viewers around the world. It was a clarity from Ministers, VSO tragically says that it will particular delight to hear that the medal event programme have to immediately halt its covid-19 response work, for the Birmingham games has been revealed with more close 14 of its country programmes, including across parasports to take part in than ever before and more the Commonwealth, and make 200 of its staff redundant. events for women than men—an incredibly important That would be a genuine tragedy and I hope the Minister signal to send. can provide some reassurances on that matter. This is We are all excited about the progress towards in the an organisation that has had cross-party support for games in 2022 when, I hope, we will have made enough decades. progress against the pandemic to be able to welcome The political power for change that the Commonwealth back athletes from around the world for a time of represents was highlighted at the Commonwealth Heads celebration and inspiration. Will the Minister update us of Government Meeting in 2018 in the UK and it was a on the latest planning for the Commonwealth games? stepping stone on crucial issues, such as the future for While speaking about youth, I should mention the young people, who make up 30% of the Commonwealth role of the Association of Commonwealth Universities population, the advancement of rights of women and which provides 100 million students with the opportunity girls, fighting gender-based sexual violence, improving to study in universities across the Commonwealth. Will education around sexual and reproductive rights, the Minister say what role it will play in the Turing strengthening democratic institutions, fighting climate scholarship scheme? change and, of course, increasing trade. It was a successful Trade has been mentioned many times and there are summit. many aspects of important trade in the Commonwealth. My personal reflections on that event, however, include The Commonwealth trade in goods and services was a meeting I had with LBGTQ+ activists from the approximately $560 billion in 2016, and projected to Commonwealth Equality Network and organisations reach $700 billion by 2020. The value of UK exports to such as the Kaleidoscope Trust at the Speaker’s House the Commonwealth has increased in the last few years, here in Westminster. We heard powerful speeches from and so has the value of imports. That shows us the the hon. Member for Reigate (Crispin Blunt), my hon. importance of the trading partnership which the Friend the Member for Streatham, and the hon. Member Commonwealth provides. for Gloucester (Richard Graham) on that issue earlier However, the partnership must also be based on in this debate. It is currently tragic that 35 Commonwealth equity and fairness. The UK Government sadly started member states criminalise same-sex activity in some the year by letting down Commonwealth citizens and way and persecute LGBTQ+ people across the producers in Ghana over the tariffs on fair trade bananas, Commonwealth. with the price being paid by the workers and producers. That is a toxic legacy of colonial laws and ideas I praise the work of my hon. Friend the Member for introduced predominantly by this country during the Harrow West (Gareth Thomas) in raising this issue. British empire and we have a particular responsibility. Like him, I am a Co-operative MP and deeply concerned The right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), about the issue, as is the Co-operative party. the former Prime Minister, spoke powerfully in 2018 The hon. Member for Southend West (Sir David saying she deeply regrets the role the UK played in Amess) made important points about the Maldives and criminalising homosexuality abroad and stating, fishing, which have also been recently raised with me. “Those laws were wrong then, and they are wrong now.” Will the Minister explain how he will work with his 71WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 72WH colleagues at the Department for International Trade to people facing food insecurity, with many people already ensure that development, sustainability and workers’ in famine conditions. This is not the time to be cutting rights—highlighted to me by many trade union federations our aid and disengaging our support for food, for from across the Commonwealth in meetings I held a education, and for healthcare,especially given our particular few months ago—will be at the heart of our trade deals responsibilities and relationships with our Commonwealth going forward? members and partner countries. The climate change programme of the Commonwealth In conclusion, Mr Paisley, there is much to be proud secretariat is an important player in helping member of in our Commonwealth membership and Commonwealth states work towards building resilience, adaptation, and relationships and the role that Her Majesty the Queen mitigation in response to climate change. The plays in leading the Commonwealth, and it is crucial to Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub has aided our mutual interests in relation to development, trade, many countries in accessing finance, especially small security,climate change and human rights and democracy. island developing states such as Tuvalu. In 2018-19, it It is a shame, as we head into the 2021 Commonwealth helped countries receive $24 million to fight climate Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda, that the change. That is particularly important when countries Government should be breaking its promises on 0.7%, such as Bangladesh, Tuvalu and other small island apparently reducing focus on Africa, which we will see states across the Commonwealth face inundation from later today in the integrated review, and failing to join rising sea levels and, of course, storms. We know the up strategies on trade deals. Will the Minister commit terrible legacy of the hurricanes Irma and Maria in the to maintaining our ODA commitments to our Caribbean in 2017 when huge damage was done. In Commonwealth partners? Will we be able to hold our response to that, Commonwealth funds helped, for head high as we attend that CHOGM in Rwanda and example, Antigua and Barbuda receive a grant of hand over the chairpersonship? In a post-Brexit world, £20 million from the green climate fund. Will the Minister the Commonwealth should be at the heart of our global set out what role the Commonwealth and its members Britain strategy, and it is at the heart of the name of will play at the upcoming Conference of the Parties in the Minister’s Department, but will it be at the heart of Glasgow? The issue is absolutely critical, not least given the integrated review announced later today? the unique risks faced by some of the Commonwealth members by nature of their geography. Ian Paisley (in the Chair): Thank you, Mr Doughty, I have two final points. First, on human rights and for that very informative and wide-ranging contribution democracy,the political influence that the Commonwealth to the debate. Now over to the Minister,James Duddridge. has had over its member states over many decades is showcasedbymanyinterventionsmadetowardsmemberswho 10.41 am have not held up the core values of the Commonwealth. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, We think historically of the Commonwealth’s powerful Commonwealth and Development Affairs (James Duddridge): role in relation to South Africa and apartheid and in Thank you, Mr Paisley. As already referenced, thank relation to Zimbabwe, Fiji and other regimes and putting you for your personal work on Commonwealth in place systems for ensuring that democracy is respected Parliamentary Association, although I appreciate that in member states. There have been observations of over you are here in a different guise chairing this Westminster 70 elections since 1990 and programmes promoting Hall debate, which confusingly is not in Westminster Hall. judicial and public administration reform and civil society I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater development. and West Somerset (Mr Liddell-Grainger) for bringing However, there are many unanswered issues currently us this debate. I must say, he is a great improvement on across the Commonwealth: the repression of the opposition his predecessor, and I can say that with absolute clarity, in Uganda; the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery given that it was me. I was proud to serve the organisation Squad in Nigeria; the repression of the opposition in and I took over the baton from him and passed it back Tanzania; the rights of Indian farmers protesting in when I became Minister for Africa for the Foreign, recent months; Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and forced Commonwealth and Development Office. marriages of girls from religious minorities; and the Many people pray in aid of their country of birth, allegations in Sri Lanka, raised by the hon. Member for but my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Richard Southend West opposite, which I know will be debated Graham) even got married within the Commonwealth. later this week? There is a very rich history. We have had a veritable On the borders of the Commonwealth, we see instability smorgasbord of interventions and speeches covering and allegations of human rights abuses and humanitarian many of the 54 countries, 30 of which I have visited. Of catastrophes in places such as Ethiopia which could risk the 19 African Commonwealth countries, I have had destabilising our Commonwealth partners.Will the Minister the pleasure of visiting 17, and I very much look explain how he is working through the Commonwealth forward to visiting Cameroon and the Seychelles at to tackle threats to human rights, democracy and the some point in the future. rule of law, especially in relation to what we have seen in May I take this opportunity to thank the CPA for all Uganda in recent days? I hope he will say something its work, along with other organisations that serve the specifically about that. Commonwealth so ably, such as the Westminster There are shocking reports today from Mozambique— Foundation for Democracy? I thank the trade envoys one of most recent members of the Commonwealth—of that have contributed across the Commonwealth, but Islamist militants beheading children, according to Save specifically in their country, linking back trade to the the Children. Furthermore, nearly 1 million face hunger United Kingdom and their own constituencies, as in that country alone. The Minister revealed to me that mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford across sub-Saharan Africa there are, I think, 95 million (Theo Clarke)? We have also heard a lot from chairs of 73WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 74WH

[James Duddridge] look at climate through the G7 and the Commonwealth Heads of Government, but also through COP26 later the all-party groups that are involved across the this year, and we will use the Commonwealth to do that. Commonwealth. I am particularly minded of the references The Commonwealth finance access hub in Mauritius to the LGBT community and the problems they face, was co-founded by the UK and has mobilised much and I would like to reach out, as I have done in the past, money to support 23 projects in climate-vulnerable to my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Crispin countries such as Antigua, Barbuda, Jamaica, Barbados, Blunt) and his excellent work on matching parliamentarians Fiji and Tonga, focusing particularly on the issues affecting with countries, because one size does not fit all in terms small island states, which have been raised by a number of HMG’s best response to these issues. A much more of hon Members. All too often we forget that the nuanced approach works well, and I have discussed Commonwealth is a very diverse organisation, from with him a number of times that we want to reach out India and Canada on one end of the scale, to the small as Minister and do that within a plethora of countries, island states and countries such as Eswatini, where I but specific issues were raised around Ghana and Uganda. used to work. It is a broad and diverse family that was It is brilliant to be celebrating Commonwealth Day. brought together in London and will be brought together We are slightly restricted because of covid, but it is again in Kigali. good to celebrate the values enshrined within the charter. We worked with our partners to secure a fairer future It is good to be part of an organisation that people want for all Commonwealth citizens. I will take forward the to join and rejoin. As my hon. Friend the Member for comments from my hon. Friend the Member for Bracknell Bracknell (James Sunderland) said, the Commonwealth on the armed forces, and I will discuss the issue of the has many nations and is a convening body across the court case, which he raised so eloquently,with the Minister globe for 2.5 billion people, bringing us together. It has for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for many of the world’s young people, half of the top 20 Wells (James Heappey). I am certainly happy to do that. emerging cities around the world, and a quarter of the It is the right thing to do, and I will certainly go forth nations of this world. The UK is immensely proud to and do that. have been the chair over the past three years—a slightly extended period due to covid. We brought all our energies We cannot have equality without proper security. and commitment to deliver a more secure, prosperous, During our term in office, we focused particularly on fair and sustainable future for the Commonwealth. In cyber-security, which I suspect we will hear more about June, we will pass the baton to the chair in Rwanda. As today in the integrated review. We shared our expertise mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford, and trained over 1,000 individuals in the Commonwealth. the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting is I am very proud of the work that the Commonwealth in Kigali, which is a good opportunity to review what Parliamentary Association has taken forward, and I am we have done over that extended period and what baton conscious of the issue of status. I am more than happy we are passing on. to discuss that with Emilia Lifaka and Stephen Twigg, Many of us watched the wonderful celebrations on formerly of this place, in his new role working with television last Sunday, with Her Majesty delivering the Emilia Lifaka for the Commonwealth Parliamentary traditional Commonwealth message—this time from Association on an international basis. As has been the magnificent St George’sHall in Windsor Castle—among mentioned and celebrated, we have also funded standards the 54 bright flags of the Commonwealth. For the first networks to support the Commonwealth in reducing time in 72 years, sadly there was no service in Westminster and bringing down trade barriers, particularly through Abbey, which I know is a critical moment of celebration our trade envoys. I commend in particular the work of in most hon. Members’ diaries each year, but it was SheTrades in Kenya, which has been mentioned. reassuring to see the flags flying in Parliament Square In the extended 12 months, we were able to address as they normally do. It was really good to see that, even the impacts of covid, and work together with the during covid times. The Commonwealth flag was flown Commonwealth to build resilience in vulnerable countries, across Whitehall and in many of our high commissions to ensure that no one was left behind. In October, the on the six continents, in celebration of that day. Commonwealth Heads of Government agreed a very Nearly 50 Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers strong statement on racism. That was initiated by the came together at CHOGM 2018. I was part of a UK, but it was by the whole of the Commonwealth. parliamentary delegation, and many hon. Members Human rights were mentioned by a number of Members. who spoke during the debate also attended CHOGM as Although this is a bit of a love-in—no one has spoken parliamentarians and in other capacities. We announced against the concept of the Commonwealth—the hon. £500 million of programmes and projects, and our Member for Stirling (Alyn Smith) is right to challenge delivery against these commitments was detailed in the us not to rest on our laurels and to see what more we Commonwealth chair-in-office report, which was published can do as parliamentarians across the diverse range of last September. That was notified to the House in a the Commonwealth. There are opportunities for trade, written ministerial statement from Lord Ahmad, the and for people to travel and work here. Like my hon. Minister for the Commonwealth in the other place, and Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford), I recommend reading the report to look at what we did I am optimistic about bringing very strong people from over the period of three years. the Commonwealth, and moving them around the Our activity was focused on four key areas: sustainability, Commonwealth, to share and bring different experiences fairness, security and prosperity. A sustainable future is together. During covid, we have also supported our the only way forward. We built a Commonwealth Commonwealth partners, through COVAX. A number partnership to protect the ocean, and we have looked at of Commonwealth countries are already vaccinating, plastic pollution. A number of hon. Members have which is good to see, as part of the Commonwealth mentioned climate, and it is absolutely critical that we response. 75WH Commonwealth Day 202116 MARCH 2021 Commonwealth Day 2021 76WH

India was mentioned by the hon. Member for Streatham facilities to help get them what they need and want. As (Bell Ribeiro-Addy), as well as by my hon. Friend the the Minister rightly said, quite often trade envoys can Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) and others. visit many more times than a Minister can. There is a massive opportunity to do more trade in I thought that my hon. Friend the Member for Southend India, and I will reflect on their comments. My hon. West (Sir David Amess) made some very good points. I Friend the Member for Harrow East mentioned that he am afraid a lot of them I do not understand, but they has been to Australia and New Zealand, so perhaps he are obviously serious and need to be looked at. Every can liaise with my hon. Friend the Member for Mole Member mentioned, one way or another, trade, access, Valley on the ongoing conflict of jokes, puns, innuendo prosperity and human rights. I was very taken by what and discussion between those two countries. the hon. Member for Streatham (Bell Ribeiro-Addy) I encourage trade envoys to double down on the work said. She made very powerful points about her heritage that they are doing, not only on the trade side, but as and gave information that, again, surprised me but our eyes and ears. The previous trade envoy to Angola, needs to be addressed. I am delighted that she had the which is outside the Commonwealth, visited that country chance to talk in this debate about what is certainly one 10 times. Trade envoys can visit a lot more frequently of our great colleagues and countries—Ghana. I am than Ministers, so they are the eyes and ears, and we very pleased that she was here. encourage them to do more. I was disturbed to hear what was said about VSO, The hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth which has a huge history in this country; it is a phenomenal (Stephen Doughty) made a number of points. The Turing organisation. I hope that the Minister will take the scholarship scheme will clearly involve the Commonwealth, comments on board, because doing VSO is an important and, alongside Chevening, will open up Commonwealth part of being British. I never did VSO, but I know many scholarships. I have dealt with the issue of climate colleagues and friends who did. They came out of it change. I take seriously the issues in Uganda, and like better people and learned an awful lot about other the hon. Gentleman, I am very concerned about the countries and the aspirations of people in those countries. situation with Bobi Wine. Only yesterday, I was discussing I pay tribute again to Lord Ahmad, because the that situation with our high commissioner in that country. sustainability issue, as my hon. Friend the Minister has The hon. Gentleman also mentioned the situation in said, is incredibly important. It is something that my Cabo Delgado, which the report this morning said is hon. Friend was addressing when he was chairman, and often forgotten, but not by me. I am very engaged on I will certainly continue to do so. All of us know that these issues, through the high commissioner there. change has to come and therefore, working with Lord I think my hon. Friend Member for Gloucester claims Ahmad, we will try to achieve that. credit for this annual debate, and I look forward to the I look forward to the year ahead, especially as we will next one. I suspect that it goes back many moons, but it have the Commonwealth games next year—all colleagues has occasionally fallen into disrepair. In many ways, he are aware of that—and, hopefully, we will be getting has brought it back front and centre.I remember advocating trips back up and running, so that we can visit the for it to become an annual debate when I was on the Commonwealth countries and help to continue to Back Benches and chair of the CPA. I am now perhaps strengthen our family and the family of nations that hoist by my own petard in having to respond for the make up this incredible organisation. I also look forward Government, but it is has been a pleasure and, slightly to being able to talk to as many countries as we all belatedly, I wish all Members of the House a happy do—so many people on this call and colleagues outside Commonwealth day. this call have taken part in these discussions—and to reaching out to countries that we normally cannot get Ian Paisley (in the Chair): Thank you, Minister. I to. We have been able to do that through the rather think you covered practically everything that was raised bizarre format of Zoom and whatever the other one is and more, so very well done. Before the curtain falls, we called—Teams—and all the rest of it. It does work, have the opportunity for a swansong from the hon. albeit it is not the same as a personal visit; it is very Member for Bridgwater and West Somerset. I call Ian good. There was mention of some of the more remote Liddell-Grainger. Pacific islands, which we can talk to now. Instead of 10.54 am having to fly out, which is a bit of a nightmare, we can talk to them. That is crucially important. Mr Liddell-Grainger [V]: Thank you, Mr Paisley, and I would also like to thank the Labour party for its may I thank you once again for all your help with the support and, in particular, the hon. Member for Cardiff CPA? I also thank the Minister. He has been very South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty) for his work. self-deprecating, but he was an extremely good chairman. I was his deputy, and we worked well together. I have Ian Paisley (in the Chair): Please come to a conclusion, many fond memories of the work that we did, but there Mr Liddell-Grainger. is also the work that he is now doing, and I thank him for his reply to this debate. Crucially, a lot of the things Mr Liddell-Grainger: Thank you very much indeed, that were brought up today need to be actioned, especially Mr Paisley. This has been a great debate, and I thank all with regard to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. my colleagues for their incredible kindness to the CPA. My hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Richard I wish you well, Mr Paisley, and everyone else. Graham) made very powerful points about that. It is an Question put and agreed to. incredibly important organisation. Resolved, There are also the trade envoys and the APPGs. That this House has considered Commonwealth Day 2021. Everybody works together, and the CPA is always glad to help where it can to ensure that the trade envoys or 10.58 am APPG chairmen and members are able to use our Sitting suspended. 77WH 16 MARCH 2021 Release under Investigation: 78WH Metropolitan Police Release under Investigation: cases, allowing overstretched detectives to tackle simpler Metropolitan Police cases with an easier prospect of conviction, which is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs. It is clear that this system is not an improvement on 11.1 am the previous system of pre-charge bail, which had clearly Ian Paisley (in the Chair): I remind hon. Members defined time periods, whereby the suspect was updated that there have been some changes to normal practice in on the progress of the investigation. That also helped to order to support the new hybrid arrangements. Members focus the minds of the detectives investigating a case. participating must wipe down their workstations at the So, with that in mind, the Law Society has proposed, conclusion of their speeches. No one is speaking virtually. as a minimum requirement, that the police should be I have the pleasure of calling the mover of today’s required to explain to suspects who have been under motion, Sir David Amess. investigation for more than four months why there is a delay in determining their case, and I would be very Sir David Amess (Southend West) (Con): I beg to grateful if my hon. Friend the Minister would clarify move, whether or not he shares the Law Society’s view. That this House has considered the use of Release Under To paint a picture, typically what happens is that Investigation by the Metropolitan Police. someone is interviewed under caution by the police, but Since the Policing and Crime Act 2017 was introduced there are not sufficient grounds to charge them. However, by the Government in April 2017, there has been the police do not want to dismiss that person as a a substantial use of suspects being released under suspect just yet; instead, they want more time to make investigation, more commonly known as RUI, by police their inquiries, before deciding whether or not to refer forces around the country, with the Metropolitan police the person’s case to the Crown Prosecution Service. The the heaviest users of this controversial practice. Moreover, police therefore choose to release the person under since the introduction of RUI, there has been a substantial investigation, which allows the person to leave the police decrease in the use of pre-charge bail. Being released station, but the police can still seize their personal under investigation means that someone is suspected of property as evidence. a criminal offence and that the investigation into their The person will be told about the outcome of the alleged criminal activity is ongoing. They may have investigation at some point in the future. That creates a been arrested, but they have not been charged, nor has great deal of uncertainty, because they do not know if their case been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. the police will eventually charge them or drop the case However, they are not out of the woods, because the against them. To make matters worse, the investigation police are still suspicious that they might have committed process has no maximum time limit, which is absolutely a criminal offence. ridiculous. It means that the person could be kept The controversial nature of RUI is that it places waiting for weeks, months or even years before discovering those accused of crimes effectively in a state of limbo, their fate. not infrequently waiting many months or even years for For someone to have the threat of prosecution hanging the police to make a decision on whether to recommend over their head can be very unnerving and may even a charge or recommend that no further action is taken damage their ability to earn an income. As has been against the accused. I cannot stress too much to my previously stated, people in this position are left in a hon. Friend the Minister that the time the accused waits state of near-paralysis. Unsurprisingly, that can have a for a decision is a time when that individual suffers severely deleterious effect on a suspect’s mental health. enormous stress and strain from all points of views and, In preparation for this debate, I contacted an established as I will come on to, can ultimately take a terrible toll. firm of London solicitors that frequently interacts with By way of background, when RUI was created in the Metropolitan Police and it explained that 2017, the purpose of its introduction was to overhaul “Of three clients, one client who was under RUI and was in his the use of police bail. The very good intention was to early 50s has developed a brain tumour, which can only be partly remove the onus on those involved in lengthy investigations removed. The other has begun to experience psychotic episodes of having to frequently attend a police station to have and is now registered with local police by the crisis team. The bail extended. On face value, RUI was well intentioned, other suffers from severe depression.” but as is often the case it has since fallen foul of the law I am not surprised. Tragically, the firm’s explanation of unintended consequences, and this power has been continues: badly abused, in some cases by overstretched police. “We know of at least one case in our office where a client took When suspects or their legal representatives inquire his life, having been accused of an offence in circumstances where about the progress of their case, they are frequently told he believed that if charged, he would not be able to see his by the police that they are pursuing “further lines of children, only for notice to be sent within days of him taking his inquiry”. When they ask what these are, they are told, own life advising that the police were taking no further action.” “This is confidential”, and when they ask how long the My goodness, how could I live with my own conscience inquiry will take to conclude, they are told, “It’s difficult had I been part of this process? I do not know. Taking to say, but you will be updated”. The update often takes that horrific example into consideration, does the use of the form of a derisory monthly email simply saying that RUI not ride roughshod over the principle of Blackstone’s “Our inquiries are ongoing, but you will be updated”, ratio—that it is better that 10 guilty persons escape than which then results in much the same email being sent one innocent suffers? the next month, and the month after that, and so it goes How widespread is the use of RUI? This is a difficult on, in many cases for years. Indeed, RUI is often question to answer, as since 2017 no reliable, national perceived, to the detriment of both alleged suspects and police data has been published on the numbers of alleged victims, to be a pending tray for more complex suspect RUIs. Indeed, a report in December 2020 by the 79WH Release under Investigation: 16 MARCH 2021 Release under Investigation: 80WH Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police Criminal Justice Inspectorates found that some forces and several colleagues, will consider calling for a full-scale cannot even identify cases involving RUI because their debate in Parliament on Operation Midland and who IT systems cannot flag these cases centrally. Simply, should be held to account. that is not an acceptable explanation. In summary, who guards the guards? Since its Nevertheless, data obtained by the law firm Hickman introduction, despite noble intentions, RUI has been an & Rose says that in 2018, 236,996 cases, almost a untimely policy failure. I have no doubt that its excessive quarter of a million individuals, were at the time released use by forces has been exacerbated by previous pressures under investigation in England, Wales and Northern on police numbers; but that is simply not good enough. Ireland. That is ridiculous. Some 56,555 of those were The use of RUI has had far-reaching ramifications for from the Metropolitan police area alone. Not only is both victims and suspects, some of whom have, tragically, there an issue with the sheer scale of people under RUI, taken their own lives with the sword of Damocles still but there is a clear issue with the length of time suspects hanging over them. I am therefore pleased to note that are subject to RUI. Available data shows that the average the Metropolitan police leadership sees the continued time spent before a final decision is made is 139 days. use of RUI as unsustainable and has at least tried to The average length of police bail, by comparison, was remedy its excessive use. Furthermore, it is my hope that 90 days. It is just not acceptable. Some may even have to the 2,000 extra police already announced by the wait years for justice, in the case of alleged victims, or Government—and under the leadership of my right for vindication of those innocent of the crimes levelled hon. Friend the Home Secretary, a fellow Essex Member against them, making a mockery of the central tenet of who is doing a wonderful job at the Home Office—will our criminal justice system: the fact that you are innocent mean that crimes can be resolved more quickly, removing until proven guilty. the need to use RUI in the future. The London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association As the age-old legal maxim states, justice delayed is reported recently that when a sample of 109 RUI cases justice denied. I am keen to hear the Minister’s reply, was examined, more than 69 had been ongoing for which I hope will be to say that RUI is to be discontinued between 18 months and two years. That is just not sooner rather than later. acceptable. In fairness to the Commissioner of the Police of the 11.18 pm Metropolis, whom I do recognise is in the eye of the The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the storm at the moment, I attended a virtual briefing of Home Department (Kevin Foster): It is a pleasure to the APPG on policing and security just a few months serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley. I thank my ago. When I raised this issue on the call, the Commissioner hon. Friend the Member for Southend West (Sir David did admit that the whole system of RUI was, indeed, Amess) for securing the debate. It is always a pleasure not working and needed to be replaced. When the to respond to a fellow Blue Fox, and to have a chance to professional head of the Metropolitan Police Service set out the Government’s latest thinking on RUI. acknowledges that the system has to change, changes My right hon. Friend spoke quite a bit about the use should be made. I would have hoped that it might have of RUI by the Metropolitan Police Service. Yes, it is the been in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill highest user, as the largest force. However, the statistics that we started to debate yesterday, and will further for 2017-18 show a discrepancy in the percentage use debate today. following an arrest. For example, in some forces the rate Having checked the Metropolitan Police Service’s is nearer 20%. For the Metropolitan police it is about business plan progress report, I was pleased to see that 37%. In the force with the highest rate it is nearer to the Met has implemented a so-called RUI recovery 60%. Clearly, discrepancies in the use of the process are plan, led by commanders in Met Ops and frontline producing such a contrast; and it is not driven by such policing. However, much more needs to be done. The issues as rural versus urban forces, or metropolitan continued, unfettered use of RUI is unsustainable. I am versus county forces. The Government are committed therefore pleased to see that the Government have concluded to ensuring that the police have the powers they need to their review into pre-charge bail, and published the protect the public and to ensure the welfare of vulnerable Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, but I must victims at the heart of the criminal justice system, but it ask the Minister: in light of the Bill, what is to become is clear that something needs to change in this area. of RUI? Will it be abolished? Will it be reformed—or, The process overall has been raised as an issue in the essentially, will it stay the same? Although I am not debate, and it is something that we are looking to prejudging the Minister’s reply, I must tell him that I am reform and put right. Last week, the Lord Chancellor not going to leave the issue alone. I want a precise introduced the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts answer. Bill, and it will hopefully receive its Second Reading The effects of delayed justice on the individuals involved later today. The Government are using this opportunity cannot be stressed enough. My former parliamentary to reform pre-charge bail and improve wider confidence colleague Harvey Proctor, although he was not subject in the criminal justice system with the Bill’s wider to RUI, spent many years fighting to clear his name provisions. It might be helpful if I say a bit more about after the fiasco of Operation Midland. The cloud over how the Government see the context behind the reforms. his reputation led to the loss of his job. He lost everything, As my hon. Friend identified, the Government made including his home. The failings of the Metropolitan changes to pre-charge bail through the Policing and police have never been satisfactorily investigated, and a Crime Act 2017 to address concerns that suspects were public inquiry or independent external investigation by being left on pre-charge bail for long periods of time another force is long overdue. It should have happened while also being placed under conditions that severely by now. I shall listen carefully to my hon. Friend the restricted their liberty. In some cases, they went far Minister, but if he cannot satisfy me on this subject I, beyond the concept of having to attend a police station 81WH Release under Investigation: 16 MARCH 2021 Release under Investigation: 82WH Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police [Kevin Foster] offences—can very much hang over someone and really affect their life. They may not be able to move forward to renew bail; some were on onerous bail conditions for or perhaps change job. As he said, there is an impact on very long period of time. In some cases, those individuals career and employment as well. We are conscious that were eventually told they would face no further action, RUI cannot just be a file that cases are popped in following years of being on those restrictions. because they are difficult. If it is to be used, that must My hon. Friend rightly highlights some similarities mean that a case is still being progressed. and crossover into RUI, where someone does not have As already mentioned, reforms will be brought into clarity on where they are going. To address that, in effect by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, terms of pre-charge bail, the Government introduced and I very much thank my hon. Friend for the additional statutory timescales at which the progress of investigations thoughts he has provided today to help us take that could be reviewed, and further bail periods required work forward. Our proposed changes will encourage authorisation by the appropriate rank in the force the police to use pre-charge bail where it is necessary concerned. The changes also introduced judicial oversight and, crucially, proportionate to do so. They will also into the process to ensure that pre-charge bail was being require the consideration of key risk factors in the used appropriately and any restrictions were proportionate decision-making process, which we are putting into to the circumstances faced. It has now become clear—my statute because of what the conditions are. Officers will hon. Friend gave some useful information on this—that need to consider factors such as the need to safeguard some of the changes have led to unintended consequences. victims of crime and to safeguard the public when In some cases, the police have released suspects under determining whether to release an individual on bail. investigation rather than on pre-charge bail. There are a We expect this to lead to a significant decrease in the use couple of sides to that and why we feel reform is of release under investigation. important. We also recognise that there is a need to bolster While the 2017 Act changes were intended to reduce victims’ confidence in the system. That is why we are the number of suspects being placed on pre-charge bail inserting a new duty that would require the police to for lengthy periods of time, it was also not intended that inform the victim of the conditions on suspects, and victims could be left with inadequate protection—the seek the victim’s views on such conditions where it other side of this—in the absence of conditions that concerns their safeguarding—let me be very clear, it is could be applied. Similarly, we do not want people their safeguarding. This duty will also apply when there waiting for outcomes for lengthy times. Too often, we is any variation of these conditions during the course of have heard accounts of suspects who have been arrested the suspect’s bail. We do believe it is crucial that victims on suspicion of very high harm offences, such as domestic have the opportunity to provide input or information abuse, have been released under investigation rather when key decisions are made that could affect their than placed on bail, where sufficient conditions would safety. be in place to protect victims and witnesses. As my hon. Friend may be aware, that was tragically highlighted in To put it the other way around, again, to ensure a just the case of Kay Richardson, who was murdered by her system, police investigations should continue to be estranged husband following his release under investigation conducted as quickly and efficiently as possible. We are even though there was evidence of previous allegations clear that we will look to issue much more rigorous of domestic abuse. That is simply not acceptable. The national statutory guidance via the College of Policing first priority of a Government is to protect their citizens. about the use of release under investigation. Again, we That is why we must change the law, and we are seeking are conscious that long periods of limbo are not acceptable to do so with—I hope—my hon. Friend’s support on in the criminal justice system. RUI is not a position that Second Reading later today. forces can just put somebody in: they need to be clear about the reason why they have released the person Aside from release under investigation not providing under investigation, rather than deciding to take no adequate protection for victims, as he rightly highlighted, further action, or charging and allowing a court to it has often left suspects in limbo, given that the process resolve the matter. is not subject to any timescales. Much like pre-charge bail before 2017, suspects are being placed under We will be more widely amending the timescales on investigation for lengthy periods of time with no real pre-charge bail periods so that they better reflect police sense of how investigations are progressing. At the investigation lengths, because we recognise that the same time, as I said, victims are left unprotected, given current 28-day first period of bail has created challenges that conditions cannot be applied to release under for the police, and we have engaged with them at every investigation. We believe that we need to put that right stage to get this right. I know that hon. Members will for all parties involved. appreciate the changing landscape of criminality, The Government launched a public consultation in investigation methods and tools. It has evolved over 2020 to understand how we could create a more effective recent years, particularly examining digital chains of pre-charge bail regime that would balance the needs to evidence and establishing forensics, which may take safeguard the public with the rights of individuals who slightly more time but can still be vital in securing have been arrested on suspicion of offences. As has prosecutions. Again, we are conscious that there is a been touched on, we obtained views from law enforcement, need to balance those things while making sure that the members of the public, charities, the legal profession process is moving forward. We believe that the future and others to enable us to create a system that will guidance will be far more effective at delivering these protect the most vulnerable but also ensure that individuals outcomes than the current position is. are not effectively left in limbo during an investigation, As I say, we will also look to work with the police with the obvious consequences that my hon. Friend sector to improve the data available on pre-charge bail pointed to. Allegations of some offences—not petty and release under investigation so that we can much 83WH Release under Investigation: 16 MARCH 2021 84WH Metropolitan Police more effectively monitor its use and the effectiveness of Covid-19: Animal Welfare this system, ensuring justice both for victims and, at the same time, for those who have been accused of a crime and have a right to know that the police will deal with it [ESTHER MCVEY in the Chair] as efficiently and effectively as they can. As my hon. Friend has touched on, there is a presumption of innocence 2.30 pm in the system, and people should not have their life left Esther McVey (in the Chair): I remind hon. Members on hold without the investigation progressing. that there have been some changes to normal practice to support the new hybrid arrangements. Timings of debates Sir David Amess: I very much hope to catch Mr Speaker’s have been amended to allow technical arrangements to eye in today’s debate. If I am hearing my hon. Friend be made for the next debate. There will also be suspensions correctly, the Bill that we are dealing with today will between each debate. tackle everything surrounding RUIs. Could he also comment on Operation Midland, because I do intend I remind Members participating physically and virtually to raise these matters on the Floor of the House later? that they must arrive for the start of debates in Westminster Hall, and Members are expected to remain for the Kevin Foster: The Bill will reform the pre-charge bail entire debate. I also remind Members participating process and remove some of the disincentives against it virtually that they should be visible at all times to each that we now believe are inappropriate, or have created other and to us in the Boothroyd Room. If Members unintended consequences. RUI is a process that is not attending virtually have any technical problems, they actually set out in law and statute, so the Bill would not should email the Westminster Hall Clerks’ email address. change that; however, we are clear that we want to issue Members attending physically should clean their spaces much more rigorous guidance on its use. The figures I before they use them and as they leave the room. gave are the differential between forces’ arrests: some are about 20%, and one is 60%. That tells us that there is 2.31 pm a need for much more rigorous guidance on how this Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd) (Lab): I beg to move, process is used, and also what information should be That this House has considered the effect of the covid-19 provided to the defence so that they know the progress outbreak on animal welfare. of the case. I do not think I can do justice to Operation Midland in about 30 seconds, but I am sure that the It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Ms McVey, and Minister responding later will be able to do so. to serve under your chairship. I am delighted to have secured the debate on an issue that, if my email inbox is We believe that the changes will allow for further anything to go by, many of our constituents across the protection of victims, clearer timescales for suspects, country feel very strongly about. and more confidence in the system among the police. I very much thank my hon. Friend for having brought I want to place on the record my gratitude to some of this useful debate to the Chamber today. the incredible organisations who work hard all year round to support animal welfare projects across the country. Question put and agreed to. Indeed, many of those organisations—there are far too many to list—have supported me with my preparation 11.29 am for the debate. Locally, I am grateful for the expertise of Sitting suspended. Hope Rescue, a dog rescue charity working across south Wales who operate from a rescue centre in Llanharan, just across the border in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Chris Elmore). Thankfully, Hope Rescue’s work covers the whole of Rhondda Cynon Taf and beyond, and I am extremely grateful for its engagement ahead of the debate. The same sentiments apply to Friends of Animals Wales, which has been working constantly behind the scenes to improve, educate and inform on the importance of robust animal welfare standards for all of us in Wales. I must finally extend my thanks to the many national organisations whom I have met and engaged with ahead of today. I will try my best to name them all, but an exhaustive list is practically impossible. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, the Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, the Kennel Club, Wildlife and Countryside Link and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Cymru all have some incredible research and recommendation reports. I urge colleagues of all political persuasions to reach out and read the information readily available to us all. Finally, I am especially grateful to the House of Commons Library service, whose briefing will, I am sure, be well referred to by colleagues. The debate feels particularly timely for two reasons. Colleagues will be aware that this is Pet Theft Awareness Week. I have specific concerns relating to the impact 85WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 86WH

[Alex Davies-Jones] advice lines halved from their 2019 level. At face value, that sounds like a good thing, but on looking at the that the coronavirus has had on pet owners like me, and stats in detail we can see a worrying picture developing. I am sure they will be echoed by others. Given that we There are concerns from the sector that that was simply are all increasingly spending more time out walking in because lockdown meant people did not see incidents of our local areas, I know that, sadly, some places have neglect or cruelty as they usually would. When restrictions seen rises in opportunistic pet thefts. I will touch on that began to be lifted, from May to July, the number of worrying trend in my contribution. calls to the RSPCA rose above 2019 levels, and there are In addition, it would seem foolish not to reference the concerns that we have not yet seen the real impact of dialogue around the issues relating to violence and the pandemic on domestic animals. abuse towards women and girls that has grown in recent Another worrying trend is the fact that there have been weeks. There is little research connecting domestic violence significant increases in the demand for animals, as more with animal abuse, but thankfully this is an area of people than ever before have seen the benefit of having growing academic interest. We now know that pet dogs pets, especially when we are all spending so much time and cats are at high risk in abusive households as at home. Research conducted by Battersea Dogs & Cats perpetrators direct their anger at them and use them to Home found that 31% of people who acquired a dog or manipulate and control their human victims. cat during the first lockdown had not even thought of I am sure colleagues agree that we need to be having becoming pet owners before. Its research also found those conversations around welfare—whether human that online searches about buying a dog increased by or animal-related—regularly in this place. It is vital that about 217% between February and April 2020. regulation and law enforcement are considered key parts of that conversation, too. I specifically look forward to Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): We keep springer hearing from the Minister about the cross-departmental spaniels and cocker spaniels, because we do hunting and work and conversations that I sincerely hope are taking shooting. My son sold a dog last year for £150 and the place with her colleagues in the Home Office on how to pups this year are making £2,500. The value is absolutely tackle issues specific to crimes against animal welfare. abnormal and as a result dog thefts have risen dramatically. It is often said with great pride that we are a nation of Does the hon. Lady agree that better co-operation on dog animal lovers. From old tropes connecting Great Britain sales is needed between all the regions of the United with the British bulldog to the jokes made far too often Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to about sheep and Wales—none of which I will reference ensure an end to dog thefts, and an end to the dispersal here today; I am sure colleagues can use their imagination of dogs around the UK—or at least better regulation? —it cannot be denied that animals big and small are at the very heart of our global identity. That is certainly Alex Davies-Jones: I wholeheartedly agree with the the case in my constituency of Pontypridd, and I would hon. Gentleman. There has been a dramatic rise in pet be hard-pressed to find a Welsh valleys resident who theft throughout lockdown and, sadly, those pets are was not at least a lover of cats or dogs. being transported across all four regions of our United Obviously, no debate on animal welfare would be Kingdom, so it is vital to have a joined-up approach to complete without reference to my own two gorgeous tackling the issue. Jack Russells, Dotty and Dora. I got them when they I am sure that the majority of the people who have were just a few weeks old, and in September they will acquired pets during the lockdown will go on to become both turn nine. They have truly seen me through thick loving pet owners, but impulse purchases are hugely and thin, the good and the bad. Family aside, they worrying for rescue centres, which anticipate a surge in really are my world. If anything, coronavirus has made the number of animals being brought to them when life our bond stronger than ever before, and I know that returns to normal. It is important to note that a dog is sentiment is shared by many others in my community. for life, not just for lockdown. The RSPCA has concerns Since I was elected in December 2019, I have received that as the economic consequences of covid-19 continue more emails from constituents concerned in one way or to take hold, more and more larger animals, including another about animal welfare than I have on any other horses, will face neglect and abandonment too. topic—second only to inquiries about coronavirus. They Sadly but unsurprisingly, the increase in demand for cover a huge range, dealing with badger culling, puppy animals has had a huge impact on the incidence of pet smuggling, fur imports and concern about bee-killing theft, as the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) pesticides. In applying for the debate, I wanted an said. The Minister will be aware—I am sure she is as opportunity to touch on some of the ways the coronavirus concerned as I am—of the response to a recent freedom epidemic has had an impact on animal welfare across of information request stating that in five policing areas the country. there was a double-digit increase in the number of dog For many of us, the pandemic has meant that we could thefts reported between January and July 2020, compared spend more time than ever before with our pets. For with the previous year. Dotty and Dora, that has been a wonderful thing. I am I know at first hand how worrying those incidents lucky to be surrounded by the gorgeous Welsh valleys and can be for communities. Community Facebook groups to have plenty of open space to take my two out and in my area are full of posts from people worrying about about whenever possible. It is one of the only benefits dog thefts, vans driving around suspiciously and chalk that the coronavirus pandemic has brought us, I think—the prints being put on houses where a dog is known to be opportunity to spend time with family and pets. present. I should be interested to hear the Minister’s Sadly, for other animals the coronavirus pandemic comments about conversations with colleagues in the has been anything but a good thing. During the first Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport about lockdown, calls to the RSPCA’s national cruelty and the spread of misinformation, and social media companies’ 87WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 88WH responsibility to regulate fake news, particularly in the absurd exemption to the coronavirus rule of six for context of animal welfare. Pets really are part of our hunting in autumn 2020. Not only that, but over Christmas, families, so I fully understand why such posts and the when so many of us were unable to spend time with our threat of pet theft cause such alarm in communities. families after a difficult year because of the pandemic, Given the heightened demand for animals during the the Tory Government introduced yet another exemption lockdown, there has been a rapid increase in the number to enable Boxing day hunts to take place. It is no surprise of dogs entering the country for commercial reasons. when you find out that the Tories and the Prime Minister Some of the recent responses to written parliamentary have taken more than £1 million from donors linked to questions have revealed that the number of intra-trade hunting. If that does not tell you what this Government animal health certificates issued for dogs from May to think about animal welfare, I do not know what does. August 2020 was almost 16,000. That is double the Still, after years of campaigning from animal rights figure for the same period in 2019. groups, the import of so-called hunting trophies into Animal welfare groups also, justifiably, have major the UK is legal, as long as the animal is licensed under concerns about puppy smuggling, where animals are the convention on international trade in endangered illegally transported into the UK in horrendous conditions. species of wild fauna and flora. However, the trade is Puppies are often bred in terrible conditions and are exacerbating the decline of threatened species and is taken away from their mums at increasingly early ages. causing unnecessary suffering to animals. Even worse, it They then face a perilous 33-hour-long journey to the is often being used as a cover for illegal poaching, as UK, often with no food, little water and no exercise. traffickers pass off illegal wildlife products as legal. Recent research from Dogs Trust has also found that, I welcome the UK Government’s decision to hold a increasingly, heavily pregnant dogs are being imported consultation on options to restrict the import and export into the UK, often at the late stage of their pregnancies, of hunting trophies into the UK, but the consultation in order to circumvent the ban on commercial third-party closed on 25 February 2020. It has been over a year puppy sales, which came into force in England in April since the consultation closed and still the Government last year. have not responded. I implore the Minister to confirm The Government have a responsibility to act to stop when her Department will formally respond to the these barbaric practices, and I urge the Minister to work consultation, and I look forward to an update in her with charities that have the expertise in this area to remarks later. achieve lasting change for our four-legged friends.Although I am afraid to say that this is not the only area where I am pleased to see that the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) the UK Government have been too slow to act. Three Bill just about managed to clear Report stage in the years ago, the Government promised, after much pressure Commons on Friday,and I congratulate the hon. Member from public and animal welfare organisations, to include for West Dorset (Chris Loder) on his fantastic work animal sentience legislation in law after Brexit. Well, the campaigning on this issue, without the adequate funding transition period has now ended and still no legislation and support, how are the police supposed to enforce is forthcoming from the Government. What we need such changes to the law? I recognise that policing and now is action, and I fear we are simply stuck in a climate enforcement are not a key responsibility of the Minister’s of consultations. I look forward to hearing in the Minister’s Department, but I am discouraged by responses that I update how the Government plan to bring forward have received from her colleague, Lord Goldsmith, on legislation on animal welfare protections beyond the this particular issue. current parliamentary Session. We all know and recognise the importance of an For the animal welfare sector, who work so hard to inter-agency, Government departmental approach to ensure that every animal lives in a safe and loving home, tackling social issues, and the policing and enforcement the pandemic has, of course, sadly brought its own set of these abhorrent crimes against animals should be no of financial challenges. Indeed, research by the brilliant different. Indeed, I remind the Minister that since 2010, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, who have partnered with the number of police officers in our forces across England the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes to conduct a and Wales has fallen by more than 14%. Worryingly, we survey of over 100 centres in January this year, found also now find ourselves with one of the lowest ratios of that nine out of 10 rescue centres had experienced a police officers per 100,000 inhabitants compared with drop in income, with a third losing over half of their our friends in the EU. income. According to the RSPCA, the total predicted Estimates suggest that the current scale of the increase financial loss for the sector was over £101 million for in the backlog of cases before our courts would take 2020. Like so many sectors up and down the country, 10 years to clear at pre-pandemic rates. That is clearly animal welfare charities need specific support from the outrageous, and I shudder to think of the impact that UK Government in order to survive the coronavirus that will have on the victims of crime in this country, pandemic. who will be forced to wait years for their day in court. I sincerely wish, on behalf of animals in need across What does this really mean for animal cruelty cases? England, that the UK Government showed a level of Well, I suspect that, with our courts and police forces commitment to providing funding for charities in line stretched beyond breaking point, there simply will not with the support on offer from the fantastic Welsh Labour be capacity to deal with the animal cruelty offences. Government. In Wales, our Welsh Labour Government Throughout the pandemic, we have seen that there is have ensured that animal welfare charities have access one rule for them and another for us. When the Prime to emergency funding grants, including local authority Minister’s special adviser, Dominic Cummings, drove rates grants, the third sector resilience fund, the voluntary across the country with symptoms of coronavirus, the services recovery fund and sector-specific funds via rest of us were struggling through lockdown at home— Business Wales. Sadly, it is not the same for colleagues obeying the rules.The same was true with the Government’s in England, where funding for charities has largely been 89WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 90WH

[Alex Davies-Jones] The RSPCA believes that breed-specific legislation is ineffective in protecting public safety, and results in the given to national funders for distribution, such as the unnecessary suffering and even the euthanasia of many National Lottery, which often excludes animal welfare dogs. It believes that breed-specific legislation should be charities. repealed and that the issues surrounding human safety I have said it before and I say it again: I urge the should be tackled using education and effective legislative Minister, if she is serious about animal welfare, to measures that do not unnecessarily compromise dog consider following the approach in Wales and to work welfare. Sadly, to comply with the current legislation, with colleagues in Her Majesty’s Treasury to provide the RSPCA has had to euthanise hundreds of dogs, and access to funding for the charities that need it the most. many other rescue centres have had to do the same. Indeed, I am aware that the Association of Dogs and Many of these dogs would have been suitable for rehoming. Cats Homes has specifically lobbied her Department I am particularly looking forward to hearing the for sector-specific funding—but that has not been Minister’s specific comments about what her Department forthcoming, despite zoos and aquariums being awarded is doing to work with local authorities and law enforcement such funding. organisations to review the current legislation and to It is also somewhat ironic that the greyhound racing prevent the barbaric practice of ear cropping. industry was awarded emergency funding through the Taken together, it is clear to me that the issues raised sports package. That sends a clear message to me and to in this debate show the urgent need for a comprehensive others across the country that the Government are animal welfare Bill to be introduced by the Government, willing to engage in animal-related pursuits, but only yet legislation is only a stepping stone to solving the when there is a gain to be made. Hunting and greyhound issues that we see far too often with the regulation of racing are two examples of such pursuits that put animal welfare practices. Parcelling up individual policy animals at great risk, yet both appear to have the ideas into announcements might work well for the support of the UK Government. Government’s press office, but it does not truly address I conclude by referring to two specific animal welfare the animal welfare problems in this country. concerns that I truly believe the Minister’s Department With a Queen’s Speech just around the corner, I urge needs to pay close attention to. First, she may be aware the Minister to bring forward specific legislation on this of the alarming rise in the number of ear-cropped dogs issue and, crucially, to ensure that police, courts and in the UK. I am sure she knows that the practice of ear local authorities are properly funded to ensure that cropping is illegal in the UK—quite rightly. The barbaric such legislation is enforced. practice involves the unnecessary and painful mutilation of ear flaps, and often takes place without anaesthesia Diolch. or pain relief. I should clarify that it also has absolutely no welfare benefit. However, the RSPCA has reported a Esther McVey (in the Chair): Back Benchers will now 621% increase in reports of ear cropping between 2015 be called, followed by the Scottish National party to 2020. spokesperson, the Opposition Front-Bench spokesperson Although it is illegal to crop dogs’ ears in the UK, it is and the Minister. I will look to call the first Front-Bench not illegal to sell ear-cropped dogs, to import them from spokesperson no later than 3.30 pm. We have plenty of abroad, or to take dogs abroad to be cropped. These time—approximately 10 minutes—for each of the Members loopholes act as a smokescreen for those who are illegally to speak. cropping dogs in the UK. Sadly,the coronavirus pandemic and the overall increase in demand for dogs and puppies 2.50 pm have led to an increase in demand for dogs with cropped ears. These are often Dobermans or American Bullies. Dr Neil Hudson (Penrith and The Border) (Con) [V]: Hope Rescue, which I referred to earlier, currently has It is a privilege to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. eight seized puppies from their local area, and six of the I congratulate the hon. Member for Pontypridd eight have cropped ears. This issue really is closer to us (Alex Davies-Jones) on securing this important debate. than many people may imagine or understand. Animal welfare is an issue that unites us; I firmly believe that we should work together and that animal welfare Indeed, the Minister may be aware of the petition, should transcend party politics. which is currently live, to stop this barbaric practice. At the moment, it has more than 67,000 signatures, which First, I declare a strong interest as a veterinary surgeon, just goes to show the widespread feeling about it. I am and put on record my thanks to the vets, nurses and proud that Hope Rescue is partnering with the “Flop staff in practices up and down the country, who have Don’t Crop” campaign, but really things should not be done so much to look after the health and welfare of happening this way. animals during these challenging times. They are the It would also be remiss of me, in a debate on animal custodians of animal health and welfare and they have welfare, not to mention breed-specific legislation. Too stepped up admirably to administer care in challenging many harmless dogs are being destroyed simply because circumstances. I would also like to thank the animal they are a banned breed—they are destroyed because of welfare charities that have had a challenging time during what they look like, regardless of their temperament. this period. We must recognise that all dogs can bite and that any As we heard from the hon. Lady, covid has brought animal can be dangerous in the wrong hands, regardless into sharp relief many issues related to animal welfare. of breed or type, or the fact that they look a certain way. We all know the benefits of owning animals and looking Any action to tackle dog bites and all other instances of after pets; how that can help our own mental and canine aggression must be focused on the deed, not the physical health, as well as bring benefits to the animals. breed. That is an important point to remember. 91WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 92WH

Unfortunately, the covid crisis has brought into sharp We also need to think about tightening legislation. As relief related negative aspects. As we have heard, there the hon. Member for Pontypridd said, we all welcome has been a significant increase in demand for pets and the fact that the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill is animals, leading to huge increases in prices, which fuel progressing to the other place. That is fantastic news the trade in animals and the scope for unscrupulous and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for breeders to come into the market. We have also heard West Dorset (Chris Loder) on championing that Bill. about a significant increase in pet smuggling, leading to With increased sentences for animal cruelty, we also puppies being transported in dreadful conditions. There need to work out whether there are better ways of have been horrific cases of heavily pregnant dogs being deterring people from pet and animal theft. We need to transported in awful circumstances to give birth, in look at sentencing there. order to get round loopholes in legislation. There has There is scope to tighten up rules and legislation now been a decrease in the number of animals transported that we have left the European Union. I ask the Government through the Pet Travel Scheme but conversely an increase to look at this closely, so that we have a real opportunity in the commercial movement of animals into the UK, to improve the health and welfare of animals that are for instance, through the Balai directive. moved around, and of animals in our own country. I The Select Committee on Environment, Food and suggest that we look at raising the minimum age at Rural Affairs, on which I sit, is conducting an inquiry which cats and dogs can be brought into the country to into the movement of animals across borders and will six months. We also need to be able to tighten the health look at many of these issues. Sadly, there has been a requirements of animals as they are moved into the significant increase in reports of theft of both domestic country and reinstate, for instance, the mandatory tick animals, such as pets, and livestock and horses. There treatment that was abolished a few years ago, which will have been reports from various police authorities of the improve the animal health and welfare status of animals increase in domestic abuse throughout the crisis. Sadly, in the United Kingdom. we know the link between domestic abuse and animal As we have seen, there have been significant challenges abuse in certain households. That has significant animal to animal health and welfare during the coronavirus welfare implications. crisis. We need to learn the lessons from that and see if There are concerns that we are potentially storing up we can put in place measures to improve animal health problems. People who have taken on animals or are and welfare. We need to monitor the situation closely looking after them may have been slow to bring their and keep a watching brief on the care of the animals animals for vaccination. There has been a reported that we have a moral duty to look after—these fully reduction in the number of neutering surgeries. Animals sentient beings that we are so privileged to look after. that have been taken on, such as puppies, may also have had reduced socialisation, which could lead to future 2.57 pm behavioural problems. Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP) As we come through the crisis, animal charities have [V]: I thank the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Alex expressed fears about significant abandonment of animals. Davies-Jones) for her sponsorship of this debate and People who thought this was a good time to take on a her excellent exposition of the challenges for animal pet might not have thought through the implications or welfare as a result of covid-19. financial cost, with the potential for increased abandonment. Although, with covid-19, we face a situation unparalleled As we get society back to normal, people return to the in our lifetime, with all its challenges and all it has cost workplace and kids go back to school, stored-up us in the loss of loved ones, job opportunities, and behavioural issues for animals are possible, such as the disruption, we know that there is no situation that will syndrome known as separation anxiety. We need to be diminish the importance of animal welfare in the eyes cognisant of that. of our constituents. The UK is indeed four nations of Charities and rescue centres have struggled during animal lovers. Animal welfare has been a mainstay of the crisis. Their funding sources have been reduced my inbox since 2015, whether the subject is the cruel alongside their fundraising capability. Some have been practice of puppy smuggling, the ivory trade, the fur able to find support through the generous Government trade, experimentation on animals, the wildlife trade, schemes instituted through the crisis, but we need to animal caging, or trophy hunting. Animal cruelty of keep an eye on that, to ensure that targeted support can any type has motivated my constituents to contact me be made available. This is not just an issue of small in large numbers to express their concerns. I am sure animals—cats, dogs and pets. Equine welfare charities every Member present would say the same. estimate that at the start of 2020, approximately 7,000 horses Covid-19 has thrown up challenges for animal welfare, were at risk of imminent need of rescue. That could as it has in a whole range of areas. For charities such as have escalated to more than 10,000 by the end of Dogs Trust, covid-19 has put significant strain on its the year. operations, and its rehoming centres have had to operate We need to think about the take-home messages from at a much reduced capacity. All 20 of its rehoming this crisis. We need to keep an eye on the charitable centres were closed to the public while staff continued sector and ensure that there is targeted support for to do all they could to safeguard the welfare of the dogs animal welfare charities to deliver the care that may be in its care. Rehoming has taken place during covid-19, needed as we come through the crisis. I look forward to but it has been very challenging and last year decreased hearing from the Minister on the role that the Department by 88%. The same is true for cats, according to Cats for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will take in Protection. This is deeply unfortunate when we know keeping a watching brief on this area for any unintended that covid led to an increased demand for dogs, with consequences, and any animal health and welfare issues Google searches for “buy a puppy”increasing by 166% after that may have been stored up through the crisis. the first lockdown was announced. 93WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 94WH

[Patricia Gibson] recovered, as all fundraising adventure challenges were cancelled as well, and there were fewer and fewer It is not surprising that more people want the opportunities for cat adoption and the fees derived companionship of a dog or cat when they are forced to from that. spend more time at home. But, as we have heard, there We are all concerned about the negative impacts on is some concern that, when people return to something animal welfare as a result of covid-19, so today seems like a normal routine, or if people find themselves out like a good day to highlight to the Minister what can be of work and on a much tighter budget, they may find done about it. For a start, animal welfare charities that they can no longer accommodate a pet in their lives could be helped: we know they will be under severe as they once did. Charities like Dogs Trust, the Battersea strain in the months and years following lockdown as Dogs and Cats Home, Blue Cross or Cats Protection they deal with the animal welfare crisis. The fallout will somehow take on these animals, and offer them from covid looks all too set to continue, so it is really whatever home they can. We also expect that the so-called important that the Government work with animal welfare pandemic puppies are likely to be less socialised than charities to see how they can better support the work they would be if they had been bought in normal times. that those charities currently do, as well as all the Animal charities have some concerns about puppies additional work the sector will face as we return to acquired during lockdown, with limited opportunities some kind of normality. for socialising, social distancing, a lack of exposure to Underpinning all that is the need to ensure that the other people and, indeed, a lack of exposure even to high standards we all wish to see are a feature of our traffic and everyday life. Ultimately, those charities may trade deals. During the passage of the Agriculture have to pick up the pieces if those pets are required to Act 2020 and of the Trade Bill, the SNP fought to be rehomed. ensure that imported foods had to match our high We also know that having a dog and a cat can incur animal welfare and safety standards in domestic produce costs that may not have been considered at the outset. to ensure that our farmers are not undercut by low-quality The Battersea Dogs and Cats Home estimates that and low-grade animal welfare regulations. Instead, foreign 19% of new pet owners come to regret their decision to traders with lower animal welfare standards, and acquire a pet, mainly because of costs. Unfortunately, consequently lower costs,may have a competitive advantage the demand for puppies during covid has also been exploited now and in the future over our own farmers. by those engaged in puppy smuggling. We know that A race to the bottom does not promote the high puppy smuggling causes great distress to puppies, and is standards of animal welfare that we all want, including, damaging to them. My view is that the barbaric practice of course, for the sake of the food that we eat—we is so lucrative that nothing but the potential threat of a surely cannot have forgotten the risk of damage to our significant custodial sentence for the crime can realistically foods posed by compromising on animal welfare—and hope to help mitigate the growing problem. to militate against diseases such as foot and mouth It is also worth considering the challenges that people disease and swine flu. It is really important that the faced in accessing and financing veterinary care during Government lobby through international bodies to pressure the pandemic, as we heard earlier. Lockdown limited countries to upgrade their animal welfare regulations, access to veterinary care, which means that there is a to avoid the potential of disease outbreaks crippling backlog of neutering, and vaccination courses for pets our domestic standards in trade deals. have been disrupted. Even when those normal services Since 2015, when I was elected to this place, I have resume, we cannot assume that every dog owner—however been calling for tougher penalties for animal cruelty. well-intentioned—will be able to afford the cost of The Scottish Government agreed, and have enshrined veterinary care for their pet as they perhaps once could. tougher penalties for animal cruelty into law, with a Delays in accessing treatments for pets, or an inability maximum five-year sentence and unlimited fines. It to afford it, could have real longer-term implications for really is time for the UK Government to get this on the the overall health of pets. That is an especially significant statute books as well, as soon as possible, because they issue for cats, as it could lead to much higher numbers have fallen behind in that regard. Covid-19 has been of unwanted litters. hard on all of us, but the consequences for the animal welfare charitable sector have been devastating. We Charities that work hard to improve animal welfare must do more to support the vital work undertaken by are under pressure, and they will be dealing with the animal welfare charities, and I very much look forward fall-out for years to come as the consequences are all to hearing from the Minister as to how she intends to too real. The Paws Protect service of Cats Protection, do so. which supports survivors of domestic abuse and their cats,found that it simply could not cope with all the referrals 3.6 pm to its service during 2020. Yet, as we have heard, the link Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con): It is a between domestic abuse and animal abuse is well established. pleasure to serve under your chairmanship today, Indeed, pet cats and dogs are at high risk in abusive Ms McVey, and I congratulate the hon. Member for households, as perpetrators direct their anger at pets Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones) on securing time to and use them to manipulate their victims. debate this important issue. After 12 months of this Just as animal welfare charities have found that their health emergency,we are all very conscious that thousands services are more in demand than ever, the opportunities of people have lost loved ones; others are debilitated by for traditional fundraising have all but disappeared, long covid and the after-effects of the virus; and, of and their income stream has been very seriously curtailed. course, so many people have lost their jobs or had their Charity shops are closed, which meant the loss of incomes drastically cut by the emergency. All those £4 million in the first four months of shop closures in people have my sympathy and support after all the 2020 for Cats Protection. That income can never be difficult experiences they have been through. 95WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 96WH

However, the sad fact is that this health crisis has also Minister’s response. I know this Government are really hit defenceless animals, as we have already heard in this serious about animal welfare. They have done good debate. Like others, I pay tribute to everyone who has work, but there is really vital work still to be done. been involved in caring for animals, whether that is people caring for their own pets, vets and their staff, zoo 3.11 pm staff, farmers, or the animal welfare charities and rescue James Daly (Bury North) (Con) [V]: It is a delight to centres that do such incredible work. The sad fact is that serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey.I congratulate most charitable fundraising has become almost impossible the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones) over the past year, leaving a really significant gap in the on securing such an important debate. Having heard the income of these very important bodies. As we have contributions so far, there is very little to add, as my already heard, the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home colleagues have expressed the very real and varied issues reports, for example, that nine out of 10 rescue centres of animal welfare that have been exacerbated during the have seen their income fall. Furlough clearly will have pandemic period in an articulate and passionate way. I helped, as will much of the rest of the Government’s am always interested and delighted to follow my hon. comprehensive covid support scheme, but it still leaves a Friend the Member for Penrith and The Border hole in the income of these charities caring for vulnerable (Dr Hudson), who uses his expertise on these matters as animals. a true animal welfare champion, and I would always The Battersea charity also reports a 214% spike in turn to his wise words on many of these issues. people searching online to buy a dog. Heightened demand Like other Members, I have consulted many facts and has seen prices climb, leading to increased anxiety about figures about what I wanted to say today, but I am pet theft. It will have also increased dependence on pet going to go back to something I have spoken about imports, some of which, as we have heard, involve before to the excellent Minister. I have had an opportunity smuggling and illegal and unacceptable welfare practices. to speak to her on a number of occasions, and she is a Over £280,000 has been lost to fraudsters from people champion of animal welfare. Rather than simply paying deposits for pets advertised online. The big regurgitating facts, I have to mention my private Member’s increase in the number of people buying new pets will, Bill, which is snappily titled the Pets (Microchips) Bill, for many, have provided a crucial and much-valued and urges the Government to consider putting Tuk’s antidote to loneliness and boredom during lockdown, law and Gizmo’s law into legislation. For those who are particularly for many children stuck at home week after unaware, Tuk’slaw—this is the aim of my private Member’s week, away from their friends. However, the worry is Bill, as well as the aim of hundreds of thousands of that the covid rush to buy cats, dogs and other pets may people throughout the country—would make it a legal ultimately lead to an upsurge in companion animals requirement for veterinary surgeons to scan for rescue being relinquished or abandoned when reality bites and back-up contact details of, for example, a former owner we all start to return to the office. or breeder, and contact those people to inquire whether Another grave concern is domestic violence. Being they would like to take ownership of the pet, and shut up at home in lockdown with an abusive partner confirm that the person presenting the animal to the can, of course,lead to horrific and frightening consequences veterinary surgeon is registered on the microchip prior for women, and it is very sad that such situations can to euthanasia of the pet. also lead to horrendous treatment of pets. When I was first approached about this issue, I was In conclusion, I hope the Minister will listen to what absolutely astonished. I have a pet dog, Bertie, who is, has been said today and to the animal welfare charities along with many other things, the light of my life. The and campaign groups. It is crucial that the Government impact of Bertie, who was bought during the pandemic, find a way for big charity fundraising events to start up especially on my two young children has been a joy to again. The cancellation of the London marathon alone behold. The idea that people could go to a veterinary will have left a huge dent in charitable fundraising. We surgeon with a fit and healthy dog, present themselves have to get these events open again with spectators and as the owner—or not the owner in certain circumstances— mass participants. and that animal could potentially be euthanised is I also call on the Government always to emphasise clearly something that legislation is required to address. the benefits of people getting a pet from a rescue centre, My hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and The rather than taking risks with unreliable online sources. Border knows far more about these issues than me, but We also need to see determined action to crack down there has been much consultation on this, and I genuinely on pet theft, reflecting the fact that the loss of an believe this is a matter of animal welfare that the animal is far more heartbreaking, distressing and upsetting Government can support. The protection of innocent than having a phone or TV stolen. Now we have left the dogs is something we all want to see strengthened European Union, we have an opportunity to crack within legislation, and clearly the Animal Welfare down on unlawful puppy imports, as we are now allowed (Sentencing) Bill is an absolute prerequisite in terms of to place tougher restrictions on imports that were previously statutory provision for animals. barred by the single market. It is vital that we fulfil our I was a criminal defence solicitor for 16 years before promise to get recognition of animal sentience on the coming to Parliament. The sentences in court for animal statute book. welfare offences were ludicrously lenient for many, many Last, but possibly the most important of all, the Animal years, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member Welfare (Sentencing) Bill must finally be implemented. for West Dorset (Chris Loder) for the work he has done It has had such a depressing stop-start history. How in this Parliament on that issue. many times has it started in this House—three or four Other Members have articulated the case that many times? It is time to get this done. It is a great opportunity pets have been purchased over the period of the pandemic, for us to discuss these issues and I look forward to the and many people who bought their pets in good faith 97WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 98WH

[James Daly] As part of the European Union, we were obligated to maintain strict animal welfare policies. In some instances, are finding it difficult to cope with those animals for a Scotland exceeded the minimum standards, for example, wide variety of reasons. The role of Tuk’s law is to with bans on fur farms. While there are historic positives, strengthen and protect the interests of every animal— there are also low points, such as the Conservatives’ whether a stray animal or animal that has been bought, manifesto position in 2015 and again, in 2017. They perhaps mistakenly, during the pandemic, or an animal stood on a manifesto that would give their MPs a free that the owners cannot cope with—to make sure that vote on repealing the fox-hunting ban—a ban against there is a requirement that the microchip is scanned, which the Prime Minister himself voted in 2004. that contact details are sought, and every animal is With the effects of covid compounded by the protected. administrative and exporting challenges thrown up by I would also like to talk about Gizmo’s law. The first Brexit, along with to the Government’s refusal to uphold person I met after being elected was a wonderful lady animal welfare standards in either the Trade Bill or the called Helena Abrahams, who spent the last number of Agriculture Act 2020, we see a challenged position. years leading a campaign for Gizmo’s law. Gizmo’s law Moreover, that position is inconsistent with “Scotland is a very simple, cost-neutral measure to respect pet cats the Brand”, which has a world-class reputation, thanks in both life and death. Sadly, many pet cats—and other in no small part to Scotland’s strong animal welfare pets—die on our roads and in various other circumstances. policies. When they are found they are often taken to local Covid has presented additional challenges, over and authorities, which dispose of those pets without scanning above Brexit, on animal welfare and, in particular, on the microchips that they may have, and without trying the domestic and international trade in puppies. Alongside to establish the ownership of a much-loved pet. my colleagues on the Environment, Food and Rural Helena, whom—this is very unparliamentary language Affairs Committee, which includes the wise counsel of —I love to death, is passionate about wanting to make the hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Dr Hudson), sure that those pets are respected and that animal I heard harrowing evidence about the malice of puppy welfare rights are respected, and that the owners have smugglers and the contempt with which they treat litters, the opportunity to be reunited with their pets in these and especially the mothers of those litters: caesarean difficult circumstances. She has fought a campaign in sections are carried out inhumanely quickly one after which she has persuaded a very large pet-food manufacturer the other,leaving insufficient time to heal. It is an egregious, to undertake to purchase scanners for every local authority greedy trade. The Government have an opportunity to in the country to ensure that this is a cost-neutral address this issue, which is of real concern to ordinary measure. members of the public. I have taken the opportunity today to support everything Puppy demand and prices experienced an extraordinary that my colleagues have said. We need to face up to the jump following the covid outbreak. That, in turn, led to realities of the pandemic and its negative impact on a 140% increase in commercial import licences for foreign many facets of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill. I dog breeders. It is important to note that not all foreign hope that my hon. Friend the Minister will wish to take dog breeders are breaching animal welfare standards en the opportunity to support my private Member’s Bill, masse. Likewise, it is important to acknowledge that to support the hundreds of thousands of people who there are instances of breeders breaching standards on want to put Tuk’s law and Gizmo’s law into legislation, these British Isles. Taken together at home and abroad, and feel that it is an animal welfare measure that all of this issue is of significant concern to my Angus constituents, us can support across the political spectrum. I welcome as is the horrendous spike in dog thefts, which is terrifying any further opportunity to speak on this matter with for families with dogs. the excellent Minister. As a dog owner myself, I know the importance of dogs to families across the UK, and the place that they Esther McVey (in the Chair): I move now to the hold in the hearts of the British public. The difference Front-Bench contributions, mindful of the fact that we that my beautiful old golden retriever, Maggie, has will leave time at the end for Alex Davies-Jones to make made to my family during lockdown has been invaluable— some winding-up comments. she ensures that we get exercise and she provides companionship. It is no wonder that people have sought similar comfort and enjoyment from having a pet. 3.18 pm I was delighted to support the excellent work of Dogs Trust, which provided information to hon. Members Dave Doogan (Angus) (SNP): It is a pleasure to serve before the debate. The Scottish Society for Prevention under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. I am grateful to of Cruelty to Animals reported that a gang of puppy the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones) smugglers were arrested following the use of an Airbnb for securing this debate, which is about a very serious property to sell trafficked puppies. There is a significant problem for people across these islands. My constituents element of duplicity in the trade. Half those puppies in Angus are no different, and have contacted me in died, including from parvovirus, because of the squalid significant numbers about this issue. conditions in which those poor creatures must have Since devolution, where Scotland leads, the rest of spent their brutish, short lives. That poses a more the UK often follows, and so it is in animal welfare. general risk to dog health in the community. Scotland was the first part of the UK to ban performances One SSPCA investigator noted that public demand of wild animals in travelling circuses. That important for puppies animal welfare policy was widely welcomed, and since “remains sky high and as long as this continues, bad dealers will been replicated elsewhere in the UK. find any means to operate.” 99WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 100WH

Dogs Trust also noted that the effects and impact of the are trying to look after those animals.Successive lockdowns pandemic would be felt for some time to come. That is have shown more than ever how important animals are true for all walks of life, but in this context, it would be to our wellbeing and how much joy and comfort they sensible for Government to carefully consider the Blue can bring to our lives. They really are incredibly special. Cross recommendation that Governments undertake Pets are not just a commodity; they are not just an work to determine the impact of covid-19 on puppy item to be purchased; they are not a DVD player or an farming and smuggling, the damage caused to date, and iPhone—they are part of the family. When we talk how to reverse that trend. about pets and the impact on animals throughout the The demand for puppies fuelled the unsustainable pandemic, we should approach it from that point—our rise in prices, and for families duped into buying a pets are a full part of our families, not just property. puppy from an unreputable breeder,that causes significant Sadly, that is not how they are described in law. Many of financial loss, as well as heartache. We have seen an the challenges presented to the Minister today are about apparent increase in impulse purchases: 31% of people how the law can better reflect the importance of animals who acquired a dog or a cat during the first lockdown and how our relationship with animals has changed stated that they were not considering becoming pet over time. They are no longer just work animals in owners beforehand. Although the great majority of support of our economy, but animals to comfort, nurture recent pet owners will go on to provide safe and loving and be a full member of our families. homes for their pets, that spike in ownership presents a A number of issues have been raised in this debate. I clear risk that, for some, the good intentions will give thank all hon. Members who have spoken. They have way to the financial reality—not least the first uninsured all raised very important, serious issues that need to be visit to the vet for health complaints which, if the addressed by the Minister—I hope they will be. animal was poorly bred, may be the first of many visits to the vet. There has been a huge rise in demand for dogs and That will inevitably lead to increased health and cats—pandemic puppies and covid cats—during this behavioural problems. Puppies that were introduced to period, and that is clear not only in the price paid for their families with an abundance of affection and attention them, but in internet searches for them. That creates an during lockdown will need careful management when opportunity for unscrupulous dealers and those people adults return to work and kids go back to school. It will who want to exploit, con and make money at all costs, be a very demanding adjustment for animals and humans including accepting cruelty to animals. As well as the alike,which will have consequences,including abandonment increased sale of healthy pets, there has been a rise in and pressure on rehoming services.When the consequences the number of dogs and cats being imported into the of poorly bred dogs or inappropriate and unsustainable UK from unscrupulous dealers. As the hon. Member ownership or changes in circumstance post lockdown for Angus (Dave Doogan), not all foreign imports are wash out, it will be animal welfare charities that have to from unscrupulous dealers, but sadly, far too many of pick up the pieces, at a time when their ability to them are. That needs to be addressed. fundraise is seriously constrained, which we must all Many unscrupulous dealers are taking pets away bear in mind. from their mothers at an extremely young age. Those There is significant scope for the UK Government pets have a higher risk of carrying diseases and have not to tighten the licensing regime for foreign dog been fully nurtured into the healthy young animals we breeders importing puppies into the UK and for the hope them to be. Many new pet owners have participated UK Government to work together with devolved in impulse-buying over the pandemic. Battersea Dogs Administrations on better regulation for domestic breeders. and Cats Home found that 42% of pandemic pup I look forward to the Minister’s reassurance in this buyers had not seen their puppy’s breeding environment regard. prior to purchase, and 27% paid for their puppy without even seeing it. This situation underlines the need not only for regulatory 3.25 pm action, but for better communication of the laws that Luke Pollard (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/ already exist. In many cases, campaigners, on a cross-party Co-op): It is a pleasure to be able to sum up this debate basis, have changed the law, to require that animals for the Opposition. First, I thank my hon. Friend the should be seen with their mother and to make sure that Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones) for the animal cruelty in the breeding process is eliminated as way in which she introduced this debate with such much as possible, but if people do not know that those passion and care. It is very clear that she is an animal laws exist, they might as well not exist. That is a really lover, not just of Dotty and Dora, but of many other important part of the communication effort that I animals as well. I think she spoke for nearly all of us in encourage the Minister to look at. As well as arguing the debate when she spoke so eloquently about what has for regulation, we need to make sure that people understand happened during the pandemic to our pets and animals, what is going on, so they can be better protected. and why it is so important to take action to ensure that Now more than ever, when demand for pets is so high, there is no more suffering for animals during this period. it is vital that the Government increase the legal imported She is one of Labour’s rising stars and her remarks age to six months, as has been discussed. Doing so show us why. would make it easier for imported dogs to be checked Britain is indeed a nation of animal lovers and, as we for rabies and would also ensure that pets are not taken have heard throughout the debate, wherever we are in for long journeys at far too young an age. I would also the United Kingdom, there is a requirement, a need and like the Government to stop allowing soft repercussions an urgency to see better protection for animals, better for those who disregard animal welfare for their own enforcement and better funding for those services that monetary benefits. 101WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 102WH

[Luke Pollard] We have seen not only risks of cruelty towards pets, but risks of animals not receiving the medical care they We have heard much about the Animal Welfare need. The hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Sentencing) Bill—and believe me, the Minister has (Dr Hudson) used his expertise very wisely to talk heard an awful lot from me about it over many years. As about the implications of not taking a new animal to a we heard from the right hon. Member for Chipping vet for support, and I support his words of thanks to Barnet (Theresa Villiers), we can have no more false those in the veterinary profession for their tireless work starts on this Bill. She argued for it during her time at to help animals during the pandemic. We need to ensure the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; that we pick up on the lessons from microchipping, indeed, successive Secretaries of State have argued for which the hon. Member for Bury North (James Daly) it. There seems to be a blockage in the way that Bills are spoke about. Tuk’s law and Gizmo’s law are much to be brought forward to Parliament and a blind spot towards supported, but I would like the Minister to apply the the needs of animals among those doing the parliamentary same emphasis elsewhere, because it is not right that programming. I know that the Minister shares that steps are taken to microchip animals without then concern and will do all that she can to ensure that the scanning them at certain points. Indeed, I might go one Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill is passed through the step further and suggest that we extend the current other place in due course. requirement to report on motor incidents involving livestock and dogs to include cats, because as we know, Equally,I pay tribute to my fellow west country Member, the loss of an animal, especially when they have a the hon. Member for West Dorset (Chris Loder), for his microchip, or not knowing what has happened to them work. In praising him for the way that he has conducted is very serious. his campaign, I also place on record the work of Anna Turley, the former Member for Redcar, who did so I would also like to echo the concerns raised by hon. much during her time in this place to learn the lessons Members about the funding for animal welfare charities. from the experience of Baby, the young dog that was Each animal welfare charity is really important in stopping cruelly abused in such an awful way. Although increasing cruelty in their community and for campaigning for the sentence for animal cruelty from six months to five better standards, and I am very concerned to read of years in the most extreme cases is a substantial step, the the huge numbers of losses that many animal welfare Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill does not do two things charities have had during this period. Dogs Trust has that in my mind it must do. seen a loss of income of 15% to 30% in donations and legacy income. RSPCA had a 12% fall in donations and The first is to apply equally to wild animals as it does a 9% reduction in legacies, and Battersea Dogs and Cats to domestic animals, a step that has been taken elsewhere Home has suffered a £4 million loss in fundraising in the United Kingdom but not in England. Secondly, income. learning the lesson from Baby’s law, we should consider introducing the aggravating offence of deliberately filming Smaller charities have also suffered. They might not the animal cruelty for the personal enjoyment of those have the public affairs team to send us briefs on it, but doing it or to boast by sharing it online. That is an smaller animal charities up and down the country are extra-special form of cruelty, and the law should better equally facing difficult times. The Association of Dogs reflect that. We did not have the chance to vote on those and Cats Homes found that 47% of the 142 UK rescue amendments, which Labour tabled, to the Animal Welfare organisations have reported an income drop of more (Sentencing) Bill. The Minister will know that I am than 50%. With a recession looming, their recovery will hopeful that she will look to cut and paste those be incredibly difficult, and extending support to those amendments, in the spirit of cross-party co-operation, organisations is incredibly vital, as we have heard from in any future legislation. the hon. Member for Pontypridd. Just as we have seen with the zoo support fund, the Minister has allocated I want to turn briefly to pet theft, which my hon. funding for it, but with 97% of the zoo support fund Friend the Member for Pontypridd and others mentioned. not yet spent, I encourage her to look at the conditions Losing a pet is not about losing property, which is what for that and see whether money can be allocated to the law currently suggests, so I think the law on pet theft support those individuals or steps can be taken by the needs to be updated. It needs to be better understood Treasury. and communicated; it also needs to be better enforced. Lockdown has created situations that have led to social The hon. Member for Penrith and The Border spoke media panic, certainly in Plymouth and Pontypridd, about the need to ensure that it is not just domestic about the risk of dog theft. Although pet theft has animals that are protected during this period. The case increased during the pandemic, especially for rare and he made around equine health is especially important valuable breeds of dogs and cats in particular, the worry because of the incredible cost of keeping a horse. I for people that someone will steal their animal, or that share his concern that horse abandonment will increase something could happen if they let it out of sight, has during this period. I know these concerns are shared by been combined with the extra worry of those walking the animal welfare sector as well, and I think the Minister their dog on their own, especially at night. Many dog would be wise to look at this issue. One way that she owners have correctly taken extra steps to avoid people could address this area and provide a bit of hope would during the pandemic, following Government advice to be to look at the Labour animal welfare manifesto from stay away from people, but in doing so they potentially the previous election. There is much to be said for put themselves at greater risk, if only of greater worry bringing forward a comprehensive animal welfare Bill about what might happen to them. The Minister urgently in the next Queen’s Speech. It is a proposition that I needs to communicate with her colleagues at the Home have put to the Minister previously in debates, and Office to ensure that pet theft is adequately addressed in I hope that she will take it up in the spirit that it law and also regulation. is intended. 103WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 104WH

There is cross-party support for tougher measures for Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard). I heard the animal welfare, better support for pet owners and better points that he made once again today, in particular support for those people working in this sector. In my about the filming of animals. Although I do not think mind, an animal welfare Bill should include provisions that we will amend the Bill—we want it to go through for tightening the rules on pet theft and puppy smuggling. and the way to achieve that is by not amending it—I Should the Bill sponsored by the hon. Member for Bury have said before and I will say again today that I will North not pass, an animal welfare Bill should adopt make points in the guidelines about filming. I hope that Tuk’s law and Gizmo’s law and look at cat microchipping. they will remain part of the way that sentences are given It should look at cruelty to wild animals and include under the Bill, which we hope will soon be a piece of tougher sentences for filming, as I mentioned in relation legislation. to the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill earlier. It should DEFRA has been monitoring animal welfare very also include provisions for animal sentience and for the closely since the start of the pandemic and I would like “flop not crop”campaign to ensure that dog ear cropping to assure everybody that we will continue to work closely is not part of our national culture. with the sector to understand the long-term impacts, An animal welfare Bill should also improve accessibility which are not exactly as we imagined they would be this to vets, improve affordability for those on low incomes, time a year ago. I, too, pay tribute to the hard work of and improve tenants’ ability to properly keep pets. It animal welfare charities, the pet industry and the vets should improve reporting of motor incidents to include who have all been affected by the pandemic but have animals beyond livestock and dogs, and take action continued to prioritise animal welfare in the face of around livestock worrying. Many people have taken financial hardship and, indeed, uncertainty. their animals into rural areas and that has had consequences I will also take this opportunity to thank farming for farm animals. I think that can be better supported organisations and charities for all the support that they without necessarily reducing the right to roam along the have given to farmers during this very difficult year. I way. As we have heard from the hon. Member for North never forget that most of the captive animals in this Ayrshire and Arran (Patricia Gibson), action should be country are, of course, on farms. When we talk about taken to ban fur imports and to address trophy hunting. animal welfare, we often do not focus on those animals, Finally, there should be an animal welfare commissioner but DEFRA will very much focus on them in the future, to produce an annual report on the state of animal and it is important that we remember that. welfare in England in particular. We have had really good speeches this afternoon on a With a Bill as comprehensive as that, there would be number of topics. Another point made by the Opposition much that would have cross-party support. I would spokesperson, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton encourage the Minister to look carefully at how that and Devonport, was that it is important to remind can be included in the Queen’s Speech that we are people of our laws. So I will, if I may, pick up on some expecting, so we can avoid so many of these debates of the laws that have been mentioned by others, as a where hon. Members on both sides make the same reminder to us all. cases. Let us have one single Bill to deal with all these My hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and The issues and to make sure that we are properly putting Border (Dr Hudson) is a vet and he spoke passionately into law the fact that every pet and every animal matters, to remind us all of the importance of taking our pets with proper, decent protection and funding to go along and our farm animals for vaccinations and neutering, with it. for example, even during the pandemic. I have accessed vets several times during the pandemic. The first time, 3.38 pm in full lockdown, the animal was handed over in a The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for carrying case. Indeed, the vets also had to attend my Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Victoria Prentis): smallholding during full lockdown; I remember leaving It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. the animals’ passports outside their doors, so that the I join in thanking the hon. Member for Pontypridd vet did not even have to speak to me. It has been (Alex Davies-Jones), inspired by Dotty and Dora, for possible, though difficult, to treat animals throughout organising this debate today. It has been thoughtful and the pandemic and vets have done a really good job of full of many ideas, to which I will try to respond. If I do managing that. not manage to deal with everything, then please do My hon. Friend is also a member of the EFRA come and talk to me at any point about animal welfare. Committee and he spoke about the report on the movement It is right that we talk about this a great deal in this of animals across borders that is being prepared by that place, and it is right that our constituents are concerned Committee. It is a report that I look forward to very about it. While much of the national attention has much. This is an area where, following the end of the rightly been focused on the impact on humans of the transition period and our departure from the EU, we pandemic, today’s debate is a reminder that we are a will be able to take further action, if we think it is nation of animal lovers and we do have compassion and appropriate to do so. Several Members talked about pet concern for the impact of the pandemic on animal smuggling, for example, and this is an issue where there welfare generally. may now be the possibility of taking the action that I We have all heard a great deal about the Animal believe many people would welcome. So, I look forward Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, which I was thrilled to see to that report and to engaging with him further on this finish its stages in this House last Friday. It was tense to issue. the end—we have been kept guessing throughout its The hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran passage—and if I may say so, it is a testament to (Patricia Gibson) spoke about pandemic puppies and cross-party working, for which I will put on the record how she fears they will be less socialised than other formally my thanks to the hon. Member for Plymouth, puppies. She spoke, too, about the cats that have not 105WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 106WH

[Victoria Prentis] DEFRA has provided updated advice for pet owners and livestock keepers on looking after animals throughout been neutered during the pandemic, who will of course the pandemic. The advice explains how people who are go on to have unwanted litters in the future. I thought self-isolating or hospitalised can access support to care that was a point very well made; we need to remember for their pets. We have worked very closely with the that the effects of the pandemic on animals will continue Canine and Feline Sector Group, the National Equine in future years. Welfare Council and other organisations to review guidance for pet businesses and animal charities so that operations My right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping can continue wherever possible. That has enabled rescue Barnet (Theresa Villiers) made an excellent speech in centres to continue core services and pet shops to remain which she reminded us of many of the important issues open and supply all the needs that our pets have, that we need to tackle in legislation. She also made the including food. It has meant that the services of pet really fundamental point that if we want new animals to groomers can be accessed for welfare reasons, and those keep at home, we should get them from a rescue centre. who have been hospitalised have had access to pet That point cannot be made too often. She also argued boarding, dog walking or dog day care. forcibly for big charitable fundraising events to take place again soon. On the way to the debate, I spoke to a There have been positive trends as a result of the Minister from the Department for Digital, Culture, pandemic, including a real reduction in the number of Media and Sport about that very subject. I am glad to stray dogs dealt with by local authorities and increased say that I also spoke to the Leader of the House once interest, as we have heard all round, from people wanting again about how to continue the progress of the Animal to foster or rehome pets, which has helped to alleviate Welfare (Sentencing) Bill. I was worried that I would be some of the sector’s pressures. However, even though late for the debate as a result, but that was important. covid-19 appears to have had a reduced impact on animal cruelty, that may well be, as many have said, I turn to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury North because of reduced visibility. I take the points about the (James Daly), the owner of Bertie. He and I have link between animal cruelty and domestic violence. We discussed Tuk’s law and Gizmo’s law many times. The are very live to that and are monitoring the situation Government are a great supporter of microchipping for closely with others in the sector.We are aware that the animals in general, and I very much hope that he picture we have is not yet the full one. receives good news on that in the next Session of Parliament. Luke Pollard: For anyone watching this, can the The hon. Member for Angus (Dave Doogan), inspired Minister confirm that there are organisations that will by Maggie the golden retriever, spoke with particular support the animal of anyone fleeing domestic violence passion about puppy smuggling. I draw attention once as well? The power that a perpetrator may have over an again to the Petfished campaign, which has run throughout animal should not be used to keep a victim of domestic the pandemic and raises awareness of many of the abuse in their home. issues associated with low welfare and the illegal supply Victoria Prentis: That is an extremely good point. of pets. On pet theft generally, raised by a number of One of the more unpleasant aspects of domestic violence hon. Members in this debate and outside it recently, I is the use of a pet as a psychological, and sometimes reassure all those who are worried that DEFRA is physical weapon by the perpetrator. It is right that there working closely with the Home Office and the Ministry are organisations that can specifically provide care in of Justice to gather and analyse data and scope the scale those situations. This issue may not have had the full of the issue. We will continue to work very closely with light of day shone on it in the past, but I want to assure those Departments to ensure that we can come up with all those listening that we take it very seriously. the correct solutions to this difficult issue. The hon. Member for Pontypridd raised various specific In April 2020, the Government commissioned the points, first about mutilating dogs’ ears, which she rightly Animal Welfare Committee to advise on animal welfare said has been banned for 15 years in the UK. I am impacts relating to the pandemic. It made a preliminary happy to discuss that further with her. It is illegal and report in June 2020, which included concerns about: the unlawful to mutilate a dog. One of the major concerns ability of businesses, vets and charities to continue to at the moment is about dogs coming in from abroad provide services; the need for contingency planning; who are already mutilated. It is to be hoped that that and the impact of owners’ physical and mental health will be picked up in the work that the EFRA Committee on their ability to care for their animals. I was relieved and then DEFRA are doing, looking at the way that to note that, in the committee’s second report, which pets cross borders. was published in December, it concluded that many of On breed-specific legislation, I too have visited Battersea the animal welfare risks that had concerned it had not Dogs and Cats Home and have seen delightful-looking been fully realised. The report recognised that the farming animals who fall on the wrong side of the breed divide. sector remained vulnerable to slaughterhouse closures, There are strong views on both sides of this argument for example, which might cause animal numbers to and it is only fair that we recognise that the legislation build up on farms, with possible welfare consequences. was brought in because of fears for public safety.However, There were concerns about the companion animal DEFRA has commissioned Middlesex University to do sector relating to increased ownership, reduced access some research on this issue and it is important that we to vets, potential impacts of personal restrictions on pet continue to follow the evidence in this difficult area; it care and the ability of animal welfare charities to operate really is. with reduced resources. Some of the initial concerns In summary, I wish to reassure all those present that raised by that committee were realised, but we were the Government are committed to safeguarding the pleased to note that most of them were not. welfare of animals, particularly during this challenging 107WH Covid-19: Animal Welfare16 MARCH 2021 Covid-19: Animal Welfare 108WH pandemic period. I have been encouraged to commit to opportunity,as elected representatives, to debate important a large animals Bill next session. Sadly,Madam Chairman, issues and I am grateful to be able to air my concerns, as that is above my pay grade, but I want to assure those well as those I have received from constituents in present that DEFRA has a good track record of conducting Pontypridd. I welcome the Minister’s comments. She legislation over the past year. Wehave had the Agriculture has always been open to discussions with me on animal Act 2020, the Fisheries Act 2020 and 94 or so statutory welfare issues and I thank her for that co-operation. I instruments and counting—there will be many more am glad that she recognises the issues with animal this year. I was thrilled when the private Member’s Bill, abuse, particularly the comorbidity with other violent the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, passed the House and abusive behaviours. I hope that close attention is on Friday. If we are unable to persuade the powers that paid, and that the Minister will take up the issues raised be to give us one big animals Bill, I want to assure those today with colleagues at the Home Office for further present that there will be a whole series of Bills to deal discussion. with as many of the issues raised today as is possible for I welcome the Minister’s comments on pet theft and us. We are committed to continuing engagement with look forward to hearing more about the discussions she animal welfare organisations, enforcement agencies and has with the MOJ and the Home Office on that issue. I groups across the sector to understand the long-term also welcome the report on puppy smuggling and the effects of the pandemic on our animals. I want to assure movement across borders, and look forward to seeing everyone that we will continue to take action where what help can be given in that area. necessary. Much has been said today about law enforcement. I would like to bring colleagues back to my earlier point 3.53 pm about the importance of having laws that both protect Alex Davies-Jones: Diolch, Madam Chair. It truly and can be readily applied in cases of animal abuse. The has been a pleasure to take part in today’s debate. I am Minister’s comments will help us move in the right grateful to all colleagues for their contributions and for direction and I am very grateful for that. I look forward their excellent pronunciation of the name of my to seeing her promises enacted in future legislation from constituency—da iawn. I said at the beginning, and I the Government. Diolch. know, that animal welfare is an issue that cuts across the Question put and agreed to. political divide. Given the incredible cross-party support Resolved, for some of the issues, I truly believe that. That this House has considered the effect of the covid-19 I recognise that we are living in extraordinary times. outbreak on animal welfare. People have seen their incomes cut, the job market is increasingly competitive and I know that for many, animal welfare may not be an issue that sits at the top of 3.56 pm their priorities. However, we are fortunate to have the Sitting suspended. 109WH 16 MARCH 2021 Arrest of Opposition Politicians: 110WH Turkey Arrest of Opposition Politicians: Turkey Selahattin Demirtas¸, one of Turkey’s most prominent politicians and the co-leader of HDP, was arrested and 4.5 pm has been in prison for over four and a half years. One of the first charges brought against Mr Demirtas¸was that Esther McVey (in the Chair): I remind hon. Members of attending an anti-ISIS protest—let us allow that to that there have been changes to normal practice to sink in. President Erdog˘an’spurge of opposition politicians support the new hybrid arrangements. I remind Members that began in August 2019 included MPs, mayors and participating virtually that they are visible at all times to councillors from both the HDP and the CHP parties. each other,and to us in the Boothroyd Room. If Members The CHP party is one of the oldest parties in Turkey, attending virtually have any technical problems, they and those MPs, mayors and councillors were stripped should email the Westminster Hall Clerks’ email address. of immunity and imprisoned. Members attending physically should clean their spaces Where these democratically elected officials have been before they use them and as they leave the room. They imprisoned, President Erdog˘an’s AKP Government have should take the cleaning material with them or put it in implemented a queue-like replacement of them. The the bin. I call Feryal Clark to move the motion. AKP Government have imposed Ministry-appointed Feryal Clark (Enfield North) (Lab): I beg to move, trustees in Kurdish majority eastern and south-eastern provinces, as well as in secularist and republican areas That this House has considered arrest of opposition politicians in the west, such as Izmir. These are actions that undermine in Turkey. democracy and representation, and will undermine the It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. long-term stability of any democratic system. I thank the Minister for her time today. When we look at the devastation that those actions It is said that to be a true friend and ally, one must have done to the plurality of Turkish democracy, we point out when friends fall short and always be honest can see that 48 of the 65 municipalities won by HDP in in one’s views. By that marker, it would be a dereliction the 2019 local elections have been taken over by the of our friendship if we did not address our growing Ministry of the Interior. A total of 122 democratically concerns about how some of our international partners elected municipal councillors have been detained since are acting. We would be setting a dangerous precedent August 2019 by an incumbent Government for little that says a formal allegiance trumps values among our more than having the nerve to stand against them in an neighbours and friends. Turkey is such a friend. election and win. Turkey is a NATO member and an ally of Britain, The constant harassment of HDP politicians and and has been a member of the Council of Europe since members is no longer done in disguise, but with boldness 1950. Turkey is also a trade partner to Britain, but none and impunity. This shocking number alone should spur of that can prevent us from speaking out when it is right action on the part of the UK Government. A fundamental and timely to do so. Turkey’s status as a friend makes it tenet of a free and democratic system is accepting the even more important that we speak out, and the actions right of people to elect their representatives in Government. of the Turkish Government should worry us all. The Without this right, there is no democracy; there is just Turkish Government’s attack on free speech and their its appearance, in the hope that countries such as ours complete and utter intolerance of pluralism, in politics will continue to turn a blind eye. and the media and in nearly every walk of life, should set off alarm bells for us all. The UK Government already know all this. They also know that the European Court of Human Rights Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): The hon. Lady is has ordered the immediate release of Selahattin Demirtas¸ absolutely right. I speak about the human rights abuses from his extended pre-trial detention. Turkey is a member and I want to bring to her attention that it is not just of the ECHR and therefore has an obligation to uphold politicians who suffer; it is also religious minorities. the European convention on human rights—a convention There is evidence that 140 Protestant families have been that the UK was pivotal in drafting, under the leadership expelled from their homes and their jobs owing to the of Winston Churchill. We need to see the very same Islamic radical policy of the Turkish Government. Does leadership extended from the UK once more. the hon. Lady feel that it is time there was accountability I will end my contribution with some serious questions for all those who suffer human rights abuses in Turkey? for the Minister. What action are the Government taking to encourage Turkey to work towards the full protection Feryal Clark: I agree with the hon. Gentleman. A real of fundamental human rights in areas of minority intolerance of religious minority groups is building in rights, freedom of religion and freedom of expression? the country, which I will touch on in my speech. Will the Government call on Turkey for the immediate Many of us here know that the Kurdish question in release of democratically elected politicians? How will Turkey is not new. The treatment of more than 20 million the Government work with our NATO, European and of its Kurdish citizens has been a major cause of concern global allies to impress on President Erdog˘an that he in the west for many years. In 2015, the general election must adhere to the international treaties that he has in Turkey saw HDP, a pro-Kurdish party led by a signed? What message do the UK Government believe charismatic leader able to form a coalition of progressives, taking no action sends to our other international partners, run in the elections. They were successful in breaking who look to us for leadership on human rights issues? through the 10% threshold needed to win seats in the Will the Minister raise with her Turkish counterparts Turkish Parliament and, in doing so, deny the incumbent the unacceptable and brutal attack on the Kurdish Government a majority.The response of the Government populations in Turkey? was to launch an all-out attack against HDP and the Turkey is fast becoming a one-party, one-religion, democratically elected opposition politicians who represent one-ideology state, with no distinction between Parliament it. The litany of abuses stretches far and wide. and the judiciary. It has created a system that allows one 111WH Arrest of Opposition Politicians: 16 MARCH 2021 Arrest of Opposition Politicians: 112WH Turkey Turkey man to have an almost absolute monopoly of power, Government fail to hold Turkey to account for its where the constitution is changed to ensure that that human rights abuses, they will, in effect, become complicit. man can never be removed from office. It is of no The UK Government must therefore do all they can to benefit to anyone to repeat worn-out platitudes about push the Turkish Government to work towards protecting Turkey’s important geo-political and strategic role. We fundamental minority rights in the country, and commit must stand up for the people of Turkey, our true allies, to suspending the UK-Turkey trade deal should the to help recover a democracy in decline. Turkish Government implement their threatened ban on the socially progressive HDP party. Finally, I call on Esther McVey (in the Chair): I will call other Members the UK Government and the Minister to require the to speak now, mindful of the time, as I wish to call the Government of Turkey to show respect for core Minister no later than 4.25 pm. International Labour Organisation conventions as a precondition of the UK-Turkey agreement being applied. 4.12 pm Kate Osborne (Jarrow) (Lab): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. I thank my hon. 4.17 pm Friend the Member for Enfield North (Feryal Clark) LloydRussell-Moyle(Brighton,Kemptown)(Lab/Co-op): for securing this important debate. As she said, the I thank my hon. Friends who have just spoken. This is increasingly authoritarian policies of President Erdog˘an an area of work that the all-party parliamentary group and his Government have been dragging Turkey into for Kurdistan in Turkey and Syria has been deliberating further political polarisation, social turmoil and economic on. The connection with Kurds in Syria is important, instability. because many of the demonstrations that the Turkish The main opposition party, the HDP,which is majority politicians have been accused of attending, and then Kurdish, has suffered continuous harassment, arrests and arrested for, relate to their fight against ISIS in Syria. imprisonment, including over 700 arrests on 15 February Over the past few weeks and months, the APPG has this year. The party’s leaders have all received lengthy been interviewing politicians from Turkey, including prison sentences and elected MPs and local politicians municipal leaders and MPs. Our recommendations will have been arrested and replaced with the Government’s hopefully be out at the end of this month, but I want to appointed trustees. sum up a few quick points that seem to be coming out This authoritarian regime has had a disproportionate of some of those deliberations. effect on women in the country and their legal rights First of all—I will phrase this as “I”, because the have been eroded. Women face abuse and violence, APPG has not signed any of these things off; these are often by uniformed authorities, and disappearances by my interpretations of what the APPG has heard so the police are commonplace. Many women politicians far—I am concerned that politicians from opposition and trade union activists have been terrorised for defending parties are routinely accused of bizarre crimes. We basic human rights. Non-governmental organisations, heard that they were accused of committing crimes including women’sgroups and human rights organisations, before they were born, such as attending political have been closed by the authorities in the country. The demonstrations, or were accused of crimes because LGBT+ community has also come under threat from their families or relatives had done things, going against the authoritarian policies of President Erdog˘an. The the principle of justice that states that a person should country’sjustice system is systematically used to criminalise be judged for what they do, not for what their predecessors peaceful activities such as Pride events and art exhibitions. have done. Politicians have also been accused of crimes Several students and an academic are currently facing for speaking out for ethnic groups in the Parliament, so prison sentences for organising a Pride march on campus protected speech in the Parliament has disappeared. that was banned by the university. There have also been trials of politicians from the Trade unionists are also under constant attack by the leading party, AKP, so let us not pretend that they have current regime in Turkey, facing both administrative all been HDP,but they are vastly, overwhelmingly HDP— and judicial harassment for carrying out legitimate something like 90% of its MPs, compared with only two trade union activities. This makes it extremely concerning AKP MPs,have been tried in the past 10 years.Traditionally that on 29 December last year, the UK Government in Turkey, with the ruling party’s MPs, the system was signed a trade agreement with the Government of Turkey that trials were held in the local area. The recent change that contains no enforceable commitments for Turkey to trials being held in the central court in Ankara, to respect labour rights, following the same approach as therefore making MPs unable to provide witnesses or Turkey’s customs agreement with the EU. This means local representatives to those court trials in order to defend that it will not be possible to use the UK-Turkey agreement themselves, is a key difficulty in obtaining justice. Weknow to stop the Government of Turkey abusing the rights of that there have been European Court of Human Rights unions and workers and committing widespread human judgments, but they are clearly not complied with. rights abuses, as they have done in an increasingly The removal of MPs should, in my view, be a rare brutal manner in recent years. The UK Government circumstance. However,154 MPs have had their immunity must follow the new US President, Joe Biden, in taking removed in Turkey, 54 of whom were HDP MPs, and a much firmer line against Turkey’s continued human almost 100 were from other parties. Let us remember rights and workers’ rights violations, both within and that the CHP is not a radical loony left or loony right outside its own borders. party, but the founding party of modern Turkey. The With all that in mind, will the Minister do all she can fact that its MPs are now being targeted makes me feel to ensure that the UK Government do not become that if we do not speak up when minority MPs are complicit with the Turkish Government in a bid to keep targeted, we will see what happens: majority MPs from the recent roll-over trade deal with Turkey? If the UK established parties start to be attacked. 113WH Arrest of Opposition Politicians: 16 MARCH 2021 Arrest of Opposition Politicians: 114WH Turkey Turkey [Lloyd Russell-Moyle] Lloyd Russell-Moyle: I do not want to challenge the proscription of the PKK, but does the Minister recognise Many Kurdish MPs have said that they do not demand that the European Court of Justice has twice now their own state but want to be able to talk about how said that the proscription was illegal in the European Kurdish representation happens. When the ambassador sense and did not meet the requirements? So has the wrote to me, he said, “We don’t recognise Kurds in our Belgian court. There are court cases ongoing on the country. We recognise only Turks.” To me that is a issue, so it is a slightly open question—not what Turkey denial of people’s civil and cultural rights, and it is a thinks, but what the international community thinks. real problem with representation. I do not want to go on for much longer, because I want to give the Minister Wendy Morton: As I have explained, we have proscribed time, but I hope that she will respond to those points the PPK as a terrorist group, as have many of our and commit to reading the APPG’s report in detail international partners. If those links are proved to be when it is completed, and responding to it in writing. accurate, we urge the HDP to distance itself entirely from the PPK and its ongoing terrorist activity. 4.21 pm Like others, I am deeply saddened by the news that The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Turkish soldiers and civilians lost their lives in Gara at Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Wendy Morton): the hands of the PPK. Our ambassador offered his I am grateful to the hon. Member for Enfield North condolences to Turkey at the time, and I reiterate them (Feryal Clark) for securing this important debate. now. However, we have registered our concern at the Democracy, security and human rights are rightly of OSCE and the Council of Europe about the large serious interest to all Members of this House, and in the number of detentions. Those include the ongoing and time that I have I shall try to respond to the points that lengthy detention without trial of former HDP co-leader the hon. Lady and other hon. Members have raised this Selahattin Demirtas¸. We maintain an ongoing dialogue afternoon. with the HDP to hear its concerns, just as we do with all President Erdog˘an says that 2021 will be a year of the main political parties. reforms for freedoms and the Turkish economy. We We are also concerned by Turkey’s delayed welcome those positive intentions and encourage the implementation of the European Court of Human Turkish Government to deliver action that will improve Rights judgments on the imprisonment of Demirtas¸ the human rights situation, not least through reforms to and Osman Kavala, the human rights activist. We expect the judiciary. Turkey has made it clear recently that Turkey, as a member of the Council of Europe, to increased prosperity and protecting human rights would implement those Court decisions, in line with the base be in its own interests. Naturally, we wholeheartedly values that underpin our co-operation. In accordance support that. Wetherefore welcome the recent publication with that position, we have participated in Council of of Turkey’s human rights action plan and encourage its Europe discussions on both those cases as recently as speedy and comprehensive implementation. We stand just last week. ready to assist in any way we can. With nearly 400 actions, the action plan is thorough, but the proof of the pudding We support the rights of LGBTI groups in Turkey. is in the eating, and I reiterate that it must be implemented We have encouraged Turkey to respect the rights of the in full. LGBTI community, to allow Pride marches to go ahead As a fellow, and long-standing, member of the Council unchallenged, and to discourage disparaging public of Europe, we hope that the measures in question will statements targeting the LGBTI+ community. bring Turkey more into line with the high standards The hon. Member for Enfield North and others that it expects of its members. We fully expect Turkey to mentioned the replacement of mayors. We, too, have implement each of the judgments against it by the concerns about the replacement of a large number of European Court of Human Rights. As NATO allies HDP mayors by state-appointed trustees in the south-east and G20 economies, the UK and Turkey should continue of Turkey.The Turkish Government took those decisions to work closely together. Our shared interests encompass because they contend that those mayors were allegedly trade, security, defence and climate change. We also channelling funding and support to the PKK. Again, if share an interest in resolving regional issues such as the that is proved to be the case, we condemn support for continued division of Cyprus, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh terrorism unreservedly.However, Turkey must undertake and migration. fairly, transparently and with full respect to the rule of Turkey is strategically important to us as we forge links law any legal processes against opposition politicians or with a more diverse range of partners in the interests of legally elected representatives. Britain’s security and prosperity.That said, and although Allowing fair representation and the provision of the UK enjoys a productive partnership with Turkey on local democracy is essential to the long-term health of the issues that I have mentioned, we have concerns Turkish society and to Turkey’s international reputation. about the human rights situation, and we raise them As we all know here, a healthy opposition is a sign of with the Turkish authorities. We share the concerns of functioning and flourishing democracy. Turkey must our US and European partners on issues to do with respect the views of the opposition and allow their media freedom, the treatment of human rights defenders, politicians to speak freely and without fear of reprisal. and the LGBTI community and opposition parties. We keenly encourage that Government’s renewed calls Wenote that a number of HDP—or Peoples’Democratic for reform in this area. We also encourage Turkey to party—MPs have been arrested for alleged links with ensure that freedom of religion and belief is upheld, as the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK. The enshrined in Turkey’s constitution, and that the rights UK has also proscribed the PKK as a terrorist group, as of minorities, such as the Alevi, Jewish and Christian have many of our international partners. communities, are fully observed. 115WH Arrest of Opposition Politicians: 16 MARCH 2021 Arrest of Opposition Politicians: 116WH Turkey Turkey We will continue the conversation about our human clear that more trade does not have to come at the rights concerns with Turkey. The hon. Member for expense of human rights. We do not see a choice between Enfield North asked whether I would raise that issue securing growth, investment and trade for the UK and with my counterparts. I hope to visit Turkey soon—travel supporting human rights. Despite our varying approach restrictions permitting, of course—to raise those issues to agreements with partners, we will always have open with my Turkish counterparts. My ministerial colleague discussions on a range of issues, including human rights. Lord Ahmad, who holds the human rights portfolio in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Hon. Members also raised the issue of opposition also plans to visit Turkey in the coming months. politicians who have been arrested or detained. To reinforce what I said in my remarks, we remain concerned Jim Shannon: When the Minister visits Turkey, will about the four-year detention of Selahattin Demirtas¸, she please bring up the issue of the 140 protestant who is the former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic families who have been expelled from Turkey—or whose party. With our international partners, we call on Turkey expulsion is pending—primarily because they are protestant to meet its obligations as a founding member of the Christians? Turkey is taking their houses and their jobs, Council of Europe and to release Demirtas¸ from his and asking them to get out. extended pre-trial detention. To conclude, while we seek to strengthen our positive Wendy Morton: Obviously, I will have a range of links with Turkey, we make no secret of our concerns discussions with counterparts when I am in Turkey, and and values. Weare a critical friend. I can assure colleagues I have had discussions previously. I discussed the human that stronger UK-Turkey relations will not be at the rights situation, and specifically Osman Kavala’s ongoing expense of standing up for human rights, a principle detention, during the virtual visit that I made to Ankara that this Government hold dear. We do share values in December. The FCDO has discussed with the Turkish with Turkey. We are in the family of NATO and at the embassy in London not only our concerns, but the Council of Europe. Although these issues continue to development of the reform proposals. be a challenge, we talk to Turkey about them as a friend I have some concluding remarks, but in the time I and with encouragement. have left—five minutes, I believe—I will see whether I We will urge our Turkish counterparts to make swift can cover a few more of the questions raised. Hon. progress, to deliver the reforms they have promised for Members raised the issue of LGBTI rights. We support this year, and to enact them fully through the human the rights of LGBTI groups in Turkey.Wehave encouraged rights action plan. The hon. Member for Brighton, Turkey to respect the rights of the LGBTI community Kemptown (Lloyd Russell-Moyle) referred to a report. and to allow Pride marches to go ahead unchallenged, I am sure that he will send it to me in due course so that and to discourage disparaging public statements targeting I can read it. the LGBTI+ community. We also support minority groups in Turkey, including the Alevi community and Question put and agreed to. Christians, in line with the provisions in the Turkish constitution that protect the rights of religious minorities. The hon. Member for Jarrow (Kate Osborne) raised the issue of trade and human rights. The UK has long 4.33 pm supported the promotion of our values globally. We are Sitting suspended. 117WH 16 MARCH 2021 Union Connectivity Review 118WH

Union Connectivity Review Nothing in the content or intention of the review in any way undermines the ability of the devolved 4.49 pm Governments to make transport policies for the nations they serve. Instead, the review does something new, Esther McVey (in the Chair): I remind hon. Members imaginative and, I think, necessary—it looks at our that there have been some changes to normal practice to transport connectivity right across the United Kingdom support the new hybrid arrangements. Timings of debates in the round. As Sir Peter points out, devolution, for all have been amended to allow technical arrangements to its undoubted benefits, has led to a lack of attention to be made for the next debate. There will also be suspensions connectivity between the four nations. The review seeks between each debate. I remind Members participating to pay some attention to that important matter. physically and virtually that they must arrive for the start of debates in Westminster Hall. Members are It is quite right that the United Kingdom Government, expected to remain for the entire debate. as the Government serving the whole UK and accountable to representatives of the whole UK in this Parliament, I must also remind Members participating virtually should have commissioned the review. Everyone who that they are visible at all times, both to each other and wants devolution within the UK to work should welcome to us in the Boothroyd Room. If Members attending this approach. Of course, if someone’s objective is to virtually have any technical problems, they should email show that devolution does not work and that separation the Westminster Hall Clerks’ email address. Members is the only answer, no doubt they will object to it. If it is attending physically should clean their spaces before good for the United Kingdom, it is bad for the cause of they use them, and as they leave the room, and take the separation. I fear we might hear some of that dog-in-the- cleaning materials with them. manger negativity from SNP Members later in the debate, but perhaps they will pleasantly surprise me. 4.50 pm There is another reason that this is a timely moment John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) to conduct a review of this sort. As we have left the (Con): I beg to move, European Union, we have consequently left the EU’s That this House has considered the Union Connectivity Review. Trans-European Transport Network, or TEN-T. That It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, common policy seeks to forge greater economic and Ms McVey. I am pleased to have secured this debate on social cohesion across the EU through the development the Union connectivity review and delighted that so of transport networks. How successful it has been, or many Members have shown an interest in taking part. I could ever be, in achieving that aim across as vast and will certainly bear that interest in mind and try to keep diverse a geographyas the European continent is debateable. my remarks reasonably brief. What is clear is that the UK was not a major beneficiary Sir Peter Hendy published the Union connectivity of TEN-T projects. The UK contributed in the region review interim report last week, and I want to start by of ¤447 million annually to the TEN-T funding vehicle, congratulating him and his team on their work so far. the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport. However, What leaps out from the pages of that report is a we achieved only around ¤48 million in awards. TEN-T genuine enthusiasm for transport connectivity and was not a great deal for the United Kingdom, and the its enormous potential to strengthen our economic EU’s transport policy making was inescapably distant performance by improving the opportunities available and remote from our needs and concerns. We now have to the people we all represent. In my discussions with the chance to replace that distant and remote policy Sir Peter, it has been clear to me that he gets it. I believe with a new, bespoke and pan-UK strategic transport we can expect a substantial and potentially transformative network. That is principled, it is timely, and it can piece of work when the final report appears in the deliver tangible practical benefits. summer. The review should be welcomed by everyone who cares about improving connectivity within and I will set out some of those benefits as they would across the United Kingdom. It is to be welcomed for apply in my own area in the south of Scotland. An practical reasons and for reasons of principle. obvious focus for the review has been cross-border Before I talk in more detail about some of those links, and those are crucial for us in the south of practical benefits, particularly as they apply to my area Scotland. For the communities I represent, access in the Scottish borders, I want to set out why the review northwards into the central belt, particularly the economic is right in principle. As Sir Peter states unequivocally in and cultural centres of Edinburgh and Glasgow, is of his interim report: huge importance, but so too are links south into England “Devolution has been good for transport”. and west into Dumfries and Galloway.For my constituents in Berwickshire, the local economic centre is over the As he is a former commissioner for transport in the border,in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Similarly,to the south-west devolved Greater London Authority, it should come as of my constituency, around Hawick and Newcastleton, no surprise that he says so—and he is correct. His many residents look to Carlisle as their economic hub. review is rightly seeking to engage with the devolved As I am sure my right hon. Friend the Member for Administrations across the United Kingdom, though in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell) the case of the SNP Scottish Government, sadly, that —if he catches your eye, Ms McVey—will say that co-operative attitude has not been reciprocated. The residents in Dumfriesshire also look to Carlisle. decade I spent as a Member of the Scottish Parliament convinced me of the huge potential for more responsive Frankly, the south of Scotland has not been well decision making, which is inherent in devolution, even served by successive Scottish Governments, whose focus if I did not always think that the nationalist Government has always been on the central belt and who have were always making the most of that potential. I might consistently neglected rural areas, particularly in the return to that point if time permits. south and north-east of Scotland. 119WH Union Connectivity Review16 MARCH 2021 Union Connectivity Review 120WH

Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): agenda, and following the Treasury’s recent review of the Obviously, the hon. Gentleman will acknowledge the Green Book process, the focus is rightly shifting away fact that the SNP Government delivered the borders from a narrow cost-benefit analysis towards a more railway,which is obviously a great benefit to his constituency. strategic approach, taking into account wider environmental and social impacts. That is why I say that the connectivity John Lamont: I am grateful for that. There is an review has the potential to be transformative, because opportunity in the review to accelerate the extension of better transport connectivity can transform lives. the borders railway from Tweedbank to Hawick and Those who live in cities or in well-connected suburbs Newcastleton, and on to Carlisle, which is why I and take connectivity for granted. They know that if they most of my constituents are baffled as to why the want to change jobs, embark on further study, take up a Scottish Government refuse to engage with the review new hobby or simply go to the shops, the cinema or a and allow the acceleration of that project to take place. concert, there will be transport options to get them That is even more surprising because the hon. Member there and back, but there is no such certainty in the for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Brown) has called smaller rural communities that I represent. That limits for an extension of the borders rail link to Carlisle, people’s opportunities, and it drives away younger people and for it who might want to stay in the local area surrounded by “to become a proper cross-border connection.”—[Official Report, family, friends and support networks but just cannot 17 October 2018; Vol. 647, c. 353WH.] make it work because of the lack of transport connectivity. Back in 2018, he asked whether the UK Government The improvements for which we are fighting in the would work with the Scottish Government on that line, Scottish borders are not about shaving a few minutes so I do not understand what has changed. There is an off a commute or increasing the chances of getting a opportunity to get that project moving more quickly, seat on a rush-hour train, important as those things are yet his colleagues in the Scottish Government are trying for many people. We are fighting to replace no service, to stop investment in transport in my constituency and no choice and no opportunity with something new and other parts of Scotland. something better. It is hard to get it across to the SNP Government that I remember speaking to a parent in Newcastleton transport links across the border are important too, and about the lost opportunities experienced by her family. that Scotland’s two Governments should work together Her children could not take part in after-school activities to improve them. The UK is a willing partner in that at the high school in Hawick, as the school was more enterprise, as the review testifies, and it is time that the than 28 miles away, and there were no public transport SNP put the politics aside and joined the UK Government options for getting the kids home after the sports and in that spirit. My constituents welcome the ideas and other activities had finished. What impact does that intent of the UK connectivity review to boost cross-border have on our children who live in communities where infrastructure. The Borderlands initiative, behind which they simply cannot access what other young people take the UK Government have been the driving force, reflects for granted as part of their educational experience? the fact that the south of Scotland and the far north of Doing things the old way has not served many of the England are a functioning economic area with strong communities in the Scottish borders well. The Union ties. That is one of the reasons that voters in my area connectivity review represents a new,principled, pragmatic rejected by two to one the suggestion in 2014 that an and imaginative approach that has the potential to international border should be erected to separate Scotland change lives. It has my support, and I urge Governments from the rest of Britain. We do not want new barriers; at all levels across the United Kingdom to give it their we want new connections and stronger links. support too. I have campaigned for a number of years alongside my right hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed Esther McVey (in the Chair): I shall call other Back (Anne-Marie Trevelyan) for improvements to be made Benchers, followed by the SNP spokesperson, the to the main A1 trunk road, which links Edinburgh and Opposition spokesperson and the Minister. We want to the borders to Berwick, Newcastle and the rest of England. get to Front-Bench contributions by 5.30 pm, and a lot I am delighted that the A1 between Newcastle and of people wish to contribute today, so the time limit will Edinburgh is listed as a major priority in the interim report. be between four and four and a half minutes so we can Alongside improvements to the A1, my other chief get through everyone. priority for the review is the campaign to extend the borders railway to Hawick and Newcastleton, and on to 5.3 pm Carlisle. That extension would bring huge benefits to the local area and has the potential to open up a new Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP) [V]: I will not use cross-border rail corridor. A £10 million feasibility study up four and a half minutes and I will respect those who of an extension was announced last year as part of the wish to speak in the debate. That is how it is done: include UK Government-backed Borderlands growth deal. I other people, talk to other people and it is shared around. pressed the case for borders rail directly with Sir Peter That is a lesson the UK Government should learn. Hendy, and I will continue to make the case for it. The As with the levelling-up perspective, published with Campaign for Borders Rail is looking forward to meeting the latest UK Budget, the UK Government are using the Minister of State, Department for Transport, my the powers they gave themselves through the United hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Chris Heaton- Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 to bypass the Scottish Harris), in the coming weeks. Parliament and govern in ways that could contradict the The Union connectivity review is taking a new approach devolved priorities of Scotland. Where is the consultation to assessing where our transport investment priorities in the Union connectivity review? I heard what was said should lie. In line with the Government’s levelling-up by the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and 121WH Union Connectivity Review16 MARCH 2021 Union Connectivity Review 122WH

[Ronnie Cowan] My constituents, watching this back in Dumfries and Galloway, will be absolutely appalled by the ignoring of Selkirk (John Lamont), but there is a difference between the issues that really impact on them. One of those consulting and talking down to what is already a devolved issues is that the A75, which is one of the most important area. The UK Government keep saying that they will strategic routes in the UK and was identified as such in consult with the devolved powers when the opportunities Europe, has received little or no investment from the arise, but they truly do not. What happened to “Lead Scottish National party Scottish Government. not leave”? What happened to the most powerful devolved That is something of a surprise, because back in 1997, nation in the world? Promises were swept aside with a when Alasdair Morgan, the former MP,was campaigning, smirk, or a shrug of the shoulders. the A75 was Scotland’s forgotten road and was to be Now comes a new set of promises, exhibiting what I prioritised. Then, in 2001, I read in my local paper that would describe as a superiority complex, going by its the A75 was the nationalists’ top priority. It had been political title—one nation conservatism. The UK identified in an SNP policy paper as an absolute in Government are once again ignoring the plans of the terms of upgrading Scotland’s transport infrastructure. devolved powers and failing to take those plans into But still there is no meaningful upgrade to that road. consideration. If the UK Government will not consult, Back in 2016, ahead of the Scottish parliamentary we can only presume that they will not seek consent to election, we were promised a transport summit in Dumfries any projects relating to devolved matters. and Galloway within 100 days of that election. Well, guess what? The SNP Government could not even meet We know what the talk of a physical link between their 100-day target, which did not even come with any Northern Ireland and Scotland is all about. Businesses financial consequences. A meeting was subsequently in Scotland are being burdened with heavily increased held in 2016 and—surprise, surprise—what has happened and complex paperwork to ship Scottish goods to Northern since? Nothing, nothing; no meaningful upgrades to Ireland and the European Union. That is a direct the A75. That is why my constituents and I welcome consequence of the UK Government’s choice to remove this report, which identifies the strategic importance of Scotland from the single market and customs union. A the A75 for traffic coming from Northern Ireland, but it bridge will not fix that; a tunnel will not fix it. They also is important for my constituents who live in the cannot bury their mistakes. Dumfries area and want to go to work in Carlisle. The UK Government must honour their commitment Instead of having these snivelling, pathetic constitutional to UK-wide infrastructure investment, and they should arguments about the administration of the project, I do so by ensuring that adequate new resources are made want to see the Scottish Government grasp this opportunity available through relevant budgets, to allow decisions and get the job done. I want to see a dualled A75 on infrastructure priorities to be taken by each devolved between Gretna and Stranraer.I would work with anybody Government. to achieve that. My son, Oliver Mundell, who is the MSP for Dumfriesshire and has campaigned relentlessly It is not clear from the Union connectivity review’s to dual that road, is of the same mind. It is not about all terms of reference that the review comes with additional these constitutional technicalities and the obsession funding as a mechanism for prioritising existing funding. with independence, it is about getting the A75 dualled. However, there is now, more than ever, a need for the When people come to vote on 7 May in the south of UK Government to agree increased fiscal flexibilities Scotland, I think they will know who are the people for the Scottish Government, so that they can take who stand up to get something like the A75 done and advantage of the historically low cost of borrowing to who are just apologists for the SNP Government in invest for Scotland’s future. Such large infrastructure Edinburgh. programmes should not be used as last-minute attempts I want to use the final minute to make one brief plea to paper over the cracks in the Union, when support for to the Minister about a very particular local issue: the independence is riding high. If the UK Government upgrading of junction 45 of the M6. Cross-border and institutions of state really cared for the development connectivity is not just about big schemes. Junction 45 of the whole UK—and with that, inter-connectivity— of the M6 serves the Gretna area, but is in England and Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the north of administered by Highways England. There have been England would not have been ignored for decades before long-running efforts to improve that junction, which now. would prevent heavy traffic having to go through Gretna, Finally, this process is not about a Union of equals; it which, as the Minister will know, is world renowned for is not about connectivity. This is a political bribe. It is its wedding industry and offerings. The junction needs today’s equivalent of baubles and shiny beads for the to be upgraded to stop that. There have been various natives because the Tories can see that Scotland is attempts to do it, but they have not progressed. I hope building its own road—a road to independence—and in her closing remarks she will give me some hope that that scares the life out of them. that will indeed happen. 5.12 pm 5.7 pm Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab) [V]: While we DavidMundell(Dumfriesshire,ClydesdaleandTweeddale) await the final recommendations of the connectivity (Con) [V]: Obviously, the hon. Member for Inverclyde review, when Sir Peter Hendy publishes his final report (Ronnie Cowan) is disappointed and has delivered what this summer, I am pleased that the interim update we might have expected. It is all about independence; it released last week identifies issues with cross-border rail is not about delivering for the people of Scotland on the services between south Wales and Bristol and the Bristol issues that are really important to them. area as an important emerging theme. 123WH Union Connectivity Review16 MARCH 2021 Union Connectivity Review 124WH

As referenced in the interim report, 9.4 million passenger 5.15 pm journeys were made between Wales and England in Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd) (Con) [V]: It is a 2018-19. This total includes many of my constituents pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. Ms McVey. who commute to work in Bristol and the west of England I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Berwickshire, from Newport, the Severn tunnel and the Severn tunnel Roxburgh and Selkirk (John Lamont) on securing this junction important debate. The Severn tunnel junction is a gateway station for The Government’s levelling-up agenda, in particular Wales. It has been one of the fastest growing passenger the Union connectivity review, represents a welcome stations on the Great Western mainline over the last two step forward for north Wales, where there have been decades. This is despite having lost a number of services decades of under-investment in infrastructure. Although on the Great Western franchise back in 2006 and more the UCR focuses on all forms of transport connectivity, recently having one less cross-country service. Over the in the interests of time I will confine my comments to last 10 years, total passenger growth has been large— rail services. three times the UK average. The all-party parliamentary group on Mersey Dee Unfortunately, there has not been an investment in North Wales, which I chair, works closely with a rail capacity to meet this growing need for cross-border taskforce with the same footprint, otherwise known as travel from south-east Wales. I realise that at the moment Growth Track 360, to promote the infrastructure needs we are in different times, but, for example, in pre-pandemic of our region. For that area, the connectivity we need is times, GWR morning services from the Severn tunnel not just efficient long-distance travel but fit-for-purpose junction to Bristol Temple Meads and beyond have regional services that can better support day-to-day life been plagued by overcrowding and a lack of reliability and the success of our cross-border economy. for years. Mobile phone data from 2019 demonstrate that the number of daily journeys from north Wales to the The situation is compounded by the fact that the north-west is more than 20 times higher than the number Welsh Government and Transport for Wales were restricted from north Wales to other parts of Wales. Those journeys by the Department for Transport from providing any take place despite the poor existing infrastructure. At additional cross-border services under the current terms present, a 65-mile journey by train from Prestatyn in my of the Wales and Borders franchise. Extra services constituency to central Manchester takes at least one would help to alleviate some of pressure. As I have hour and 45 minutes. Travelling by car is a quicker highlighted in numerous Transport questions, it is still option, at just over an hour. A rail journey of the same not clear why the DFT is blocking this. I hope the final distance in the south-east takes as little as 40 minutes. report of the Union connectivity review this summer Perhaps unsurprisingly, currently only 1% of cross-border will have something to say about that. commuting in our region is by rail, some 80% less than It is not good enough either for Tory Ministers to the national average. continually point the finger at the Welsh Government Sir Peter Hendy’s interim report highlights connections on transport issues, when they will not do anything from Ynys Môn and the north Wales coast to Merseyside about the ones that are within their remit and their gift and Manchester for freight and passengers as a key to remedy. On this theme, a connected issue—which issue arising from the work he has undertaken so far. was not explicitly mentioned in last week’s interim report, That recognition is welcome, as is £20 million of funding but is the elephant in the room for Welsh passengers—is to explore the development of projects across the country. the UK’s chronic under-investment in Welsh rail I hope that forthcoming plans for the north Wales line infrastructure. Wales accounts for 11% of the UK rail will be ambitious, seeking provision for eight train network but receives only 2% of rail investment paths an hour,greater line speeds, more frequent signalling enhancement. Welsh Government research suggests that, stanchions as necessary, and the accommodation of on current estimates, there will be an under-investment express, freight and stopping services. in Welsh rail of between £3 billion and £8 billion In the APPG’s submission to the UCR in January, I by 2029. raised the need for HS2 to work for north Wales. It is This under-investment was specifically identified by pleasing to see the UCR acknowledge that. It will Lord Burns in the South East Wales Transport require the correct configuration at Crewe, including Commission’s recent report as something for the UK both a hub station and a junction to allow trains to Government to fix, with crucial work on the south reconnect to HS2 northbound. It is also important that Wales relief lines and new stations for Magor, Llanwern the interchange between HS2 and Northern Powerhouse and Somerton as part of the plan. If the Government Rail at Warrington benefits north Wales and west Cheshire. are serious about creating an interconnected Union, Ultimately,the electrification of the Crewe to Holyhead they cannot keep ignoring their responsibilities here. line will be necessary, for reasons of both connectivity The interim report published last week said the review and decarbonisation, and preferably by the time HS2 will continue to engage with stakeholders over the coming first operates. I would appreciate an indication in the months. I hope that the views of the Welsh Government Minister’s response of how the initial £20 million UCR and the South East Wales Transport Commission can fund is to be allocated and prioritised, and of the form an important part of that. The report will provide timescales for the process. a stimulus for long awaited investment in our rail network. Sir Peter Hendy’s interim report shows that the UCR My constituents and I will be watching closely. is heading in the right direction. The review must continue to focus on how infrastructure of national and regional importance, including that which is divided by an Esther McVey (in the Chair): Before we go to Dr James administrative border,can be delivered in a more successful Davies, I will reduce the time limit to three minutes. and joined-up fashion. 125WH Union Connectivity Review16 MARCH 2021 Union Connectivity Review 126WH

5.19 pm upgrades, including the Fort William to Mallaig road to Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP) [V]: Our Union the Isles, which was the last remaining single-lane trunk connects us constitutionally, politically, economically road in the UK until 2009. It was being in the EU that and culturally. There are links of identity and a web helped Scotland to access funds, which were not coming of physical and emotional ties that all come together to from Westminster, and now the Tories have also taken make this Union great. Today,we focus on a very important that avenue away from us. aspect of any union: physical linkages, infrastructure If we look at the A75, which has now suddenly become connectivity. It is welcome that the Government of the a modern Tory totem, what about acknowledging the United Kingdom are putting such priority on that end. Cairntop to Barlae, the Newton Stewart, Barfil to For Northern Ireland, we have specific needs that we Bettyknowes, Planting End to Drumflower,and Hardgrove ask to be addressed as part of the review. Members will to Kinmount upgrades, as well as the Dunragit bypass? know that, as part of our confidence and supply agreement There has been a lot of money spent in the A75 by in 2017, we asked that the Government review domestic the SNP. air passenger duty. We see APD as a regressive tax that If we look back at Hansard, it confirms the Tories disproportionately impacts on the outer regions of the actually promised the Dunragit bypass, as a scheme United Kingdom. We urge the Government to seize the that was in progress in 1989, as was the Barlae upgrades. opportunities that scrapping APD would bring, such as It is the SNP that is making up for decades of failed job creation and boosting GDP. Importantly, it would Westminster promises and failures of Labour at Holyrood also assist in better connectivity with more routes developed as well, yet the Tories still shout “More, more, more!” within the United Kingdom. They do not want the Scottish Government to have Connectivity to the rest of the United Kingdom is additional borrowing powers, they stand by while the vital for Northern Ireland’s economy. As the protocol Chancellor cuts the capital budget to Scotland to 5% and has shown, Great Britain is Northern Ireland’s largest yet they shout “More!” The SNP has also undertaken market and being cut off from that in any way is several upgrades to the A77 including the Maybole damaging for business. We are about removing barriers. bypass—a project first thought about decades ago and That is why the protocol must go. We must ensure that also promised by Lord Douglas-Hamilton in 1989. ease of travel and trade is restored. We encourage those Turning to rail, the hon. Member for Berwickshire, advocating the opposite to rethink. Roxburgh and Selkirk (John Lamont) actually had the I will also address the issue of the proposed physical cheek previously to speak out against the Borders rail connection between mainland UK and Northern Ireland. project because, he said, if it was only going to Galashiels, In our 2019 manifesto, we supported a feasibility study he would rather have the money spent elsewhere. of a fixed connection between Northern Ireland and Scotland. We asked the Government to ascertain whether John Lamont: Will the hon. Member give way? it was feasible, so we welcome this being part of the review and await the consultation on this study. It is Alan Brown: I do not have time. regrettable yet not surprising to watch the hysterical, The hon. Member still has not complimented the immature dummy spitting of nationalists and others to SNP on delivering what was the longest new railway in the very suggestion. To see a devolved infrastructure Great Britain for over a century, and we do not need a Minister so frenzied in opposing infrastructure. For Westminster review to tell us the benefits of extending it those same people, it would seem the harder the border, to Carlisle. I appreciate he did point out that I have the better, the more barriers, the better, but dare not spoken about this in the Chamber before as well. anyone suggest better connectivity across our United On rail, I have also highlighted the absurdity whereby Kingdom. We want a Government that are bold and the choice of rolling stock for HS2 means that when it ambitious in promoting better connectivity within the comes into operation, trains from Scotland to Crewe United Kingdom. will go slower than they do now. What we need is 5.22 pm independence and to be able to speak about cross-border transport as a nation of equals, rather than being told Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): It is what to do. pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. The Union is over 300 years old. The Tories have been in power for 66 years since the end of world war one, 5.25 pm and yet now suddenly we need a Union connectivity Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD) [V]: I thank review, with Westminster telling us what we need. the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Westminster has failed Scotland for years and now we (John Lamont) for securing this important debate. I are supposed to embrace a vanity project such as a hope that we can all look forward to seeing the benefits, Union bridge or tunnel to Northern Ireland. rather than harking back to past complaints and trying If we look at Scotland’s road systems, it is the SNP to settle old scores. It is part of who I am and part of that has been making up for a previous lack of ambition. my party’s core belief that we achieve more by working The SNP Scottish Government have delivered the new together with our friends and neighbours than not. M74 and the new M80 motorways—we never even had From Portmahomack to Preston, from Edinburgh to a continuous motorway linking Glasgow and Edinburgh Essex, like many people, I have connections to all corners until the SNP made it happen. We have also built the of our country, but I am perhaps not as well connected Queensferry bridge and are dualling the A9. as I would often like or should be. While I welcome the In a similar vein, our island communities benefited interim report, which references Scotland 57 times in from EU funding, not Westminster generosity, for bridges 61 pages, I believe there is much more that should and such as Scalpay to Harris, causeways, ports and road could be done. While I would want to focus on how we 127WH Union Connectivity Review16 MARCH 2021 Union Connectivity Review 128WH link up the whole of the United Kingdom, I know that Brexit Minister,the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, there are people outwith Scotland’s central belt who Lord Frost and also the Secretary of State. On numerous would welcome a similar approach to connectivity from occasions, we have begged to be once again connected the SNP Government at Holyrood. and considered as part of the United Kingdom, rather Improving the transport links right across the country than as a protectorate, which is how we feel at present. is vital. However, we must ensure that we reduce our The Secretary of State has made some movements in impact on the environment at the same time. As businesses relation to the soil. The soil that was okay on 31 December seek to grow and families reconnect, these improvements was not okay on 1 January—same soil, same plants, will form a key part of rebuilding after the pandemic. same trees, everything. I could not quite understand Our transport systems are broken and our climate is that. There was a palpable anger back home about the under threat. This is an opportunity to address both at Northern Ireland protocol and where we are. So given one time. Sustainability must therefore be central to our the concern of the report, I say bend the Northern connectivity. Ireland protocol and ensure deliveries can be made and At the same time, I was disappointed not to see any received to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland mention in the interim report of the importance of the feel connected in the most basic way, as actually being a aviation industry, to both our connectivity and economy, part of the great United Kingdom of Great Britain and because regardless of our commitment to greener transport, Northern Ireland. we must also support our aviation industry and encourage I do not have the time to refer to the physical link that it to improve its climate-friendly credentials. Our airports others referred to. I just want to say this: Northern and wider aviation industry are facing the largest threat Ireland has so much to offer international investors—a to their existence, so while pursuing the green agenda, highly skilled workforce, high-speed internet connection we must make sure they have the support they deserve. and low rates. Yet what puts them off is the feeling that Both rail and aviation have a vital role to play in the there is not enough connectivity. We could address that UK’s economic recovery, in covid-19 and in achieving by reducing the air passenger duty. I understand the net zero by 2050, yet to do so we need certainty and Minister has referred to that and I look forward to a long-term schemes such as the HS2 eastern leg. response. For my city of Edinburgh, I see this connectivity We must also allow investment in what we have to report as an opportunity to create a transport hub for offer, securing and harnessing international flights as Scotland, to make the capital the best it can be and to well. We must do that for Northern Ireland, by investing give it the best chance to recover as we face another in the airports and the shipping ports. I welcome a summer of streets devoid of the usual buzz of festival physical connection, but at this time the priority must goers. But there is an important wider point. To take be investing in connections through the airports—Belfast part in this review is to buy into the premise that, City, Belfast International and Londonderry—and also together, we can improve the lives of people across our through the four ports of Belfast, Larne, Warrenpoint four nations. We can be better connected. We can drive and Londonderry. We have, I understand, a freeport. economic growth and give the people of Scotland and Perhaps that will bring us some jobs that we need as the rest of the UK more opportunities than they have at well. the moment. Esther McVey (in the Chair): We now move to the 5.28 pm Front-Bench speakers, aware of time. Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): It is a pleasure to 5.31 pm serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I am also very pleased that the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) and Selkirk (John Lamont) has brought this issue forward. (SNP) [V]: It has been a lovely day up here—the first I am unashamedly an Ulster Scot. I am also unashamedly proper day of spring, I think—so I am not going to let British, because I want to be and because I feel it. I am the contrived drivel that the hon. Member for Berwickshire, very much a Unionist, so I will speak from a very Roxburgh and Selkirk (John Lamont) spoke at the pro-Union point of view. I share the Gaelic connection start, with some others following, ruin my otherwise with my friend to my right-hand side in the Chamber, sunny disposition. In contrast, the speeches delivered the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun by my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and (Alan Brown), and I am very proud of that, by the way. Loudoun (Alan Brown) and my hon. Friend the Member If it came to it, we could probably speak the same for Inverclyde (Ronnie Cowan) were both passionate language, I suspect. and had the benefit of being accurate. I believe that the one United Kingdom of Great Fundamentally, the review is an insular exercise. Britain and Northern Ireland—often my catchphrase in Scotland’s horizons are much broader than just the rest this House, Ms McVey—is always better together. I of these isles. As a European nation, our connections to believe it to be the case, and I believe it in my heart. I the continent are important—and I mean connections want to repeat what my hon. Friend the Member for in every possible sense of the word. Decades of southern- Upper Bann (Carla Lockhart) said just a few minutes centric planning has resulted in much of our export ago. This is a debate about connectivity, and my trade being taken to channel ports rather than exported constituency is being disconnected by the Northern directly from Scotland. Nowhere in the review is our Ireland protocol. I sit going through what businesses international trade capacity dealt with. Nowhere in the cannot access, and each day I see a different example: review are direct air links to Europe from Scotland, pet food, grass seed, plants, machinery parts, cheese, Wales or Northern Ireland even mentioned, because livestock—the list goes on and on. The Minister is international connectivity was not in the remit. However, undoubtedly aware that this responsibility lies with the our links overseas are crucial. 129WH Union Connectivity Review16 MARCH 2021 Union Connectivity Review 130WH

[Gavin Newlands] prepare properly for Brexit. If the desire for investment is there, the simple answer is to make sure that Scotland’s That is fundamentally a problem with a review that fair share is delivered to Scotland, for the transport was concocted for purely political reasons. Not only priorities decided by our democratically elected Parliament, was it announced without any consultation with any not subject to the whims of No. 10 or pledges to the devolved Administration; the fact is that the Government Democratic Unionist party. already had a connectivity review under way. A review Moreover, this cannot be billed as Westminster’s of regional connectivity announced 14 months ago still munificence or spirit of generosity. The hon. Member has not reported, yet the Prime Minister felt the need to for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk spoke of Scottish announce a Union connectivity review late last year. He Government investment. What he failed to mention was must think we are all buttoned up the back. that, while the UK’s overall capital spend is up, his The Prime Minister also wants to build a bridge or Treasury colleagues have cut Scotland’s capital budget tunnel next to an unknown number of unexploded by 5%. Therefore, it is Scots themselves who are ultimately bombs, 2 tonnes of nuclear waste, with occasional paying for this conceited connectivity con. When they undersea explosions of decaying ordnance, all sitting at have the capital funds to do so, the SNP Scottish a depth of 1,000 feet. The latest wheeze is to use the Isle Government have proven time and again that they will of Man as a roundabout. For a Prime Minister who has deliver on Scotland’s infrastructure priorities. It is time appointed himself Minister of the Union, the fact that for the small and insular minds hanging their hopes on the Manx are not actually part of the Union seems to a political scheme to boost support for the Union to have passed him by. realise that the power to think big will soon be accompanied We should think big and we should be planning for by the political and economic power to match—a power transformational investment that connects our communities, that only Scottish independence will deliver. but that investment should be guided by our communities, not determined by diktat from a refurbished and overpriced 5.36 pm briefing room in Downing Street. Thinking big does not mean wasting millions on a feasibility study for a bridge Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab): I thank that the dogs in the street know is as likely to happen as the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk the Prime Minister’s doomed garden bridge, which cost (John Lamont) for bringing forward this important the public purse an eye-watering £43 million. debate. I thank all hon. Members who have spoken The review might mention HS2 in the same sentence eloquently today about ways in which we can improve as Scotland and Wales, but it is clear that we will not be connectivity throughout the United Kingdom. seeing a single centimetre of real high-speed rail north The Union connectivity review was announced and of Manchester. We will be left yet again in the sidings, the interim report published during the coronavirus while tens of billions are poured into HS2 and its crisis—a pandemic that has had a profound impact on property acquisitioning. With the UK Government’s the transport network across the UK, with vastly reduced track record, we really should not be surprised. services and varying support across industries. In the To take one small but important example, it took the wake of the economic impact of the pandemic, it is UK authorities decades to upgrade a six-mile stretch of clear that we must rebuild across the whole UK, working the M6 leading to Scotland—the Cumberland Gap— in partnership with our devolved Governments and leaving the busiest route between Scotland and England mayoral regions, ensuring local leaders and communities with outdated infrastructure. No one should, therefore, are heard, and transport priorities are delivered. have much faith that their priorities will align with those Decentralisation of powers and resources is essential in of Scotland. Contrast that with the many infrastructure preserving our Union and improving connectivity, to improvements made in less than 14 years, as highlighted collectively boost the UK economy. by my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Transport has been one of the industries most impacted Loudoun. Or a costlier failing: the Regional Eurostar by the pandemic, with the latest figures showing the air and Nightstar trains promised to Scotland, Wales and and rail sector operating at minus 94% and minus the north of England when the channel tunnel was 79% respectively of their usual activity for this time of conceived, quietly ditched when no longer needed for year. Much of what has been called for by those consulted political cover. That Union dividend cost the taxpayer —better connectivity, increased capacity and improved hundreds of millions of pounds, and as Europe invests journey times—has the potential to achieve this. More in a new generation of long-distance, low carbon convenient rail services to reduce traffic from our roads, international rail, that has been shown to be short-sighted connections to airports to stimulate jobs and the local in the extreme. Meanwhile, there are no concrete plans economy, increased capacity and high-speed services, to upgrade the west or east coast main lines to anything improving opportunities for passengers, businesses and approaching high-speed capacity; similarly, there are no freight—there is endless potential for transport to be a plans to improve the west coast main line’s freight driver for a green and bold economic recovery to meet capacity, despite recent investment at Grangemouth our net zero commitment by 2050. and Eurocentral, proving demand for Anglo-Scottish I am pleased to see a range of critical transport issues rail freight could grow substantially with the right plans. outlined, including improvements to the east coast main With that track record, the idea that the UK Government line and A1, extended HS2 connections to Scotland and are best placed to decide on what is needed to support north Wales, faster and higher capacity connections Scotland’s connections outside its borders is for the from Belfast to north-west Northern Ireland and to the birds. Tothis litany of failure, add cancelled electrification Republic of Ireland, relief from congestion along the and privatisation on our railways, their current failure M4 corridor in south Wales, improved transport capacity to properly support our aviation industry, and failing to and journey times east to west, and better air links to 131WH Union Connectivity Review16 MARCH 2021 Union Connectivity Review 132WH and from Northern Ireland and Scotland, including an and detailed. Unfortunately I do not have time to address appropriate rate of air passenger duty for journeys not all the individual points that people have made in the realistic by rail. debate, but I assure hon. Members that I and my fellow Transport, of course, can be transformational for Ministers in the Department, and Sir Peter and his communities and the opportunities available to them. team, have listened to them and heard them. As the interim report notes: It has been a great pleasure and honour for me to “Those lacking the resources and transport options required have learned so much in the past year about the importance for mobility become deprived from interacting with the whole of transport connectivity to the people and businesses extent of opportunities offered by society.” across our great United Kingdom. Indeed, it was at However, I am somewhat sceptical of the Government’s around this time last year that I began chairing regular commitment to these plans for an infrastructure revolution. meetings with my ministerial colleagues in the devolved Sadly, the Prime Minister has form for overpromising Administrations to work through the transport challenges and underdelivering. There is a litany of failed transport that we all faced as a result of the pandemic. Ensuring proposals—the failed London garden bridge, at the cost that we could enable people and goods to continue of £53 million to the taxpayer; the mythical Boris moving with minimum disruption was at the forefront estuary airport; rail electrification plans announced of all our minds during those discussions. Now, in our only to be scaled back or cancelled; and the continued drive to build back better from the pandemic and mismanagement of the spiralling finances of HS2. I further level up the country,we must seize the opportunity fear there may be more victims of the Government’s to implement a suite of measures with the potential to mishandling of transport projects currently in the pipeline. transform the provision of transport connections across Just in the past year, 40% of Transport for the North’s the UK. core budget has been slashed. The Government failed to outline the timetable for rebuilding the eastern leg of Alan Brown: Will the Minister give way? HS2, attempted to avoid proper consultation with local Rachel Maclean: I am very sorry, but I do not have residents and failed properly to support aviation with a time to give way, unfortunately. sector-specific support package, leaving northern airports in particular to bear the brunt of the crisis. The measures in question would seek to support economic growth and our ambitious decarbonisation While the Government are coming up with plans for goals, as many Members have highlighted, as well as a multi-billion-pound tunnel to Northern Ireland, complete contributing to the quality of life of people across the with an underground roundabout below the Isle of entire UK and providing resilience in the face of similar Man, they have completely abandoned those who run crises. the undersea tunnel that we already have. Eurostar is struggling for survival and begging for support, but the Last October the Prime Minister appointed Sir Peter Government are silent. I welcome further transport Hendy,a respected and experienced figure in the transport investment plans to address critical areas for connecting landscape, to lead a review independent of Government the Union better, but they should be developed alongside, to establish how the quality and availability of transport not at the cost of, other essential connectivity projects infrastructure across the UK could meet the objectives I such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, the midlands rail have set out, and to recommend how best to improve hub and a full commitment to HS2. transport connectivity in the longer term. With the fallout from coronavirus, a fragile economy, As well as considering the needs of transport in a climate crisis and the Union under strain, there has providing intra-UK travel, the review will consider a never been a more urgent need to strengthen the connections variety of other issues that are integral to the aim of and bonds across our United Kingdom. The Opposition connecting the UK better. It will examine key routes, support Sir Peter and his team as they conduct their for instance, between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, work, but I encourage the Government to grasp the and how they can be strengthened, and look at how scale of the challenges that we currently face. While this travel between England, Scotland and Wales can be Tory Government fumble from pillar to post on almost improved through, for example, enhancements to rail every issue, the future of our Union and our prosperity and road infrastructure. It will also suggest ways in is simply too important for them to get wrong. which infrastructure can support the move to more sustainable forms of transport as we look to harness 5.41 pm green technology, and differing working patterns as we The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport emerge from the current pandemic. (Rachel Maclean): It is a great pleasure to serve under I wish I could say that all Governments within the your chairmanship, Ms McVey. I am grateful to my UK took the review as it was intended: a way to hon. Friend the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh improve the lives of our citizens and make life easier for and Selkirk (John Lamont) for securing this vital debate. businesses. However, it will surprise nobody that the I thank him for his engagement with Sir Peter Hendy SNP Government were determined to create wedges and his team, and for the diligent way in which he has that need not otherwise exist and refused to engage campaigned for the interests of his constituents and constructively with the review despite the obvious benefits highlighted how vital transport connectivity is for their it has for people and businesses in Scotland. Never let it lives. be said that the SNP wastes an opportunity to put The debate is a vital one, as many Members have separatist ideology over sensible policy making. said, about a major piece of work. It is an opportunity Sir Peter’s interim report, published last Wednesday, for me to set out how we are looking at the opportunities contains his early thoughts on forming a UK strategic provided to our United Kingdom through the Union transport network. Prior to its publication, Sir Peter met connectivity review. I thank all hon. Members for their more than 100 stakeholders as well as Ministers from contributions this afternoon, which were passionate the devolved Administrations, and the call for evidence 133WH Union Connectivity Review16 MARCH 2021 Union Connectivity Review 134WH

[Rachel Maclean] identified by the review as crucial for cross-border connectivity.That funding will be used to get such projects process received nearly 150 submissions from interested off the ground. Once the final UCR recommendations parties. Early meetings with stakeholders suggest broad are received ahead of the spending review, we will support for a UK strategic network, and Sir Peter will consider and confirm funding plans for delivering the explore the idea further for the final review. He will need improved connectivity crucial to our United Kingdom. to look closely at the transport projects highlighted by stakeholders, and the Prime Minister has asked him to 5.47 pm take into account what will be different in the next 20 to John Lamont: I thank all right hon. and hon. Members 30 years and consider our ambitious environmental agenda. for participating in the debate and the Minister for her The UCR interim report notes that devolution has at response and constructive engagement. I think what my times constituents in the Scottish borders—and, indeed, Scots “led to a certain lack of attention to connectivity between the” across the nation—will remember about the debate is nations of the UK the SNP MPs arguing against more investment in Scotland and investment in Scotland’s transport network. When “due to competing priorities and complex funding.” they go to the polls in a few weeks, I am sure they will The review aims to address that, and Sir Peter will look remember that Scottish nationalist MPs were arguing at further transport priorities based on the wider strategic against extension to the borders railway, against case for investments. improvements to the A1 and A75 roads and against A couple of hon. Members mentioned aviation, about many opportunities to improve employability and which I have one reference to make. Hon. Members will opportunity for people in Scotland. That is a great be pleased to hear that we have announced a consultation shame. on air passenger duty to consider its impact on domestic Question put and agreed to. flights in particular, as has been called for by colleagues Resolved, from Northern Ireland. That this House has considered the Union Connectivity Review. We welcome Sir Peter’s interim report and have made £20 million of UK Government funding available to 5.48 pm assess options on road and rail schemes that have been Sitting adjourned. 7WS Written Statements 16 MARCH 2021 Written Statements 8WS

The Government’smanifesto committed to strengthening Written Statements the accountability of PCCs and expanding their role. The public want to see a reduction in crime and PCCs Tuesday 16 March 2021 are elected to deliver on the people’s priorities. Eight years on from their introduction, it is the right time to step back and consider how we can better ensure that the public can hold PCCs to account for the performance HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE of their force. In delivering the recommendations from part one of the review, we will make it easier for the public to make Ring-fenced Public Health Grant to Local Authorities: an informed decision about the record of their PCC at 2021-22 the ballot box by strengthening accountability and improving transparency. The recommendations set out below apply to PCCs and Mayors with PCC functions. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Part one of our internal review began in late July and and Social Care (Jo Churchill): Today l am publishing collated views and evidence from stakeholders across the public health allocations to local authorities in policing, fire and local government as well as voluntary England for 2021-22. and community organisations. Through polling and Funding for local government’s health responsibilities focus groups the review also took account of public is an essential complement to our plans to invest strongly views and opinions. We focused on changes required to in both the NHS and social care, and an important sharpen the model which, where possible, can be delivered element of our commitment to focus on prevention of ahead of the 2021 PCC elections. ill health. On policing, the Home Office will bring forward Through the public health grant and the pilot of a range of measures which will: strengthen PCC 100% retained business rate funding for local authorities accountability; improve their transparency to the public; in , we are spending £3.324 billion clarify the relationship between PCCs and chief constables; on local authority public health in 2021-22. This includes bring more consistency to the PCC role; raise professional baselining of local government funding for pre-exposure standards; and improve the checks and balances currently prophylaxis for HIV. in place. The 2021-22 grant will continue to be subject to The review concluded there was more to be done to conditions,including a ring-fence requiring local authorities explain the role of PCCs and make their record on to use the grant exclusively for public health activity. crime more transparent to the voting public, thus enhancing This may include public health challenges arising directly their accountability. To help achieve this: or indirectly from covid-19. The Home Office will amend the specified information order In addition to this baseline funding for public health, to require PCCs to provide a narrative on their force’s we have already announced £80 million for local government performance against the Government’s crime measures, and funding of drug treatment as part of a wider crime package Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and announced in January 2021, and over £70 million for Rescue Services (HMICFRS) force performance reports. weight management services through the NHS and The specified information order currently places a duty on PCCs to publish certain information within specified timeframes, local government. to ensure the public have the information they need to hold Further, we are providing in total around £10 billion their commissioner to account at the ballot box. of support for local government in responding to covid-19. In line with the Government’s manifesto position in favour Full details of the public health grants to local authorities of first past the post, which provides for strong and clear local can be found on www.gov.uk. This information will be accountability, and reflects that transferable voting systems communicated to local authorities in a Local Authority were rejected by the British people in the 2011 nationwide referendum, the Home Office will work with the Cabinet Office Circular. and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Attachments can be viewed online at: http://www. Government to change the voting system for all combined parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions- authority Mayors, the Mayor of London and PCCs to first answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2021- past the post. This change will require primary legislation, 03-16/HCWS850. which we will bring forward when parliamentary time allows. [HCWS850] We concluded there are clear steps we can take to sharpen local accountability and ensure the framework guiding the relationship with chief constables is clarified: The Home Office will work with the College of Policing, HOME DEPARTMENT Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and National Police Chiefs’ Council to build on the accountability guidance already in place, including in relation to the performance Police and Crime Commissioner Review: management of chief constables, to help to promote and embed a positive relationship between chief constables and Concluding Part One. PCCs. The Home Office will consult on potential changes to the Policing Protocol Order 2011 to provide a “brighter-line” on The Secretary of State for the Home Department the boundaries of operational independence and reflect (Priti Patel): I am pleased to set out to the House changes in the relationship between the parties to the protocol findings from the first part of our two-part review into which have taken place over time. The protocol sets out how the role of police and crime commissioners (PCCs). the policing governance relationships should work, including 9WS Written Statements 16 MARCH 2021 Written Statements 10WS

that of the Home Secretary, and clarifies the roles and On fire, the Government are clear that further reform responsibilities of PCCs, chief constables and police and of fire and rescue is required in order to respond to the crime panels. recommendations from phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower The Home Office will also legislate to amend section 38 inquiry and the Kerslake review, and to build on the of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, to findings from Sir Thomas Winsor’s state of fire and make the chief constable dismissal process more rigorous rescue report. Our reform agenda will focus on three and transparent, by requiring a PCC to give the chief constable written notice (including grounds), as the first stage of the key areas: people; professionalism; and governance. dismissal process; allowing for the chief to provide HMCIC Taken together, improvements in these areas will help with a response to those grounds; and introducing some deliver higher standards and greater consistency across form of time limit or review interval on a chief constable’s fire and rescue services. suspension from office. The Home Office will also work with The review kick-started our work on fire service the College of Policing, NPCC and APCC to develop a framework for the use of independent mediation in appropriate governance and the findings signalled strong support circumstances. for a directly elected individual taking on fire functions to help simplify and strengthen the governance of fire We will also seek to address the HMICFRS recommendations included in its “Leading Lights” (September 2019) report, and rescue services across England. The Home Office looking into the role of the College of Policing in the senior will be launching a consultative White Paper on fire recruitment process. Wewill work with stakeholders to address reform later this year. The White Paper will be used to the issues raised through this review in relation to fixed-term set out our reform agenda in further detail and explore appointments. the review proposals on fire governance which include: To improve scrutiny, the Home Office will work with the Consulting on whether to mandate the transfer of fire and Local Government Association (LGA) to develop a good rescue functions to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner governance training package for police and crime panels. model across England where boundaries are coterminous, Part two of the review will also allow us to consider the role unless there is an option to transfer fire governance directly of the Independent Office of Police Complaints (IOPC) with to an elected Mayor. respect to their handling of complaints made about the Consulting on how to address coterminosity challenges, conduct of PCCs and their deputies. including in the south-west. The review concluded more should be done to ensure Legislating to create operational independence for chief fire that all PCCs adopt best practice and, given our later officers and to clearly separate and delineate strategic and recommendations on fire, there is now a need to improve operational planning for fire and rescue. the resilience of the Office of the PCC: Considering options to clarify the legal entities within the PFCC model. We recommend that the APCC works with the College of Policing to build on the policing knowledge hub to develop a With regard to mayoral devolution, this review has “what works” compendium for PCCs. cemented our view that the join up of public safety The Home Office and APCC will jointly develop a functions under a combined authority Mayor has the comprehensive set of non-statutory guidance on the core potential to offer wider levers to prevent crime. We will elements of the PCC role. In conjunction, the APCC should take steps to remove barriers to more Mayors taking on deliver a formal programme of induction for new and returning these functions and will work with MHCLG to develop PCCs post-elections in May 2021. the forthcoming devolution and local recovery White To enhance resilience and capacity of PCCs, given our Paper with that longer-term trajectory in mind. intention to expand the role into fire, the Home Office will Part two of the review will begin after the 2021 bring forward legislation to mandate that each PCC must appoint a deputy (of the same political party where the PCC elections and will allow us to consider further ways to represents a political party). In the interim, we will issue strengthen and expand efforts to help cut crime. It will guidance to PCCs’ offices requesting that a formal succession focus on longer-term reforms and the potential for plan is put into place to deal with vacancy and incapacitation, wider efficiencies to be made,with a view to implementation involving the police and crime panel in those discussions as ahead of the 2024 elections. Terms of reference for part necessary. This will not apply to Mayors with PCC functions, two of the review will be published in this House at the where legislation already mandates that a deputy Mayor appropriate time. must be in place. I would like to put on record my thanks to our To ensure PCCs have the levers they need to tackle crime, in advisory group which supported the first part of this part two of the review, the Home Office will consult on giving a general power of competence (as afforded to local review, comprising senior external stakeholders with authorities) to all PCCs, to potentially help PCCs with the expertise in the policing and fire sectors. role they play in the wider crime and criminal justice landscape, [HCWS849] and will consider partnership arrangements more fully. ORAL ANSWERS

Tuesday 16 March 2021

Col. No. Col. No. JUSTICE...... 141 JUSTICE—continued Covid-19: Justice System...... 150 Prison Education Programmes...... 151 Covid-19: Legal Aid Sector Support ...... 142 Prison Service Pay Review Body: HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Backlog...... 143 Recommendation 3 and Prison Safety ...... 154 Human Rights ...... 152 Reclaiming Fines: Universal Credit...... 154 Legal Aid Advice Deserts...... 150 Reoffending Rates...... 147 Mental Health Act Reform ...... 141 Sentencing Policy ...... 146 “A Smarter Approach to Sentencing” White Topical Questions ...... 155 Paper...... 151 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Tuesday 16 March 2021

Col. No. Col. No. HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ...... 7WS HOME DEPARTMENT ...... 7WS Ring-fenced Public Health Grant to Local Police and Crime Commissioner Review: Authorities: 2021-22 ...... 7WS Concluding Part One...... 7WS No proofs can be supplied. Corrections that Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked on a copy of the daily Hansard - not telephoned - and must be received in the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Tuesday 23 March 2021

STRICT ADHERENCE TO THIS ARRANGEMENT GREATLY FACILITATES THE PROMPT PUBLICATION OF BOUND VOLUMES

Members may obtain excerpts of their speeches from the Official Report (within one month from the date of publication), by applying to the Editor of the Official Report, House of Commons. Volume 691 Tuesday No. 191 16 March 2021

CONTENTS

Tuesday 16 March 2021

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 141] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Justice

Integrated Review [Col. 161] Statement—(The Prime Minister)

Levelling Up [Col. 180] Statement—(Eddie Hughes)

Goods and Services of UK Origin [Col. 195] Motion for leave to bring in Bill—(Gareth Thomas)—agreed to Bill presented, and read the First time

Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill [Col. 198] Motion for Second Reading—(Priti Patel) Amendment—(Mr Lammy)—on a Division, negatived Motion, on a Division, agreed to Programme motion—(James Morris)—agreed to

Scotland Act 1998: Scottish Civil Service [Col. 278] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall Commonwealth Day 2021 [Col. 51WH] Release under Investigation: Metropolitan Police [Col. 77WH] Covid-19: Animal Welfare [Col. 84WH] Arrest of Opposition Politicians: Turkey [Col. 109WH] Union Connectivity Review [Col. 117WH] General Debates

Written Statements [Col. 7WS]

Written Answers to Questions [The written answers can now be found at http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers]